Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3816: Pure Cursed Qi Crystals

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed. "Strange..."

Before he could investigate further, the twins suddenly froze. Their eyes widened dramatically as both stared at the crystal. And a moment later they began drooling. Actual droplets of saliva dripped from their mouths.

"Master..."

"It’s curse energy."

"So much."

"So pure."

"It’s pure Curse Qi!"

Lin Mu looked toward them. "You’re certain?"

The twins nodded so rapidly that their heads blurred.

"This is definitely Curse Qi."

"The purest we’ve ever smelled."

"It’s amazing."

Lin Mu became even more surprised. If the twins were correct, then this crystal should be extraordinarily dangerous. Yet its complete lack of leakage made it appear almost harmless. He remembered the cursed crystals he had previously encountered throughout his journey.

Most corrupted everything around them as plants withered, animals mutated and people got diseases. Even immortals required protection merely to approach them. This crystal displayed none of those characteristics.

Its energy remained perfectly contained. As though someone had compressed every trace of cursed energy into solid form. Before Lin Mu could stop them, Xiao Yang suddenly launched himself forward.

"Wait."

Crunch.

The little serpent bit directly into one corner of the crystal. A surprisingly crisp sound echoed through the barren land as a small crystal fragment broke away before Xiao Yang swallowed it whole.

His eyes immediately widened. "Delicious!"

Xiao Yin gasped.

"My turn!" She rushed over before Lin Mu could react.

Crunch

Another piece disappeared into her mouth. The twins immediately closed their eyes and both began chewing with expressions of complete bliss. Lin Mu watched them carefully. Ready to intervene at the slightest sign of danger.

Fortunately, nothing happened. No sign of corruption or poisoning. Instead, the twins appeared happier than ever. Several long moments later they finally opened their eyes.

Xiao Yang licked his lips. "It tastes wonderful."

Xiao Yin nodded repeatedly. "So rich."

"So smooth."

"It’s salty."

"And sour."

"But there’s sweetness too."

"A strange sweetness."

"It keeps changing."

The two immediately began arguing over the exact flavor.

"It tastes like fermented spirit fruit."

"No, roasted beast marrow."

"There’s definitely mineral salt."

"And old Yin spring water."

Lin Mu listened to their increasingly bizarre descriptions before laughing helplessly. Only the twins could describe curse crystals as though they were discussing gourmet cuisine. Still, one thing had become undeniably clear.

Whatever these crystals were, they were far from ordinary. And if such a massive deposit existed seven kilometers beneath Emperor Rock, then perhaps the forbidden zone had never truly disappeared. Its curse had simply condensed into something far more terrifying or something beyond his understanding.

Lin Mu continued observing the dark crystal resting upon the barren earth while the twins happily nibbled away at its edges. The sight remained strangely surreal. If another cultivator had arrived at this moment, they would likely think the twins had lost their minds.

Every piece of knowledge within the immortal world stated that cursed energy should be feared. Entire sects had been wiped out after stumbling upon cursed artifacts. Forbidden lands had formed simply because traces of cursed Qi lingered for too long.

Yet here were Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang treating one of the purest concentrations of cursed Qi as though it were a favorite snack. Even Lin Mu found himself unable to draw a proper conclusion.

His understanding of cursed energy was already greater than that of most immortals thanks to his various encounters over the years, yet this crystal completely contradicted everything he knew.

Just then, Xukong finally spoke from within the ring. "It appears you’ve found a Pure Cursed Qi Crystal."

Lin Mu immediately turned his attention inward.

"Pure Cursed Qi Crystal?" he repeated. "Senior, have you seen something like this before?"

"I have," Xukong answered calmly. "Though it is exceptionally rare to find it in such a stable state."

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed. "They can exist like this too?"

"They can," Xukong replied. "Though the conditions required are difficult to satisfy. Most cursed techniques leave behind lingering intent. That intent is what makes ordinary cursed energy volatile, malicious and dangerous. The resentment, hatred, obsession or killing intent embedded within the technique continues affecting the surrounding environment long after its creator has disappeared."

Lin Mu nodded as that much aligned with everything he already knew.

Xukong continued. "When a forbidden region remains completely undisturbed for an extremely long period, the original cursed technique slowly weakens. The active effects eventually disappear entirely. The resentment dissipates first, then the lingering will follows, and finally even the traces of intent fade away."

His tone remained steady, sounding almost like a teacher giving a lesson. "What remains afterward is merely energy."

Lin Mu looked toward the crystal once more. "So this is simply..."

"Pure cursed Qi," Xukong finished. "Nothing more."

The explanation made several things suddenly become much clearer. "The ordinary cursed crystals I’ve encountered before..."

"They are merely an intermediate stage," Xukong explained. "The cursed Qi begins condensing naturally after enough time passes. During that stage it still retains remnants of the original technique and therefore continues leaking corruption. Given sufficient time, those remnants eventually disappear as well. The crystal condenses even further until it reaches this state."

Lin Mu slowly nodded. "So there is no longer any malevolence inside it."

"Correct."

"No hidden curse?"

"None."

"No lingering will?"

"None."

"No resentment?"

"None."

"It is simply cursed Qi in its purest condensed form."

Lin Mu found that rather fascinating. Energy itself was neither good nor evil. Its application determined everything. Spirit Qi could save lives or destroy cities. Demonic Qi could strengthen one’s cultivation or consume entire souls.

Apparently cursed Qi followed similar principles. Without intent guiding it, the energy itself simply existed. Looking around the desolate surroundings, Lin Mu could not help making another observation.

"Only a place like this could probably produce such crystals." Lin Mu muttered.

Xukong gave a soft chuckle. "I was about to say the same."

Lin Mu glanced toward Emperor Rock. "The Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect must have monitored this area carefully."

He slowly pieced everything together.