Chapter 167: 167. Chapter 165: Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit

167. Chapter 165: Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit

Ding Huan's combat experience was extremely rich; realizing that this slash had not achieved the intended effect, he decisively abandoned the long blade and retreated.

With an angry roar, the Golden-Spotted's tail swept over.

"Boom!"

Even though Ding Huan reacted very quickly and retreated extremely decisively, he was still struck on the lower back by the Golden-Spotted's tail.

Ding Huan himself could hear a bone in his lower back snap.

When this fellow's tail swept over, it was exactly like a hundred-thousand-catty iron hammer slamming into bone.

Then a cloud of red mist sprayed over, and Ding Huan's entire body was enveloped in the red mist.

At this moment, Ding Huan not only did not continue retreating, but instead rushed forward and slammed a fist into the Golden-Spotted's fatal weak point.

This Golden-Spotted never expected, even in death, that someone could survive its poisonous mist, and was hit squarely by this punch.

The earlier slash had not done much to the Golden-Spotted, but this punch directly knocked it unconscious.

Ding Huan pulled out the long blade still lodged in the Golden-Spotted's body and slashed down again; this slash finally split the Golden-Spotted in two.

Ding Huan let out a long sigh.

No wonder Guan Ping wanted to hire a chef—this chef's job was no ordinary person's work.

The Golden-Spotted's horn was very valuable; Ding Huan dug it out at the first opportunity.

As for the Golden-Spotted's meat, Ding Huan naturally chose the tenderest parts.

After finishing with the Golden-Spotted, Ding Huan's gaze fell on a fruit tree about three chi tall.

This fruit tree bore five green fruits, all of which looked about to ripen.

What fruit was it? Ding Huan squatted down in confusion to observe carefully.

A fruit protected by a Golden-Spotted surely would not be simple.

He sniffed it; the fragrance was very faint.

He didn't seem to have this spiritual herb in his memory either—could it be a local specialty?

Ding Huan well knew how vast and boundless the knowledge in that leather scroll was; since this spiritual herb wasn't in his memory, that meant it was quite ordinary.

Wait…

Ding Huan suddenly recalled Lou Buzhi's "Way of Pills," which had a spiritual herb illustrated in it—what was it called again?

Right, it was the Spirit-Opening Fruit.

Its appearance seemed about the same as this one—one plant, five fruits, green before ripening, the shape also seemed similar.

He had only glanced at it back then; the Spirit-Opening Fruit seemed to be for demonic beasts to eat, able to awaken…

The moment Ding Huan thought this far, all the information about the Spirit-Opening Fruit surfaced in his mind.

The fruit before him was the Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit.

There were four types of Spirit-Opening Fruit: the Spirit-Opening Purple-Faced Fruit, the Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit, the Spirit-Opening Red-Faced Fruit, and the Spirit-Opening White-Faced Fruit.

Only the Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit was green before ripening.

This was a spiritual fruit that could awaken the intelligence of demonic beasts and let them speak.

Upon learning this information, Ding Huan grew excited.

A fruit like this would absolutely be priceless in the Dao cultivation world.

At the same time, he also learned another characteristic of the Spirit-Opening Fruit: once ripe, if not collected within three breaths, its fragrance would immediately spread.

It would be no surprise if this treasure attracted every demonic beast in the entire Great Ravine Canyon.

At this moment, Ding Huan dared not think about anything else; he took out a large jade box and waited for the Spirit-Opening Fruit to ripen.

Ding Huan didn't wait long—after about half an hour, he saw the fruit's color turn blue.

The instant these five fruits turned blue, Ding Huan's hand swept out, and the five blue fruits were swept into the jade box.

Then Ding Huan sealed the jade box and tossed it into the Star House; the whole process took no more than three breaths.

After finishing this, Ding Huan also dug up the withered Spirit-Opening Fruit tree by its roots and tossed it into the Star House.

He absolutely could not let anyone know he had obtained a Spirit-Opening Fruit tree.

After a careful inspection, Ding Huan moved the Golden-Spotted to the Spirit-Opening Fruit's location and continued cleaning up.

Only when the scene was somewhat disheveled and nothing could be discerned did Ding Huan finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Even so, his divine sense continued scanning the surroundings.

Many things were ruined by a single detail—this, Ding Huan knew better than anyone.

Just as Ding Huan was certain he had done a perfect job, his divine sense once again detected a spiritual herb.

This spiritual herb, Ding Huan actually recognized—Star-Condensing Bamboo.

Star-Condensing Bamboo was one he had seen in the spiritual herb book purchased in the Four-Direction Star Land; however, that book's introduction was brief, and Ding Huan did not know its specific uses.

But in Ding Huan's view, the fact that the powerful cultivators of the Triple Heaven Star Land had included Star-Condensing Bamboo in a spiritual herb book for the Four-Direction Star Land to purchase meant it was no ordinary spiritual herb.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan dug up this spiritual herb as well.

Unlike the Spirit-Opening Blue-Faced Fruit, Ding Huan did not send the Star-Condensing Bamboo into the Star House, but merely placed it into the bag at his side.

If Elder Gu and Steward Qiong learned he had hunted a Golden-Spotted, they might very well suspect he had obtained some spiritual herb.

With his divine sense clearing the way, Ding Huan avoided several demonic beasts along the way back and returned to camp without incident.

Ding Huan had been out too long this time; the two Yanyue Sect disciples even thought Ding Huan had kicked the bucket.

What they hadn't expected was that Ding Huan's life was so tough—he had returned here again.

Ding Huan pretended to know nothing, greeted the two guarding disciples warmly as usual, then started a fire, preparing to make braised Golden-Spotted.

It had to be said, the Golden-Spotted's meat was indeed fragrant; in just a short while, the aroma spread throughout the entire camp.

By the time Ding Huan finished cooking the Golden-Spotted, even Elder Gu and Steward Qiong had been drawn over.

"Young Lady Guan, it's time to eat." Ding Huan called out.

Even without Ding Huan's call, Guan Luan had already been unable to wait—she had never smelled such a fragrance of meat before.

As soon as a piece of meat entered her mouth, it melted into a unique sweet flavor, nearly making Guan Luan swallow her own tongue.

She was a food lover, and she had truly never tasted meat before.

"Haha, Young Lady's chef is no ordinary man—this dish is simply irresistible."

Elder Gu and Officer Qiong arrived together.

Guan Luan quickly stood up and said:

"This meat is indeed excellent. If you don't mind, Elder Gu and Officer Qiong, please try some."

"That was exactly my thought," said Elder Gu, usually quiet, unable to hold back.

When they saw Ding Huan, the chef, dining alongside the Young Lady, they were somewhat astonished.

Such an independent chef—they had never encountered one before.

Normally, a chef was treated like a servant in the household, only eating after the masters had finished.

This was none of their business; Elder Gu and Officer Qiong were merely surprised.

Qing Yu had already brought the utensils and handed them to Elder Gu and Officer Qiong.

The two did not refuse, each taking a bowl from the large basin.

"This is meat?" Elder Gu, not an ordinary man, exclaimed after just one bite.

Meat was not ordinary beast flesh—most people dreaming of eating it was pure fantasy.

Not even ordinary people, but even he, as an elder, had eaten it only one or two times.

Officer Qiong also recognized it as meat; both stared at Ding Huan in astonishment.

Could an ordinary mortal-city chef have hunted this?

"Did you hunt this?" Elder Gu asked.

His spiritual sense circled around Ding Huan—this chef was no ordinary man.

He had already noticed Ding Huan's reaction upon entering the Great Gorge; now he was even more certain Ding Huan was no ordinary chef.

Ding Huan quickly put down his bowl and stood, clasping his fists:

"Yes, this was hunted by this humble one—I succeeded through a surprise attack."

"Impressive," Elder Gu asked calmly. "Yet the area within dozens of zhang around it was wrapped in toxic mist—how did you manage the surprise attack?"

Ding Huan smiled:

"Since childhood, I've had some immunity to various toxins. After ambushing this beast, I only felt dizzy for a while. Then I took a Detox Pill, rested, and returned to normal."

As for the golden-spotted beast spraying him with red mist, Ding Huan would never mention it.

Officer Qiong nodded:

"You're incredibly lucky—if the Golden Spotted had sprayed you with its venom, even your toxin immunity wouldn't have saved you."

Elder Gu also smiled, then asked:

"Did you find any spiritual herbs or minerals near the Golden Spotted?"

Ding Huan's heart leapt—he was glad he had found the Condensing Star Bamboo, or he would surely have been suspected.

"I did find a herb I didn't recognize, so I dug it up and brought it back," Ding Huan said with a smile.

"Quickly, show it to me!" Elder Gu forgot about the meat entirely.

Ding Huan took from his pack a bundle of Condensing Star Bamboo, loosely wrapped, and handed it to Elder Gu.

"Condensing Star Bamboo!" Elder Gu blurted out, then sighed, "Your luck is simply…"

"It's Condensing Star Bamboo! A fantastic item—the finest third-grade spiritual herb, without exception," Officer Qiong chuckled.

Hearing this, Ding Huan was even more certain: the first-grade spiritual herbs and first-grade talismans he had always assumed were standard were completely different from what they meant here.

"Ding Daoist, this Condensing Star Bamboo is very useful to our sect—would you be willing to part with it and sell it to us?"

Officer Qiong smiled at Ding Huan.

Ding Huan sneered inwardly: Your sect benefits greatly—but what about me?

Yet he didn't know Officer Qiong's character—if he refused, and Officer Qiong slit his throat that night, he'd be in deep trouble.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan waved his hand indifferently:

"Sell it? Officer Qiong, if you like it, just take it. Later, give me whatever compensation you please."

Yet inwardly he sighed: People are so pragmatic.

Just moments ago, this man had never even looked at him properly—he must have thought him nothing but a chef. Now he called him "Ding Daoist."

"Then thank you, Ding Daoist. Rest assured, when we reach the sect, the sect will reward you."

Officer Qiong carefully stored the Condensing Star Bamboo.

"Officer Qiong, when we reach the sect, what reward will there be? Can I join Yanyue Sect?"

Even though he knew the man was just talking empty words, Ding Huan still asked.

The item was his—he gave it away for nothing, and he was annoyed. Didn't the man know his earlier words were just politeness?

Since the man pretended ignorance, there was no need for politeness.

I give you a Condensing Star Bamboo—can't you at least let me join the sect? Even if not as an outer disciple, could I at least be a laborer disciple?

Officer Qiong smiled awkwardly:

"Actually, that's impossible. The sect's disciple recruitment is extremely strict—I and Elder Gu have no authority to decide."

"Oh…"

Ding Huan gave a flat "Oh," thinking: You can't decide, so why did you take the thing?