Chapter 11: Frenzied Howler Monkeys

Late October, the autumn chill deepened.

A crisp autumn wind drifted in.

A layer of dead leaves had accumulated in the hills and woods; when the wind blew, they spun and scattered wildly, burying the winding path that sloped up to the mountaintop.

But they also concealed several unusual marks along the path…

The third-season spiritual rice had already formed spiritual ears.

Another month, and it would be ready for harvest.

Everyone had gradually forgotten the earlier turmoil.

On the slope, hundreds of acres of golden spiritual fields were filled with the busy figures of spiritual farmers.

The yield of this final season was, for these spiritual farmers, self-evidently crucial.

With harvest imminent, the spiritual farmers dared not slacken for a moment, almost all of them staying day and night in the fields.

Never leaving their side.

In Qin Ming’s third-season Jin Ling rice field, only one term had appeared: “Weak Magic Power.”

His desire to rapidly mature the “Beast Fang Rice” also came to nothing.

He gazed at the four terms within the Beast Fang Rice field, his eyes burning with envy.

【Name】: Beast Fang Rice 【Term】: Advanced Spiritual Rain Art x5 (Maturity 28%)

【Name】: Beast Fang Rice 【Term】: Quality Enhancement x1 (Maturity 26%)

【Name】: Beast Fang Rice 【Term】: Accelerated Maturation x5 (Maturity 33%)

Moreover, news of his successful cultivation of Beast Fang Rice spread like wildfire; some in the marketplace had begun paying attention to his single acre.

He could only wait patiently.

Currently, his mind sea held three “Weak Magic Power” terms.

Qin Ming was in the field, casting the Spiritual Rain Art to summon rain.

He heard footsteps approaching from behind.

He grew alert.

Immediately he ended the spell and turned around.

A young cultivator in a white robe appeared in his sight, carrying a small bamboo basket on his back.

‘It’s Su Danshi.’

‘What is he doing here?’

As Qin Ming wondered,

Su Danshi walked straight toward him and said bluntly: “Qin Daoist, I heard you successfully cultivated Beast Fang Rice?”

Qin Ming quickly bowed to Su Danshi and replied humbly: “Lucky success.”

“Qin Daoist, no need for such formality—I’ve come here for the companion substance of Beast Fang Rice: Chi Ling Dew.”

Qin Ming heard this for the first time and was greatly surprised.

Su Danshi explained: “Chi Ling Dew is a rare alchemical auxiliary ingredient, used to harmonize medicinal properties. Few know of it.”

With that,

Su Danshi walked around the Beast Fang Rice field, carefully observing.

He circled the field once, chin in hand, lost in thought.

Long moments passed.

Su Danshi turned to Qin Ming and exclaimed in admiration: “Qin Daoist, to be honest, your cultivation of Beast Fang Rice has exceeded my expectations. The final quality should be quite good—you clearly have a unique planting secret.”

Qin Ming felt a quiet pang inside: I have no secret method—but I do have one secret I cannot speak of.

Su Danshi gently parted the leaves at the top of a Beast Fang Rice plant.

He waved his hand, signaling Qin Ming to come closer.

As Qin Ming leaned in, he saw, at the base of the leaf, a single drop of crimson dew, as red as blood.

‘So this is Chi Ling Dew.’

Qin Ming realized suddenly.

Had Su Danshi not mentioned it, he would never have known—the spiritual plant manual recorded nothing of it.

“Harvesting this Chi Ling Dew has no effect on the plant itself.”

“It happens to be useful in my alchemy.”

“Qin Daoist, may I collect some?”

“I’ll pay ten spirit stones.”

Su Danshi asked calmly.

“Su Danshi, you jest—if this dew is useful to you, take as much as you need.”

Qin Ming would never let him pay spirit stones; forming a connection with such a promising alchemist was exactly what he desired.

Besides, he had previously taken a Qi-Replenishing Pill from him for free—this was a perfect chance to return the favor.

“If that’s the case, I won’t refuse.” Su Danshi said, pulling out a jade-green porcelain flask and preparing to collect the Chi Ling Dew.

Rustle-rustle!

Swish-swish-swish-swish! The forest canopy around them began to shake violently—as if some beast was leaping through the trees, heading straight for the hundreds of acres of spiritual fields!

Su Danshi heard the commotion and immediately stopped his action.

“What’s happening?”

Qin Ming’s expression changed; he instinctively drew a Golden Light Protection Talisman, his brow furrowed with a sense of dread.

The spiritual farmers on the hillside also noticed the disturbance.

They all halted their work.

Suddenly!

Before they could react,

“Zhi—zhi—zhi—”

A series of piercing shrieks echoed through the spiritual fields on the slope.

Dozens of monkeys, their bodies covered in sickly, bizarre fur, burst from the forest—some of the beasts radiated intense aura.

Clearly, they were mid-stage Stage One beasts! “Bad! It’s the Frenzied Howler Monkeys!” Su Danshi seemed to recognize the beasts.

He slapped his storage pouch; a set of array flags appeared in his hand, which he immediately flung to the ground.

A pale blue shield, two zhang in diameter, instantly formed beneath his feet, enveloping him.

Su Danshi shouted at Qin Ming at breakneck speed: “The Golden Light Talisman won’t work—get inside quickly!”

Hearing this, Qin Ming did not hesitate—he rushed into the shield’s range.

Instantly, the noise outside was cut off.

Qin Ming quickly glanced toward the nearby fields.

Wherever his gaze fell, the Frenzied Howler Monkeys shrieked incessantly; arcs of sonic waves spread from their mouths in all directions.

Any low-level spiritual farmer struck by the waves immediately turned eyes blood-red, faces twisted in madness, as if possessed.

They began attacking and killing each other!

In an instant,

The fields descended into chaos; many immature spiritual rice plants were trampled and ruined.

One mid-stage Qi Refining farmer, just about to summon his magic sword and flee, had his spell disrupted by the sonic wave—he fell straight from midair.

Whoosh! A Frenzied Howler Monkey, larger than the rest, leapt up from the field!

Its movement was terrifyingly swift—it seized the farmer in an instant, bared its crimson fangs, and bit clean through his neck.

Bright red blood gushed out!

The farmer’s face still wore an expression of terror as he died.

“Zhi—zhi—zhi—”

Sharp, piercing howls echoed through the hills.

Qin Ming watched the bloody, brutal scene, his scalp prickling.

His heart pounded wildly; without hesitation, he wanted to flee immediately.

Spiritual rice could be replanted—but if he lost his life, he lost everything.

Yet he suddenly froze—thinking carefully: ‘If I leave Su Danshi’s array now, I’ll be hit by the sonic waves—same fate as that farmer.’

He hesitated, uncertain.

Qin Ming turned back and saw that although Su Danshi’s face was grim, he showed no sign of panic.

‘Does he have full confidence in his array?’

His mind raced with multiple thoughts.

His expression grew complex.

“Don’t panic—my array can hold off these beasts for a while,” Su Danshi said, clearly reading Qin Ming’s thoughts.

“Frenzied Howler Monkeys are most dangerous for their sonic attacks—they can seize the mind, incredibly strange, nearly impossible to defend against.”

“Hold on for a moment—the Lingyu Sect should send reinforcements soon.”

No sooner had he finished speaking,

Seven or eight Frenzied Howler Monkeys clustered together and charged toward the two of them, forming a Baowei formation!

Among them was the very same mid-stage Stage One Frenzied Howler Monkey that had just killed the farmer.

Eight at once?

At this, Su Danshi’s expression changed.

Qin Ming watched as the howling monkeys rampaged unchecked through the spirit fields.

They were about to reach his own spirit field.

Qin Ming immediately slapped his storage bag, a look of resolve flashing in his eyes.

A small bronze bell materialized, spinning gently in his hand.

Qin Ming formed a magic seal, and the small bell instantly expanded into a massive bell, hovering motionless in the air ahead.

It was the Beast-Driving Seal!

“Want to shout? Let’s see who’s louder!”

(End of Chapter)