Chapter 13: Cultivation Is Not Easy; Only Diligence Prevails (Please Collect!)

"The Demon Beast Body's luck is really not bad."

Returning to the cave dwelling, seeing the snake gallbladder and the "Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit" before him, Yunhe secretly sighed in his heart.

He had previously encountered one stalk of the "Blood-tracing Lotus" and one stalk of the "Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit"; although these two stalks are only first-stage spiritual plants, among first-stage spiritual plants they are considered relatively precious.

As for the Cultivator Body, it has never encountered any spiritual plant.

However, upon careful thought, it actually makes sense.

After all, the Cultivator Body lives in the market town; if there were truly any spiritual plants around the market town, countless passing cultivators would have already dug them up.

As for where the Demon Beast Body resides, although many demon beasts possessing demonic power live there, their density is far less than that of the market town.

Furthermore, low-level demon beasts' excavation and extraction of spiritual plants and spiritual materials are far inferior to those of cultivators.

Because low-level demon beasts lack the systematic, communal organization of cultivators; most are in a wild growth stage.

At most, they are merely distributed in large or small groups.

Perhaps only when they grow to high stage, or rather when they reach second- to third-stage demon beasts, can they come into contact with the civilization of the Demon Beast World, but for now.

Besides this, the most important point is.

The position where the Demon Beast Body resides has a richer spiritual energy than the position where the Cultivator Body resides.

"Could it be that there is a larger spiritual vein beneath this lake?"

"Even if there is a spiritual vein, the demon beast's cultivation speed is still far inferior to that of human cultivators."

For a demon beast to cultivate quickly, conflict is unavoidable.

Mutual attack, mutual slaughter, mutual devouring; only the victor who survives can stand out.

But the more they fight, the more dangerous it becomes; there is always a possibility of falling at any time.

He gathered his scattered thoughts and refocused his attention on the snake gallbladder before him.

"That giant python's entire cultivation base is mostly contained in its gallbladder."

If a snake can break through to the Second Stage, its gallbladder has a high probability of directly merging with the demon core, being the essence of its whole body.

The dark purple snake gallbladder before him, emitting a faint gloomy light, constantly exudes a fishy odor.

The stronger the fishy odor, the stronger the demonic power contained in the gallbladder.

And on the other side.

In the corner of the cave dwelling's breeding room.

A small plant with drooping leaves appears especially tranquil; it is precisely the "Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit".

Upon close inspection, one can notice.

On the surface of the fruit, faint currents of electricity subtly coil, occasionally flashing and jumping in the dim cavern, proving that it still retains some vitality.

"Such a crude transplant will surely not survive; it seems we must find a method from the cultivation world. I don't know if the Cultivator Body's side can obtain a technique for transplantation."

He shifted his gaze back.

"First, digest the snake gallbladder."

"It shouldn't be poisonous, right?"

Yunhe hesitated and scratched his chin.

"It should not be that bad."

That giant python does not look like a venomous snake; its gallbladder may contain some toxin, but it should not affect him much.

Thinking this, Yunhe closed his eyes and stuffed the whole gallbladder into his mouth.

To be honest, it's truly not tasty.

But after a while, his abdomen began to feel a slight dry heat.

Yunhe immediately activated the "Origin Refining Technique".

"Daoist Friend Yun, you've really stumped me."

The neighbor Pan Hongxiu, shouldering a hoe, wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked helplessly at Yunhe before him.

Although he is a senior spiritual farmer, having grown spiritual rice in River Gully Market for decades.

But if you really ask him how to transplant spiritual plants, especially some rarer ones, it would indeed be somewhat difficult for him.

"Why are you suddenly asking about transplanting spiritual plants? Could it be..."

Pan Hongxiu gradually realized.

Yunhe gave a "what are you thinking?" expression.

He waved his hand and said:

"Even if there truly were spiritual plants, how could we possibly get a turn? I'm just suddenly curious."

"That's right."

As for that, Pan Hongxiu didn't think further.

River Gully Market lies in the mountain forest stream valley; underground, the spiritual energy of the spirit veins nourishes it, but if spiritual plants were to appear, where would it be the turn of these early-stage Qi cultivators, the spiritual farmers?

"However."

Pan Hongxiu pursed his lips; standing on the field ridge, he cautiously looked around, and only after confirming no one was nearby did he draw closer to Yunhe a bit and lower his voice to say:

"Perhaps the black market has what you want."

"Black market?"

Yunhe was startled.

"Techniques for transplanting spiritual plants like this are mostly controlled by big and small families; purchasing them in the market town is difficult. Moreover, even if available, buying them might bring misfortune rather than blessing. But the black market is full of demons and monsters; with good luck, one might possibly find them, and it's not easy to be traced."

"You speak as if you've been there yourself."

Looking up and down at this neighbor who seems like an ordinary farmer, Yunhe felt somewhat surprised.

Yet he saw Pan Hongxiu grinning, revealing a yellow tooth, quite proudly saying:

"Who hasn't been full of themselves when they were young?"

"After seeing more, one naturally comes to understand one's place."

Yunhe laughed and shook his head.

This neighbor of his loves to put on the airs of an "old hand" to "educate" the youngsters.

But he actually does have a bit of experience.

Even if he has cultivated for decades, he's only an early-stage Qi Practitioner.

"I'm just asking casually."

Upon hearing that, Pan Hongxiu said no more, turned their back to him, waved their hand, and walked toward the shanty area along the field ridge.

Watching their silhouette in the setting sun, Yunhe narrowed his eyes slightly.

"As for the black market, there's still half a jar of Red Pattern Spirit Honey left."

That thought was quickly nipped in the bud.

The black market is too dangerous.

Besides, he only has half a jar of Red Pattern Spirit Honey and three low-grade spirit stones; even if he found a method for transplanting spirit plants, he might not be able to afford it.

Just to go to the black market to sell half a jar of Red Pattern Spirit Honey would indeed be too risky.

"But without a method, are we just supposed to let the Twin Thunder Juice Fruit wither?"

While thinking, he formed hand seals.

Buzz—

The spirit bees returned from all directions.

Only after all the spirit bees had returned to the hive did a single large Red Pattern Spirit Bee fly out from the bushes and crawl into Yunhe's sleeve.

"Might as well go stir up trouble with the Black Ring Wasps."

During the day, the Black Ring Wasps didn't come looking for trouble.

Perhaps because a few Black Ring Wasps had been damaged here earlier, the Black Ring Wasp queen intentionally or unintentionally had the wasps temporarily avoid this area.

Shouldering the bamboo box, he left the bee yard at sunset.

Yunhe was already adept at actively hunting Black Ring Wasps.

He quickly arrived at the edge of the safe zone.

He hid in a grass pile he had used several times before, waiting silently for the returning Black Ring Wasps.

This place is at least a kilometer from the Black Ring Wasp nest; even a small disturbance would be hard to notice.

Moreover, the number of Black Ring Wasps passing through this route is relatively low, making hunting safer.

It might take a bit longer, but for Yunhe, spending a little extra time for safety is incomparable.

Gazing at the sun hanging over the western hills, he wasn't in a hurry.

Patience is a basic quality of a hunter.

Suddenly.

After waiting a long time, Yunhe's eyes lit up as he sharply heard the sound of wings vibrating.

"Here they come!"

He immediately circulated his spiritual power, formed hand seals, and controlled the Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

One by one, Red Pattern Spirit Bees flew out from his sleeve.

Led by a five-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee, they swiftly rushed toward the Black Ring Wasp on its way back.

Meanwhile, the Black Ring Wasp that had been innocently returning to its nest suddenly sensed danger; upon looking, it was startled.

With its intelligence, it couldn't fathom why a swarm of fierce-looking spirit bees had suddenly appeared.

But it could feel a strong threat emanating from those Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

"Buzz—"

Just that.

Before the Black Ring Wasp could react, the attacking Red Pattern Spirit Bees almost instantly killed it.

A five-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee alone is enough to take on a Black Ring Wasp.

Plus nine two-pattern spirit bees.

Killing it presented no difficulty.

Soon after.

The Red Pattern Spirit Bees then returned to Yunhe with their spoils.

He had ordered the Red Pattern Spirit Bees not to casually devour the Black Ring Wasps.

Regarding enhancing the overall strength of the Red Pattern Spirit Bees and increasing their numbers, Yunhe clearly chose to increase their numbers.

Only by increasing their numbers can the yield go up.

Moreover, there's also this.

That is, Yunhe is a bit worried that if the Red Pattern Spirit Bees' demonic power keeps rising, with his current cultivation base and the "Bee Control Technique," he may not be able to control them freely.

If the Red Pattern Spirit Bees' demonic power rises too much, making them hard to control—or even causing them to rebel or flee—wouldn't that be a loss outweighing the gain?

The sun was setting.

Visibility was gradually decreasing.

Yunhe crawled out of the grass pile and brushed off the weeds on his body.

"One, barely enough."

Although the number of Black Ring Wasps harvested was small, the victory lay in safety.

In a few days, his Red Pattern Spirit Bee count will reach fifteen, at which point the yield of Red Pattern Spirit Honey will also increase by fifty percent.

Given the efficacy of the red-pattern spirit honey, it should fetch a good price.

"Days will only get better."

Yunhe, in a decent mood, took the winding path home using the last bit of sunset.

Just that.

But after walking a short distance, he couldn't help furrowing his brow.

Because not far away, a 'familiar' cultivator was looking at him with a kind smile.

His eyes held a hint of unknown meaning.

Yunhe had already seen this person before—not for the first time.

The first time he came to the edge of the safety zone to search for black-ring hornets, he had met them once.

Afterwards, he ran into them several more times.

Yunhe stopped his steps, keeping a distance from him.

This is outside the Fang Market Safety Zone—who would come running here for no reason?

One must never lack caution toward others.

He drew a breath without leaving a trace.

Forcing a smile, Yunhe bowed and said:

"Shi Dao You, what a coincidence."

"Yun Dao You, returning from beekeeping again? Truly diligent."

Yunhe waved his hand, showing a look of sorrow.

"Cultivation is not easy; only diligence will do."

The Shi cultivator nodded deeply in agreement.

"That... Shi Dao You, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Saying that, after nodding to the other party, Yunhe prepared to leave.

"Dao You, wait."

But this time, the Shi cultivator did not stop to watch him leave; instead, he called out to him.

"Huh?"

Yet the Shi cultivator's gentle expression gradually faded.

He glanced around, finally settling his gaze on Yunhe, and asked with a light laugh:

"Yun Dao You, this isn't a good spot for beekeeping—the spiritual qi is thin, weeds overgrown, flowers scarce. But I, Shi, see you coming here every few days, and I can't help wondering; could you enlighten me?"

(End of chapter)