Chapter 16

"This time I really slept for a while."

"The cultivator body experienced a life-and-death struggle, and it took a long time before finally calming my inner self."

"After making sure no one would come to cause trouble and arranging for the Red Pattern Spirit Bees to stand guard, I finally could not withstand the drain of magical power and physical strength, and fell into a deep sleep."

"The safety issue when sleeping really needs to be taken seriously each time."

"In the dim cave, the huge turtle opened its eyes."

"Although I had just woken up, Yunhe's consciousness was very clear."

"Having no problem now might just be because I haven't encountered danger yet; if I were really ambushed while sleeping, that would be a big trouble."

"I don't know if, in the future, when my cultivation base increases and my spirit sense becomes stronger, there is a possibility for both bodies to remain conscious simultaneously."

"I moved my claws a bit and twisted my neck twice."

"Only then did I sink my demon sense to check my own condition."

After a night of refining with the "Source Refining Method", the snake gall swallowed into his belly has been almost completely digested.

"Demonic Power is full and round, my Demon Sense perceives internally with ease—this is the peak of early-stage first-level demon beast!"

Yunhe opened his eyes again and showed a look of joy.

As expected, the gall of the giant python that had reached First Stage Middle strength allowed his Demonic Power to advance once more.

Next, if he wants to make further progress, he needs to break through the bottleneck of First Stage Middle.

Yunhe lay on the soft soil of the cave and fell into deep thought.

"The differences between demon beasts and cultivators are becoming increasingly obvious."

"For demon beasts, raising their cultivation in small increments is relatively simple and brutal; as long as they have strength, they can continually obtain nutrients, demonic power, and spiritual energy by hunting other demon beasts."

"However, when it comes to breaking through major and minor bottlenecks, they seem somewhat lacking, whereas cultivators can achieve a higher success rate by using various elixirs and spiritual objects."

"Of course, elixirs for breaking bottlenecks aren't easy to obtain either, but they are still more accessible than for a demon beast surviving on its own."

"Conversely, cultivators accumulate Spiritual Power through constant day-and-night absorption, making meridians and cultivation-enhancing meridians all the more important."

"However, these are not absolute; exceptionally gifted cultivators or demon beasts of extraordinary origin fall outside such generalizations."

"In fact, cultivators also have elixirs that aid cultivation increase, but if such elixirs are to produce visibly noticeable effects, one must either take them in large quantities or they are inherently expensive. Moreover, consuming too many elixirs leaves behind stubborn medicinal toxins that are hard to dispel, so they should not be overused."

"Occasionally taking elixirs to aid cultivation is fine."

"But if taken in excess, setting aside Spirit Stone consumption, the accumulation of medicinal toxin residue is truly terrifying."

"It is far less straightforward and harmless than demon beasts mutually devouring each other."

"As for the Demon Beast Body, if it wishes to make a breakthrough in Demonic Power, perhaps it truly relies on that 'Twin-Stem Thunder Juice Fruit'."

He walked slowly out of the cultivation chamber.

He stepped into the breeding room.

Yunhe stood at the entrance of the breeding room, gazing at a corner inside.

He silently counted in his heart.

Zizz—

A faint electric current flashed and vanished.

"The electric arc has grown weaker; the Twin-Stem Thunder Juice Fruit obviously 'is not acclimated to the soil and water', and without a transplant method it won't last more than a few days."

Comparing the intervals between breaths when the electric arc jumped yesterday and today.

Yunhe could clearly feel that the condition of the Twin-Stem Thunder Juice Fruit had deteriorated considerably.

"In about two days, if the Cultivator Body still hasn't found a transplant method by then, we'll have no choice but to eat it."

"If the 'Twin-Stem Thunder Juice Fruit' could fully mature, it could indeed assist him in breaking through his cultivation base; its value and function go without saying."

"But if no transplant method can be found, rather than watch it wither and rot, it's better to eat it while it still retains some spiritual energy and efficacy."

"It's a bit wasteful of heavenly treasures."

"Still better than wasting it."

"Hope the Cultivator Body side can find a way."

Leaving the breeding room, he followed the passage that fit him perfectly, crawling toward the outside of the cave dwelling.

He pushed aside the covering layer of earth.

"The rain is still falling."

"The rain isn't as heavy as yesterday, but the light drizzle shows no sign of stopping."

"Although he is a water-attribute demon beast, Yunhe isn't particularly fond of such rainy weather."

"He prefers gentle sunshine."

Pop-pop—

As soon as he stepped out of the cave dwelling, he saw Ni Qiu junior greeting him.

"Thanks for the trouble, little one."

"Because the Cultivator Body side was delayed by matters, the Demon Beast Body slept a bit longer."

"However, Ni Qiu is diligent; as long as he doesn't appear, it keeps guard beside him."

He waved his claws.

Pop-pop!

"But Ni Qiu didn't dive into the water as usual; instead, it kept blowing bubbles, even continually slapping the water surface with its tail."

Noticing Ni Qiu's oddity, Yunhe paused briefly, then crawled to the lakeside and entered the water.

He entered the water.

"Seems... livelier than before?"

"Previously, because the water area was larger, the bottom always seemed somewhat empty."

But today after he went into the water, he discovered that the surrounding fish schools seemed to have increased a lot.

【What's the situation?】

Ni Qiu wagged its tail and came to his side.

Yunhe gave it a sideways glance and moved his mouth.

He wanted to speak, but couldn't.

Cultivation Base was still insufficient to support Demon Sense leaving the body.

Days without communication are quite hard.

Especially when having to face a Ni Qiu that looks a bit silly.

He rubbed his forehead in a human-like way.

Splash—

Suddenly the current became turbulent.

Then he saw a school of fish rushing over here in panic.

Seeing this, Ni Qiu consciously swam to Yunhe's front.

Instantly, the fish schools that smelled the demon beast's aura panicked, turned, and split from the middle into two groups swimming to both sides.

【This doesn't seem to be a fish species from this water area, right?】

Afterwards, two smaller fish schools also fled over in haste.

Seeing this, Yunhe narrowed his eyes.

He didn't pay attention to these ordinary fish, but looked toward the direction they were coming from.

At the head of the gurgling current, it seemed something existed that frightened the fish into fleeing in panic.

Thus causing the originally fairly tranquil lakeshore to become lively.

「Pop pop! 」

Ni Qiu gently nudged Yunhe's turtle back.

He looked in the direction it indicated.

Then he saw a water snake emanating demonic aura, having emerged from somewhere, rushing quickly toward the direction the fish schools were swimming.

From Ni Qiu's reaction, it probably wasn't the first demon beast it had seen heading that way.

Far off, Yunhe still faintly saw the demon beast's shadow.

【Are many demon beasts gathering?】

Smack!

Yunhe raised his claw.

He pressed down on the Ni Qiu's head, which was itching to move and also wanted to follow.

Facing his little brother's puzzled gaze, Yunhe gave no response.

【The commotion seems a bit big.】

Even ordinary fish had to migrate across waters.

Moreover, many demon beasts kept coming one after another.

Maybe a great demon has appeared!

If he kept burying his head and charging forward in this situation, he might not even know how he died.

The giant python shedding its skin is because it's close to the lake surface, Yunhe is confident he can retreat if things look bad.

Moreover, as a water-attributed demon beast, it naturally has the advantage of using water to escape when facing land demon beasts.

This time at least they are separated by a body of water.

By then the surroundings will be completely unfamiliar, all around demon beasts; even if there's no problem, demon beasts among themselves will stir up trouble.

So.

This time, regarding this muddy water, Yunhe decided not to wade through.

He really wanted to tell his little brother, "Being human, uh, being a demon, you have to be like a person: know what's what, know which bustle to join and which to avoid, you need to see clearly and understand clearly."

Ni Qiu didn't understand.

But it has one good point: it's obedient.

Since Yunhe doesn't let it go, it won't go.

【However, making a fuss also has its benefits.】

Yunhe looked around.

【The nearby aquatic products have suddenly become abundant; later we can change up the flavor.】

Live crucian carp shimmering with silvery light, plump grass carp weaving among aquatic plants, silly-looking mud carp chasing duckweed, river mussels blowing bubbles at the bottom, a fleeting carp biting a white shrimp.

Quite a vibrant scene.

【Huh.】

Yunhe, thinking about what fish to eat later, saw a black creature covered in snake patterns dart out from the aquatic plants.

From its condition and speed, it seems not just an ordinary fish.

【A black fish with demonic power but not yet transformed into a demon beast? Probably stirred up by Ni Qiu's aura.】

What a pity.

If discovered early, it could have been taken as lunch.

A fish with demonic power is always tastier than ordinary fish.

Originally Yunhe was thinking whether he should have Ni Qiu also learn to restrain its demonic power, so that when encountering waterfowl like that black fish earlier, they wouldn't flee before they could react.

But after thinking again.

Ni Qiu is better off staying as he is; after all, even while he sleeps, someone still needs to "keep watch" for him.

If a demon beast were to wander here and sense Ni Qiu's aura, it would still be wary to some extent.

"Pretending to be ordinary—just one of us is enough."

With that thought, Yunhe patted Ni Qiu on the head.

"Go!"

He raised his claw.

Whoosh—

Then Ni Qiu's tail flicked hard, shooting straight toward the direction Yunhe pointed at high speed.

Soon, a carp with slightly glittering scales was brought back to Yunhe's side, clamped in its jaws.

"Not bad."

After several days of training, Ni Qiu finally began to develop some tacit understanding with him.

Even without verbal communication, they could convey certain instructions through gestures and glances.

That is the method of this training.

Yunhe watched Ni Qiu wagging its head and tail, full of eager anticipation for praise.

"Cough, how the training goes doesn't matter; as long as it works, it's good."

He encouragingly patted Ni Qiu's head.

He took the carp.

He paddled slowly toward Huanhu Dao with his claws.

Ni Qiu turned its head and dove into another school of fish.

Compared to the carp with harder scales, it still preferred small fish it could swallow whole.

"The water below is bustling, but the surface is calm."

Returning to the sunbathing platform on Huanhu Dao,

Yunhe, who had hastily eaten a few bites of carp to fill his stomach, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Lying on the sunbathing platform, Yunhe gazed at the lake surface, lost in thought.

Pitter-patter, crackle-pop.

Having calmed his mind, Yunhe inexplicably felt a sense of clarity wash over his heart.

This world seemed to come alive under the rain's nourishment, and everything on the lake surface became clean.

The wind stopped, the waves flattened.

Raindrops bloomed on the lake surface into tiny flowers, then turned into rippling waves that spread outward.

A thought rose unbidden from the depths of his heart.

"Actually, rainy days aren't so bad."

Heavy rain fell, mist rose, all things grew.

The spiritual energy around the great lake seemed to grow a bit denser.

The chaos, noise, and scheming of the cultivation world, the bustle, snatching, and fierce competition underwater, formed a stark contrast with the present tranquility and harmony.

"Drip, drip, drip."

Listening to the rain.

The rain accompanied his heart's voice, the rain sounded like his heart's voice.

Gradually.

Yunhe's heart finally stilled.

He simply closed his eyes.

Letting the rain fall on his shell, turning into rising mist.

What should have dispersed was instead gathered by an unknown force, swirling around him.

Unaware, he found himself enveloped in thick mist, his shell faintly visible.

Only when night fell did he awaken from his daze.

His mind was clear, his eyes pure.

"Just now."

He lowered his gaze to his claw.

With a light wave, the swirling mist flowed along with his claw.

Like gas like water, like wind like cloud.

He lightly grasped his claw.

Clatter—

Suddenly, a sharp jolt.

The accumulated mist completely dispersed.

He felt a sense of loss, as if he had failed to grasp something important.

Yet it also felt as if something had been left behind, a vague understanding.

He stared blankly for a while.

He murmured softly in his heart:

"May I be free of disturbance, free of trouble, free of worry, with a pure heart."

He didn't know what had happened, only feeling that the dangers, excitements, and unresolved inner turmoil from last night could no longer stir waves in his heart now.

【180> "Evening rain calms the mind, purifies the heart."

"Evening rain, calm the heart, even purify the heart, eh."

(This chapter ends)