Chapter 20

"It won't be because of a single low-grade ling stone that someone's taken notice, will it?"

A thought flashed through Yunhe's mind as he woke up in the cave dwelling.

"It's not impossible; Wei Qingfei appears to crave fame but is actually after profit, and people like him tend to hold grudges, especially over petty matters."

His claws scraped at the soft soil beside his feet twice.

"What a hassle."

After all, the other party is a cultivator at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

"If it really doesn't work, why not wait until the next time we hand over the spirit honey or sell the red-pattern spirit honey, then go apologize in person?"

Although Yunhe doesn't like doing such things.

But that's how the cultivation world is: whoever has the bigger fist speaks with confidence, and one has no choice but to force others to bow their heads.

"No, someone who bears a grudge over such a matter has such a narrow mind that they could never fully let go just by an apology in person."

Yunhe staggered toward the breeding room, still pondering the problem in his heart.

"After all, in the cultivation world one can only rely on oneself; if I also had mid-Qi Refining cultivation, even just the fourth layer, Wei Qingfei probably wouldn't go too far."

My cultivator body just broke through the third layer not long ago; reaching the fourth layer will probably take some time.

However, I possess the Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique; if I can quickly increase the number of red-pattern spirit bees, boost their combat power, and supplement it with the Insect Fighting Formation, I might not be far behind a mid-stage cultivator.

Because of the Wei Qingfei incident, Yunhe felt tense again.

Although the other party might not necessarily deal with him openly and aboveboard, handing over the initiative entirely to someone else's will still made Yunhe feel very uncomfortable.

"It would be best if I judged a gentleman with a petty heart, but some things must be prepared in advance, just in case."

Upon arriving at the breeding room, Yunhe looked inside.

My demon beast body's cultivation base has already reached the early stage of first-tier demon beast peak; after a little more settling, if the opportunity arises, I might be able to attempt a breakthrough.

At that time, the demon beast body's leading cultivation base will drive the cultivator body, and the cultivator body's cultivation base will surely make rapid progress.

"And that breakthrough opportunity is now in my hands."

Zizzle—

A faint electric arc flashed and vanished.

Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit!

He walked up to the withered spirit plant.

Its condition was clearly even worse than before.

The twin-stem thunder juice fruit is a rare thunder-attribute spirit plant; given that it originally grew near the dark, damp environment of the giant python's cave, it likely prefers shade and moisture.

These are all judgments Yunhe made based on his own observations earlier.

That's why he transplanted the twin-stem thunder juice fruit into the underground cave dwelling, beside which lies the emerald water snail pool, making it both dark and damp.

"The three key elements for transplanting spirit plants are spirit energy, soil, and fertilizer."

The spirit energy and soil on Huanhu Dao, where Yunhe is located, are not far from the giant python's cave, so even if there is a difference, it shouldn't be large.

The key lies in the fertilizer.

"If in the cultivation world, one could buy it directly; here, it seems one can only try to make it oneself."

Actually, it's not that difficult.

In the demon beast realm, there's no shortage; demon beasts possessing demonic power are countless.

"Fertilizer made from demon beast meat should also be effective, right?"

Of course, having fertilizer is just the foundation.

How to fertilize, when to fertilize, and how much to apply are all quite particular.

"Actually, the main reason for fertilizing is that the supply of nutrients from spirit energy and soil is insufficient to compensate for the transplanted spirit plant's own loss; it's said that in a blessed cave heaven, even if you casually toss a spirit plant onto the ground, it can take root and grow vigorously on its own."

However, such blessed cave heavens are ultimately too rare in the cultivation world, which is why the method of transplanting spirit plants arose.

"Let's give it a try."

Leaving the breeding room, he went up the slope all the way.

When Yunhe broke open the mud seal of the passage, a strand of golden sunshine poured straight down.

Finally.

After the rain, the sky cleared.

Upon arriving at Huanhu Dao, Yunhe took a deep breath; the island's already decent air became even cleaner after the rain, as if each breath drew in silken threads of spirit energy into his body.

After only a short while basking, Yunhe's body grew warm.

As demonic power flowed, it seemed every cell in his body was cheering.

The next second.

Yunhe held his breath, focused, his limbs tensed, and he crawled slowly toward the lakeside, step by step.

Those who didn't know might have thought they saw an old turtle, not young in age, steady and somewhat composed.

Pop-pop—

As soon as he neared the shore, a joyful figure leapt from the water, splashing waves to greet him.

But seeing Yunhe ignore him, still keeping his pace step by step, the loach blinked twice.

How come it feels like the boss is becoming more like a turtle?

Strange.

But the boss originally is a turtle.

His head ached a little, as if he were about to grow a brain.

The loach, unable to understand the reason, stopped moving, hovered above the water surface, and watched silently.

Whoo—

Originally a distance of over ten meters, with Yunhe's speed it wouldn't take a few breaths, but this time he crawled for at least a quarter of an hour.

Only when he reached the shore and exhaled did he return to normal.

"Turtle Breath Body Forging Technique?"

He ignored the doubts of Ni Qiu, the little brother.

The Turtle Breath Body Forging Technique, bought as a bonus with the Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique, was not something he just picked up casually.

Although the Turtle Breath Body Forging Technique is merely a mortal body‑forging method, it has a distinctive feature.

That is, this body‑forging method was created by someone who took the demon beast Turtle as a reference, imitating and evolving it into the final technique.

Such a body‑forging technique modeled after a demon beast is absolutely outstanding in the mortal world, but in the cultivation world it's not particularly noticeable.

Following Yunhe's line of thought.

Since humans can imitate the Turtle's body‑forging, if I myself am the Turtle, isn't it unnecessary even to imitate?

Fact proves that, stripping away the movements he sees as redundant and complicated and returning to the basics, this is the behavior and conduct of a demon beast Turtle.

"Since we can't get the demon beast's cultivation method, let's first make do with this body‑forging book and practice a bit."

He doesn't know the specific effects; they need time to be proven.

Just treat it as after‑tea‑and‑meal exercise.

Splash—

He went into the water.

The cool lake water did not cover the turtle's shell, and fine wisps of water vapor seeped into the turtle's body.

"Huh?"

Just as he entered the water, Yunhe felt a little surprised.

He felt that his perception of water‑current changes had become clearer, and his control over the water current had improved somewhat compared to before.

"Cultivation base hasn't improved either."

Suddenly, Yunhe recalled the dazed scene from yesterday when he lay on the sun‑bathing platform watching the rain.

A vague suspicion arose in his heart.

A light swipe of his claw, and the water flow seemed to drag his body forward.

He arrived beside his little brother Ni Qiu, seeing it standing there dazedly.

Smack!

Yunhe slapped it with a claw.

Blub blub!

Ni Qiu jerked upright from the shock, feeling the pain on its head, and showed a pitiful, wronged expression.

"Don't stay dazed; today's task might be a bit heavy."

He gave Ni Qiu a puzzled look, then moved his claws again and swam toward the bottom.

Ni Qiu followed obediently.

Today they must hunt a demon beast, trying to use its meat to make fertilizer for irrigating the Ti Lei Jiang Guo.

Ripples layered upon layers.

In the lively underwater world,

Cheerful crucian carp chased and played, their movements startling the lake shrimp hidden deep in the waterweeds, while the dace lurking nearby seized the opportunity to snag a bargain.

The river clams hidden in the mud quietly opened their shells, blew out a bubble, then hastily shut tight, hiding the tender clam meat, much like a shy maiden.

And in this luxuriant waterweed, a black, arm‑thick loach lightly flicked its tail, its five pairs of whiskers swaying with the current, as if searching or waiting.

After a while.

Ni Qiu, somewhat resentful, came to the edge of the waterweed thicket, pushed aside the bothersome stalks, and quietly looked toward a slightly raised patch of mud outside the thicket.

If someone were observing carefully here at this moment, they would see that, beneath the raised mud, a turtle's head faintly appeared.

A pair of lively, intelligent eyes fixed on every move of the waterweed thicket until he spotted the loach poking its head out.

"None here either?"

That hiding turtle was naturally Yunhe.

And the loach swimming in the waterweed thicket was indeed his little brother.

As for what they were doing,

Fishing!

A word that fits the situation perfectly!

Except, there were no fishhooks, no lines, no rods— but there was bait, namely Ni Qiu.

Yunhe stretched his claw out of the mud and waved it at Ni Qiu.

Then go around again.

Don't be shy; unleash all your demonic aura.

Seeing this, Ni Qiu seemed to understand his meaning.

He turned his head and dove back into the waterweeds.

"Logically speaking, the waterweed here is abundant, the surrounding fish and shrimp are plentiful; this should be an excellent habitat."

Yunhe, buried in the mud, scratched his chin and pondered.

"It's probably mainly because, over the past two days, a large number of demon beasts nearby have headed toward that unknown disturbance."

This is already the third place they've switched to.

It's also dozens of li away from Huanhu Dao.

Given the abundance of spiritual energy in this great lake, at such a distance there ought to be a distribution of demon beasts.

It might not be strong, but it will definitely be there.

"Forget it, let's change places."

Ultimately, it's still the impact caused by that commotion.

"Fishing isn't even good."

Splash—

Suddenly.

Yunhe, who was just about to burst out of the mud to change spots for "fishing," narrowed his eyes and clearly sensed the abnormality in the water flow.

"Bloop! Bloop! Bloop!"

The next second.

The pitch-black Ni Qiu kept swinging its tail as it shot out from the lush waterweed clump, staring and darting rapidly toward where Yunhe was.

Boss, there's a fish!

Very strong!

After the Ni Qiu shot out of the weeds, a larger, cylindrical black creature rolled the water flow and weeds, opening its flat but huge mouth, eyes gleaming with ferocity, closely following behind the Ni Qiu.

Black Fish!

A big Black Fish possessing early-stage first-tier demonic power!

Based solely on its aura, it's easy to tell that this Black Fish's Cultivation Base is far stronger than that of the Ni Qiu.

If we roughly gauge its strength using cultivator standards, it should be comparable to a cultivator at the third layer of Qi Refining.

"Bloop! Bloop!"

The Ni Qiu panicked and fled, but the distance between it and the Black Fish kept closing.

The water surged, frightening the surrounding fish and shrimp into scattering.

Boss, save me!

Seeing the Black Fish's huge mouth about to bite its tail, the Ni Qiu felt extremely panicked.

Whoosh—

In the turbulent water flow, a spiral-shaped arrow shot out from the mire.

Pfft!!

Instantly, a bloom of blood burst on the Black Fish's body.

The bloody smell gradually spread.

Gush!!

The Black Fish, suddenly attacked and feeling pain, abruptly stopped its movement and looked around in bewilderment.

What the hell?!

Just then, the water surged again.

The next second.

A huge Turtle suddenly appeared before it.

And that Ni Qiu, which it had tried to eat as food, flicked its tail and shrank onto the Turtle's shell, poking out its head and baring its teeth at it.

Just like a brat who, after losing a fight, goes to find his parents.

"Another Black Fish? Lately, have we been seeing more Black Fish with demonic power?"

A thought flashed through Yunhe's mind.

"Forget it. After fishing for so long, finally encountering one, it's you."

With that thought, his short tail swayed again.

He paid no heed to the Black Fish showing fear.

Whoosh— whoosh—

The demon-modified Water Arrow Technique was shot out repeatedly.

As fellow early-stage first-tier demonic beasts, Yunhe's advantage in mastering techniques is enormous.

In no time.

The previously mighty Black Fish demonic beast turned into a corpse in an instant.

"Bloop!"

The Ni Qiu, seeing this scene, was even more excited than Yunhe.

It kept spinning in the water several times in a row.

"Well, you've worked hard."

Yunhe encouragingly patted its head.

"Bloop! Bloop!"

The clueless Ni Qiu kept blowing bubbles, looking very happy.

It could feel that the Boss was probably praising it.

"Keep trying next time."

Huh?

Watching Yunhe swim toward Huanhu Dao with the Black Fish in its mouth, the Ni Qiu's body inexplicably stiffened.

The Boss's gaze, as if

An illusion, probably just an illusion.

The Ni Qiu, shaking its head, hurried to catch up.

And after Yunhe and the Ni Qiu had left for a while.

A larger black shadow appeared nearby.

It seemed to have smelled the pervasive bloody smell in the water, and the black shadow instantly became extremely violent.

This body of water quickly became a mess in the terrifying surging currents.

Finally, the black shadow could only carry its anger and leave angrily.

(End of chapter)