Chapter 9

River Gully Market.

The sunlight shining down became somewhat more scorching, losing a bit of its warmth.

Time always passes especially quickly in tranquility.

In the lush grasslands, Yunhe wore a coarse cloth short shirt.

Before the sun even set today, he formed a hand seal and summoned back the lone spirit bee that had been toiling diligently in the thickets.

As the spirit bees returned to the hive, Yunhe suddenly felt his back grow a bit heavier.

"The accumulation speed of spring spirit honey is indeed fast."

Ordinary bees can harvest honey several times a year in places with abundant nectar, and spirit bees are no different.

Beneath River Gully Market lies a hidden spirit vein; although the main spiritual power is drawn off by the market's owner, the Wang Clan, via a formation and only supplied to a few rented caverns, the vein still makes the spiritual aura around the market far richer than that of the wilderness.

Moreover, the speed at which spirit bees gather spirit honey depends not only on the flourishing of the flowers but also greatly on the density of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.

He opened the beehive.

Seeing the honeycombs filled to the brim inside, Yunhe revealed the satisfied joy of a laborer.

These honeycombs, with just a little processing, become the purest spirit honey, which can be exchanged for a considerable amount of spirit crystals.

Of course, what truly satisfied him was not merely these ordinary spirit honeys.

One can see that, in the opened hive, there are several honeycombs, and the one at the far edge and corner displays a color completely different from the golden hue of ordinary spirit honeycombs.

It presents a dark, deep red.

Red Pattern Spirit Honey!

Although its quantity cannot compare to that of spirit honeycombs, the spiritual power density flowing within it is something ordinary spirit honey cannot match.

"What a pity, the number of Red Pattern Spirit Bees is still few."

Having thought this, Yunhe once again formed a hand seal.

"Buzz—"

Only seen, from the lush thickets flew ten spirit bees bearing dark red patterns on their bodies.

Upon careful observation, one would find that among these ten Red Pattern Spirit Bees, nine have two red stripes on their abdomens.

Only one, the largest, about the size of a fist, astonishingly bears five strange red stripes on its abdomen!

This group of Red Pattern Spirit Bees is the result of Yunhe's efforts over this period.

After transforming ten spirit bees into Red Pattern Spirit Bees, reaching the limit of how many such bees his current cultivation base and the 'Bee Control Technique' could manage, he then fed all the subsequently hunted Black Ring Wasps to that same Red Pattern Spirit Bee.

This caused it to grow from three stripes to five stripes in a short time.

Whether in size, demonic power, or combat ability, it made considerable progress.

Even now, facing a single Black Ring Wasp one-on-one, it can subdue and kill it after spending some time.

It is no longer comparable to the feeble spirit bee it once was.

In fact, Yunhe is very curious to see just how many stripes this Red Pattern Spirit Bee, an unintended product of his, must attain before it can fully metamorphose into a true demonic beast.

But constrained by the rank limitation of the 'Bee Control Technique,' he dare not truly strive to cultivate this five-striped Red Pattern Spirit Bee during this period.

If it were to lose control, even run away or rebel, that would be a loss not worth the gain.

"At least it has initially taken shape and possesses some combat capability."

Watching the ten Red Pattern Spirit Bees circling around him in flight.

"If only there were a higher, more profound bee‑control technique."

With a thought, the ten Red Pattern Spirit Bees clung tightly to his body, hiding beneath his hemp garment.

He covered the hive lid, shouldered his bamboo basket, and hurried toward the shanty district.

He returned home.

Immediately he took out all the honeycombs from the hive and fetched a pottery jar.

Refining the honey is actually quite simple.

Soon he obtained a full five jars of spirit honey, plus a heap of honey dregs.

Four of those jars are ordinary spirit honey.

And there is one jar of Red Pattern Spirit Honey.

He carefully hid the jar filled to the brim with Red Pattern Spirit Honey in a concealed compartment beneath his straw mat.

Taking the four jars of ordinary spirit honey, he once again shouldered his bamboo basket and went out.

He headed straight for the market.

This time, upon arriving at the market, he did not wander about aimlessly.

Instead, he went to a small house that looked rather unremarkable.

As he entered the house, he happened to encounter a cultivator dressed similarly to him, also carrying a bamboo basket on his back, walking out with a bitter expression.

Both being spirit bee farmers, although they did not know each other, Yunhe still politely nodded in greeting.

He entered the house.

He saw a rotund cultivator in a long robe lying leisurely in a rocking chair, fanning himself with a fan, occasionally sipping some unknown tea, appearing quite at ease.

"Yunhe."

Seeing Yunhe enter, the plump cultivator broke into a smile, his eyes narrowing into slits, and gave a casual greeting.

"Manager Wang."

Yunhe, however, had to force an apologetic smile and quickly stepped forward.

This Manager Wang is the person in charge of all spiritual farmers in River Gully Market; whether it be spirit bee farmers like Yunhe or cultivators of spirit rice and spirit plants, they all fall under his jurisdiction.

In the entire River Gully Market, the planting plots of the spirit plant farmers and the bee‑keeping grounds of the spirit bee farmers are all planned and divided by him.

Without exaggeration, he holds the life and death of most of the spiritual farmers in River Gully Market in his hands.

You're here to turn in spirit honey, right?

Wang steward shook his fan and sighed, "It seems Master Liuyun wasn't lying—this year the River Gully Market is really going to have a bumper harvest. You spirit bee farmers came so early to turn in spirit honey; this hasn't happened in years."

It's all thanks to the Wang steward's capable management; we little spirit bee farmers are merely benefiting from his patronage.

Yunhe flattered him while taking out a small cloth bag and discreetly passing it over.

The Wang steward took the bag with practiced ease, giving it a light heft.

Instantly, the smile on his face grew richer.

Still, you little brat, you know how to behave, you know how to behave.

Saying that, he looked toward Yunhe as he took out four clay jars, narrowing his eyes.

He casually opened one and gave it a light sniff.

Mm, the quality is not bad.

Then he saw the Wang steward skillfully place two of the jars under the table and shake his fan again.

As for these remaining two jars, are you planning to keep them for yourself or

Yunhe stepped forward to help, placing the remaining two jars under the table as well, saying, "Of course I'll also turn them over to the Wang Clan."

There's no shop in the entire River Gully Market that buys spirit honey; the Wang Clan controls this tightly.

Actually, it's not just spirit honey.

The market doesn't even have a shop that buys spirit rice.

These agricultural products are purchased exclusively by the Wang Clan; no other faction dares or would meddle in this business.

So although according to the rules Yunhe only needs to turn over half of his harvest as tax,

but in fact, if he doesn't keep any for himself, he can only sell it to the Wang Clan.

It's just the price.

Very good, the master won't shortchange you; these two jars of spirit honey

The Wang steward shook his fan, smacked his lips, and with a flick of his plump palm, two gleaming stones flowing with spiritual power were tossed onto the table.

Just two low-grade Ling Stones.

Thank you, Wang steward.

Yunhe hurriedly tucked the two low-grade Ling Stones into his waist, putting on a show of profuse gratitude.

Hmm.

After the purchase was completed, the Wang steward leaned back in his chair again, returning to his previous leisurely demeanor.

He let his eyes droop.

Yunhe still had some tact, and hurriedly withdrew.

As soon as he stepped out of the room,

his face darkened.

Damn it! In the black market, spirit honey sells for two low-grade Ling Stones per jar, and the purchase price is at least one low-grade Ling Stone for fifty spirit crystals—this is even blacker than the black market!

No wonder none of the spirit farmers who walk in here can walk out smiling.

Like geese stripped of their feathers.

But there's nothing to be done.

Besides the market, only the black market buys spirit honey.

But going to the black market to sell spirit honey is not only risky, one might also get sabotaged.

The spirit bee farmer who initially told Yunhe about the black market price for spirit honey had his beekeeping grounds reassigned the following year, sending him to an extremely remote place with scattered spiritual energy; over the year he not only failed to earn any spirit stones, but also lost many bees due to the harsh environment.

This Wang steward appears broad-minded and stout, but in reality he is a person with a very small mind.

Behind his back, the spirit farmers all call him a 'bloodsucking leech worm.'

Yunhe little brother, going to tend the spirit bees?

Inside the spirit farmer shop.

Yunhe, carrying a bamboo box, entered the shop and an old farmer–like cultivator came up to greet him.

Yeah, Lao He, can you give me a discount?

How could I? It's all rules set by the master; I'm just a hired hand.

Lao He, his mouth cracked open showing only three or four yellow teeth, waved his hands repeatedly.

Lao He used to be a spirit bee farmer as well.

But he had a fine daughter who married into the Wang Clan.

Although she was merely a concubine of the Wang Clan's young master, she nevertheless managed to please him quite well.

Rumor has it that she recently gave birth to a big, fat boy who also possesses spiritual roots, and thanks to the Wang Clan young master's machinations, she helped Lao He secure the position of spirit bee overseer at the spirit farmer shop.

In the shantytown, who knows how many people who know Lao He feel envious, secretly striving in hopes that their own children might catch the Wang Clan's eye—even if just becoming a Wang Clan guard would make them stand head and shoulders above others.

Yunhe pursed his lips.

He also knew it was a pointless question.

Give me fifteen baby bees.

Sure thing.

This time Lao He was quite straightforward, turning around to fetch a beehive from the shelf.

With tweezers he took out fifteen newly hatched spirit bee larvae.

Exactly, this is another means by which the Wang Clan controls Yunhe and the other spirit farmers.

Controlling the bee stock.

In Yunhe's beehive, there is no queen bee!

Ordinary bees naturally need a queen bee and the whole colony to operate smoothly.

Spirit bee farmers have the 'Bee Control Technique,' so they indeed don't need a queen bee.

But without a queen bee, spirit bee farmers cannot independently produce larvae and must purchase them from the Wang Clan's spirit farm shop.

Spirit bee farmers are controlled in their bee stock, and spirit planters are controlled in their seeds; it's the same for both.

This is also one of the Wang Clan's methods to recoup spirit stones and spirit crystals.

In short, after layers of exploitation, the spirit stones that spirit farmers can save over a year are pitifully few.

"How did you suddenly get so many larvae? Could it be that Yun Xiao Ge's cultivation base has improved?"

Soon, Lao He handed over the fifteen larvae wrapped in oil paper, smiling and teasing.

Yunhe also had to take out fifteen spirit crystals, muttering:

"What the heck? Lately, my patch somehow got a swarm of black-ring hornets, causing me heavy losses."

Upon hearing about the black-ring hornets, Lao He, who used to be a spirit bee farmer, naturally knew the danger, and his expression changed slightly.

"I'll report to the superiors after I finish work later."

Yunhe waved his hand.

"I already reported it earlier."

"That's ridiculous; it would be strange if the Wang Clan actually cared."

An ordinary black-ring hornet nest at least requires a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator to reliably remove it; a tougher one might not even be certain for a late Foundation Establishment cultivator—using manpower isn't a resource, right?

As for saying, spirit honey production has decreased?

With so many spirit bee farmers, a decrease of one or two is hardly a big deal.

Moreover, the ones who should be worried about the decrease are the spirit bee farmers themselves; they will definitely bring in more larvae to guarantee output, which also lets the Wang Clan exploit more.

Lao He gave an embarrassed laugh, obviously well versed in the ins and outs.

"Let's go, Lao He."

Watching Yunhe leave, Lao He's expression went through a few changes, and he finally let out a weary sigh.

"Ah"

"Also good, with the black-ring hornet as a pretext, bringing in spirit bees won't draw too much attention."

Actually, Yunhe's mood on the way back wasn't that bad.

He originally had fifty spirit bees.

Ten of them had mutated into Red Pattern Spirit Bees, leaving only forty, and the spirit honey yield had somewhat decreased.

Now he's adding fifteen spirit bees.

This both guarantees the spirit honey output and ensures sufficient bee stock.

In the future, if his cultivation base improves or he finds a more profound 'Bee Control Technique,' he can quickly replenish the number of Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

"I have a feeling that the opportunity to break through to the third layer of Foundation Establishment may be in these few days."

After half a year of bitter cultivation with no progress, now, with the Demon Beast Body providing nourishment, his training speed has greatly increased.

Just over a month has passed, and he has already touched the bottleneck of the second layer of Foundation Establishment, and could break through to the third layer at any time.

Thinking of this, Yunhe's steps unconsciously quickened a bit.

"Home, cultivate!"

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(End of chapter)