Chapter 5: The Jinx's Prediction Comes True

Over the next few days, aside from his cultivation, Xu Chen went out to collect dung every morning, but he did not go far, staying only within a hundred-mile radius of the mountain gate.

Of course, the harvest was certainly not much; whether it was one or two piles, or three or four, it all depended on luck and the experience he had summarized from years of dung-collecting. Although he never came back empty-handed each day, it could only be described as meager.

Additionally, if he was lucky, he could occasionally find a few low-grade herbs, but they were of little value—better than nothing, at most used to refine some Mortal Pills to trade with the sect or the Song Kingdom's imperial family, or to exchange for daily necessities like food and clothing for the mountain gate.

In reality, the herbs near this mountain gate had long been continuously scavenged by generations of Taiyuan Sect disciples, to the point of near extinction.

Aside from collecting dung, Xu Chen would go to the Medicine Garden two or three times every day to observe, but he discovered that ever since the Soul Returning Wood had sprouted buds on the first day, there had been no further changes; the new leaves did not show the slightest sign of growing, and the flower buds even seemed to be wilting.

I really am a jinx.

Xu Chen felt that his prediction had turned into reality so quickly.

By all logic, this situation absolutely should not be happening.

One must know that the Great Elder had used three Spirit Stones as fertilizer for the Soul Returning Wood all at once. At present, all the medicinal herbs in the entire Medicine Garden were growing wildly due to the influence of this abundant Spirit Qi, and many Spirit Medicines that usually looked like they were about to wither were now full of vitality, beginning to grow leaves and bloom.

This meant that the Soul Returning Wood sprouting and blooming was not due to the influence of the Spirit Qi, but because of some other reason.

Xu Chen pondered repeatedly and finally felt it might have something to do with that last pile of fresh Spirit Fox dung he had buried.

And to prove this, it was very simple: just go to the Spirit Fox Cave again, pick up a pile of fresh dung, and bring it back to test.

However...

Recalling the terrifying scene of the group of foxes restless and hissing after he left that day, Xu Chen felt his calves cramping and decided he could not take the risk.

He had wanted to tell the Third Elder about this, but after going to Zhaoyang Peak once, he found the Third Elder was in the middle of refining a Second-Grade Spirit Pill intended for the Emperor of the Song Kingdom. Since it was at a critical juncture, he dared not disturb him and could only return.

After observing for another three days, he discovered that the two flower buds had already shown obvious signs of withering, and even the leaves on a few new branches showed faint signs of turning yellow.

Now, Xu Chen was getting anxious.

Whether the Soul Returning Wood died or not was none of his business, but the Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans bestowed by the Great Elder were still on him. If it really died, not only would the reward be a hot potato, but if the Great Elder returned and flew into a rage, a beating would be the least of it—he could even have his cultivation crippled and be driven down the mountain. That consequence was too terrifying.

After much thought, Xu Chen finally gritted his teeth and decided to make another trip to the Spirit Fox Nest.

After all, seven or eight days had passed, and he had only stolen a few piles of dung; the group of foxes wouldn't hold a grudge. Besides, as neighbors for so many years, Taiyuan Sect disciples had stolen dung from the Spirit Fox Nest more than once or twice, and they had never been targeted or attacked by the foxes.

Thus, early the next morning, Xu Chen got up just as the sky brightened, washed up simply, gnawed on some dry rations, and then rode his First-Tier Flying Sword toward the Spirit Fox Nest.

This time, his goal was clear: to steal a pile of fresh dung, and if there wasn't any, he would turn around and leave.

Of course, safety first. Ten miles away from the valley of the Spirit Fox Cave, Xu Chen stopped to replenish his True Essence, then sneaked in, flying slowly at a low altitude against the mountain forest, landing half a mile from the cave, and then crept over slowly just as before.

This time it was still very smooth, and so smooth that it made Xu Chen feel a bit uneasy.

Because the valley was too quiet; there was not a single sound, and not even a bird could be seen.

"What is that?"

A dozen or so yards away from the cave, Xu Chen saw through the sparse branches that something seemed to be lying on the ground in front of the Spirit Fox Cave. He continued to move closer to look carefully and discovered it seemed to be several foxes of various sizes.

It seemed today was not an auspicious day. Xu Chen turned around and wanted to retreat on tiptoe, but he accidentally stepped on a dead branch. With a crisp "Crack!", the sound was very clear in the quiet valley.

"Damn it!"

Xu Chen threw out his Flying Sword without hesitation, jumped on it, and fled in a panic.

However, after flying for over ten miles in one breath, he found that it was still quiet behind him, with no foxes hissing or chasing after him.

He wiped away cold sweat and landed on a mountain ridge, waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, only to find that the group of foxes still had no movement.

Now he was a bit confused, and at the same time, his heart began to rapidly recall the scene he had just seen.

At this time, the morning sun had just risen in the east; this should be the best time for all animals to go out to forage.

Judging by his more than three years of dung-collecting experience, it was impossible for the foxes to all be lying outside the cave sunbathing early in the morning; after all, the timing was wrong.

So he decided to go back and take a closer look.

Not long after, Xu Chen rode his Flying Sword back to the previous spot. Through the sparse branches, the situation in front of the cave remained the same: several foxes were lying on the ground in a jumble, motionless.

Something was indeed wrong.

Xu Chen hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and picked up a stone, throwing it far toward the entrance of the cave. The group of foxes had absolutely no reaction.

Now, even a fool would know that something was completely wrong.

"Could it be that the whole nest of foxes is dead?"

Xu Chen muttered to himself, then tiptoed through the forest to approach the cave. When he reached about ten yards away, within the range his Divine Sense could cover, he released his Divine Sense to scan lightly, then let out a long breath. Sure enough, the six foxes of various sizes in front of the cave were all dead, without a trace of breath.

But he felt no joy of striking it rich; instead, his mood became even more tense and heavy.

This nest of foxes was quite powerful, with their territory spanning several hundred miles, and among them was an old fox that was about to reach the Second-Tier. To be wiped out in one go, it could only be a more formidable Demon Beast.

Second-Tier or Third-Tier?

Xu Chen couldn't help but shiver.

He hesitated for a long time, but eventually, curiosity overcame his reason. He reached out and took out two Spirit Talismans, clutching them in his hand, and walked slowly to the cave entrance.

One of these two Spirit Talismans was a Protective Talisman, which could release a layer of protective Spirit Qi to resist the full-force strike of at least a True Essence Late Stage cultivator. In the Taiyuan Sect, apart from the three Elders, almost no one could break it.

The other Jade Talisman stored a Magic Spell, and it was an area-of-effect spell; once activated, it would release five Wind Blades, with an attack power also reaching the full-force strike of a True Essence Late Stage cultivator.

This defense and attack could at least ensure he could retreat unscathed under the attack of a Second-Tier Demon Beast or Spirit Beast. As for how far he could run, it depended on how far his True Essence could support his flight.

Of course, if a Third-Tier or higher Demon Beast or Spirit Beast came, he would just have to wait for death. Unless the Great Elder came in person, he would only end up as dung.

Six foxes, mostly underage, and they looked like they had been dead for several days. A few of the small ones had already begun to rot, and yellowish-brown liquid was flowing everywhere on the ground, as if it were traces left after diarrhea. A foul stench permeated the air, making one feel nauseous.

Xu Chen poked them a few times with his foot, then pinched his nose to observe the surroundings, and finally, bracing himself, cautiously entered the cave.

However, having walked in only two yards, he saw another fox lying on the ground. Its size was not small, so it should have been an adult. Of course, it had also been dead for several days.

The stench inside the cave was even stronger.

Vaguely, it seemed that on the ground deeper inside, there was another fox lying there.

Xu Chen felt his heart pounding wildly. Holding his breath, he continued to walk inside. Sure enough, after walking three yards, he saw another dead fox. He continued to the fork in the road he had visited last time, and his body couldn't help but tremble. He discovered that in the branch cave where he had collected dung last time, several were piled up densely. He walked in and counted carefully; there were five in total.

That is to say, in the short distance of only a dozen or so yards from outside the cave to here, thirteen foxes had already died, more than half of which were adults.

And the total number of this nest of foxes was only a dozen or so.

In other words, this nest of foxes was basically wiped out, with at most three or four left.

Although he did not see that old Spirit Fox nearing the Second-Tier, Xu Chen's tense heart relaxed quite a bit, and at the same time, he felt an irrepressible excitement.

This time, he was truly going to strike it rich.

Ordinary, underage foxes have no value after death, but these adult, graded Spirit Foxes are valuable goods even when dead; one is worth at least one Spirit Stone, and of course, if caught alive, they could be sold for many times more Spirit Stones.

Through his observations along the way, he had already discovered that these foxes did not die from attacks by other Demon Beasts, but seemed to have died from poisoning.

Because as he entered the cave, there were traces of diarrhea left everywhere along the path.

What a formidable poison!

Xu Chen could not help but feel his heart start racing again.

Any animal can distinguish its food, and a group of Spirit Foxes, most of which already possess a modicum of intelligence, would absolutely not eat things indiscriminately; it would be understandable if one or two died of poisoning, but for an entire den to be poisoned to death is beyond comprehension.

Could they have been attacked by other highly venomous insects or snakes?

Xu Chen retreated from the left cave entrance in shock and uncertainty, stood at the fork leading to the depths of the cave on the right to think for a moment, and then, emboldened, slowly walked inside.

If you do not enter the tiger's den, you cannot get the tiger's cub; these foxes died under suspicious circumstances, and he had an urge to get to the bottom of it, plus he vaguely felt that the sudden blooming of the Soul Returning Wood should be related to whatever poisoned this group of foxes.

After all, that fresh pile of excrement he picked up last time seemed to show signs that the fox also had diarrhea.

Xu Chen walked unsteadily, using the dim light to head inside; this time, after walking for a full ten-plus zhang, he discovered another fox, a full three feet in size, dead on the path.

That was the fourteenth one.

Xu Chen's courage grew a bit more, and he followed the largest tunnel, winding his way deep inside; after a full quarter of an hour, his eyes suddenly brightened as a spacious cave several tens of zhang in circumference appeared, with a fissure in the ceiling several tens of zhang high through which bright light shone, and all around were ferns and vines, as well as the pitter-patter of dripping spring water.

There were also some moss and green wild plants on the cave floor, and gravel of all sizes everywhere, but the entire cave appeared relatively clean, and the air was still fresh, without any disgusting odors.

On the relatively dry side of the cave, there were nests made of dried grass and branches, which seemed to be the place where the fox den slept.

A gray-white fox with matted fur was curled up in the grass nest, motionless.