[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-84":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317364,4532,"Chapter 84: Three Years of Dao Cultivation (Requesting Monthly Votes)","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>Returning to the Daoist temple, he went straight to ask his second senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second senior brother glanced at it and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you first told me about it, I knew—the opportunity you found in the mountains was probably this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue and the junior sister both stared at him curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the fox dug holes in the blue stone slab, and even when it couldn’t dig anything out, it kept digging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what it is either, but Immortal Source Temple calls it ‘Dragon’s Eye,’ while we call it ‘Dan Fruit,’” the second senior brother said with a smile. “They call it ‘Dragon’s Eye’ because it’s perfectly round, and there’s a legend that a dragon once dwelled here. We call it ‘Dan Fruit’ because it’s also perfectly round, like a pill, and there’s an ancient legend that an emperor once brewed pills here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused for a moment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Fuxiu Temple does have records from past elders who practiced alchemy, mentioning its origin—but we don’t know if they’re true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What origin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s said that ancient immortals lived in Yishan, often playing chess and drinking tea atop Tiandoufeng, eating rare celestial fruits. After eating them, they tossed the seeds down the mountain. If someone was fortunate enough, the seeds would take root and sprout, becoming one of the few elusive spiritual fruits found in these mountains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are its effects?” Lin Jue asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If wild birds or beasts eat it, even if they were utterly ordinary before, they instantly become spirits. If spirits or ghosts in the mountains eat it, their spiritual intelligence and innate talent increase; their Dao cultivation and power don’t surge much, but it’s equivalent to decades of diligent practice without any spiritual methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about humans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ordinary people don’t know about it—no one’s ever been recorded eating it. If a Dao cultivator eats it, it immediately equals three years of ordinary spiritual practice. Afterwards, their cultivation will accelerate by several tenths for at least a few years, up to ten. When they contemplate the spiritual resonance of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers, it’s as if aided by divine intervention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So powerful!” Lin Jue was surprised. “Can it be used to brew pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What in this world can’t be used to brew pills? But such rare items are hard enough to find—where would we even get a pill formula for it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we can only eat it raw?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue thought for a moment. Since it was neither a spell nor a pill, the ancient book likely wouldn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat it, eat it—this is the only chance you’ll ever get,” the second senior brother said casually. “Many extraordinary spiritual fruits and pills share this trait: their effects overlap, and you can only consume one in your lifetime. Eating more yields drastically weaker results. Unless your second fruit is significantly better, you’ll only gain a little extra potency—but a fundamental transformation is nearly impossible. Unless you get the very one the immortals themselves ate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like the Giant Spirit Pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Giant Spirit Pill can be taken three times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So all the senior brothers have eaten them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the effect of a second fruit was so poor—barely better than pills made from ordinary spiritual plants—there’d be no point spending so much effort watering it, nor wasting such a rare treasure. Besides, it wasn’t something you could find just anywhere, and watering it required vast amounts of spiritual liquid, consuming countless spiritual plants—it simply wasn’t worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue now understood its value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we eat the seeds, can we plant them again?” the junior sister asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one’s ever grown one from seed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister looked disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue wore a thoughtful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hometown, Shu Village, there was a legend that Third Aunt had sneaked into Yishan, stolen a celestial peach, eaten it, and become an immortal. Actually, they did eat the celestial peach—but people also built temples for them. No one knows whether it was the peach’s power or the temple’s incense that made them immortal; perhaps each contributed a portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered what kind of celestial fruit they’d encountered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they wandered into the immortals’ orchard by accident and plucked the original fruit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Fuxiu Temple elders’ records were true, a little speculation suggested that after the celestial fruit was eaten, its seed fell to the ground and sprouted, discovered and cultivated by mountain spirits. But the spirits’ cultivation could never match the immortals’ care, so the resulting spiritual fruit was weaker. After eating it, the seed could no longer grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Golden Rooster companion would be disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the leaves and trunk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? The trunk you got is quite thick,” the second senior brother said, looking down, seemingly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We got the lowest part.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I got the lowest part too, but mine was thinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe we watered it more often, or maybe more spirits were involved this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You got lucky,” the second senior brother chuckled, not pressing further. “I don’t know its use, but it’s good for making Bean Soldiers. Two of your third senior brother’s three most powerful Bean Soldiers were carved from it, and the shields and bows of his other soldiers were carved from it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only two for your third senior brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think everyone has your luck? Do you think every trunk is perfectly suited for Bean Soldiers? Not every tree you find is this big—some get only branches, no trunk at all. But even those are enough for your third senior brother to make a bow or a spear,” the second senior brother said. “And haven’t you forgotten? Your first senior brother is also learning Bean Soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, whenever any senior brother in the temple found a suitable trunk or branch, no matter how precious, they always gave it to the first and third senior brothers—only they could use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple had so few people, and the mountains were quiet and dull—even cooking was rotated. They weren’t just bound by fate; they helped each other. Who else would they save it for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Jue thought this, he felt the junior sister’s gaze on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the leaves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master used them to make tea—terrible taste. I touched their medicinal properties and used them to brew pills, but the effect was barely better than ordinary mountain spiritual plants. Your third senior brother even chewed a few leaves—if you’re curious, ask him how they taste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the second senior brother suddenly remembered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way! Aren’t you going to the Mingchao Mountain Grand Rite? Take it there and ask around. If you find even one knowledgeable Daoist, you can trade it for something better than tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go eat the fruit quickly,” the second senior brother waved. “The spiritual resonance inside is too strong—collection methods can’t seal or preserve it. It’ll dissipate within a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue nodded, thanked his second senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, before he even stepped through the temple gate after leaving the Alchemy Pavilion, all three trunks had been assigned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the junior sister held one Dan Fruit in her hand; Lin Jue held two. The fox, carefree, was leaping and running, then suddenly jumped sideways onto a pine tree, light as a feather, kicked off the trunk, landed back on the ground, and kept running without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuyao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the call, it stopped, tilting its head to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Jue beckon, it strolled back slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue pulled out one of the fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say ordinary beasts that eat one instantly become spirits. This one’s for you—see if you can become a spirit yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed it toward the fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox twisted its head and caught it effortlessly, then stared at Lin Jue strangely—as if it had always thought it was just a helper, never expecting to actually get a share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait till I eat mine first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue glanced at the Dan Fruit, too lazy to wash it—he wiped it roughly on his robe and bit into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his lips touched it, an exotic fragrance flooded his mouth, then rushed into his nose, surging to his skull—a sensation of profound comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crunch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The juice was audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt swallowed, yet also flowed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ate half in one bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the ancient book didn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue then told the fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed the remaining half into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, the fox tilted its head back and swallowed the egg-sized fruit in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue chewed thoughtfully, savoring the lingering taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely recalled the thousand-day wine from Langtou Mountain—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both shared one trait: even without any spiritual resonance or other effects, their flavor alone made you crave them endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trouble!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, his head felt drowsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drowsiness intensified rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Junior sister, go back inside to eat yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue spoke, already walking back to his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glance out of the corner of his eye showed the fox seemed perfectly fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no time to think—he collapsed onto the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and fell asleep before even digesting or absorbing anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He woke three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the senior brothers wore gloomy faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue sat in the Moving Mountain Hall, lost in thought, carefully sensing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he clearly felt was the increase in his Dao cultivation and power. The second senior brother said it equaled three years of ordinary cultivation. This fruit, said to be especially well-developed and large, might have been even stronger. But he didn’t know how an ordinary cultivator would feel it—Lin Jue’s own result fell far short of three years of his own hard work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even one year’s worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cultivation and power hadn’t even doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his cultivation was simply too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for other sensations, they were profoundly mysterious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue compared notes with the junior sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her experience was similar, but her cultivation increase was noticeably greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to her, it nearly doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s probably because her cultivation base was never as strong as Lin Jue’s, but her talent is still exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about you, Senior Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About the same, about the same...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue turned his gaze to the little fox outside the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fox had not attained spirit, nor showed any obvious change. It could not speak, so Lin Jue could not ask it anything. According to his senior brothers, during these past few days, both he and the little sister had been unconscious, but this little fox stayed perfectly awake every day, hopping and skipping, full of boundless energy, even going up the mountain to catch a wild chicken and bringing it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re still keeping that wild chicken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should’ve told me earlier that you found a Dan Fruit Tree—especially a big one! It’s useless to the other senior brothers, but for me, it’s perfect material for making Bean Soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up,” the second senior brother glared at him. “You’re supposed to extract one vial of Spirit Liquid every seven days—do you think you can do it yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you know? My bond with Little Brother is stronger than gold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue snapped out of his thoughts and said, “Third Senior Brother, I got three sections of tree trunk—all usable for making Bean Soldiers. Want me to give you one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go to hell,” the third senior brother sighed. “Get ready properly—we’re leaving for Mingchou Mountain tomorrow. If we wait any longer, we’ll have to march every single day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mingchou Mountain is two thousand li away from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, the roads are endless—mountains stretch on, rivers stretch on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue rose and returned to his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tested his spells; with his cultivation level risen, their power had indeed increased greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining effects would have to be observed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then took out his long-unused Book Satchel, packed in a spare Daoist robe and undergarments. In the past half-year, Daoists going down the mountain almost always carried an iron sword—but Lin Jue stared at the firewood axe and staff by the wall, hesitated briefly, then placed the firewood axe inside the Book Satchel, and set the staff beside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll pack the rest of the odds and ends tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly he noticed something odd in the room—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue lifted his head, his gaze shifting, and saw mountain wind pouring through the window, carrying a strand of fox fur drifting in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down—the fox was right beside his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad, huh? Such a rare and powerful Dan Fruit, and all it did was make you shed fur?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox looked up at him, its expression innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue ignored it and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll make some tǎguǒ for the road first.\u003C\u002Fp>",2140,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a48bc86de07d21eb55bae5259899d99c9eab6b8e34136ac1f2b6eab22dc60b88","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-85","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-83",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]