Chapter 408: The Experiment of Fushan Yue

This time, it finally succeeded.

However, He Lingchuan arrived, bringing with him more variables.

Two days later.

In this season, the banks of the Gale Tundra river were likewise bursting with flowers. Fluffy horsetails and dandelions, along with vibrant alpine azaleas, mountain plums, and irises, bloomed as far as the eye could see.

A small campsite had been set up by the river, where several people were burning firewood and setting up a pot, occasionally gazing at the distant Wind Devil Rock.

The majestic snow-capped peaks were hidden in the sky, shrouded in flowing clouds and mist, creating a magnificent sight.

These people were all subordinates of Fu Shanyue.

As dusk approached, Fu Liniao remained restless. The Young Master had insisted on undertaking such a crucial mission alone, and everyone worried about his safety.

“Would they succeed this time?” several subordinates had asked him multiple times.

Just then, someone dropped a branch and shouted, “The Young Master is back!”

Fu Jiu, startled, turned to look and indeed saw a lone rider galloping from afar.

The tundra was flat and offered excellent visibility. The rider also spotted them; the chestnut horse arrived in an instant, rearing up upon stopping and splashing up some muddy turf.

“We were so worried about you!” Fu Jiu said with a beaming smile, approaching to take the horse’s reins. “Young Master, how did it go?”

Fu Shanyue held up a wooden bottle, shaking it twice towards everyone. “Got it!”

His subordinates cheered with delight, exclaiming, “The Young Master is incredible, snatching it right from under their noses!”

Someone quickly scooped up a cup of hot water and handed it to him.

Fu Shanyue took it, guzzled it down, and then let out a sigh of satisfaction. “Ah, refreshing!”

Someone chuckled, “That bottle holding the treasure doesn’t look like much.”

“Indeed, the Monarch of Shanyu is quite stingy. At least a golden goblet or jade flask would be more fitting for such a precious natural treasure!”

Fu Jiu retorted impatiently, “Are the Monarch of Shanyu’s vision and taste the same as yours, you good-for-nothings?”

He asked Fu Shanyue, “Young Master, how do you plan to use it?”

Fu Shanyue pulled out the cork and extended the bottle towards him. “Smell it.”

Unsure of his intent, Fu Jiu hesitated, then leaned in to sniff it. “It smells wonderful.”

“Everyone else, have a sniff too.”

Several subordinates showed expressions of rapture. “It’s so fragrant and sweet, like honey.”

“It couldn’t just be honey, could it?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Would the Monarch of Shanyu secretly send a bottle of honey to Chiyan Kingdom?” Fu Jiu asked with concern. “Young Master, is there a problem?”

“It wasn’t easy to obtain, but we still need to conduct a test,” Fu Shanyue said, instructing two subordinates to catch some living creatures.

A quarter of an hour later, they brought back a spotted deer, two field mice, and a wild rabbit.

Fu Shanyue ordered his men to hold the two mice and the rabbit, and he personally dripped a single drop of the liquid from the wooden bottle into their mouths. “Alright, keep an eye on them to observe the effects.”

This was an experiment using the mice and rabbit. Fu Jiu observed, thinking that the Young Master was indeed still the same: outwardly rough but inwardly meticulous. Anyone who truly believed him to be reckless would have had their ashes scattered long ago.

Another person pointed to the sturdy spotted deer and asked, “What about this deer?”

The deer was too large and inconvenient to carry.

Fu Shanyue glanced at it. “Roast it and eat it.”

That night, the group camped by the river as usual.

The next morning, Fu Shanyue ambled over to the cages and saw that the mice and rabbit were still alive and appeared well, gnawing on dewy alfalfa through the bars of their cages.

The liquid in the bottle seemed non-toxic, but he recalled the expression of the young man on the goat, as if he were saying, “Why don’t you take a sip and see?”

Was he intentionally bluffing him?

Fu Shanyue fell into deep thought.

Fu Jiu’s footsteps sounded behind him. “Young Master?”

“Break camp, prepare to depart.”

“Where are we going?”

“Do you remember someone in Fufeng City tipping off the authorities, leading to our encirclement?” Fu Shanyue said grimly. “It’s time to settle accounts!”

For the next two days, the Stone Gate Merchant Association traveled with the escort team, providing them with considerable assistance.

Several other merchant associations also caught up, and seeing the Stone Gate Merchant Association’s excellent relationship with the escort team, they couldn’t help but stamp their feet in regret, lamenting that they had arrived too late to forge such connections.

The escort team’s injuries had been treated, their spirits revived, and even their horses had been replenished at the market. Thus, their gaze upon the other merchant associations remained condescending.

Those who don’t offer a hand in times of trouble shouldn’t expect recognition once danger has passed.

However, the Stone Gate Merchant Association was different. He Lingchuan even had connections with the Grand Tutor’s Residence. As long as Xiang Yunhuan’s position wasn’t completely ruined upon his return, this favor would still need to be repaid.

Of course, he was completely unaware that He Lingchuan had also made significant contributions to the Wind Devil’s escape from the root cage.

Consequently, interactions between the two sides became even closer.

The Second Manager of Stone Gate was so delighted he couldn’t stop smiling, deeply feeling that his and his brother’s decision to associate with He Lingchuan had been truly farsighted. In all their previous merchant journeys, they had never met so many influential people or incurred so many favors.

The Wind Devil’s attack had led to the complete annihilation of over a dozen merchant associations, which it had seized and used as projectiles from high altitudes. However, the Stone Gate Merchant Association, due to its distance and the presence of the Wind Lion Deity guarding the area, only lost over ten carriages and their goods, suffering minor damages, but gaining the friendship of Baoshu Kingdom.

What a way to do business!

He Lingchuan had barely slept these past few nights, dedicating his time to qi regulation and cultivation.

Everyone knew that the month following the Imperial Nectar’s descent was an excellent time for cultivation.

Even without using the Hundred Goodness Pills, he felt his inner energy circulate faster; the time it took to complete a full circulation cycle was reduced by another quarter compared to before.

He also attempted spiritual energy compression to create more space in his dantian.

He succeeded on his first try, though it was only an inconspicuous little drop.

This was remarkable progress.

Furthermore, these past few days, he didn’t just feel the effects when performing techniques during the specific hours of Zi and Wu; even during his daily activities like walking and eating, he felt the air was warm, moist, and fresh. With just a few deep breaths, his heart and lungs felt invigorated, his mind cleared, and his entire body seemed to possess inexhaustible strength.

Needless to say, the benefits for cultivation were immense.

One must remember that this was a high plateau, where the air was relatively thin, making it less comfortable for the human body.

He had asked many people, and they all shared the same feeling, indicating that this was a universal blessing from heaven and earth, not something he alone enjoyed. Even the suburban fields were teeming with vibrant grass and chirping birds, more abundant than in previous years.

Purple alfalfa, which once only grew ankle-high, now incredibly reached waist-level; even the most common cabbage white butterflies were appearing as large as half a palm.

Changes always begin in the most inconspicuous corners.

In other words, the spiritual energy had indeed become denser, subtly permeating everything.

He Lingchuan had heard of such a phenomenon when attending public lectures at the Immortal Inquiry Hall in Panlong City. An outbreak of Imperial Nectar would always lead to an increased concentration of spiritual energy in the world, as even if spiritual rain descended from the heavens, terrestrial beings could only absorb so much. Most of the Imperial Nectar would still sink into the earth’s surface, merging with mountains and rivers.

Therefore, for a considerably long period in the future, it would slowly benefit all living beings.

Don’t forget, the Imperial Nectar had erupted twice within a single year.

The previous time was at the end of last year; although the quantity was small, it was better than nothing.

One should know that its last visit to the human realm was decades ago.

Now, after only a few months, it had returned, and on a much larger scale.

In ancient times, all things grew amidst abundant spiritual energy, allowing powerful demons and immortals to emerge.

So, the question arose: why did the concentration of spiritual energy gradually decrease later on?

Some believed that the damage caused by the natural disaster three thousand years ago had not yet dissipated, leading to the dispersal of spiritual energy in this realm.

Others believed that while the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was slowly recovering, it was being consumed faster than it accumulated, thus causing it to dry up. As for how it was consumed, that remained unknown.

The world was vast, and spiritual energy manifested in many forms, while the reasons for its consumption were equally varied and bizarre. Which one could be considered the primary cause?

No one could explain it clearly, because no one could prove it.

In any case, He Lingchuan only needed to seize the current feast of spiritual energy.

Aligning with the times and acting accordingly was more important than one’s own efforts.

After leaving the Gale Tundra, the escort team’s journey was smooth sailing, encountering no further incidents.

The escort team would continue north, while the Stone Gate Merchant Association planned to stop to unload and order goods, so the two parties parted ways in Tongcheng.

Tongcheng, true to its name, was renowned for its high-quality tung oil. This substance was used for wood preservation, providing excellent anti-corrosion and anti-erosion effects when applied to wooden surfaces, making its uses very widespread. As houses were built of wood, tung oil was naturally a consistently purchased commodity for major merchant associations.

Local artisans also produced various carved toys and lacquerware.

In addition, the mountains and forests near Tongcheng yielded various medicinal herbs. Deer antler and ginseng were common, and this season also brought forth many wild mountain mushrooms, which, once dried, had a unique flavor. Who wouldn’t want to take some with them when they left?

Not to mention, precious maca was also found here. The Stone Gate Merchant Association had reliable, long-term partners in Tongcheng; placing orders now and picking up goods on their return journey meant they could sell them for triple the price back in Fu Kingdom.

He Lingchuan had been eating mushroom hotpot for several days, adding some local quails or ham, and he had to admit the soup was truly rich and delicious. Different mushrooms and different soup bases offered completely distinct flavors.

The Second Manager of Stone Gate, however, was quite unlucky. He ate with He Lingchuan, who was fine, but he himself suffered from mild poisoning, feeling dizzy and seeing little figures running everywhere.

Fortunately, local doctors were experienced and administered the correct antidote, and he recovered.

That day was the New Moon, with the moon hidden and the wind high. Without a lamp, one couldn’t see ten feet beyond the courtyard, only hear the grand chorus of crickets in the brick cracks.

A gust of wind blew, causing the large tree next to the inn to sway.

Just as the noise reached its peak, a dark figure suddenly flipped down from the rooftop, swiftly forcing open the wooden window of He Lingchuan’s room!

It was as if a strong wind had pushed open the wooden window; ordinary guests would go and close it.

But there was no one in the room, allowing the wooden window to creak idly.

The dark figure waited for a few breaths, then leapt through the window into the room, moving with considerable agility.

However, the cloaked figure walked around the room, especially pausing by the bed, only then confirming that the room was empty. The bedding on the bed had merely been arranged to resemble someone sleeping in the dim light.

Upon seeing this, he knew something was amiss and lunged towards the windowsill, intending to exit the way he came.

To his surprise, he suddenly couldn’t move.

A talisman, the Ground Trap Array, had been placed on the floor in front of the bed. Anyone carelessly walking over it would find their first two steps fine, but their next two would sink into a mire, unable to be lifted.

Coincidentally, He Lingchuan only stayed in large rooms, so this person was far from both the bed and the table, unable to reach them even with an extended weapon.

Just as he was about to throw a grappling hook towards the beam, a short, sharp scream suddenly rang out.