Chapter 104: Ammonite

Time slowly passed. Today's red sunset glow was more vibrant than usual; watching it for an extended period even evoked an indescribable sense of eeriness, as if someone were painting the sky with blood. Faintly, strands of golden threads seemed to intertwine within it. This sight even drew the attention of the seven mountain peaks of the Seven Blood Eyes Sect. Many cultivators living on the mountains emerged from their cave dwellings, gazing towards the horizon with eyes full of wonder.

Many disciples in the various ports of the harbor also noticed all this.

Xu Qing, inside his Dharma Boat at Port 79, also noticed the unusual red glow in the sky. After checking multiple times, he hastened his explanation of Senior Sister Ding's questions. He then put the spirit stone voucher worth one hundred spirit stones into his pocket and looked up at the sky again.

"This scene... it seems I've read a description of it somewhere," Xu Qing mused, searching his memories of the Sea Records he had read, looking for the source of this familiar sensation.

The red glow didn't last long, gradually fading as if it wished to hold onto the setting sun with its beauty. But the sun in the sky still set. Senior Sister Ding noticed it was getting late and had to bid farewell. Before leaving, Senior Sister Ding carefully scrutinized Xu Qing. Her gaze suddenly sharpened; she hadn't paid much attention to his cultivation level before, but now, after observing him, her expression changed, and she immediately spoke.

"Junior Brother Xu, your cultivation... have you reached Great Perfection?" Senior Sister Ding's face showed disbelief.

Although Xu Qing had concealed it somewhat, it was clear that the cultivation technique Ding Xue practiced was different, seemingly allowing her to perceive others' spiritual energy more clearly. Thus, upon sensing Xu Qing's cultivation fluctuations, her mind was greatly stirred. She knew Xu Qing was strong, but her current perception exceeded her expectations, and the light in her eyes intensified.

"Junior Brother Xu, since you're about to reach Foundation Establishment, do you know anything about it?"

Xu Qing glanced at Senior Sister Ding, feeling slightly wary that his cultivation level had been discerned. After shaking his head, he instinctively activated the Dharma Boat's defenses, subtly imbuing it with a hint of spiritual energy.

"Oh, I know," Senior Sister Ding said, her face lighting up with a joyful smile. "My aunt has explained these things to me countless times." As she spoke, Ding Xue rummaged through her storage bag, took out three jade slips, and handed them to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was taken aback. He knew that information about Foundation Establishment was extremely expensive within the sect. As he looked at the three jade slips before him, he was deeply tempted, yet he understood that nothing in this world came for free; everything was essentially an exchange.

"How many spirit stones?" Xu Qing asked.

Ding Xue smiled upon hearing his question. "Junior Brother Xu, you're being too formal. If it weren't for you on the sea back then, I would hardly have reached the West Coral Islands so smoothly. Given our shared experience at sea, these few items are nothing. Besides, you also taught me a lot about herbs and plants. Moreover, with your cultivation, any other core disciple would want to befriend you; I merely got a head start. If you feel uneasy taking them, then someday if I'm in danger, you can just help me once." With that, Senior Sister Ding placed the jade slips nearby.

Without disturbing him further, she smiled faintly at Xu Qing. "Actually, I'm still the one getting the better deal this way, Junior Brother Xu. I'll take my leave now."

With that, Senior Sister Ding swayed, and after Xu Qing opened the defenses, she left the Dharma Boat.

Stepping onto the shore, she felt very joyful. Eager to share, she took out her sound transmission jade slip as she walked and happily chatted with a few of her close female friends in the sect. Unlike men, women generally have a strong desire to share, especially when they encounter an exceptionally striking person of the opposite sex. This trait is difficult for those struggling with the hardships of the mundane world to possess, but for core disciples who have been well-protected since childhood, it's a common state. Just as winter in the harbor differs from winter in the Red Plains, the world is different for different people. In fact, after she returned, she had already told her close friends about encountering Xu Qing during her outing. Her arrival this time was only after being egged on by a few of them, which gave her the courage.

"Just you wait, girls. I'll definitely win over this little Xu," she transmitted proudly.

As Senior Sister Ding transmitted proudly, Zhao Zhongheng's figure finally appeared in Port 79 in the distance, rushing towards her.

"Senior Sister Ding... did that Xu fellow do anything to you? I've come to help you!" His voice reached Ding Xue's ears before he even arrived.

"How absurd!" Ding Xue frowned. She looked up and glanced at Zhao Zhongheng. With a hint of impatience on her face, she walked away.

Zhao Zhongheng quickly chased after her. Although Ding Xue ignored him, he still followed, his resolve unwavering. "Ding Xue, someday you'll realize that many people in your life are merely fleeting birds passing by. Only I, Zhao Zhongheng, will accompany you steadfastly, like the ocean. Once you grow accustomed to my presence, you will understand my importance. What are mere passersby? Even if there are many more, I am different from them!"

Zhao Zhongheng's expression was resolute. He glanced sideways at Xu Qing's Dharma Boat, intense jealousy surging within him. But recalling the opponent's formidable cultivation and the terrifying reputation of the Captain of the Sixth Squad, he dared not fully reveal his emotions, only clenching his teeth inwardly. "So what if he has a face like that?" he thought. "Compared to my persistence and companionship, what is that? Time will prove everything!"

Amidst Zhao Zhongheng's fluctuating emotions, as the red glow in the sky dissipated and the sun set, the sea surface, now dark from the absence of light, suddenly underwent a peculiar change. Countless dazzling lights suddenly shimmered on the sea outside the harbor. They seemed to illuminate the sky itself, making their splendor even more apparent, and drawing the attention of all the ports of the Seven Blood Eyes Sect. Gradually, murmurs of astonishment spread. Figures emerged from the Dharma Boats in various ports, and even many people on shore, upon discovering this scene, quickly looked over.

Outside the Seven Blood Eyes harbor, as the dazzling lights appeared, they soon transformed into thread-like strands. They rapidly flowed in bundles across the sea surface, weaving and moving, gradually forming dense, continuous patches. Looking out, it seemed as if the entire sea surface outside the bay was suffused with these light beams, as if it had transformed into a starry sky streaked with countless meteors. Furthermore, amidst this shimmering light, these countless light beams drifted past the harbor's gates, spreading throughout all the ports.

As this scene increasingly astonished the Seven Blood Eyes cultivators, Xu Qing, his eyes shining with wonder, stood on his Dharma Boat and watched. He noticed that the creatures emitting the light beams were palm-sized, snail-like organisms. Their elongated bodies seemed to possess nerves that naturally generated light. They pulsed and flickered, creating this stunningly beautiful scene.

"Jushi..." Xu Qing recalled the description in the Sea Records, and his eyes lit up.

The Sea Records didn't contain many descriptions of Jushi. It only mentioned that if the red glow contained gold, this phenomenon would occasionally appear in the sea after the glow dissipated. It didn't elaborate further, merely stating that they were harmless. However, Xu Qing knew from the thick herbal grimoire left by Master Bai that Jushi were also a rare medicinal ingredient found in the sea, particularly effective in harmonizing and reducing the intensity of medicinal effects.

At the same time, Senior Sister Ding and Zhao Zhongheng, who had not yet left Port 79, also noticed this scene. Senior Sister Ding gazed at the dazzling sea surface, somewhat lost in thought. Zhao Zhongheng, standing nearby, quickly spoke.

"Senior Sister, I know what these are," he said. "They're Jushi, also known as Star-Seed Snails. They occasionally surface after a red glow. They are utterly useless, only emitting light. Besides being pretty, they're good for nothing." Zhao Zhongheng glanced at Xu Qing in the distance and spoke loudly.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm. He had no time to bother with Zhao Zhongheng's implied taunts, nor did he even listen carefully. At this moment, he stood at the bow of the boat, his entire attention focused on the sea surface. As the seawater undulated, the Jushi, emitting brilliant light beams, intertwined and then separated. As their respective lights intertwined, some synchronized, while others became chaotic. Those that synchronized often intertwined and no longer separated. Those that were chaotic would often touch briefly and then depart from each other, as if each was searching for something. Xu Qing's attention was on the latter.

Knowledge Master Bai had once imparted flashed in his mind. He watched the chaotically separating and constantly moving Jushi, silently waiting for his chance. Not all Jushi could become medicinal ingredients. He needed to wait for male Jushi that had searched for a synchronized partner for a long time without success. Only this type would eventually transform into medicinal stones beneficial for cultivation due to certain internal mutations.

Xu Qing's silence made Zhao Zhongheng even more smug. He raised his chin high, an arrogant look on his face. "There are records of these things in the sect," Zhao Zhongheng said. "They're not very useful and will disappear soon."

Senior Sister Ding looked at the Jushi. Upon hearing Zhao Zhongheng's words, a hint of disgust appeared in her expression, and she spoke faintly. "It's good that they can emit light," she said. "The splendor they create not only illuminates themselves but also those who watch them. It's certainly better than something completely black and devoid of any light."

Zhao Zhongheng raised an eyebrow, about to speak. But at this moment, at the bow of the Dharma Boat, Xu Qing, who had been ignoring the two's conversation, his eyes suddenly sharpened, instantly raised his right hand, and snatched at the sea surface. Immediately, the surrounding water vapor condensed into droplets. These droplets instantly formed and converged, swiftly transforming into a large hand made of seawater. With astonishing momentum, it grabbed at the countless Jushi on the sea surface.

Instantly grasping one, the large hand swiftly recoiled, returning to Xu Qing's front. As it dissipated, the Jushi it had seized landed in Xu Qing's hand. The palm-sized Jushi's shell was adorned with concentric patterns resembling chrysanthemums. The light on its body, extending from the shell's opening, was gradually dimming. Just as it was about to dim completely, Xu Qing's right hand suddenly emitted an icy coldness. This coldness erupted, directly engulfing the Jushi and instantly freezing it into a block of ice. Inside, it perfectly preserved its state before it dimmed.

Looking at the ice block in his hand, Xu Qing smiled happily. After carefully putting it away, he continued to observe the sea.

At the same time, in Port 79, seven or eight other people also made their moves, just like Xu Qing. These seven or eight people clearly also knew about the medicinal value of Jushi, so they swiftly acted to capture those that met the requirements. Not only them, but also some disciples from other ports made their moves. Even some figures flew out from the mountains, heading directly to this location to begin capturing. Among them, cultivators from the Second Peak were particularly numerous.

This scene was like an invisible slap to Zhao Zhongheng's face, who had just claimed these creatures were useless. He froze for a moment, utterly bewildered by the matter. Senior Sister Ding also saw all this, and curiosity stirred within her. She quickly approached Xu Qing, and once she reached the berth of his Dharma Boat, she immediately spoke.

"Junior Brother Xu, why are people capturing these Jushi?" she asked. As she spoke, accustomed to Xu Qing's character, she directly took out a spirit stone voucher and handed it to him.

"At the moment of their death, male Jushi transform into a rare medicinal ingredient, which is quite helpful for cultivation." Xu Qing didn't take the spirit stone voucher, but he still explained to Ding Xue. Especially remembering the Foundation Establishment jade slips she had given him for free earlier, he went into more detail.

"Jushi, also known as Star-Seeds or Snake Stones, are cephalopod mollusks, a type of invertebrate. They are named for the chrysanthemum-like patterns on their shells and are perennial spiritual medicinal guides. They prefer to live in the crevices of underwater rock formations. They only emerge into the sea during breeding season, attracting others, and each outing invariably draws a red, blood-like glow tinged with gold. They are distributed throughout the Forbidden Sea of Nanhuang Continent. Their appearances are irregular, and their traces are hard to find, hence they are rarely seen inland. Their efficacy can transform anomalous spiritual beings, and using the method of Five Dysuria and Turbidity, they can assist spiritual energy in undergoing tidal changes.

"Their properties are sweet, cold, and slightly toxic. They can soothe the mind. When combined with the method of Yin and Yang Bipolar Differentiation and shell water, they can refine Spirit Ascension Pills. However, newer pharmacological techniques often use Jushi as a host body, utilizing their unique spiritual energy to form a natural furnace that can nourish excellent pills. At the same time, their harmonizing properties are even more remarkable, able to neutralize volatile medicinal effects."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he continued to gaze at the sea, searching for Jushi that could be captured.

Senior Sister Ding, standing nearby, didn't fully understand. But she vaguely felt that Xu Qing's words were very profound. So, looking at Xu Qing, her beautiful eyes shining with intense admiration, she quickly asked, "Then why do they glow?"

"That's because during the breeding season, male and female Jushi surface and emit light with different fluctuating patterns to attract mates. Their light is emitted for this purpose. When they touch each other, if their lights synchronize, they can mate. If a male Jushi's light cannot synchronize, it will be rejected by the female Jushi. Ultimately, if it cannot find a synchronized female, its light will dissipate, and it will die."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he made another grab with his right hand and collected another suitable Jushi. Senior Sister Ding's face was filled with admiration. She knew Xu Qing was busy, so she stopped asking questions and instead observed and learned. Every time Xu Qing made a move, she paid attention. Before long, she understood the knack and began to help. Xu Qing didn't need help, but for the sake of the Foundation Establishment jade slips, although he felt she was somewhat of a hindrance, he didn't say much and allowed Senior Sister Ding to busy herself.

Time passed. As more and more disciples made their moves, the night went by. As dawn gradually broke, on the sea surface of the Seven Blood Eyes harbor, all the intertwined Jushi drifted away, returning to the seabed. Only the dim, dead male Jushi bodies that hadn't been collected remained floating; after visibly decaying, they became part of the Forbidden Sea.

Having been busy all night, but clearly happier, Senior Sister Ding chose to bid farewell and leave. Trailing behind her graceful figure, Zhao Zhongheng followed all the way, his face full of bitterness. As he gazed at Senior Sister Ding's retreating figure, desire in his eyes, he also secretly swore in his heart, "Just you wait, Ding Xue. Someday, you will be moved by me."