Chapter 102: Message

Wang Mingjiang had above-average aptitude, but he didn't master any of the four major cultivation skills: talismans, elixirs, artifacts, or formations. His family provided him with five spirit stones each month, with additional rewards for contributions. While five spirit stones couldn't buy many elixirs, his life was considerably better than that of homeless rogue cultivators. Given the limited assistance from his family, he knew he had to work hard to achieve Foundation Establishment.

After the Wang family began mass-producing puppet beasts, Wang Mingjiang purchased several top-grade first-tier puppet beasts at a discounted price. He then organized five clan members to venture into the mountains, hunting demon beasts to acquire cultivation resources. Wang Mingjiang was aware that Wang Changsheng had used malevolent energy to achieve Foundation Establishment. He also wanted to try his luck, hoping to obtain Earthly Malevolent Qi himself.

Wang Changhao was the first to respond to the call and persuaded four other clan members to participate in the demon beast hunt. They had been hunting demon beasts as a team for over half a year, entering the mountains every ten to fifteen days and always returning with a haul. Wang Mingjiang was a cautious and steady individual. Initially, he targeted low-grade first-tier demon beasts. After accumulating sufficient experience, he moved on to mid-grade first-tier demon beasts, and eventually, top-grade ones.

Wang Changhao, being young and impetuous, grew bolder after numerous successes. He even encouraged Wang Mingjiang to confront second-tier demon beasts, for which he was severely reprimanded. Wang Mingjiang then kept a strict watch on him, which finally made Wang Changhao behave. Of course, they encountered dangers during their hunts. However, before entering the mountains, they had pooled their resources to purchase two second-tier protective spirit talismans. Additionally, White Cloud Ridge had been jointly cleared by five cultivation families, eliminating any threat from second-tier demon beasts, so they remained safe.

Seven days later, the six returned to the market town and sold their materials to the Spirit Puppet Pavilion, a shop established by their clan. The Spirit Puppet Pavilion primarily sold puppet beasts and spiritual artifacts, also offering repair services for the latter. It attracted customers by specializing in puppet beasts, and its business was quite good.

They had a top-grade first-tier two-headed python. Its hide could be used for inner armor, its meat for spirit cuisine, its teeth for refining spiritual artifacts, and its eyeballs and gallbladder for alchemy. This alone sold for 185 spirit stones. Along with over a dozen spirit herbs that were more than ten years old, they earned a total of 200 spirit stones after spending over half a month in the mountains. After deducting the cost of the spirit talismans, 140 spirit stones remained. Wang Mingjiang took 30 spirit stones, while Wang Changhao and the other four each received 22.

While the clan's acquisition prices were slightly lower than market rates, in return, they received discounts when purchasing or repairing puppet beasts and spiritual artifacts at the Spirit Puppet Pavilion.

"Uncle Twenty-One, we earned a good amount this time! Let's have a nice meal to celebrate!" Wang Changhao suggested excitedly.

Wang Mingjiang shook his head and said earnestly, "We risked our lives to earn these spirit stones, so don't spend them thoughtlessly. While restaurant food is tasty, it's expensive. If we buy ingredients and cook ourselves, we can save every possible spirit stone. Don't forget the hard times we've endured; we'll need these spirit stones for many things in the future."

"You're right, Uncle Twenty-One, you're always so thoughtful. Let's buy ingredients and have a good meal then."

"Yes, this was a fruitful trip. Let's re-enter the mountains in about a month. In the meantime, all of you must cultivate diligently and not slack off; cultivation is the foundation."

"Yes, Uncle Twenty-One."

******

Inside the secret chamber, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes slightly closed, his body enveloped in a dazzling blue light. A top-grade first-tier Two-Element Water Gathering Formation had been set up in the chamber, capable of increasing the density of water spiritual energy to aid cultivation. Beside Wang Changsheng lay a blue gourd.

A short while later, Wang Changsheng opened his eyes, a look of delight on his face. "The Jade Cold Spirit Water truly aids in cultivating the True Scripture of Kui Water," Wang Changsheng murmured. "It's a pity I couldn't find Heavenly and Earthly Spirit Water; otherwise, the effects would undoubtedly be even better." He had been in seclusion for over half a year, and with the help of the Jade Cold Spirit Water, he had successfully cultivated the fourth layer of the True Scripture of Kui Water. The True Scripture of Kui Water involves dual cultivation of both magic and body. Because it's cultivated with the aid of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures, his magic power was purer than that of cultivators at the same stage. After completing the fourth layer, he felt his body brimming with power. He had tested it: a single punch to a low-grade Azure Cloud Shield could leave a clear fist print on its surface, indicating over five hundred jin of physical strength.

Suddenly, his spirit beast pouch at his waist stirred, emitting chirping sounds. Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and patted his spirit beast pouch, whereupon the Twin-Pupil Rat scampered out. Wang Changsheng regularly fed the Twin-Pupil Rat mid-grade first-tier spirit grains. Having previously consumed a second-tier demon rat's inner core, it was now a top-grade first-tier beast, with a far more sensitive sense of smell than before. The Twin-Pupil Rat had grown considerably larger, its body somewhat plump and resembling a soft ball of flesh, yet its running speed remained exceptionally fast. After advancing to low-grade first-tier, it had learned a simple Stone Skin technique, enabling it to condense a layer of grayish-white stone armor on its body.

Wang Changsheng took out a handful of spirit grains and fed them to the Twin-Pupil Rat. The Twin-Pupil Rat seemed unsatisfied with such a small amount of spirit grains, chirping eagerly.

"You glutton," Wang Changsheng chuckled.

Wang Changsheng took out a large handful of spirit grains. Only after devouring them did the Twin-Pupil Rat contentedly scamper back into the spirit beast pouch.

A rapid knocking suddenly sounded at the door, followed by Wang Yaozong's voice: "Changsheng, it's your Second Granduncle. Are you available? I have something important to discuss with you."

Wang Changsheng rose, opened the secret chamber door, and invited Wang Yaozong inside.

"Second Granduncle, what urgent matter brings you here?"

Wang Yaozong recounted the events. It turned out that while Wang Mingjiang and his group of six were hunting demon beasts in White Cloud Ridge, they discovered a Yellow Moon Mango tree in a hidden grotto. Yellow Moon Mangoes, a second-tier spiritual fruit, could only be consumed after a hundred years of growth. Their effects were even better than century-old spirit grains; consuming them raw could enhance magic power, and they could also be used in alchemy. The problematic part was that the Yellow Moon Mango tree was guarded by two Fire Apes: one a top-grade first-tier, and the other a low-grade second-tier. Upon discovering the tree, Wang Mingjiang immediately withdrew to the market town and dispatched someone back to Green Lotus Mountain to report the matter to Wang Yaozong.

"Changsheng," Wang Yaozong said, "I'd like to go to Yunzhou with you to eliminate those demon beasts and obtain the fruit. What are your thoughts?"

"No problem," Wang Changsheng agreed without hesitation. "With two Foundation Establishment cultivators like us, plus the assistance of puppet beasts, we're sure to succeed." Wang Changsheng agreed without hesitation. He possessed three low-grade second-tier puppet beasts, so a five-on-one advantage seemed absolutely safe.

Wang Yaozong nodded, smiling. "Excellent. There's no time to lose; let's depart immediately. Ming Sen will also come along; he's skilled in planting, and hopefully, we can transplant the Yellow Moon Mango tree back to Green Lotus Mountain. That way, our Wang family will have three second-tier spiritual fruit trees."

The Wang family currently possessed two second-tier spiritual fruit trees: the Red Moon Pear and the Purple Gold Fruit. These fruits ripened once every century, with the yield varying from a dozen or more to seven or eight fruits per harvest. Each second-tier spiritual fruit was worth approximately two hundred spirit stones. Second-tier spiritual fruits have higher environmental requirements, needing to grow in places with abundant spiritual energy. Consequently, the Wang family only cultivated two such trees.

A stout, slightly dark-skinned middle-aged man, who had been waiting outside for quite some time, was Wang Changsheng's twenty-second uncle, Wang Mingsen. Wang Mingsen, twenty-two years old, possessed four spirit roots and was at the fourth level of Qi Condensation. He specialized in planting and had always been responsible for tending the clan's two second-tier spiritual fruit trees.

"To reach White Cloud Ridge as quickly as possible, let's go by Golden Beak Eagle!"

Wang Yaozong released his Golden Beak Eagle and was the first to mount it, with Wang Mingsen and Wang Changsheng following suit. The Golden Beak Eagle, a mid-grade second-tier spiritual bird, possessed extremely fast flight speed.

"Let's go!"

The Golden Beak Eagle flapped its massive wings fiercely, creating a powerful gust of wind as it soared skyward, ascending rapidly into the high heavens.