40: Blackwater Serpent and Qi-Nourishing Fruit

Host: Jiang Donghua hurried along, his Dou Qi surging and circulating within his meridians, and the profound rank mid-level Heaven Burning Art continuously replenished his depleted strength.

If not for this, with his frequent use of Roaming Cloud Steps, his Dou Qi would have long since been exhausted, and he would have become a meal for magical beasts.

“Hmph, this cursed place, why are there fewer magical beasts the deeper I go?”

He frowned slightly, puzzled.

Logically, the deep mountains should be teeming with fierce beasts, but after half a day of walking, he could barely encounter a single magical beast of the Five-Star Dou Zhe level.

“Something’s not right?”

He stopped, his gaze vigilantly sweeping his surroundings.

The mountain forest was silent, even the chirping of insects and birds was sparse, and a faint sense of oppression permeated the air.

“Could it be that there’s a more powerful existence nearby?”

Thinking of this, Host: Jiang Donghua’s heart tightened; something that could make low-tier magical beasts retreat at least three paces must be a Dou Master-level fierce beast, or even a Great Dou Master-level overlord!

“No, I can’t go any deeper!”

He made a decisive decision to change his plan; rather than venturing into unknown dangers, it would be better to find a relatively safe place to cultivate in seclusion and make further plans after his strength improved.

“Find a place with beautiful scenery and few magical beasts, dig a cave, and go into seclusion!”

Having made up his mind, he changed direction and headed towards the mountain range on his flank.

Half a day later, Host: Jiang Donghua finally found an ideal spot in a secluded valley.

It was backed by a steep cliff, with a clear stream in front, lush trees all around, abundant spiritual energy, and almost no traces of magical beast activity.

“This is it!”

He nodded in satisfaction, then drew his short sword, circulated his Dou Qi, and began to carve out a cave dwelling in the cliff face.

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

The sword edge left deep marks on the rock, and Crushed stones fell.

Before long, a simple cave dwelling began to take shape.

He then set up a few simple warning formations at the entrance to prevent magical beasts or outsiders from accidentally entering.

With all preparations made, Host: Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged in the cave and let out a long breath.

“Finally, I can cultivate in peace.”

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his body, and began to circulate the Heaven Burning Art.

As the cultivation technique ran, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth slowly gathered, flowing into his meridians with his breath, eventually transforming into pure Dou Qi and storing it in his Dantian.

“afk, activate!”

【Host: Jiang Donghua】

【Realm: Two-Star Dou Zhe (1146 / 2000)】

【Main Cultivation Technique: Heaven Burning Art (profound rank mid-level)】

【afk Income】

Clone 1: 5 points / hour

Clone 2: 5 points / hour

【Current Total Income: 10 points / hour】

Host: Jiang Donghua’s lips curved upwards slightly.

“Very good, now I just need to wait for the breakthrough!”

He slowly entered a deep state of cultivation, as if his entire being had merged with heaven and earth.

Outside the cave, the stream gurgled, a gentle breeze blew, and all was quiet and peaceful.

Host: Jiang Donghua’s cave life was simple yet fulfilling.

The afk ran all day, with two clones continuously providing him with cultivation income, and he himself was not idle.

Besides the additional bonuses from actively cultivating, he spent more time studying the Pill Formula for the bone-mending pill.

“Although this bone-mending pill is only a first-grade elixir, its refining difficulty is not low, especially the control of the heat.”

He closed his eyes and concentrated, repeatedly deducing the pill refining steps in his mind, simulating the timing of the medicinal ingredient fusion.

Although he hadn’t actually started, his theoretical proficiency was constantly improving.

“When I return to the academy, I must try it myself!”

Besides cultivating and pondering the Pill Formula, Host: Jiang Donghua also explored the vicinity every day to see if he could find any valuable medicinal ingredients or ores.

“Since I’m idle anyway, I might as well pick up some benefits.”

He was lucky; he found a few stalks of Azure Spirit Grass by the stream and picked a cluster of Ganoderma lucidum from a cliff crevice. Although not very old, they were more than enough for practice or to exchange for contribution points.

Breakthrough! Three-Star Dou Zhe!

On the morning of the fourth day, the Dou Qi within Host: Jiang Donghua’s body suddenly surged violently!

“Boom—!”

The Dou Qi in his meridians rushed like a river, the cyclone in his Dantian suddenly expanded, and an aura several times stronger than before burst forth from him!

【Ding! host realm breakthrough!】

【Current Realm: Three-Star Dou Zhe (0 / 3000)】

【Host: Jiang Donghua】

【Main Cultivation Technique: Heaven Burning Art (profound rank mid-level)】

【afk Income】

Clone 1: 5 points / hour

Clone 2: 5 points / hour

【Current Total Income: 10 points / hour】

“Awesome!”

Host: Jiang Donghua suddenly opened his eyes and couldn’t help but let out a low shout.

In just four days, he had skyrocketed from Two-Star Dou Zhe to Three-Star Dou Zhe; this rocket-like cultivation speed would be absolutely shocking in the Outer Academy!

“At this rate, in another ten or eight days, I might even be able to challenge Four-Star!”

He excitedly clenched his fists, feeling the surging Dou Qi within his body, and a surge of ambition rose in his heart.

“Indeed, seclusion is the way to go!”

Host: Jiang Donghua was in a great mood; after the breakthrough, his body felt light and powerful, and his Dou Qi was even more solidified than before.

“I’ll go out for a stroll, maybe I can pick up some good stuff.”

He explored upstream along the small stream outside the cave. The stream was clear, and occasionally he could see a few silver-scaled fish swimming by.

However, after about half an hour of walking, the scene ahead made him stop.

A pool of water as black as ink lay quietly in the mountain hollow.

The pool water was deep and dark, with no ripples on its surface, as if even light was swallowed. But what truly caught Host: Jiang Donghua’s eye were the few emerald-green plants in the center of the pool, and the three crystal-clear fruits hanging from their branches.

“qi nurturing fruit!”

Host: Jiang Donghua’s pupils constricted slightly, and his heart suddenly beat faster.

The qi nurturing fruit could be considered the first true spirit medicine he had encountered since entering this mountain range, a rare treasure even for Dou Master-level cultivators!

If consumed directly, it could steadily increase one’s strength by one star; if refined into an elixir, the effect would be even better, and it could even help break through bottlenecks!

“I’m rich! I’m really rich this time!”

He subconsciously took a step forward, but then abruptly stopped.

No!

How could a heaven and earth treasure of the qi nurturing fruit’s caliber not have a magical beast guarding it?

Moreover, this pool was eerily black, which looked abnormal no matter how he saw it.

Host: Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes, carefully surveying his surroundings.

No grass grew around the pool, and the soil on the bank was an unnatural dark red, as if corroded by something. Even stranger, there were no insect chirps or bird calls nearby, making it eerily quiet.

“Something’s fishy.”

He took a deep breath, picked up a stone from the ground, circulated his Dou Qi, and forcefully threw it towards the center of the pool!

“Plop!”

The stone fell into the water, creating a ripple.

One second... two seconds... three seconds... the water surface remained calm.

“Could it be that there really isn’t a guardian beast?”

Host: Jiang Donghua was puzzled, but his vigilance did not diminish in the slightest.

He slowly retreated a few steps, took a long rope from his waist, tied a larger stone to it, and threw it again towards the plant where the qi nurturing fruit was located.

This time, he wanted to see if he could directly pull the fruit over!

The stone accurately bypassed the plant, and the long rope, under Host: Jiang Donghua’s control, coiled around the branch like a nimble snake.

“It worked!”

His heart filled with joy, and he was about to pull.

“Whoosh—!”

A black shadow quietly swam under the water, so fast that one might almost think it was an illusion.

Host: Jiang Donghua’s pupils contracted sharply, and the hairs on his entire body stood on end!

“Run!”

He didn’t hesitate; Roaming Cloud Steps was instantly activated, and his body retreated like the wind!

Almost at the same moment.

“Boom!!!”

The water surface suddenly exploded, and a black giant python as thick as a water bucket burst out of the water, its gaping maw striking directly at the spot where Host: Jiang Donghua had just stood!

“Second-Tier Magical Beast—Black Water Profound Serpent!”

Host: Jiang Donghua’s heart pounded, his footsteps never stopping, as he frantically fled into the distance.

The Black Water Profound Serpent, with strength comparable to a human Two-Star or Three-Star Dou Master, was incredibly venomous; even a Dou Ling Expert would not easily provoke it!

No wonder magical beasts of the Dou Practitioner level were hard to find in this place; they had probably all ended up in the mouth of this Black Water Profound Serpent.

The fishing enforcement was truly clever!

“Damn it, I almost died here!”

He ran wildly, glancing back over his shoulder.

The Black Water Profound Serpent did not give chase, only coiled at the edge of the pool, its cold vertical pupils fixed on him, its crimson tongue flicking out, as if warning him.

“Dare to approach again, and you will surely die!”

Host: Jiang Donghua ran for several miles until he confirmed that the Black Water Profound Serpent was not pursuing him, then he stopped, gasping for breath.

“Phew~ Luckily I ran fast.”

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still feeling lingering fear.

Although the qi nurturing fruit was good, life was more important.

With his current strength, directly confronting the Black Water Profound Serpent was suicide.

“It seems I can only wait until I’m stronger, or find other methods.”

He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and turned to return to the cave.

“I’ll go back and continue cultivating in seclusion; once I break through to Dou Master, I’ll figure out a way!”