72: Chapter 72 First Hunt in the Mountains

Lin Muchen slept in the cave.

He woke up at dawn.

"System, scan the vicinity and see if there's anything that can earn points."

[Scanning initiated.]

[Range: Five li radius centered on the Host.]

[Scanning...]

[Resource point discovered: A second-grade Spiritual Plant, 'condensing dew flower,' growing on a cliff three li to the southeast.]

[Guardian Yao Beast: Three first-grade 'Rock Lizards.']

[Risk assessment: Low.]

[Host's Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, combined with Five Elements Energy enhancement, can easily handle this.]

"condensing dew flower? How many points can it be exchanged for?"

[condensing dew flower, a second-grade Spiritual Plant, can be used to refine auxiliary Medicinal Pills for the Condensing Liquid Stage.]

[System recovery price: 150 points.]

[Rock Lizard Materials (skin, claws) recovery price: Approximately 30 points per beast.]

Lin Muchen did some calculations.

The flower is 150, and three lizards are 90, totaling 240.

"Let's do it."

He got up and stretched his limbs, then pushed aside the vines at the cave entrance and slipped out.

The air outside was fresh, and birds chirped.

Lin Muchen followed the direction indicated by the System.

Three li was just a short while for a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

Soon, he saw the barren cliff ahead.

There was a crack in the middle of the cliff, and a pale blue flower grew in it, with dew still clinging to its petals.

Beneath the flower, three gray-brown lizards lay, each half a meter long, with rock-like bumps on their backs.

"Is this it?"

Lin Muchen pulled out his star dagger from his Storage Pouch.

A faint golden light shimmered on the dagger.

The sharp Qi of the Metal Element.

He pushed off with his foot and charged forward.

The three Rock Lizards reacted quickly, immediately raising their heads and hissing as they pounced.

Lin Muchen didn't dodge.

The first Rock Lizard opened its mouth to bite; he sidestepped and struck back with a reverse slash.

Pfft.

The dagger easily sliced open the Rock Lizard's neck.

Blood sprayed out.

The Rock Lizard twitched on the ground.

The other two paused, perhaps not expecting their companion to die so quickly.

Lin Muchen gave them no chance.

He unleashed his full speed, his Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Qi erupting, and instantly rushed in front of the second Rock Lizard.

The dagger pierced its eye, penetrating its brain.

The second one also fell.

The third Rock Lizard finally reacted, turning to burrow into the rock crevice.

Trying to run?

Lin Muchen raised his hand, and a golden ray shot out from his fingertip.

Chii!

The golden ray caught up to the Rock Lizard, piercing through its back and out its chest.

The Rock Lizard slumped to the ground, motionless.

The battle was over.

From start to finish, it took less than five breaths.

"System, recycle."

[Initiating recycling.]

[Obtained: condensing dew flower x1, complete Rock Lizard corpse x3.]

[points settlement: condensing dew flower +150, Rock Lizard Materials +90.]

[Current points balance: 7674 points.]

Lin Muchen put the condensing dew flower into his Storage Pouch.

He didn't need this flower for now, but he could keep it for future Alchemy or trading.

He glanced at the three Rock Lizard corpses.

"System, does Origin Star need this kind of Yao Beast?"

[Analyzing...]

[Origin Star's current ecosystem is primarily composed of ordinary wild beasts; Yao Beasts have not yet been introduced.]

[Rock Lizards are low-grade earth-attribute Yao Beasts, with coarse flesh and average value.]

[Suggestion: Only recycle the Materials; the corpses do not need to be introduced to Origin Star.]

"Alright."

Lin Muchen skinned the Rock Lizards, chopped off their claws, and put them away.

He left the corpses aside, disregarding them.

After finishing, he found a rock and sat down.

His consciousness sank into his Dantian.

Origin Star.

Chen Tribe.

In the open space in the center of the camp, a large pile of golden grains was stacked.

Men, women, and children gathered around, smiles on their faces.

Elder Yan stood at the very front, holding a wooden staff.

"Thank the gods!"

He shouted loudly.

"Thank the gods for bestowing upon us land! For bestowing upon us seeds! For bestowing upon us a bountiful harvest!"

Everyone echoed.

"Thank the gods!"

Their voices shook the heavens.

Lin Muchen glanced at the System panel.

[Origin Star Chen Tribe: First Harvest Sacrifice in progress.]

[Tribe average reverence value: 86/100 (continuously rising).]

[Feedback Efficiency: 9.55%.]

Not bad, quite lively.

He focused on Elder Yan and transmitted a thought.

"Water is hard to obtain. I bestow upon you the 'Water Gathering' Talisman scripture."

Elder Yan trembled, almost dropping his wooden staff.

"The gods... the gods have spoken again!"

He fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing towards the sky.

"Thank the gods! Thank the gods for your compassion!"

Everyone around them knelt down with a rustle.

A dense mass of people.

Lin Muchen felt a little helpless.

"System, exchange for simple Water Gathering Talisman knowledge and transmit it to him."

[Exchanging 'Basic Water Element Talisman - Water Gathering (Simplified Version)': Consumes 100 points.]

[Current points balance: 7574 points.]

[Consciousness transmission in progress...]

Elder Yan clutched his head, and a few seconds later, his eyes lit up.

"I understand! I understand!"

He scrambled up, his beard trembling with excitement.

"Everyone! Go to the river and find the smoothest stone slabs! The gods have bestowed upon us the divine art of drawing water!"

A group of people rushed towards the river.

Lin Muchen withdrew his consciousness.

[System notification: Chen Tribe successfully received 'Water Gathering' Talisman knowledge.]

[The tribe's drinking water problem will be alleviated, and the civilization process will accelerate.]

[Tribe average reverence value has risen to 87/100.]

[Feedback Efficiency slightly increased: Currently 9.6%.]

Alright.

Lin Muchen opened his eyes.

It was time to go back.

He got up and walked back along the path he came.

Halfway there, the System notification sounded.

[Weak energy fluctuations detected.]

[Direction: One li to the northwest.]

[Fluctuation characteristics: Spiritual Qi collision, accompanied by Yao Beast roars.]

[Analysis: Suspected Cultivator and Yao Beast battle.]

Lin Muchen stopped.

"Can you see the specific situation?"

[Enhanced scanning in progress...]

[Targets: Two Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators (one male, one female), cultivation levels at Qi Refinement Seventh Layer and Qi Refinement Sixth Layer.]

[Yao Beast: Second-grade 'Iron Armored Bear.']

[Battle status: The two Cultivators are at a disadvantage, Spiritual Qi heavily depleted, Iron Armored Bear's defense is extremely high, only lightly injured.]

[Prediction: Without external intervention, the two will be defeated within thirty breaths, with an 87% chance of casualties.]

Lin Muchen frowned.

He stealthily moved towards that direction.

Climbing a large tree, he parted the leaves and looked down.

Below was an open clearing.

A black bear, two people tall, was chasing and attacking two individuals.

The two people's clothes were torn, and they had blood on them, dodging while throwing Talismans.

The Talismans hit the black bear, exploding in a ball of fire, but the bear's hide was tough; it merely swayed and pounced again.

"Senior Brother! My Spiritual Qi is almost depleted!" the woman shouted.

"Hold on! Lure it into the forest!" the man gritted his teeth.

But the Iron Armored Bear was not slow; it slapped out a paw, which the man barely dodged, and the nearby tree was snapped.

Lin Muchen watched.

The Foundation Establishment Stage Iron Armored Bear indeed had thick hide.

It was normal for those two, being only at the Qi Refinement Stage, to be unable to defeat it.

If he made a move, with the Five Elements Energy, he should be able to handle it.

But...

"System, do you recognize those two?"

[Scanning facial features...]

[No matching information found in the database.]

[Clothing has no Sect insignia, presumed to be Loose Cultivators.]

Loose Cultivators.

Lin Muchen thought about it.

Helping might expose himself.

And even if he saved them, they might not be grateful, and might even set their sights on him.

Trouble.

He decided not to interfere.

"Retreat."

Lin Muchen slid down the tree and quietly retreated.

The fate of those two had nothing to do with him.

In this world, it was good enough just to live well oneself.

He returned to the cave.

Closed the door.

"System, tally up the current points."

[Current points balance: 7674 points.]

[Items: condensing dew flower x1 (exchangeable for 150 points), various Rock Lizard Materials (exchangeable for 90 points).]

[Total available points: 7914 points.]

Almost eight thousand.

Lin Muchen took out the condensing dew flower and examined it.

Pale blue petals, quite beautiful.

"Should I keep this flower, or exchange it?"

[Analysis: condensing dew flower has an auxiliary effect on Condensing Liquid Stage Cultivators breaking through minor Bottlenecks.]

[Host is currently at Foundation Establishment Stage First Layer, will not need it in the short term.]

[Suggestion: Can be temporarily retained for use or trade when needed.]

"Alright, I'll keep it for now."

Lin Muchen put the flower away.

He walked to the cave entrance and looked out.

It was still early.

"Tomorrow, I'll go deeper into the mountain range and see if there's anything more valuable."

The System remained silent.

Lin Muchen sat back down and began to Cultivate.

In his Dantian, the Five Elements Cycle slowly rotated, absorbing the thin Spiritual Qi around him.

From Origin Star, pure energy, returned as Feedback, slowly integrated into his Meridians.

Though slow, it was steady.

Outside the cave, the wind blew through the forest.

Further to the northwest, the faint roar of the Iron Armored Bear could still be heard.

But the sound grew weaker and weaker, finally disappearing.

He didn't know if those two had escaped or died.

Lin Muchen stopped thinking about it.

He closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, he still had to continue grinding for points.