32: beekeeping

The next day.

Liu Xuan took a carriage back to the Sect and headed straight for the Spirit Plant Hall.

The Outer Sect Spirit Plant Hall was located at the foot of the mountain, occupying a larger area than any of the other halls.

Relying on the countless branches extending from the Red Pine Sect's Third-Tier Spirit Vein, a vast amount of spirit fields and Spirit Medicine gardens had been cultivated.

Besides these spirit fields, many Spirit Beasts and spirit pets were also raised; some were used for food, some for labor, and some for combat, with a wide variety of species.

These spirit fields, Spirit Medicine gardens, and Spirit Beast gardens of the Spirit Plant Hall were all properties of the Xiao Family, and the Disciples within the hall were essentially tenants.

The ownership of all fixed assets of the entire Red Pine Sect belonged to the Xiao Family.

In a sense, the Red Pine Sect was both a Sect and a cultivation Family; the other Foundation Establishment Families and those ordinary Disciples were all vassals of the Xiao Family.

The reason for establishing the Sect was simply because the Xiao Family had too few descendants and insufficient strength, leaving them no choice but to devolve power.

Liu Xuan arrived at the General Affairs Hall of the Spirit Plant Hall. Relying on his status as an Inner Sect Disciple, he was received politely by an Outer Sect deacon.

"Is Talisman Master Liu looking to purchase Spirit Medicine or Spirit Beasts? Or perhaps rent a spirit field?"

Since one's expertise is specialized and a person's energy is limited, this deacon assumed that Liu Xuan was just here to buy things.

"I would like some information on spirit insects, preferably breeding methods for spirit bees. I wonder if you have any here?"

Liu Xuan got straight to the point and asked directly.

"Spirit insect or spirit bee breeding?"

The Spirit Plant Hall deacon frowned slightly. "Why are you asking about this?"

Seeing that Liu Xuan did not speak, he immediately realized Liu Xuan's status and quickly apologized with a smile, explaining:

"Talisman Master Liu might not be aware, but our Red Pine Sect is not proficient in beast taming. We only raise docile, Low Grade Spirit Beasts."

"Spirit insects have low intelligence and are mostly irritable. Breeding them is very difficult; if one is not careful, they will hurt others and oneself."

"If you intend to raise spirit bees within the Sect, once an incident occurs, you will face heavy fines and may even be held accountable."

Incidents of Yao Beasts raised by Cultivators going berserk and hurting people happened from time to time, and the Sect's penalties were quite severe. This deacon was also offering a kind reminder.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist, for the reminder!"

Liu Xuan cupped his hands in a salute. "However, I accidentally obtained a spirit bee larva and just want to see if it can be raised into a spirit pet. This creature and I share a bond; if I don't try, I will inevitably regret it later."

"Please wait a moment!"

The deacon stood up and left. Before long, he returned with several books and a Jade Slip.

"These are various summary books on the breeding of spirit bee-type Yao Beasts, as well as the technique Jade Slip, the Beast Taming Technique. The total is two Spirit Stones."

Since Liu Xuan was insistent, the Spirit Plant Hall deacon did not continue to dissuade him.

In his view, once Liu Xuan tried it and experienced the difficulties involved, he would naturally give up.

Liu Xuan was a Talisman Master; it would be nothing more than losing a few Spirit Stones—no big deal!

Picking up the Jade Slip to examine it, the Beast Taming Technique was a technique involving the Divine Soul, used to establish communication with Yao Beasts to make them submit or to enslave them.

Techniques involving the Divine Soul were relatively difficult, and being able to Cultivate the Beast Taming Technique to the Realm of enslaving Yao Beasts was even harder.

It was said that the Beast Taming Technique was the fundamental technique of the super Sect, the Beast Taming Sect, and required the Cultivation of specialized Cultivation Techniques to unleash its power.

The Jade Slip Liu Xuan had was only the most basic part, capable of enslaving Yao Beasts up to the Peak of the First Realm at most.

The Black Crystal Bee Queen was absolutely loyal; Liu Xuan had no use for this thing. After reading through it once and failing to understand it, he put it away.

He picked up the books and flipped through them: "Introduction to Breeding First-Grade Jade Poison Bees," "Spirit Insect Records," "Great Spirit Insect Breeding," "Must-Read for Beekeeping"...

The content was rich and all-encompassing, covering every aspect of breeding spirit bees.

Most of the content described how to use the Beast Taming Technique to control the swarm, how to avoid accidental injury during the breeding process, how to communicate with the Queen, and how to soothe the swarm's emotions.

Liu Xuan didn't care about any of this; he had only come to the Spirit Plant Hall to go through the motions. Liu Xuan only cared about what the spirit bees ate and where he could buy it.

The best, of course, was royal jelly, made by worker bees collecting nectar. The best food for worker bees was pollen and honey.

In the early stages, one could buy royal jelly from other spirit bees to feed the Queen. After the Queen laid eggs and hatched worker bees, it was best to go to those Spirit Medicine gardens to collect pollen.

The Spirit Plant Hall sold royal jelly. Although not many people raised spirit bees, there were still some within the Sect, but the spirit bees they raised were mostly of very Low Grade, and very few reached the First Grade.

Ordinary, unranked royal jelly cost between three and five gold coins per bottle, and each bottle was only about ten milliliters.

The price of Low Grade First-Grade royal jelly soared. There were only three types, priced at nine, eleven, and thirteen Spirit Stones respectively.

There was only one type of Medium Grade First-Grade royal jelly, costing forty Spirit Stones per bottle, and it required a reservation.

Except for the out-of-stock Medium Grade First-Grade royal jelly, Liu Xuan bought one bottle of each of the three types of Low Grade First-Grade royal jelly, planning to test which one was best.

...

Inside the Inner Sect Immortal Cave.

As soon as Liu Xuan opened the bottle stopper of the royal jelly, a buzzing vibration sound came from his bosom.

A joyful thought was transmitted to Liu Xuan's Sea of Consciousness; he could feel that the Black Crystal Bee Queen was very satisfied.

After consuming the royal jelly, the Black Crystal Bee Queen began to lay eggs, producing black bee eggs the size of rice grains.

These eggs hatched quickly, turning into little Black Crystal Bees that followed to consume the royal jelly together.

"Buzz~"

"Buzz~"

...

The Black Crystal Bee worker bees grew up quickly, reaching the size of a little finger, one circle smaller than the Queen.

There were one hundred Black Crystal Bees in total. Their bodies were pitch black, and their pair of wings were shiny black, looking quite beautiful.

They possessed a poisonous stinger on their tails, which contained a unique Divine Soul attack. Once struck, it would cause pain as if the Divine Soul were being torn apart.

The Black Crystal Bees were extremely aggressive. After finishing the royal jelly, they immediately set their sights on a small bird outside the Immortal Cave.

"Buzz!!!"

A black light flashed as the swarm of Black Crystal Bees surrounded the small bird. A moment later, they dispersed, and the bird had disappeared without a trace.

So ferocious!

Seeing that the Black Crystal Bee Swarm was about to continue hunting, Liu Xuan hurriedly called a halt: "All of you, come back!"

The Black Crystal Bees only had unranked cultivation; if they encountered a high-grade Yao Beast, they would be no match at all.

Furthermore, most of the Spirit Beasts on the mountain had owners. If he let them hunt freely, Liu Xuan could not afford the consequences.

Hearing Liu Xuan's command, the Black Crystal Bee Swarm paused for a moment, then obediently returned and gathered around the Queen.

Liu Xuan could not control every single Black Crystal Bee, but he could control the entire swarm through the Black Crystal Bee Queen.

'They are actually carnivorous Yao Beasts!'

'Not bad!'

He ordered the Black Crystal Bee Queen to keep the swarm in check and not to act without his command.

After Liu Xuan finished his Cultivation, he had the entire swarm move into the carriage, then rode the carriage to the Spirit Plant Hall and purchased ten unranked spirit chickens.

The price of chickens was always high, averaging three gold coins each, costing Liu Xuan another three Spirit Stones.

The spirit chickens had their feet and wings bound and were locked in a special cage. At Liu Xuan's command, the Black Crystal Bee Swarm on top of the carriage rushed forward all at once.

One hour later.

Inside the chicken cage, only some chicken feathers remained!