4: Level 3 animal husbandry, mastering the art of animal cultivation

Breaking through to the Middle Stage of the Contemplation Realm, the concentration of black Qi in my heart was much thicker than before.

The black Qi spread, extending from my palm to my forearm.

The range was almost double what it was before.

My strength also increased significantly.

Gu Changsheng tried the large bluestone at the entrance.

Before, even with the black Qi, it was difficult to move, but now it was effortless.

Conservatively estimated, his strength had increased to two thousand catties.

“Elementary spirit combined with two thousand catties of immense strength means I can protect myself even if ordinary mountain bandits raid the city.

However, this amount of strength against demons… is hard to say.”

Gu Changsheng had a bit of a headache; the experience value for the Middle Stage of the Contemplation Realm had doubled, reaching two thousand points.

But even after consuming secret medicine for a boost, the experience points gained from Cultivating the Jade Faced Fox Method and the Animal Husbandry Method were only three, a decrease by half compared to before.

And this was only the Middle Stage of the Contemplation Realm.

It was conceivable that once he Breakthrough to the Late Stage, his Cultivation speed would likely decrease further.

Moreover, the third stage was already the limit of the Jade Faced Fox Method.

“If the Contemplation Method could undergo Fusion, that would be great,” Gu Changsheng muttered to himself.

At this moment, a line of text suddenly popped up on the panel.

【Ding-dong, do you wish to consume ten years of lifespan to fuse the Jade Faced Fox Method and the Animal Husbandry Method. Snake?】

It could actually undergo Fusion!

Gu Changsheng pondered for a moment, not choosing to fuse immediately.

‘The potential of the Animal Husbandry Method has not yet been fully explored.

Since the Jade Faced Fox Method reached the third stage and gave birth to Elementary Mental Perception, then perhaps the Animal Husbandry Method reaching the third stage might also undergo some changes.’

It was only forty years of lifespan, so wasting it wouldn’t matter much.

With a thought, he virtually clicked the plus sign next to 【Animal Husbandry Method. Snake】 and successfully upgraded the Animal Husbandry Method to the peak of the third stage.

As expected, a new special effect appeared on the panel.

【Elementary Beast-Summoning Technique: Upon use, can transform people and objects into beast forms】

At the same time, Gu Changsheng noticed that the third stage of the Animal Husbandry Method. Snake was already the limit of the Contemplation Method.

‘It seems that Yellow-grade Contemplation Methods can only be Cultivated up to the third stage at most.

I must pursue the path of Fusion.’

Ten years of lifespan were consumed, and the Jade Faced Fox phantom in his heart space suddenly expanded, directly swallowing the flowery python into its belly with a large gulp.

Then, its tail swayed, and another flowery fox tail was born.

No, upon closer inspection, it was clearly a long python tail.

The tip of the tail was a snake head, flicking its long tongue, looking incredibly bizarre.

【Jade Faced Python Fox Method: Fourth Stage (Profound)】

The grade of the Contemplation Method had increased!

The newly born Jade Faced Python Fox inhaled a breath, and black Qi surged.

【Experience + 10】

【Experience + 10】

... The speed was more than three times faster than before.

And this was without consuming any secret medicine.

Moreover, after the Fusion of the Contemplation Method, it did not mean that the Jade Faced Fox Method and the Animal Husbandry Method were forgotten.

Gu Changsheng could still use all the insights and techniques.

Including the ‘Elementary Mental Perception’ that was born after the Jade Faced Fox Method reached its limit, it still existed.

The only pity was that the fourth stage was the limit of the Jade Faced Python Fox Method after Fusion.

‘It seems I’ll have to search for more Contemplation Methods in the future.’

Gu Changsheng was not in a hurry; a long-life Cultivator had plenty of time.

The next morning, at the tofu stall.

Widow Wang, holding special long chopsticks, was flipping fried dough sticks.

Beside her, her only daughter, Xiao Cui, with braided pigtails, was busy serving steaming hot tofu pudding to customers.

The red jujube wood bucket containing the tofu pudding was steaming, making her face rosy and appearing even more delicate.

Trouble often found its way to a widow's door.

Especially in the past two years, as Xiao Cui grew up and became more attractive, some ruffians often harassed her.

“Haha, Xiao Cui… if you follow me, Ma San… I guarantee you’ll eat well… and drink well…”

The ruffian Ma San, having drunk some cheap liquor, took the opportunity to grab Xiao Cui’s tender hand while receiving the tofu pudding, his eyes wandering towards Widow Wang.

Marriages were early in ancient times, and Widow Wang was quite pretty.

“Boss, I think you’re eyeing Widow Wang, aren’t you?”

“Who knows, maybe he wants to have both, enjoying the blessings of having two women. Haha.”

A group of ruffians laughed wantonly.

Xiao Cui’s face turned red like an apple; her hand was gripped by Ma San and she couldn't pull it free, feeling both angry and anxious.

At this moment, whoosh—

A copper coin flew out, accurately hitting the back of Ma San’s hand and bouncing onto the table.

Ma San cried out in pain, letting go of Xiao Cui’s hand.

He flipped his hand over, revealing a copper coin-sized imprint, and more than half of his palm was swollen red.

“Widow Wang, the usual, three fried dough sticks, a bowl of tofu pudding, extra chili.”

Gu Changsheng, holding the white fox, leisurely took a seat, pulling out two coins and combining them with the one on the table to make up the amount.

“Kid, you dare to provoke your Lord Ma! You’re courting death!”

Whoosh—

A long fist struck, but it was firmly caught a foot before Gu Changsheng’s face.

With a twist of strength, Ma San wailed and knelt on the ground.

“Bastard, you dare to provoke our Wild Dog Gang.”

“Courting death!”

Several ruffians overturned tables, spilling soup and water everywhere, and seven or eight fists came flying.

However, under Elementary Mental Perception, everything was as slow as a slow-motion video, and Gu Changsheng easily dodged.

In the interval, he picked up a long chopstick and stabbed it like a sword into the nerve points and pain Acupoints of several ruffians.

In a flash, the group of ruffians fell to the ground, wailing and looking at Gu Changsheng in terror.

These ruffians were bullies who picked on the weak and feared the strong; now that they had been put in their place, the onlookers immediately applauded.

“You dare to provoke me, Ma San! You’ve got guts!”

Ma San’s eyes were filled with resentment, wishing he could bite Gu Changsheng to death.

‘It seems the lesson wasn’t enough…’ Gu Changsheng shook his head, a wisp of black Qi passed over his eyes, and layers of illusions invaded Ma San’s mind.

Fox Shadow Technique activated!

Immediately, the scene before Ma San’s eyes changed, and the surroundings turned into a Hell of boiling oil, bubbling and seething.

Armless and legless evil spirits, bleeding from their seven orifices, crawled on his body, scaring him into collapsing on the ground, his face terrified.

The next moment, the illusion vanished.

Ma San looked at Gu Changsheng with utter terror, his body trembling like a sieve.

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

Such methods were not something ordinary people possessed.

There were also such extraordinary individuals in the Wild Dog Gang, and they all had to be treated like revered Buddhas.

Clap—

Ma San slapped his own face, a full smile plastered on it: “Ma San was blind and failed to recognize a great master. Please, sir, be merciful. Spare this dog’s life.”

Everyone was stunned; how could Ma San’s demeanor change so quickly?

Just a moment ago, he had an expression as if he wanted to devour someone, but now he was like a cowering slave dog.

“Get lost.”

Gu Changsheng uttered two cold words.

Ma San immediately felt as if he had received a great pardon, quickly got up, bowed, and fled.

“Wait.”

The voice from behind made Ma San feel a prickling sensation on his back.

“Sir, do you have any other instructions?”

“You broke things; you think you can leave without paying?”

Ma San glanced at the messy tofu stall, with pots, bowls, and ladles shattered on the ground.

This was all caused by the fight just now.

He remembered that at least half of it was probably broken by Gu Changsheng.

“Sir is right.”

Ma San nodded and smiled apologetically, pulling out a silver ingot with snowflake patterns from his sleeve.

After paying, he ran off as if fleeing for his life.

Soon, the tofu stall returned to calm.

“Thank you, Mr. Gu.”

Xiao Cui brought over a steaming bowl of tofu pudding, topped with fiery red chili oil, emerald green chives, and dried shrimp, its aroma wafting.

“It was a small matter.

After all, I still can’t give up your tofu.”

Gu Changsheng’s words were quite ambiguous, and Xiao Cui’s face immediately turned red.

Was it really the tofu?

Or… Xiao Cui ran off as if fleeing, her eyes quickly sweeping over Gu Changsheng’s face.

Indeed, his eyes were like stars, his nose bridge high, and his demeanor as gentle as jade.

He was too handsome.

Gu Changsheng, of course, was unaware of her thoughts, his mind solely focused on savoring the tofu pudding before him.

Hmm, savory tofu pudding was indeed delicious.

He tore the two ounces of fresh meat he had with him into strips and fed them to the white fox.

One person and one fox soon left contentedly, setting up a painting stall in Qingyi Alley.

Perhaps the promotional activities of the previous three days were too effective, as there was no business all morning.

Just as Gu Changsheng was yawning and petting the little fox, a wealthy old man dressed in silk brocade arrived at the painting stall with a retinue of people, looking anxious.

Gu Changsheng recognized this person; he was Master Chen, a prominent family in the county.

Half a month ago, Master Chen’s young son turned ten, and he had even gone to their house to paint a portrait, receiving an old wolf-hair paintbrush that the young master had used.