Wang Hong took out a sprout of Jade Marrow Mushroom for exchange, but Elder Brother initially declined. It was only after Wang Hong's persistent insistence that Elder Brother reluctantly accepted.
The Jade Marrow Mushroom, a sacred healing herb, takes hundreds of years to grow before it can be used. This sprout, in particular, seemed somewhat lackluster.
There was a significant chance that if Elder Brother planted this Spiritual Herb, by the time his lifespan ran out, the herb might not have matured yet.
Nevertheless, even if it seemed somewhat lackluster, as a sprout of a sacred healing herb, it was tradable, and many people were willing to have it.
Elder Brother, originating from a Cultivation Clan and a direct blood relative of the Kaiyang Peak Master, could exchange this sprout with the clan for a decent reward.
"Elder Brother, if we don't have anything important in the future, let's just stay in the Sect for cultivation. As long as we don't leave the Sect, Shadow Kill wouldn't dare to do anything to us. I've been invited by several fellow disciples to go out, but I didn't dare to venture outside," Wang Hong suggested.
Upon hearing this, a gleam of understanding flashed in Elder Brother's eyes. It seemed he had grasped some key points. Surviving until Foundation Building wasn't a feat achievable by fools.
"Thanks for the reminder, Junior Brother!"
After some more casual conversation, Wang Hong left Elder Brother's cave mansion.
Even though Elder Brother had reached Foundation Building, he still interacted with Wang Hong as equals. Despite Wang Hong being only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Elder Brother didn't look down on him. He was one of the few friends Wang Hong had in the Qingxu Sect.
Back home, Wang Hong planted the branches of Blue Beauty Grass. It would take hundreds of years for them to mature fully.
Blue Beauty Grass could be directly consumed, or it could be refined into a Foundation Pill for better effects. The refinement process required dozens of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, most of which Wang Hong already had in his space. However, he still lacked three types of Spiritual Herbs.
He would have to find them slowly in the future. If he couldn't find them, he could resort to direct consumption, even though the effects would be slightly inferior. Quantity could compensate for quality.
Earlier, Elder Brother had asked Wang Hong about the Spiritual Herbs needed for refining the Foundation Pill. Since Elder Brother couldn't find them immediately, he chose to consume them directly.
After planting the Blue Beauty Grass, Wang Hong continued his study and contemplation of the Yin and Yang runes in his space.
Time passed quickly, and without realizing it, almost a month had gone by.
One day, Wang Hong was outside with Little Peng, having a simple meal. On the stone table were several Green Onion Pancakes, a bottle of Spirit Wine, and a few second-tier spirit fruits.
The Polar Small Cold Onion he cultivated was only a few decades old, merely two inches long, but it had a unique taste of its own.
He heated Three Yang Melon Seeds oil and poured it onto the onion flowers. With a sizzle, a burst of fragrance filled the air.
Using Spatial Produce's Spirit Wheat ground into flour, he partially cooked it, brushed it with green onion oil, then rolled it into pancakes, pan-frying until both sides were slightly golden.
The resulting Green Onion Pancakes were crispy, soft, and elastic, emitting a delightful aroma.
Now, every meal of Spirit Rice or Spirit Wheat, which had undergone a second mutation, could increase a few drops of liquid Spiritual Power in his dantian's sea. The effect was almost equivalent to that of a Nourishing Essence Pill.
He could now consume three Nourishing Essence Pills daily, with one being absorbed by the small flames in his dantian's sea.
By absorbing two Nourishing Essence Pills himself and having two Spirit Meals each day, it was equivalent to taking two Nourishing Essence Pills.
Calculating, he was gaining spiritual power equivalent to four Nourishing Essence Pills every day. This speed was significantly faster than other Foundation Building cultivators.
Typically, obtaining the materials for one furnace of Nourishing Essence Pills would take at least half a year for a Foundation Building cultivator. Even if they managed to refine it into an elixir, some would be deducted, and the few elixirs obtained would be treasured like precious items, saved for special occasions.
For cultivators like Wang Hong, who consumed Nourishing Essence Pills daily, such elixirs were a regular part of his diet.
Hence, Foundation Building cultivators usually spent their daily routine meditating, absorbing the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. This was the norm.
This explained why many cultivators liked to consume fasting pills. It allowed them to save time on meals and dedicate it to cultivation, absorbing the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.
Due to his poor aptitude, Wang Hong rarely meditated to absorb the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. Instead, he preferred to spend that time and energy preparing a Spirit Meal, which not only tasted good but also enhanced his cultivation level.
Wang Hong felt slightly full only after eating thirty Green Onion Pancakes, while Little Peng, taking advantage of its status as a demonic beast, swallowed them effortlessly.
"You, as a bird without teeth, eating by swallowing a pancake, can you even taste its flavor? Why eat with such gusto?" Wang Hong teased Little Peng while munching on the pancakes.
During this period in the space, almost ten years had passed. Little Peng's size had increased, with a wingspan now exceeding six feet.
It could now carry Wang Hong in flight, though it effortlessly hunched under his weight. However, Wang Hong had ridden it only once in the sect, garnering sympathetic glances from others. Riding such a small bird made it seem like he was mistreating a spirit pet.
Little Peng's intelligence had also improved significantly. It could now barely understand Wang Hong's words. At this moment, it felt a bit wronged. Did it mean it couldn't eat without teeth? Tasting the flavor used the tongue, not teeth.
It vented all its grievances on the Green Onion Pancakes, which, in Wang Hong's eyes, made its eating even more enjoyable.
Just then, a Message Transmission symbol flew in. Wang Hong caught it, and a melodious female voice echoed from within.
He walked to the courtyard gate, opened it, and found Shui Ruo'er from the Task Hall standing there.
"Sister Shui, why are you here?"
Shui Ruo'er wore a loose black daoist robe, perfectly concealing her slightly plump figure. A black veil covered her not-so-pretty face, giving her a vague and misty beauty.
This finally confirmed Wang Hong's suspicion. Many female cultivators liked to wear veils to hide their faces, probably because they weren't particularly attractive.
"Senior Wang, I remember you took on a hundred and twenty Alchemy tasks, and they're due tomorrow. I was afraid you might forget, so I happened to pass by and thought to remind you," Shui Ruo'er said, her face growing redder, her voice lower. She even considered turning and running away.
This time, she had prepared for a long time, mustering the courage to come and find Wang Hong. Even the words she spoke now had been rehearsed countless times.
From childhood to now, no male cultivator had ever actively shown interest in her. The first time a male cultivator gave her Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, it stirred her heart.
After returning, analyzing the situation with her sisters, they were convinced that this male cultivator was interested in her and was generous with his gifts. They urged her to seize the opportunity.
Initially happy, as time passed without seeing him again, disappointment set in. Paradoxically, her longing grew, creating a unique emotion within her.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Thanks for reminding me, Sister Shui. By the way, have you eaten? How about we have a meal together?" This time, Wang Hong had genuinely forgotten about the tasks as he was completely absorbed in his rune studies.
[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]