Three months later, the group of Spirit Bees cultivated by Wang Hong had recovered to a count of twenty thousand.
While only three months had passed in the external world, more than ten years had elapsed in Space. During this time, Wang Hong continuously fed the Spiritual Medicine he refined, occasionally modifying the formula to apply newly acquired pharmacological knowledge.
Currently, the color of the Spirit Bees had changed from the original green to pure black, and their physical strength had increased. They were no longer as frail as before, now resilient enough to withstand a gentle squeeze without perishing.
The cultivation level of the Spirit Bees had also reached the first level of Qi Cultivation, with some even progressing to the second level. However, they still couldn't pierce Wang Hong's skin. While their toxicity had increased, it posed little danger to Qi Cultivation cultivators. Their primary function remained inflicting pain.
Presumably, the reason for this was having only one poisonous flower. The new plants he propagated from the red flower had yet to bloom.
Wang Hong planned to refine additional poisons to supplement the Spirit Bees' diet and enhance their toxicity. Despite searching the market, he only found a few moderately toxic plants.
The Sect's Exchange Hall, similar to the Task Hall, consisted of rows of long tables where disciples could handle various exchange affairs.
The Exchange Hall managed the conversion of contribution points. Disciples could submit various Spiritual Objects in exchange for contribution points or use contribution points to acquire various treasures.
The exchange of Spiritual Objects for contribution points wasn't based on market prices but determined by the tier, rarity, and Sect's demand, with adjustments made regularly.
Overall, performing tasks to earn contribution points was more profitable than exchanging Spiritual Objects.
Wang Hong approached an empty spot, across from a slightly plump middle-aged female disciple, and handed her a Magical Weapon similar to the one in the Task Hall.
Taking the Magical Weapon, he quickly found the category for poisonous herbs in the Spirit Herb classification. Surprisingly, there were hundreds of highly toxic Spiritual Medicines.
It's worth noting that at the level of Immortal Cultivators, the number of toxins effective against cultivators was extremely limited.
Wang Hong couldn't help but marvel at the Sect's wealth. While Qingxu Sect excelled in alchemy, the use of poisons was a niche, with very few practitioners.
He selected three rare second-tier Medicinal Herbs: 200-year Ghost Worrier, 200-year Crimson Skull Flower, and a 600-year Devil Vine. Ghost Worrier cost 100 contribution points each, Crimson Skull Flower required 900 contribution points, and Devil Vine needed 2000 contribution points.
Having spent over a year in the Sect, Wang Hong earned contribution points mostly through monthly Sect tasks. After deducting the consumption of borrowing books from the Book Tower, he now had only two hundred contribution points left.
He retrieved a Jade Box from his Storage Bag, handed it to the middle-aged woman, who opened it, carefully examined its contents, and checked a book.
"This is a 500-year Scarlet Blood Ginseng, exchangeable for a thousand contribution points. The Spiritual Medicines you've chosen require a total of 3200 contribution points."
Wang Hong sighed internally. The exchange seemed a bit steep. The 500-year Scarlet Blood Ginseng could help Foundation Building cultivators break through a bottleneck, yet it was only worth a thousand points.
Hastily, he produced two more identical Jade Boxes, handed them to the woman, and she checked them meticulously.
"Three thousand contribution points, still short by two hundred," the middle-aged woman said coldly.
Wang Hong then submitted his identity token, containing the remaining two hundred contribution points.
Back in his small courtyard, he kept only one Ghost Worrier and planted the rest in the area where he bred the poisonous bees.
The Ghost Worrier was over a foot tall, covered in tiny poisonous thorns, making it difficult to handlehence the name Ghost Worrier.
The Crimson Skull Flower, a small shrub, didn't boast beautiful flowers but emitted an enticing fragrance. It lured Demonic Beasts in the wild, and when they approached, their bodies became comfortable from the pollen. Reluctant to leave, they eventually succumbed to the potent toxins, turning into a pool of blood nourishing the plants.
However, the two-hundred-year Crimson Skull Flower was still a sapling, capable of attracting only unintelligent, small-sized Demonic Beasts. If it accidentally lured a formidable beast like a Pig Demon, it might get attacked before the poison took effect.
Moreover, it is said that in the territory of the demonic clan, once the presence of this poisonous flower is detected, they spare no effort to eradicate it at any cost.
Hence, the Crimson Skull Flower is extremely rare in the wild, almost extinct. It's unclear where the Sect obtained this plant.
The Devil Vine is a colorful vine that usually lies dormant on the ground. When prey approaches, it quickly entwines them with layers of vines. The thorns on the vines, inches long, pierce the prey, extracting its essence blood and Spiritual Energy until the prey eventually becomes a dried corpse.
Typically, cultivators use Devil Vine to craft binding-type Spiritual Weapons or even treasures.
However, Wang Hong's intention in planting Devil Vine was to use its seeds for the Entanglement Technique.
While he was busy planting the poisonous herbs, he noticed many Spirit Bees flying near the Crimson Skull Flower, reluctant to leave, and more were approaching from afar.
Soon, several Spirit Bees turned into a dense liquid.
Wang Hong rushed forward to drive them away. At this rate, the entire Spirit Bee colony might be wiped out in no time.
After chasing away one group, another swiftly arrived. He immediately commanded the Bee Queen to restrain the swarm, forbidding them from getting close to the poisonous flower.
However, the situation only slightly improved, with countless Spirit Bees still flying towards them.
While driving away the Spirit Bees, Wang Hong contemplated a solution. Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea.
He dug out the Devil Vine, replanted it next to the Crimson Skull Flower, and used some of its vines to cover the area around the flower.
Then, a group of Spirit Bees flew towards the Crimson Skull Flower. Before the Spirit Bees could get close, the vines in the Devil Vine area danced, curling towards the Spirit Bees. Frightened, the Spirit Bees dodged backward. Though some were still caught by the Devil Vine and consumed, it was far better than sending all of them to their deaths.
Seeing this, Wang Hong finally exited the Space.
He used the Ghost Worrier as the main ingredient and added other poisonous herbs to concoct a liquid.
Each time, he added a small drop to the Spirit Honey while continuing to feed Spiritual Medicine to enhance their strength.
After completing the training for the day, Wang Hong was walking back alone.
"Wang Junior Brother, please wait."
Wang Hong turned around to see Pan Yuan approaching. He wondered why Pan Yuan, with whom he had no prior interaction, was seeking him.
"I wonder what advice Senior Brother Pan has?" Wang Hong asked.
Pan Yuan caught up, smiling, "I heard Junior Brother Wang is raising a group of Spirit Bees. I wonder if there's any Royal Bee Jelly for sale?"
"I do have some Royal Bee Jelly. How much does Senior Brother Pan need?"
The first group of Spirit Bees Wang Hong bred in the Space had accumulated a considerable amount of Royal Bee Jelly after several times the normal passage of time.
"Just one or two ounces. Does that work?" He knew Royal Bee Jelly was produced in very small quantities. With Wang Hong's small group of Spirit Bees, at most, it would be half an ounce in a year.
Wang Hong calculated that half an ounce would be about a thousand drops. Going by the price he sold to Sun Er before, it would cost ten thousand Spirit Stones.
For a Qi Cultivation Disciple, this was a substantial sum. He doubted Pan Yuan could produce ten thousand Spirit Stones at once.
Earning over ten thousand Spirit Stones in one go among Qi Cultivation Disciples was too conspicuous and not a good thing. It was like a mortal suddenly finding a gold ingot, attracting envy from the neighbors.
"Senior Brother Pan is joking. There won't be that much Royal Bee Jelly. At most, half an ounce, and that's my accumulation over several years."
"Half an ounce is fine." Pan Yuan nodded with a smile, "Five thousand Spirit Stones."
Wang Hong pondered. Half an ounce was approximately a thousand drops, and based on the previous transaction with Sun Er, it would be worth ten thousand Spirit Stones.
"This... Junior Brother Wang, can we negotiate? I'm a bit tight on funds at the moment. How about you give me the Royal Bee Jelly, and I'll definitely repay you with Spirit Stones in three days, alright?" Pan Yuan expressed some difficulty.
"One hand pays the Spirit Stones, and the other hands over the goods. Please understand, Senior Brother Pan." After witnessing the dispute between Pan Yuan and Hu Hao last time, he couldn't trust him easily.
"Junior Brother Wang, don't be so reserved. I'll return the Spirit Stones to you in three days. We're fellow disciples, why bother about these few days?" Pan Yuan persuaded.
"Senior Brother Pan can also wait for three days before making the transaction, no need to rush for just a few days." Wang Hong suggested.
After a few more attempts at persuasion, seeing Wang Hong still unyielding, Pan Yuan didn't say anything more. He turned around and left without a word.
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