You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 143

The "Insect Manual" records over a hundred peculiar insects: Iron Fire Ants, White Jade Mantises, Six-Winged Centipedes... Mostly of first and second-grade, with only a few third-grade foundational ones.

Among these was the pale green toad Lu Xuan encountered in the Spirit Plant Garden - the Wood Poisonous Toad. Feeds on demon beasts rich in Wood Spirit energy, especially fond of mimicry insects.

It can change its form and color to blend with its surroundings, highly toxic - the venom of a fully grown Wood Poisonous Toad can even threaten foundational cultivators.

Skimming through the "Insect Manual," Lu Xuan gained insights into nurturing and breeding many demonic insects, their breeding methods, and control techniques.

"For ordinary cultivators, this 'Insect Manual' might seem niche, not as valuable as regular techniques. But for me, it's useful. Cultivating spirit insects could earn me plenty of light orbs."

"Spirit insects have shorter growth cycles compared to spirit beasts. With many species bred in large quantities, I could naturally earn more light orbs."

Thinking to himself, Lu Xuan decided that given the chance, he would try to cultivate some insect eggs or larvae.

He roughly tallied the gains from this pest extermination trip.

Regarding Spirit Stones, Zhang Family Head gifted 500, and about 600 were found in the cultivator's storage pouch.

Additionally, after completing the task, Yao Qing rewarded him with forty sword imprints as payment, along with the "Insect Manual" and several low-tier elixirs and artifacts.

"The experience of blasting fish in the pond was quite good. Easy task, great rewards."

Lu Xuan thought to himself but immediately sensed a shift in his mindset, swiftly readjusting it.

"Can't be careless; the pond might conceal a flood dragon. It's better to stay in the sect and cultivate spirit plants, nurture spirit beasts that suit me."

He stored away the "Insect Manual" and headed to the Spirit Field.

The plants in the field hadn't been tended for a few days, but it didn't seem to affect them significantly.

The soil between the two Sword Grass plants was marked with sword traces, evidence of their frequent secret swordplay.

"Maintaining vitality this way and promoting growth isn't bad."

Carefully examining the Sword Grass, Lu Xuan found no damage to the plants. Satisfied, he decided to leave them as they were and not transplant one elsewhere.

At the spot for nurturing the Sword Gourd, the dropped flying sword had turned into a piece of scrap metal, now serving as a support for the gourd's vines.

"It just so happens there are two flying swords in that cultivator's storage pouch. Not a bad choice for nurturing the Sword Gourd."

Lu Xuan retrieved a flying sword from the pouch and placed it beneath the gourd's green vines.

The two hundred newly planted Spirit Firefly Grass showed vigorous growth, a lush green scene.

For plants without a rank, the sect's spiritual environment was somewhat restrictive, yet even with Lu Xuan's less precise cultivation methods, the Spirit Firefly Grass still thrived.

In the Spirit Field, the third-grade Illusory Smoke Fruit planted from Linyang Market and the second-grade Copper Bone Bamboo had reached maturity. Lu Xuan estimated that he'd soon gain several light orbs.

He was particularly looking forward to the light orb reward from the third-grade Illusory Smoke Fruit.

He moved to the Flowing Light Wood, carefully arranging the spiritual lines on its branches and leaves to avoid affecting the plant's quality.

Next to the Dragonvine, he poured a bottle of a new variety of Ice Chi Dragon blood, watching it seep into the dark vine.

Observing the vine, now wriggling like a snake, Lu Xuan felt satisfied.

The growth rate of the Dragonvine was slightly slower than that of the Illusory Smoke Fruit, but it had entered a rapid growth phase. Both its thickness and length had increased significantly.

The newly planted Ice Chi Fruit had sprouted seedlings, pale white and gently swaying in the wind.

Lu Xuan activated his spiritual energy, casting basic ice elemental spells on the four seedlings resembling white jade, nourishing them with a faint mist.

Under the Strange Stone of the Spirit Spring, the remaining two Iron-Clawed Crabs had matured entirely. Lu Xuan picked them up, each giving off a white light orb.

As expected, both light orbs rewarded him with Crab Spirit Essence.

He stored the Crab Spirit Essence in his pouch, deciding to keep the two crabs for now.

Firstly, the Copper Bone Bamboo required a substantial amount of copper-iron dust for maturation, and until then, they needed ample labor. He intended to make full use of their giant scissor-like claws.

Secondly, for steaming Iron-Clawed Crabs, fresher material was better. When the time came to enjoy them, he could directly retrieve them from the Spirit Spring.

Unaware that their fate had been easily decided by Lu Xuan, the two Iron-Clawed Crabs continued to flaunt their dominance under the boulder, their eyes protruding, a picture of untamed arrogance.

Lu Xuan chuckled softly, scooped a large cup of the icy-cold spring water from the Spiritual Well and entered a cave emitting a bone-chilling aura, watering the Shade Locust Tree.

Once he ensured all the spirit plants were well cared for, Lu Xuan proceeded to the Stone House by Thousand Dragon Lake.

During his absence, he had requested a fellow disciple to help tend to the Flood Dragon Pythons. Fortunately, all of them had been tamed by Lu Xuan, and there were no abnormalities during the caretaking process.

As a gesture of thanks, Lu Xuan took a frozen spirit fish and took over the responsibility of caring for the Flood Dragon Pythons.

In just a few days, Lu Xuan swiftly resumed his previous routine.

Every day, he visited Thousand Dragon Lake, feeding dozens of Flood Dragon Pythons with neatly classified demon beast meat.

Once back in his cave, most of his time was spent nurturing spirit plants. In his spare moments, he practiced techniques like Light Body Art and occasionally flipped through cultivation material related to spirit plants and beasts.

Sometimes, he'd feel inclined and would take out the alchemy furnace to refine a batch of Essence Nourishing Pills. Having absorbed a considerable amount of pill formula experience packs, his success rate in refining Essence Nourishing Pills had soared, feeling effortless and almost instinctual, as if he were a master of alchemy.

This day, following his usual routine, he went to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to check for suitable tasks.

Missions such as exploring secret realms or hunting evil spirits and cultivators were automatically ignored, his focus resting on tasks within the sect concerning the nurturing of spirit plants and beasts.

These tasks were rare; after all, planting spirit plants and nurturing spirit beasts held an average position in cultivation skills.

In comparison to alchemy or artifact forging, even talisman crafting had a higher importance than spirit plants.

Occasional missions of this kind were usually taken by other cultivators.

It took Lu Xuan a while to find a suitable task related to spirit beasts.

[Task Description: Issue with the Birth of Spirit Cranes. The Spirit Crane population in the Beast Taming Hall is facing a crisis of decreasing numbers, with the birth rate at

its lowest in nearly a century. Seeking cultivators capable of resolving the issue.]

[Task Reward: Depending on the birth situation of Spirit Cranes, for every Crane pregnancy, a certain number of sword imprints will be awarded. The more Spirit Cranes in the pregnancy stage, the more additional rewards.]

"Spirit Crane birth issue? I remember the sect being filled with those cranes. How could there be a decrease in numbers?"

Puzzled, Lu Xuan lightly touched the mission details with his spiritual sense, and immediately, the detailed content of the task flooded into his consciousness.

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