Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 283 - 197 Qin Facai_1

Chapter 283: 197 Qin Facai_1

"No need, I didn’t intervene for the sake of wealth, but I can’t help for nothing either. Keep an eye out for news of any powerful and peculiar Spirit Birds and Alien Beasts with great divine abilities for me."

Shen Long said.

"No problem, consider it done."

Song He readily agreed. Something occurred to him, and he took out a green jade slip, handed it to Shen Long, and said, "Taoist Friend Shen, this is a third-grade pill formula that we obtained from the ruins of an ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling. Take it as a token of gratitude for the great help you’ve provided. I truly can’t bear for you to leave empty-handed."

Shen Long took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense.

"Longevity Treasure Pill!"

An interested expression appeared on Shen Long’s face.

The Longevity Treasure Pill was concocted using the Longevity Fruit as the main ingredient and had the effect of extending one’s lifespan. The Longevity Fruit’s growth cycle lasted for an entire 1,500 years, and any cultivator could only consume one Longevity Treasure Pill in their lifetime, which would extend their life by a hundred years. Eating two had the same effect as one, and the effects could not be stacked, just like with other life-extending elixirs—none of their effects could be cumulative.

If the effects could be stacked, Nascent Soul Cultivators of major powers who consumed a large amount of life-extending elixirs could live for several thousand years.

Extending one’s life by a hundred years was already quite remarkable, but the Longevity Fruit’s extremely long growth cycle made it difficult to obtain.

"Alright then! I’ll accept it. Take good care of him. In a month, I will come to see him again," Shen Long said, then turned and left.

Upon reaching a fork in the road, two men and a woman came towards him, with Chen Chi and Xu Yuyan among them. They were just at the initial stage of Core Formation, accompanied by a tall young man dressed in black.

The black-clad young man’s clothes bore a ferocious Fierce Ghost Pattern, which was the mark of the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

The Heavenly Ghost Sect was one of the eight major forces in the Northern Sea cultivation realm, known for its skill in exorcising ghosts and subduing demons.

When Chen Chi and Xu Yuyan saw Shen Long, they were slightly startled. Shen Long acted as if he hadn’t seen them and continued to walk forward. As he passed the three of them, he tapped the white Spirit Beast bag at his waist, allowing the Pursuing Spirit Beast to remember the divine sense fluctuations of the trio.

"Eh, Taoist Friend Shen, long time no see."

A pleasant female voice sounded.

Shen Long looked toward the source of the voice and saw Han Chuchu coming toward him.

"It has been a long time, Fairy Han."

Shen Long greeted her.

"Taoist Friend Ximen is holding a gathering where many fellow Taoists will be participating. Would you like to join?"

Han Chuchu said enthusiastically.

"Where will it be?"

Shen Long asked.

"In the Green Flood Dragon Garden, at the time of Shushi."

Han Chuchu replied.

"Alright, I will definitely be on time."

Shen Long promised.

After a short conversation, Han Chuchu left.

Everything had been observed by Xu Yuyan and Chen Chi, who certainly hadn’t forgotten about Shen Long.

After visiting a few shops and purchasing a batch of second-grade materials for artifact refining, Shen Long returned to the Qingjun Pavilion, entered a secret chamber, and stepped into the Spirt Control Tower, making his way to the second layer.

He blew a whistle, and a loud roar boomed out. A streak of red Escape Light flew toward him from the distance, and with a swift motion, it landed before him—it was the Fire Qilin Beast.

The Fire Qilin Beast had devoured quite a number of third-grade demon cores and superior Beast Nurturing Pills with the Fire Attribute and had advanced to the middle stage of the third grade.

A gigantic golden cloud approached from another direction and soon came to a halt, revealing over 200,000 Gold-Winged Fire Ants with the Ant Queen also at the middle stage of third grade, and over 10,000 of the Gold-Winged Fire Ants were in the late stage of the second grade.

Shen Long took out two third-grade demon cores and two Beast Nurturing Pills, feeding them to the Fire Qilin Beast and the Gold-Winged Fire Ant Queen. He then took out a golden Storage Bag, shook it upside down, and a sweep of golden light left a large pile of metal ores on the ground.

The swarm of over 200,000 Gold-Winged Fire Ants fell upon it, quickly devouring the ores.

Shen Long trained them in combat as the swarm of Gold-Winged Fire Ants continually coalesced into various weapons shapes—swords, spears, clubs, and staves all formed.

The Fire Qilin Beast released flames while running, constantly changing directions in the process.

Half an hour later, he arrived on the third layer.

A sharp cry rang out from above as the Gold-Winged Windroc dove from the sky and landed before Shen Long, stirring up a great amount of dust and filling the air with a haze.

It, too, had consumed a number of third-grade demon cores and superior Beast Nurturing Pills with the Wind Attribute and advanced to the middle stage of third grade, boasting a relatively fast growth rate.

As Shen Long’s Life-Bound Spirit Bird, the Gold-Winged Windroc received the most resources.

Shen Long took out a blue demon core and a Beast Nurturing Pill, feeding them to the Gold-Winged Windroc.

The Gold-Winged Windroc let out joyful cries, its wings fluttering non-stop, generating gusts of wind.

Understanding the Windroc’s excitement, Shen Long climbed onto its back. With a powerful flap of its wings, the Windroc soared upwards at a great speed.

Gales howled past, causing Shen Long’s hair to fly about wildly.

He could feel the Windroc’s joy; after advancing to the middle stage of third grade, its flying speed had increased even more.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Windroc landed on the ground.

The Iron Tail Scorpion emerged from underground, swaying its tail from side to side—it, too, had advanced to the middle stage of third grade.

The rich resources of demon beasts in the Northern Sea cultivating realm made it convenient for Shen Long to collect demon cores. Coupled with superior Beast Nurturing Pills, the growth rate of his Spirit Beasts, Spirit Birds, and Spirit Insects was comparatively rapid.

Shen Long took out a blood-red demon core from a third-grade Blood Clam Beast and fed it to the Iron Tail Scorpion, along with another Beast Nurturing Pill.

The Iron Tail Scorpion let out a pleased hiss, its yellowish body glowing brightly as it burrowed back underground.

Shen Long had constructed a little poison forest with toxic trees and herbs where the Iron Tail Scorpion especially liked to stay.

He then approached a small valley with a golden stele standing about a zhang high at its entrance. Inscribed upon it in silver characters were the words "Spirit Infant Valley." The Spirit Infant Fruit trees were to be found within the valley.

The valley was enveloped in a cloak of green mist, obscuring its interior.

A towering tree swiftly moved to Shen Long’s side, revealing itself to be the Tree Person.

The Tree Person was unique, as it had no interest in Beast Nurturing Pills.

Among beasts, feathers, scales, insects, trees, and spirits, Tree Demons were a rather rare kind, interested mainly in wood-based Spiritual Objects, particularly the Crystal Cores of high-level Wood Demons.

Beasts, feathered creatures, scaled entities, and insects of the demon race, upon reaching high ranks in cultivation, all have demon cores within them, while tree people do not possess demon cores but crystal cores instead.

The crystal core of a wood demon is also a precious material, useful in artifact refining, array setting, and talisman crafting, and holds considerable value.

"They haven’t interfered with these few places, have they?"

Shen Long asked.

He had instructed the tree person to watch over the spirit infant fruit trees, the blood serpent fruit trees, and the golden thunder bamboo, which for the tree person was a mere trifle.

"No, they’ve all been active within their own territories."

The tree person said.

Shen Long created environments that the iron tail scorpion and the gold-winged windroc favored, letting them roam in their respective territories and, after a few training sessions, they understood.

"Continue to guard here, and I’ll find a way to get a wood demon’s crystal core for you."

Shen Long said.

"Thank you, master."

The tree person said thanks repeatedly.

Shen Long left the Spirit Control Tower and sat down cross-legged.

"How come Chen Chi and Xu Yuyan ended up mingling with people from the Heavenly Ghost Sect? It’s really strange."

Shen Long muttered to himself, his face full of confusion.

If it had been just Chen Chi and Xu Yuyan, Shen Long wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but now that they were working with cultivators from the Heavenly Ghost Sect, he had to weigh his options carefully.

······

A secluded courtyard with green roof tiles housed a two-story green loft and a green stone pavilion.

Chen Chi and Xu Yuyan were sitting in the stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

"No wonder there was no news of him for so many years; he was in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm!"

Xu Yuyan said with a frown.

They had sent people to keep an eye out for news on Shen Long but had received none.

"It’s not surprising. The Northern Sea Cultivation Realm is rich in monster beast resources. High-level cultivators will go there to hunt monster beasts. Being a Spirit Controller, hunting monster beasts to obtain demon cores will make his spirit beasts and birds grow faster."

Chen Chi stated.

"He’s actually reached the middle stage of Core Formation already, his rate of cultivation is so fast. If we run into him in the wild, we might not be his match."

Xu Yuyan spoke with a sullen face.

"What’s there to fear? We’re staying with Taoist Friend Xu from the Heavenly Ghost Sect. If he dares to kill Taoist Friend Xu, let’s see if the Heavenly Ghost Sect will let him off the hook. The Spirit Control Sect has some power in Qin Country, but it pales in comparison to the Heavenly Ghost Sect."

Chen Chi was unconcerned.

"Still, it’s better to be cautious. If we can find an opportunity to get rid of him in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm, that would be best."

Xu Yuyan suggested.

"Let’s deal with the important affairs first. After that, we’ll find a way to deal with him. He’s quite close with the younger generation of the Han Family, so getting rid of him won’t be easy. As long as he’s still in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm, we have a chance to eliminate him."

Chen Chi said in a deep voice.

······

At the hour of Shu, dusk fell, and the streets were teeming with people.

Shen Long stood at the entrance of a spacious manor with a signboard that read "Green Flood Dragon Garden" in golden letters, guarded by two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"Taoist Friend Shen, you’ve arrived so early."

A familiar female voice sounded.

Following the source of the voice, Shen Long saw Han Chuchu coming toward him, accompanied by a proud and tall young man in a blue shirt.

"Fairy Han, may I inquire who this Taoist friend is?"

Shen Long’s gaze landed on the young man in blue.

"I am Ximen Hai, and I’ve long heard Fairy Han mention the esteemed name of Taoist Friend Shen. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you in person today."

The young man in blue introduced himself.

"Taoist Friend Ximen flatters me; I’m hardly worthy of such renown."

Shen Long replied modestly.

"Let’s go in and talk! The other Taoist friends probably haven’t arrived yet."

Ximen Hai said enthusiastically as he walked into the Green Flood Dragon Garden.

Shen Long and Han Chuchu followed, chatting as they walked.

Before long, they reached a quiet and secluded courtyard, planted with many spirit flowers. Winter jasmine, cranes, begonias, narcissuses, camellias, and peonies competed in beauty, a riot of colors, with the air permeated with rich floral fragrances.

In the courtyard was a hexagonal green stone pavilion where a man of medium build in a green shirt and a portly man in a golden robe were sitting, enjoying tea and conversation.

"This must be Taoist Friend Shen! I am Ximen Sen. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Taoist Friend Shen."

The man in the green shirt said warmly, giving a fist-and-palm salute.

"I’m Qin Facai, pleased to meet you, Taoist Friend Shen."

The man in the golden robe greeted jovially, his eyes squinting into thin lines.

"I am Shen Zhu, a pleasure to meet you, Taoist Friends Ximen and Qin. I’ve long admired Taoist Friend Qin’s renown."

Shen Long returned the salutation.

"Taoist Friend Shen knows of me?"

Qin Facai appeared slightly startled.

"Who doesn’t know that among the Qixia Alliance, two are known for their skill in commerce, one of whom is Taoist Friend Qin."

Shen Long explained with a smile.