You Cultivate, I Farm

Reassured by Ge Pu's promise, Lu Xuan felt much more at ease. Returning to his cave dwelling, he took the opportunity to visit Huo Lin'er, explaining the predicament he might face.

After witnessing Lu Xuan's formidable prowess with spiritual plants in the blessed land, Huo Lin'er had been eager to forge a friendship. Upon learning the details, especially the potential strength of the shadowy cultivator behind the scenes, he readily agreed to help.

"It's been a while since I've seen the phoenix and the white ape. I should reach out to bond with them and try some different spiritual fruits and juices in my dwelling."

Lu Xuan took out the silver-white hair that the White Jade Ape had given him and infused it with a sliver of spiritual power.

In just a few dozen breaths, a streak of white light swiftly approached the dwelling and arrived at the foot of the mountain, violently bypassing the flowing light array without triggering any response.

A delicate and small monkey appeared before Lu Xuan, its body as flawless and translucent as white jade.

Its ruby-red eyes timidly met Lu Xuan's gaze before quickly looking away, displaying a bashful demeanor.

After the arrival of the small monkey at Lu Xuan's dwelling, the phoenix, not wanting to be outdone, revealed itself atop the mountain peak, so seamlessly that the flowing light array at the mountain's base failed to detect any spiritual energy anomaly.

"Welcome, welcome."

"To both my friends, it's been a while. Today, let's gather and sample some of the spirit juice I've recently brewed."

Lu Xuan warmly invited them in.

He brought out two types of ice and fire spiritual fruits, the Flame Fruit and the Ice Gourd Fruit, along with several freshly delicious Mystical Peaches.

Pouring a cup of Hundred-Fruit Spirit Juice for each of the two beasts and the dwelling's spirit beasts, Lu Xuan also fetched fresh demonic beast meat from his storage bag.

Under the precise control of the Flame Manipulation Technique, he quickly grilled the meat to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a tantalizing aroma.

The Hundred-Fruit Spirit Juice, having been aged in the Drunken Immortal Gourd, was even more richly flavorful.

After a few sips, the White Jade Ape's eyes glazed over in a tipsy daze. When Lu Xuan served the grilled demonic beast meat, it showed a blissfully simple-minded expression.

The Profound White Phoenix pecked at the Hundred-Fruit Spirit Juice in small sips, savoring the delightful flavors that burst forth with each sip, wobbling on its slender legs as though it might fall at any moment.

"How's the taste? Not bad, right?"

Lu Xuan asked with a beaming smile.

The Profound White Phoenix chirped crisply, expressing utter satisfaction and joy.

The White Jade Ape, stuffing its mouth full of demonic beast meat and puffing up its cheeks, hurriedly nodded in response to Lu Xuan's question.

As guardian spiritual beasts of the Sky Sword Sect, both had the potential to grow into Sixth or even Seventh Rank demonic beasts and were revered. They typically resided in special secret realms, attended by sect cultivators.

Despite being well-fed daily, their diet was monotonous and eventually became dull.

Unlike at Lu Xuan's, where they could indulge in high-quality spiritual fruits, taste the varied and delicious Hundred-Fruit Spirit Juice, and enjoy variously cooked demonic beast meat, satisfying their gourmet desires to the fullest.

"I've recently planted two types of Fourth-Rank spiritual fruits in the dwelling, both rare and precious. Once they mature, I'll inform you immediately so you can have your fill."

Lu Xuan sipped his spirit juice leisurely.

The news excited both the phoenix and the small monkey, as even they rarely had the chance to taste Fourth-Rank spiritual fruits.

"Ah, if only I could be sure we'll make it until the fruits mature..."

Lu Xuan sighed lightly, his gaze drifting into the distance, his eyes filled with a well-balanced mix of worry and hope.

The phoenix and the small monkey, both highly intelligent, looked puzzled by Lu Xuan's demeanor, seemingly asking for more details.

"After acquiring a spirit seed, I endeavored to cultivate it. As it neared maturity, I inadvertently discovered it was deeply tied to an evil cultivator."

"This person has been closely monitoring my situation and might harm me. I'm not skilled in combat and can't stay hidden within the sect forever, so there might be a threat to my life."

Lu Xuan spoke gravely.

At his words, the small monkey growled softly, beating its jade-like chest in a display of solidarity.

A mental message conveyed their willingness to help Lu Xuan deal with the evil cultivator threatening his life.

Unwilling to lose

such a generous provider of delicacies, both beasts offered their assistance without hesitation.

"So, if I call on you to fight, will you come to help right away?"

The Profound White Phoenix chirped firmly in response, while the small monkey, excited by the prospect of a fight, sparkled with anticipation in its fiery red, crystalline eyes.

With the beasts' promises, Lu Xuan felt entirely confident in resolving the Holy Infant Fruit issue.

When he first met them, they were just in their juvenile phase, yet their formidable talents and bloodlines endowed them with strength equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm.

Over a decade later, Lu Xuan's keen senses detected their power approaching that of true disciples like Ge Pu and Zhong Jingshan.

Their full potential remained to be seen.

After a feast, the two beasts lounged lazily in the yard before reluctantly leaving Lu Xuan's dwelling, looking back every step of the way.

After seeing them off, Lu Xuan visited his spiritual fields to check on their cultivation.

Approaching a field with a thin layer of Wu Ling soil, two pine trees swayed gently, welcoming Lu Xuan with rustling whispers.

He felt a connection to the Spirit Nurturing Pines, sensing their dependence and affection for him.

"One has fully matured."

Lu Xuan noticed one of the progress bars beneath a pine tree was completely filled.

Delighted, he plucked a blue-green pine cone from the top of the tree.

The fist-sized pine cone, its scales layered like pieces of translucent green jade, was followed by a white luminous orb appearing in its place, gently twinkling.

Touching the orb, it burst into countless light points that surged into his body.

【Harvested a Fourth-Rank Spirit Nurturing Pine Cone and acquired a Fifth-Rank technique, the Divine Genesis Scripture.】

A thought emerged in his mind.

A flood of information poured into his consciousness, nearly overwhelming it.

Standing silently, it took him a while to fully assimilate the deluge of information.

After absorbing another experience pack of the Divine Genesis Scripture, Lu Xuan felt a deeper and more profound understanding of the technique. Many previously perplexing issues were now clear, as if he had been studying this technique for decades.

With a thought, Lu Xuan sensed an unprecedented clarity and lucidity in his spiritual consciousness, as if he could distinctly perceive a thin jade tablet within his mind glowing softly.

"Could I, who effortlessly mastered a Fifth-Rank technique, actually be a cultivation genius?"