You Cultivate, I Farm

"Eh, why does this cub's golden glow have so many fine blood threads?"

"This is different from what I've read in beast taming scriptures."

The ordinary-looking young cultivator noticed the anomaly on the cub's body and couldn't help but ask.

"The cub's vitality seems fine," Lu Xuan reassured.

"Perhaps, that's the crux of the difficult birth. The Thunderstorm Bear cub with blood threads might even be a rare variant spirit beast."

He speculated but didn't share the information he had gathered with Sun Yun and the others. After all, deducing abnormal factors around the forbidden area of the blessed land from a difficult birth was too astonishing; it was best to keep a low profile.

After carefully inspecting the cub from all aspects and feeling reassured, they spoke.

"Today, we owe a great debt to Brother Lu for saving both the mother beast and her cub in time."

"Had anything happened to either the mother or the cub, I would have borne a great responsibility," the ordinary young cultivator stepped forward and expressed his gratitude to Lu Xuan sincerely.

A look of admiration appeared on Sun Yun's face, probably understanding why Master Cangwu had entrusted the stewardship of the blessed land to Lu Xuan. While he himself was at a loss in the face of the difficult birth, without the absolute certainty of saving both beasts, Lu Xuan, with his high skill and courage, effortlessly extracted the cub without harming the mother in the slightest.

The disparity between them was clear.

With this in mind, any resentment he had harbored vanished.

"There's no need for such formality, brother. Holding the Beast Control Command, it's my duty to ensure the health and growth of the spirit beasts within the Myriad Beasts Grotto," Lu Xuan said gravely.

"Brother Lu, I was narrow-minded before, doubting you received the Beast Control Command through your relationships. Seeing you today, I realize your profound understanding of spirit beasts, clearly earning the Command through your own merits. I am thoroughly convinced," Sun Yun stepped forward and said with a bow.

"You're too kind, Brother Sun. It's great to clear up any misunderstandings between us, and I look forward to your guidance in the future," Lu Xuan said, extending an olive branch since Sun Yun had already shown humility.

After observing the condition of the mother and child beasts for a while, Lu Xuan returned to his Cloud House.

This incident noticeably changed the attitude of Sun Yun and others who stayed in the blessed land to take care of the many spirit beasts. They greeted him warmly and occasionally reported on the conditions of the spirit beasts within the land.

Lu Xuan would spend his days touring the blessed land, playing with the White Ape and the Phoenix Bird on their mountain, or by the lake, absorbing the vast array of gossip from the old Dragon Turtle.

It was a mystery how the old turtle remembered so much, never repeating a story even over several days and even knew quite a bit about other sects.

One day, after the Dragon Turtle had talked itself hoarse, Lu Xuan thoughtfully offered some Hundred-Fruit Spirit Juice.

The Dragon Turtle nodded in satisfaction.

"Senior, have you been staying inside the sect all these years?" Lu Xuan asked out of curiosity.

"I haven't left the sect for about two thousand years," the Dragon Turtle reminisced.

"The hexagrams on my back are closely related to a sect-protecting formation, so unlike other spirit beasts, I don't go out to explore."

A hint of indiscernible sadness flickered in its eyes.

"Then... are there any of your kind here in the blessed land?"

"Do you think Dragon Turtle bloodlines are common?"

The Dragon Turtle's long whiskers twitched proudly as it spoke.

"So, you've been single for thousands of years?" Lu Xuan approached from another angle.

Having interacted with the Dragon Turtle for a while, he had formed a good impression of this thousand-year-old, sixth-rank spirit beast, feeling a kind of friendship that transcended age, hence speaking without much reservation.

"For a demon cultivator, matters of love are but trivial," it shook its head, scoffing while looking at Lu Xuan, whose turtle shell lines moved as it laughed.

"Do you think I can't tell that you're still a virgin?"

"..."

"I've just been focusing on spiritual plants, not bothering with romance," Lu Xuan chuckled sheepishly.

"Besides, there's a big difference between being single for decades and for thousands of years."

The Dragon Turtle looked at Lu Xuan, smiling without a word.

"Don't look at me like that; I'm trying to help you!"

Lu Xuan declared confidently.

"Senior, have you ever thought about finding a female Dragon Turtle?"

"It's not that simple. Dragon Turtle bloodlines are extremely rare, and I haven't heard of any in this realm."

"What about lowering the

standards a bit, looking for other spirit beasts with true dragon bloodlines, like those Flood Dragons in Thousand Dragon Lake, or other spiritual turtles?"

Lu Xuan probed, hoping to alleviate the ancient Dragon Turtle's loneliness after understanding its inner feelings.

"Kid, I appreciate the thought, but 'non-kin, their nature will differ.' I'm fine as I am," the Dragon Turtle slowly said.

"If it comes down to it, then spiritual consolation is the only option," Lu Xuan thought to himself.

"Senior, I once eliminated a demonic cultivator during an outing and acquired a strange scroll called the 'Blissful Heart Sutra.' Just opening it allows one to see scenes of one's own kind mating. The scenes are always dynamic, changing environments, characters, and positions each time."

"If you're ever bored, you could take a look. Though the female Dragon Turtles are out of reach, at least you can have a spiritual union."

He decided to shock the ancient sixth-rank Dragon Turtle with a bit of blissful stimulation.

"How dare you!"

The Dragon Turtle's whiskers bristled in anger.

"You're using this to test a sixth-rank sect-protecting spirit beast?"

"I would never look at such a thing. But from what you've said, that 'heart sutra' must be some demonic artifact. Its waters run too deep for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to handle. It's better left to me," the Dragon Turtle stated righteously.

"I was negligent in keeping such a demonic item until now. It should've been handed over to you for thorough criticism," Lu Xuan quickly agreed, taking out a closed pale-yellow scroll from his storage bag and gently floating it towards the Dragon Turtle.

The Dragon Turtle nodded in satisfaction.

"Suddenly, I remember I haven't properly cultivated today. The path of cultivation is long and must not be neglected. You may leave for now."

"Yes, then I won't disturb your cultivation, senior. I'll take my leave," Lu Xuan said, picking up on the hint and quickly excused himself.

Both man and beast shared an ambiguous smile.