You Cultivate, I Farm

"Old Turtle, could you tell me more about the forbidden land?" Lu Xuan asked curiously after enticing the old dragon turtle with a grand vision.

"Do you want to take a look inside?" Despite Lu Xuan standing beside him, the old dragon turtle, whose thick skin had been forged over thousands of years, remained engrossed in the *Blissful Heart Sutra*, showing keen interest.

"Indeed, I'm considering it. I'm mainly curious about what kind of fierce beasts are inside," Lu Xuan did not hide his thoughts. He was quite intrigued by the demonic and evil beasts within the forbidden land, wondering if he could obtain some high-grade demonic beast flesh.

As the number and grade of sinister plants in his Underworld Courtyard increased, so did the requirement for higher quantity and quality of demonic beast flesh. Ordinary beasts no longer sufficed, forcing Lu Xuan to seek alternatives.

Reluctantly shifting his gaze from the light yellow pages, the old dragon turtle glanced at Lu Xuan. "That place is no ordinary location. Staying there long-term affects one's mind and spirit."

"However, a brief visit could be enlightening."

"Fortunately, I have access to the forbidden land. If you wish, I can take you there," the turtle offered.

"That would be great, Elder," Lu Xuan responded with a smile.

He wouldn't dare explore the secret realm alone, but with the company of a sixth-grade dragon turtle, he felt more than confident.

"Actually, with the Beast Control Command in your possession, you can freely enter certain parts of the forbidden land," the turtle explained. "Including myself, several fifth and sixth-grade spiritual beasts within this blessed land are eligible to enter. In a sense, our presence here serves to guard the forbidden land."

"It's just that I, along with the old monkey and the phoenix couple, dislike the environment there. The old fox, however, usually stays within the forbidden land, busying himself with unknown endeavors."

The old dragon turtle spoke slowly, its sun-bathing shell returning to its back, fitting perfectly into place. The shell's spiritual patterns moved, revealing various divinations.

"No problem, let's go!" With those words, a stream of water-elemental spiritual power wrapped around Lu Xuan, transforming into a giant water sphere that instantaneously appeared on the edge of a dark abyss.

"This is the entrance to the forbidden land of the Myriad Beasts Grotto," the old dragon turtle said, sticking its head out to look at the bottomless pit below and introducing it to Lu Xuan.

Feeling the intrusion, all the restrictive spells covering the forbidden land activated, with surging spiritual power sweeping toward them.

Unperturbed, the old dragon turtle exhaled a demon pellet enveloped in cold mist. The pellet created a misty aura shield, perfectly enclosing both it and Lu Xuan within.

As the spiritual power approached, sensing the aura of the demon pellet, it automatically parted ways.

They slowly descended into the pit.

After passing through several layers of restrictions, Lu Xuan finally saw the bottom of the pit.

The middle part of the pit was hollow, segmented into several layers, each filled with dense caves.

Roars of various beasts, some brutal, some pained, intermittently echoed from the caves.

The entire pit reeked of a potent mix of blood and sinister energy, slightly unsettling Lu Xuan, who was entering the forbidden land for the first time.

"You, young man, seem to have seen little blood to be affected by such a minor sinister aura," the old dragon turtle remarked mockingly upon seeing Lu Xuan's discomfort.

"Can't help it. After all, I am a spiritual plant cultivator, chosen by Uncle Cangwu to manage the blessed land. I don't have to wander and battle with demonic beasts and evil cultivators like other disciples," Lu Xuan replied nonchalantly.

"Talking back, I see," the turtle changed the topic. "There's a clear distinction between the layers of the forbidden land; the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes."

"The upper cave area mainly houses ordinary demonic beasts, captured by the sect's cultivators for feeding certain spiritual beasts in the blessed land or even some fierce and evil beasts within the forbidden land."

"They are often used for cross-breeding and bloodline screening to produce new breeds of demonic beasts."

Nodding, Lu Xuan thought of the Lion-Bird Beast he had previously tamed.

He looked around the caves, spotting various demonic beasts, primarily first and second-grade, with a decent number of third and fourth-grade beasts as well.

"So many beasts, just like consumables. I wonder if I can get some of their unused parts."

"The plants in my courtyard aren't picky eaters," he thought to himself.

"The middle area houses beasts that have attacked our sect's cultivators or violated the sect's laws."

"These fierce beasts are powerful, often dominated by

their beastly nature, and extremely aggressive."

"Extra magical tools are required just to keep them contained, lest they break free and cause havoc."

"Keeping them here is also a form of rehabilitation. If we notice a significant reduction in their beastly nature and potential for improvement, we gradually reintroduce them back into the blessed land."

"If they remain unrepentant, they are used for more sinister experiments, such as inducing mutations with various kinds of yin and demonic qi. These experiments have a high mortality rate and are difficult to control."

Lu Xuan noticed the middle area's caves were more heavily guarded, with various runes inscribed to suppress the beasts within. Some were even shackled with magical tools to restrict their movements.

Fierce gazes shot out from the dim caves, landing on Lu Xuan as if viewing him as prey.

With the sixth-grade old dragon turtle by his side, Lu Xuan remained fearless, even approaching the caves to observe the fierce beasts, completely disregarding them.

"The bottom layer contains evil beasts, invaded and possessed or parasitized by evil spirits, their minds clouded, their abilities bizarre, making them excellent research subjects."

"These evil beasts are a level more dangerous than the fierce beasts, each locked down with array formations, fearing their escape from the forbidden land."

"That old fox usually stays down there," the old dragon turtle shared with Lu Xuan.

Looking toward the bottom, although unable to see the specifics, Lu Xuan's keen spiritual sense detected obscure gazes emanating from below.

Under the focus of these gazes, a chill ran up Lu Xuan's spine, penetrating deep into his bones.

"Old Turtle, why are you bringing a Foundation Establishment cultivator into the forbidden land?"

An ancient voice emerged beside Lu Xuan, filled with a profound sense of decay.

"This is a friend of mine, with whom I share a deep bond. I brought him here for some experience."

"So, being friends grants free access? If he does something against the rules in the forbidden land, can you, old turtle, bear the responsibility?"

The ancient voice grew closer.

"Old Fox, have you gone so senile that you failed to notice the Beast Control Command on my friend?"

The old dragon turtle chuckled scornfully.