The Cyan Deer leaped high and opened its mouth to swallow the Spirit Fruit. After landing, it chewed a few times and spat out the pit.

It squinted its eyes, showing an expression of enjoyment, slowly savoring the Spirit Fruit.

Now, it could safely enjoy Tier Two High-grade Biluo Fruit as long as it didn’t eat them consecutively.

"What other means do you have? Show them all,"

Ji An said with a smile. The Cyan Deer’s mastery in the Wood Element Skill could be said to be the ’second best’ in the sect, with Magic Intent strength equivalent to the Great Perfection Level of the Jade Wood Transformation Skill.

This reference pointed to himself!

It’s important to know that he had the advantage of a Middle-grade Dao Seed and was a Fifth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage, far beyond an ordinary Foundation Establishment Spirit Farmer.

"Yoo yoo!"

The Cyan Deer glanced around and trotted out of the bamboo forest. Due to its larger size, the leather strap holding the bell around its neck had already broken.

It stood with its hind legs on the ground and its front legs airborne, like a galloping horse pulled tight by reins.

Its cyan antlers seemed to experience something unpredictable, turning yellow instantly.

The brief suspension ended, and its hooves thudded heavily on the ground. As if receiving a signal, the Spiritual Bamboo within a few meters around it withered instantly, with green light converging towards it.

The antlers returned to their original appearance, surrounded by a few strands of vibrant cyan Spirit Light, like breathtaking aurora, carrying a hint of ominous Qi.

After casting the spell, a trace of fatigue flashed in its eyes.

Ji An widened his eyes, eyebrows raised, swiftly dropped down.

He sensed the desolation and decay, the effect of the spell somewhat similar to the Life and Death Technique, but distinctly different from it.

The Life and Death Technique concentrated on Wood Element Essence Qi, which had a clear distinction from Life Force.

He carefully discerned the strands of Spirit Light swirling on the deer’s antlers and suddenly realized:

"Spiritual Fiend! This is the Cyan Spirit-Stealing Fiend!"

Ji An’s voice was excited, his breathing involuntarily quickened, his excitement beyond words.

In a few years, he could acquire the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner, and if there was enough Fiendish Qi, it meant he could quickly cultivate an Artifact Spirit.

"This worker is too qualified!"

He immediately pulled out a Cyan Jade Bottle and performed a Spell to collect the Spiritual Fiend inside, totaling seven strands.

The Cyan Spirit-Stealing Fiend was a Spiritual Fiend nurtured from the decay of plants, which must be at least Tier Two Spirit Plants.

The nurturing conditions were unknown, it’s said that it’s often discovered deep in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

He had never seen such a Spiritual Fiend, perhaps because he had never ventured into the deep mountain forests.

"Yoo yoo!"

The Cyan Deer approached its master, wanting credit, snorting out hot air filled with the essence of grass and trees.

Ji An gently patted its forehead, announcing the decision he just made:

"Well done, I’ve decided to grant you a Top-grade Biluo Fruit every three days."

The Cyan Deer nudged its master’s arm gently, expressing its joy.

At this moment, Ji An began to observe the situation. This was the edge of the bamboo forest, and the Spiritual Bamboo growing here was only at the Tier One Upper Grade and Top Grade levels.

According to his knowledge, it was completely insufficient to generate the Cyan Spirit-Stealing Fiend. However, that was not what he cared about; he only cared about how much it cost to generate the Spiritual Fiend!

The withered area of the Spiritual Bamboo was about three meters around. Calculating, this bamboo forest could only support extracting the Spiritual Fiend over three hundred times.

However, the core area also required nurturing Spirit Wine, which couldn’t be easily used.

He and the Cyan Deer engaged in a spiritual exchange, asking:

"How many times a day can you cast this?"

This was the most critical part, directly related to the subsequent plan.

"Now, barely three times."

Hope flashed in Ji An’s eyes, continuing to ask:

"Is the casting range fixed?"

"It’s not fixed, if there are more high-tier Spirit Plants, the range would decrease, but more Spiritual Fiend would be obtained instead."

Ji An nodded slightly, this was a normal phenomenon, just like cooking, the better the ingredients, the more delicious the Spiritual Food.

"Are there any restrictions on the target of the spell?"

"It must be Wood Element Spirit Plants."

All of Ji An’s questions were answered, and he comfortingly patted the Beast Taming, saying:

"From now on, cast the spell once a day, or cast it according to my command."

"Yoo yoo!"

The Cyan Deer howled, agreeing.

"Have you learned any other Inheritance Magic? If so, demonstrate them all."

The Cyan Deer then cast three more spells. The first was similar to the Rejuvenation Technique, which could heal injuries and be cast on other creatures.

The second spell could form Wood Element Armor similar to tree bark on its body, with strong defense, but could only be cast on itself.

The third spell was an Attack Technique that could release a row of toxic wood spikes, three in total, its specific Attack Power unknown as there were no test subjects.

Ji An sensed, the toxin was a type of paralyzing toxin, not very potent, useful in longer battles.

But how could he expect the Cyan Deer to fight? Such a good partner should certainly stay at Red Flame Peak for good farming.

Ji An walked into the bamboo forest, the Cyan Deer obediently following behind him.

Arriving at the place where the Beast Taming broke through, he picked up the bell the sword had dropped, finding it was undamaged.

He rode the Cyan Deer to the side of the Cold Pool, instructing:

"Songtao, find a leather cord to tie Yuoyou."

"Alright, there are many leather cords in the storeroom, I’ll go get one."

Wei Songtao ran off and soon returned with a brown leather strap, about a finger’s width, and tied the bell securely around the Cyan Deer’s neck again.

The Cyan Deer shook its head from side to side, "Ding-dong, ding-dong," as the clear and pleasant sound waves spread far and wide.

The bell is a Magical Artifact, with no other function than to transmit its sound over a great distance.

In a cave far away, Dahuang heard the bell’s sound and felt much more at ease, as he could now avoid the Cyan Deer from a distance.

...

Half a month passed in a flash, and today was the day Zhang Cuihua was leaving.

At noon, everyone at the Red Flame Peak gathered in the living room. Ji An looked at their expressions and kindly smiled, saying:

"Why do you all look so tense? Do I normally seem so intimidating?"

Except for Zhang Xueling, the others had been with him for over forty years.

Wei Songtao gave an awkward laugh and said:

"Cuihua is about to leave, and everyone feels reluctant to part."

The three of them had worked together for years, and after parting, they might never meet again. It could be a farewell forever.

Ji An raised his wine cup and said in a deep voice:

"Meeting by chance is fate. A toast of this humble wine, wishing Cuihua all the best."

The Spirit Wine today was only a Tier Two Lower Grade, and some water was mixed into the wine the disciples drank. Otherwise, the spiritual power would be too intense and harmful to them.

After a few cups, the disciples’ stiffness eased considerably, and they spoke of countless moments living on Red Flame Peak, filled with emotion.

Zhang Cuihua tucked the silver strands that had fallen across her cheek behind her ear and recalled:

"I still remember when I first arrived at Red Flame Peak, there weren’t many Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Plants, and time has flown by. I’ve been here for over forty years.

Now the mountain is full of Tier Two Spirit Plants, and there are plenty of Tier Two Upper Grade Spirit Plants, it all feels like a dream."

Wei Songnian and the others joined the discussion, reminiscing about past events. Zhang Xueling maintained a smile, quietly listening, occasionally getting up to refill everyone’s drinks.

After about half an hour, Ji An took out a Storage Bag:

"Cuihua has been diligent and conscientious these years. Keep these as a reward."

Inside were two Tier One Top-grade Bursting Talismans and a hundred Spirit Stones, given as a final reward for her.

This would be the same treatment for Wei Songtao and the others when they leave in the future.

Zhang Cuihua stood up and said solemnly:

"Thank you, Master Ancestor, for the gift. I wish you success in breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, and may your reputation spread far and wide in the Western Continent."

She knew it was time to leave.

Ji An nodded slightly and said:

"Later, let Songtao pilot the Flying Shuttle to take you part of the way. Take care."

He got up, walked out of the living room, rode a cloud to the mid-mountain Grotto Mansion, and entered the Quiet Chamber to sit in meditation.

Suddenly, something fell from Ji An’s chest, making him very uncomfortable. Faint light glowed through the Daoist robe.

Startled, he patted his chest and found that the pendant holding a curiosity was empty, with dust clinging to his chest.

He removed the red string, reached into his inner garment, and took out a flat stone.

This Spiritual Object, absorbed by the Stone Turtle with much Gen and Kun Spirit Mechanisms, emanated a warm yellow spirit light, about a foot long.

The stone, black as ink, gave him a feeling of peaceful silence, with the surface crisscrossed by many yellow lines, resembling a cracked barren earth.

Fixing his gaze intently on it, all his attention was drawn to it. After an unknown period, he was startled awake, hurriedly grabbing the stone, and inhaled sharply.

He remembered this thing!

Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths to calm his agitated heart.

The stone in his hand still emitted light, penetrating his skin, and illuminating his bones.

He took out a Cyan Jade Slip, tremblingly placing it on his forehead, which recorded various Treasure Plants.

The introduction did not discuss the Treasure Plants at first but spoke instead of something more advanced—the Heaven and Earth Spirit Roots.

Heaven and Earth Spirit Roots are spiritual plants that existed at the beginning of this world, born together with the Innate Spiritual Treasures.

They come in many types and have different effects—healing, life-extending, assisting in cultivation, and so on.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Vine is a holy healing item, able to bring the dead back to life; as long as there is still a trace of consciousness, it can revive the person.

The Peach of Immortality is a divine longevity item; consuming one prolongs life by 3,600 years.

Heaven and Earth Spirit Roots have no specific grade; it is said they can grow indefinitely.

Though living as long as the world is an exaggeration, they can easily grow for tens of thousands of years.

Ji An always thought they were mere legends, but never imagined he would one day hold such a legend in his hand.

He held the Gathering Essence Tree in his hand, which could condense Earth Mother Qi and gather spirit back to the origin, transforming Spiritual Qi from the Void into Earth Element Primordial Qi.

In that instant, he figured out the best place to plant this Spirit Seed—the Gourd World.

With the Gathering Essence Tree, improving the Spirit Vein Grade within the Gourd World would be a breeze.

He felt that planting it now would soon cultivate that Land of Absolute Spiritlessness into a Spiritual Vein.

Suppressing his excitement, Ji An placed the Spirit Seed into the Void Realm Space, reminding himself:

’Don’t rush, don’t rush.’

It won’t take many years before the spiritual vein of Red Flame Peak can reach the Tier Two Top Grade. They’ll think about cultivating the Gourd World after gaining Dao Rhyme.

He paced back and forth in the Quiet Chamber for a long time before finally calming his agitated heart.