87 Cooperation
Early morning.
A faint light filtered in from outside the cave, and Jiang Huai was busy tending to the lamb soup in the pot.
Bai Li liked meat and wasn’t very interested in vegetarian food. Before coming, Jiang Huai had brought a lot of delicious food from his System Backpack, which could keep food fresh. He used the clear spring water from the waterfall, added spices and salt, and simmered it for two hours. The entire cave was filled with the rich aroma of lamb. Bai Li was awakened by her craving. She got up, and before she could even fasten the strap of her off-the-shoulder top, she crawled stealthily to the pot, her lips parted.
Jiang Huai picked up a piece of lamb with his chopsticks and put it in her mouth. At the same time, he reached out to help her fasten the strap. Damn it, he shouldn’t have gotten her this kind of sling dress; it was too easy to slip down.
“I’ve made a plan. We’ll explore the Third Area today, go to the Second Area the day after tomorrow, stay there for two days, and finally head to the First Area for three days to search for spirit medicines and spirit treasures.”
Bai Li nodded vigorously, but she wasn’t paying attention to his words at all. Her eyes were fixed on the bubbling pot, only wondering if her hand would get burned if she reached out to grab something. Jiang Huai picked up a bowl, which already had dipping sauce prepared for her. He handed the chopsticks to Bai Li. “Try the dipping sauce.”
Bai Li sat by the pot, hugging her knees contentedly. More than half of the lamb in the pot had gone into her stomach. After she was full, she lay down on a bluestone and rubbed her belly for a while before she had the strength to get up and leave the cave with Jiang Huai.
Compared to the peaceful Fourth Area, the Third Area already had some fierce beasts distributed within it. Jiang Huai and Bai Li saw many fierce beasts hunting along the way. Fortunately, Jiang Huai had prepared Breath Concealing Pills. These were pills he had developed himself, and their effect was to make ordinary fierce beasts unconsciously ignore his aura. He also gave Bai Li a Breath Concealing Pill, which allowed the two of them to pass through areas where fierce beasts roamed.
Today’s luck was slightly worse than yesterday’s. The two of them traveled for a long time in the mountains of the Third Area. The most valuable thing they found was a large, heart-filled jade, which could be used to craft magic tools. Most of the other spirit medicines were too young. There was an unwritten rule when exploring secret realms: unless absolutely necessary, spirit medicines that were too young would not be harvested. They would be left to grow slowly for the fated individuals who explored the secret realm later.
Today’s harvest was ordinary. The two were about to find something casual to eat and start looking for a cave to rest in, but Jiang Huai and Bai Li caught sight of a Phantom Bird flitting through the dense forest.
Phantom Birds were used by humans who cultivated Daoist magic to summon their companions. When traveling in a secret realm, if a cultivator encountered a very good treasure but couldn’t handle it alone, they would use a Phantom Bird to seek help. Then, a group of people would take the spirit treasure together and divide the spoils.
However, not many people used Phantom Birds.
This was because many rogue cultivators, especially, liked to use Phantom Birds to trick newcomers to the secret realm. They would lure people over to take the spirit treasure together, call each other brothers, and drink and revel, and then on a dark and windy night, they would stab them through the chest with a sword, snatching the spirit treasure and even getting extra loot. Because there were too many of these scummy rogue cultivators, trust between cultivators gradually weakened, and fewer and fewer people used Phantom Birds to find companions for assistance.
Nowadays, people were not very trusting of these things, but if they truly encountered a spirit treasure they desperately wanted and couldn’t handle themselves, they could only place their hopes on the Phantom Bird.
Jiang Huai and Bai Li exchanged a glance. “Should we go for it?”
“Let’s go,” Bai Li immediately nodded.
She was a bit impatient. She hadn’t had any significant gains after wandering in the Third Area all day and was feeling a bit disheartened. She hadn’t seen a Phantom Bird in a long time, and it was a rare opportunity for fun, so she should join the excitement.
So, Jiang Huai reached out and grabbed the Phantom Bird. Instantly, the Phantom Bird transformed into threads of spiritual energy, leading the two of them forward. After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they saw four cultivators gathered in front of them.
From their stance, demeanor, and gaze, Jiang Huai immediately recognized the leader as a male cultivator wearing a purple Daoist robe. This male cultivator appeared to be a good deal older than Jiang Huai. The medical skills Jiang Huai had learned emphasized diagnostics, and he also had some knowledge of physiognomy. He had a feeling that the male cultivator in front of him had a slightly wicked glint in his eyes.
His cultivation level was Nascent Soul middle stage.
“I am Lin Ji, a rogue cultivator from Sunburn Continent, Nascent Soul middle stage. While exploring the Third Area, I stumbled upon a cave. Judging by the traces outside the cave, I deduced that a Golden Scale Beast resides within. As is well known, where there is a Golden Scale Beast, there must be a Golden Scale Fruit tree. Due to the restrictions of the laws of this realm, the cultivation level of demonic beasts in the Third Area can be at most Nascent Soul late stage with a great circle. However, my personal strength is insufficient, so I wish to invite fellow Daoists to join me in picking the Golden Scale Fruit.”
Upon seeing Jiang Huai and Bai Li arrive, Lin Ji turned his gaze to them. It seemed he had already said the same thing to the other three people beside him.
The other three beside him were also dressed differently. Two men and one woman. The two men were one fat and one thin, while the woman was wearing a red dress. The skirt hem of the red dress was split very high, revealing her slender legs and exuding a somewhat seductive aura.
The skin of women on their cultivation journey was all Crystal clear, and their beauty was not lacking. However, the woman in the red dress before them had particularly captivating eyes. Jiang Huai’s soul cultivation was quite high, and he could tell at a glance that she had practiced媚术 (charm techniques).
Seeing the two of them arrive, the thinner cultivator among the three frowned with dissatisfaction. “Didn’t I say we four were enough? Why did we have to wait for two more people? The Golden Scale Fruit might not be enough to go around then.”
“A Golden Scale Fruit tree usually has six to eight Golden Scale Fruits. Moreover, the fierce beasts in this secret realm are all infused with dragon energy, making them much stronger than ordinary Nascent Soul late stage cultivators. Having two more people naturally provides more security. After all, we’re just after wealth; who wants to lose their life?” Lin Ji quickly replied. He glanced at Jiang Huai and Bai Li. Bai Li had already put on a veil before coming. She said calmly, “My cultivation is Nascent Soul middle stage with a great circle. If I am to make a move, I will require at least one Golden Scale Fruit. If I exert more effort, I will want two.”
Jiang Huai thought for a moment. “My Immaculate Golden Body is at the ninth level, and I have a Heaven-tier Spirit Sword. I barely have the combat power of a Nascent Soul middle stage cultivator. I only want one Golden Scale Fruit, which will be just enough for me to cultivate my Immaculate Golden Body to the tenth level.”
The four people in front of them exchanged glances. They had no objections. It was only when they heard Jiang Huai say he had a Heaven-tier Spirit Sword that the woman in the red dress paused for a moment, and then the corner of her lips curved slightly. “You say you have a Heaven-tier Spirit Sword, handsome young man?”
“Yes,” Jiang Huai replied with a smile.
“May I see it? You can call me Hong Shao.”
“Of course.” Jiang Huai took out the Yening Sword and gently tossed it to the woman. However, before tossing it, Jiang Huai suppressed Yening’s sword qi, causing Yening’s blade’s brilliance to dissipate, making it look like merely a barely Heaven-tier Spirit Sword. Even so, Hong Shao’s eyes still sparkled with light. She held it and examined it carefully for a long time before walking back to Jiang Huai and returning the sword to him.
As she returned the sword to Jiang Huai, her fingertip lightly tapped his chest. The charm in her eyes was not concealed at all. “Young man, I am a cultivator from the Joyful Union Valley. After this mission, we can exchange Sound Transmission Jade imprints and get to know each other?”
“Yes, yes,” Jiang Huai nodded, appearing quite innocent.
Bai Li, standing by, crossed her arms with disdain. She had teamed up with Jiang Huai so many times, and naturally, she had teamed up with other cultivators in secret realms before. Many women had sent flirtatious glances his way, but someone as overtly suggestive as Hong Shao was extremely rare.
Thus, Jiang Huai and Bai Li had joined the four-person team, expanding the group to six. Lin Ji led the way towards the Golden Scale Beast’s lair. Along the way, they began to exchange names, but Jiang Huai didn’t say his real name. He casually made one up, as his name, Jiang Huai of the Tian Xuan Sect, was too famous in the Eastern Region. If these guys wanted to trick him, they might not dare to if they heard his name, and then he wouldn’t get any good stuff.
After traveling through the dense forest for half an hour, Lin Ji led everyone to the Golden Scale Beast’s lair. Judging by the claw marks and traces outside the lair, it was indeed inhabited by a Golden Scale Beast, and Jiang Huai could indeed smell the scent of Golden Scale Fruit.
Could it be that this guy was really that honest? Had he wronged him?
Snoring could be faintly heard from inside the cave; the Golden Scale Beast was resting. The few exchanged glances. They had already shared their cultivation methods with each other, so they decided that Lin Ji, Jiang Huai, Bai Li, and the thin cultivator would be the main attackers. The chubby cultivator would be responsible for chanting incantations to restrain the Golden Scale Beast, as he cultivated the Art of Spiritual Binding. Hong Shao, meanwhile, sat on a bluestone, swinging her fair white legs, and said softly, “I’m not good at frontal combat. After you all kill the Golden Scale Beast, I’ll dual cultivate with you to help heal injuries. Of course, it would be best if no one gets injured. If any of you wish, I can also entertain you once. The secret techniques of my Joyful Union Valley… I believe you’ve all heard of them, right?”
The Joyful Union Valley was a particularly interesting sect. The cultivators there held orgies daily, and their method of cultivation was centered around dual cultivation secret arts of yin and yang. Hong Shao in front of them had a charming and delicate voice. As she slightly bent over, her chest was inadvertently revealed a bit. The tall and thin male cultivator snorted dismissively, while the chubby cultivator’s eyes lit up. Lin Ji just smiled.
Legend had it that the women of Joyful Union Valley were exceptionally skilled in pleasing men, even surpassing prostitutes from brothels.
Hong Shao soon turned her gaze to Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai’s cheeks turned red, and he appeared somewhat shy.
“Hmm? Why is this little brother blushing?”
“No, it’s, it’s the first time I’ve seen a sister from Joyful Union Valley… Your Joyful Union Valley, are you all this way…”
“Oh my, you’re still a virgin! Then later, after we kill the Golden Scale Beast, big sister will take special care of you.” Hong Shao laughed heartily. Jiang Huai’s small face turned even redder. Bai Li, on the side, remained composed.
It wasn’t her first day knowing Jiang Huai; she knew that he, like her, was a “fun-lover” (乐子人).
Hong Shao stayed outside the cave, while Jiang Huai and Bai Li entered the cave with Lin Ji and the fat and thin cultivators. Although they had all lowered their footsteps, they had already spotted a Golden Scale Fruit sapling next to the Golden Scale Beast inside the cave. The tree bore seven Golden Scale Fruits.
Everyone’s eyes lit up, and they further lowered their footsteps. Unfortunately, as they took another step forward, the Golden Scale Beast lying inside the cave suddenly woke up. After a roar, a fierce battle was inevitable.
