You Cultivate, I Farm

"Thank you so much, Senior Brother Lu," Huang Yuan said with a relieved sigh when Lu Xuan agreed.

Other outer disciples from the aquatic realm had asked Huang Yuan to contact Lu Xuan to help with examining the giant pythons they raised. If Lu Xuan declined, it would have been difficult for him to explain.

With a wave of his hand, Huang Yuan summoned a spiritual flying boat that shimmered with light.

The two boarded the boat, which transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards a distant location.

Thousand Dragon Lake stretched for hundreds of miles, harboring not just one but several giant pythons of different grades.

After a short while, they arrived at several stone houses.

As they landed, several people hurried out, their eyes brightening at the sight of Lu Xuan and Huang Yuan.

"Senior Brother Huang, you finally came. I've been waiting forever."

"Is this Junior Brother Lu Xuan, who can detect the trace of Hidden Scale Fish parasites? Your reputation precedes you."

A mature-looking cultivator warmly greeted them, holding onto Lu Xuan's hand for an extended period.

Lu Xuan withdrew politely, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"Huang Brother, I've finally managed to get Lu Junior Brother here. Don't scare off this precious gem," Huang Yuan teased.

Zhang Hao rubbed his hands, smiling awkwardly.

After introductions, they all entered the stone house together.

"Zhang Brother, Lu Junior Brother is here to resolve the issue of Hidden Scale Fish parasites in the giant pythons. Please plan and arrange to inspect all the serpent beasts in this area."

As they entered, Lu Xuan sat quietly, while Huang Yuan got straight to the point, addressing Zhang Hao and the others.

"As for the payment, Lu Junior Brother insists on only taking a token fee, similar to the previous examination cost."

"It's two spirit stones per inspection of a giant python. If we find Hidden Scale Fish or any other abnormalities, it's twenty spirit stones per python."

"What do you think, Zhang Brother?"

"That's great! Lu Junior Brother is so considerate to his fellow disciples!" Zhang Hao chuckled. He had anticipated a hike in inspection fees, but Lu Xuan's stance pleasantly surprised him.

Those who raised the giant pythons were ordinary outer disciples, not exceptional in birth or talent within the sect, pouring countless efforts into nurturing the serpents.

Although it added up to around a hundred spirit stones per cultivator, compared to the rarity and value of the giant pythons, it was a small price.

After a brief conversation, they escorted Lu Xuan to examine the serpents.

Under the control of an imitation Dragon-Binding Ring, each serpent appeared before Lu Xuan one by one.

He first fed the creatures a bit of beast flesh, gathering detailed information about the serpents and their physical condition, then proceeded to draw their blood.

He repeated this process mechanically as serpent after serpent came, almost like an assembly line.

As the number of serpents he examined increased, the white jade bottles in his storage bag, used to contain the blood, started running short.

During breaks, Lu Xuan mixed the blood of the same species of serpents to free up new bottles, ensuring he had enough containers.

Occasionally, he found serpents harboring Hidden Scale Fish parasites and expertly removed them, leaving the cultivators to handle the issue themselves.

After nearly a whole day of work, Lu Xuan had examined all the giant pythons in Zhang Hao's territory.

He had drawn blood over two hundred times, and the white jade bottles in his bag had almost piled into a small mountain.

Moreover, he had earned over five hundred spirit stones, amassing a wealth exceeding two thousand five hundred spirit stones in total.

"Zhang Brother, all the giant pythons in this territory have been examined. I found traces of Hidden Scale Fish in a few. If there's more to investigate, we need to check their blood thoroughly."

Lu Xuan, looking fatigued, addressed the mature cultivator, genuinely satisfied.

"This time, thanks to Junior Brother Lu. Without your help, with our knowledge of the pythons, it might have taken forever to find traces of Hidden Scale Fish."

"It's what I should do. If you want these giant pythons to grow healthy and quickly, I'll come regularly to check their blood to prevent infestation by other creatures or parasites."

Zhang Hao and the others nodded in agreement.

As dusk fell, Lu Xuan and Huang Yuan decided to leave. The flying boat enlarged rapidly, and the two leaped off.

As the strong gusts whistled by, Lu Xuan looked back. Zhang Hao and the rest remained, bidding farewell with their eyes.

"This scene is poetic," Lu Xuan thought to himself, smiling subtly.

"Lu Xuan sets sail to depart,

Yet, hears a melody from the shore afar.

Thousand Dragon Lake's depths, a thousand feet deep,

But not enough to match fellow disciples' care…"

"What a good poem," Lu Xuan thought to himself.

"Junior Brother Lu, we've arrived at the cave. It's late; I won't join you for a cup of tea," Huang Yuan controlled the flying boat, seeing Lu Xuan off near his cave.

"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother Huang. Next time, let's have a good drink together."

Lu Xuan genuinely invited him, bidding farewell as Huang Yuan left. Outside the courtyard, Lu Xuan activated an array, dispelling the dense white fog, revealing the gate clearly.

Pushing it open, he was greeted by two emerald-green pupils, glowing dimly like eerie ghostly fires.

"Night owl," Lu Xuan infused his energy, illuminating the surroundings.

The emerald-green eyes belonged to the Cloud-Stepping Lynx. Seeing Lu Xuan enter, it lazily stretched its limbs, its ear tufts wiggling happily.

"Meow~" A low, playful growl sounded as the lynx, with cloud-like white paws, elegantly departed.

Inside, a Wind Falcon fledgling lay on the wooden bed, quite uncouthly, its round belly facing up, rising and falling with its breath. Its two pale blue legs occasionally extended from its body, flapping the faint blue wings, tinkering with something.

Lu Xuan sorted the numerous white jade bottles in his storage bag, consolidating the blood of similar giant pythons.

Though there were several variations among the giant pythons, most were common breeds. Hence, he managed to save quite a few white jade bottles due to the similarity in their blood.

After tallying up, having spent the entire day focused on the serpents, Lu Xuan felt slightly fatigued when he relaxed.

After freshening up a bit, he leaned back onto the bed, resting his head on the Wind Falcon's round belly perfectly.

"Comfortable~" He couldn't help but sigh before swiftly drifting into slumber.

The Cloud-Stepping Lynx landed lightly on the edge of the bed, its emerald-green eyes fixed on the sleeping Lu Xuan.

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