You Cultivate, I Farm

"Hmm? What's that glowing mass?"

As the grass puppet turned away, Lu Xuan spotted a fist-sized white glowing orb floating behind him.

With seven parts anticipation and three parts skepticism, he halted the grass puppet and gently touched the floating white orb.

From within the orb came a strange, baby-like cry, both plaintive and sorrowful. Then, it fragmented into countless dots of light, streaming into Lu Xuan's body.

A thought flashed through his mind.

A seven to eight-inch grass doll appeared in Lu Xuan's palm. It was gray-black, woven from countless fine dry grass strands, offering a peculiarly realistic sensation when held.

The doll's head, a mess of gray-black dry grass, faintly revealed the outline of facial features.

Lu Xuan's consciousness focused on the grass doll, instantly comprehending detailed information about it.

[Substitute Evil Infant, third-grade sinister object, carried on person, upon dripping with essence blood and seeping into spiritual perception, automatically triggers upon a cultivator facing a lethal blow, self-dissipating upon activation.]

"A third-grade sinister object that can shield a cultivator from a fatal blow?"

Lu Xuan gazed at the eerie grass doll in his hand, murmuring in puzzlement.

"A third-grade treasure with the sole function of blocking one attack. This means the strength it shields against should be exceptionally formidable."

Without hesitation, Lu Xuan flicked a drop of bright red essence blood from his fingertip onto the grass doll's face. Then, he released a strand of spiritual perception, which seeped into the doll's body.

After absorbing the drop of blood, the wrinkled facial features of the substitute evil infant slowly relaxed, bearing a vague resemblance to Lu Xuan.

He sensed a slightly tighter connection with the abnormal evil grass doll. With a thought, the seven to eight-inch doll continuously shrank, becoming half the length of a finger, concealed within Lu Xuan's belt.

"This adds a bit more protective capability. With the third-grade Pure Jade Jade sensing nearby anomalies, enhanced physique from the Lustrous Bone Forging Technique and the Ethereal Dragon Transformation, and now the substitute evil infant capable of blocking a lethal blow, along with a decent second-grade Crimson Scale Armor artifact, my defense is quite solid."

Lu Xuan couldn't help but exclaim.

"However, why would there be a glowing orb reward when the grass puppet broke through?"

He couldn't help but feel puzzled.

The definition of the grass puppet was elusive梚t was neither a spiritual beast with flesh and blood nor a simple puppet. After its breakthrough, it exhibited intelligence akin to a two or three-year-old child.

He had acquired it while he was at the second level of Qi cultivation in the Linyang Fang Market from a wandering merchant. According to the seller, this grass puppet was of first-grade rank, on the verge of abandonment. Lu Xuan saw some use in it and reluctantly spent several spirit stones to aid in guarding his spiritual field.

Due to the grass puppet's diligent patrols around the spiritual field and its interception of a fatal blow during a prior attack by a fellow cultivator, it had earned significant merit.

Consequently, when a first-grade treasure, the Grass Spirit Essence, emerged from the perfect-quality Spirit Firefly Grass glowing orb, Lu Xuan immediately integrated it into the grass puppet's core.

Unexpectedly, after continuously absorbing the abundant spiritual power of various plants contained within the Grass Spirit Essence, it had broken through to the second-grade stage today.

"Reaching the second-grade and obtaining this special third-grade substitute evil infant is somewhat unexpected."

"Based on previous experiences of raising the Red-Whiskered Carp and Iron-Clawed Crab, they received glowing orb rewards upon maturation. However, it's surprising that breakthroughs themselves yield rewards, and they seem more substantial."

The inherent strength of demonic beasts was constrained by bloodlines. For instance, the Xuan Tian White Luan, which Lu Xuan was currently nurturing, despite having third-grade potential as a seven-grade demonic beast, would easily break through ranks during its growth period.

However, the Iron-Clawed Crab previously nurtured by him, limited by its bloodline, could barely reach the first-grade stage and found it challenging to progress further.

Of course, with an accumulation of abundant resources to assist its growth, there was a chance it could break through to the second-grade. Yet, the cost outweighed the benefit.

"In this regard, nurturing high-grade demonic beasts will yield glowing orb rewards during their growth period when they advance in ranks. When they reach complete maturity, they'll also receive rewards."

"Although the Sky-Stepping Leopard is only at the first grade, as a different kind of demonic beast, the Wind Falcon is a second-grade beast. Currently in its infancy, it possesses first-grade strength, indicating some latent potential."

"Moreover, when bloodlines are insufficient, resources can compensate. As an ordinary plant cultivator, I still have this ability."

Confident in his thoughts, Lu Xuan turned around and saw the Wind Falcon chick lying on its back, with light blue wings spread out.

"Get up! Quickly absorb and refine spiritual energy!"

"At such a young age, how can you be sleeping?"

The Wind Falcon chick laboriously turned over, gazing at Lu Xuan in confusion.

Seeing Lu Xuan's serious expression, it relaxed its belly, attempting to appear as if earnestly cultivating.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan couldn't help but display a helpless expression and entered the house.

He took out several materials from his storage bag, laying them out on the table one by one.

After checking all the giant pythons and dragons in the Thousand Dragon Lake, exchanging for the Mystic Enchanting Peaches and Blazing Flame Fruits, he finally had time to prepare elixirs to aid in practicing the Ethereal Dragon Transformation.

Following the instructions in his mind regarding the technique, he precisely measured and added various materials, including dragon blood essence.

Within the huge wooden barrel was a nearly half-filled dark red elixir. Occasional bubbles burst on its surface, emanating a strong and savage bloody aura that permeated Lu Xuan's nostrils, agitating every tiny part of his body.

Lu Xuan held his breath and slowly submerged himself into the dark red liquid.

Following the cultivation route of the Ethereal Dragon Transformation, he gradually activated the spiritual power within him.

As time passed, Lu Xuan gradually felt a mysterious force surging into his body, continuously stimulating and nourishing his muscles, bones, and veins.

Unconsciously, within the dark red liquid in the barrel, a nearly transparent dragon-shaped airflow appeared. It encircled and danced around Lu Xuan's body, tightly enveloping him.

Splash!

Lu Xuan emerged from the dark red liquid completely naked. Faint red patterns could be seen on his chest, back, and limbs, resembling a ferocious dragon.

"About an hour since I began practicing, these patterns are just a minor aftermath of absorbing the elixir. They will disappear on their own once the elixir's power is fully assimilated."

"At that point, I can start preparing for the second immersion with dragon blood."

Lu Xuan dressed in his robe, murmuring to himself.

He couldn't resist swinging his arms, causing a gust of wind to rush.

"All my abilities have slightly improved梥trength, speed, physique..."

Lu Xuan sensed the subtle changes in his body. Utilizing elixirs to assist in practicing the Ethereal Dragon Transformation for the first time had brought about a significant effect, manifesting as enhanced bodily strength.

When adopting a full-force attack stance, there was even a faint sense of dignity.

But when he relaxed, that faint dignity immediately dissipated, and Lu Xuan returned to being an ordinary plant cultivator.

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