Chapter 102: Closeness and Distance, The Origin of the Blood Wolf

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Closeness and Distance, The Origin of the Blood Wolf

The pathways previously opened by the insect imprint occupied less than a tenth of this Beast-shaped Vein Map.

’So complicated...’

Li Changsheng was stunned for a moment. With a flicker of his thoughts, he began circulating his Spiritual Power to slowly open the complex pathways.

Blood River Refining Yang True Skill, Spirit Contract, Blood Spirit Escape.

All three were Cultivation Techniques and Magic belonging to the Vein Condensation Realm.

The Blood River Refining Yang True Skill involved pathways throughout the entire body.

The pathways for the Spirit Contract formed a complex, beast-like shape.

The Blood Spirit Escape required opening the pathways above the heart.

All of this told him one thing.

Just how vast the gap was between the Vein Condensation Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm.

The fact that he could stand on equal footing with a Vein Condensation Realm cultivator while only in the Qi Cultivation Stage spoke volumes about the power of a Spirit Plant Master.

A sleepless night passed.

「The next morning.」

Wisps of smoke slowly rose from the chimney, and the crisp sound of chopping vegetables echoed from the wooden house.

As the number of Spirit Beasts he raised grew, he had added another large pot to his collection.

Now, he operated three stoves at once.

’It wasn’t actually that difficult. It just meant chopping a few more vegetables and taking a couple more trips back and forth.’

Two hours later, Li Changsheng walked into the courtyard carrying two wooden buckets.

"Roro, roro..."

At his call, Big Flower, Xiaohua, and Little Xiaohua all rolled over and got up, waddling to the feeding trough.

Three piglets, each about the size of a dog, were gathered around Big Flower.

Two of them had black-and-brown coats, while the third was a tawny yellow.

After Li Changsheng finished pouring the feed, his gaze fell upon one of the piglets.

[Target: Tusked Pig]

[Species: Tusked Pig (Male)]

[Grade: Unranked: 1%]

[Innate Magic: Tough Hide.]

[Status: Healthy.]

’They awakened an innate Magic at birth? And two of them, at that.’

Li Changsheng clicked his tongue in amazement and asked Big Flower, "Big Flower, have you been eating some kind of celestial treasure?"

His only reply was an oink from Big Flower.

Li Changsheng watched the three piglets with amusement for a moment. Just as he was about to head back to the kitchen...

...a shout came from outside his gate.

"Uncle Li, are you home?"

Li Changsheng looked up to see a bruised, swollen face that resembled a pig’s head.

He snapped, "Did you practice the Three-leaf Spirit Absorption Vein Map so hard you went blind?"

"Heh..."

Outside, Dong Xing breathed an inward sigh of relief. He pushed the gate open and strode in, hollering, "What do you mean, blind? My eyesight is perfectly fine!"

Li Changsheng couldn’t be bothered to argue and turned back toward the kitchen.

Dong Xing paid him no mind, squatting not far from Big Flower to watch the three piglets chase each other around her feet, letting out a silly chuckle every now and then.

’If Xiaohua and the others weren’t already familiar with the old man, they would’ve surely given him a good shove with their snouts.’

Li Changsheng quickly finished feeding the other Spirit Beasts. "What are you staring at them for? Come inside for tea," he called out as he walked toward the house.

Dong Xing stood and headed into the house, smiling. "I’m just trying to decide which piglet to choose."

"The two with black-and-brown coats have both awakened an innate Magic. Just pick one of them," Li Changsheng said without turning back.

Dong Xing’s heart warmed, but he stubbornly retorted, "You’re the one who said it. Don’t you regret it when I carry one away!"

Li Changsheng ignored him and quickly tidied up the kitchen.

Back in the living room.

"Go ahead and take one with you in a bit. Raise it well, and don’t let it die an early death on my account," Li Changsheng said with a smile, plopping down onto a chair and pouring Dong Xing a cup of tea. "I won’t mind, but I’m afraid Xiaohua, Big Flower, and Little Xiaohua might not be so forgiving."

"Really?" Dong Xing’s face lit up, but then he hesitated. "Should we let you raise it for a couple more days?"

Li Changsheng rolled his eyes at him.

Dong Xing gave a sheepish grin, his eyes darting around. "Ahem, well, how about... you sell me the tawny-yellow one too?"

Li Changsheng stared at him for a second, his expression turning grim. "What, are you trying to clean out my entire litter?"

Dong Xing shook his head repeatedly, smiling sheepishly. "Well, the black-and-brown one is for Yaoyao. I plan to raise the yellow one myself." He paused, then quickly added, "Don’t worry, I plan to raise it as a pet and a mount, not to fatten it up for slaughter."

Hearing this, Li Changsheng thought for a moment and nodded. "Fine. You can take them both with you later."

"Well, I’ll be..."

Dong Xing hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. He shot to his feet and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Uncle Li! If you ever need me to climb a mountain of blades or cross a sea of fire, I won’t even bat an eye!"

"Enough..."

Li Changsheng waved his hand dismissively, then asked with a hint of suspicion, "You already knew, didn’t you?"

Dong Xing plopped back down and nodded. "It’s not just me. The other three know as well." He paused, then added with a grin, "They’ll probably be here any minute now."

Sure enough, the words had barely left his mouth when a voice called out from the gate.

"Steward Li, this subordinate, Xu Li, has come to pay a visit."

Li Changsheng and Dong Xing exchanged a glance. Just as Li Changsheng was about to rise and welcome the visitor, Dong Xing quickly waved him down. "Sit, sit! You’re the Lord Steward now. How can you possibly greet him yourself? I’ll go, I’ll go..."

With that, he cheerfully headed for the courtyard gate.

"Ha..."

Li Changsheng shook his head with a laugh, but he remained firmly seated, leisurely sipping his tea.

’I have to say,’ he thought, ’this tea gets more flavorful with every sip.’

「Outside the courtyard gate.」

The two men, neither of whose swollen face was any better than the other’s, stared at each other.

’This old man got here early,’ Xu Li thought.

Xu Li cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Dong."

Hearing this, Dong Xing’s already narrow eyes squinted even further. He stepped forward, opened the gate, and said nonchalantly, "Junior Brother Xu, you’re quite early. Steward Li and I have hardly had a few sips of tea, and here you are."

Xu Li was inwardly shocked. ’Is this old man really that close with Steward Li?’ But then he remembered how close they lived to each other and figured it was only natural.

Filled with envy, Xu Li put on a fawning smile. "I must ask Senior Brother Dong to help with an introduction. This junior brother will be sure to make it worth your while."