Chapter 74: Wait, Your Spirit Insects Can Be Used Like That?

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Wait, Your Spirit Insects Can Be Used Like That?

"Well now, out in the fields this early?"

Dong Xing ambled over to the edge of the Spirit Field, his tone playfully accusatory. "Why didn’t you call me when the Spirit Rice was ripe! Are you saying you don’t recognize me as your Senior Brother anymore?"

As he spoke, he channeled his Spiritual Power, performing a metal-sharpening technique. He swiped a hand over his sickle, and a golden light spread across the blade, making it gleam with a razor-sharp edge.

Dong Xing walked into the Spirit Field, grabbing a handful of Yellow Seed Spirit Rice with his left hand. His right hand swept the sickle through, leaving behind neat stubble as a large bunch of Spirit Rice fell. He set it on the ground to the side.

The entire process was incredibly smooth. Without several years of experience, it certainly wouldn’t have looked so easy for the old man.

Li Changsheng straightened up and smiled. "I just didn’t want to trouble you, Senior Brother."

"Hmph."

Dong Xing snorted, feigning displeasure. "We’re fellow disciples and neighbors. What’s this nonsense about being a ’trouble’? Besides, didn’t you just help me harvest my Spirit Rice a few days ago?"

"What, so when it’s my turn to help you, I’m suddenly too busy?"

"Oh dear..."

Li Changsheng quickly came forward, an apologetic smile on his face. "It’s my fault, Junior Brother was wrong. How about this: at Noon, I’ll cook a meal for you as an apology, Senior Brother."

"Now that’s more like it!"

Hearing this, Dong Xing’s old face broke into a wide grin.

The two chatted idly as they worked, harvesting the Spirit Rice.

As they worked, spirit insects would occasionally fly up ahead of them.

Dong Xing assumed the insects were getting rid of pests in the Spirit Field and paid them no mind.

But after he and Li Changsheng had harvested more than half a mu, he suddenly noticed the area ahead of them was clear, though the stalks in that part of the Spirit Field were cut unevenly.

"This...!"

Dong Xing straightened up, his eyes widening in stunned disbelief as he saw the swarm of insects harvesting the Spirit Field up ahead.

When he came to his senses, he quickly turned to Li Changsheng, a strange look on his face.

’Seriously? Your spirit insects can be used for *this*?’

"Heh heh..."

Li Changsheng rubbed his nose and chuckled. "With their help, things go a bit faster."

At this, Dong Xing was speechless. He looked Li Changsheng up and down as if he were looking at a monster.

He had learned some common knowledge about spirit insects from chatting with his granddaughter a few days ago.

’Is this a matter of being just "a bit faster"?’

’Aren’t you tired at all, dividing your focus to control such a large swarm?’

’And besides, other Cultivators use their spirit insects for critical tasks.’

’You’re using them to harvest Spirit Rice?’

Dong Xing looked at Li Changsheng’s completely unfazed expression and thought to himself, ’No wonder Yaoyao said that even the most normal Cultivators who practice the Insect Control Technique are different from regular people. Now I see it’s true.’

Shaking his head to clear the wild thoughts, Dong Xing turned and started walking toward the second Spirit Field.

Li Changsheng quickly called out, "Wait, Senior Brother Dong."

Dong Xing turned his head. "What is it?" he asked, confused.

Li Changsheng explained, "It’s getting hot, and it’s not early anymore. Let’s harvest the remaining mu this afternoon."

Dong Xing looked up at the sky, then at Li Changsheng’s smiling face. He waved a hand, dispelling the metal-sharpening magic on his sickle, and sighed. "Fine, fine... This afternoon it is."

’If the owner himself isn’t in a hurry, what reason do I have to be?’

Afterward, the two of them and the swarm of insects began to bundle the Yellow Seed Spirit Rice, which was then carried back to the small courtyard by Xiaohua.

It took three trips, but they finally finished clearing one mu of the Spirit Field.

Li Changsheng and Dong Xing walked toward the courtyard together.

Watching Xiaohua following alongside them at a steady pace, Dong Xing praised it repeatedly, saying what a fine Spirit Beast it was.

Back at the courtyard, Li Changsheng invited Dong Xing inside, poured him a cup of tea, and then went to the backyard to pick some fruits and vegetables.

Just as he was about to use a freezing technique to chill the fruit...

Dong Xing’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "I’ll do it, I’ll do it! You just go on with your business."

Li Changsheng gave him a strange look, then said, "Alright then. You take a seat for a bit, Senior Brother. I’ll go stir-fry a few dishes."

"You go on, you go on."

Dong Xing breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand.

He channeled his Spiritual Power, and a chill mist emanated from his palm, enveloping the fruit.

Smoke rose from the kitchen, and the crisp sound of chopping vegetables carried into the room.

Dong Xing picked up a fiery red tomato and nibbled on it while looking around the wooden house.

YIP...

Just then, a cry like that of a baby sounded from behind him.

A moment later, a fox, pure white and about the size of a medium-sized puppy, emerged from behind a screen.

"Huh... What a beautiful Spirit Fox."

Surprise flickered in Dong Xing’s eyes. He bent down and beckoned to it.

Xiaobai shot him a glance, then leaped into the kitchen in a few bounds.

Dong Xing wasn’t offended. Instead, he clicked his tongue in wonder. ’Junior Brother Li really likes raising Spirit Beasts. Not just a pig, but foxes too...’ He then rubbed his chin and muttered, ’I wonder if Junior Brother Li would sell it. This little fox is quite pretty. Yao’Er might like it.’

Time passed quickly.

After feeding the Spirit Beasts, Li Changsheng came out of the kitchen carrying several plates of stir-fried dishes.

The meal was simple.

A plate of tomato salad, a plate of stir-fried cucumber, a plate of venison stir-fried with hot peppers, a dish of braised venison stew... and a large bowl of Spirit Rice.

Li Changsheng handed Dong Xing a pair of chopsticks and served him a bowl of rice. "Senior Brother, try my cooking," he said with a smile.

Dong Xing didn’t stand on ceremony, taking the bowl and immediately digging in.

He then loudly praised Li Changsheng’s excellent cooking skills.

Li Changsheng listened with a smile, chiming in with a few agreeable words now and then. Whether the praise was genuine or not wasn’t important.

After the meal, while the two were drinking tea...

Dong Xing pointed at Xiaobai, who was lying lazily in Li Changsheng’s arms, and asked curiously, "Junior Brother, where did you get this Spirit Fox?"

Li Changsheng stroked Xiaobai’s head. "I happened upon it by chance before I came to this peak." He paused, then smiled. "Has Senior Brother taken a liking to Xiaobai?"

Before Dong Xing could answer, he politely declined. "Unfortunately, Xiaobai is still young. When it has kits in the future, I’ll give one to you, Senior Brother."

Dong Xing wasn’t annoyed. He chuckled and said, "You’re the one who said it. I’ll be waiting."

Li Changsheng nodded affirmatively.

The two continued to chat, and eventually, the topic turned to the "Three-leaf Spirit Absorption Vein Map."

Dong Xing rubbed his face and sighed. "That vein map is too complex. I’ve studied it for three months and still don’t understand its meaning, let alone how to even begin."

"I think this Spirit Plant Master legacy isn’t meant for people like us to cultivate! It’s just too difficult..."

Li Changsheng agreed. "Yes, this Junior Brother can’t make heads or tails of it either."

Then he added in a low voice, "I think we shouldn’t try to cultivate it through sheer luck. The backlash might not be severe, but it’s still there."

Dong Xing was silent for a few breaths, then slowly shook his head. "Junior Brother, you’re still young. Your future is limitless."

"An old man like me can already see the end of his road."

"But if I can become a Spirit Plant Master, I’ll gain the same status and treatment as a Nascent Soul Cultivator."

"This opportunity..."

Dong Xing looked at Li Changsheng and laughed freely. "If I don’t give it my all, I won’t be able to rest in peace even after I die..."

Seeing this, Li Changsheng fell silent and didn’t try to persuade him further.

’Everyone’s path in life is different. How could he know that Dong Xing’s struggle wouldn’t lead to success?’

Noticing the heavy atmosphere, Dong Xing quickly changed the subject. "Yaoyao came to see me a few days ago and told me about the new Spiritual Land."

"Oh?"

Li Changsheng asked, puzzled, "What about the new Spiritual Land?"