By late October, the autumn air turned crisp and cool.
A refreshing autumn breeze arrived floating in on the wind.
A layer of withered leaves had accumulated throughout the mountain forest.
When the wind blew, they swirled into the air, scattering recklessly and veering across the inclined path that spiraled toward the mountain peak.
At the same time, however, the fallen leaves concealed several unusual traces along the trail…
The third-season spirit rice had already produced spirit rice ears.
In just one more month, it would be ready for harvest.
Everyone was gradually forgetting the turbulence from a short while back.
Across the hundreds of mu [~16+ acres] of golden spirit fields on the mountain slopes, the busy figures of spirit farmers could be seen everywhere.
The yield of this final season’s spirit rice was of self-evident importance to these spirit farmers.
Seeing that harvest time was right around the corner, none of the spirit farmers dared relax for a single moment, practically staying rooted in their spirit fields every day.
They didn’t step away by even a single inch.
In Qin Ming’s third-season Golden Spirit Rice field, only one [Faint Spiritual Energy] trait had spawned.
His hope of quickly ripening the Beast-Tooth Rice had also fallen through.
He looked at the four traits sitting inside his Beast-Tooth Rice spirit field, his eyes burning with envy: [Name]: Beast-Tooth Rice [Attribute]: Advanced Spirit Rain Art x5 (28% Maturity) [Name]: Beast-Tooth Rice [Attribute]: Quality Enhancement x1 (26% Maturity) [Name]: Beast-Tooth Rice [Attribute]: Ripening x5 (33% Maturity) Furthermore, news that he had successfully cultivated Beast-Tooth Rice had spread far and wide.
Several individuals in the marketplace had already begun keeping a close eye on the situation in his single mu [~0.16 acres] plot.
He had no choice but to wait patiently.
Currently, the stock stored inside his sea of consciousness consisted of three [Faint Spiritual Energy] traits.
While Qin Ming was in his field casting the Spirit Rain Art to irrigate the crops, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps behind him.
Alertness flared in his mind.
Instantly canceling his spell, he turned to look back.
A young male cultivator in a white robe, carrying a small bamboo basket on his back, entered his sight.
‘It’s actually Alchemist Su.’ ‘What is he doing here?’ Just as Qin Ming was feeling puzzled, Alchemist Su walked straight in his direction and cut right to the point: “Daoist Qin, I heard you successfully cultivated Beast-Tooth Rice?” Qin Ming quickly bowed to Alchemist Su and said modestly, “It was purely by luck.” “Daoist Qin needn’t be so formal.
I came here today for a byproduct of the Beast-Tooth Rice—Crimson Spirit Dew.” It was the first time Qin Ming had ever heard of it, and he was quite surprised.
Alchemist Su explained: “This Crimson Spirit Dew is an obscure auxiliary ingredient for alchemy.
It can harmonize medicinal properties, though not many people know about it.” With that, Alchemist Su stepped over to the perimeter of the Beast-Tooth Rice field and began inspecting it carefully.
He walked a full circle around the field, resting his chin on his hand as he fell into thought.
After a long while, Alchemist Su looked at Qin Ming and clicked his tongue in wonder: “Daoist Qin, to be honest, your cultivation of this Beast-Tooth Rice has truly exceeded my expectations.
Its quality after maturing shouldn’t be too bad at all.
It seems you possess a unique planting secret recipe.” Qin Ming felt a wave of secret emotion: I don’t have a secret recipe, but I do have a secret I can never speak of.
Alchemist Su gently parted the leaves at the top of a Beast-Tooth Rice stalk.
He gestured with his hand, signaling Qin Ming to come take a look.
When Qin Ming leaned over, he saw a drop of dew as crimson as blood tucked neatly at the base of the leaves.
“So this is Crimson Spirit Dew,” Qin Ming realized with an epiphany.
If Alchemist Su hadn’t pointed it out, he truly wouldn’t have known—there was no mention of it in the spirit planting manuals at all.
“Collecting this Crimson Spirit Dew won’t have any negative effect on the spirit plant itself.” “As it happens, I can make good use of it for my alchemy.” “Daoist Qin, would you mind letting me collect some?” “I can pay ten spirit stones to purchase it.” Alchemist Su asked casually.
“Alchemist Su, you jest.
Since this spirit dew is useful to you, please take as much as you like.” How could Qin Ming possibly accept his spirit stones?
He couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to build a connection with a promising alchemist like him.
What’s more, he had received a free Qi-Replenishing Pill from him last time; this was the perfect chance to go along with the flow and return the favor.
“In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Saying this, Alchemist Su produced a jasper porcelain vial and prepared to collect the Crimson Spirit Dew.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
In the surrounding woods, the tree canopies began trembling violently!
It seemed as though some sort of wild beasts were leaping through the forest, heading straight toward the hundreds of mu of spirit fields!
Hearing the commotion, Alchemist Su immediately froze his actions.
“What’s going on?” Qin Ming’s expression changed.
Subconsciously retrieving a Golden Light Protection Talisman, he knitted his brows tightly with an ominous foreboding.
The spirit farmers across the mountain slopes had likewise noticed the anomaly surrounding them.
One after another, they stopped their work.
Suddenly!
Before any of them could react— “Screeech—Screeech—Screeech—” A series of ear-splitting shrieks echoed through the mountain spirit fields.
Several dozen monkeys covered in diseased, eerie fur burst out from the forest!
The aura radiating from several of these beasts was particularly intense.
They were unmistakably Tier-One Middle-Grade demonic beasts!
“Not good!
It’s Mad Howling Monkeys!” Alchemist Su seemed to recognize the creatures.
Slapping his storage pouch, a set of array flags appeared in his hands.
He rapidly cast a spell and threw them onto the ground.
A faint blue light barrier measuring 20 feet [6 meters] across instantly appeared beneath their feet, enveloping him.
Alchemist Su shouted at Qin Ming at top speed: “Golden Light Talismans are useless against them!
Quick, get inside!” Hearing this, Qin Ming didn’t hesitate for a second and instantly sprinted inside the barrier’s radius.
Instantly, the noise outside was cut off.
Qin Ming hurriedly looked out into the nearby spirit fields.
As far as his eyes could see, the Mad Howling Monkeys roared continuously, releasing arc-shaped sonic waves from their mouths that expanded outward in all directions.
Those low-grade spirit farmers who were struck by the sound waves immediately developed blood-red eyes, hideous expressions, and went completely mad.
They actually began attacking and slaughtering one another!
In an instant…
Total chaos broke out across the spirit fields, and a vast amount of unripened spirit rice was trampled and ruined across the ground.
A middle-stage Qi Condensation spirit farmer had just tried to summon his flying sword to escape into the air, only for his spellcasting to be disrupted by the sound waves, sending him tumbling straight out of midair.
Whoosh!
A Mad Howling Monkey whose frame was a circle larger than the rest of the pack leaped up from the spirit field!
Its movements were lightning fast!
In an instant, it grabbed the spirit farmer, bared its crimson fangs, and bit his neck clean through in a single snap.
Bright red blood erupted outward!
Even in death, that spirit farmer’s face retained a look of sheer terror and horror.
“Screeech—Screeech—Screeech—” Sharp, ear-piercing shrieks echoed through the mountains.
Watching this bloody, cruel scene play out, Qin Ming’s entire scalp went numb.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
Without a shred of hesitation, he wanted to turn and flee.
If spirit rice was destroyed, it could be replanted; but if his life was gone, everything was over.
However, he suddenly halted his steps.
Thinking it through carefully: ‘If I leave Alchemist Su’s array formation right now, I’ll definitely fall victim to the sound waves and end up no better than that spirit farmer.’ For a moment, he found himself caught in hesitation.
Qin Ming turned his head and noticed that although Alchemist Su’s expression looked unsightly, he didn’t show any major loss of composure.
‘Could it be that he has absolute confidence in his array formation?’ Multiple thoughts flashed through his mind in a fraction of a second.
His expression was complex.
“Don’t panic.
My array formation can hold off those beasts for a while,” Alchemist Su said, clearly picking up on Qin Ming’s thoughts.
“These are Mad Howling Monkeys.
Their most formidable asset is the sonic wave attack from their mouths, which can snatch a person’s soul.
It’s extremely bizarre and almost impossible to guard against.” “If we hold out for a little bit, the Spirit Feather Sect’s reinforcements should arrive very soon.” Just as his words landed…
A group of seven or eight Mad Howling Monkeys banded together and charged fiercely toward their location in a siege formation!
Among them was the very same Tier-One Middle-Grade Mad Howling Monkey that had just bitten the spirit farmer to death.
Eight of them coming all at once?
This time, Alchemist Su’s expression changed as well.
Qin Ming watched as these Mad Howling Monkeys charged recklessly across the spirit fields, about to arrive right in front of his plot.
Slapping his storage pouch, a flash of decisive resolve flared in his eyes.
A small bronze bell emerged in his hand, spinning smoothly.
Qin Ming formed a hand seal, and the bell magical instrument instantly expanded into a massive bell, hovering steadily in midair in front of them.
It was none other than the Beast-Taming Art!
“You want to compare vocal cords, huh?
Let’s see who’s got the louder voice!”