"Little one, you still have a long life ahead, so you wouldn't understand this old Daoist's worries."
"I'm over ninety years old now, barely clinging to life by consuming Blood Nourishnt through the false immortal thod of Blood Refinent Technique. How many more years I have left, even I don't know!"
"After living this long, I refuse to accept ending up with nothing!"
Inside the stone house, Old Daoist Li shared his thoughts with Han Yu before raising a bowl of refined blood to his lips and gulping it down. His white hair and beard frad lips stained a terrifying crimson. Though the sight was ghastly, Han Yu showed no fear, only caution: "Old Daoist, you must be careful. Wangu Valley forbids practicing unauthorized cultivation thods, especially those related to demonic sects like this one. If discovered, it could cost your life."
Old Daoist Li chuckled hoarsely. "You have a kind heart, just like your grandmother. But if I don't practice the Blood Refinent Technique, I might die even sooner. So I'll keep practicing." He continued, "Since you waited for and refused that Senior Sister Wei's offer, I owe you compensation. I'll teach you the last of my skills."
"My martial arts are worthless to cultivators - just ordinary fighting techniques between mortals. But the Blood Refinent Technique includes another spell called Bloodthirsty Art. It temporarily boosts strength by consuming blood essence, though you must prepare enough refined blood beforehand or replenish imdiately after. Like Blood Droplets, only use this to save your life in ergencies. If any orthodox cultivation sect like Wangu Valley sees you using it, they'll hunt you down without rcy. Today, I'll teach you this technique."
Han Yu was surprised. "Old Daoist, you've been holding out on ?"
Old Daoist Li scoffed. "How was I to know your character earlier? That I didn't kill you for your insolence and still taught you anything was already for your grandmother's sake!" Han Yu had no reply - he'd never t his grandmother since gaining consciousness, never expecting her mory would earn him such special treatnt.
After learning the Bloodthirsty Art, Han Yu returned to his stone house. Perhaps angered by his refusal, Senior Sister Wei stopped greeting him or inviting him over afterward. Han Yu found this a welco relief. He would rember kind help like Senior Brother Sun Kang's and repay it soday, but favors like Senior Sister Wei's transactional goodwill just felt like debts owed. The difference was night and day - accepting gifts without cause made him deeply uncomfortable.
Han Yu spent his days alternating between patrolling the spirit fields and cultivating. One spirit rice ball daily helped his dantian's spiritual energy seed grow slightly, though reaching the second layer of Qi Refining still seed distant. Occasionally replicating refined blood for cultivation also strengthened his vitality - he could now easily condense three drops with energy to spare. After several feedings, the ravens grew more intelligent and vigorous - the fledgling's feathers smoothed, its flight speed increased, and its body slightly enlarged.
Perhaps because Wangu Valley had too many knowledgeable cultivators, the ravens searched for days without finding any unclaid spirit herbs or fruits. Old Daoist Li visited the market every few days in secret, purchasing Blood Nourishnt from non-cultivating servants to progress his Blood Refinent Technique. Though his health improved, he beca reclusive, avoiding even Zhang Shan, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan. Whenever Han Yu saw him, he noticed a bloodthirsty glint in the old man's eyes - this technique truly felt sinister. And this was just the false immortal thod practiced by blood slaves of demonic sects, not even proper demonic cultivation!
Unlike Old Daoist Li, Han Yu had never consud external Blood Nourishnt, only replicating his own refined blood, so he'd never experienced such symptoms.
One morning, Han Yu was surprised to find many servant disciples ditating in the spirit fields, including Zhang Shan, Liu Lan, Sun Kang, and Senior Sister Wei.
"Senior Brother Sun, why is everyone cultivating in the fields suddenly?"
Sun Kang explained, "Our Green Sprout Spirit Rice was planted around the sa ti, so harvest will begin in about ten days. At this stage, the rice absorbs more spiritual energy, so ditating here slightly boosts cultivation speed. Moreover, the increased energy attracts more pests and rodents, so we must guard the fields constantly to ensure a successful harvest."
Han Yu finally understood another aspect of spirit field cultivation. No wonder servant disciples progressed slowly - constantly distracted by these duties while receiving few cultivation resources naturally hindered their advancent. Though his four spiritual roots weren't exceptional, steady spirit rice supplies had let him reach the first layer of Qi Refining in under two months - a rare achievent.
Soon Han Yu noticed a troubling trend. While pests attracted by the ripening rice weren't nurous, they threatened his fields. Insects were manageable - palm-sized bugs could be driven off or killed with Wind Riding and water control spells. But the "Spirit-Stealing Mice" were different. These rat-like creatures the size of wildcats had tough hides, burrowed rapidly, and couldn't be killed by basic spells - only specialized techniques or sharp magical weapons could finish them off.
After being driven away by Zhang Shan and Sun Kang's group, so mice left while others lurked nearby. Mouse holes began appearing around Han Yu and Old Daoist Li's fields, forcing them to guard their plots - they couldn't afford to ignore this when yields below fifty jin per mu ant no rewards, and below thirty jin brought punishnt.
For two days, shouting scared the mice away. But soon they realized Han Yu and Old Daoist Li lacked offensive spells and brazenly invaded their fields in broad daylight. With other disciples busy guarding their own plots and Steward Wang being no help, the two could only chase the pests around helplessly, leaving Old Daoist Li stomping in frustration.
One late night, Old Daoist Li ca to Han Yu's door whispering excitedly: "Wake up, boy! A chance to earn spirit stones has co!"
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