Mortal Bones

"Little Taiping, the next matter is very important, so listen carefully."

She then looked at Xu Taiping with a serious expression.

"Alright."

Xu Taiping tucked the seed away, his expression equally serious.

"After the Earth Fruit has gone through its second transformation, it will produce three gourd fruits. Each one absorbs the essence of the spiritual energy from this land, and at the very least, each will be a spiritual treasure. As for the treasures that will form inside these three gourd fruits, it depends on the kind of nourishment you provide them."

Fairy Ling Yue explained in detail.

"Like the Shuo Wind Pearl we obtained earlier?"

Xu Taiping immediately thought of the Shuo Wind Pearl that they had taken from the Tiger Demon.

"Exactly."

Fairy Ling Yue nodded and continued:

"This Shuo Wind Pearl carries offensive magic power, so when the Earth Fruit absorbs it, the gourd fruit will likely produce a magical treasure with offensive capabilities."

"Additionally, if you provide gold, silver, or gems as nourishment, the gourd will yield a spiritual item similar to a spiritual crystal, though much stronger. This is exactly what I need, so I'm claiming this gourd fruit for myself."

"No problem."

Xu Taiping agreed without a second thought.

"Now, there's just the last gourd fruit left."

Fairy Ling Yue smiled, then once again looked at Xu Taiping seriously.

"According to your explanation, if I were to provide a weapon or similar magical artifact as nourishment, the gourd should produce a weapon-type treasure?"

Xu Taiping asked.

"Exactly."

Fairy Ling Yue was pleased that Xu Taiping understood so quickly.

"But right now, you don't have any suitable weapon to nourish the Earth Fruit. Using a regular weapon would just be a waste of a gourd fruit."

She reminded Xu Taiping.

"I understand."

Xu Taiping nodded slightly.

"What I really need right now is something that can speed up my cultivation. If I use the Fire Lingzhi from the map of the Tiger Demon as nourishment, would the Earth Fruit be able to produce something similar?"

He then asked Fairy Ling Yue.

Weapons were indeed important, but what he urgently needed was a way to speed up his cultivation. Due to his 凡骨 (Vanflesh) condition, his cultivation speed was even slower than that of those with White Spirit Bones.

"You're right. If you want to cultivate something that accelerates your training, using a 300-year-old Fire Lingzhi as nourishment is an excellent choice."

Fairy Ling Yue acknowledged Xu Taiping's reasoning, but then frowned and said, "The problem is, you'll have to risk encountering the Fire Python to harvest that Fire Lingzhi."

"Fairy Ling Yue, do you think the Fire Lingzhi is worth the risk?"

Xu Taiping immediately understood what she meant and asked for confirmation.

"With a 300-year-old Fire Lingzhi as nourishment, the treasure born from the gourd could at least allow you to reach the Qi Refining stage, or the Kaimen realm, which you call the major achievement of the Opening the Door realm. It may even help you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Fairy Ling Yue said.

The Foundation Establishment stage was equivalent to the Wangyou realm in her cultivation world, which Xu Taiping had already learned about.

"If that's the case, I'm willing to take the risk."

Xu Taiping thought it over seriously, then replied.

Through his cultivation over the past months, he had become well aware of the slow pace of his progress with White Spirit Bones. To reach the major achievement of the Opening the Door realm, or to break through to the Wangyou realm, five years might be considered short.

However, the Seven Peaks selection happened every three years. If he made little progress in his cultivation, he might not pass, and then he would have to wait another three years, or even six.

"Since that's the case, we'll wait for you to retrieve the Fire Lingzhi before planting this Earth Fruit seed."

Seeing Xu Taiping's firm attitude, Fairy Ling Yue didn't oppose further.

She actually admired Xu Taiping's willingness to take risks to seize opportunities.

In the cultivation world, opportunities were often fought for by cultivators themselves, and only a very small number of people relied on luck or family connections.

December 1st, the first day of the month – Suitable for excursions and hunting, avoid quarrels.

West Mountain Range, Bamboo Creek Valley entrance.

"Gurgle, gurgle…"

Xu Taiping drank the last drop of water from his water pouch and then looked again toward the valley ahead.

In the Bamboo Creek Valley, the grasses were lush, and exotic flowers bloomed in abundance. Occasionally, a faint fragrance would drift on the wind.

However, the most eye-catching thing in the valley was the massive Fire Pattern Python coiled by the stream.

This giant python had scales as red as fire, its body as thick as a barrel. With every breath, it disturbed the air in the valley, causing nearby trees to sway.

Besides, the Fire Lingzhi was guarded in the center by the Fire Pattern Python.

"Taiping, how many days has it been?"

Fairy Ling Yue's voice suddenly sounded in Xu Taiping's mind.

By attaching herself to the Earth Fruit, she could communicate with Xu Taiping's soul as long as he carried the Earth Fruit with him.

"Fifth day."

Xu Taiping whispered.

"Fifth day... Well, the Fire Pattern Python is likely about to wake up to eat. That's when you can take the opportunity to retrieve the Fire Lingzhi."

Fairy Ling Yue whispered.

"Got it."

Xu Taiping nodded silently.

Before coming here, he had already learned that demonic beasts, unlike human cultivators, could not survive without feeding. This was one of the major weaknesses of most demonic beasts.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

At that moment, a rustling sound came from deeper in the Bamboo Creek Valley.

Xu Taiping focused his vision by channeling his Qi and saw that the Fire Pattern Python, which had been lying still on the ground, suddenly lifted its head. It began cautiously scanning its surroundings while its body slowly slithered along the ground.

"It's leaving the valley."

Fairy Ling Yue's voice, filled with excitement, came through in Xu Taiping's mind.

"Yeah, I see it."

Xu Taiping nodded and tightened his cloak, pulling the hood down and securing his face cloth. He was preparing to move.

The outfit he was wearing now was pieced together from the treasures they had taken from the Tiger Demon. The cloak had some basic concealment properties, which would come in handy now.

"Don't rush. I'll help you conceal your presence, so don't worry about it detecting your aura. Wait until it fully leaves the valley, then act."

Fairy Ling Yue's voice sounded again.

The reason she had agreed to Xu Taiping's risky plan was because, after her recent retreat, she could now use her soul to help him hide his aura. Without this, a demonic beast of the Fire Pattern Python's level would certainly detect them if they tried to hide for five days in its territory.

"Understood."

Xu Taiping was not in a hurry. He had already been in the same spot for five days, so he was a little concerned his body might stiffen. He moved his legs slightly to stretch.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…"

At that moment, the Fire Pattern Python stopped cautiously scanning its surroundings and swiftly slithered out of the valley, disappearing beyond the valley in the blink of an eye.

"Now you can act. The Fire Pattern Python's hunting time is short."

Fairy Ling Yue's voice once again echoed in Xu Taiping's mind.