As a Moon Rabbit, even one not of a pure-blooded lineage, once it buckled down and dedicated itself to Cultivation, the speed of its progress could be quite remarkable.
Looking at Yue Meng, who had depleted Moonlight Dew and Star Moon Tears in just half a month, Chen Jiuge asked suspiciously, "Did you really use it all up?"
"Of course! What, did you think I could eat it?" Yue Meng replied, clearly annoyed.
"Isn't that what you did? You ate it to hasten your Cultivation, no?" Chen Jiuge retorted.
"I..."
Seeing Yue Meng tongue-tied with urgency, Chen Jiuge decided not to continue teasing. With a flick of his hand, he produced a large number of Elixirs, saying, "Here, take these and cultivate properly. Don't disappoint me."
"Hmph! You should be the one not to disappoint me! Don't touch my things, and just wait until you deliver that Youthful Pill to me," Yue Meng declared haughtily.
Watching Yue Meng leave, Chen Jiuge felt puzzled. Why does it seem like it isn't resisting Cultivation anymore? Could it have been an act all this time?
That night, Chen Jiuge observed a thick pillar of light in the valley and stealthily approached. Beneath the light, besides Yue Meng, three white snakes, each over ten meters in length, were circling it.
Just as Chen Jiuge was about to scold Yue Meng, he suddenly noticed that the three Medicine Snakes were actually absorbing Moonlight Power.
About four hours later, a visibly fatigued Yue Meng mumbled something to the three large snakes below. Each Medicine Snake then spat out a small red crystal. After expelling the crystals, the cold, impassive faces of the Medicine Snakes showed clear signs of weariness. Without lingering, they each departed.
Watching Yue Meng excitedly swallow one of the crystals, Chen Jiuge clearly felt Yue Meng's Qi and Blood fluctuate, its body strengthening slightly.
WHOOSH.
Gazing at the two remaining red crystals Yue Meng had yet to swallow, Chen Jiuge's eyes lit up. These crystals contain such powerful Qi Blood fluctuations that even my Fourth Rank Body Refiner physique subtly craves them. They truly are treasures!
"My treasures!" Yue Meng shouted, noticing the crystals in Chen Jiuge's hands.
"There, there. Tell me, when did you discover these things?" Chen Jiuge asked with a smile.
Yue Meng asked quietly, "If I tell you, will you give them back to me?"
"Certainly," Chen Jiuge said, tossing the crystals back to Yue Meng.
The cause was simple. After Yue Meng finished its Cultivation on the third day, it suddenly found three large snakes surrounding it. Initially, it shivered in fear. However, after an explanation from the Medicine Snakes, Yue Meng learned they wanted to absorb Moonlight Power. Since they didn't know how to gather it, they hoped Yue Meng would help them. In return, the Medicine Snakes offered Blood Crystals as compensation.
"So, you don't know why the Medicine Snakes want to absorb Moonlight Power, nor what these Blood Crystals do?" Chen Jiuge asked.
"I'm not sure either," Yue Meng whispered. "Those three big snakes said they felt uncomfortably hot after eating too much, and it seems the Moonlight Power can cool them down. As for the Blood Crystals, they only knew it could strengthen the body. I don't know anything beyond that."
"Alright, I understand," Chen Jiuge said, then left, deep in thought.
「The next day」
Chen Jiuge, relying on the connection through his Divine Soul, found Da Bai, who was in the process of digestion.
Chen Jiuge looked at Da Bai, whose body was as smooth as jade. He swept it with his Divine Sense. Good heavens! Its Qi and Blood are incredibly strong, not in the least bit inferior to that of a Fourth Rank Body Refiner! No wonder it was uncomfortable.
Da Bai merely glanced lazily at Chen Jiuge and made no other movement. Having eaten its fill, it was now digesting and best not to move.
"I know you understand me. Can you tell me what that red crystal you gave Yue Meng last night was?" Chen Jiuge asked directly.
Da Bai hesitated for a moment, then transmitted the information about the Blood Crystal through its Divine Sense.
"So it's a Qi Blood Crystal formed from the food they themselves have eaten," Chen Jiuge said, frowning. "The Myriad Beasts Record doesn't mention that Medicine Snakes have this ability, and that Steward from the Spiritual Beast Hall didn't say anything about it either."
"And why absorb Moonlight Power?" Chen Jiuge continued to ask Da Bai. "Is it because you feel uncomfortable after eating too much?"
So essentially, Medicine Snakes act like intermediaries, continually eating and digesting, leading to an accumulation of Qi Blood Power. Because the Medicine Snakes' own Cultivation can't keep up, they need to absorb Moonlight Power to neutralize their robust Qi and Blood and prevent their bodies from bursting. This must be why they can break through their Bloodline restrictions each time they survive a Heavenly Tribulation, as the tribulation tempers their bodies and increases their capacity, Chen Jiuge speculated.
"The Great Elder who created this species is an absolute genius!" Chen Jiuge said with a smile. "This red crystal is indeed a good thing. It can not only enhance the physical strength of one's own Spiritual Beasts but also accelerate my Body Refiner Cultivation. Besides, a Qi Blood Crystal of such purity should be quite valuable."
"In the meantime, you all can go cultivate with Yue Meng, or come to me if you're feeling uncomfortable, though you'll have to exchange this Blood Crystal for my help."
Even though they are my own Guardian Beasts, I don't plan to treat the Medicine Snakes for free, Chen Jiuge thought. Their purpose is to be productive Spiritual Beasts. If the price were too high, I wouldn't Contract them. Speaking of which, I should consider Contracting some other Spiritual Beasts. As a Beast Master, apart from my Lifebound Spirit Beast, I can still Contract other Spiritual Beasts within the capacity my Divine Soul can bear, but not just any Spiritual Beast.
Within the Myriad Beasts Sect, Beast Masters also belong to many different schools, such as the swarm tactics school, the elite school, the zerg rush school, and so on. The one I favor most is the elite school. The so-called elite school means Contracting powerful and valiant Spiritual Beasts, focusing on quality over quantity, with each one possessing exceptional combat prowess. That is the essence of the elite school. With my Golden Finger, I could have already embarked on the path of the elite school. It's only because I haven't yet broken through to Nascent Soul and have no plans to leave the Sect that it's been delayed. Moreover, I want to see if there are any better and stronger Spiritual Beasts, so I haven't Contracted any others yet.
First, I'll wait for Yue Meng to make a breakthrough. Then, I'll go to the Secret Realm and see which Spiritual Beasts are suitable for Contracting. Since they will be fighters, their level of Spiritual Wisdom isn't that important. Wisdom Opening Pills are a bit expensive at fifty Upper Spirits each, Chen Jiuge mumbled to himself.
Having discovered the Medicine Snakes' little secret and decided on his future path, Chen Jiuge was in a good mood.
Speaking of which, since it isn't recorded in the Myriad Beasts Record, could it be that the Great Elder did it on purpose? After all, the Spiritual Wisdom of Medicine Snakes isn't very high, but it's also not that low. They can communicate at the Golden Core Realm, so there's no reason the Great Elder wouldn't know about it. Also, I can't be the only one in the Sect raising Medicine Snakes, right? How come no word of this has gotten out? Is this what they call silently amassing a fortune? Chen Jiuge suddenly pondered.
I don't believe that in a dominant sect like the Myriad Beasts Sect, many Disciples would be earnestly 'farming'. Medicine Snakes are purely productive Spiritual Beasts. Apart from those Disciples who are more cautious, who else would raise them? And being cautious, of course, they would all be the type to silently amass wealth.
With a cheerful heart, Chen Jiuge dug out a jar of Immortal Intoxication in the yard, roasted a small lamb, and thoroughly enjoyed his drink.
What Chen Jiuge didn't know was that while he was deeply intoxicated, a sneaky rabbit, along with a furtive monkey, had quietly slipped into the backyard.