Blackwater Mysterious Snake and Qi Nurturing Fruit

Jiang Donghua hurried onward, Dou Qi surging through his meridians. The Mysterious-grade Mid-tier technique, Burning Fire, continuously replenished the strength he expended.

Otherwise, with how frequently he used Cloud-Chasing Steps, his Dou Qi would have long since been exhausted, and he would have become a Demonic Beast's meal.

"Whew, why are there fewer Demonic Beasts the deeper I go into this damn place?"

He frowned slightly, puzzled.

Logically, fierce beasts should have been everywhere deep in the mountains. Yet after traveling for most of the day, he had found it difficult to encounter even a single Demonic Beast at the level of a Three-star or Five-star Dou Master.

"Something's not right?"

He stopped, his gaze warily sweeping the surroundings.

The forest was quiet. Even the chirping of insects and calls of birds had become much sparser, while an almost imperceptible pressure lingered in the air.

"Could there be something stronger nearby?"

At that thought, Jiang Donghua's heart chilled. Anything capable of making low-tier Demonic Beasts keep their distance had to be at least a Dou Shi-level beast—perhaps even a Da Dou Shi-level overlord!

"No, I can't go any deeper!"

He made his decision at once. Rather than risk venturing into unknown danger, he would be better off finding a relatively safe place to cultivate in seclusion first, then make further plans once his strength improved.

"Find a place with clear mountains and beautiful waters, few Demonic Beasts, dig a cave, and cultivate in seclusion!"

Having made up his mind, he changed direction and darted toward the mountain range to the side.

Half a day later, Jiang Donghua finally found an ideal location in a secluded valley.

It was backed by a steep cliff, with a clear stream in front. The surrounding trees were lush, Spiritual Qi was abundant, and there were scarcely any signs of Demonic Beast activity.

"This is the place!"

He nodded in satisfaction, then drew his short sword, circulated his Dou Qi, and began carving out a Cave Mansion in the cliff face.

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

The sword's edge gouged deep marks into the rock, and shattered stones pattered down.

Before long, a simple Cave Mansion began to take shape.

He also set up several simple warning formations at the entrance to keep Demonic Beasts and outsiders from wandering in.

Once everything was ready, Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged inside the cave and let out a long breath.

"I can finally cultivate in peace."

He closed his eyes and sank his mind into his body, beginning to circulate Burning Fire.

As the technique operated, the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth slowly gathered around him. It flowed into his meridians with his breathing, eventually transforming into pure Dou Qi that was stored in his dantian.

"AFK System, activate!"

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Realm: Two-star Dou Master (1146/2000)]

[Main Cultivation Method: Sky-Burning Incantation (Mysterious-grade Mid-tier)]

[Idle Gain]

Clone 1: 5 points/hour

Clone 2: 5 points/hour

[Current Total Gain: 10 points/hour]

The corners of Jiang Donghua's lips rose slightly.

"Excellent. Now I just need to wait for a breakthrough!"

He gradually entered a deep state of cultivation, his entire body seeming to merge with heaven and earth.

Outside the cave, the stream babbled and the breeze drifted by, leaving everything tranquil and peaceful.

Jiang Donghua's life in the cave was simple yet fulfilling.

The AFK System operated around the clock. His two clones continuously provided cultivation gains, while he himself did not remain idle either.

Besides actively cultivating for the extra bonus, he spent most of his time studying the pill formula for the Bone-Mending Pill.

"Though this Bone-Mending Pill is only a First-grade Pill, it isn't easy to refine. The control of the heat is especially difficult."

He closed his eyes and focused, repeatedly deducing the alchemy process in his mind and simulating the timing for merging the Medicinal Herbs.

Though he had not actually tried it himself, his theoretical proficiency continued to improve.

"Once I return to the academy, I have to try it myself!"

Aside from cultivating and studying pill formulas, Jiang Donghua explored the surrounding area every day, seeing if he could find any valuable Medicinal Herbs or ores.

"Since I'm idle anyway, I might as well pick up some benefits along the way."

His luck was not bad. He found several stalks of Azure Spirit Grass beside the stream, then gathered a cluster of lingzhi from a crack in the cliff. Though they were not particularly old, they were more than sufficient for practice or exchanging for Contribution Points.

Breakthrough! Three-star Dou Master!

On the morning of the fourth day, Jiang Donghua's Dou Qi suddenly churned violently within his body!

"Boom—!"

The Dou Qi in his meridians surged like rushing rivers. The vortex within his dantian abruptly expanded, and an aura several times more powerful than before erupted from his body!

[Ding! Host realm breakthrough!]

[Current Realm: Three-star Dou Master (0/3000)]

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Main Cultivation Method: Sky-Burning Incantation (Mysterious-grade Mid-tier)]

[Idle Gain]

Clone 1: 5 points/hour

Clone 2: 5 points/hour

[Current Total Gain: 10 points/hour]

"Awesome!"

Jiang Donghua suddenly opened his eyes and could not help letting out a low shout.

In just four days, he had soared directly from a Two-star Dou Master to a Three-star Dou Master. Such rocket-like cultivation speed would be absolutely shocking in the outer academy!

"At this rate, in another seven or eight days, I might be able to challenge the Four-star stage!"

He excitedly clenched his fist, feeling the surging Dou Qi within him as a bold spirit rose in his heart.

"Sure enough, cultivating in seclusion is the true path!"

Jiang Donghua was in an excellent mood. After his breakthrough, his body felt light and powerful, while his Dou Qi had become even more condensed than before.

"I'll take a look around. Maybe I'll find something good."

He followed the stream outside his cave upstream. The water was crystal clear, and from time to time, he could see a few small silver-scaled fish swimming past.

However, after walking for about half an hour, the sight ahead brought him to an abrupt stop.

A pool as black as ink lay silently within a mountain hollow.

The water was deep and dark, without the slightest ripple on its surface, as if even light had been swallowed. But what truly caught Jiang Donghua's attention were several lush green plants in the center of the pool, as well as the three crystal-clear fruits hanging from their branches.

"Qi Nurturing Fruit!"

Jiang Donghua's pupils contracted, and his heart began pounding faster.

The Qi Nurturing Fruit was the first true spiritual herb he had encountered since entering these mountains. It was a rare treasure even for Dou Shi-level cultivators!

Consumed directly, it could steadily raise one's strength by one star. Refined into a pill, its effects would be even better, and it could even help one break through bottlenecks!

"I've struck it rich! I've really struck it rich this time!"

He subconsciously took a step forward, but immediately forced himself to stop.

Something was wrong!

How could a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure like the Qi Nurturing Fruit possibly have no Demonic Beast guarding it?

And this pool was unnaturally black. No matter how he looked at it, something was off.

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes and carefully examined the area.

Not a blade of grass grew around the pool. The soil along the shore was an unnatural dark red, as though it had been corroded by something. Even stranger, there were no insect chirps or bird calls nearby. The silence was terrifying.

"There's something strange here."

He took a deep breath, picked up a stone from the ground, circulated his Dou Qi, and hurled it toward the center of the pool!

"Plop!"

The stone fell into the water, sending ripples across the surface.

One second... two seconds... three seconds...

The water remained calm.

"Could there really be no guardian beast?"

Jiang Donghua was puzzled, but his vigilance did not lessen in the slightest.

He slowly retreated a few steps, took a long rope from his waist, tied a larger stone to it, and threw it again toward the plant bearing the Qi Nurturing Fruit.

This time, he would see if he could pull the fruit over directly!

The stone accurately looped around the plant. Under Jiang Donghua's control, the rope coiled around the branches like a nimble snake.

"Got it!"

Delighted, he was just about to pull.

"Splash—"

A black shadow silently streaked beneath the water, so fast it was almost like an illusion.

Jiang Donghua's pupils shrank sharply, and every hair on his body stood on end!

"Run!"

Without hesitation, he instantly unleashed Cloud-Chasing Steps, his body retreating backward like the wind!

At almost the same moment—

"Boom!!!"

The surface of the pool exploded as a gigantic black python as thick as a water barrel burst from the water, its gaping jaws lunging at the spot where Jiang Donghua had just stood!

"Tier 2 Demonic Beast—Blackwater Mysterious Snake!"

Jiang Donghua's heart pounded wildly. His feet did not stop as he fled frantically into the distance.

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake possessed strength comparable to a human Two-star or Three-star Dou Shi. Its venom was incredibly potent; even Dou Ling experts would not provoke it lightly!

No wonder it was difficult to find even Dou Zhe-level Demonic Beasts in this area. They had likely all fallen into the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's jaws.

What a clever way to fish for prey!

"Damn it, I almost died here!"

As he sprinted, he glanced back.

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake did not pursue him. It merely coiled at the edge of the pool, its cold vertical pupils fixed on him as its scarlet forked tongue flicked in and out, as though issuing a warning.

"Come any closer, and you'll die!"

Jiang Donghua ran several miles in one breath. Only after confirming that the Blackwater Mysterious Snake had not followed did he stop, panting heavily.

"Whew... good thing I ran fast."

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, lingering fear still in his heart.

The Qi Nurturing Fruit might be good, but his life was more important.

With his current strength, fighting the Blackwater Mysterious Snake head-on would be suicide.

"Looks like I can only wait until I'm stronger, or find another way."

He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and turned back toward his cave.

"I'll go back and continue cultivating in seclusion first. Once I break through to Dou Shi, I'll think of something!"