Jade Cloud Ganoderma

Through the misty night, Wei Suo emerged from the valley where the Teleportation Array was located. In the distance, between the mountain ranges, he could vaguely see many dilapidated building ruins and flickering lights.

The ruined structures amidst the forests were relics from ancient times, extremely old, many already weathered beyond recognition. Within the five or six mountain ranges of Yanggu Mountain, there were numerous ruins of broken buildings, suggesting this place was once a major city or a significant town in antiquity. The flickering lights among the mountains were likely the lamplight from the Tianyi Sect's Refining Crystal mine.

Refining Crystal is a unique type of crystal that melts when exposed to intense heat. However, after melting and re-solidifying, it not only gains significantly higher heat resistance, making it difficult to melt again, but also becomes harder than many fine metals. It is precisely this ease of shaping and exceptional durability that leads to Refining Crystal being extensively used in crafting Magic Artifacts, especially defensive Magic Shields.

The only Refining Crystal mine near Lingyue City is located in Yanggu Mountain and is controlled by the Tianyi Sect. The Tianyi Sect typically stations experts at or above the Circulation Realm to guard this mineral vein, while many low-level cultivators and ordinary mortals work day and night to mine it for them.

Although Wei Suo found the Tianyi Sect's monopolization of the entire mineral vein rather shameless, even if the entire Refining Crystal mine were placed before him, it would be useless. This is because the Refining Crystal, which is semi-transparent white before melting and black after, is found in small pieces embedded within large chunks of miscellaneous stones, requiring a large labor force to extract any significant quantity. Furthermore, the flickering lights now provided some solace to Wei Suo, standing in the dark, desolate mountains.

After traversing the dark mountain forest for over half an hour, Wei Suo finally reached the entrance to the Stone Maggot Cave, as described by Nangong Yuqing.

It was a cavern with a flat entrance, the opening itself several zhang wide, resembling the gaping maw of a colossal beast ready to swallow someone whole.

Seeing no sign of Nangong Yuqing near the cave entrance, Wei Suo wasn't flustered. He immediately took out one of the three communication jade talismans he carried. As a stream of purplish True Essence flowed into it, all three jade talismans on his person emitted a bright glow. In just a moment, Nangong Yuqing, clad in her red tight-fitting soft armor, quickly emerged from the cave.

"You're quite clever, knowing to use this method to let me know you've arrived," Nangong Yuqing said immediately upon seeing Wei Suo at the cave entrance. "I've already sent you messages with the communication jade talisman several times. I couldn't wait any longer, so I rushed ahead. Why are you only arriving now?"

"Is there something urgent? Looking for me at this time?" Wei Suo glanced with a hint of regret at the soft armor Nangong Yuqing was wearing. He noticed that the tears on her armor had all been repaired, leaving almost no trace, let alone anything else visible. Seeing Nangong Yuqing's slightly anxious expression, he quickly explained, "I went to Qingming Mountain today. I estimate it was too far away, so your message on the communication jade talisman couldn't be seen."

"How many Fireball Talismans do you have on you?" Nangong Yuqing asked directly.

Wei Suo was a bit surprised. He glanced at Nangong Yuqing. "About eighty or so?"

"About eighty?" Nangong Yuqing seemed surprised that Wei Suo had so many Fireball Talismans. She paused slightly. "Time is a bit tight, let's talk as we walk." She immediately turned and started leading the way. For some reason, even though Wei Suo had made her wait a long time, and she had also managed to notify Tie Ce and others to come because she feared Wei Suo wouldn't arrive in time, she never felt that Wei Suo would intentionally not show up.

"What? Jade Cloud Ganoderma?" Wei Suo followed Nangong Yuqing into the Stone Maggot Cave. The cave was filled with strange stalactites and was very humid. After Nangong Yuqing spoke only a few words, Wei Suo was utterly astonished.

The reason Nangong Yuqing was so eager to find Wei Suo was that she had pursued a level three Five-Colored Centipede into this Stone Maggot Cave. In a side passage within the cave, she had discovered a Jade Cloud Ganoderma that was about to mature.

Many unique rare treasures can only be harvested within a specific timeframe to prevent the loss of their spiritual energy. If the time of maturity is missed, their spiritual energy dissipates completely in a very short period, and Jade Cloud Ganoderma is one such treasure. Jade Cloud Ganoderma is a white Ganoderma, crystal clear, and emits a jade-like glow at night. Its greatest effect is to help demonic beasts below level five advance!

In other words, if a demonic beast below level five consumes a mature Jade Cloud Ganoderma, it can immediately advance one level, similar to a cultivator below the Mind Splitting Realm who consumes the Void Merging Pill refined by Ji Ya.

Such spiritual herbs are also of great significance to cultivators. For example, many sects, like the Golden Vulture Palace where Li Honglin belongs, can raise and tame demonic beasts. If a cultivator has tamed a high-level fourth-tier demonic beast and feeds it a Jade Cloud Ganoderma, that beast will advance to level five, effectively increasing the cultivator's own strength. After all, a mid-level fourth-tier Unicorn Thunder Viper had already made Wei Suo's life a living hell.

For these sects and cultivators, this spiritual herb is a priceless treasure. Moreover, due to its scarcity and a maturation period of only one day and one night, after which it immediately withers and loses its spiritual energy, Jade Cloud Ganoderma has no fixed value on the Tianxuan Continent. It is certain that such an item would be qualified to be auctioned at large auctions by the Golden Jade Pavilion.

"There are two," Nangong Yuqing added, as if feeling Wei Suo wasn't shocked enough, while continuing to lead the way.

"Holy crap!" Wei Suo was truly stunned this time. Two Jade Cloud Ganoderma? Wouldn't that mean that even a mid-level fourth-tier demonic beast, if fed two Jade Cloud Ganoderma, could instantly advance two levels to become a level five demonic beast? However, Wei Suo also knew very well that powerful demonic beasts would surely be guarding such treasures that are like Void Merging Pills to them. Demonic beasts have much larger territories than cultivators and will go to any dirty place. Their sense of smell and their perception of spiritual herb auras far surpass those of cultivators. Therefore, Wei Suo quickly asked, "What level of demonic beast is guarding the Jade Cloud Ganoderma?"

"It's a high-level fourth-tier Wind Spirit Howler," Nangong Yuqing replied quickly.

"No way, level four again!" Wei Suo let out a cry of despair. The Wind Spirit Howler is a strange beast that somewhat resembles a large eagle but has four claws and a long, monkey-like tail. It can not only unleash extremely sharp gang wind and wind blades but also shed its feathers like arrows. Most importantly, this high-level fourth-tier demonic beast can clearly spew out Demonic Cores to intimidate, just like the Unicorn Thunder Viper.

Nangong Yuqing seemed puzzled by Wei Suo's repeated exclamation. She turned her head slightly to glance at him. "Don't worry, I'll handle that Wind Spirit Howler when the time comes."

"Mhm, mhm." Nangong Yuqing's calm demeanor instantly reminded Wei Suo of the Magic Treasure Fragment on her that could easily kill a level three demonic beast. He nodded in understanding, but after a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Since you can handle the Wind Spirit Howler, why did you call me here? Are you just feeling lonely and empty on this long night?"

"Lonely and empty my foot! You're still in the mood for jokes at a time like this?" Nangong Yuqing glared fiercely at Wei Suo. "Besides us, there are about thirty Ice Snow Mantises that are also very interested in these two Jade Cloud Ganoderma. They're just afraid to enter the cave where the Wind Spirit Howler is, so they're currently in a standoff with it in an outer cave."

"Holy crap, big sister, are you kidding me? Thirty Ice Snow Mantises? Do you want me to be cut into pieces?" Wei Suo almost turned and ran upon hearing this.

Having spent so much time with the Green Robe Old Man, Wei Suo now knew that there weren't so many demonic beasts in the Cultivation World tens of thousands of years ago. Later, when two Great Powers of antiquity fought, one of them intentionally drew down many stars and shattered many spatial channels, thus bringing down numerous types of demonic beasts. These demonic beasts were later named by cultivators. For instance, ice-elemental demonic beasts like the Ice Snow Mantis resemble a large praying mantis about half a person's height, hence the name. However, this Ice Snow Mantis is a genuine high-level third-tier demonic beast. Not only can it spew icy breath, but its two scythe-like forelimbs are also effective weapons for dismembering people and disposing of bodies. Dealing with one or two would be no problem, but if over thirty swarmed them, Wei Suo estimated he would have no choice but to submit to being sliced.

"What are you afraid of? Do you think I called you here to send you to your death?" Nangong Yuqing glared at Wei Suo. "I've observed several times that those thirty or so Ice Snow Mantises have been confronting the Wind Spirit Howler in an outer cave, outside where the Jade Cloud Ganoderma is growing. That cave is quite large, but the passage leading to the cave where the Wind Spirit Howler and the Jade Cloud Ganoderma are, and the passage to the outside, are not wide. The two of us should be able to block them. Moreover, these ice-elemental demonic beasts are naturally more resistant to fire-elemental techniques. As long as we block the exit and you keep unleashing Fireball Talismans, they should only have two choices: either be burned to death inside by your Fireball Talismans, or charge inside and fight the Wind Spirit Howler."

"Then you should have said so earlier! You nearly scared my heart out of my chest," Wei Suo chuckled. "Unleashing Fireball Talismans and such is what I'm best at."

At the same moment Wei Suo was saying this to Nangong Yuqing, a flash of spiritual light emanated from the Teleportation Array in Yanggu Mountain, and two cultivators emerged. One was a young male cultivator dressed in a red robe, with a helpless expression on his face. Beside him, a very charming young girl was beaming with excitement. This girl, radiating excitement and clad in silver magical robes, was Han Weiwei, whom Wei Suo had robbed of two Stone-tailed Wall Lizards.

(Accepting suggestions from some readers, starting tomorrow, the schedule for three chapters will be slightly adjusted. The first chapter will be released at 10 AM, the second at 5 PM, and the third at 9 PM. Any additional chapters will be around 12 AM. With three consecutive chapters, please cast your red votes to support us!)