Comprehending Blade Intent! Strength Greatly Increased!

"Deacon Jiang, you must be extremely careful regarding these Fire Centipedes."

Seeing Jiang Ye remain silent, Lv Ming assumed this new, elderly deacon had been intimidated by the mere mention of the Fire Centipedes, so he lowered his voice and continued to warn him with a solemn expression:

"The habit of these Fire Centipedes is to hide during the day and come out at night; they burrow underground during the daylight hours and only emerge to move about once night falls!"

"Furthermore, unlike ordinary centipedes that scuttle away the moment they see a person, these Fire Centipedes are born with a violent nature and dare to actively bite people!"

"Several Transformation Strength disciples here at Heavenly Sun Peak have suffered at their hands before, bitten until they were in agony, and some... even failed to recover because the venom was too deep."

At this point, he sighed, his face showing a hint of helplessness:

"The most troublesome part is that these things have terrifyingly keen senses; they can detect our presence from far away."

"The moment we arrive, they 'whoosh' right back into the ground. There is truly no way to deal with them."

"Even Elder Qin tried to take action personally to clear the herb garden, but in the end, he didn't achieve much success."

He paused, looking at Jiang Ye with earnest concern:

"Therefore, Deacon Jiang, if you happen to run into a Fire Centipede gnawing on the herbs, don't think about trying to kill it—that is too difficult. As long as you can drive it away in time and protect the herbs, that counts as a success."

Jiang Ye nodded thoughtfully, wearing an expression of someone receiving instruction, "So that is how it is..."

In reality, Jiang Ye was already struggling to hold back a laugh.

Keen senses?

Concealing his aura was exactly what he, Jiang, excelled at most.

These Fire Centipedes had essentially walked right into his trap.

"By the way, little brother." Jiang Ye pondered for a moment before asking: "Since there are venomous insects that gnaw on the herbs, the herb garden must have requirements for our harvest, right?"

"Hehe, Deacon Jiang, you've hit the nail on the head with that question."

Lv Ming's eyes lit up, and he chuckled with a "you know how it is" expression on his face:

"Because of the damage caused by the venomous insects, there is inevitably some loss of herbs."

"Therefore, the requirement for us caretakers is that we must ensure a minimum harvest of ninety percent."

He counted on his fingers to provide an example: "Take your Heavenly Sunflower Grass garden, for instance. It matures every six months, and there are one thousand stalks planted in total."

"After six months, you must hand over at least nine hundred stalks to pass."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye's aged eyes suddenly brightened.

A minimum requirement of ninety percent...

The room for maneuvering here was massive.

If he could protect all one thousand stalks, wouldn't he be able to "embezzle" one hundred stalks into his own pocket quite legitimately?

Seeing this look on his face, Lv Ming smiled knowingly: "Deacon Jiang, it is exactly as you are thinking."

However, he quickly added another sentence, pouring cold water on the old man:

"But your Heavenly Sunflower Grass attracts Fire Centipedes more than other herbs, so even wanting to maintain ninety percent will take quite a bit of effort."

A smile appeared on Jiang Ye's aged face as he nodded unhurriedly:

"This old man... will simply have to do his best."

The two chatted as they walked, and before long, they arrived at the south side of the Heavenly Sunflower Grass garden.

A small wooden hut was built here as well, similar in layout to the one at the entrance, but appearing even more secluded.

"Deacon Jiang, because the Fire Centipedes are nocturnal, our main duty is at night. This small hut will be your base of operations."

As Lv Ming spoke, he pushed open the door to the hut.

The interior was not large, but it was kept clean and tidy.

A simple wooden plank bed was placed against the wall, covered with a dry, comfortable straw mat.

In the corner, there was a stack of rice, flour, oil, pickled vegetables, and dried meat—clearly the supplies allocated by the sect to the herb garden caretakers.

Though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs.

"Good, good, good. This is actually a fine place."

Jiang Ye looked around, nodding slightly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

As a sect deacon, he could apply for a cave dwelling on Heavenly Sun Peak at any time.

But how could a cave dwelling compare to the freedom of this remote and quiet little hut?

"As long as Deacon Jiang is comfortable living here, that is all that matters."

Lv Ming said with a chuckle: "I usually live in the hut next to the Red Sun Grass garden, not too far from here. If you need anything, you can come find me at any time."

"Then I shall have to trouble you, little brother, when the time comes."

Jiang Ye cupped his hands politely.

After a few more words of idle chatter, Lv Ming took his leave.

His figure soon vanished at the end of the herb garden path.

Jiang Ye stood at the threshold of the wooden hut, gazing at the blood-red herb field swaying gently in the breeze, a faint, subtle curve tugging at the corners of his aged mouth.

Heavenly Sunflower Grass... Fire Centipede... ninety percent of the harvest...

This place is truly becoming more and more interesting.

He turned and returned to the wooden hut, closing the door behind him.

Sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed, he took the Poison Control Scripture from his robes and, by the light filtering through the window lattice, began to study the chapter on the "Fire Centipede" in detail.

Night fell, the moonlight cool and pale.

Jiang Ye pushed open the hut door and stepped slowly into the herb garden.

The moonlight, like water, spilled over the field of blood-red Heavenly Sunflower Grass, staining the entire patch a deep, somber crimson.

It is time to meet these beasts.

He channeled his Deer Form True Intent, his entire being seemingly merging with the world around him; his footsteps fell upon the garden soil as if treading on clouds, completely silent.

His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the blood-red field below.

Under the moonlight, the stalks of Heavenly Sunflower Grass swayed gently, the dew on their leaves shimmering with a faint light.

Suddenly, a slight movement reached his ears.

It was the rustling sound of soil being turned, extremely faint and subtle; had he not been fully focused, he would never have noticed it.

"Oh?!"

Jiang Ye looked toward the sound.

He saw a centipede, about half a foot long, its entire body red as fire with a hard, metallic-sheened carapace, slowly crawling out from the soil.

It must be said that its fiery red color complemented the Heavenly Sunflower Grass in the garden perfectly, serving as an excellent camouflage.

Had Jiang Ye not possessed keen eyes, he would not have spotted it at once.

Jiang Ye did not act immediately, choosing instead to continue observing its movements.

Along the edges of each segment of the Fire Centipede's carapace grew a ring of fine, dark red barbs, resembling the embers of a burning fire.

It had numerous legs, densely packed along both sides of its body, the tips equipped with hooked claws that allowed it to traverse vegetation as if it were flat ground.

After crawling out of the soil, its ink-black compound eyes flickered with a cold, eerie light in the darkness. It turned them vigilantly, surveying its surroundings. Sensing no other presence, it let out an excited hiss and prepared to bite into a leaf of the Heavenly Sunflower Grass.

Whoosh!

A faint sound of air being pierced.

Two small branches, whittled into the shape of wooden blades, emerged from the darkness like ghosts, firmly clamping the Fire Centipede's body and lifting it into the air!

The one who had struck was none other than Jiang Ye.

Hiss!!!

The Fire Centipede let out a piercing, shrill hiss, its body twisting and struggling violently.

Its dense array of legs thrashed frantically, claws grasping at the air, yet it could catch nothing.

Its ink-black compound eyes stared fixedly at Jiang Ye, revealing a hint of human-like ferocity and terror.

Its deep red mandibles opened and closed repeatedly, the tips glowing with an eerie fluorescence—a sign of concentrated fire poison—as if it longed to crush the enemy who dared to offend it.

Jiang Ye looked at the Fire Centipede struggling wildly in his grip, still attempting to bite back, a hint of playfulness flashing in his aged eyes.

Although he had only used two small branches.

However, a Transformation Strength martial artist possesses internal energy that is both hard and soft.

Not a feather can be added, nor a fly can land.

How could this Fire Centipede possibly escape his grasp?

He held the Fire Centipede up, bringing it into the moonlight to examine it closely.

His gaze fell upon its abdomen.

There, a faint, fire-red mark was visible—shallow and ethereal, like the lingering shadow of a morning sunrise.

A trace of disappointment flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.

There are two ways to raise poisonous pets.

One is mass-rearing: regardless of quality, one raises them all, winning through sheer numbers.

The other is elite-rearing: selecting the single best specimen from the insects and pouring all resources into it to cultivate a formidable champion.

Jiang Ye preferred elite-rearing.

Therefore, he had to select a Fire Centipede of superior quality.

According to the records in the Poison Control Scripture, the quality of a Fire Centipede is easy to distinguish by the fire mark on its abdomen; the deeper the mark, the better the potential.

It is rumored that the fire mark on the abdomen of a top-grade Fire Centipede is as red as blood and deep enough to reach the bone. Once raised as a pet, it can help its master kill enemies across realms, possessing infinite power.

The Fire Centipede before him had a fire mark so faint it was nearly invisible.

"Trash."

Jiang Ye loosened his fingers.

Hiss!!!

Suddenly released, the Fire Centipede felt as if it had been granted a reprieve; it let out a shrill shriek in mid-air and scrambled to burrow into the soil to escape.

The next instant.

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, the air was sliced open.

Jiang Ye flicked his wrist, and the tree branch in his hand traced a graceful arc through the air, descending like a crescent moon as it swept across the body of the Fire Centipede.

Plop.

The half-foot-long body of the Fire Centipede was instantly severed in two and fell to the ground.

Within its ink-black compound eyes, a trace of human-like disbelief seemed to linger, as if it were accusing the human before it of being cunning.

Jiang Ye disliked wasting things; he was the type to finish every single grain of rice in his bowl.

Moreover, for a venomous creature like the Fire Centipede, he had to squeeze out every bit of its utility.

A Fire Centipede of such subpar quality was perfect for practicing the Blood Moon Saber.

"Blood Moon Saber proficiency +5!"

The system's notification chimed.

As expected, killing venomous insects that pose a certain level of threat yields higher proficiency than practicing the blade in the air.

A look of satisfaction flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.

He hadn't been idle in the guest house; besides studying the Poison Control Scripture, he had been training fiercely with the Blood Moon Saber.

Martial Arts Mastered: Five Animal Fist [Perfected], Blood Moon Saber [Initiate, 458/500]

Jiang Ye glanced at the system panel and nodded to himself.

"Almost there. I can reach the Minor Achievement stage of the Blood Moon Saber by tonight!"

Jiang Ye took out a Blood Replenishing Pill, swallowed it, and immediately began searching for more Fire Centipedes.

About an hour later.

The moonlight slanted westward, casting a cold, silvery glow over the blood-red herb field.

Jiang Ye's figure continued to weave through the grass like a ghost, and the two thin twigs in his hand had already pinned down more Fire Centipedes than he could count.

"This one won't do either."

He lowered his gaze to inspect his newly caught prey.

Nearly a foot long, it was considered robust among Fire Centipedes, its entire body glowing red like charcoal, and the barbs on its dorsal shell were thicker and sharper than the previous ones.

But when his eyes fell upon the insect's belly, he shook his head in disappointment once more.

The fire mark on its abdomen was still faint, only slightly better than the "trash" he had encountered before.

He lifted his wrist slightly, raising the twigs, intending to repeat his previous method and strike the beast down.

Whoosh!

Before the blade-light could descend, a sudden change occurred.

The body of the Fire Centipede snapped into two in mid-air before the twigs could even touch it.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror, as if it had been cleaved by an invisible blade.

The Fire Centipede didn't even have time to hiss; its two halves fell to the ground with a plop, a look of bewilderment lingering in its black compound eyes, as if it had died without ever understanding what had happened.

Seeing this, Jiang Ye's pupils constricted sharply.

Severing objects from a distance...

This is Blade Intent!