The Shift Between Offense and Defense

As soon as he thought of it, he acted.

Lu He took a deep breath and slowly sank his mind into the depths of his consciousness.

Limited by the mindset of his previous life, Lu He had always regarded this thing as a cheat, so he had never considered—

What exactly was the essence of an innate Dao Diagram?

Now, he had suddenly awakened to the question.

Deep within his consciousness, the White Ape Child Cave-Evolution Diagram drifted up and down, radiating gentle spiritual light. It was incomparably domineering, directly squeezing the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram into a corner.

Lu He took a deep breath.

This time, rather than merely activating the Dao Diagram to enhance his comprehension as he had before, he followed the method he had used during the day to sense the true intent of the Scarlet Horned-Dragon Diagram. He focused all his attention on the White Ape Dao Diagram itself.

He tried to grasp the profound true intent flowing across the Dao Diagram.

Time slowly passed.

At a certain moment.

Buzzz—

The White Ape Dao Diagram gave a tremor, and then a faint, almost imperceptible force drew Lu He's mind slowly toward it.

Yet the next instant, an unimaginably immense sense of sluggish resistance struck him.

It was as though a thick layer of fog stood between them.

Lu He could see only hazy light and shadow, unable to make out even a clear outline.

The night wind brushed through the locust leaves, making them rustle.

He slowly opened his eyes, and a faint golden gleam flashed through their depths.

[White Ape Child Cave-Evolution Diagram]

[Level: 2 (7/1000)]

"It's far too blurry. I can't sense the true intent of the Dao Diagram at all. Is it because... the Dao Diagram's level is too low?"

Lu He had an instinctive feeling as his gaze settled on the Dao Diagram's level.

At this moment, there was not the slightest dejection from failed comprehension in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with an indescribable excitement.

Though he had not sensed the true intent of the White Ape Dao Diagram.

That experience had undoubtedly told Lu He that his conjecture about innate Dao Diagrams had not been wrong—or rather, not entirely wrong.

Even if the White Ape Dao Diagram was not an immortal-path life blueprint like the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram, it was at least something similar.

And it was clearly of a higher rank!

At this thought.

"What exactly is your origin?"

Lu He could not help looking toward the corner of his vision as he muttered inwardly.

The only response was an almost imperceptible tremor.

With a thought, the Golden Book slowly opened. Lines of talismanic script leaped rapidly across it, displaying the progress of the various knowledge he had mastered.

[Weeding · Mastery (83.12%)]

[Comprehensive Meaning of Talismanic Script · Mastery (71.02%)]

[Brief Account of Investigating Things · Proficient (83.37%)]

[White Ape Heart-Nurturing Treatise: Bodhi Chapter · Proficient (90.94%)]

[...]

[...]

There were hundreds of entries, numerous and disorderly.

Lu He could not help frowning. The longer he looked, the more uncomfortable it felt. After thinking for a moment, he began adjusting it bit by bit according to the interface designs of games from his previous life.

A moment later, the talismanic script in the Golden Book vanished completely.

Then, line after line of talismanic script reappeared.

[Name: Lu He]

[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment · Body Transformation Realm]

[Technique: Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · First Layer (99%)

Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Rune (Incomplete)]

[Current Innate Dao Diagram: White Ape Child Cave-Evolution Diagram]

[Level: 2 (7/1000)]

[Rank: White]

[Talent:

Immaculate Heart Ape (Second Rank) [Note: Upon entering the state of enlightenment, comprehension is additionally increased by 80%]]

[Remaining Dao Diagram Evolution Attempts: 1]

"Phew... that looks much better."

A smile appeared on Lu He's face as he looked at the neatly arranged lines of talismanic script in the Golden Book.

It was midday.

After removing the last weed from between the field ridges.

Lu He did not linger in the slightest. He put away his hoe, turned, and headed straight toward the cottages.

Ever since he had begun cultivating the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram.

Lu He's strength had grown greater and greater.

Work that had originally taken an entire day to barely finish.

Could now be completed with ease in less than an hour.

Though the medicinal garden was strict with its tenant farmers, there was one thing Lu He quite liked: as long as they completed their assigned work, no one cared what they did with the rest of their time.

As he walked.

Figures bent over their work filled the spirit fields on either side.

Lu He seemed to see himself from more than ten days ago, and a trace of wistfulness flashed through his eyes.

He walked while cultivating.

Suddenly, a pang of hunger struck his stomach. With practiced ease, he reached into the small jar hanging at his waist.

However.

"The braised meat is gone again?"

Lu He froze. Looking down at the completely empty jar, helplessness unconsciously showed in his eyes.

Because the window period was approaching.

Over the past ten days.

Lu He had spared no expense in his cultivation. The true-intent rune and the White Ape Dao Diagram operated at full force, while the Scarlet Horned-Dragon Visualization Diagram was outlined several times faster than at the beginning.

It was precisely this relentless cultivation, regardless of consumption, that had brought visible progress in his Body Transformation Realm cultivation.

He could clearly feel himself changing in an inhuman direction every moment.

It was not merely his strength or speed. It was a comprehensive elevation of his very level of life. Skin, flesh, meridians, bones, hair... every part of his body was transforming.

Lu He lightly clenched his fist.

A tremendous force erupted like a flood, and the air gave a sharp explosive crack.

With a thought, the phantom of the White Ape Dao Diagram flashed through his eyes.

In an instant, every minute change his body had undergone recently appeared vividly in his mind.

"If I can maintain this speed of cultivation, I can complete the Body Transformation stage in two months at most. It's just that..."

As though he had thought of something, he unconsciously touched the shriveled money pouch in his robes, and his scalp went numb.

Including the silver Li Zhuang and the other six had paid in compensation, along with his original savings, there had once been the enormous sum of seventeen taels of silver in the pouch.

Now, only seven taels, three qian, and eight wen remained.

At full cultivation, that amount would not even last seven days!

And if he went back to cultivating while eating flatbread...

Lu He felt that it would take at least another two or three years to complete his Body Transformation.

At this moment, Lu He finally understood why Li Zhuang had said that tenant farmers who had stepped onto the path of cultivation placed such importance on the window period!

Cultivation simply consumed far too much silver.

And—

Lu He sensed the true-intent rune deep within his consciousness.

He had personally experienced that, when cultivating through visualization, whether or not one had the assistance of a true-intent rune made nearly a tenfold difference in results, even after eating the same amount of braised meat!

What did that mean?

Lu He understood better than anyone.

After all, Body Transformation Realm tenant farmers generally did not possess true-intent runes. That meant the competition for window-period slots would be far more brutal than he had previously imagined!

"Should I sell two Leaf Talismans?" Lu He pondered.

Tap, tap—

He followed the path between the spirit fields back.

Before long, six figures slowly appeared in his view, looking as though they had been waiting for quite some time.

As he drew closer, their faces became clear.

They were none other than the six men who had always followed Li Zhuang. Standing at the front was the short, fat man from that day.

His surname was Xiong, and his name was Dayou.

Before Lu He could approach.

"Master He, you're here!"

Xiong Dayou led the other five forward to greet him, his voice carrying traces of reverence.

Lu He showed no surprise at this sight.

"Mm."

He nodded, then asked directly, "I had you keep an eye on Li Zhuang. Have you discovered anything these past few days?"

"What we can confirm for now is that Li Zhuang really has something hidden away, but—"

Xiong Dayou lowered his head, unease in his tone.

"We've disappointed you, Master He. He's very cautious. Every day, apart from working, eating, and sleeping, he hasn't done anything unusual."

"Why not just tie him up and be done with it!"

Someone beside him suggested.

"No."

Lu He shook his head at that, speaking gently as he instructed them, "Just keep watching him. Don't alert him."

He still knew Li Zhuang somewhat well.

If the trump card Li Zhuang had hidden was truly an immortal-path treasure pill as Lu He suspected, then since it concerned the immortal path, even tying the man up would probably yield no useful information.

Besides, if they caused a disturbance and attracted the steward...

Lu He's gaze darkened slightly.

He did not think he could contend with someone of that standing.

Just as he was thinking.

"Someone died again!"

"There's a spirit creature in the field! Hurry and get Steward Liu!"

"..."

From deep within the spirit fields came a series of panicked, terrified cries, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"A spirit creature?"

Lu He glanced over. His heart stirred slightly, but he soon calmed again.

"I'm heading back first. Keep at it."

He spoke to the group, then turned and walked toward the cottages.

Behind him.

Xiong Dayou looked doubtfully into the depths of the spirit fields, then at Lu He's retreating back. Unable to hold himself back, he asked:

"Master He, aren't you going to take a look?"

"Didn't Li Zhuang say that spirit creature corpses are extremely valuable? Now that you've happened upon one, it ought to be your opportunity.

"And I heard that three days ago, a cultivating tenant farmer surnamed Chen seemed to have killed one. You've cultivated immortal arts too, so that spirit creature surely wouldn't be a match for you."

Before Lu He could respond.

Someone beside Xiong Dayou poked him and lowered his voice.

"What nonsense are you saying? Are you trying to get Master He killed?"

"Me? Get Master He killed?"

Xiong Dayou pointed at himself, his eyes full of confusion.

"You only know that tenant farmer Chen killed a spirit creature, but you don't know that the very next day, word of it reached the steward's ears. The man was immediately docked three months' wages, and naturally, he couldn't keep the spirit creature he had worked so hard to kill."

"Besides, although Master He is a genius who comprehended immortal arts on his first visit to Enlightenment Pavilion, he has only been cultivating immortal arts for a few days. In terms of strength, he naturally can't compare to that fellow surnamed Chen, so he should—"

As though afraid of giving offense, the man stopped halfway through.

Not far ahead.

Lu He's steps paused.

The reason he had dismissed the thought of acting was not because he lacked the strength, but precisely as that man had said.

So long as something in the spirit fields had value, it had nothing to do with tenant farmers like them—not even the spirit creatures that harmed the Blackleaf Spirit Wheat.

Acting without the steward's permission would only be asking for trouble.

"Either become strong enough to deal with the spirit creatures without a sound and avoid being discovered by anyone else, or secure one of the quotas to kill spirit creatures in a steward's spirit fields during the window period."

Lu He thought to himself, unconsciously quickening his pace.

Clearly, either choice required formidable strength.

Several more days passed in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps because some customary date was drawing near.

An undercurrent of tension faintly permeated the entire Azurehold Herb Garden.

Even the ordinary tenant farmers, usually busy at all times, occasionally gathered together to debate who would ultimately win this year's spirit-creature hunting quotas for the spirit fields under each immortal master.

Some troublemakers even opened underground betting pools, hoping to make a tidy profit from the opportunity.

Quite a few people placed their bets in advance.

Clearly, for these ordinary tenant farmers, this was their only form of relaxation during the dangerous season.

Around noon.

A travel-worn figure quietly appeared in the open space before Enlightenment Pavilion. Without the slightest hesitation, he strode inside.

The newcomer was none other than Lu He, who had just finished his farm work.

Creak—

As the doors slowly shut, the room immediately fell silent, filled only with heavy breaths rising and falling.

In a corner before the Scarlet Horned-Dragon Visualization Diagram stele.

Lu He hugged a jar of braised meat, completely ignoring the astonished looks of the others as he sat down cross-legged.

Compared with last time, he could clearly sense that over ninety percent of those who had come to Enlightenment Pavilion this time were cultivators. It was an astonishing proportion.

What was more.

Among them were several somewhat elderly figures who, by Lu He's senses, had already reached the limits of the Body Metamorphosis realm. They seemed to be only one step away from Intent Metamorphosis—the condensation of a Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Rune.

Are they trying to see whether they can improve further before the window period officially begins?

He quietly guessed, then stopped dwelling on it.

Deep within his consciousness, the White Ape Dao Diagram bloomed with radiant light. In a corner not far away, half of a Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Rune seemed to sense something and began trembling incessantly.

His mind slowly sank into the second layer of the visualization diagram on the stele.

Before long, the sound of people chewing braised meat echoed through the room, breaking the silence.

As Lu He's mind sank into the stele.

A line of seal script rapidly flickered across the Golden Book.

[Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · First Layer (99%)]

[Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Second Layer (1%)]

...

[Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Third Layer (21%)]

...

During this process, the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Rune within his consciousness began to grow and complete itself bit by bit!

No one knew how much time passed.

As the last piece of braised meat in the jar vanished,

Lu He slowly awoke as well.

At the edge of his vision, the Golden Book gave a slight tremor.

[Name: Lu He]

[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment · Body Metamorphosis Realm]

[Method: Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Fourth Layer (53%)

Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Rune (Complete)]

"The fourth layer of the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram... No, why is the True-Intent Rune already complete?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Lu He's eyes. This was indeed somewhat different from what he had anticipated.

"Could it be...?"

He thoughtfully glanced at the remaining five Scarlet Horned-Dragon visualization diagrams, then began cultivating right where he sat.

The braised meat in his stomach rapidly digested, and the familiar warm current instantly erupted. This time, its efficiency had increased by more than double!

A single piece of braised meat produced an effect equal to two pieces in the past.

"A complete True-Intent Rune!"

Lu He abruptly opened his eyes, his heart churning with shock.

Clang—clang—clang—

Three familiar, crisp chimes of a bronze bell rang out on schedule.

Holding his jar, Lu He blended into the crowd as the conversations around him faintly reached his ears.

"On the eighth day of next month, the stewards will begin selecting people to eliminate spirit creatures in the spirit fields. Brother Li, are you confident this year?"

"Alas, I haven't even completed Body Metamorphosis. How could I be confident? I can only give it a try and see whether I can pick up an overlooked chance. I've been stuck in the Body Metamorphosis realm for over ten years. If I still make no progress this year... By the way, which steward's spirit fields are you planning to try for this year?"

"Steward Liu's, of course. I hear the two thousand mu of spirit fields under his management attract quite a few spirit creatures every year."

"You want to go to those fields? With Fairy Liu no longer holding the line this year, you do have a chance. But I'm afraid plenty of others have their eyes on them as well."