Howling Mad Monkeys

By late October, autumn had deepened.

A brisk autumn wind drifted in.

A layer of fallen leaves had piled up in the mountains and forests. When the wind blew, they whirled into the air and scattered wildly, covering the slanting path that wound up the mountain.

But at the same time, they also concealed several unusual traces along the path...

The third season's Spirit Rice had already sprouted ears.

In another month, it would be ready for harvest.

Everyone had gradually forgotten all about the recent turmoil.

Across the several hundred mu of golden Spirit Fields on the hillside, Spirit Farmers bustled about everywhere.

The yield of this final season of Spirit Rice was self-evidently important to these Spirit Farmers.

With the harvest so close at hand, none of them dared relax for even a moment. Nearly every day, they remained rooted in the Spirit Fields.

Never taking a single step away.

Only one Faint Mana affix had appeared in Qin Ming's third-season Golden Spirit Rice field.

His hopes of using Accelerated Growth on the Beast Fang Rice as soon as possible had come to nothing.

He gazed greedily at the four affixes in the Beast Fang Rice field before him.

Name: Beast Fang Rice
Affix: Greater Spirit Rain Technique x5 (Maturity 28%)

Name: Beast Fang Rice
Affix: Quality Enhancement x1 (Maturity 26%)

Name: Beast Fang Rice
Affix: Accelerated Growth x5 (Maturity 33%)

Moreover, word that he had successfully cultivated Beast Fang Rice had spread without wings. Some people in the market had already begun keeping an eye on the situation in his one mu of land.

All he could do was wait patiently.

At present, he had three Faint Mana affixes in his Sea of Consciousness.

Qin Ming was in the Spirit Field, using the Spirit Rain Technique to summon rain.

Then he heard approaching footsteps behind him.

Alarm rose in his heart.

He immediately withdrew his hand seal and turned around.

A White-robed Young Cultivator carrying a Small Bamboo Basket on his back entered his sight.

It's actually Alchemist Su.

What is he doing here?

Even as Qin Ming wondered about this,

Alchemist Su headed straight toward him and got right to the point. "Fellow Daoist Qin, I heard you successfully planted Beast Fang Rice?"

Qin Ming hurriedly bowed to Alchemist Su and replied modestly, "I merely succeeded by luck."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, there is no need to be so restrained. I came this time because of Beast Fang Rice's accompanying substance—Crimson Spirit Dew."

It was Qin Ming's first time hearing of it, and he was greatly surprised.

Alchemist Su explained, "This Crimson Spirit Dew is a relatively obscure supplementary alchemy ingredient. It can balance medicinal properties, and not many people know of it."

Having said that,

Alchemist Su walked to the edge of the Beast Fang Rice field and began examining it closely.

He circled the Spirit Field once, stroking his chin in thought.

After a long while,

Alchemist Su clicked his tongue in amazement and said to Qin Ming, "Fellow Daoist Qin, to be honest, the way you have cultivated this Beast Fang Rice truly exceeds my expectations. Its quality upon maturity should not be poor. It seems you have a unique secret method for planting it."

Qin Ming felt a faint pang of emotion. I don't have any secret method, but I do have one secret I can't tell.

Alchemist Su gently parted the leaves at the top of a stalk of Beast Fang Rice.

He waved at Qin Ming, signaling for him to come over.

When Qin Ming leaned closer, he saw that a blood-red droplet of dew was indeed hidden at the base of the leaves.

"So this is Crimson Spirit Dew."

Qin Ming suddenly understood.

If Alchemist Su had not told him, he truly would not have known. It was not recorded in the Spirit Plant books at all.

"Collecting this Crimson Spirit Dew will not affect the Spirit Plant itself in any way."

"It just so happens that I can use it in alchemy."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, would you allow me to collect some?"

"I can pay ten Spirit Stones for it."

Alchemist Su asked calmly.

"Alchemist Su, you jest. Since this Spirit Dew is useful to you, please take as much as you need."

How could Qin Ming possibly let him pay Spirit Stones? Being able to build ties with such a promising alchemist was something he could only wish for.

Besides, he had received a Spirit Replenishing Pill from the other man for free last time. This was the perfect chance to go with the flow and return the favor.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony." As Alchemist Su spoke, he took out a Jade Vial and was about to collect the Crimson Spirit Dew.

Rustle, rustle!

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

In the surrounding forest, the treetops began to shake violently!

It seemed that some kind of beasts were leaping through the woods, racing straight toward the several hundred mu of Spirit Fields!

Hearing the commotion, Alchemist Su immediately stopped what he was doing.

"What's going on?"

Qin Ming's expression changed. Instinctively, he took out a Golden Light Talisman, his brows tightly furrowed as a bad feeling rose within him.

The Spirit Farmers on the mountain had likewise noticed the disturbance around them.

They all stopped working.

Suddenly!

Before they could react,

"Screech—screech—screech—"

Piercing cries echoed through the Spirit Fields on the hillside.

Dozens of monkeys covered in sickly, bizarre fur burst out of the forest at once!

The auras emanating from several of those demon beasts were especially powerful.

They were clearly mid-stage first-rank demon beasts!

"Not good! Howling Mad Monkeys!" Alchemist Su seemed to recognize these demon beasts.

He slapped his Storage Bag, and a set of Formation Flags appeared in his hand. He immediately formed a hand seal and tossed them onto the ground.

A Pale Blue Barrier spanning two zhang instantly appeared beneath his feet, enveloping him.

At an extremely rapid pace, Alchemist Su shouted at Qin Ming, "The Golden Light Talisman is useless! Get in here, quickly!"

Qin Ming did not hesitate. He immediately entered the barrier's range.

In an instant, the sounds outside were completely cut off.

Qin Ming hurriedly looked toward the nearby Spirit Fields.

As far as his eyes could see, the Howling Mad Monkeys howled incessantly. Arcs of soundwaves spread outward from the monkey horde in every direction.

The low-level Spirit Farmers, once struck by those soundwaves, immediately had their eyes turn blood-red. Their faces twisted hideously, and they looked utterly crazed.

They actually began attacking and slaughtering one another!

In an instant,

The Spirit Fields descended into chaos, and much of the unripe Spirit Rice was trampled into the ground.

A mid-stage Qi Refining Spirit Farmer had just wanted to summon his Dharma Sword and flee through the air, only for the soundwaves to interrupt his spellcasting. He fell straight out of the sky.

Whoosh!

A Howling Mad Monkey, a full size larger than the others, leaped up from the Spirit Field!

Its movements were incomparably swift!

In an instant, it seized that Spirit Farmer, bared its crimson fangs, and bit clean through his neck.

Bright red blood spurted out!

Even in death, the Spirit Farmer's face remained frozen in terror.

"Screech—screech—screech—"

Shrill, ear-piercing howls echoed through the mountains.

Watching that bloody, brutal scene, Qin Ming's scalp went numb.

His heart hammered wildly. Without the slightest hesitation, he wanted to flee at once.

The Spirit Rice could be planted again if it was gone, but if his life was gone, then everything was gone.

Yet he abruptly stopped. On careful thought, if I leave the range of Alchemist Su's formation now, I'll definitely be hit. My fate won't be much better than that Spirit Farmer's.

For a moment, he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Qin Ming turned back and discovered that although Alchemist Su's face did not look good, he had not shown excessive panic.

Could he be very confident in his formation?

More than a few thoughts flashed through Qin Ming's mind.

His expression was complicated.

"Don't panic. My formation can hold off those beasts for a while," Alchemist Su said, clearly seeing through Qin Ming's thoughts.

"These are Howling Mad Monkeys. Their most dangerous ability is the soundwave attack from their mouths. It can seize one's soul and shake one's spirit. It is extremely strange and impossible to guard against."

"If we can hold out for a while, the people from the Spirit Feather Sect should arrive with reinforcements soon."

The moment his words fell,

Seven or eight Howling Mad Monkeys began clustering together and, in a pincer formation, lunged fiercely toward the two of them!

Among them was the mid-stage first-rank Howling Mad Monkey that had just bitten the Spirit Farmer to death.

Eight of them at once?

This time, even Alchemist Su's expression changed.

Qin Ming watched the Howling Mad Monkeys charge recklessly through the Spirit Fields.

They were about to reach his Spirit Field.

Qin Ming immediately slapped his Storage Bag, a trace of resolve flashing through his eyes.

A Bronze Bell appeared in his hand, spinning rapidly.

With a hand seal, Qin Ming caused the bell artifact to instantly expand into a Great Bell, hovering motionlessly in the air before him.

It was the Beast Control Art!

"Want to compete with your throats? Let's see whose voice is louder!"