A Bountiful Harvest

[Soul: Level 4 quality]

[Effect: Transcendents can absorb it to improve their cultivation, or use it to craft transcendent items.]

"It's actually level 4 quality."

Cao Fengqi looked at the attribute information, mildly surprised. Looks like that Rotten Crow leader was pretty strong. If I hadn't suddenly shot it in the head, one shot might not have killed it.

"This really was a bountiful harvest."

His backpack couldn't hold so much food, especially the Rotten Crow leader's wing, which was a full meter long.

"I'll take them back to the shelter first."

Cao Fengqi gathered all the crow wings in his arms and returned with a thought.

Back in the spare bedroom at home, his father, Cao Jiancheng, was nowhere to be seen. The job at the Spirit Forger's place required him to work through the night.

He put the crow wings beside the bed and entered the Lost Land again.

Cao Fengqi tipped his head back, his gaze falling on the densely packed level 1 resources overhead.

[Earth Abundance Fruit: Level 1 quality]

[Effect: Increases constitution by 0.2 when eaten. Antibodies develop after ten fruits.]

The apple-sized Earth Abundance Fruits could not only fill his stomach, but also increase his constitution by 0.2.

Though that wasn't much, eating ten would increase his constitution by two points.

"These Earth Abundance Fruits are worth as much as level 4 resources."

Cao Fengqi quickly climbed the fruit tree and picked them one by one.

Looking at the 65 Earth Abundance Fruits, he took them straight back to the shelter.

Click!

Back in the house, Cao Fengqi opened the door to his room.

A moon spirit stone on the dining table cast a soft white glow, dispelling the eerie darkness.

The bedroom door was shut. His mother and sister-in-law were asleep.

Cao Fengqi checked the time and saw that it was already past midnight.

He looked at the meat soup they had left for him on the table, then carried it into his room.

A piece of level 3 flame stone had been placed beneath the soup, keeping it warm.

"They put in so little meat?"

Cao Fengqi fished around in the soup and found about as much meat as in a bowl of Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles. He felt somewhat helpless.

Unless he reminded them, his mother and the others never put much meat in when they cooked.

Fortunately, he had Earth Abundance Fruits to fill his stomach. He picked one up and took a bite.

"Hm? Whatever else you might say, the food in the Lost Land tastes amazing."

This Earth Abundance Fruit tasted far better than an apple from Earth.

It was sweet and crisp, and its juice had a smooth, silky texture.

After finishing an Earth Abundance Fruit, Cao Fengqi collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep, exhausted.

"Two taels of meat? He only gave you two taels for working all night? Isn't Spirit Forger Wang being too much?"

"Ah, he did give me a meal too. Besides... Spirit Forger Wang's shelter is level 4 and relatively safe, so the pay is a little lower."

"More than a little! Jiancheng, look how red your face is, and your arm's covered in blisters from the heat. You can't keep doing this job."

"All right, all right. Take these two taels of meat and some wild vegetables and make the children breakfast."

Early the next morning, just as the sky was brightening, Cao Fengqi was woken by voices outside.

Hearing fragments of the conversation, he got dressed, got up, and opened his door.

In the living room, Cao Jiancheng stood there looking exhausted, his face flushed and his arm covered in burn blisters.

Cao Fengqi's gaze fell on the piece of meat, which wasn't even as big as a palm. He frowned and said, "Don't we still have meat at home? Why did you go work for Spirit Forger Wang? Don't go anymore."

"How many days will that meat of yours last?"

Cao Jiancheng was very displeased with his son's tone.

Wasn't I working so hard for your sake?

"You got lucky and brought back a little meat, and now you think you're hot stuff?"

"Can you count on being lucky forever? You don't even know how to make the food last."

He scolded him twice in succession, his voice cold.

Hearing his "rebellious father," Cao Fengqi smiled a little and said cockily, "Well, what can I say? I'm just lucky."

As he spoke, he glanced at the 22 crow wings beside him, then bent down and carried them out.

"You little..."

Cao Jiancheng looked at his son talking back and pointed a finger at him with his only arm.

But the next second, he saw what Cao Fengqi was carrying, and his mouth fell slightly open.

Liu Xiuxiu and Liu Chunying also froze on the spot.

"Wow, Unca, what's that? Is it meat?"

Dabao, on the other hand, reacted immediately. He ran over, his little face alight with excitement, and looked up as he asked.

"This is our breakfast."

Cao Fengqi smiled, set the crow wings on the floor, and picked up the Rotten Crow leader's meter-long wing. He handed it to him. "This one's for you."

"Ah, Uncle, it's huge! It's bigger than me! I can't carry it."

Dabao stared at the enormous wing in a daze and reached out, unsure how to take it.

"Uncle, I want some too."

Xiaobao came running over on her little legs, bringing her bowl and chopsticks with her.

"Today, we're eating this."

Cao Fengqi picked up the meter-long crow wing and smiled at his stunned parents and sister-in-law. "Don't just stand there. Light the fire."

"Oh, right, right."

Liu Chunying hurriedly answered and took a deep breath. Her heart was in turmoil and her chest rose and fell slightly as she couldn't help looking again at the crow wings beneath him.

They weighed at least forty or fifty catties!!!

"Wait... Fengqi... those are Rotten Crow wings, aren't they?"

Cao Jiancheng was well-informed, and he asked, somewhat dumbfounded, "Did you kill a flock of Rotten Crows?"

"One shot each."

Cao Fengqi grinned as he answered, hiding nothing.

It wasn't something he could hide anyway.

One shot each?

Cao Jiancheng froze for a moment, then noticed the arcane musket at his son's waist. His gaze sharpened, and his weathered face, already red from a night by the fire, flushed even deeper with excitement. "Good, good! That's my boy! You really did survive a great disaster only to find good fortune afterward! Haha, good!!"

"Dear, you and Chunying get to work. Our whole family will eat that biggest crow wing this morning."

He clenched his fist in excitement.

"Oh, oh, good, good. Fengqi's made something of himself. He's really made something of himself."

Liu Xiuxiu didn't have Cao Jiancheng's eye, but she too had explored and struggled to survive in the Lost Land. She had a vague guess that her son might have obtained an extraordinary weapon.

Just as excited, she went with Liu Chunying to light the fire.

Watching them, Cao Fengqi smiled as well.

"I know you've had a lucky encounter, Fengqi, but don't get cocky or let it go to your head. If something happens to you in the Lost Land, your equipment and weapons will be gone."

Worried that his son wasn't mature enough, Cao Jiancheng walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and reminded him, "Put safety first in everything."

"I know, I know."

Cao Fengqi looked at his face, reddened by the blazing heat, and felt warmth in his heart.

Some people only cared how high you flew, while your parents cared only whether you were tired or in danger.

Looking at the "father" who cared for him, he became fully part of this family.

He would play the role of a good son.

"Hehe, Fengqi's really grown up."

Cao Jiancheng looked at him and smiled.

Cao Fengqi raised an eyebrow at his words. Was I too obedient?

"What do you mean, grown up? I've always been this great, all right?"

Cao Fengqi shrugged off his hand and headed for the spare bedroom. "Working all night for that lousy two taels of meat-you've really embarrassed me."

"Hehe, all right, all right. I won't go anymore."

Cao Jiancheng chuckled in response.

???

Damn, so he only listens when I'm rebellious?