Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 519 Herbal Hall Mutant Flying Ants and Five Virtues Golden Pheasant
There was worry in Shen Qingxue's eyes.

Even the most skilled insect-controlling senior brother in the Grass and Wood Hall would probably be helpless in this situation.

The "Nine Silver Needles" she had crafted using the magic technique given to her by Senior Brother Zhou Jing last time did indeed kill the mutated Fire Emperor that had just appeared.

However, now there is another pest.

Although these newly emerged pests are not as ferocious as the Fire Emperor, they are numerous. The dark swarms of insects devour the spiritual plants like a tide, and even the sharpest silver needles are no match for their overwhelming force.

Moreover, they reproduce so quickly that they are impossible to kill or eradicate completely.

"Qingxue, why don't you go and rest? You haven't slept for several days."

A beautiful woman in a palace dress standing next to Shen Qingxue said, "We've all been keeping watch here."

Shen Qingxue shook her head, "This is a spirit field that I reserved for my junior brothers and sisters in front of my senior brother, so nothing can happen to it."

"I have failed my fellow disciples' trust and I have no face to face my senior brother."

The last few words, "I have no face to face my senior brother," were spoken with particular conviction.

Seven or eight figures stood on the ridge of the field. They were all disciples who had been at Fangcun Mountain for a year. They were all somewhat dejected about the recent undeserved disaster that had befallen the spirit fields.

A woman dressed in a lake-blue palace dress sighed softly and stepped forward to advise, "Qingxue, we have all seen how much effort you have put in these past few days."

"Elder Nie already knows about this. This insect plague is really beyond what a few of us disciples can handle."

The woman in the palace dress was named Shang Fang, and she was originally a princess of a small country at the foot of Fangcun Mountain.

With so many children in the royal family, it would be better for her, an unfavored princess, to seek a better future by becoming a disciple of Xiao Qingfeng.

In a sacred place like Fangcun Mountain, princes and princesses are nothing special—you could probably hit three or five of them by simply throwing a brick.

Unless they are direct descendants of the three dynasties under the rule of Fangcun Mountain, they are just ordinary disciples here.

The man in black standing next to Shen Qingxue snorted coldly.

"Qingxue, why would you take over these two hundred acres of spirit fields for an insignificant senior brother?"

"With your talent, you will be able to enter the sect next year and become a core disciple of Xiaoqing Peak."

"Why waste time on these spirit fields? Zhou Jing has been a disciple for almost three years and is still only at the Body Shaping Realm... Such a person."

The man in black was named Ji Qiu. He, Shen Qingxue, and the woman in the palace dress, Shang Fang, were friends.

Ji Qiu's background was also much better than the two girls'. Her grandfather was a city lord under Fangcun Mountain and a cultivator at the Dao Embryo realm.

Logically speaking, he shouldn't have entered Xiaoqing Peak, which is ranked last among the eighteen meridians, to cultivate!
But then Xiao Qingfeng showed up.

Shen Qingxue frowned and interrupted, "Ji Qiu, although we entered the sect at the same time and have some relationship, if you speak rudely to Senior Brother Zhou again, don't blame me for being impolite."

Ji Qiu's face turned pale and then red, but she knew that whenever Zhou Jing was involved, the usually gentle Shen Qingxue would become a completely different person.

He had a good impression of Shen Qingxue, otherwise he wouldn't have intentionally befriended the two women.

The woman in the palace dress, Shang Fang, tried to smooth things over, saying, "Senior Brother Ji, you should say less."

"There's no point in saying more now. Let's focus on how to resolve this. It's all our own spirit stones that have been lost."

These two hundred acres of spiritual land were originally contracted out by Ji Qiu, Shang Fang, and eight others through a joint deed.

According to Xiao Qingfeng's new rules, all that is required is to pay a fixed share of the harvest, and the rest is theirs.

However, one must be responsible for one's own profits and losses.

Actually, this is a very risky thing. These designated spiritual fields are either lacking in spiritual energy or plagued by pests. In previous years, no one dared to take them over.

Shen Qingxue took the lead and voluntarily booked all the spirit fields, and her fellow disciples who trusted her joined in.

That is, the two hundred acres of spiritual fields in front of us.

Ji Qiu calmed down, knowing that arguing would only further anger Shen Qingxue.

"Don't worry, the senior brother from the Qingcaomutang who went there this time is a well-known figure among the eighteen lineages."

"Dealing with mere pests should be a piece of cake."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the people behind him lit up.

This also involves their interests.

Shen Qingxue's thoughts drifted away; she wished her senior brother Zhou were here.

She clearly heard yesterday that her senior brother had returned from the trial, but she had not seen him since.

She figured he must be recovering from a tough training session, so she didn't want to disturb him.

This time!

A figure gracefully landed.

"Senior Brother Zhou!"

Shen Qingxue's eyes instantly lit up with surprise, and her previous fatigue vanished.

Upon seeing this, Ji Qiu frowned.

The newcomer had refined features, and although he wore an ordinary Xiao Qingfeng Daoist robe, it inexplicably gave him an air of otherworldly elegance.

What was most striking was that Shen Shimei, who was usually aloof, now had a radiance in her eyes and brows that he had never seen before.

This person was Zhou Jing, whom he hated the most.

~

As you stood suspended in mid-air, you sensed that this spiritual field was abnormally decaying.

The withered yellow rice leaves rustled in the wind, and the smell of decay could be smelled from miles away.

This pest infestation is more troublesome than expected.

[With your current cultivation level, even from several miles away, you can hear every word of Shen Qingxue and the others' conversation. When you hear the words "Senior Brother Zhou," you suddenly recall an old incident.]

A year ago, when Lü Qingyu sent you to inspect the spirit fields, you casually suggested, "Why not contract out the spirit fields to the disciples? Apart from the fixed amount to be paid, the rest of the harvest would belong to them."

[This was originally just a casual remark, but unexpectedly, Lü Qingyu reported it to Nie Qingzhu, and in the end, two hundred acres of marginal spiritual land were actually designated for a trial run.]

At the time, no one was interested. These spirit fields were located in remote areas with sparse spiritual energy, and the disciples who had just entered the sect were not foolish enough to take on such a hot potato.

But within a few days, they were all rented out.

[You've been busy cultivating and visiting the library every day, and have long forgotten about this matter.]

Now you suddenly understand why these two hundred acres of wasteland were all contracted out overnight.

[Lu Qingyu actually listed the property for rent under your name.]

[Shen Qingxue is probably worried that you haven't completed the sect mission you assigned her, so she rented all the spirit fields at once.]

You gently rubbed your temples, a hint of helplessness flashing in your eyes. But in a flash, your expression turned serious; since this matter had already involved so much, you had no choice but to take it seriously.

You descended and appeared on the edge of the field.

"Senior Brother Zhou!"

Shen Qingxue greeted him with delight, "I heard you just returned from the trial, Senior Brother?"

Ji Qiu, however, kept a cold face, deliberately ignoring him.

The woman in the palace dress, Shang Fang, also called out, "Senior Brother Zhou."

[She was subtly observing you, after all, Shen Qingxue held you in extremely high regard and respect.] [Shang Fang had inquired around Xiao Qingfeng; this Zhou Jing was indeed quite unremarkable.]

[His only public appearance was two years ago, during the Dragon Head Peak worship ceremony, when he defeated an ordinary disciple of Dragon Head Peak.]

You greeted them with a smile.

[Just in time!]

Suddenly, a beam of light pierced the sky.

You slightly raised your eyes and saw two people riding magical artifacts through the air. They wore dark green robes, and the cuffs faintly revealed the unique green leaf embroidery of the Grasswood Hall—three intertwined spiritual leaves on the cuffs, the very symbol of the Grasswood Hall.

[The Grass and Wood Hall holds a superior position on Fangcun Mountain. Although it is one of the eighteen branches, it is directly under the jurisdiction of the sect.]

[He oversees key locations throughout the mountain, including the spiritual fields, alchemy rooms, and spirit beast gardens, and the merit points he distributes each year far exceed those of other peaks.]

[All the disciples in the sect considered it an honor to enter the Herb and Wood Hall, and they would fight tooth and nail to get in; it was undoubtedly a lucrative position.]

Seeing this, Ji Qiu quickly stepped forward to meet him.

The two streaks of light vanished, revealing a man and a woman.

The man was about forty or fifty years old, thin, with dark skin, and his straw sandals were still covered in fresh mud.

Although his appearance was ordinary, his bright, piercing eyes conveyed focus and competence.

The girl beside him appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright eyes and white teeth. She was currently savoring a crimson spirit fruit, her cherry lips glistening with the glistening juice, her almond-shaped eyes filled with contentment.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ji Qiu's eyes, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "It's actually Senior Brother Murong who has come in person!"

[This Murong Heshan has devoted himself to research at the Herb Hall for decades. Although his cultivation has remained at the late stage of the Solidifying Spirit realm and he has not been able to break through to the Dao Embryo realm, his expertise in spiritual plants is such that even the elders of the various peaks have to show him respect.]

That's why he was exceptionally allowed to stay in the mountains.

According to the sect rules, those who have not broken through to the Heavenly Gate Realm within sixty years are all addressed as fellow disciples, or fellow brothers.

As for the pretty young woman, Ji Qiu had never seen her before, so he couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.

A smile appeared on Murong Heshan's dark face. He waved his hand and said, "I've heard about this strange pest for a while now; I've never seen it on the other peaks. I couldn't resist the urge to come, so I came uninvited. Tell my junior brother to rest, I'll come and take a look."

Ji Qiu was overjoyed upon hearing this. This Senior Brother Murong possessed profound expertise in the art of spiritual plants; to have him personally intervene was truly an unexpected delight.

[A hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Shang Fang, the woman in the palace dress standing to the side, and her tense expression visibly relaxed a bit.]

Ji Qiu's gaze shifted to Shen Qingxue, then landed on you, raising an eyebrow.

Though he didn't speak, his eyes conveyed the message: "See? In the end, it's still up to me, Ji Qiu, to resolve this."

Shen Qingxue usually harbors resentment, but with Senior Brother Zhou present today, her face only shows obedience.

[With my senior brother here, I will obey his every command.]

[You ignored Ji Qiu's provocation, only looking at Murong Heshan with curiosity. A cultivator from the Herb Hall must have exceptional skills in the field of spiritual plants.]

[Then, Murong Heshan rolled up his sleeves, put on his straw sandals, and stepped into the rice paddy, slowly walking towards the central section that had been completely devoured.]

In an instant!

Just as Ji Qiu was about to speak up and warn, "Senior brother, be careful of those pests—"

"It's alright." Murong Heshan waved his hand, and before he finished speaking, a sudden burst of rapid flapping of wings filled the rice paddy.

[Buzzing—]

The disciples of Xiaoqingfeng, standing by the field, paled at the sound and instinctively took a half-step back.

Their experiences dealing with pests these days have instilled in them an instinctive fear.

In the blink of an eye, the pests that had been hiding among the rice leaves revealed themselves, gathering into clusters of scarlet clouds above the sacred rice.

The countless red compound eyes gleamed eerily in the sunlight, resembling countless drops of blood suspended in mid-air, sending chills down one's spine.

[As you gaze intently, you see that they are actually tiny flying ants, each the size of a pea.]

There are at least tens of thousands of them.

These flying ants are entirely crimson, with transparent, thin wings on their backs that refract an eerie red light in the sunlight.

Judging from his cultivation level, he should be at the "Condensing Truth" realm.

[They were far too weak and insignificant to be compared to Xiao Qingfeng and his companions.]

However, these ants were not large in size, but their numbers were enormous, and the ferocious aura they exuded when gathered together was terrifying, giving one a sense of dread from ferocious beasts.

How could an ordinary spirit insect possess such a terrifying aura?

Upon closer inspection, these flying ants were surrounded by faint clouds of fire, clearly possessing an innate ability to control fire—no wonder the entire spirit field was scorched and withered; it must have been damaged by the fire they released.

Tens of thousands of crimson flying ants hovered in the air, sensing their territory had been invaded, and immediately became agitated.

Their wingbeats suddenly accelerated, emitting a chilling buzzing sound, like a burning cloud of fire pressing down on Murong Heshan.

Standing on the distant ridges of the fields, you could all feel the air growing hotter.

Murong Heshan, however, remained calm and unhurried, taking out a green gourd from his sleeve. He uncorked it, flicked his wrist, and scattered a cloud of shimmering blue powder.

Ji Qiu immediately recognized it as "Caomutang insect repellent powder."

Murong Heshan said, "This is my improved formula, with more than seventy kinds of herbs added. They are harmless on their own, but when put together, they become poisonous."

As he spoke, he calmly sprinkled the medicinal powder, saying, "It's harmless to cultivators, but to spirit insects, it's as poisonous as arsenic."

The blue powder drifted in the wind, and Senior Brother Murong added, "Moreover, after these flying ants die, they can be transformed into top-quality fertilizer for the spirit field, which is a win-win situation."

Seeing this, Ji Qiu quickly reminded him, "Senior brother, be careful! These flying ants are no ordinary creatures; they can devour gold and silver, and even eat magical treasures."

He added, still shaken, "Last time we used insect repellent powder, it actually fueled their fire!"

Before the words were even finished, the crimson cloud of fire had already crashed into the blue medicinal powder.

Shockingly, the powder not only failed to suppress the flying ants, but instead fueled the fire, causing it to rage and leap several meters into the air.

Murong Heshan frowned. "As expected, he's not simple."

The girl who had come with him from the Grass and Wood Hall thought he was showing surprise.

He patted the bulging beast-taming pouch at his waist.

【"Giggle giggle—"

With a loud crow, seven or eight magnificent roosters flapped their wings and flew out.

These roosters have brilliantly colored feathers, like they're draped in shimmering brocade. Their combs are shaped like delicate jade crowns, and their tail feathers spread out like a peacock's tail, radiating light and color.

[The Beast Taming Bag is also a rare item in the cultivation world. Like the storage bag in your hand, it cannot be crafted in the current cultivation world and was passed down from some ancient blessed lands.]

[The fact that Murong Heshan possesses a storage bag suggests that his status within the Grass and Wood Hall is truly extraordinary.]

These seven or eight roosters all possessed cultivation levels at the Body Shaping Realm.

All things in nature are interconnected and mutually restraining; the chicken naturally restrains insects.

This spirit pheasant is a relatively rare breed within the cultivation world—the Five Virtues Golden Pheasant.

Legend has it that this chicken possesses a trace of phoenix blood. While the truth of this is unknown, its crest feathers do indeed contain the five elements of spiritual energy, especially effective against various fire-evil and poisonous insects.

As they strode confidently, the five-colored shimmering light on their tail feathers subtly clashed with the fiery clouds of the flying ants.

(End of this chapter)