Cultivation begins with forming a bond with a spirit bee.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two began to meditate and cultivate, since cultivators can regulate their breathing instead of sleeping.

Even if the concentration of spiritual energy outside the spiritual vein is low, we cannot be complacent because of this.

After several hours, when the sky began to lighten, the two extinguished the campfire and continued their journey.

I didn't expect to have such a good harvest so soon.

Qu Ye stopped first, keenly sensing a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy, followed closely by Wang Meng.

The two became alert and scanned their surroundings with their divine senses, discovering that it was just a low-grade first-level emerald python, hiding in the dense thicket.

The two breathed a sigh of relief, each casting a spell to easily end the battle. They then skinned and deboned the emerald python, collecting its gall bladder and meat, which they could sell for three to five spirit stones.

To Qu Ye's surprise, Wang Meng seemed to have some unique methods, able to imbue ordinary iron arrows with magical power, making them quite powerful.

No wonder he was carrying a common bow.

After collecting the materials, Wang Meng planned to split the profits equally with Qu Ye.

Qu Ye repeatedly declined, saying that it was her way of thanking Wang Meng for leading the way, and refused to accept it no matter what.

Seeing that Qu Ye was adamant, Wang Meng had no choice but to agree and no longer mentioned the matter.

The route then gradually shifts from north to west.

After crossing several mountains and passing a dried-up stream, and even seeing the Cicada-Singing Mountain in the distance, the two finally arrived at their destination.

This is a huge oak forest with thick trunks, cracked bark, and covered with dark green moss.

The air was filled with the astringent scent of resin.

Wang Meng walked ahead, stopping and starting, occasionally taking out a piece of paper to check, and finally stopped in front of an old oak tree.

"This is the tree hole where I found the insect shell."

He pointed to a fist-sized hole in the tree trunk and turned to Qu Ye.

Qu Ye probed with his divine sense and indeed found a small space in the tree hole, where a thin insect shell, as thin as a cicada's wing, and two fruit pits were quietly stored.

Is it still nearby?

Wang Meng shook his head: "I don't know either. These spirit insects are nocturnal and good at hiding, making them very difficult to find."

"But I don't think it'll go too far. Qu, how are you planning to look for it?"

Qu Ye smiled slightly, already having made up his mind.

"Uncle Wang, we don't need to go look for it ourselves. Do you remember what the Spirit Worm usually eats?"

"I do know about spirit flowers or spirit fruits."

"Yes, that's why we'll use this."

After saying that, Qu Ye patted his storage bag and took out a piece of spiritual essence, placing it in his palm.

Upon seeing Lingcui, Wang Meng suddenly realized.

"I see, you're using spirit essence to lure out the spirit worms, right? You're quite clever, kid."

But after saying that, he became a little worried.

"But I don't know if Spirit Essence is in the Spirit Worm's recipe..."

"It's alright, Uncle Wang. I also brought a spirit flower as a backup option."

Seeing that Qu Ye was well prepared, Wang Meng had no objection.

Having made up their minds, the two found a relatively open space and placed the spirit essence on a flat stone.

He then retreated a dozen steps away, hid behind a tree, concealed his breathing, and waited quietly.

……

at the same time.

In the same dense forest, a dozen or so cultivators stood silently together. They were dressed in different clothes and looked like a group of rogue cultivators from a distance.

Surprisingly, these cultivators were all at least at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Sun Shaofeng stood at the head of the crowd, facing everyone.

"For this operation, the Ancestor has only one requirement: stability."

"You are already clear about the details of the operation. There are a total of nine nodes to break the magic array. You will work in pairs, one person will act as lookout while the other sets up the array."

"There will be fluctuations during the node setup, but once completed, it will be extremely well-hidden, indistinguishable from ordinary things. So even if it's a little slow, you can't let the Hou family discover your whereabouts, understand?"

He looked around at everyone and asked in a low voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement: "Understood, Brother Feng."

At this moment, a young cultivator stepped forward from the crowd and asked, "But Brother Feng, what if we're unlucky enough to be seen by others, and the two of us are no match for them?"

Sun Shaofeng raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Shao An, are you scared?"

The young cultivator, Sun Shaoan, scratched his head: "I'm just worried about not being able to complete the task assigned by the ancestor..."

"rest assured."

Sun Shaofeng took out nine round beads the size of pebbles and a mid-grade talisman from his storage bag and distributed them to the nine teams in turn.

"Each person receives a Water Explosion Talisman, as well as a Message Bead personally crafted by the clan chief. Once crushed, the other beads will receive the signal. However, they cannot be too far apart, otherwise the signal will be delayed."

"Not only that, the clan chief also specially selected three uncles, each carrying a communication bead, to be in charge of three teams. Once a message is received, they can immediately set off."

Three uncles who are at the late stage of Qi Refining!

After hearing Sun Shaofeng's words, everyone relaxed a little, and the pressure wasn't so great anymore.

Sun Shaofeng turned to look at Sun Shaoan: "So Shaoan, if you encounter danger that you cannot defeat, try your best to maneuver and wait for your uncles' support."

"If the opponent is too strong, we must destroy the node first and never expose the existence of the magic array."

"Okay, Feng-ge."

Sun Shaoan then withdrew.

"Any other questions? Let's ask them now."

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.

Sun Shaofeng nodded.

"In that case, let's set off!"

At his command, everyone set off, each heading to their designated location.

After everyone left, Sun Shaofeng took out a communication talisman, whispered his report, and then the talisman burst into flames, turning into ashes.

……

Oak forest.

Qu Ye and Wang Meng waited for two hours, but nothing came.

But the two were not in a hurry, and continued to conceal their auras, like two statues.

As a cultivator, I have that much patience.

As dusk fell, a soft rustling sound came from deep within the forest.

Qu Ye extended his divine sense and detected a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy. Hesitantly, he headed towards the direction of Ling Cui.

"They're here."

His gaze sharpened, and he silently raised his sword fingers.

This kind of spirit insect has a long lifespan and is a solitary spirit insect, so there's no need to consider forming a bond with it; it's best to kill it directly.

Wang Meng noticed it too, placed his hand on the hunting bow, and held his breath.

Soon, a palm-sized insect emerged from the bushes.

This insect is pale green all over, has six legs, and its shell has fine patterns. Its antennae are swaying back and forth.

It really is a spirit worm!

Although it was the first time Qu Ye had seen this insect, the unique markings on its body immediately confirmed its identity.

He winked at Wang Meng beside him.

Wang Meng understood immediately, took out an iron arrow, nocked it on the bow, and held the string but did not release it.

They were waiting for the moment when the spirit worms would lower their guard.

The spirit insect walked and stopped frequently, pausing every few meters to check for any danger in its surroundings.

After a while, it finally approached the spirit essence and sensed a spiritual energy that was far purer than that of spirit flowers and fruits. Its wings fluttered slightly, as if it were giving thanks for the gift of nature.

Right now.

Qu Ye unleashed his magical power in an instant, and a Gengjin Sword Technique slashed fiercely at the Spirit Insect.

At the same time, Wang Meng loosened his grip, and an iron arrow wrapped in magic power shot towards the back of the spirit worm, blocking its retreat.

The Spirit Worm was a moment later than usual before it realized the danger was approaching.

It raised its head, its six legs suddenly pushed off the ground, and with a "whoosh," its wings unfolded and it took off into the air.

Taking advantage of its small size, it dodged the Gengjin Sword Technique by sidestepping, but Wang Meng's iron arrow followed closely behind.

The spirit insect had no choice but to try its best to dodge. Although the iron arrow missed its target, one of its wings was still torn by the accompanying magic.

Then it let out a hiss and darted away in a wobbly manner, its speed significantly slower.

"Chase."

Qu Ye didn't have time to think. He took the spiritual essence into his hand, put it into his storage bag, and used his lightness technique to dash away.

Wang Meng put away his hunting bow and followed.