Cultivation begins with harvest.

The sentry post became lively as soon as they stepped out of Jin'an Gate.

The stalls and shops are all kinds of things.

The most common types of spiritual items are materials from demonic beasts and their corpses, followed by elixirs and magical artifacts, then spiritual contracts and cultivation techniques, then larvae of demonic beasts and eggs of poisonous insects, then spiritual plants, and finally other cultivation resources. Even if there are spiritual plants, they are all mature flowering and fruiting plants, and the seeds are only those common types.

Come to think of it, as a rogue cultivator, one might not even have a place to settle down. Those seeds held in one's hands might not even be able to be planted until death. That's why in so many stories, the lucky ones who discover the remains of rogue cultivators have all seen spiritual plants before anything else happens.

He stopped expecting anything, wandered around aimlessly for a while, and then went back to the north room of Jin'an Gate to rest.

After taking a breath, he took out a sealed wine bottle and gently shook it. Several emerald green jade stones rolled in the brownish-red wine, and the patterns occasionally surfaced with a silvery-blue hue under the influence of the specially made strong yet mellow wine, before gradually fading away after a few breaths.

Chen Guang made a hand seal to take out a pill from the seal and quickly put it in his mouth. He then made another hand seal to complete the seal before putting the bottle away.

After the thick, warm liquid on the surface of the Lei Yu jade entered his mouth, he experienced a persistent chill and occasional tingling sensation in his stomach. All Chen Guang could do was to use some pure spiritual energy to help him quickly digest the spiritual power within.

He took the opportunity to cultivate for a while before falling asleep fully clothed, as he would be venturing into the wilderness the next day and needed to be in top condition.

Lei Yu and jadeite have many uses, but to use them for other purposes, many other materials are needed, which Chen Guang also lacks. Naturally, he consumes them all to further refine himself.

The next day at noon, Dongfang Lieming came to visit Chen Guang, but brought some different news.

"So you mean it's just you and me going into the Firebeard Cave this time? And Dongfang Jianming is staying at the sentry post?" Chen Guang frowned. If he hadn't already used a spiritual contract before coming, he would have suspected that he had fallen into a trap.

"Yes, we witnessed the dangers outside this time and realized that the early stages of Qi Refining are indeed a hindrance. If both of you go, it will definitely be a huge burden on Senior Brother."

Chen Guang interrupted directly, "So the decision is yours?"

Dongfang Lieming lowered his head: "Yes, senior brother."

"Since this is your decision, then so be it. See you at Jin'an Gate in a quarter of an hour." Chen Guang was too lazy to ask why Dongfang Jianming wasn't coming to see him.

After checking his belongings and confirming the specific route, Chen Guang went to Jin'an Gate to wait. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Dongfang Lieming arrived to meet him. Without further ado, they left the outpost without riding their horses.

The first two hundred miles after leaving the sentry post were the easiest. Traveling swiftly in the Green Leaf Boat, you could see other cultivators traveling below.

Within 300 li of the garrison, it was a safe zone. The disciples of the Qi Hall were clearing out the monsters every day. However, as they ventured deeper into the foothills, Chen Guang had to be cautious. The higher up were too conspicuous, and both monsters and people with ulterior motives could easily spot them. All that was left was to travel on foot.

There is another option: take out the Azure Cloud Boat to fly higher and faster, and be able to fly directly over most of the surrounding dangers. However, it consumes too much mana, so it is better to land and continue on your way for the sake of safety.

This place is more than 700 li away from Huoxu Cave. It would take about half a month to reach the remaining 500 li by trekking on foot, taking into account environmental factors.

The area where Chen Guang and the other man landed was supported by thick vines, with round leaves overlapping each other. The soft feeling underfoot was comfortable but also slightly unsettling, as it was at least two inches thick!

Who knows what kind of insects, snakes, or strange creatures might be hiding inside? Dongfang Lieming felt an uneasy sense of unsteadiness as she walked on it. If it weren't for Chen Guang's eyes scanning the surroundings with a faint gleam, this place alone would have made her uneasy for a long time.

This patch of grass and vines covered an area of ​​over three hundred feet. To the west were two tall tree trunks that were almost dead, with a dozen or so half-yellow and half-green leaves hanging from them, and a net of dead vines hanging from them. This immediately caught Dongfang Lieming's attention.

"You can't go there."

Before Dongfang Lieming could speak, Chen Guang rejected the suggestion: "Those two are [Half-Wabi Vines]. The withered vines are the real thing. This is a second-tier spiritual plant. The closer you get, the more you feel drowsy and lethargic. If your soul is strong enough, you can pick up some unconscious monsters if you get close. Otherwise, you will suffer the same fate. Over time, this grassland has become so safe that even monsters dare not set foot here. Let's head north from here. There is a mountain path there that will be safer."

"How come a second-tier spiritual plant is growing all alone here?" Dongfang Lieming couldn't help but ask.

Chen Guang simply shook his head.

He genuinely didn't know, only that it was almost impossible for someone who hadn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage to get close to the Half-Wabi Vine. However, he could only attribute the reason why Foundation Establishment cultivators didn't take it to their own ideas, which he couldn't fully understand.

Heading south along the foothills from here leads to the main road, which is relatively safer and avoids venturing into the deep forests. Another advantage of this main road is its proximity to the trails marked on the map I bought. Regardless of the map's accuracy, it's at least a backup option.

Before setting off, they cast the [Lightness Spell] on themselves and Dongfang Lieming to facilitate travel and the [Wind Breath Spell] to reduce noise while moving before heading south.

Now, Chen Guang only needs to ponder a little to be able to cast these basic spells on his own, and the effects are passable. Having cultivated to this level, he can figure out many basic spells on his own.

Of course, the spells in the Scripture Pavilion are better; they are the best spells in all aspects, and are more systematic and balanced.

"Senior brother, a snake!"

Just as they stepped out of the vine-covered area, a python with butterfly-like wings slowly emerged from the bushes on the bank, where deep gullies had been eroded by the rain, and flicked its tongue at Chen Guang and his companion.

Its wings, with their flamboyant and colorful patterns, clung tightly to the sides of its body, measuring only two feet long and an inch wide, standing out starkly against its dark exterior.

『【Black-bellied Feathered Serpent】!』

Chen Guang's heart sank. He had already planned the route and carefully looked down from the sky, but he still encountered this trouble as soon as he landed. One after another, four or five cotton fire needles floated in front of him, and purple mist slowly spread around him, condensing on his lower body and slowly floating upwards.

The distance at which this encounter occurred is also related to one's detection radius. The Clear Spirit Eyes are for examining traces of spiritual energy, not ordinary perception methods. It is difficult for anything to escape the eyes of these spiritual eyes. However, the drawback is that it only works within an extremely clear range of vision. If it is like the black-bellied feathered serpent in front of me, relying solely on physical movement and being far away, it will be impossible to detect.

There are countless monsters, and it is difficult to count them all. Most monsters are mentioned in general terms, and only some monsters with distinct characteristics are listed separately.

Feathered serpents are one such species. When they reach adulthood, they possess comprehensive strength equivalent to the late-stage Qi Refining stage of a cultivator, and the probability of breaking through to the second tier is not low. Considering this species as a whole, the probability is much higher than one in ten thousand.

With such excellent conditions, Ziling Peak has countless disciples with outstanding talent. Every year, at least a dozen inner disciples who have reached the Qi Refining stage attempt to establish their foundation, but not every year they succeed.

Given the conditions at Purple Spirit Peak, this is already a stroke of luck; for the Feathered Serpent, acting purely on instinct, to have such a probability is already a sign of divine favor.

The black-bellied feathered serpent is a relatively common type among the feathered serpents. It is known for its powerful regenerative abilities and is easy to deal with, but once you get entangled with it, the stalemate can last for a long time. As feathered serpents, they all have a certain ability to fly and accelerate, and when they go berserk, they are prone to causing frequent dangers.

The black-bellied feathered serpent flicked its tongue, watching Chen Guang not only not retreat but confidently walk forward. After hesitating for a moment, it turned into the depths of the ravine and quickly disappeared without a trace.

After looking around and confirming that there were no more traces, Chen Guang hurriedly left the grassy area.