I Cultivate Longevity in the Cultivation Realm-Chapter 56: A Good Dog

"Spirit-Devouring Insect?"

Zhou Changwang was taken aback.

This kind of Spirit Insect doesn’t normally appear on Linghe Grain Rice.

However, thinking about the spiritual rice they planted which had long been harvested, leaving only the three mu of Spirit Medicine Field, it suddenly made sense.

It was clear their Spirit Medicine Field was currently experiencing this pest problem.

"I should take you there to have a look.

If you can help us remove the infestation, there will surely be a generous reward."

Zhao Qiang said hurriedly, stepping forward to lead the way to their Spirit Field.

"Then, let’s take a look first." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang had no choice but to follow.

Qian Xiaoyue naturally had to accompany him.

Soon, the group entered the Zhao Brothers’ backyard.

As they entered, a tall Spirit Dog immediately stood up, growling softly, appearing very alert.

"Awoo..."

The Little Spirit Dog following closely beside Zhou Changwang immediately fluffed up, growling in response.

From the sound, it didn’t lose in momentum, but its small steps retreating and its body hiding behind Zhou Changwang clearly showed its lack of confidence.

Not until Zhao Qiang shouted to stop his Spirit Dog did this farce end.

"Don’t worry, with us here, nothing will happen."

Then, Zhao Qiang reassured them.

"It’s a good dog."

Zhou Changwang praised, this Spirit Dog was of a different breed than the Little Spirit Dog, but indeed, it was tall and imposing, almost reaching a person’s waist when standing, very intimidating.

No wonder no Spirit Farmer dared to get close to this area at the foot of Changling Mountain.

Only then did he, at the Zhao Brothers’ indication, look towards the three mu of Spirit Field within the Spirit Thorn Vine.

Inside this Spirit Field of three mu were many thriving Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Materials.

Mostly Spirit Ginseng, Bai Yuzhi, Golden Thread Red, and other common Spirit Medicines, but also a small patch of Pure Heart Spirit Flowers, some of which had developed buds about to bloom.

It’s known that Pure Heart Spirit Flower, a primary ingredient for refining Rejuvenation Pills, matures in five years, blooming only once.

This meant this small patch of Pure Heart Spirit Flower had almost reached five years since planting.

Additionally, those Spirit Ginseng, Bai Yuzhi, and other Spirit Medicines had considerable age; three and five years, almost all in their mature stage, worth several thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones once sold...

No wonder the two built houses nearby to take care of them, despite the risks.

If stolen or destroyed, the loss would be significant.

Furthermore, Zhou Changwang noticed that the Spiritual Qi here was noticeably denser than in other Spirit Fields.

If the Spiritual Qi contained in the Spirit Field Zhou Changwang farmed before was ’one’, then the Spiritual Qi in this three-mu Medicinal Field was ’one point five’.

The difference seemed small, but it distinguished a Spirit Field from a Spirit Medicine Field.

Their value was vastly different.

"It’s this half-mu of Pure Heart Spirit Flower, planted for five years, about to bloom, ready for harvest, but now it’s infested, many have developed Spirit-Devouring Insects, causing severe damage to the leaves and branches."

"We’ve tried countless methods without success.

If this continues, it might be impossible to survive, it’s really troubling."

Zhao Jie pointed to the small patch of Pure Heart Spirit Flower with worry.

"We even went to the Spirit Plant Hall a few days ago to invite someone for pest control.

Spirit Plant Hall agreed to send Spirit Plant Master Wu Lei, but several days have passed without sight, and now with the chaos in the Marketplace, it seems even more unlikely they will come anytime soon.

That’s why we thought to ask you to take a look."

Zhao Qiang added.

In their desperation, they were seeking any help they could find.

They remembered seeing Zhou Changwang, who seemed skilled in this area, and invited him over with a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Essentially, they had more trust in the Spirit Plant Masters of the Spirit Plant Hall.

Zhou Changwang nodded, not minding their initial hesitation.

He then examined the Pure Heart Spirit Flowers, frowning slightly, "It’s indeed tricky."

What made the Spirit-Devouring Insect troublesome was not its difficulty to exterminate but its habit of residing inside the stem or trunk of Spirit Plants, consuming the Spiritual Qi and Vitality from the inside.

Ordinary pest control methods were ineffective against them.

Even if their presence was detected, unless one disregarded the growth of the Spirit Plant, it was challenging to eliminate them from within.

"Yes.

The Spirit-Devouring Insect hides within the stem of the Pure Heart Spirit Flower, even if our Spiritual Sense detects them, we can’t remove them.

Angering them might provoke them to retaliate, further consuming the Spiritual Qi inside the Spirit Plant, accelerating its wilt."

Zhao Jie expressed their distress.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you have any solutions?"

Zhao Qiang perceived the implication in Zhou Changwang’s words.

It’s tricky, but not impossible.

Realizing this, his eyes lit up.

"There is a method worth trying,

but it requires someone who masters Ice Technique to cooperate."

Zhou Changwang pondered slightly before speaking.

Previously, with only the Geng Metal Finger technique for pest control, he could only shake his head at such parasitic Spirit Insects like Spirit-Devouring Insect.

However, he had obtained a Jade Scroll from Wang Chang, which contained a century’s worth of planting experience in Spirit Fields by someone named Wan He, named the Spirit Farmer’s Manual.

It recorded various planting problems and solutions faced by Elder Spirit Farmer Wan He throughout his life.

Among them was a mention of parasitic Spirit Insects like Spirit-Devouring Insects.

The simplest solution for dealing with Spirit-Devouring Insects is to learn a pest control magic called Golden Thread Technique, transforming the magic into golden threads, following their air holes to intricately extract them... almost a certainty.

Of course, this required cultivators to have strong Spiritual Energy control.

Otherwise, if inadequately trained, the transformed golden threads could harm the Spirit Plant itself, easily cutting off its Vitality.

Apart from that, the Spirit Farmer’s Manual also documented another clever approach.

That was to exploit the Spirit-Devouring Insect’s fear of cold, drawing them out from the Spirit Plant.

"I’ve learned a technique called Ice Arrow Technique, what do I need to do?"

Zhao Jie eagerly volunteered.

"It’s fairly simple.

As long as you confirm the position of the Spirit-Devouring Insects within the Pure Heart Spirit Flowers, then control the chill from the Ice Arrow Technique to approach."

I have a way to lure them out."

Zhou Changwang continued.

"Alright!"

Zhao Jie responded and began casting.

Soon, an Ice Arrow formed before him, but he didn’t release it; instead, controlled the Ice Arrow to approach the root of a Pure Heart Spirit Flower.

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang urgently moved closer, then flipped his hand to conjure a flame, which he then controlled to gently approach the Spirit Plant.

Zhao Qiang, seeing this, had a slight reaction in his gaze.

Zhou Changwang’s casting of the Fireball Technique, wasn’t it a bit too fast?

Instant casting?