Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8461 8461: Herb-picking (1)

Shortly after the pair dove into the blood sea, the trailing cultivators surfaced at the exact spot they'd vacated. One of them remarked, "It appears Feng Zhong Xin is guiding Zou Xiao to harvest the blood jade Flower. The market value of the blood jade Flower remains sky-high these days, drawing crowds to collect it. Yet, this very popularity invites hordes to seize it by force. Descending there might land them in serious peril."

A second cultivator let out a cold huff and replied, "Wouldn't that suit us just fine? We get to test if Zou Xiao truly excels at poison techniques, and gauge his power too. Should he fall short on poisons, we can deal with him outright and skip the hassle." The speaker sported a savage visage and a burly build. His attire set him apart from the rest—while others donned warrior garb, his resembled wrapped bands around the waist. Bare arms gleamed with a bronze hue, as though forged from molten copper.

This man went by Wang Liang. He stood as the sole body cultivator among them, boasting solid strength yet a notoriously foul temper. The group's way of life mirrored that of the Ghostwind bandits closely—they pillaged and slew without mercy, and in every raid, Wang Liang struck with the utmost brutality.

The rest stayed silent. They each donned straw hats before plunging into the blood sea. Moments later, they hit the seabed. As Wang Liang predicted, their aim was to witness Zhao Hai's true capabilities. If he proved weak, they could seize him and extract the treasure's location bit by bit.

Feng Zhong Xin remained unaware of their pursuers. He guided Zhao Hai downward over a thousand meters until they touched the blood sea floor. The sight left Zhao Hai astonished. Countless blood jade flowers dotted the area. Though not clustered like trees in a grove, their numbers were impressive indeed.

Zhao Hai knew the blood jade Flower well. This widespread herb excelled at restoring blood Qi, finding its way into numerous elixirs. The blood slaughter sect cultivated it across vast fields. It featured heavily in the sect's many pill recipes, consumed in bulk.

True to its name, the blood jade Flower resembled a jade-carved bloom. Standing roughly a foot high on a single stalk, it bore seven or eight maple-like leaves. Crowning it sat a vivid red blossom, dense and lustrous like blood-forged jade. Its petals shimmered translucently, enhancing its striking allure.

Feng Zhong Xin scanned the blood jade flowers and spoke gravely, "Let's get to it. Plenty have harvested these here before, but this spot might be less discovered, keeping the crowds away for now. We must hurry. Delay too long, and swarms will arrive, blocking our haul. Worst case, fights could erupt." With that, his hands flashed, producing a jade knife and a spacious jade box. The box could easily accommodate thirty or more blood jade flowers. The jade knife served precisely for such gathering tasks.

The blood jade Flower demanded careful handling—it couldn't bear direct touch. Even harvesting required tools like jade knives. Such traits were common among spiritual plants. In the blood slaughter sect, spells plucked the flowers straight into space-teleportation devices. From there, they shipped to jade-built storerooms, where the blooms stayed fresh for extended periods.

For outsiders like Feng Zhong Xin, such methods lay out of reach. While spells could snag the blood jade Flower, they risked lowering its quality somewhat. Any drop in caliber meant a hit to the selling price. Thus, they approached the task with utmost caution. Feng Zhong Xin gripped the jade box in one hand, the jade knife in the other. He positioned the box beneath a blood jade Flower, then sliced neatly with the knife. The bloom tumbled from its stem into the box intact. The severed stalk soon wilted away entirely.

Feng Zhong Xin worked with impressive speed. Before long, several blood jade flowers filled his box. Spotting this, Zhao Hai summoned his own jade box and jade knife. He recognized these as standard gear for lone cultivators, tailored for herb collection. He couldn't risk exposing any oddity to Feng Zhong Xin. Besides, crafting such items posed no challenge for him—he could whip them up instantly. With a casual flip, a jade box and jade knife materialized in his grasp.

Zhao Hai copied Feng Zhong Xin's method, sliding the jade box under a blood jade Flower. A swift cut with the jade knife sent the bloom dropping into the container. He shifted to the next plant and repeated the process. In no time, he'd gathered a substantial bunch. Soon enough, his jade box brimmed full.

Zhao Hai stowed the filled jade box away and fetched a fresh one. He'd observed Feng Zhong Xin doing likewise. Clearly, jade boxes proved essential for solo cultivators on missions. Their virtue lay in safeguarding herbal essences effectively. Any medicinal plant inside retained its potency for a good while. This mattered greatly for herbs. Plus, jade boxes cost little, and some independents crafted their own. Hence, every rogue cultivator carried plenty, stocked with gathered remedies.

Zhao Hai's standing far outstripped that of typical unaffiliated cultivators. Should blood slaughter sect members learn he was foraging in the blood sea like any stray practitioner, shock would ripple through them. As part of one of the ten mighty sects, they embodied heavenly favor. Even the lowliest outer disciples, deathsworn, or servants represented dreams for myriad independents. For him to grub for herbs like a common rogue? Utterly unbelievable.

Truth be told, Zhao Hai harbored no such qualms. Back in the lower realms, he'd ruled an entire domain, one vaster than the blood slaughter sect could fathom. Yet ascension to such heights hadn't blinded him. Power and rank weren't his pursuits—raw strength was, pushing ever onward. Thus, every task became training in his eyes. Devising strategies against rival sects for the blood slaughter sect? That too counted as heart-tempering cultivation. All worldly pursuits—plots, intrigues, or merry revels—served the path of cultivation. Picking herbs held no shame for him. As a rogue cultivator now, fulfilling that role felt entirely fitting.

As Zhao Hai and his companion wrapped up their second box of blood jade flowers and reached for a third, a sudden clamor echoed. They glanced upward to find a throng of cultivators closing in. Feng Zhong Xin's face darkened at the sight. He flicked his wrist, summoning a long sword to his grip. Turning to Zhao Hai, he urged, "Brother, keep harvesting. I'll stand guard."

Zhao Hai paused briefly, then agreed with a nod. He hadn't anticipated trouble during a simple herb run. For a lone cultivator, facing this mid-gathering—sword in one hand, picking with the other—seemed grueling. Still, he held his tongue and quickened his pace.

Their moves drew eyes from nearby gatherers. They operated in small teams too, with one watching while others worked. Feng Zhong Xin's stance didn't faze them, but it spurred everyone to hasten their efforts.

Zhao Hai kept a steady expression, though his hands flew. Quickly, he packed three additional jade boxes. By now, their total haul of blood jade flowers looked plentiful. His rapid pace outstripped the other three, drawing unwanted notice from the crowd.

Zhao Hai paid it no mind. He darted about, claiming every visible blood jade flower. The rest had nearly cleared the surrounding patches too. They rose then—some departed at once, but two crews fixed hostile glares on Zhao Hai and Feng Zhong Xin.

Feng Zhong Xin's features hardened, yet he brushed off the pair. He faced Zhao Hai and murmured, "Time to move. Stay sharp." The warning came low, signaling his sense of their ill intent. Zhao Hai assented and prepared to withdraw. But suddenly, a band of eight herb-pickers blocked their path. All eight eyed them menacingly, their motives plain and foul.

Zhao Hai and Feng Zhong Xin tensed at once. They eyed the interlopers warily, and Feng Zhong Xin declared, "What's your game? We're all chasing coin here, not crossing paths. Best we part without issue. Push to blows, and no one wins." As he finished, he rattled the long sword, which hummed softly. His aura surged in tandem.

Feng Zhong Xin practiced sword cultivation. Though a rogue's version paled against the great sects' elites, sword cultivators commanded respect in the cultivation realm. Few dared tangle with them, thanks to their devastating offense. Their strikes rang simple, much like the blades they wielded. Yet that very directness made assaults purer, fiercer, more unstoppable. Defense might lag for sword users, but in raw attack prowess, none could top them.