Chapter 00165: Spirit Connecting Blue Face Fruit
# Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit
Chapter 165
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 165: Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit
Ding Huan possessed extensive combat experience.
After realizing his blade did not achieve the expected effect, he decisively opted to retreat with his long knife in hand.
With an enraged roar, the golden-spotted beast's tail swept towards him.
“Bang!”
Despite Ding Huan's quick reaction and determined retreat, he still felt the sharp blow of the tail against his lower back.
He could hear the sound of a bone snapping – one of his own.
The impact of that tail was like a hammer striking his flesh.
A burst of red mist erupted forth, enveloping Ding Huan completely.
At that moment, instead of continuing to retreat, Ding Huan surged forward, delivering a powerful punch to the beast's vital spot.
The golden-spotted beast never imagined anyone could survive under its poisonous mist, but Ding Huan’s fist landed squarely.
Though his previous strike had not fazed the creature much, this punch knocked it unconscious.
Ding Huan yanked his knife from the beast’s body and struck down again, finally cleaving it into two halves.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
No wonder Guan Sha wanted a chef; this was no ordinary occupation.
The golden-spotted beast's horn was quite valuable, and Ding Huan wasted no time removing it.
As for the meat, he selected the tenderest portions without hesitation.
After dealing with the beast, his gaze fell upon a three-foot tall fruit tree.
This tree bore five green fruits that looked like they were on the verge of ripening.
What kind of fruit could it be? As he crouched down to examine them closely, he wondered.
Protected by the golden-spotted beast, these fruits likely weren’t ordinary.
He sniffed the air; the fragrance was faint.
It seemed he did not recall any spirit medicine matching this description.
Could it be a local specialty? Ding Huan knew well how vast the knowledge contained in that scroll was, and no recollection of this spirit medicine indicated it must be common.
Wait a minute…
Suddenly, he recalled the book “The Path of Pills” written by Lou Buzhi, which illustrated a spirit medicine.
What was it called again? Right, the Spirit-Connecting Fruit.
The appearance seemed similar – five unripe green fruits on a single tree, shaped nearly alike.
He had only skimmed through it, but the Spirit-Connecting Fruit was said to be food for beasts that could awaken their intelligence and grant them the ability to speak…
Just as Ding Huan thought of this, an array of information regarding the Spirit-Connecting Fruit filled his mind.
This very tree was the Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit.
The Spirit-Connecting Fruit came in four varieties: Spirit-Connecting Purple Face Fruit, Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit, Spirit-Connecting Red Face Fruit, and Spirit-Connecting White Face Fruit.
Only the Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit was green before it ripened.
This was a precious fruit that could awaken beasts' intelligence and allow them to speak!
Upon realizing this, Ding Huan felt a rush of excitement.
Such a fruit in the realm of cultivation would be worth its weight in gold.
He also learned another trait about the Spirit-Connecting Fruit: if it was not collected within three breaths after ripening, its fragrance would spread immediately, drawing in beasts from all around the valley.
At that moment, Ding Huan understood he had to act carefully.
He took out a large jade box and prepared to wait for the fruit to ripen.
Not long after, about half an hour later, he watched as the fruits changed to a bright blue.
The moment the five fruits turned blue, Ding Huan acted swiftly, scooping them into the jade box.
He sealed the box and tossed it into his Star House, all within the span of three breaths.
Afterward, Ding Huan uprooted the now-wilted Spirit-Connecting Fruit tree and tossed it into the Star House as well.
He couldn’t let anyone discover he had obtained a Spirit-Connecting Fruit.
After ensuring everything was clean and no clues remained, Ding Huan finally felt at ease.
Yet, he continued to scan the area with his spiritual sense.
Many things could fall apart due to small details; Ding Huan understood this better than anyone.
Just when he believed he had done a perfect job, his spiritual sense detected another herb.
This one he recognized as Star Condensing Bamboo.
He had seen it in the spirit medicine book he bought from the Four Directions Star Land.
However, the description in the book was quite brief, and he did not know its specific uses.
But Ding Huan surmised that for it to be included in a spirit medicine book by the powerful cultivators of the Three Heavy Heavens' Star Land, it must be something extraordinary.
With that thought, he dug it up as well.
Unlike the Spirit-Connecting Blue Face Fruit, Ding Huan didn’t stash the Star Condensing Bamboo into the Star House but placed it carefully into his bag.
In case Elder Gu and Elder Qiong discovered he had hunted a golden-spotted beast, they might suspect he had obtained some spirit medicine.
Thanks to his spiritual sense, Ding Huan dodged several beasts on his return journey, making it back to the camp safely and without incident.
Ding Huan had been away for too long, and the two disciples of the Yan Yue Sect thought he had perished.
Little did they know how resilient his life was as he made his way back to the camp.
Feigning ignorance, Ding Huan greeted the two guarding disciples warmly before starting a fire to prepare a dish of braised golden-spotted beast.
One couldn’t deny how fragrant the meat of the golden-spotted beast was; in no time, the aroma wafted throughout the entire camp.
As Ding Huan finished cooking, even Elder Gu and Elder Qiong were drawn over by the delicious scent.
“Miss Guan, dinner is ready!” Ding Huan called out.
Even without his invitation, Guan Sha could hardly wait.
She had never smelled meat so tantalizing before.
As a piece of meat entered her mouth, it melted into a uniquely sweet flavor that nearly made her swallow her own tongue.
Being a foodie, she had indeed never tasted meat before.
“Haha, this chef of Miss Guan is extraordinary! The dishes are simply too fragrant!” Elder Gu and Elder Qiong remarked in unison.
Guan Sha quickly stood up and said, “This meat is indeed excellent; if you don’t mind, Elder Gu and Elder Qiong, please have a taste."
“Just as I intended.” Even Elder Gu, usually quiet, couldn’t help himself from speaking.
When they saw Ding Huan dining alongside Miss Guan, they were a bit surprised.
They had never encountered a chef acting so independently; typically, chefs were akin to household servants, Mealtime was first served to the hosts, and only afterwards did the cooks eat.
This wasn’t their concern, and Elder Gu and Elder Qiong were merely surprised.
Qing Yu had already fetched the utensils and handed them to Elder Gu and Elder Qiong.
They wasted no time dishing out bowls from the large basin.
“This is meat?” Elder Gu was no ordinary person; just a single bite left him astonished.
For commoners, obtaining beast meat was akin to a dream.
Not to mention an elder like him, he had only tasted it once or twice.
Elder Qiong, too, realized it was meat, and both of them gazed at Ding Huan with astonishment.
This mere mortal chef actually hunted a golden-spotted beast?
“Is this meat you hunted?” Elder Gu inquired.
His spiritual sense lingered around Ding Huan, revealing that this chef was no ordinary individual.
The earlier reaction when entering the valley had already indicated as much, and now, he felt Ding Huan was far from a typical cook.
Ding Huan promptly set down his bowl, stood, and clasped his fist in respect, “Yes, it was indeed hunted by me. I managed a successful sneak attack.”
“Impressive, especially since the area is thick with poisonous mist; how did you manage to sneak up on it?” Elder Gu asked calmly.
Ding Huan chuckled, “I’ve had some immunity to various toxins since I was young. After my ambush, I merely felt dizzy for a while. I then took an antidote pill and rested a bit before returning to normal.”
He certainly wouldn’t mention the part where the golden-spotted beast had sprayed him with its red mist.
Elder Qiong nodded, “Your luck is indeed remarkable; if that beast had sprayed you with poisonous mist, even your immunity would not have saved you.”
Elder Gu also smiled, then asked, “Did you discover any spirit medicines or minerals near the golden-spotted beast?”
Ding Huan’s heart skipped a beat; thankfully, he had found the Star Condensing Bamboo, or he would have raised suspicion.
“I did indeed find a medicinal herb I wasn’t too familiar with and brought it back,” Ding Huan replied with a smile.
“Quick, show us,” Elder Gu urged, momentarily forgetting about the meat.
Ding Huan retrieved the casually wrapped Star Condensing Bamboo from his bag and handed it over to Elder Gu.
“Star Condensing Bamboo!” Elder Gu exclaimed, then sighed, “Your luck is simply… astonishing.”
“It really is Star Condensing Bamboo, an excellent item; it’s the best level three spiritual herb, without rival,” Elder Qiong added with a grin.
Hearing this made Ding Huan more certain that what he considered level one spiritual herbs and runes were a totally different matter here.
“Friend Ding, this Star Condensing Bamboo is of great use to our sect. Would you be willing to part with it?” Elder Qiong asked, gazing eagerly at Ding Huan.
Ding Huan inwardly sneered; the sect may find it useful, but what about his own benefit?
Still, uncertain of Elder Qiong’s character, he decided it was best to be cautious.
If he refused, what if Elder Qiong decided to put a knife in his back later?
Thinking this, Ding Huan waved his hand nonchalantly, “What’s the point in selling it? If Elder Qiong likes it, just take it. You can give me some compensation later.”
He sighed inwardly, thinking how realistic people could be.
Previously, Elder Qiong had never even glanced at him; he probably viewed him merely as a cook, and now he was calling him “Friend Ding.”
“Then I thank you, Friend Ding! Rest assured, when we return to the sect, there will be rewards,” Elder Qiong said, carefully storing the Star Condensing Bamboo.
“May I ask, Elder Qiong, what kind of rewards can I expect upon returning to the sect? Is there a chance I could join the Yan Yue Sect?”
Knowing full well the other party was just buttering him up, Ding Huan asked nonetheless.
This was his possession; giving it to Elder Qiong for no reason felt frustrating.
Did he not realize that the words he had just said were merely polite expressions?
“You offer me a Star Condensing Bamboo, and you want me to join your sect? If I can’t become an outer disciple, could I at least be a servant disciple?”
Elder Qiong chuckled awkwardly, “Well, that’s not really possible. The sect has strict recruitment criteria, and neither Elder Gu nor I can make the final call…”
“Oh...” Ding Huan replied curtly, pondering silently why Elder Qiong was collecting things but could not give him a straight answer.
(End of Chapter)