Chapter 23: Spirit Bamboo!

Chapter 23: Spirit Bamboo! "A single wish… fulfilled!" At those words, the Pine Leaf Mouse, which had been yawning in boredom, suddenly opened its eyes wide. It wasn’t interested in mechanized arts or anything fancy, preferring simple Spirit Stones instead. However, upon hearing Elder Yu’s offer, the Pine Leaf Mouse became instantly excited. Asking for a storage pouch surely wouldn’t be an unreasonable wish, right? Whether Lín Jìng felt inclined to study mechanized arts was uncertain, but the Pine Leaf Mouse suddenly felt a strong urge to craft a mechanized beast—if only to secure that wish. Elder Yu’s proposal was a masterstroke. Even Lín Jìng, normally calm and composed, found himself looking up at Elder Yu, seriously contemplating if his offer… could really be true. “Elder, can we really wish for anything within reason?” Lín Jìng asked hesitantly. “Of course.” “Actually, Elder, my Pine Leaf Mouse and I do have a bit of a dilemma, but it’s probably something within your authority to address…” “What’s the issue?” Just as the Pine Leaf Mouse was expecting Lín Jìng to ask for a storage pouch, he communicated with it mentally. Storage pouches are easy to buy, but a wish granted by an Outer Sect elder is a rare opportunity! The Pine Leaf Mouse was stunned. Lín Jìng cupped his fists respectfully. “Elder, since joining the sect, both my Pine Leaf Mouse and I have rather large appetites. We’ve never once had a meal that’s truly filled us up, nor have we ever fully experienced the dining hall. If we succeed in creating a mechanized beast, could we… perhaps eat for free in the Outer Sect dining hall?” Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Pine Leaf Mouse: "!!!" “What??” Elder Yu had thought it was a bigger issue, but he laughed heartily, stroking his beard. “That’s a small matter. Naturally, it’s no problem. There’s always some surplus in the dining hall each day, which would normally go to the spirit and monster beasts kept by the sect. Adding the two of you to the list is hardly an issue.” Elder Yu felt relieved; thankfully, Outer Sect disciples had limited experience, and their requests were modest. “Thank you, Elder! When we return, we’ll focus wholeheartedly on studying mechanized arts!” While the Pine Leaf Mouse still wanted a storage pouch, it couldn’t find any fault with Lín Jìng’s wish. After all… with their golden spiritual rice, their daily intake was easily ten times that of an average disciple. If there were somewhere they could eat high-quality food for free every day, the resources and money they’d save over time could buy several storage pouches. As the Pine Leaf Mouse calculated this, it looked at Elder Yu, feeling satisfied. “Good.” Elder Yu, still unaware of the full implications, continued, “Just don’t push yourselves too hard. The path of mechanized arts is one best pursued out of genuine interest.” “Actually, as a beast cultivator, picking up mechanized skills could be quite advantageous.” “Mechanized beasts are still beasts, and unlike a bonded contract beast that’s like family or a friend, they have no life of their own and can be used for more dangerous tasks—such as testing formations or exploring perilous areas.” “You’ve been in the sect for a while now; do you have any other interests besides beast cultivation?” Elder Yu inquired, hoping to gradually spark Lín Jìng’s curiosity about mechanized arts. “Reporting to Elder…” Lín Jìng replied honestly, “I’m actually interested in alchemy. Recently, I’ve been memorizing the effects of different plants.” “Alchemy…” Elder Yu sighed. Wasn’t alchemy just too conventional? Alchemy, crafting, and the like—how could they compare to the intrigue of mechanized arts? “Alchemy… isn’t easy,” he added. “The process is tedious. Before even learning alchemical techniques, you have to memorize the properties of tens of thousands of plants.” “Indeed, remembering all that has taken me quite a while.” Lín Jìng sighed, recalling his previous life’s grind of exams and the countless hours spent studying. Elder Yu: ? “You’ve memorized the Complete Herb Compendium from the Outer Sect already?” Elder Yu asked, almost certain he’d misheard. Lín Jìng had only joined the sect recently, and the sheer volume and complexity of the information were normally tackled gradually by cultivators in the important stage. The jade slips couldn’t simply transfer the knowledge; that would overload a person’s mind. “Yep.” Lín Jìng nodded. He had indeed noticed an improvement in his memory after crossing into this world, especially since starting cultivation. Combined with the mental fatigue relief of his Spirit Nourishing Technique, memorizing texts wasn’t too challenging. “What’s the effect of Ye Linglong?” Elder Yu quizzed. “It harmonizes Qi and relieves pain. It’s one of the core ingredients in pills for treating ailments caused by disrupted true Qi.” “And Seven-Star Chrysanthemum?” “It warms the Yang and dispels cold. It’s used in…” “And what about Spirit Bamboo Sap?” Elder Yu pointed to the pile of Spirit Bamboo. “It soothes the mind and revitalizes the spirit. It’s a secondary ingredient in the Pure Spirit Pill.” Elder Yu was speechless. Initially, he had intended to dissuade Lín Jìng from pursuing alchemy, but now he had no words. Alright, it seemed this clever Longevity Body could probably handle mechanized arts as well. If he could learn, he might as well learn it all! … After giving the remaining Spirit Bamboo to Lín Jìng, Elder Yu left them to their own devices. His own mess, his own responsibility. Lín Jìng and the Pine Leaf Mouse spent a lot of effort hauling all the Spirit Bamboo back to their courtyard. They could have hired a disciple with an Ox Beast contract to help transport it, but upon considering the cost, they decided against it. Before long, the Spirit Bamboo was transferred from the Mechanized Workshop to Lín Jìng’s courtyard. Gazing at the pile of Spirit Bamboo, Lín Jìng rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Now, to earn unlimited dining hall privileges, he’d really have to put effort into mastering mechanized arts. “Come to think of it…” Lín Jìng looked at the Spirit Bamboo and suddenly remembered something. “When we were in the bamboo grove, I thought of having you use your Glazed Immortal Eyes on some Spirit Bamboo, but gathering it all had worn you out.” “Now that we have the chance, would you like to try? It’s still technically flora.” “Squeak?” The Pine Leaf Mouse jumped off Lín Jìng’s shoulder and stared at him, Not using it for mechanized arts? “It’s just Spirit Bamboo; we can always buy more.” Lín Jìng shrugged, unconcerned. This resource wasn’t particularly rare. The Pine Leaf Mouse circled around, thinking it over, and then directed its Glazed Immortal Eyes at the pile of Spirit Bamboo to test its effects… Suddenly! A jade-colored light burst from its eyes. The divine power of the Glazed Immortal Eyes enveloped ten pieces of emerald-green Spirit Bamboo. It seemed to be working! In the next instant, under the radiant green glow, the ten stalks of Spirit Bamboo slowly… merged into a single small, blue Spirit Bamboo stalk! “Squeak…” The Pine Leaf Mouse clutched its eyes, squeaking in pain. The process had drained much more of its eye power than synthesizing Spirit Rice or Spiritual Beans, and it felt as though its eyes had been strained beyond their limits. Despite the discomfort, the Pine Leaf Mouse urged Lín Jìng to quickly examine the effects of the blue Spirit Bamboo. Following its suggestion, Lín Jìng cautiously picked up the blue Spirit Bamboo. Remembering his last encounter with the Black Bear Monster, he handled it with care, avoiding too much force. "Hm?" As soon as he lifted it, a bead of crystalline sap dripped from one end of the Spirit Bamboo. This brought to mind Elder Yu’s question earlier about Spirit Bamboo Sap. “Spirit Bamboo Sap? Normally, Spirit Bamboo requires years of exposure to natural rain, sun, and lunar energy, as well as wind, rain, and lightning, before it produces sap while it’s still growing. These harvested stalks wouldn’t typically produce Spirit Bamboo Sap anymore… Could it be that the effect of blue Spirit Bamboo is that it naturally generates Spirit Bamboo Sap?” Lín Jìng’s mind raced with analysis, but as he pondered, the pressure inside the Spirit Bamboo kept building. Suddenly, with a loud “boom,” a high-pressure jet of liquid burst from the bamboo, blasting a hole in the wall. This wasn’t Spirit Bamboo Sap—it was a pressurized water cannon! The force from the blast launched Lín Jìng into the air, sending him crashing into the building as his body and hands trembled.