The ancient giant bear hiding in the world of immortal cultivation

Chapter 496 Self-reliant Farming Model

After Qu Shenglian left, Wang Wu was still deep in thought when his little sister Qingluo suddenly seemed to inflate rapidly, leaving him dumbfounded.

"What are you looking at? You go first, I'll go first?"

"What?"

"Stop pretending to be innocent, you old fool. You just want to keep quiet, don't you? My sister has already promised me to be her concubine. I'm asking you, are you going to sleep with me or am I going to show my true colors?"

"Stop! Hold on, I only want to discuss serious matters right now!" Wang Wu was getting a little carried away. What was going on? Did your sister know you were being so brave? Just a moment ago you were acting all innocent and docile, and now you're like a Tyrannosaurus Rex?
"Let's get down to business. Go ahead, I'm listening!"

The milk dragon, which had just been inflated to the point of bursting, immediately shrank back into a spirited little dragon. It somehow found a blade of grass, held it in its mouth, put its hands in its pockets, tilted its messy head to one side, and automatically extended a small tail from behind, sticking it to the ground to serve as a stool.

This image is indescribable.

However, Wang Wu wouldn't argue with her and asked directly, "Can you guarantee that nothing will go wrong?"

The spirited little dragon rolled his eyes and said, "We can guard this ship until we die of old age without causing any trouble, but sir, we can't guarantee anything!"

"Oh, please elaborate."

"What's there to say? With us here, this spirit-catching ship will never sink, will never lack power, will be self-sufficient, and can even help you upgrade and maintain the immortal array. But if you mess around and hold us back, then there's nothing we can do."

Ha! Quite confident.

Wang Wu thought for a moment and then asked again, "Can you help me catch some Siberian Wrens?"

"No! We suggest you use your brain, sir. The hardest part about following the twenty-four solar terms is the lack of a stable and safe foothold. We are responsible for that foothold part, and we also provide remote rescue services. We've done everything, so what use do we have for you, sir!"

"Okay, I get it. So how many people can I command on this spirit-catching ship?"

"There are still twenty more, five of whom are newly arrived Taiyi level one immortals, and fifteen of whom are Earth Immortals. My sister just brought them. But they will not be able to go to the front line within the next thousand years. So, sir, you should not rely on others. You have to rely on yourself."

Why are you so irritable?

"There's nothing I can do. My parents died when I was young, and I was left to wander outside, living under someone else's roof. I had to do hard labor, be a wet nurse, and be a concubine. My heart is full of suffering. I have a bad temper. If you're not happy, then hit me! That lowly maid Shuang Liuyun whips me with her lightning whip every time, and I don't even blink. If you're so capable, then whip me with your whip. If you cry out in pain, I'll call you 'Dad'!"

Wang Wu was speechless, defeated, and had no choice but to change the subject.
"How much spiritual energy do I need to capture each year to collect enough for the spiritual tax?"

"My lord, there are two errors in your statement. First, ordinary spiritual energy of heaven and earth does not need to be captured. The spirit-capturing ship can absorb it on its own. The maximum annual absorption limit is five trillion, of which three trillion five hundred billion is automatically transferred to the Hidden Origin Society. This is the first part of the spiritual tax. The remaining five hundred billion is for the daily consumption of the spirit-capturing ship, and another one trillion is automatically transferred back to Qing Shuang City. This part cannot be changed by anyone."

"Secondly, the real challenge lies in capturing the special spiritual energy, which is also the part that the vile maid Shuang Liuyun has been embezzling over the past fifty years. Special spiritual energy is similar to the cold-weather bird or cold-weather beast that appears during the Great Cold and Lesser Cold solar terms, or similar to the fire spirit or fire beast that appears during the Great Heat and Lesser Heat solar terms!"

"Before Lord Frost Lord was promoted to Second-Rank Elder, the special spirit tax of Frost Domain was about three hundred large-sized Cold-Weather Birds or three hundred large-sized Fire Spirits every year."

"But now the special spirit tax has risen to five hundred per year. From this perspective, it's understandable that that lowly maid Shuang Liuyun would quit."

"Why are there so many?"

Wang Wu was taken aback. "Even a second-rank elder has to pay taxes? Where is the justice?!"

Qinglu rolled her eyes at him. "So, sir, you still don't understand the nature of the Hidden Origin Society. Its essence is a protection organization set up by that half-step Great Luo. You pay enough spirit tax, and I'll give you a title and provide you with protection. Of course, we certainly won't say that to outsiders. Plus, the internal structure and rules of the Hidden Origin Society are very deceptive, don't you understand?"

"Those in the lower and middle ranks of the Hidden Origin Society genuinely believe that the Hidden Origin Society will remain permanently neutral. However, those at higher levels will realize that because you have a large and powerful organization, you need the name of the Hidden Origin Society for protection, so you have to provide more benefits every year."

"Five hundred per year is only the passing standard. The best way is to exceed the quota. For example, this time, if it weren't for the great contribution made by our Lord Frost Lord in repairing the Great Wilderness Sin Prison Tower, how could he have become a second-rank elder of the Hidden Origin Elder Council?"

"So there's nothing surprising about it. In the mortal world, there's a saying that those who master both literary and martial arts can sell their skills to the emperor. It's the same for cultivators."

"I understand, thank you. Please return to your post. I'll call you if I need anything." Wang Wu nodded, chased away the unconventional little dragon, and began to plan. Five hundred large Siberian Wrens a year didn't seem too difficult.

However, there are peak and off-peak seasons in the twenty-four solar terms. The most valuable birds are the Siberian Cold Bird and the Fire Spirit, so you must hunt as many Siberian Cold Birds and Fire Spirits as possible during the four solar terms of Major Cold, Minor Cold, Major Heat, and Minor Heat. Otherwise, when the off-peak season comes, you really won't be able to pay the spirit tax.

These are described in great detail in the travelogues of Lu Tong and his companions.

"Hmm, why aren't you leaving yet?"

As soon as Wang Wu looked up, he saw that the spirited little dragon had returned.

"There's something I'm curious about, and I also want to remind you: why do you seem so unconcerned? Also, how do you plan to deal with the Frost family's counterattack?"

This little dragon is quite energetic.

"I suggest you mind your own business and not meddle in other people's affairs. Or you should be careful that the Shuang family doesn't destroy this spirit-catching ship. That's what you need to worry about." Wang Wu waved his hand, impatiently shooing away the little spirit dragon.

Then, he casually made a gesture in the air, and a golden celestial light shone from the tallest mast at the top of the spirit-catching ship. It fell rapidly, circled around him, and then turned into a small point of light on his wrist.

This is the guardian talisman that comes with the spirit-catching ship; it can also be called a multi-functional, comprehensive logistical support talisman.

Its functions include location teleportation, near-death rescue, double attack power bonus, spiritual energy feeding, remote reconnaissance, real-time advice, etc. Overall, it is roughly like a variant of the Hidden Yuan Bell.

At this moment, under this spot of light, the Vermilion Bird Array Soul quickly aligned with it, and in no time, Wang Wu saw the giant phantom of the Great Wilderness Prison Tower standing faintly on the Spirit Capture Ship.

This illusion is invisible to others.

This is the power projected from the Great Wilderness Prison Tower.

However, the spirit-catching ship needs to be used as a signal relay station, which is the portable Hidden Element Clock.

"The signal is a bit weak and very unstable."

After assessing the situation for a moment, Wang Wu couldn't help but feel helpless. The giant tower illusion was flashing constantly, and it was already impressive if it could remain stable for ten seconds. Even in this state, he dared not entrust his life and fortune to it.

In addition, the Cangming cold air outside is currently at a trough, so the signal interference is still small. Once the Cangming cold air reaches the next peak, the signal will definitely be interrupted.

They really mess up at crucial moments, but are incredibly energetic when everything is fine.

"It's better than nothing, consider it an extra layer of insurance."

Thinking this, Wang Wu leaped out of the spirit-catching boat, followed by the astonished gazes of the twenty-four cricket dragons.

His cheap concubine, Qingluo, shouted, "What are you doing going out now? It's the low point of the Cangming Cold Qi, the fishing moratorium. The Cold-Calling Insects are brewing, and very few Cold-Calling Birds will hatch. We need to keep quiet at this time. What you're doing violates the fishing agreement between the Nine Alliances, Three Societies, and Two Sects!"

But Wang Wu turned a deaf ear. He had memorized Lu Tong and the other three's travelogues by heart. How could he not know that the Cangming Cold Qi had peaks and valleys?

During the trough, the cold air of the vast ocean is relatively stable. This is the stage when the cold-weather insects form in large numbers, just like seedlings. Therefore, violent destruction is not allowed, because it will create local variables and then trigger overall variables.

At its peak, the cold air of the Cangming Sea fluctuates violently. This is the period when the Cold-Weather Birds hatch in large numbers, and it is also the harvesting and hunting season. Hundreds or even thousands of spirit-hunting ships would often storm into the sea.

Over time, the rules were formed.

However, Wang Wu was not there to cause destruction; he wanted to catch some cold-weather insects, raise them himself, and use them for farming. Why bother fighting and snatching them?

As long as I stay on the spirit-catching ship, what can you do to me?

At that moment, the instant he jumped out, he activated the level 27 passive stealth and level 3 forgetfulness, and at the same time, the third sequence of small ice spirit pills was activated. It wasn't very strong, but it was better than nothing.

At the same time, within the second sequence, under the overall operation of the Five Elements Cat Array, the Water Spirit Pill, which was already of Grade One, began to silently supply water spiritual energy to the Little Ice Spirit Pill in the third sequence.

It's worth mentioning that the Water Spirit Pill was transformed from the Ice Spirit Pill. Wang Wu upgraded it to the Water Spirit Pill to better match its role in logistical support, as it is more compatible and gentler.

However, the Ice Spirit Pill is too violent and not suitable for logistics.

In short, Wang Wu's current overall strength is abnormal and distorted.

In his own words, he probably had these three characteristics.

Firstly, his individual combat skills are mediocre, because he has very little combat experience. When he does make a move, his weaknesses are so obvious that they are like a sieve falling from the sky. Even though Xu Taiping once tutored him, he can only pretend to be a king among the Earth Immortals.

Secondly, its overall framework is strong. Both its preemptive and reactive response mechanisms are incredibly powerful. Not to mention its seemingly fourth-order Five Elements Cat Array or its second sequence with its amazing logistical support capabilities, the layout and structure of the three sequences alone are enough to annihilate some Taiyi True Immortals.

Even Feng Muhan couldn't do it.

He may not be able to beat them, but in terms of basic skills, he can definitely claim to be the best!
Thirdly, his cultivation level is low. He is currently stuck at the ninth level of Earth Immortal. Is it because he can't advance? No, it's because his own Dao is not yet stable or perfect, so he dares not advance. The three first-grade Ruyi Spirit Pills in the second sequence could actually be upgraded to the ninth-grade Creation Spirit Pills with a single thought. As for the five spirit pills in the third sequence of acquired beings, he has been delaying them as much as possible.

He didn't want to touch the Earth Heart that Lu Tong had given him, Xiong Wangjie. There was nothing he could do; he was stuck at this level, and haste makes waste.

This is the real reason why he came here to gain experience.

He needs to find a way.

Let real, more challenging tests determine everything.

(End of this chapter)