The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

"A newly weaned buck-toothed beast cub, buy one and get a free contract spell included, selling cheap..."

Zhu Yu was envious of the spirit beasts that others kept. When he heard that a contract spell was also included for free, he thought that even if he couldn't afford to buy one, it would be good to take a look. So he went over to listen to the voice.

There weren't many people in front of the stall, only four or five.

As Zhu Yu approached, he heard one of them shout, "What buck-toothed beast? Isn't that just a buck-toothed bug that you can see everywhere in the insect nest? Selling it for thirty spirit stones, you might as well just rob it."

The stall owner, a thin, middle-aged man with a small mustache, immediately puffed out his mustache and glared at the words, retorting with displeasure:

"What you're talking about are ordinary buck-toothed worms that coexist with the consciousness frequency of the worm mother. My buck-toothed worms are not ordinary."

"Its source, the insect queen, has been killed. Even if it cannot mutate into an insect queen in the future, it can at least cross a small rank in its own bloodline to become an insect beast... It is even possible that it will awaken to become an insect cultivator."

"Ha...you're saying the source queen was killed just like that?"

The man completely scoffed at the stall owner's explanation, sneering, "Awakened as a Zerg cultivator? Have you, a mere early-stage Qi Refining cultivator, ever seen a Zerg cultivator? This buck-toothed bug was probably picked up from an abandoned nest by the queen, wasn't it?"

"You...I...."

The bearded stall owner froze, stammering, unsure how to explain.

Indeed, as he said, the dozen or so buck-toothed worm larvae in the metal cage were hatched from worm eggs he found in an abandoned worm nest that had been abandoned for many years. He originally wanted to fool a few country bumpkins who had just started practicing their skills, but he didn't expect to meet someone who knew the truth on his first day of setting up his stall.

"Pah! I can't stand you swindlers the most."

Seeing that the stall owner was speechless, the man spat angrily and turned to leave.

Seeing this, the others shook their heads and dispersed.

"Don't let me see you inside the insect hive..."

After everyone had left, the bearded stall owner cursed angrily, sat down dejectedly, and looked at the buck-toothed worms huddled together in the cage, feeling somewhat troubled.

I'd rather throw it away; it cost ten spirit stones to hatch.

Keep it? Even if you raise it to adulthood, an ordinary buck-toothed beast isn't worth many spirit stones. Eat it? Forget about it. It's only about the size of a fist, all shell and no meat.

Just as he was getting worried, a curious voice came from the side.

"Senior brother, how much for your buck-toothed worm?"

The bearded stall owner hurriedly looked up, following the sound, and saw a handsome face dressed in a black robe. Sensing the figure's presence, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in praise:

"Junior brother, you're barely twenty and already preparing for Qi cultivation; your talent is truly extraordinary!"

Having said that, he directly pulled a buck-toothed worm larva from the cage and solemnly introduced it:

"Junior brother, please look. This buck-toothed worm is the offspring of a mother worm comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, possessing a noble bloodline..."

He spoke eloquently, praising the buck-toothed worm cub to the skies, making it seem as if, if it were fed into adult worms, it might become a worm beast comparable to a Foundation Establishment True Person, or even a worm cultivator!

Zhu Yu didn't find it annoying at all, and listened to the stall owner's boasting with great interest. The reason was that although most of what the stall owner said was nonsense, there was also a lot of useful information.

For example, the Zerg monks.

According to the stall owner, insectoids are naturally close to nature, and during the process of larvae transforming into adults, there is a chance that they will attract spiritual energy and become insectoid beasts.

Those with exceptional talent may even awaken a mysterious and wondrous destiny capsule, possessing wisdom close to that of ordinary people. They can nurture ordinary plant seeds into spiritual seeds, making them natural masters of spiritual plants.

The plants and trees that glowed with fireflies throughout the Yinming Cave were, according to him, branches of spiritual trees and flowers cultivated by certain insectoid cultivators. Although they could not condense spiritual fruits, they still had the effect of attracting and gathering spiritual energy.

The man with the mustache rambled on and on, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the boy still listening intently. He couldn't help but sigh, "There aren't many children this innocent anymore."

He stopped speaking abruptly, looking pained, and said:

"Since my junior brother and I have such a good chemistry, this precious bloodline larvae will be yours for twenty-eight spirit stones! I'll also throw in a high-grade first-tier contract spell!"

As if afraid he wouldn't believe him, the stall owner took out a headless jade stone resembling a cicada's tail from his pocket, and handed it forward along with the buck-toothed worm curled up in his hand, solemnly guaranteeing:

"Although it's a bit incomplete, it still contains the method for condensing a divine consciousness imprint, so contracting an insect beast shouldn't be a problem..."

"The Jade Slip of Inheritance".

When Zhu Yu saw the jade, his eyes lit up and information about it came to mind.

Unlike ordinary jade slips with engraved information, inheritance jade slips can only be made by Foundation Establishment cultivators. The cultivation techniques inside have divine charm, making it easier for cultivators to comprehend and learn them.

Zhu Yu reached out and took it. He probed with his divine sense and vaguely heard the chirping of a cicada. A strange message flooded into his mind.

A first-tier superior-grade spell, "Cicada Pact".

Only the name is displayed; the rest of the information is blocked by a thin, misty blue film and cannot be viewed.

"Spiritual energy restriction."

Zhu Yu lowered his head slightly, his gaze fixed on her.

After a few breaths, he felt as if he had broken through an invisible barrier, and instantly, a stream of information flowed into his mind.

[The Cicada Contract, recorded, incomplete, but can be cultivated...]

"It can be included as expected..."

Zhu Yu felt a slight thrill. He glanced at the undamaged spiritual energy barrier, looked up at the stall owner who seemed to be expecting something but pretending not to care. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to take advantage of the situation.

It's not that he's particularly noble.

It's just a few spirit stones, not worth the risk.

However, even though we won't take advantage of others, we still need to negotiate the price.

Zhu Yu handed back the inheritance jade slip and the buck-toothed worm larva, shook his head, and feigned difficulty: "Senior brother, twenty-eight spirit stones are really too many, I..."

The bearded stall owner waved his hand to interrupt, frowning as he asked, "How many spirit stones do you have?"

Zhu Yu reached into his sleeve and grabbed about fifteen or sixteen spirit stones from a hidden pouch. He spread them out and said helplessly, "That's all I have..."

"make a deal!"

As if afraid he might change his mind, the bearded stall owner nodded in agreement without a second thought, raised his hand to gather the spirit stones in front of him, picked them up one by one and examined them with a smile, showing no sign of displeasure whatsoever.

Goodbye.

Zhu Yu wanted to chat with the stall owner about the demon cave and insect nest, but seeing that the stall owner was completely ignoring him, he had no choice but to give up the idea and turn around to join the crowd on the street.

Not long after he left.

A booming voice rang out again, "Newly weaned buck-toothed beast cubs! Buy one and get a free contract spell! Cheap deal..."

.....

Walking on the street.

Zhu Yu examined the buck-toothed worm larva in his hand.

Although it's called an insect, it actually looks more like a turtle. Its shell is light gray, and its six legs and head are retracted into the shell. If you look closely, you can only see two large, bare incisors.

"No wonder it's called the Bucktooth Beast..."

Zhu Yu chuckled and flicked the shell of the buck-toothed worm larva, his gaze fixed on it.