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

I highly recommend "The Path to Immortality: Starting with Analyzing Basic Visualization Techniques"! Get straight to the exciting parts.

The big grass rat made a series of noises and gestures.

Zhu Yu quickly understood its meaning, and his eyes lit up with surprise.

The fruits of the "Fine-leaved Swordwood" are ripe!

"Very good…"

Without hesitation, Zhu Yu flapped its wings and took flight. Before leaving, as if remembering something, it spoke to the tail of the fire, which was preparing to select materials for firing the vessel:

"Firetail, when Baldy arrives, have him tell Blackie, Whitey, and White Fur to have a welcome feast for Flower Diamond tonight..."

He paused, then added:

"Let's call Black Soil too..."

Firetail didn't know what a welcoming feast was, but it knew what a "banquet" was, and patted its chest with great joy, saying:

"Giant Peak, wrapped around Fire Tail..."

Zhu Yu nodded slightly, flapped its wings and took flight like an arrow released from a bow, soaring straight into the sky. After flying for a short while, a mountain range bursting with various beautiful flowers appeared in its sight. At first glance, it looked like a fairy's flower basket had fallen to earth.

That is the "Hundred Flowers Peak" where hundreds of thousand-year-old spiritual flowers grow.

After a quick glance, Zhu Yu spread his wings and landed on the back of Hundred Flowers Peak. Before he even landed, he sensed the unusual movement of spiritual energy in the air, as well as a metallic aura full of vitality.

As his body slowly descended.

A tall tree, three zhang high, with a body that looks like a carved topaz and leaves that are thin and sharp, like a sword, called "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" came into view.

at this time.

Two fist-sized, adorable bumblebees were hovering around the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir," seemingly wanting to approach but hesitant to do so.

As soon as Zhu Yu appeared, the two little ones immediately gathered around him, chattering excitedly.

"Kyoho, Yoho, the fruit of this strange tree is ripe..."

"The strange tree is a hedgehog; whenever Xiong Er gets close, his whole body aches terribly..."

"Alright, Jufeng understands. Please keep an eye on things, both of you..."

Zhu Yu took out twenty Life Stones, and a bumblebee gave him ten. Amidst the bumblebee's cheers, he laughed and said:

"We'll go back with Jufeng later, there'll be something delicious..."

"Wow, delicious? What's delicious?... "

"Hey Jufeng, Jufeng, can Xiong Da send the Life Stone to 'Taro'?..."

Xiong Er is focused on delicious food, while Xiong Da wants to send the life stones he earned from Zhu Yu this year to "Taro," which is the bumblebee that sells "Bear Honey" in the "Red Fire Ant" market.

Zhu Yu paused, then said somewhat uncertainly, "I don't know about Jufeng. We can ask Hualing when we get back. It's a 'Giant Flea Merchant,' and the 'Red Fire Ant' tribe has its own outposts."

After saying that, ignoring Xiong Da's persuasion to also inhabit the Life Stone with Xiong Er, he flapped his wings and flew to the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" to examine it.

The fruits of the "Fine-leaved Sword Cedar" resemble golden pine cones or wind chimes, hanging among the branches and leaves. When a gentle breeze blows, they collide with the branches and leaves, producing a tinkling sound like metal.

"One, two, three..."

Zhu Yu carefully counted the specimens around the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir".

He thinned out the flowers and fruits of the "Fine-leaved Sword Cedar" plant, leaving only the 360 ​​largest and best-growing fruits.

Fearing that the underground iron ore veins might not be enough to support the fruit's ripening, he would come here every ten days to bury ten Life Stones, as well as some iron ore collected from the market.

Hard work pays off.

The 'Fine-leaved Sword Cedar' bears 360 fruits, with a total of 300 fruits eventually maturing.

For a wild spiritual plant, to have so many fruits ripen on its first fruiting day is already extremely good...

If it were outside, there would be no insects to care for it.

If ten of the "Fine-leaved Sword Cedar" buds mature, that's considered a lot...

"Not bad, not bad..."

Zhu Yu was overjoyed. He took off the spider silk bag from his back and began to pick the fruits of the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir". Although the fruits were small, they were quite heavy, with each one weighing a hundred pounds.

The two bears, Big Bear and Little Bear, wanted to help, but the weight of the fruit and the golden energy it contained made them unable to do anything, so they could only watch helplessly.

In no time at all.

Zhu Yu then picked all three hundred fruits, and immediately took out ten life stones, crushed them, and used them to replenish the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir". He then used his divine sense to check the condition of the underground mineral vein.

This sight took him by surprise.

He originally thought that since the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" relied on iron ore veins for survival, this outcome would definitely cause great damage to the veins. However, to his surprise, the tiny iron ore vein underground was not only undamaged, but also twice as large as before.

Moreover, located at the core of the ore vein, it actually produced iron ore containing spiritual energy. Although the energy was very weak, it was still spiritual iron that could be used to refine magical artifacts.

"A 'spirit seed'...how strange..."

While feeling a sense of wonder, Zhu Yu couldn't help but feel even more delighted, "The insect realm is truly a treasure trove..."

The "Fine-leaved Swordwood" takes root in an iron ore vein. Each time it bears fruit, the vein doubles in size. Will the vein double in size every time it bears fruit again? ...

If the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" can alter mineral veins, there's no reason why other spiritual species or divine gifts couldn't do the same...

He even wished Yu Lianxiang more.

If his guess is true, then the ancestral lands of those Zerg tribes and the ten great tribes, whose existence is unknown, must contain unimaginable resources and resources…

But then he realized something was wrong.

If those ancestral lands of major tribes contain abundant mineral resources, why is the "Insect Realm" most famous only for its spiritual energy-based food?

"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out by asking Hanabishi when we get back..."

Zhu Yu shook his head to suppress the distracting thoughts in his mind, carefully carried the fruit of the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" on his back, flapped his wings and flew up, grabbing Xiong Da and Xiong Er who had come closer, and soared into the sky, quickly turning into a black dot and disappearing.

Jufeng Mountain.

Huowei worked very efficiently. When Zhuyu returned to the top of the mountain, he saw various containers placed under the banyan tree.

Some are shaped like jars, with a ceramic-like texture and a sky-blue-white hue; others are shaped like bottles, with a glass-like texture and a rainbow of colors…

Baldhead, Blackie and Whiteie, White Hair, and the hummingbird couple also gathered under the tree, looking at the bottles and jars made by the fire tail and commenting on them.

As Zhu Yu landed, everyone greeted him:

"Jufeng, you're back..."

Firetail extinguished its foxfire, placed a red-hot bottle aside, pointed to the bottles and jars on the ground, and boasted:

"Jufeng, do you think these containers are okay?... "

Zhu Yu released Xiong Da and Xiong Er, nodded, and praised them generously, "Very beautiful! Huowei, your skills are excellent. I'll let Hua Ling choose later." He paused, then smiled and said, "Hua Ling is a famous traveling merchant; she certainly won't let you work for nothing..."

Firetail immediately understood that the container was made for Flower Diamond. Hearing what he said next, it was pleasantly surprised. Its fluffy tail swished back and forth, and it waved its paws repeatedly.

"No need, no need, Fire Tail is for Hanabishi..."

Zhu Yu didn't say much, but looked around at the neighbors and asked in confusion, "Where's Hei Zi?...

The bald man said, "Hei Zi went to find Hei Tu."

Zhu Yu nodded, said that he would hold a feast when it returned, and then flew into the "array space" where the fertilizer was piled up.

Upon entering, one sees Hua Ling drying the divine fruits of the "White Tail Pear" and "Malus spectabilis".

Seeing him return, Hua Ling exclaimed happily, "Ju Feng, you're back! I've already peeled all the flesh from the 'White-tailed Pear' divine fruit. I left a hundred 'Xifu Crabapple' fruits unpeeled. Should we dry the flesh to make candied fruit?..."

"No need, we'll eat it all tonight..."

Zhu Yu casually replied, flapped his wings and landed, taking off the spider silk bag from his back.

"I ate them all..."

Hua Ling's azure eyes widened as she gently reminded him, "Ju Feng, the pulp of the 'Divine Fruit' can be sold for a lot of Life Stones..."

Zhu Yu took a "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" fruit from his spider silk pouch and handed it to Hua Ling, asking, "Hua Ling, how many Life Stones is this wild 'Fine-leaved Sword Fir' fruit worth?"

"Slender-leaved privet?... "

Hua Ling was taken aback, then recalled that Zhu Yu had indeed mentioned having a wild "Fine-leaved Sword Fir". She reached out and took the fruit, examined it for a few moments, and asked with a mixture of surprise and doubt:

"How come it bore fruit so quickly?... "

I remember Zhu Yu saying last time he found the "Fine-leaved Cedar" when it was just a small sapling, and now it's already bearing fruit? ...

According to its understanding, wild shrubs should take at least three years from sprouting to bearing their first fruit, and top-grade species like "Fine-leaved Sword Cedar" should take more than five years.

Zhu Yu was about to ask it about the changes in the iron ore vein when, upon hearing this, it told Hua Ling everything it had discovered.

"Iron ore vein? Getting bigger?... "

He had been waiting for Hua Ling to explain, but to his surprise, it was also completely bewildered. After regaining its senses, it scratched its head, somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"Hua Ling is a relatively new merchant, unlike Lord Ye Lian who has extensive knowledge. Ju Feng, wait a moment, Hua Ling will go and ask Lord Ye Lian..."

With that, he turned to leave.

"etc…"

Zhu Yu quickly called out to it, pointing to the "White-tailed Pear" and "Malus spectabilis" fruits, a gift from heaven, drying on the ground, and said:

"No rush. It would be better to bring some of the divinely bestowed fruits to Lord Ye Lian after they have dried, so we don't have to make another trip."

Hua Ling paused, raised her paw and slapped her forehead. Ku Ku laughed, "Hua Ling is so happy today, her brain is completely numb."

As it spoke, it waved the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" fruit in its hand and asked, "Giant Peak, are you planning to sell the 'Spirit Seed' or the fruit?"

Zhu Yu's mind stirred slightly, and she asked, "Hua Ling, what suggestions do you have?"

Hua Ling pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Hua Ling suggests that Giant Peak only sells the fruit, keeping the 'spirit seeds' for planting, or trading the 'spirit seeds' with other tribes."

It then explained it to Zhu Yu.

In the "Insect Realm," ordinary spirit seeds can be bought at will, but top-tier spirit seeds and some special spirit seeds cannot be bought with life stones alone; they can only be obtained by exchanging spirit seeds of the same grade.

The rarer a spiritual seed is in the outside world, the more precious it is…

Even some tribes possess unique spiritual seeds, which are so rare that even if an insect were to exchange a divinely bestowed spiritual seed for one, it might not be able to obtain it.

And the reason.

Hua Ling also told him.

That is, when wild spirit species multiply to a certain number, they will give birth to "divine gifts"...

As for the exact quantity, it doesn't know.

"A gift from God..."

Zhu Yu's eyes gleamed. At this moment, he vaguely understood why all the major tribes would control the top-tier "spiritual seeds." Ultimately, their purpose was to prevent the top-tier "divine gifts" from flowing out and affecting their tribal status.

After a slight hesitation, he decided not to sell the fruit of the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" for the time being, but to keep it for planting.

If only the "Fine-leaved Sword Fir" could be divinely bestowed...

Zhu Yu doesn't need to sell it to others; its own essence alone can absorb it.

Enhance your understanding of swordsmanship and imbue your magic with a sharp edge.

Definitely top-tier resources for "sword cultivators".

Suppressing his thoughts, Zhu Yu told Hua Ling his idea.

Hua Ling strongly agreed with his decision, saying that since Yu Yun has two divinely bestowed spirit seeds and is not short of life stones for the time being, he should focus on cultivating the "divinely bestowed" spirit seeds in the future.

Once they have their own wild spiritual fruit forest, they can wait for the Mother Goddess's watchful eye and harvest large quantities of wild spiritual food every year, which will be a considerable income.

This is the business model that has allowed large tribes to thrive for so long.

Zhu Yu asked many more questions, and before they knew it, the sky was gradually darkening.

A large, round moon hangs high in the sky.

"Let's go, Baldy and the others are probably getting impatient..."

Zhu Yu paused their conversation, still somewhat reluctant to leave, and put the pulp of the "White Tail Pear" and "Crabapple" into a spider silk bag. After thinking for a moment, she picked up the "Bear Honey" she had bought from "Taro".

Step out of the formation.

The moon spirit's ethereal yet passionate voice echoed through the air.

"Place your bets on big or small, now it's time to put yours in..."

Zhu Yu was taken aback. When he came to his senses, his eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in them. He silently flapped his wings and flew up to the big banyan tree, looking down at it.

Then the moon spirit stood up, its claws gripping a wooden cup that jingled and swayed. On the stone table in front of it were the two characters "Greater and Lesser" of the Spirit Ruins, which were engraved.

At its call, the spirit beasts took out a bone club, a beautiful stone, or a golden straw and placed them on the characters "Big" and "Small".

They kept urging the Moon Fairy to open quickly, to open quickly...

"This guy..."

Seeing that they weren't pressing life stones or spiritual food, Zhu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze to the moon elf who kept shouting "Place your bet!"

"Perhaps... we should send it back to the Moon Insect Clan..."

He didn't want the moon elves to corrupt his kind and simple-minded neighbors.

As if sensing something, the moon spirit suddenly looked up. When she saw Zhu Yu hovering in mid-air, her swaying body stiffened, and a bad premonition suddenly arose in her heart.

"Hehe... Ancestor is just teasing them..."

It gave a dry laugh, casually tossed the wooden bowl aside, and then vanished in a flash.

Zhu Yu was speechless.

Can't a lord-level insect be a little more composed?

No wonder he was deceived and imprisoned for over a century…

Zhu Yu shook his head and said to the onlooking spirit beasts, "Once the giant peak descends, the banquet will begin immediately..."

Amidst their cheers, they flapped their wings and flew into the tree hole.

Not long after.

Zhu Yu returned carrying several spider silk bags, leaped down, swept away the wooden bowl on the stone table, and opened the spider silk bags.

Amidst the expectant gazes of the spirit beasts, they first produced a large handful of giant grapes, followed by the flesh of the divinely bestowed fruits, "White-tailed Pear" and "Xifu Crabapple".

Finally, there was a jar of bear honey.

The moment it appeared.

All the spirit beasts and Black Soil's eyes fell on the divinely bestowed fruit, sensing the divine aura emanating from it, their eyes shining.

Zhu Yu smiled to himself as he observed the reactions of the spirit beasts. Without saying a word, he picked up a piece of the divinely bestowed "Xifu Begonia" fruit and, under the fervent gazes of the spirit beasts, handed it to Huowei, who had been busy for a long time.

"Firetail, you..."

Before he could even say that it tasted better dipped in bear honey, Huowei, as if afraid someone would steal it, shoved it into his mouth and chewed it heartily, ignoring its pervasive sour taste.