Cultivation begins with harvest.

"We've never heard of black bean curd sticks before."

The two Zhao family cultivators looked rather grim. The relationship between the Cang family and their Zhao family was not bad, but even they had never heard of the Black Rotting Bamboo. This was a treasure that could change one's aptitude. Did the Cang family also intend to keep it a secret?

But then, before the stall owner could speak, she said with a strange expression, "Could it be 'rotten root bitter bamboo'? That's it, only it can have such an effect."

The stall owner nodded: "Yes, it seems you are more familiar with this name."

Chen Guang finally understood, and his previous excitement immediately subsided.

Rotten Root Bitter Bamboo is a top-grade first-tier spiritual plant. Consuming its bamboo rice can slightly improve one's aptitude. Although there is a consensus that consuming Rotten Root Bitter Bamboo rice over many years can more effectively and steadily improve aptitude, in reality, among spiritual plants used to improve aptitude, Rotten Root Bitter Bamboo is extremely expensive for the same level of improvement.

Bamboo rice can be considered the fruit or seed of bamboo, and it is usually produced after bamboo flowers.

Ordinary bamboo is basically doomed once it flowers. While spirit bamboo won't die outright, it will be severely weakened. However, you can still use it by removing the leaves and cutting the bamboo stalks, and you can even replant it by harvesting its rhizomes.

Once the rotten-rooted bitter bamboo flowers, its root system will begin to rot, and the entire bamboo will have a putrid aura. It will inevitably die, and even the remaining parts of the bamboo will be completely unusable, and even the essence of the plant cannot be extracted.

A single rotten root bitter bamboo can only provide a small amount of bamboo rice, while spiritual items that can improve one's aptitude with the same effect are significantly cheaper, making rotten root bitter bamboo rather useless.

Black rot bamboo is extremely prone to rotting and dying. It is a typical diseased plant and a mere ornament among spiritual plants. The effort required to care for such a spiritual plant is enormous. Even if its aptitude can be improved, the degree of improvement is so small that unless the black rot bamboo can be saved, the price of obtaining that little bit of bamboo rice is too high.

It could even be said that even Jade Heart Grass is not as delicate as Black Tofu Skin. If you don't care about quality, Jade Heart Grass is not difficult to grow, while Black Tofu Skin will start to rot at the slightest injury.

It cannot be said that it is useless, but at least its defects outweigh its advantages.

Seeing that Chen Guang and the other three looked enlightened, the stall owner explained, "Black rotten bamboo is the ancient name for bitter bamboo with rotten roots. I heard that the Cang family has made some progress in studying bitter bamboo with rotten roots. In reality, they have only found some ancient books that introduce it, without any substantial progress. Although the Cang family has cultivated some black rotten bamboo in Fanglin, they have not mastered it very well. Every now and then, they have a rogue cultivator dig one up to attract capable people to come and solve this problem, so that the black rotten bamboo rice can really be put to use."

Black rotten bamboo is the ancient name for bitter bamboo with rotten roots.

Chen Guang and the others suddenly realized that this relationship was very simple, but if it wasn't revealed, the black bamboo shoots would truly be a magical object that was both far away and right before their eyes.

The Zhao family cultivator nodded in agreement: "That's right. The Cang family deliberately hid the Black Rot Bamboo. Being able to find Black Rot Bamboo in Fanglin means they have some expertise in spiritual plants. It's a desperate measure, like casting a wide net."

Chen Guang's interest waned considerably, and he asked with some confusion, "What kind of wine is Senior Brother Sun drinking? Wine made from the roots of black bamboo is, in a way, about the same price as wine made from black bamboo rice."

"There's such a recipe for wine?" The stall owner was also very curious.

He himself had a deep interest in all kinds of spiritual liquids and wines, which is why he was able to set up such a stall here. He couldn't help but ask Chen Guang a lot of questions.

After looking at the various fruit juices and wines on the other person's stall, Chen Guang, who was preparing to collect some culinary recipes, did not directly refuse the other person. He picked up some of their eloquence, and after some conversation, they introduced themselves and gained some knowledge.

The stall owner prepared to search for the recipe for the spirit wine that Chen Guang had mentioned; even if it was useless, it would still be a form of accumulation.

As for black bean curd sticks, Chen Guang had no intention of deliberately seeking them out.

In fact, sects intentionally collect and improve any spiritual items related to aptitude. However, the Black Rotting Bamboo remains unchanged, which shows how troublesome it is. Chen Guang did not have high hopes, and even if the reward light group provided a solution, he might not dare to use it. At most, he could only raise the Black Rotting Bamboo. There are many cultivators who can raise the Black Rotting Bamboo, but there are almost none who can make it produce bamboo rice stably.

"I could certainly stock up on some black bamboo shoots. They can be grown in black thistle soil. If necessary, I'd be willing to pay a huge price to improve their aptitude even a little bit."

If he could convert Suiyuan into bamboo rice for black fuzhu, Chen Guang would accept it. However, there was no need to do so deliberately at the moment. Once he reached the fifth level of Qi Refining and acquired an additional acre of free spiritual land, he would have the spare time to arrange for black fuzhu.

The next morning, the convoy transporting Lu Lasu set off, but Chen Guang and the others quietly left the main force and headed towards the Cang Clan's Fanglin.

The Cang Clan Forest is a dense forest with neat, square-shaped trees, and the traces of human intervention are very obvious.

"The Cang Clan and the Qingheng Sect have a deep relationship. This Fanglin was formed more than two thousand years ago by a Golden Core cultivator of our sect in order to cultivate a top-grade third-tier spiritual plant. After achieving his goal, he retired and left behind this Fanglin, which became the capital for the rise of the Cang Clan. The Golden Core cultivator alone kept Fanglin in good order. The Cang Clan could not completely control Fanglin, and second-tier spiritual plants were even rarer. Therefore, although some strange monsters and spiritual plants were bred, even they themselves did not understand the full situation within Fanglin."

"While it presents a business opportunity, it also reflects a lack of control over the business."

Wan Longjing transmitted some inside information to Chen Guang. Although Chen Guang already knew it, he was still shocked to hear it again.

This dense forest, capable of nurturing an entire clan yet still not fully under its control, was created over two thousand years ago by a Golden Core cultivator who casually planted a third-tier spiritual plant. Such a method, which makes people yearn for it, is truly remarkable.

Unlike the Zhao family, the Cang family used sentry posts to completely suppress the emergence of large-scale independent cultivators. Their vigilance was also more direct, revealing a clear understanding of their own strength.

If the Cang family were to follow the Zhao family's example, they would surely suffer greatly. Others have Foundation Establishment cultivators in charge, and even if they don't show off, their intimidation is enough to make the rogue cultivators naturally follow the rules. This is something that, apart from the Dongfang family, other rogue cultivator families can hardly match the Zhao family.

"I am Zhao Qiuxian of the Dongdu Zhao Clan, accompanying two eminent disciples of the Qingheng Sect." The Zhao family cultivator urged his blue-hoofed horse forward, revealing his identity.

Immediately, a cultivator from the Cang clan came down from the sentry post to verify their identities, and then personally led the four of them toward the Cang clan's gathering place.