Yang Genshuo moved the mouse cursor over the glowing rat, and a character card-like introduction popped up.
[Big Field Rat]
[Spirit Beast]
[Life Span: 5/10]
[Realm: Fetal Breathing First Layer]
[Talent: Gluttony (Mortal Level)]
[Gluttony (Mortal Level): Possesses strong digestive abilities, appetite +50%.]
"It's actually a Spirit Beast!"
This was Yang Genshuo's first time seeing a Spirit Beast. He and Yang Shi knew very little about them, having only heard rumors that Immortals rode Spirit Beasts when they ventured outside.
He knew about the Fetal Breathing First Layer. Shopkeeper Liao Cao of Treasure Pavilion, in his youth, had traveled far and wide, and possessed extensive knowledge. He once talked to Yang Shi about the mysterious Cultivators.
The Fetal Breathing Stage marked the beginning of a Cultivator's journey, similar to a Martial Cultivator's Body Refining Realm, but their cultivation was much easier. They simply needed to absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth, and their realm would steadily rise. Unlike Martial Cultivators, who underwent severe physical trials, once they reached the highest level, they would break through to the Qi Refinement Realm and become a revered Immortal.
Even a Martial Cultivator of the Innate Grandmaster level was merely fit to carry the shoes of a Qi Refinement Immortal.
That was an existence beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary people.
When Liao Cao mentioned this, his face showed reverence. He had once had the opportunity to observe several Qi Refinement Immortals closely at the headquarters of Treasure Pavilion, an experience he found unforgettable.
Yang Genshuo looked again at the Spirit Beast which, although it was large, had been beaten to near death by Hu Zi and was firmly bound by thick ropes, unable to move, its face seeming to say:
I, the poor rat... am on my last breath.
"Hu Zi is at the third level of the Body Refining Realm and he captured it easily. It seems like it's one of the weaker kinds among Spirit Beasts. Should I keep it? Don't they often keep Spirit Beasts in Immortal Cultivation stories to guard the house and protect the property?"
But Yang Genshuo glanced again at the 100-acre estate, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
The pig was put in the feed pool...
Being so large, plus its [Gluttony] talent, who knows how much crop it could devour.
"Forget it, it's too weak to be of any use, just let Yang Shi eat it to get some nourishment. It's still Spirit Beast meat after all."
He personally did not like eating rats.
He was just about to have Yang Shi perform a [Manifestation], but looking at these Big Field Rats, he suddenly remembered something.
"Black Ghosts not working and chasing after Big Field Rats... I've seen several in the estate... People in Qingshi County have never seen such big field rats before, how could they suddenly appear?"
"No, something's unusual here."
He pressed [Manifestation].
"That middle field rat is a lower level Spirit Beast."
"Oh? The kind of Spirit Beast mentioned by Shopkeeper Liao..."
Yang Shi was also surprised.
"Exactly, ask Hu Zi and the Black Ghosts where they caught these field rats, and find their nest."
The golden font faded away.
"Hu Zi, where did you catch these field rats?"
"It was down by the mountain to the north, on uneven ground, dense with grass and trees, which we haven't yet cultivated."
"Good, take more people, bring weapons, and let's go find the nest of these field rats."
"Heh, catching them all? Can we finish eating them?"
"Be careful, these field rats are not ordinary."
"Understood!"
Snap~
Hu Zi rapped the whip against the ground, frightening all the Black Ghosts in the nearby houses to run out.
"Black Ghosts! Grab your hoes and pitchforks, follow me to catch the Big Field Rats! Those who move slowly, get a '10 consecutive draws' with a guaranteed whip to the face."
In a whoosh, the Black Ghosts swiftly sprang into action.
Clearly, Hu Zi had learned many advanced management techniques from Yang Shi.
With over fifty people searching at the mountain base, they indeed found another large field rat.
"Don't grab it, follow it!"
A group of people surrounded the field mouse as it scurried towards its burrow in panic.
In front of everyone, it swiftly darted into the bushes and disappeared.
"Lift all the grass and trees in this area!"
Over fifty people quickly flipped the turf, revealing a dark cave with several field mice squeaking inside.
Hu Zi led a few burly men with dark skin into the cave and captured all the mice inside, tying them up with ropes.
Only then did Yang Shi enter the cave himself.
The entrance was small, but the inside was surprisingly spacious, allowing Yang Shi to move forward even while stooping.
The cave was filled with many large fungi, as big as the field mice.
"Could there be something extraordinary about this place?" Yang Shi touched the ground and murmured to himself.
"This is indeed like a Bulbasaur entering Mickey's Magical House to eat Doritos—too marvelous! I knew there must be something special!"
On Yang Genshuo's screen, the uncovered cave currently radiated a faint glow, as did the plants inside it.
[Spirit Field]
[A naturally endowed field with spiritual power, suitable for cultivation.]
[Spiritual Energy Concentration: 1]
"Things imbued with spiritual power are marked with a glow in the game."
"This spirit field is the reason why those field mice grew abnormally large; they ate the fungi here."
"The field mouse with the [Gluttony] talent became a Spirit Beast because it ate too much and absorbed more spiritual power."
"It just lacks wisdom and combat ability."
Next, Yang Genshuo instructed Yang Shi through Manifestation that this was a Spirit Field and told him to pick the remaining fungi to take back and stew together with that porcupine mouse.
Yang Shi assigned Hu Zi and the others to do this while he climbed the mountain to the Yang Family ancestral grave to discuss matters unknown to Yang Genshuo.
"Elder Ancestor, a few days ago, while I was having tea with Shopkeeper Liao from Treasure Pavilion, he mentioned this Spirit Field..."
Oh?
Yang Genshuo, who was pondering how to use the Spirit Field, didn't expect Yang Shi to have knowledge in this area too.
"That's true; I was sleeping when Yang Shi spent half a year learning things without my involvement."
On the screen, Yang Shi continued speaking.
"He said in Yulong County, there is a historically renowned family specialized in Spiritual Plant Skill—the Ge Family. They excel in planting various spirit seeds in Spirit Fields to produce Spirit Rice, Spirit Fruits, and Spiritual Material. Immortals consume the Spirit Rice and Spirit Fruits, and use the Spiritual Material to forge Magic Treasures."
"Ordinary people who eat the Spirit Rice can strengthen their bodies and extend their life span."
"But this Spirit Plant Skill is said to be learned only by Cultivators..."
"Elder Ancestor, how should we manage this Spirit Field?"
Yang Shi felt worried, possessing a treasury yet unable to use it.
Yang Genshuo, however, had a different opinion.
"Spirit Plant Skill? It's just farming, but using methods to yield more crops."
"If the mushrooms naturally growing in this Spirit Field can have spiritual power, by planting more suitable spirit seeds and carefully tending them, how could they not produce some Spiritual Objects?"
"Planting is better than not planting; let's give it a try first."
In his timeline, a day equaled a year; if nothing sprouted by this time next year, then they could just uproot it and let the mushrooms grow again.
This Spirit Field spanned about an acre; even a little yield would be enough for Yang Shi and him to eat.
[Manifestation]
"Find a way to obtain short-maturity Spirit Rice to plant in the Spirit Field. Also, keep this matter a secret; absolutely no leak should occur!"
The Spirit Field's crop was nourishment for Cultivators; if discovered, it might attract trouble.
Yang Shi also understood the critical nature of this.
"Yes!"
After giving his instructions, Yang Genshuo pressed the fast-forward button, and time in the game rapidly flowed...