Chapter 33: Yet Another Life Extension Method
The satchel was ordinary in style but colorful, embroidered with a Pheasant that resembled a Phoenix.
Using his six legs to untie the satchel's knot, Fu Shaoguang extended a thread of Spiritual Sense inside and patiently examined the contents.
Fifty taels of silver, ten taels of gold, and several pieces of jewelry.
Three sixty-year-old herbs, and one Spirit Medicine!
Plus some ancient books and a few Bamboo Slips.
Most importantly, the satchel contained a three-square-foot space, which had a greater capacity than an identity Bamboo Slip.
As well as Spirit Millet seeds preserved in a Jade Box.
This Time, he was truly rich!!!
As the saying goes, killing demons and spreading poison... ahem, no, punishing evil and eliminating wickedness is bound to bring good fortune.
It truly did not deceive me!
Fu Shaoguang flapped his wings and circled the ancient pine tree three Times, overjoyed.
The cultivated bamboo formed a forest, and the swaying shadows covered the window lattice, waking up Empress Yuli, who was sleeping spread-eagled.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her bright eyes. She sat up halfway, yawned, stretched, and ripples appeared with her breath. Raising her left hand slightly to shield her forehead, Yu Li squinted up at the sunlight.
Her expression was contented and lazy.
As she stood up and walked, her green silk robe fluttered, and the scenery of her two peaks was veiled in mist, offering a hazy beauty.
“Little Pearls, Time to move.”
After speaking, she lightly hooked her finger.
The crystal dew scattered among the emerald bamboo leaves was drawn, floating up and continuously gathering along the way, rushing toward her like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
Yu Li plunged her head into the water sphere, made two gurgling sounds, washed her face, raised her hand to flick that water sphere away, and then switched to another water sphere and inhaled a mouthful.
Gurgle~!
After rinsing her mouth and swallowing a mouthful of morning dew, her elegant face was filled with disgust.
“Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Bland and tasteless!”
The moment she turned, her gaze caught five wine jars scattered on the ground. Seeing that one of them emitted a fragrant aroma and clearly contained wine, her bright eyes lit up.
She raised her hand and beckoned again: “Wine, come!”
The wine jar whooshed over. With her fair hand raised high, the clear, cool wine flowed out and then into her mouth.
Gulping sounds and splashing sounds intertwined.
Grasping the wine jar again, she haphazardly wiped the wine stains from her mouth with her sleeve and hummed lightly:
“Satisfying!”
Walking barefoot to the doorway, she leaned against the door frame, one leg resting horizontally on the threshold and the other bent, supporting her on the ground.
Looking at the secluded emerald bamboo forest outside the door and taking a sip of wine, she felt this was the true meaning of life.
Her drinking motion suddenly paused. Memories of her drunken state last night rushed back, reminding her of the foolish things she had done. Yu Li pressed her left hand to her forehead and said irritably:
“Oh no, my image might be ruined. I hope that Little Bug is smart enough not to talk too much in front of Little Plum Blossom.”
While Ji Mo is in secluded cultivation.
Only then can I be this reckless.
If she finds out, my ears will surely suffer.
What Great King lives a life like mine?
“I'm too... kind-hearted.”
Remembering the events of last night, Yu Li's expression shifted. She lightly touched her chin and said, “I want to see just how well those chronicles of the great sage are written, that they managed to stir up trouble.”
Ankang Alley, Ancient Pine Courtyard.
After storing his spoils of war, Fu Shaoguang intended to rest but found he couldn't calm down at all.
After some thought, he flew out of his home, first visiting Anle Alley to check the construction progress of the Immortal Cave, and then heading to Anping Alley to find Gongyang Yang, where he happened to witness the scene of the goat butting the pig.
One went “Maa maa maa,” and the other went “Oink oink oink.”
One had fire in its eyes, and the other stubbornly refused to change.
Fu Shaoguang was amused.
Pig Dad and Pig Mom hoped their daughter would become a Phoenix.
Even though their child had passed the Winter Seasonal Review and the Annual Review, they still hired Gongyang Yang to tutor Zhu Yun, afraid she might revert to her old ways and leave all others in the dust on the path of being a study failure.
After catching up with the two demons.
Fu Shaoguang returned home.
As for treating them since he struck it rich, that wasn't happening.
It wasn't that he was stingy; it was just that close friends didn't need formalities. When the bond was deep, they'd be happy drinking the wind.
When the bond was shallow, even eating feces was exhausting.
By the Time he arrived home, his mood had calmed. He continued resting, sleeping soundly to make up for the exhaustion of the previous night.
He spent his nights reading, practicing the zither, studying techniques, and gathering Qi. During the day, he slept and read books, occasionally visiting Anle Alley to check on the construction schedule and chat with the Termite Demon and the Beaver Demon.
The Beaver Demon was just a side note.
The Termite Demon was the main focus.
The night before last, when he went to buy spirit honey, he encountered a Slug Demon selling Corn Fungus.
Corn Fungus is also known as Morel Mushroom.
This item is highly nutritious and considered a great health supplement; even insects can eat it. However, the yield is low and the growth period is short, making the price less appealing—ten copper coins per tael.
Fu Shaoguang originally intended to buy one tael to take back and research. If he made progress, great; if not, he could invite Zhu Yun over for soup and a small gathering of friends.
But when paying, he changed his mind and painfully bought three taels, along with some berries.
It cost a total of forty-five copper coins!!!
Two taels of Morel Mushroom were given to the Termite Demon.
The berries were given to the Beaver Demon.
With gifts serving as a bridge, and because other demons saw Fu Shaoguang as having Headmaster Ji Mo backing him, their relationship naturally grew closer over Time.
Fu Shaoguang certainly didn't do this out of a sudden burst of kindness; rather, the Morel Mushroom reminded him of another item:
wu ling shen, also known as Black-stemmed Charcoal Fungus.
This item is precious and rare. Its taste is similar to Termite Mushroom but even more delicious, possessing the effects of Calming the Mind and Soothing the Nerves, Slowing Aging, and Prolonging Life.
It only grows in Ant Nests.
Moreover, even within an Ant Nest, nine out of ten digs yield nothing.
Although this item usually appears in abandoned Termite Nests, its emergence is uncertain, and finding it generally requires some luck—but this is only when compared to ordinary termites.
The Termite Demon has already gained sentience and intelligence, and has worked hard in the Demon Market for many years. It should realize the preciousness of wu ling shen. The chance of its Demon Nest containing this item is extremely high, and it might even have transformed into a spirit object.
Befriending the Termite Demon was his way of gaining a chance to share some wu ling shen. What if it could extend his life?
Even if not.
Relying on the Termite Demon might allow him to find relevant information.
If that doesn't work.
He'll just consider them friends.
It would only be a waste of some money and effort.
As the only Mayfly Demon in the Demon Market, Fu Shaoguang possessed this breadth of vision and courage.
And he definitely wouldn't feel heartache, absolutely!!!
(;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
From morning sun to evening clouds, Time flowed slowly like water.
That evening, after finishing his coursework, Fu Shaoguang did not immediately leave the Demon Academy. As promised, he came to the Headmaster's study.
“Greetings, Headmaster.”
Dressed in a black and white silk dress, Headmaster Ji Mo was still poised, relaxed, dignified, and elegant.
Setting down her brush, she looked up at Fu Shaoguang and placed a porcelain bottle, sealed with a Seal, on the table.
“The Hundred Flowers Life-Extending Pill is inside.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Headmaster. Many thanks.”
Fu Shaoguang was excited. He flapped his wings in salute, flew onto the desk, and put away the porcelain bottle.
His movements were swift yet cautious.
This was his life, after all.
Headmaster Ji Mo watched him, finding it inexplicable.
She was a spirit formed from a Dark Plum Tree; born with a long lifespan, it was difficult for her to emotionally empathize with Short-Lived Species.
Being educated and reasonable is one thing, but empathy is another.
“Tomorrow the deadline is up again, and it's Time to pay the Tuition. Will you pay with money, or offer a poem?”
Headmaster Ji Mo asked.
Fu Shaoguang: “The usual.”
“In that case, there's no Time like the present. Finish writing it tonight, and save yourself a trip tomorrow evening.”
Fu Shaoguang: “Junior was thinking the same thing.”
Headmaster Ji Mo nodded lightly and yielded the spot.
Flapping his wings, he flew to the desk. Holding the calligraphy brush—which was taller than himself—with his six legs, Fu Shaoguang re-inked it and began writing his poem on the freshly spread white paper, his brushstrokes looking like squirming maggots.
Looking at the crooked handwriting, an invisible tic-tac-toe pattern appeared on Headmaster Ji Mo's forehead, and she shook her head helplessly.
Every measure has its limitations.
Some insects are just like this.
Seemingly talented, indeed talented, but when it comes to calligraphy, they are stupider than humans.
Since it couldn't be changed, she decided that out of sight was out of mind.
Headmaster Ji Mo averted her gaze. When Fu Shaoguang announced, “Done,” she looked back. She scanned the poem ten lines at a glance, and her eyes widened in shock and surprise.
“This poem...”
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