Chapter 34: Immortal Lobster
"This is actually a Battle Poem!"
Headmaster Ji Mo said, enunciating every word:
"What does it matter if my head falls today?
Founding an Enterprise required a hundred battles.
I shall go to Danlin to rally my old troops,
Ten thousand banners raised to slay Yin Luo."
Just looking at this poem, a magnificent scene brimming with Killing Intent rushed forth. It even referenced the Allusion of Danlin and mentioned the Rakshasa Mountain Master.
Back then, Empress Yuli Mustered her generals at Danlin, preparing her army and leading the demons to fight the Rakshasa Mountain Master.
At that time, she still couldn't move.
She could only offer strategies and plans, easing the Empress Yuli's worries slightly, slaying enemies a hundred miles away without leaving her cave.
But the more she recalled, the more cautious Headmaster Ji Mo became.
More than any other demon, she understood the keg of oil that had been suppressed in the Empress Yuli's heart for over a decade. This poem, "Female Wind," was a spark; if it appeared on her desk in the Bamboo Tower, it would instantly ignite the Empress Yuli's heart, burning fiercely, wildly, and uncontrollably.
Thinking of this, Headmaster Ji Mo warned:
"Remember, you never wrote this poem. I will cover your Tuition Fee for next month."
"Junior obeys the command. I will not proactively reveal this matter."
Although he didn't understand why the Headmaster's expression was so serious, he knew how to be pragmatic.
Since she gave the instruction, he would comply.
Anyway, he didn't have to pay to study.
This round was still a net gain.
Having nothing else to do, Fu Shaoguang left.
Headmaster Ji Mo's heart flickered like the faint green lamp on the desk: Should she hand it over or not?
Finally, she made a decision.
Not hand it over!
The handwriting is too ugly; submitting it would offend the Empress Yuli's eyes!
Fu Shaoguang didn't care what Headmaster Ji Mo was thinking. After returning home, he bathed, paid respects to the moon, added new flowers to his home, and silently recited the names of All the Heavenly Gods and Buddhas from his previous life, ensuring the sense of ritual was maximized.
Afterwards, he infused a thread of Magical Power. The Seal recognized the Insect Demon and melted like snow. He pulled the stopper, tilted the Porcelain Bottle, and poured out a snow-white Medicinal Pill. It was fragrant and rich, yet not cloying to demons.
Even the smell-sensitive Insect Demon didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, there was a refreshing feeling, as if the Moon Festival itself had come alive with fragrance.
He took out the boiled spirit honey, placed the Hundred Fragrance Life Extension Pill into it, and swallowed it down in large gulps after it dissolved.
A warm energy nourished his Insect Body and Soul. Fu Shaoguang felt an unprecedented sense of wonder, feeling as though he had been opened up again, ascending from the inside out.
His head felt heavy and drowsy.
He fell asleep without realizing it.
Moonlight passed through the window, covering him with a silver-glowing brocade quilt—beautiful and dreamy.
Clear dew flowed in the morning, and the dawn light was faint.
In the Ancient Pine Courtyard, a clear yet magnetic yawn sounded. Fu Shaoguang comfortably got up and stretched his six legs. He had only ever felt this level of vitality when Breaking Through a Realm.
Cultivating by Gathering Qi, and consuming morning dew and spirit honey, he silently calculated his own Lifespan.
By the beginning of this summer, he would have been in this world for four full years. Adding the three years he gained last night, he now had a Lifespan of over twelve years, moving him one step further away from dying of old age.
Calming his excited mood, Fu Shaoguang pushed open a Bamboo Slip and began to examine it.
This recorded the Dream Guiding Art and the Cultivation Experiences of the former Dream-Guiding Insect Demon. He had studied and practiced for several days, progressing rapidly from having no reaction at first to having a slight feeling now.
If he continued at this rate, he would achieve results in a few more days.
After studying the Dream Guiding Art for a while, Fu Shaoguang practiced the Water Arrow Technique again.
This technique had been instrumental in the last battle.
If he could increase his Proficiency, using the minimum Magical Power output to unleash water arrows of the same or even greater power, he would not only strengthen his Self-preservation Ability but also advance further in the Precise Control of Magical Power.
When the sun was high in the sky and the sunlight intensified, Fu Shaoguang ended his cultivation and hid in his room to sleep.
The spring day was warm, and the shade of the Ancient Pine Courtyard was cool—perfect for sleeping.
In the evening, he went to the Demon Academy to Study Music. At midnight, he returned home to gather Qi, eat, and sleep.
This was Fu Shaoguang's routine.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Every few days, he would go to the Demon Market.
The consumption of Poisons in the last great battle was quite large, and his stock was low. Coupled with new Inspiration, Fu Shaoguang needed to replenish his Poison inventory and add more types and quantities of Poisons for his own research.
Additionally, he was observing the spring season, experiencing the feeling of spring, sensing the Charm of Spring, listening to the water flow, watching the flowers fall, observing the spring buds, bathing in the spring rain, and feeling the spring wind, searching for the mysteries of sound and seeking the Traces of Time.
Although the Demon Market was good, space was limited.
It wasn't as vast as the entirety of Yu Mountain, where the spirit of spring was continuous.
From the perspective of macro-level accumulation, he still needed to search widely. Only when the time was right could he accumulate broadly and then release intensely, moving from the macro to the micro, from the external to the internal.
On this day, Fu Shaoguang left the Demon Market again.
After collecting some Poisonous Herbs, he found a lush, large tree to rest under and, while he was at it, feel the spirit of spring.
Unexpectedly, after only a moment, he heard a rubbing sound.
Shasha shasha~
Fu Shaoguang heard it and felt his Scales itch, his Bristles tingle, his whole body prickle, and his Mandibles couldn't help but clamp tight.
This feeling was similar to the sounds he heard in his previous life—like palms rubbing a floured dough, fingernails scraping glass, or erasers scrubbing a blackboard—causing disgust, and even a bit of irritability and anger.
Flying into the dappled light and shadows between the leaves, Fu Shaoguang used the Flowing Light Technique, traversing the light and shadow to follow the sound. As he got closer, he smelled a repulsive odor.
It was a Snake!
A Snake was hidden nearby, Shedding Skin on a tree!
As expected, he saw a Small Snake Shedding Skin in the dense shade of a neighboring tree. The snake had started shedding from its head, and half the skin was already peeled off.
The newly grown Scales were brightly colored and the patterns were distinct.
Fu Shaoguang didn't disturb it. Since it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble, he turned and left.
Returning to the Demon Market and consuming spirit honey, he was inexplicably reminded of the shedding snake. Every time a snake sheds, its body size increases slightly. Was the same true for Lifespan?
His thoughts wandered. Fu Shaoguang thought of his past self shedding his shell, of other shedding creatures, and even more so, of the Lobster that is theoretically immortal.
This was also a direction for Extending Lifespan.
Whether he researched it himself or cultivated a similar Secret Technique, anything that could extend his Lifespan was excellent.
Fu Shaoguang quietly made a mental note.
However, the matter of Shedding Shell to Extend Lifespan could not be rushed. It required careful planning and patient refinement.
Several days later, the Demon Academy was Closed for a Break.
Even the music lessons were suspended for a day.
Fu Shaoguang comfortably sprawled on his couch, not wanting to move an inch. But he couldn't starve. The moment he crawled up to boil spirit honey, he missed Takeout from his previous life.
After eating his fill, Fu Shaoguang continued to sprawl.
He decided to give himself a full day off: no gathering Qi, no practicing techniques, no research, no Wellness Routine... Dong dong dong!
A knock sounded at the door.
Fu Shaoguang didn't want to open the door.
Only when the knocking sounded again did he struggle to climb out of bed, fly out of the room with a look of deep resentment, open the courtyard gate, and see a piece of Emerald Green Bamboo Leaf.
Fu Shaoguang:???
What does this mean?
Bamboo Demon, or Bamboo Leaf Demon?
Green light flashed, and the bamboo leaf transformed into a Three-inch Green-Robed Female Demon. Her features were delicate and her demeanor lively.
Seeing the familiar demon who had arrived, Fu Shaoguang blurted out:
"Empress Yuli!!!"
His mind and spirit were completely shaken.
He absolutely did not expect this esteemed figure to pay a visit.
He flapped his wings in greeting and immediately welcomed the demon inside. Fu Shaoguang hurried in and out, even reluctantly presenting a small jar of Spirit Wine.
Empress Yuli reacted indifferently to the other food, but upon seeing the Spirit Wine, her eyes instantly lit up, and the look she gave Fu Shaoguang held a few more traces of appreciation.
Sensing this, Fu Shaoguang understood that he had played this move correctly.
"Great King, if you have any business, just send a word to this subordinate. Why did you need to come in person?"
These words made Empress Yuli feel comfortable again.
Her gaze became kinder, and her expression gentler.
"Ahem, I... This Empress came this time to ask how the subsequent chapters of the chronicles of the great sage are coming along?" Yu Li said matter-of-factly and openly:
"This Empress must sample it in advance. If there are any inappropriate parts, I can point them out in time."
Fu Shaoguang: ⊙▽⊙
Well, well!
She ran all the way here just to Rush an Update.
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