Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 206: Chapter 204: Mountain Meat

Time slipped away quickly, and two years passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, a letter arrived at the sword casting shop. It was a letter from Junior Sister Han Bing!

Not long ago, Ning Daoran had written a letter to the Chaotic Sect to report his safety and had given Junior Sister the temporary address where he was staying.

Inside the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

Big Stupid Deer leaned against Ning Daoran, eyes wide as they both looked at the content of the letter.

Junior Sister had a lot to say, having written three full pages. First and foremost, she asked about the well-being of Senior Brother Ning and Senior Brother Lu; next, she recounted the current situation of the Chaotic Sect.

At the end of the letter, Junior Sister mentioned something else: not long after Ning Daoran had left the mountain, the Five Saints Sect, which had dominated Qingzhou for many years, was unexpectedly uprooted.

It was said to be the work of a Human Clan Golden Core Independent Practitioner, who, in a burst of strength, had successively slain five Demon Kings at the Golden Core Stage. Even the White Sheep Demon, who was close to reaching the Nascent Soul level, had been killed!

Furthermore, a few years ago, news had spread from the Shattered Wilderness that cultivators had seen the phenomenon of someone undergoing Core Formation from afar, but they dared not approach too closely and thus did not know who it was.

In any case, these past years had seen many strange occurrences in Qingzhou, and it would not be surprising if soon a couple of Golden Core families, or perhaps Sects, were to rise.

In addition, the fourth-tier Spiritual Veins in Feng Valley had caused a dispute; countless cultivation families had fought bloodily over them, and to this day, the ownership of these veins continued to change hands incessantly.

Junior Sister was somewhat worried about this matter.

Of course, what Han Bing was even more concerned about was how Ning Daoran and White Deer were faring outside. If being a Loose Cultivator was not to his liking, he could always return to the Chaotic Sect. Junior Sister could arrange for him to become the Peak Master of the Main Peak.

“Old Lu, Junior Sister is still thinking about us!” Ning Daoran exclaimed with joy after reading the letter, slapping his thigh happily.

“Ow ow~~~” Beside him, Big Stupid Deer also let out a happy bellow.

Naturally, the two replied to the letter with great pleasure; there was no need to say more.

…

Outside, a fine autumn rain had been falling ceaselessly for over half a month.

“Senior Ning!”

In the front courtyard, a figure hurried in, it was Sang Ping’an.

“Senior, we’ve just received news, there’s been a big incident outside!”

“What’s the big issue that has you so flustered?”

“It’s said that on a mountain peak in Frost Leaf Valley, to the east of Fanshu City, a patch of green mountain flesh has suddenly grown. Some medicinal herb gatherers cut several baskets full and sold them in the city overnight, making a fortune. Now, they have become wealthy homeowners.”

“Green Tai Sui meat?” Ning Daoran’s heart stirred, “Really?”

“Absolutely true!” Sang Ping’an enthused, “It’s said that many Loose Cultivators and Martial Artists from Fanshu City also headed to Frost Leaf Valley first thing this morning. Moreover, even people from Zhenxian Tower have been alerted. It’s said they dispatched several colonels leading a group of constables to the mountain to seize this mountain flesh!”

“There’s no time to waste, how can we miss such excitement!” Ning Daoran immediately rose into the air, saying, “Frost Leaf Valley, right? I’ll head over there right now…”

“Senior…” Sang Ping’an looked helpless, “Aren’t you taking me with you?”

“Having you along would only slow me down; stay safely in the shop.”

In the blink of an eye, Ning Daoran transformed into a tunneling light and was gone.

…

Frost Leaf Valley, where the rain persisted.

The fine rain formed a veil of mist in the air, drastically reducing visibility. With naked eyes alone, it was impossible to see very far.

Amidst the sound of the wind, Ning Daoran, disguised as Independent Practitioner Jianjia, tucked his hands behind his back and shot like lightning through the mountains.

His powerful Divine Sense spread out, enveloping an area of dozens of miles.

Soon, Ning Daoran noticed one of the peaks was brimming with Spiritual Energy. His Divine Sense was like a powerful night vision device, and the peak was like a massive heat source, clearly visible.

“Hmm?”

Surveying the landscape below, he saw the mountain paths filled with countless commoners.

Many carried baskets on their backs and scythes in their hands, their eyes burning with fervor.

Mountain meat, that fabled Blood Food Treasure that cultivators and Martial Artists sought, was seen as a supreme substance by commoners. A piece of mountain flesh the size of a fist, as long as it was of decent quality, could equal the annual expenses of a commoner’s family!

If someone could gather a whole basket of mountain flesh, they’d need say no more; their life would have reached the pinnacle!

Flying overhead, Ning Daoran listened to the whispers of these commoners.

“Mountain meat… real mountain meat, and green at that. This is such great fortune. If I can cut half a basket of mountain flesh to sell, my mother will have money for medicine for her treatment…”

“Frost Leaf Valley… green mountain flesh… I will find that mountain meat! If I can cut even a few slices, just a few, I’ll have enough money to bring Xiao Lian home as a bride…”

“All the mountain flesh will be mine! I’ll become wealthy, and I never want to be looked down upon again!!”

…

Listening to the whispering voices of the mortals, Ning Daoran couldn’t help but let out a slight smile. He raised his head sharply and suddenly increased the output efficiency of his mana, causing a “boom” of green mana to spray out from beneath his feet, once again greatly increasing his tunneling speed!

He had to reach the mountain peak that was sprouting mountain flesh before the villagers arrived, otherwise, if a fight ensued, it could very well lead to innocent casualties.

In the distance, shrouded by mist, a mountain peak appeared faintly visible.

However, on a slant of the mountain peak, a stream of blood-colored qi surged. There, several villagers with baskets on their backs and sickles in hand stood motionless under a tree, as if they were in a trance.

They were murmuring to themselves, seemingly lost in a dream.

Yet, at the moment a pale gleam covered Ning Daoran’s pupils, he instantly saw through it all.

Beneath the feet of the villagers, numerous roots had pierced into their flesh, causing their blood and flesh to be continuously drained, even as they spoke in their sleep.

And the one feeding on the blood and flesh of these people was none other than the white old tree behind them!

From the first day Ning Daoran arrived in this world, he knew it was fraught with evil spirits and demons run amok. This white old tree belonged to the latter category, a tree spirit that had cultivated its own spirituality and had now started to feed on human flesh to nourish its cultivation.

Furthermore, the appearance of this old tree was probably related to the mountain flesh growing on this peak.

After all, if a mountain was capable of growing flesh, it likely meant a “Spiritual Object” had appeared inside it. Without any surprise, this Spiritual Object was a chunk of Green Tai Sui that had developed spirituality.

The flesh of the Tai Sui was capable of endless growth, and no one knew how long this Green Tai Sui residing in the mountain had been growing. The flesh within the mountain could not be contained, so it grew out through the cracks in the rock, attracting villagers to come and cut it for food, thus giving rise to the term “mountain flesh.”

Tai Sui meat, a type of Blood Food that naturally contains Blood Qi Power, is coveted not only by cultivators and martial artists but also by evil spirits and demons that require blood nutrition, as it is a rare treasure for them.

Just like this old tree before him, its true form was that of a Demon Tree. It not only took root deep within the mountain, drawing upon the Blood Essence of the Green Tai Sui through its vast and developed root system, but also recklessly slaughtered villagers.

Ning Daoran’s Divine Sense swept over it, and discerned that the energy level of this Demon Tree was at the Golden Core Early Stage.

“Damn it!”

Ning Daoran frowned. Although he never claimed to be a champion of righteousness, he would slay every harmful demon he encountered!

He might not go out of his way to subdue demons and vanquish evil spirits, but since he had come across this one, sorry but they would all have to die!

“Hum!”

He pulled a hefty Azure Dragon Spear out of his Storage Bag, and in the next moment, a sweep of the spear’s radiance passed by!

“Swish—”

The Spear Radiance flew by, instantly severing all the roots that had entered the villagers’ bodies!

At the same time, a stream of Evergreen Technique Power was sent out, carrying the bodies of the villagers a hundred meters away. A bunch of clucks, they’re only fit to watch the show from afar!

“Fellow Daoist, why bother?”

At that moment, Ning Daoran heard the voice of an elderly man in his ears, “I have cultivated for thousands of years, and have only harmed a few lives. Fellow Daoist, with such actions, do you truly have the confidence to kill me?”

“Why are you wasting your breath?”

Ning Daoran descended from the sky, the Azure Dragon Spear wrapped in immense strength plummeted down!

Secret Skill: Silver Dragon Water Extraction!

Instantly, a radiance tens of feet in length burst from the tip of the spear, fiercely cleaving onto the crown of the aged white tree. Leaves fell like rain and branches snapped, and from the areas that broke, streams of fresh blood spurted out eerily.

“Fellow Daoist, must you do this?”

The voice of the white tree grew increasingly angered, “Since Fellow Daoist won’t show any mercy, I shall not either!”

In an instant, numerous sharp roots pierced out from underground heading straight for Ning Daoran in the air.

Furthermore, the leaves of the white tree seemed to come alive, each leaf dancing “seductively,” with movements that faintly suggested shaking hips and swaying bodies!

“Damn…”

Ning Daoran’s heart tightened, thinking that in his past life he was already immune to the seductions of you vixens, let alone now that he had become a successful Golden Core Cultivator—how could he possibly capsize in your gutter?

In fact, the “rustling” dance of the white tree’s leaves was an Illusion Technique meant to confuse the mind. Many cultivators had fallen victim to this technique, including a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who died from it, later becoming nourishment for the tree.

However, Ning Daoran possessed the Unmoving Ming King Divine Technique at the Return to Nature level anchoring his Divine Soul. With his Divine Soul Strength also far surpassing any ordinary Golden Core Early Stage, he had long since become immune to such mind-disrupting Illusion Techniques.

“Break for me!”

The second spear descended from the sky, fiercely slicing into the trunk of the tree, splashing fresh blood eight feet high!

“Fellow Daoist, do you really want to perish together?”

The white tree’s voice grew more urgent, desperately gathering its power. Countless sharp wooden spikes protruded from the ground, aiming for Ning Daoran in the wind.

However, Ning Daoran had “positioning”, using the Wind Riding Leisurely Technique to continuously change his location in the wind, causing the white tree’s attacks to miss altogether.

“Ssst!”

Suddenly, Ning Daoran released a verdant green light.

Bamboo Leaf Blade!

A Top-grade magic treasure bestowed by his master Lin Qing’er!

Amidst the sound of tearing air, the Bamboo Leaf Blade instantly opened a several-meter-long gash on the trunk of the white tree, and the gush of bright red blood was no longer a fountain, but a wild spray!

The Bamboo Leaf Blade was metallic, and although the white tree was a demon, its essence was still that of a tree, which is wood. Thus, metal overcomes wood, and sharp weapons like the Bamboo Leaf Blade inflicted heavy damage on the white tree.

“Fellow Daoist, you truly lack manners. I will fight you to the bitter end!” the white tree let out an extremely angry roar.

Ning Daoran was puzzled, as so far he had only seen the fish die, but he had yet to see any sign of the net breaking, so what talk was there of a do-or-die struggle?