Chapter 175: Plucking the Lingzhi
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The spirit beasts on the cliff fell one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot, each impact sending tremors through the ground below.
Aside from instinctively catching the Panda when he saw it, Si Er didn’t bother catching the others.
He soon realized just how heavy those beasts really were—several of them smashed deep craters into the ground.
When Qing Feng saw that all the beasts on the cliff had fallen, he immediately flew to the front of the Flying Cloud Illuminating Moon Lingzhi.
At this moment, the lingzhi was fully mature. Bathed in moonlight, it emitted a faint, shimmering glow.
Qing Feng extended a claw to pluck it, but a white light barrier suddenly sprang from the lingzhi’s body and bounced his claw away.
“What’s going on?”
Qing Feng was utterly baffled. It was his first time seeing a lingzhi that could produce a protective shield.
The Green-Haired Turtle said lazily, “This is a top-tier spiritual plant. Those whose attributes aren’t compatible with it—human or beast—can’t even touch it. That group of spirit beasts fought for so long for nothing. In the end, they could only return empty-handed.”
“But Cui Cui and Mian Mian can both pluck it. Let Cui Cui try.”
As for Mian Mian, it was already fast asleep beside the turtle.
The Green-Haired Turtle gently nudged Mian Mian with its head, thinking that little cubs really could sleep anywhere.
Qing Feng was half-convinced by the turtle’s explanation. The first part sounded reasonable—but wasn’t the last sentence a joke?
How was a mushroom supposed to pluck a lingzhi?
Even if Cui Cui’s true form was also a lingzhi, it still sounded unreliable!
But Cui Cui didn’t see any problem at all. It leapt down from Qing Feng’s back and landed in front of the Flying Cloud Illuminating Moon Lingzhi.
Qing Feng only saw a flash of green light—and then the lingzhi disappeared.
“Th-this…” Qing Feng was dumbfounded. “Does Cui Cui also have a storage space?”
He knew high-level spirit beasts had personal storage spaces for food. He just hadn’t expected spiritual plants to have them too.
The Green-Haired Turtle replied lazily, “Cui Cui is a top-tier spiritual plant. Isn’t it normal to have a storage space? Many high-level spiritual plants do. Their main function is to store other spiritual plants.”
“But spiritual plants are rarer, so fewer people know about it.”
“I see…”
Qing Feng was now certain—Qing Shui, that old turtle, knew far more than he did.
Well, that was normal. After all, the other party was an old turtle. Qing Feng’s age wasn’t even a fraction of the turtle’s.
Even adding together his own age, Qing Ye’s, and Xu Xu’s, they still wouldn’t amount to a fraction of that old turtle’s age.
Of course it knew more than he did.
That was what he told himself—but Qing Feng still felt a bit sour.
However, once he carried the others down and received a Soul-Nourishing Hami Melon from Si Er as a reward, he immediately felt sweetness spreading through him.
Sweet in his mouth. Sweet in his heart.
Qing Feng rubbed his head against Si Er’s cheek. After Cui Cui returned with Mian Mian and jumped back onto Si Er’s head, Qing Feng ran off to nuzzle Si Xu instead.
What he didn’t notice was that the Green-Haired Turtle had also jumped down from his back. It enlarged itself until even lying down it was taller than Si Er, and then quietly settled beside him, gazing at Mian Mian atop his head.
Si Er was busy showering Cui Cui with praise when he suddenly noticed a giant turtle beside him and turned his head in confusion.
“Senior Qing Shui, do you need something?”
“Nothing.” The Green-Haired Turtle shook its head. “I’m just looking at the little cub.”
The Yu Bei Wolf, sharp-eared as ever, immediately trotted over upon hearing this and lowered its head to show off the little black turtle perched on top.
The Green-Haired Turtle shook its head as soon as it sensed the dark attribute, nearly pushing the wolf’s head away.
But remembering the destructive nature of the dark attribute, it subtly retracted its forelimbs.
Still, looking down at the little black turtle sleeping so soundly, it couldn’t help feeling reluctant. The little turtle was very cute.
Well, everyone had their preferences—and so did turtles! The Green-Haired Turtle raised by Si Xu especially loved baby turtles.
It particularly enjoyed taking care of them. After all, raising baby turtles wasn’t tiring. Just let them lie on its back and sleep. They could even bask in the sunlight together.
The Green-Haired Turtle stole a few more glances at the little black turtle, growing more reluctant by the second. Finally, it cautiously extended a forelimb and gently touched it. When nothing happened to its limb, it gave the little black turtle a few more affectionate strokes.
Guagua leaned over curiously. “Are you afraid of being hurt by the dark attribute?”
The Green-Haired Turtle nodded honestly, not feeling embarrassed at all. It didn’t have much pride to begin with.
Guagua chuckled. “Don’t worry. The Yu Bei Wolf might hurt you, but the Northern Turtle definitely won’t.”
“The Northern Turtle is too small right now. That bit of dark power can’t penetrate your skin—especially since your skin is so thick.”
“I see.” The Green-Haired Turtle nodded, then happily picked up the little black turtle and placed it on its own back.
After that, it looked eagerly at Si Er, hoping he would place the little white turtle on its back as well.
Si Er smiled. “Wait a moment. I’ll take Mian Mian to eat something first.”
That Flying Cloud Illuminating Moon Lingzhi was far too precious. There was no way he would take it outside and split half with the academy. It was safer to consume it himself first.
Yu Beixuan said, “Er’er, eat it here. I’ll guard you.”
Si Xu frowned. “Why don’t I guard him instead? Classmate Yu’s attribute seems to clash with Er’er’s.”
Yu Beixuan nodded. “You guard nearby. I’ll secure the perimeter.”
As he spoke, black vines shot out, binding all the spirit beasts that had fallen from the cliff and tossing them aside. Soon, black mist spread throughout the forest.
The sight of that black mist alone was enough to make one’s heart tremble. No one dared approach it.
Lu Taiping’s two soul pets immediately retreated into their soul space, leaving Lu Taiping alone outside, shivering.
Wu Li’s three Coal Sisters clung tightly to her. Coal Ball and Coal Lump merely looked at the black mist curiously.
But the Misfortune Crow trembled nonstop. “So scary, so scary! That guy feels terrifying! Lili, let’s run! I feel like if we touch that black mist, we’ll be doomed with bad luck!”
Wu Li: “……”
How rare. Even the Misfortune Crow was afraid of bad luck.
She gently smoothed its feathers. “Relax. The black mist is only meant to ward off external enemies. It hasn’t touched us. We’re fine.”
The mist began spreading from about three meters away from them. As long as they didn’t wander around recklessly, nothing would happen.
Seeing this, Si Er couldn’t help praising, “Xuanxuan is amazing!”
Yu Beixuan’s lips curved upward. “It’s nothing—just a small trick to warn off outsiders.”
Si Xu, however, felt that Yu Beixuan was being rather calculating. He had single-handedly sealed off the entire forest.
If that was the case, what was left for him to do?
As long as Lu Taiping and Wu Li didn’t cause trouble, then as the older brother, he practically had no role to play at all.
