You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 279: A Heart That Can't be Warmed

"Liao Senior Brother, please have a seat," Lu Xuan said with a smirk.

After returning from Bai Li Jianqing's place, Lu Xuan received a transmission talisman from Shen Ye outside the array formation. In the talisman, Shen Ye informed him of the dissatisfaction among the high-level members of the Sword Hall regarding Lu Xuan obtaining the fourth-grade Thousand Illusions Seed. However, since the deed was done, Shen Ye advised him to relax but be more cautious in the near future.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan immediately became tense. Under the pretext of the spiritual fruits and elixirs, he invited the Profound White Phoenix and the White Jade Heavenly Ape, trying to bolster his position.

Unexpectedly, a cultivator came knocking at his door so soon.

Lu Xuan smiled as he looked at Liaoyu Fang, who seemed nervous. He fetched some spiritual fruits and elixirs from inside and placed them in front of Liaoyu Fang.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Lu," Liaoyu Fang said calmly.

"These creatures in the courtyard, are they the spiritual beasts you mentioned?" he asked, probing Lu Xuan.

Having grown up in the sect and being an inner disciple for nearly twenty years, Liaoyu Fang was well-versed in the affairs of the sect, including these two spiritual beasts.

Both beasts were descendants of the sect's guardian beasts, blessed with exceptional bloodline talents. In the eyes of some Core Formation cultivators, they were like treasures, greatly cherished. Some Foundation Establishment cultivators even specialized in their care and management.

Although they were only third-grade spiritual beasts, they were not weaker than Liaoyu Fang himself. Moreover, behind these two beasts stood four guardian beasts of fifth and sixth grade, which surpassed his own uncle, who was nearing Foundation Establishment perfection, in front of the beasts' parents.

Thus, he was eager to know the relationship between Lu Xuan and these two descendants of guardian beasts.

"Profound White Phoenix and White Jade Heavenly Ape are both my friends. They often come to play with me and ask for spiritual fruits. As for the others, they are spiritual beasts I raise in my cave," Lu Xuan replied.

"I see," Liaoyu Fang said, relieved to hear that the phoenix and ape were just tasting Lu Xuan's fruits. He then picked up a fruit resembling a burning flame and put it in his mouth.

"Cough, cough," he choked on the fruit, his gaze fixed on Lu Xuan who was gently stroking the white feathers of the Profound White Phoenix.

"So descendants of fifth and sixth-grade spiritual beasts can be touched?" With such incredulous thoughts, Liaoyu Fang struggled to swallow the fiery fruit.

A scorching sensation exploded in his mouth, followed by warm spiritual energy carrying a fragrant aroma, circulating through his body.

At this moment, he felt warm all over, except for the icy coldness of his heart that couldn't be warmed.

Mechanically tasting the fruit in front of him, he turned his head to see Lu Xuan caressing the crystal-clear fur on the head of the White Jade Heavenly Ape.

The delicate and small ape showed a hint of intimacy in its crimson eyes, chewing on the fruit while leaning closer to Lu Xuan's palm.

Liaoyu Fang's eyeballs almost popped out.

The appearance of this small ape, seemingly obedient and shy, was well known to him.

But he was well aware that its mild and shy appearance could transform into a ferocious beast at any moment!

The reputation of the parents of this White Jade Heavenly Ape was renowned throughout the Sky Sword Sect, having fought formidable cultivators within the sect. Most of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and direct disciples in the sect had some connections with them.

Connections that could turn confrontational.

Witnessing the White Jade Heavenly Ape flaunting its obedience in Lu Xuan's palm, Liaoyu Fang felt an unprecedented chill from the Ice Luo Fruit in his mouth.

The Ice Luo Fruit and the Fire Flame Fruit, their spiritual essences alternating, mirrored his complex and ever-changing emotions.

"Liao Senior Brother, don't just eat the spiritual fruits. Taste the spiritual nectar I've brewed," Lu Xuan invited him.

Liaoyu Fang nodded and took a big sip of the Hundred-Fruit Spiritual Nectar.

The flavors of various spiritual fruits shifted in his mouth, leaving him with a sense of intoxication.

"Lu Junior Brother, I heard you recently obtained a fourth-grade Thousand Illusions Seed?"

"May I know where Senior Brother heard this from?" Lu Xuan asked casually.

"I myself am a disciple of the Sword Hall, having entered ten years earlier than you. I have cultivated several third-grade Sword Grasses by chance, so I've been paying close attention to the remaining fourth-grade Sword Grass seed in the Sword Hall."

As they entered the courtyard, Liaoyu Fang's tone gradually softened.

"So it's a senior brother from the Sword Hall," Lu Xuan seemed to just realize Liaoyu Fang's background and nodded in understanding.

"It's true. Previously, Senior Brother Shen Ye handed me ten second-grade Sword Grass seeds."

"Nine of them were successfully cultivated, while the other one underwent an accidental mutation and became a third-grade Sword Grass."

"After Senior Brother Shen learned of this, he entrusted the Thousand Illusions Seed to me for cultivation."

Lu Xuan spoke slowly, not hiding his talent in the path of cultivating spiritual plants.

This talent posed no threat to other disciples, yet it was greatly beneficial to the sect.

Only by fully demonstrating his talent in cultivating spiritual plants could he qualify for higher-grade spiritual seeds and obtain richer rewards in light orbs.

As for the cultivation gains, treasures, and other rewards brought by the light orbs, he naturally concealed them deeply, not letting anyone know his true strength.

In the eyes of other fellow disciples who were familiar with him, he was just an ordinary spiritual plant cultivator passionate about cultivating spiritual plants and beasts.

From entering the sect until now, he had consistently maintained this persona.

"Refining a third-grade Sword Grass..." Liaoyu Fang murmured upon hearing Lu Xuan's words.

He was naturally rebellious, but he also understood the implications of this statement. He felt the Hundred-Fruit Spiritual Nectar in his mouth becoming more bitter.

"Junior Brother Lu, this spiritual nectar is brewed excellently. I feel a bit intoxicated. I'll take my leave now and visit you another day to learn from you about cultivating Sword Grass," Liaoyu Fang said after taking a few more sips of the spiritual nectar, then set down the jade cup and bid Lu Xuan farewell.

"Sure, Senior Brother Liao, you're always welcome."

Although Lu Xuan was aware that Liaoyu Fang might harbor ill intentions, as he hadn't done anything harmful, and being within the sect, he adhered to the principle of goodwill. He smiled and bid farewell.

He escorted Liaoyu Fang out of the courtyard and returned only after his figure disappeared completely from his sight.

"Today, thanks to the visit of two old friends, let's feast on spiritual fruits and nectar! Come, come, the table is full. Let's eat to our heart's content!" he warmly invited the Profound White Phoenix and the White Jade Heavenly Ape.

This invitation cost him dearly. The stock of Fire Flame Fruits and Ice Luo Fruits decreased significantly in an instant. Even the remaining Jade Scale Fruits were almost entirely consumed. He had also drunk most of the Hundred-Fruit Spiritual Nectar nurtured in the Drunken Immortal Gourd.

But the effect was quite obvious.

Under the watchful eyes of the two descendants of guardian beasts, any potential turmoil dissipated into thin air.

It was like nurturing legs for days, only to use them in a crucial moment.

As he watched the Profound White Phoenix and the White Jade Heavenly Ape joyfully tasting the spiritual fruits and nectar in front of him, a warm feeling flashed in his eyes.