He decided to change the eleven mu of Medium Grade spirit fields to a type of Spiritual Plant that was easy to grow, easy to maintain, and didn't require frequent care. This way, Li Mu would only need to return to Xiao Liang Mountain once every ten days or half a month, allowing him to focus his main energy on the hundred mu of spirit fields in Green Dragon Valley.
After watering the Wind Spirit Grass, Li Mu walked to the half-mu seedling field, observing the hundreds of first and second-Rank Spiritual Plants that were growing well, and selected the Spiritual Plants suitable for planting on Xiao Liang Mountain.
【Ice Spirit Grass (Seedling Stage)】
【Rank: First-Rank Spiritual Plant】
【Characteristics: Ice Spirit Qi, refreshing and invigorating.】
【Status: Lacks Ice Spirit Qi, growth is slow.】
【Ice Spirit Grass, growth requirements: Abundant Ice Spirit Qi, fertile soil with spiritual properties, matures in five years, advances to second-Rank Ice Mist Spiritual Grass in fifty years, advances to Ice Crystal Spiritual Grass in one hundred and fifty years. Five-year-old Ice Spirit Grass is one of the main Materials for refining Linglong Pills.】
【Blood Spirit Mushroom】
【Rank: First-Rank Spiritual Plant】
【Characteristics: Strengthens blood and body, sweet mushroom flesh】
【Status: Lacks blood-coagulating nutrients, growth is extremely slow.】
【Blood Spirit Mushroom, growth requirements: Abundant blood-coagulating nutrients, fertile soil with spiritual properties, matures in three years, advances to Purple Blood Mushroom at fifty years of age. Three-year-old Blood Spirit Mushroom is one of the main Materials for refining: Blood Replenishing Pills, Body Tempering Pills.】
【Yellow Spirit Ginseng】
… …
Wherever Li Mu's gaze fell, the attributes and status of each Spiritual Plant were displayed one by one in the character's virtual frame with the help of his Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits.
Compared to the maturity period of first-Rank Spiritual Plants, the maturity time span of second-Rank Spiritual Plants ranged from ten to a hundred years, and the requirements for their growth environment also increased significantly.
However, it would take too long, and he didn't know what kind of attribute points they would yield after they matured.
Nevertheless, after harvesting the plant spirits from the Wind Spirit Grass, Emerald Spirit Fruit, and White Jade Spirit Rice, Li Mu could confirm one thing: the attribute points provided by the Spiritual Plants were highly likely related to their characteristics.
The Emerald Spirit Fruit's characteristic was related to strengthening the Divine Soul, and the plant spirit light cluster it produced added Divine Soul points. The White Jade Spirit Rice's characteristic was related to increasing spiritual power, and its plant spirit light cluster could grant cultivation points. For Spiritual Plants like Ice Spirit Grass, whose characteristic was 'refreshing and invigorating,' its plant spirit light cluster could potentially boost Comprehension Ability, Divine Soul, or Ice-elemental variant Spiritual Root. The Blood Spirit Mushroom's plant spirit light cluster would definitely be related to attribute points like blood Qi or Bloodline.
He needed a short maturity period, easy to cultivate, no special environmental requirements, and good plant spirit attributes… For a moment, Li Mu couldn't find a suitable Spiritual Plant.
Finally, Li Mu's gaze settled on a Spiritual Plant as long as a chopstick, straight as a sword, with a dark green color, jade-like leaves, and wisps of cloud mist lingering around it.
【cloud mist spiritual tea (Seedling Stage)】
【Rank: Second-Rank Spiritual Plant】
【Characteristics: Strengthens soul and spirit, warms body and awakens mind.】
【Status: Seedling stage, lacks surrounding cloud mist dew, growth status is poor.】
【cloud mist spiritual tea: Can be planted in Medium Grade spirit fields. Growth requirements: Sufficient fertility, spiritually rich soil, an environment filled with cloud mist spiritual dew. Matures in six years, flowers in two years, bears fruit in two years. The tender buds grown during the maturity period can be stir-fried into cloud mist spiritual tea. Consuming this tea strengthens the Divine Soul and increases the effect of profound comprehension.】
Looking at the cloud mist spiritual tea's attributes, Li Mu hesitated. After much deliberation, this Spiritual Plant was the most suitable for planting on Xiao Liang Mountain.
The environment of cloud mist spiritual dew could be resolved by setting up a Formation, and it didn't require frequent watering with spiritual rain. After planting cloud mist spiritual tea in all eleven mu of spirit fields, Li Mu would only need to visit Xiao Liang Mountain once every ten days or half a month for inspection, pest control, and watering, making it very convenient to cultivate.
The only drawback was the long growth period; it took six years to mature, plus the flowering and fruiting period, totaling ten years.
Moreover, cloud mist spiritual tea was a second-Rank Spiritual Plant, and its seeds were difficult to obtain. After planting, it was also unclear what plant spirit attributes could be absorbed.
For now, he would tentatively plant cloud mist spiritual tea. He would check Wanbao Pavilion later to see if he could buy the spiritual seeds. If not, he would switch! After much deliberation, Li Mu made this decision and made a mental note to acquire a large quantity of cloud mist spiritual tea seeds.
Next, Li Mu returned to the courtyard, took out the Profound Feather Eagle's corpse from his Storage Pouch, and began to dissect and process it.
Plucking feathers, skinning, dismembering the corpse, deboning… It was like butchering a Cailing Chicken magnified dozens of times. The scene was a bit bloody, but Li Mu was swift and orderly, working with extreme efficiency.
About half an hour later, Li Mu successfully dismembered the Profound Feather Eagle's corpse, obtaining several hundred catties of second-Rank Yao Beast meat. Selling it at the market was not suitable, and he certainly couldn't eat it all himself in a short time. Marinating second-Rank Yao Beast meat would also be too wasteful. Li Mu directly stored them in his Storage Pouch, preparing to build an ice cellar to store them.
Li Mu had specifically reserved a room in the Green Dragon Valley stone house for an ice cellar storage room. Now, he needed to get the ice cellar built in advance to store this Yao Beast meat.
After dealing with the Profound Feather Eagle's corpse, Li Mu continuously cast Dust Cleansing Spells, beginning to clean up the 'battlefield' and remove the lingering smell of blood in the courtyard.
After tidying the courtyard, he took out a Mystic Iron Sword from his Storage Pouch, mounted it, and headed to Qingping Town.
Obtaining several hundred catties of second-Rank Yao Beast meat reminded Li Mu of something he had forgotten. Previously, he had picked up the ancient banyan wood core from a Yao Beast meat stall, and now, there was still a 'chopping board' he hadn't bought yet!
The Puppet core refined from the third-Rank ancient banyan wood core was very effective. Li Mu didn't want to miss out on the other ancient banyan wood core chopping board, so he immediately took action, mounting his sword and flying towards Qingping Town.
… …
Qingping Town.
Li Mu changed his clothes, put on the Linglong Mask, and appeared in a different guise, stopping in front of a Yao Beast meat stall, observing the butcher cutting meat.
"Customer, buying meat? Which part do you want? I'll cut it for you!" The meat stall owner greeted him warmly, completely unaware that the person was eyeing his chopping board.
"I'll take this slab of Yao Beast meat on the counter, but can you give me this chopping board? My home just happens to be missing a chopping board." Li Mu pointed at the chopping board made of ancient banyan wood core, indicating.
"Why is it again someone buying meat and asking for a free chopping board!" The meat stall owner frowned, muttering in confusion.
Before, someone had asked for a free chopping board, and now another one came. If this kept happening, he might as well change his profession to selling chopping boards!
"Can you give it to me? I'm buying so much Yao Beast meat!" Li Mu took out a few Medium Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch, acting as if he was about to pay, urging him.
"Alright! Seeing as you're buying so much meat, I'll give you this chopping board." The meat stall owner reluctantly agreed.
After speaking, the meat stall owner found a long scale and began to weigh the Yao Beast meat.
"Customer, this slab of meat totals 373 catties, 1240 lower spirit stones. Just give me 12 Medium Grade Spirit Stones!" The meat stall owner looked at Li Mu, smiling as he spoke.
"Alright!" Li Mu readily took out 12 Medium Grade Spirit Stones to pay, then put the entire slab of Yao Beast meat and the ancient banyan wood core chopping board into his Storage Pouch.
"Boss, let me ask you something. I plan to build an ice cellar to store Yao Beast meat. Is it better to use Ice Condensing Talismans, or cold ice stones, or set up an Ice Yuan Formation? Which method is more effective?" Li Mu looked at the meat stall owner, inquiring.
"Ah, that! It depends on the customer's financial situation. First-Rank Ice Condensing Talismans are cheap, but troublesome to use, as you need to constantly replenish them. If you forget even once, the things in the ice cellar will spoil. Building an ice cellar with cold ice stones is not cheap. Cold ice stones are second-Rank Artifact Refining Materials, and their price is quite high. If you use too few, the effect isn't good, and if you use too many, the consumption is high. As for setting up an Ice Yuan Formation, the price is even higher. Firstly, inviting a Formation Master is quite expensive, and secondly, the daily consumption of Spirit Stones is considerable." The meat stall owner looked at Li Mu, explaining in detail.
"Hmm! If Spirit Stone consumption isn't a concern, which method is better?" Li Mu already had a rough choice in mind.
"Of course, it's the Ice Yuan Formation! Cold ice stones, more or less, contain some impurities. An ice cellar built with them might contaminate the meat stored inside. The situation is different for an ice cellar built with an Ice Yuan Formation. It only consumes some Spirit Stones, and the condensed ice spiritual power is very pure. The ice power can be adjusted in size. If the customer wants to build an Ice Yuan Formation, you can go invite Liu Formation Master. He is most skilled at setting up Ice Yuan Formations." The meat stall owner recommended to Li Mu.
"Thank you, boss. May I ask for Liu Formation Master's detailed address? I will go invite him now." Li Mu thanked him gratefully, inquiring about Liu Formation Master's address.
The Dragon Elephant Eighteen Formations Li Mu learned only included illusion Formations, trapping Formations, and killing formations; there were no practical Formations like the Ice Yuan Formation. If he could communicate with Liu Formation Master and learn the Ice Yuan Formation, it should be no problem.
"You follow this road, walk to Fuyuan Inn, … …" The meat stall owner enthusiastically pointed the way for Li Mu.
Soon, Li Mu followed the route indicated by the meat stall owner and found a detached small courtyard. What met his eyes was an Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, guarding the garden courtyard.
With his knowledge of Formations gained from mastering fifth-Rank Formations, Li Mu easily saw through the key points for breaking this Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, and roughly understood Liu Formation Master's Formation-laying ability.
"Is Liu Formation Master home? I, Li, am also a Formation Master. I apologize for the disturbance and ask Liu Formation Master for guidance!" Li Mu silently circulated his true essence and shouted into the courtyard.
"You are also a Formation Master? Then break the Formation and come in!" As soon as Li Mu's voice fell, an old man's voice immediately came from inside the courtyard, responding in surprise.
"Uh! Then I, Li, shall make a fool of myself!" Li Mu replied, then strode forward, following the 'real extreme' Formation pattern line of the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, walking directly to the courtyard gate, and easily pushed open the partially open wooden door.
The Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array is divided into: illusory extreme, real extreme, phantom extreme, true extreme, sinking extreme, … …, eight extreme Formation patterns, intermingled, making it difficult to distinguish between real and fake. Only the real extreme Formation pattern line is the weakness of this Formation.
This Liu Formation Master's Formation-laying skill was not up to par. He only knew a superficial amount of the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, and had not connected the real extreme Formation patterns with the other extreme gate Formation patterns, thus failing to achieve the level of indistinguishable illusion and reality.
Under the enhancement of his Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits and fifth-Rank Formations, Li Mu instantly broke the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, walked directly into the small courtyard, and approached an old man who was reclining in a comfortable chair, enjoying a leg massage from two maidservants.
"You, how did you get in! My Eight Extremes Array was broken by you?" Liu Jian sat up in shock, looking at Li Mu who had broken through the Formation and entered, asking in disbelief.
"Liu Formation Master, I happen to know a bit about this Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array you set up. For example, the intersection point of the real extreme and true extreme Formation patterns, you clearly set it wrong. Also, this illusionary origin loss Formation pattern, you forgot to engrave it, right? This causes most of the illusionary origins to be ineffective… and also, … …" Li Mu smiled slightly, answering in detail.
Upon hearing this, Liu Formation Master's eyes lit up, as if he had found a treasure.
"Yes, yes, so that's it! The reason why the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array's power wasn't evident was actually here."
"Dao Friend Li, please sit! Xiaoyue, go get my spiritual tea."
"Dao Friend Li, are you also a Formation Master? What other problems does the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array have? I hope Fellow Daoist can give me some pointers."
… …
Liu Jian immediately greeted Li Mu warmly, earnestly asking him to point out the flaws in the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array.
Formation Masters had always been rare. Liu Jian had always relied on his own slow contemplation, deduction, and self-study of Formations, without guidance from a renowned master, accumulating many problems.
Li Mu's pointers on several flaws in the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array immediately enlightened Liu Jian, giving him a deeper understanding of the Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array.
At this moment, Liu Jian wished he could treat this young man as his benefactor and ask him to impart more Formation knowledge.
"Indeed, I, Li, am also a Formation Master, but I've been working in isolation, and my progress has been limited. I heard that Liu Formation Master is the most outstanding Formation Master in this town, so I specifically came to exchange and learn from Fellow Daoist Liu." Li Mu smiled slightly, sat down on a wooden chair opposite Liu Jian, and stated his purpose.
"You flatter me, Dao Friend Li. I, Liu, am merely a Loose Cultivator, and my knowledge of Formation techniques is limited." Hearing Li Mu's words, Liu Jian couldn't help but feel ashamed. He had studied Formations for half his life, yet compared to this young man, he felt somewhat inadequate.
"Liu Formation Master is too modest. I heard that Liu Formation Master is exceptionally skilled at setting up Ice Yuan Formations. I wonder if I could witness it? I can exchange it with other Formation Legacies with Liu Formation Master." Li Mu took out a Jade Slip containing the Dragon Elephant Eighteen Formations Legacy and suggested.
For Li Mu, once he had learned a Cultivation Technique and inscribed it on his proficiency panel, the Legacy Jade Slip he held would be of little use. He didn't need to study it; he only needed to farm, gain proficiency, and raise his Formation Rank.
Exchanging the Formation Legacy Jade Slip for other Formation knowledge Legacies seemed perfectly appropriate to Li Mu. As long as he raised his Formation Rank, even if he encountered an opponent using the same Formation, the power of the Formation would be different.
"This Legacy Jade Slip contains a Yellow Rank High Grade Formation - Dragon Elephant Eighteen Formations. All eighteen Dragon Elephant Formations are complete. This Jade Slip also has two preview opportunities. I wonder if I could see Liu Formation Master's Formation Legacy?"
Liu Jian's eyes immediately lit up, staring intently at the Formation Jade Slip in Li Mu's hand. After a slight hesitation, he gritted his teeth and also took out a Jade Slip: "This is my Formation Legacy, a Yellow Rank Low Grade - 'Five Elements Eight Extremes Formation'. It also has two viewing opportunities, but it only contains four Formation diagrams: Five Elements Formation, Ice Yuan Formation, Eight Extremes Illusionary Origin Array, and Five Elements Eight Extremes Formation."
"Excellent, Liu Formation Master, are you willing to exchange this Formation Legacy with me, Li, and mutually examine our Formation knowledge?" Li Mu was overjoyed, looking at Liu Jian and asking sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Liu Jian hesitated. Although the other party's Formation Legacy was of a higher Rank and contained more profound Formation knowledge, he wouldn't gain much from this exchange.
Liu Jian was no longer young. Even if he learned a new Formation Legacy, he didn't have much time or energy to delve into it. This exchange of Formation Legacies might not be worth it.