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Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Return to the Island (Subscribe please!)
The waves of the Hanhai undulated, with a red sun leaping above the sea surface, casting warm morning rays, and opening the day with thriving vitality.
Li Quanqing bathed in the warm sunshine, yet his heart felt icy cold.
He had stayed on the Cloud Boat overnight, witnessing firsthand how these young beast cubs behaved without his restraint—
Utterly lawless!
But what could he do? This was the innate nature of Demon Beasts, to live freely, unrestrained, to frolic and cause mischief.
Li Quanqing couldn’t bring himself to lock them up in cages one by one, to quietly be good luck charms.
So... he could only suffer some more and feed them more Big Green Fish!
Thinking of the plump, juicy, and deliciously tasty Big Green Fish, Li Quanqing couldn’t help but shed tears of sorrow.
He decided to buy tens of thousands more from his family!
After all, he was rich now, very, very rich—the kind of rich who has mines in the family!
Li Quanqing piloted the Cloud Boat down from the sky, mentally prepared himself, and then directly opened the Island Protection Array, bellowing:
"I’m back!"
His voice echoed to the heavens, clearly heard by every young Spiritual Beast.
Hearing the sudden shout, a Golden Flame Tiger that had just jumped onto the beach from the sea, vigorously shaking its drenched fur.
In an instant, it dashed into the forest at the speed of light, like a golden bolt of lightning, climbing up a tree and crawling into its nest, half-closing its eyes and feigning the innocent and docile demeanor of having just woken up.
An Azure Water Python, upon hearing the shout, immediately swallowed the Big Green Fish it was feeding to its young, with swift and decisive action, attempting to destroy the evidence.
The Big Green Fish vanished in its mouth as if it had never existed.
Ao Qing, who was chasing the last wave, immediately stiffened up and sank straight to the bottom of the sea, not daring to surface at all.
In its mind, it kept repeating they can’t see me, they can’t see me...
"Not bad, calm and tranquil. It seems that everyone behaved very well while I was away!"
Underneath Li Quanqing, the Longevity Turtle leisurely waved its claws, and the Treasure Light Toad sat on the turtle shell too, curiously observing everything, croaking away.
"Screech!"
A flock of Qingfeng Cranes flew overhead, feathers in disarray, looking utterly disheveled, drops of water continuously falling from their bodies, clearly having endured a fierce battle just prior.
Li Quanqing, however, pretended he hadn’t seen a thing.
"Moo moo~"
The water churned, and Ao Qing swam over excitedly, calling out persistently as if with a guilty conscience.
It waved its fins, revealing a glimmering sea surface, scales like azure jade spread before the eyes, stretching as far as one could see.
Over a thousand uniform Green Jade Carps swam in neat, synchronized movements, their graceful forms presenting a magnificent spectacle.
Green Jade Carp of [I Want to Be a Dragon]: "Master, I missed you so much, look how well I’ve managed the fish pond (I definitely wasn’t playing, not surfing, not at all...)"
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Fourth Level (49%)]
Li Quanqing rubbed the fish’s head and, seeing that Ao Qing hadn’t fallen behind in cultivation, felt his last bit of anger dissipate completely.
"You’ve done a great job, as a reward you get to eat Demon Beast Meat!"
Li Quanqing took out a large chunk of python meat, cut from the Thunder Horn Python King, the flesh sizzling and occasionally sparking with arcs of electricity.
Such high-grade Demon Beast Meat imbued with powerful Demon Energy was fatal in its allure to Ao Qing.
It howled and gulped down the large piece of meat, swallowing it whole.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle~
It had underestimated the Thunder Attribute Essence Qi imbued in the flesh; Li Quanqing had specifically chosen the most essence-rich part from the Python King.
Stray currents snaked out through the crevices of Ao Qing’s scales, shocking it into convulsions, swimming around the Longevity Turtle nonstop.
Its entire body tingled with a sensation both pleasurable and painful, slightly intoxicating.
Gurgle gurgle!
The electricity spread in the water, bubbles surged, crackling and snapping, the fish pond was literally electrified.
Hundreds, thousands of Big Green Fish were stunned, floating belly up on the surface, stretching everywhere, a sight that would make any fish farmer’s eyes turn red with envy.
"Ao ao!!"
The Golden Flame Tiger in its nest, sneakily opened one eye to peek, and upon seeing the sea’s surface covered with Big Green Fish, it could no longer pretend.
It moved its fluffy tiger paws, like a fiery golden blaze rushing over, its fur smooth and glossy, squatting on the dam ready to snatch and eat fish.
"Shush!"
Li Quanqing tapped on the round fuzzy tiger head, finding the touch immensely satisfying: "I have something even tastier; these fish have just been stunned, not dead yet."
He removed the Big Green Fish from the cub’s mouth, under its pitiful gaze, and took out an entire Thunder Horn Python.
Such a huge worm!
The Golden Flame Tiger was instantly scared stiff on the spot, leaping back, and scurried behind Li Quanqing, only daring to stick out its round head.
Still as timid as when it was younger.
"Show some backbone, you’re supposed to be the king of a hundred beasts!"
Li Quanqing found it amusing and cut off a piece of Demon Python meat: "Spit fire!"
Puff!!
The Golden Flame Tiger obediently complied, opening its mouth to release a golden blaze, burning brightly like a torch.
Soon, the meat was roasted, and with a bit of seasoning added, it smelled absolutely delicious.
Even to a Spiritual Beast’s senses of smell and taste, cooked food seemed just a little tastier.
"Roar!!"
The Golden Flame Tiger looked at the fierce Demon Python on the ground, its eyes burning with desire, as if it had just seen an extra-large spicy strip-shaped snack.
After feeding the roasted meat to the tiger cub, Li Quanqing stroked the wobbling tiger ears of the other party.
[Tiger Power]Golden Flame Tiger: "I wasn’t scared just now, roar roar~ Oh my gosh, this is so delicious!"
[Maturity: 96%]
Li Quanqing raised an eyebrow, not expecting the little tiger cub to be on the cusp of transforming into a Qi Refining Demon Beast in just over nine months.
"Is this the power of the Demon Clan’s bloodline?"
Li Quanqing gained some insight.
All the Golden Flame Tiger needs is to grow up, and it will enter the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, so its growth rate in the early stages will be very fast.
He estimates it would take about three to four years to reach the Qi Refining Middle Stage; the growth rate then slows down, and it would gradually advance to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer by virtue of time, utilizing its potential to the fullest.
Only those with various fortunes, or those who have been carefully nurtured from a young age, might have the chance to break through the limits of their bloodline and ascend to stronger levels.
That’s the double-edged sword.
"In the next few days, I’ll focus on feeding the tiger cub; I want to fill up those final points of maturity thoroughly."
Li Quanqing made his decision.
"Rawr rawr!"
The Golden Flame Tiger gobbled down the roasted meat in just a couple of bites, savoring the lingering flavors, and looking at the remaining huge portion of the Thunder Horn Python, it felt incomparably happy.
It’s truly the beloved cub of the master!
Watching with amusement, Li Quanqing scratched under its chin, and the tiger cub squinted its eyes in pleasure: "This isn’t just for you to feast on by yourself; we’ll roast these meats and distribute them to those Green Jade Carps."
Upon hearing it has to do free labor, the Golden Flame Tiger immediately drooped its ears, which stuck to its head like a wronged child.
It was both funny and a bit pitiful to look at.
Li Quanqing called Ao Qing over to oversee the division of the Thunder Horn Python’s flesh amongst the school of fish, ensuring there would be no fighting, then he strode off towards the forest.
"Squawk!!"
The Qingfeng Cranes stood inside the forest, curiously watching him, an elegant presence, it was rare for them to see their owner step into their territory.
"You’ve got gifts too, check if they suit your taste?"
Li Quanqing took out several silvery-white peaches, plump and juicy, freshly picked from the Thunder Peach Tree, carrying an elusive fruity fragrance.
The cranes tilted their heads, pecking at the peaches a few times, and devoured the flesh in a few bites, juices dripping down.
[Free Heart]Qingfeng Crane: "What strange fruit, it leaves a tingling sensation in the mouth after eating, the taste is so-so, not tasty, but we can’t waste food!"
[Maturity: 69%]
Li Quanqing straightened out the feathers of the elegant spiritual cranes and then took them for a leisurely stroll among the mountains and woods.
Eventually, he stopped at the highest peak of Fish-Dragon Island, clearing out a space, then he took the Thunder Peach Tree out from his Storage Bag.
Seeing the radiant tree with bark like a dragon’s, the Treasure Light Toad’s eyes instantly bulged, and with a croak, it nearly leaped up to greedily inhale its essence.
"Stop it!"
The Qingfeng Cranes let out a series of long cries, curiously eyeing this shiny, ugly thing and tried to catch the Treasure Light Toad with their thin and long crane feet.
In a sense, it was like a forest full of jade legs.
Although the Treasure Light Toad was a Qi Refining Third Level Demon Beast, its combat capability was nearly zero, and there was also a suppression due to its size and species.
In the end, the mob of cranes surrounded it and teased it, causing it to puff up its cheeks, croaking agitatedly – at least it seemed very spirited.
Li Quanqing observed the Thunder Peach Tree in front of him; it had been in the Storage Bag for a while, and without the nourishment of sunlight and rain, its branches and leaves looked a bit droopy.
Li Quanqing dug a big hole, first burying the Thunder Spirit Stone in it, then he transplanted the Thunder Peach Tree and buried the silvery-purple mud around the tree’s roots.
As soon as the Spirit Tree was replanted, the area immediately felt different; Spiritual Energy from all around gathered and formed into visible white mist that began to rise.
Nourished by various Spiritual Objects, the Thunder Peach Tree visibly restored its vitality, its branches reached out, returning to that vibrant state.
So spirited!
The location Li Quanqing chose was deliberate, situated right on an important node of the underground Spirit Vein of Fish-Dragon Island, with an Array Flag buried not too far from it.
By burying a High-Grade Thunder Spirit Stone here, it will gather the dispersed Spiritual Energy from the surrounding air, strengthening the Earth’s origin, and slowly upgrade the quality of the Spirit Vein.
The Spirit Vein of Fish-Dragon Island is currently at the First Rank High-Grade, and it is estimated that after burying it for about twenty to thirty years, it could reach the pinnacle of the First Rank, enough to support a Qi Refining cultivator in their attempt at Foundation Establishment.
However, there are downsides too.
Li Quanqing looked up to see the chaotic energy of the heavens and earth resulting from the magnetic field of the Thunder Spirit Stone drawing thick clouds together above.
Boom!
The next moment, a silvery-white lightning bolt aimed directly at the peach tree and struck it down, thundering loudly, exhibiting the majestic might of nature.
"As expected of a Top-Grade Spirit Stone!"
Li Quanqing exclaimed, pulling out the Azure Scale Shield to surround himself and deflect some of the residual force of the thunderbolt.
The Thunder Peach Tree, bathed in electric light, became even more robust and moisturized; its branches vibrated with life and vigor.
The Qingfeng Cranes, startled by the lightning, had their feathers explode and, with a loud whoosh of their wings, flew off.
The Treasure Light Toad, previously traumatized by the thunder, croaked and without sparing the Thunder Peach Tree another glance, hopped away.
Seeing this, Li Quanqing was rather pleased to have some peace.
He took out seven Snake Eggs from the Thunder Horn Python, placed them evenly at the sturdy root of the peach tree, then placed a couple of Thunder Crystals and a large stack of Spirit Stones around it.
"Hurry up and hatch so that you can curl up for me soon!"
Li Quanqing’s eyes shimmered with anticipation as he took out the Array Plate and manipulated the array to shift, enveloping the whole area around the Thunder Peach Tree.
It effectively prevented Spiritual Beasts from accidentally wandering here and getting injured by the lightning, or disturbing the hatching of the Thunder Horn Pythons.
After busying with these tasks, Li Quanqing clapped his hands, only then considering the most precious items in his Storage Bag to be dealt with.
