At the end of October, the autumn atmosphere grew stronger.
The brisk autumn breeze arrived gracefully.
A layer of dry leaves accumulated in the mountain forest, swirling and flying about with the wind, scattering wantonly and covering the winding path ascending to the mountaintop.
However, it also obscured a few unusual traces on the path...
The third season of Spirit Rice had already produced Spirit Rice Ears.
In another month, they could be harvested.
Everyone gradually forgot the disturbances from earlier times.
In the golden-hued fields of Spirit Rice across several hundred acres on the slope of the mountain, the busy figures of Spirit Farmers were everywhere.
The yield of this final season of Spirit Rice was of paramount importance to these Spirit Farmers.
With the harvest imminent, the Spirit Farmers dared not relax for a moment, spending almost every day in the Spirit Field.
Not leaving an inch.
In Qin Ming's Spirit Field for the third season of Golden Spirit Rice, only one 'Weak Dharma Power' entry appeared.
His hopes to quickly ripen the Beast Fang Rice also fell through.
He gazed with longing at the four entries in the Beast Fang Rice field before him.
[Name]: Beast Fang Rice [Entry]: High-Level Spirit Rain Technique x5 (Maturity 28%)
[Name]: Beast Fang Rice [Entry]: Quality Enhancement x1 (Maturity 26%)
[Name]: Beast Fang Rice [Entry]: Ripening x5 (Maturity 33%)
Moreover, the news that he had cultivated Beast Fang Rice spread by word of mouth, and some people in the market had started to pay attention to the situation of this acre of land.
He could only wait slowly.
Currently, his Sea of Consciousness held three 'Weak Dharma Power' entries.
Qin Ming was in the Spirit Field, performing the Spirit Rain Technique to bring down rain.
He heard footsteps approaching from behind.
He became alert.
Immediately withdrawing the spell, he turned to look back.
He saw a young cultivator in a white robe, carrying a small bamboo basket, appear within his view.
'It's actually Master Su.'
'What is he doing here?'
Just as Qin Ming was puzzled.
Master Su walked directly towards him and straightforwardly said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, I heard you successfully cultivated Beast Fang Rice?"
Qin Ming hurriedly saluted Master Su and said humbly, "I just got lucky."
"Fellow Daoist Qin, there's no need to be so restrained. I came here for the accompanying product of the Beast Fang Rice—Red Spirit Dew."
This was the first time Qin Ming had heard of it and couldn't help feeling surprised.
Master Su explained, "This Red Spirit Dew is a rather uncommon auxiliary material for alchemy; it can harmonize medicinal properties, and not many people know about it."
With that said.
Master Su came to the area around the Beast Fang Rice field and began to observe carefully.
He walked around the Spirit Field, holding his chin as if deep in thought.
After a long while.
Master Su looked at Qin Ming and clicked his tongue in wonder, "Fellow Daoist Qin, to be honest, your cultivation of Beast Fang Rice has indeed exceeded my expectations. The quality after maturation shouldn't be bad, it seems you have some unique cultivation methods."
Qin Ming felt a bit emotional: No secret recipe, but there is an unspeakable secret.
Master Su gently parted the leaves at the top of a Beast Fang Rice plant.
He waved his hand, beckoning Qin Ming to take a look.
When Qin Ming approached, he saw that at the root of the leaf, there indeed hid a dewdrop as red as blood.
"So this is Red Spirit Dew."
Qin Ming suddenly understood.
If Master Su hadn't mentioned it, he truly wouldn't have known, as it wasn't even recorded in the Spirit Plant Book.
"Taking this Red Spirit Dew does not affect the Spirit Plant itself."
"It just so happens that I can use it for alchemy."
"Fellow Daoist Qin, may I collect some?"
"I can offer ten Spirit Stones in exchange."
Master Su asked plainly.
"Master Su, you must be joking. Since this Spirit Dew is useful to you, please feel free to take some."
Qin Ming couldn't possibly let him offer Spirit Stones; establishing a relationship with such a promising alchemist was an opportunity he couldn't miss.
Moreover, last time he even benefited from a free Qi Recovery Pill from the other party, so he gladly returned the favor.
"In that case, I won't refuse." Master Su said, taking out a jade porcelain bottle, ready to gather Red Spirit Dew.
Rustling sounds!
The forest around them started to shake frantically!
It seemed like some beast was leaping between the trees, heading straight for the hundreds of acres of Spirit Field!
Master Su halted his actions upon hearing the commotion.
"What's happening?"
Qin Ming's expression changed; instinctively, he took out a Golden Light Protective Talisman, his brows furrowing with a sense of impending danger.
The surrounding Spirit Farmers on the mountain also noticed the anomaly around them.
They all put down their tasks.
Suddenly!
Before they could react.
"Screech–– Screech–– Screech––"
One sharp cry after another echoed among the Spirit Fields on the slope.
Dozens of monkeys covered in sickly, bizarre fur suddenly emerged from the forest!
Among them, a few demon beasts had even stronger auras.
Surprisingly, they were Tier One Mid-Stage Demon Beasts!
"Not good! It's the Mad Howling Monkeys!" Master Su seemed to recognize the demon beasts.
He patted his storage pouch, and a set of Array Flags appeared in his hand, immediately casting a technique and throwing them to the ground.
A light blue barrier, two zhang in range, appeared instantly beneath his feet, enclosing him.
Master Su quickly called out to Qin Ming, "The Golden Light Talisman is useless, get inside quickly!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Ming did not hesitate and promptly entered the barrier's range.
Instantly, the sounds outside were completely sealed off.
Qin Ming quickly gazed towards the nearby Spirit Fields.
He saw, where his eyes could reach, the incessant howls of the Mad Howling Monkeys, with arc-shaped sound waves emanating from their mouths, spreading toward the surroundings.
Observing those Low-Tier Spirit Farmers, once hit by the sound waves, their eyes turned blood red, faces twisted, appearing insane.
They began attacking each other!
In an instant.
The Spirit Field was in chaos, with many immature Spirit Rice plants being destroyed all over the ground.
A Mid-stage Qi Cultivator, a Spirit Farmer, just summoned a Dharma Sword intending to escape in flight but his spell was interrupted by the sound wave, causing him to plummet directly from mid-air.
Swoosh!
A Mad Howling Monkey, larger than the usual monkeys by a circle, leaped out of the Spirit Field!
Its movements were extraordinarily swift!
In an instant, it grabbed the Spirit Farmer, revealing crimson fangs, and actually bit through his neck.
Crimson blood gushed out!
Before dying, the Spirit Farmer's face still bore a look of terror.
"Screech–– Screech–– Screech––"
Sharp, piercing howls echoed through the mountains.
Qin Ming, watching the bloody and brutal scene, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.
His heart pounded rapidly, and without any hesitation, he wanted to escape urgently.
If Spirit Rice was lost, it could be replanted; if his life was lost, then nothing would remain.
But he abruptly halted, thinking carefully, 'If I leave Master Su's Array range now, I will surely be hit and will end up no better than that Spirit Farmer.'
He hesitated for a moment.
Turning back, Qin Ming found that although Master Su's expression wasn't good, he didn't show too much panic.
'Could it be that he is confident in his Array?'
Various thoughts flashed through his mind.
His expression was somewhat complex.
"Don't panic, my Array can hold those beasts off for a while." Master Su evidently saw through Qin Ming's thoughts and spoke.
"These are Mad Howling Monkeys, their most formidable attack is the sonic waves from their mouths which can mesmerize, very mysterious and incredibly hard to defend against."
"Hold on for a while; Spirit Feather Sect's people should be arriving soon to assist."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Seven or eight Mad Howling Monkeys began grouping together, charging toward the two of them, forming a surrounding formation and rushing fiercely!
Among them was the very Mad Howling Monkey at Tier One Mid-Stage that had killed the Spirit Farmer.
Now, facing eight of them?
Master Su's expression changed too.
Qin Ming watched the Mad Howling Monkeys rampage unrestrainedly through the Spirit Field.
Soon they would reach his own Spirit Field.
Qin Ming immediately patted his storage pouch, a flicker of determination in his eyes.
A small copper bell appeared, floating in his hand.
Qin Ming formed a spell with his hand, and the small bell transformed into a large bell, positioned in mid-air ahead.
It was the Beast Exorcism Technique!
"If it's a shouting match, let's see who's louder!"