The Immortal Herb Purveyor

Chapter 14:​​ Pest Control and a Profitable Proposition

Hurry back to fetch it, don't keep me waiting long," Murong Xiaoxiao replied, her expression clearly displeased as she urged him on.

"This disciple obeys. Might Martial Uncle Murong please escort me out? It would prevent me from accidentally triggering any formations here," Shi Yue replied respectfully, bowing his head.

"Escort you out? There's no need for such trouble. I'll deactivate the Flight Restriction Barrier. You can simply fly out on your artifact. When you return, land directly here," Murong Xiaoxiao stated dismissively.

With that, she flipped her hand, producing a palm-sized Circular Formation Plate. Her fingers danced over its surface in a practiced rhythm.

"Done. The Flight Restriction Barrier is deactivated. Go quickly and return swiftly. Don't dawdle," Murong Xiaoxiao pressed impatiently.

Shi Yue nodded. He summoned his Azure Leaf Artifact, leapt onto it, and soared skyward.

His destination wasn't Martial Uncle Zhou's dwelling. Once clear of Murong Xiaoxiao's residence, he steered towards the Mission Hall. Spending thirty Contribution Points, Shi Yue purchased the most basic Spirit Beast Bag available from the hall's stores.

Returning to his own quarters, Shi Yue immediately channeled his will and entered the Mysterious Space. He approached the large beehive. Focusing his intent, a yellow bee the size of a chicken egg emerged, followed closely by hundreds more, each the size of a fingernail – the Queen Bee leading her swarm.

Shi Yue retrieved the Spirit Beast Bag, loosened its drawstring, and focused again. The Queen Bee flew obediently inside, her entire colony swirling in after her like a living golden cloud. Securing the bag tightly, he fastened it to his belt and exited the Mysterious Space.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, Shi Yue hovered above Murong Xiaoxiao's courtyard. Guiding the Azure Leaf downward, he landed smoothly before her.

"Quickly! Release your spirit insects! Let's see if they can eradicate these cursed beetles!" Murong Xiaoxiao demanded, tapping her foot.

Shi Yue complied. He gave a sharp tap to the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist. A loud, collective buzzing erupted as hundreds of Spirit-Devouring Bees poured forth, swirling in a dense, agitated cloud before him.

"Go! Destroy those black beetles!" Shi Yue commanded, pointing decisively at the afflicted Golden Net Flowers.

Instantly, the swarm surged forward, a buzzing avalanche descending upon the flower beds. Shi Yue hurried to a particularly withered Golden Net Flower. Several glossy black beetles gnawed stubbornly at its petals. Seven or eight Spirit-Devouring Bees landed on the same flower, their sharp mandibles clashing fiercely with the chitinous invaders.

The black beetles fought back desperately, but their resistance proved futile. Within moments, they were overwhelmed, falling lifeless to the soil. A flicker of satisfaction crossed Shi Yue's face. Choosing the Spirit-Devouring Bees was definitely the right call,he affirmed silently.

As time passed, more and more black beetles succumbed. Their dark corpses littered the spirit field like morbid seeds. However, the victory wasn't without cost. The Spirit-Devouring Bees also suffered casualties. Shi Yue observed several smaller bees, newly hatched and weaker, overwhelmed and killed by coordinated groups of the larger black beetles exploiting their numerical advantage.

Murong Xiaoxiao strode over, her initial sternness softening into visible relief as she surveyed the battlefield strewn with beetle carcasses. "Much better," she murmured.

Though Shi Yue controlled the swarm indirectly through the Queen Bee, the mental effort was significant. Maintaining constant connection and issuing commands taxed his Spiritual Sense heavily. After half an hour, a wave of dizziness washed over him; his Spiritual Sense was severely depleted. He had no choice but to recall the entire swarm back into the Spirit Beast Bag.

"What's wrong, Martial Nephew Shi? Are they all exterminated?" Murong Xiaoxiao inquired, noticing his withdrawal.

"Not yet," Shi Yue shook his head, his voice strained. "My Spiritual Sense is nearly exhausted. I must meditate to restore it. We can resume once it's recovered."

Murong Xiaoxiao nodded thoughtfully. A moment later, an idea sparked in her eyes. "Martial Nephew Shi, it seems your spirit insects are a perfect Natural Enemy to these beetles. Is it possible to eradicate them completely?"

"Completely?" Shi Yue considered carefully. "That would likely require multiple rounds of targeted elimination. One or two sessions won't suffice, as you saw. These beetles are small, many burrow into the soil. They might even be laying eggs down there. It's impossible to guarantee total eradication in just one or two attempts." He paused, a new thought surfacing. "Martial Uncle Murong... if you're interested in the Spirit-Devouring Bees, this disciple would be willing to gift you a portion of the colony."

"No, thank you," Murong Xiaoxiao declined briskly, wrinkling her nose slightly. "I have no interest in tending a swarm of bees. Useful against pests, perhaps, but they offer little advantage in actual combat."

Disappointment flickered across Shi Yue's face. Truthfully, the prospect of making frequent trips solely to manage Murong's pest problem held little appeal. The journey was time-consuming and interrupted his own critical cultivation and planting schedules.

"Perhaps an arrangement, then," Murong Xiaoxiao offered, her tone shifting subtly. "Return every few days to continue the extermination. Once allthe beetles are confirmed eliminated, I'll compensate you with twenty Spirit Stones. Acceptable?"

Shi Yue's eyes widened, fatigue momentarily forgotten. Twenty Spirit Stones! That's ten times what Martial Uncle Zhou paid for the watering job!His estimation of the usually demanding Martial Uncle instantly improved. "Absolutely! Consider it handled," he agreed enthusiastically, the promise of substantial profit washing away his reluctance.

"Good," Murong Xiaoxiao nodded, producing two items from her sleeve. "This is the Formation Plate for the Protective Formation guarding this spirit field. The jade slip contains the activation sequence. Keep them. From now on, fly directly here. Your responsibilities include watering the Golden Net Flowers and managing pests. Watering is required every five days. I handled it today, so your first watering is due in five days." She handed him a palm-sized Silver Formation Plate and a gleaming Silver Jade Slip.

Shi Yue accepted both items respectfully, storing them securely. Once his Spiritual Sense had recovered sufficiently through focused meditation, he released the Spirit-Devouring Bees once more, directing them to resume their relentless hunt.

An hour later, the task complete for the day, Shi Yue recalled the swarm. He channeled a pulse of Qi into the Silver Formation Plate. A shimmering Silver Light Barrier instantly sprang to life, enclosing the Golden Net Flower field in a dome of protective energy.

Murong Xiaoxiao watched as Shi Yue activated the formation. With a final respectful nod, he mounted his Azure Leaf Artifact and soared away, heading back to Martial Uncle Zhou's dwelling.

Upon reaching the familiar cave entrance, Shi Yue immediately retreated to his room and entered the Mysterious Space. He released the entire Spirit-Devouring Bee colony. Instantly, the space hummed with renewed activity as the bees dispersed – some seeking nectar from the vibrant spirit plants, others diligently repairing and expanding the hive structure within the Mysterious Space.

Reflecting on the day's events, Shi Yue felt a surge of relief. If Martial Uncle Murong had insisted on accompanying me back to 'fetch' the bees... the secret of the Blue Pearl might have been exposed.The close call served as a stark warning. Caution is paramount. Best to minimize contact with powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivators like her, lest they detect any flaw or inconsistency.

The following fortnight became a relentless cycle. Shi Yue pushed himself to the limit. His days were consumed by studying the cultivation and botanical texts lining the wooden shelves in his room. Nights were devoted solely to refining his Qi and advancing his cultivation base. Every other day demanded a journey to water the three acres of Water Moon Flowers. Immediately after, he raced back to his own plot to nurture his precious Spirit Rice. Then, it was off to Murong Xiaoxiao's residence to deploy his Spirit-Devouring Bees against the persistent black beetle infestation. Adding to the load was the mandatory watering of the Golden Net Flowers every five days.

Simultaneously, within the Mysterious Space, constant vigilance was required. He meticulously tended the burgeoning Spirit Herbs and monitored the progress of his experimental Spirit Rice crop, ensuring optimal conditions for their accelerated growth. Every spare moment was accounted for, every action a step in his intricate balancing act between survival, profit, and advancement.