Ji Yuan followed the gaze, and the Big Toad seemed a little embarrassed, hurriedly retracting its head into the mist.

It was a Tier Two Demon Beast, but the Reed Chicken was only at the early stage of Tier One Demon Beast, and being so small... to it, it was merely a light snack, not even a proper meal.

This thing sneaks food, if not addressed, it might have them all working for it... Ji Yuan thought about it for a moment, then came to the Big Toad and first pointed at the Chicken Cage, then gestured, indicating this wouldn't do.

Then he took out an empty Storage Bag, opened it, and shook it outwards, indicating he had nothing left to eat.

The Big Toad instinctively opened its mouth.

"Croak—"

Ji Yuan ignored it, no matter how the Big Toad croaked, he paid no attention.

The Big Toad croaked for a long time, its voice somewhat plaintive, before it turned around and hopped away.

Ji Yuan did not care, as usual, the Big Toad would find a place to nest and sleep without bothering anyone.

Today, Ji Yuan had his own matters at hand; after tidying up a bit, he summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat and left.

Among the Level 1 buildings he currently owned, there was a Spirit Field that could be upgraded to Level 2.

[ Upgrade Conditions: Low-grade Spirit Stones ×60, Black Light Stone ×15 pieces, Spiritual Spring Essence ×3 jugs. ]

Ji Yuan had long prepared the Spiritual Spring Essence.

Only the Black Light Stone had always been missing; a few days ago, when he went to Black Water Square to buy Reed Chickens, he found a shop selling them, but due to insufficient quantity, Ji Yuan had pre-ordered some more.

Today was just the day to pick them up, and perhaps buy an Alchemy Furnace on the way back.

The previous Alchemy Furnace was merely an entry-level Low Grade Furnace, managing to support Ji Yuan's rise to a Middle Grade Pill Master, which was already evidence of his high talent.

Nowadays, after so much alchemy, the Pill Furnace was faintly showing cracks.

Ji Yuan did not dare to take a risk, thinking it more appropriate to replace it with a Middle Grade Alchemy Furnace.

Not to mention, he's not short of Spirit Stones now.

One trip to and fro took up another day.

When Ji Yuan returned to Mist Island again, the sky was somewhat dim.

Tu Yue was in a daze by the fish pond, while the Big Toad was nowhere to be seen, probably off somewhere idling.

Ji Yuan landed straight by the Pigsty, which was neither in the shadow nor in the sunlight.

He had opened a Spirit Field here, so as to settle these herbs.

Of course, the main reason was that he didn't know whether these herbs preferred shadow or sunlight, and they didn't fit anywhere else, so here they stayed.

The Level 1 Spirit Field was enhanced by Spiritual Soil, shortening the growth cycle by 30% and reinforced to reduce it by 50%.

Looking at the still young herbs, Ji Yuan made a casual gesture.

Sixty Low-grade Spirit Stones plus fifteen Black Light Stones appeared around the Spirit Field, the Black Light Stone, as its name implies, was jet-black all over and emitted a faint glow.

Their size was similar to that of Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan lastly took out three jugs of Spiritual Spring Essence, placing them in front of the Spirit Field.

From afar, it looked like some kind of ritual ceremony was being held.

With everything gathered, the panel in front displayed the words 'Upgradeable.'

With a flick of Ji Yuan's heart thought, a ray of light flashed across the panel.

The Spirit Field before him was now covered in a thin layer of azure light, illuminating the entire Spirit Field, especially concentrated on those few herb plants.

They seemed to have transformed into Earth Treasures.

Ji Yuan casually closed the building effects, his gaze focused on the panel.

The Spirit Field had acquired Level 2 Spirit Effect.

[ Spirit Effect: Automatic pest removal, crop growth cycle reduced by 40%; upon harvest, there is a 20% chance of doubling the crop yield. ]

Next, there were the conditions for Level 3 Spirit Effect and Level 3 Spirit Field upgrade.

[ Spirit Field: lv3 (not upgradeable) ]

[ Spirit Effect 1: Crop growth cycle reduction by 50%; upon harvest, there is a 30% chance of doubling the crop yield, and a 5% chance of tripling it. ]

[ Spirit Effect 2 (Millennial Illusion Spirit): 1 Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass can be harvested annually. ]

[ Upgrade Conditions: Mid-grade Spirit Stones ×50, Tier Two Demon Pill ×2, Profound Yin Soil 5 pounds, Tier Two Flying Locust corpse ×3 (not accomplished) ]

Level 3 Spirit Field effects were yet further enhanced.

Spirit Effect 1 naturally needs no further explanation, with even a 5% chance of harvesting three crops simultaneously.

Additionally, this Level 3 Spirit Field, like the Level 3 Fish Pond, had also emerged with a second Spirit Effect.

One Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass can be harvested annually... On first glance, it may not seem worth it, managing only one plant per year, unlike the Chicken Cage or Pigsty that yields daily.

But upon reconsidering, it's a Millennial Illusion Spirit Grass, a millennia-old medicinal herb!

Meaning one year here equals a millennium for others?

Reframing it this way, it indeed seems much better.

While he wasn't sure of its uses... even if it's useless to him personally, selling it for Spirit Stones would fetch a decent price.

There seems potential for upgrading this Spirit Field to Level 3, when even more benefits can come.

Even though the harvest is annual, receiving something freely is still a form of welfare, isn't it?

Cultivation ought to be this way, accumulating all yields.

With a heartbeat he put away the panel, as darkness settled in without a sign of the Big Toad, leaving Ji Yuan a bit puzzled.

From past experience, it should have bounded over by now, begging for pork.

But now he's waited so long without seeing a trace.

He had no place to search, moreover, he just bought a new Tier One Middle Grade Alchemy Furnace, intending to refine some Elixirs tonight as a start.

But just as he moved to the northern end of Mist Island, arriving before the Cave Mansion, he suddenly heard a sound as if something broke the water from the shore.

The sound was near, coming from this northern side.

Ji Yuan's heart flickered, he released the Thunder Falcon Boat which expanded against the wind, instantly jumping into it, ready to flee on a moment's notice regardless of the events.

"Croak—"

With the familiar croak echoing, Ji Yuan relaxed slightly.

However, the Big Toad's voice sounded somewhat weak... it had gone underwater?

Just as Ji Yuan was pondering over what had befallen the Big Toad, a dark shadow heavily descended in front of him, a bizarre giant insect emanating a savage and violent aura settled before him.

The giant insect was entirely covered in hard shell, with multiple legs, red pincers, a body of red-black hue, resembling nothing less than a gigantic... crayfish?

The insect was already a corpse, yet even in death, Ji Yuan could discern from its lingering aura, this was undoubtedly a Tier Two Demon Beast!

Capable of rivaling Foundation Establishment Stage, one bearing a Demon Pill within!

While Ji Yuan was lost in astonishment, another shadow fell in front.

Looking up, he saw the Big Toad had returned... but heavily wounded, its body covered with blood-drenched wounds, even its eyelids still bleeding.

The Big Toad opened its mouth, pointing a bloody tongue at the Tier Two Demon Beast's corpse, then motioned it towards Ji Yuan.

Seemingly saying,

"You've treated me to so many delicacies, now I treat you to one."

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