Scavenging Resources
Translator: Cinder Translations
---
Song Wen arrived at the Serpent cave and found Liu Jiang.
"Elder Liu, can you give me a few meat balls?"
Liu Jiang replied, "Elder Wu, didn't you just receive ten meat balls three days ago? Have you finished them so quickly?"
Song Wen said, "Don't mention it; I accidentally ruined more than ten."
Liu Jiang was taken aback, a bit stunned.
Each meat ball was the size of a basin; how could you accidentally ruin more than ten in one go?
But he didn't think too much about it. Given Song Wen's position, there was no need for him to lie about ten meat balls in front of him.
Liu Jiang waved his hand, and ten meat balls suddenly appeared, flying toward Song Wen.
Song Wen unceremoniously accepted the meat balls, but his face was filled with displeasure.
"Elder Liu, this is a bit too stingy. Ten meat balls won't last long; give me a bit more."
Liu Jiang looked bitter.
"Elder Wu, the meat balls are provided by the Spirit Beast Peak, and they only supply a ten-day supply at a time. The ten I just gave you were already saved up over time. If I give you more, the other Serpent hybrids in the cave will go hungry."
"If you want more meat balls, you can only go to the Spirit Beast Peak and talk to Elder Zhuang Tao, who is in charge of distributing the meat balls."
Song Wen's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "What! The Spirit Beast Peak dares to obstruct us? Don't they know that the Supreme Elder is urging us to hurry with the refining of the Serpent Mystic Qi?"
"Who knows? That group at the Spirit Beast Peak is always arrogant and disrespectful. Every time we ask them to cooperate, they turn up their noses and ignore us."
Liu Jiang looked indignant, seemingly harboring a deep resentment against the Spirit Beast Peak.
"Hmph! I'll find Zhuang Tao. With the order from the Supreme Elder, I want to see if he dares not to cooperate."
After saying that, Song Wen stormed out.
Liu Jiang called after Song Wen's retreating figure, "Elder Wu, do you need me to accompany you?"
Song Wen waved his hand, "No need. The Spirit Beast Peak isn't a den of tigers and dragons. Do I, Wu Sheng, need to fear them?"
The Spirit Beast Peak, also known as Ten Thousand Beast Peak, got its name from the multitude of spirit beasts on the mountain.
The Spirit Beast Peak towers over ten thousand feet high, covering a vast area. It is the largest mountain in the Beast Master Sect.
At the foot of the Spirit Beast Peak, there was a courtyard.
More than ten Qi Refinement stage cultivators were busy working.
Some were handling the rotten flesh taken from blood-soaked bodies, some were sorting spirit herbs, some were dissecting the corpses of unknown demon beasts, some were kneading meat balls, and some were applying the final sealing of spiritual energy to the meat balls.
Song Wen flew on his sword, hovering above the courtyard.
He was not very confident that he could get the meat balls from Zhuang Tao.
After pondering for a moment and formulating a strategy, Song Wen descended, landing in front of a grand building in the courtyard.
The large door of the building was engraved with three large characters: "Beast Ball Pavilion."
His appearance quickly attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard.
Those Qi Refinement stage disciples, except for a few who were free and offered greetings to Song Wen, were busy with their tasks and did not pay him any mind.
Song Wen walked straight into the main hall of the building and called out loudly, "Is Elder Zhuang present? I am Wu Sheng from the Alchemy Peak. I have matters to discuss and hope Elder Zhuang will come out to meet me."
As soon as Song Wen entered the main hall, he saw a flash of shadow, and a figure appeared in the hall.
This person had a fat head and big ears, with a cheerful smile that gave off a very amiable vibe.
He was Zhuang Tao.
"Elder Wu, it's my oversight not to have welcomed you on your first visit to the Beast Ball Pavilion."
Song Wen smiled and said, "Elder Zhuang is being polite. It's my fault for coming uninvited; I hope Elder Zhuang won't hold it against me."
Zhuang Tao said, "I've heard Elder Liu mention you several times. He praises your exceptional intelligence and how you manage the Serpent cave so well. Meeting you today, you truly are a hero among men with remarkable presence."
'This person is quite astute,' Song Wen thought to himself.
Song Wen didn't have time for small talk with Zhuang Tao. He got straight to the point.
"Elder Zhuang, I have come to discuss something. The number of Serpent hybrids in the cave is increasing, and the demand for meat balls is growing. I hope Elder Zhuang can provide a bit more."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Tao's previously cheerful demeanor suddenly changed, and his expression became troubled and helpless.
"Elder Wu, it's not that I, Zhuang, am stingy; it's that the quantity of meat balls is limited. Just supplying the Spirit Beast Peak is already insufficient. To avoid affecting the Alchemy Peak's cultivation of Serpent hybrids, I've been forced to reduce the quota for the Spirit Beast Peak, which has caused grievances among the people there. If Elder Wu wants more meat balls, I'm truly unable to help."
Song Wen was not easily dismissed by a few words.
"Elder Zhuang, can't you think of a solution? It's impossible that you have no stock left at all."
Zhuang Tao shook his head.
"Elder Wu, meat balls are crucial for enhancing the strength of spirit beasts, and they are also essential in pill-making. Every sect member wants them. However, the materials for making meat balls are rare, and the refining method is very complex, resulting in extremely low production. Before they can be made, they are already reserved by others. Where would there be any stock left?"
Song Wen was deeply skeptical of Zhuang Tao's words.
As the one in charge, Zhuang Tao couldn't possibly have no stock at all.
Song Wen stared at Zhuang Tao, examining his face, as if trying to detect any sign of weakness in his expression.
Zhuang Tao wore an expression of helplessness, looking at Song Wen without saying a word.
"Alas."
Suddenly, Song Wen sighed deeply, looking very forlorn.
"Just a few days ago, the Supreme Elder came to the Serpent cave and ordered us to hurry with the refining of the Serpent Mystic Qi."
"If we don't have enough meat balls, we won't be able to cultivate a sufficient number of Serpent hybrids, and we won't be able to select those with exceptional talent."
"Without those with exceptional talent, how can we cultivate powerful Serpent hybrids in a short time?"
"And without powerful Serpent hybrids, how can we fulfill the Supreme Elder's orders?"
A flicker of concern flashed across Zhuang Tao's face but was quickly masked.
"Is it true that the Supreme Elder is urging the quick refining of Serpent Mystic Qi? Is this true?"
Liu Jiang had mentioned this matter to him before, but he hadn't taken it to heart.
After all, he was regularly providing a certain amount of meat balls to Liu Jiang, which should have been sufficient for the needs of the Serpent cave.
It wouldn't significantly impact the cultivation of Serpent hybrids.
Song Wen said, "Do I have several heads that I would dare to falsely convey the Supreme Elder's orders?"
Song Wen's expression suddenly became very cautious and careful. He glanced around to confirm that there were no outsiders in the wooden hall.
He leaned closer to Zhuang Tao, lowered his voice, and asked with a mysterious look, "Do you know why the Supreme Elder values the Serpent Mystic Qi so much?"
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (RDC) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) – Chapter 552.
Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going!
Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;)
Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words.