Chapter 378: Chapter 357: A Little Benefit

“Its lifespan has been stolen, and now it’s nearing its end, not far from death.”

In the expectant gazes of Big Macaque, Old Zhou, and the others, Wang Wu slowly spoke.

“What? Stolen lifespan! Where does this come from?”

Big Macaque and Old Zhou were stunned, something unheard of and unseen; moreover, do spirit plants even have lifespans? Even if they do, how could it be stolen?

Yet they did not know that this was actually Wang Wu’s point of confusion as well. Common plants go through cycles of decay and growth each year, determined by the external environment. Once the environment is suitable, even ordinary trees on Earth can live for thousands of years, let alone Seventh Grade Spirit Plants?

But this is what Grandpa Tree’s information library diagnosed.

So he could only follow along and recite this.

“Humans have Essence Qi, demons have Blood Qi, plants have Vital Qi; these are all the fundamentals of life. If I am not mistaken, the Vital Qi of this Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime is being disturbed by some kind of Array. Whether it’s malicious or inadvertent, we must immediately deploy an Array for interference mitigation. Otherwise, as quickly as three months, or as slowly as three years, this tree will undoubtedly die.”

“What? Array Formation? Brother Mu, setting up an Array requires a considerable expense, something Bear Ridge simply cannot afford right now!”

Big Macaque was anxious, jumping on his feet.

“Brother Mu, can we perhaps find the interfering Array and then request a negotiation to see if it can be resolved?” Old Zhou also found it difficult, feeling constrained by limited means upon hearing that an Array needed to be deployed.

“It must be that Yu Ermu, deliberately targeting us!” Jia Ding Monkey cursed angrily.

“Stop talking nonsense. In just a few days, is it possible that an Array could be deployed by Yu Ermu if he wanted to? Who does he think he is!” Big Macaque reprimanded him, then turned to Wang Wu, “Brother Mu, think of another way. There must be another solution, right? You are Master Mu!”

“Of course, there’s another way, such as relocating this Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime out of this region. This is actually a better method because even though countering with an Array might be temporarily effective, it essentially also interferes with the opposing Array. If this is done with malice, that’s one thing, but if the opposition is actually inadvertent? Once they realize their Array is being deliberately interfered with by us, Big Macaque, you should know what that implies?”

Wang Wu spoke calmly, yet this startled Big Macaque, Old Zhou, and even Jia Ding Monkey.

They could not afford to offend King of Xijiang.

“Then relocate, we must relocate, far from any Array interference. So, Master Mu, where do you think it would be best to relocate?” Big Macaque was in a hurry since this Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime was the money tree of Bear Ridge.

“Naturally, we need to find a place with excellent Feng Shui, a pleasant climate, and vibrant Vital Qi. I think—”

Wang Wu stopped speaking at this point, instead beginning to wander around globally. Wild Boar Ridge spans around three hundred miles, with four Vassals and one Lord.

This includes the small hill where the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime is located and the surrounding area of fifty miles—all Big Macaque’s territory. The man is a Ninth-Grade Sealed Lord, so what’s wrong in wanting quality assets?

Who dares to object?

And Zhouzhuang Town is Old Zhou’s domain, a small town of three thousand mortals, where every ten years they select a boy and a girl to directly train as Spirit Net Mages, although their lifespan is generally only about a hundred years, the replenishment is fast.

So now Old Zhou, who seems destitute and cries poverty at the drop of a hat, actually has over a hundred Spirit Net Mages around Fourth and Fifth Grades under him.

Similarly, Big Macaque also has several hundred spiritual monkeys under him, with decent strength, able to easily exhibit Fourth and Fifth Grades of power as long as they have the Spirit Net.

As for the Spiritual Spring area Wang Wu previously occupied, the whole small hill originally belonged to Master Mu, surrounded by lush trees for ten miles, including many Spirit Fruit Trees, Master Mu, even when hiding his identity, had a knack for tending plants.

But because Master Mu went into seclusion, this small hill was about to become Bear Ridge’s public recreation area.

Big Macaque, Old Zhou, Jia Ding Monkey shamelessly came here to gather, and what’s even worse is that they operated the spring within Master Mu’s territory, treating it as a non-allocated territory and distributed it.

This disgraceful intention, Wang Wu didn’t understand before, but does he really not understand now?

For that spring wasn’t naturally meant to exist, but Master Mu strived hard a decade ago to ensure safety for his small piece of territory by communicating with underground water veins, diverting them to a clear mountain stream.

Of course, back then, the West River Water Race hadn’t risen in conflict, rainfall would be regular, and occasional flooding wouldn’t matter, no one paid attention to this small creek.

Until the West River Water Race restricted the water source, well, the entire small mound was becoming a monkeys’ back garden.

Hundreds of monkeys lived here all year round, leaving the Spirit Fruits eaten clean and defecated everywhere, creating an overwhelming mess.

Wang Wu noticed some yellow and white objects floating in his pond a few days ago.

So, how could there be any Array interference? It was just Wang Wu trying to get some small benefits for himself.

At this moment, he pretended to wander around Wild Boar Forest, even staying outside Zhouzhuang Town for a while. Elder Zhou was delighted, his eyes gleaming, but in the end, Wang Wu still shook his head.

“This place is not bad. Though the earthly atmosphere is murky, it’s rare nourishment for the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime. However—once it adapts to the environment, it will bloom and bear fruit every day. If Master Yellow Wasp comes to collect honey every day, those savage bees of his are quite fierce. If they accidentally rush into the town, it could be a tragedy. Old Zhou, you don’t want those mortals to be stung to death by wasps, right?”

Elder Zhou’s face changed dramatically. This was indeed a serious problem.

Previously, the surroundings of this Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime were deserted primarily because those honey-collecting wasps were too vicious, and with their ability to produce Third-Grade honey, they were quite arrogant. They even stung three notorious spiritual monkeys to death, and Big Macaque chose to brush it off.

Therefore, definitely not. Zhouzhuang Town is his territory, his base, and he can’t allow those vicious wasps to run wild.

So, Wang Wu continued to wander around the world, even staying briefly in Jia Ding Monkey’s domain. But in the end, he still shook his head. It’s too close, too close to the Xijiang River.

Up to this moment, after looking everywhere else, the only place left was Master Mu’s domain.

Big Macaque began to sense something fishy.

And Jia Ding Monkey outright challenged.

“Master Mu, you said the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime is being interfered by an array. Do you have evidence for this? Could it be you’re mistaken? I don’t recall you being skilled in arrays.”

“Oh, well, I’ve been in seclusion for many years and have gained some insight. Of course, compared to true array masters, my skills are insignificant. Why don’t we invite an array expert, and then it will be clear at a glance. Hmm, I’m willing to offer a month’s salary!”

Wang Wu slowly spoke.

Elder Zhou, who always enjoyed a bit of drama, laughed and said, “That’s right, that’s right. Big Macaque, if you want to invite an array expert, I’m willing to offer three months’ salary.”

Big Macaque’s face turned ugly. The issue with the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime only arose a few days ago, and at that time, Master Mu was still in seclusion. Besides, Master Mu has always been a simple good-natured man, unlikely to do such lowly, despicable things. Moreover, what would Master Mu stand to gain?

“Brother Mu, Old Zhou, you’re speaking nonsense. Can we even afford an array expert? Combined, ten years of our salary wouldn’t be enough. Hey, Brother Mu, can you think of another way? Is there a special array that can counteract interference without affecting the opposing array?”

“Well, there is indeed such a miraculous array. The Five Elements Spirit Array will do. Deploy it around the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime, and from now on, it’s as if the tree moved into a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land—harmony of yin and yang, circulation of five energies. What’s a mere array interference to that? Over time, it can even evolve into a Third Grade Spirit Plant!”

Wang Wu said deliberately.

Upon hearing this, Big Macaque was taken aback, and even Jia Ding Monkey was dumbfounded. Only Elder Zhou was chuckling eerily. Who doesn’t know the prestige of the Five Elements Spirit Array, the Five Elements Heaven Repairing Technique, a top-notch cultivation technique, along with the Five Elements Heaven-Repairing Spirit Pill? Ha, legendary Immortal Pill, how could folks like us even dream of it?

“So, there’s no other way?”

Big Macaque was still unwilling to give up.

Wang Wu shook his head.

“Alright then, Master Mu, take a look at your domain. Is it suitable for a migration?”

“No need to look, it’s very suitable. I also have some understanding of array techniques and can transfer plants to slightly relieve the interference of the array, though this process will surely incur some cost. I suggest, if you all agree, let’s plant it on the small hill opposite my true form.”

“Alright, it’s settled!”

Big Macaque gritted his teeth, having no other choice. He was even prepared that if Master Mu couldn’t improve the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime, he would just chop it into firewood!

Damn it, you dare to scheme against my cash cow, but you probably didn’t expect I’ve got a backup plan.

Immediately, Wang Wu, Elder Zhou, and Jia Ding Monkey went to handle the transplant of the Purple-skinned Yellow Flower Lime. Meanwhile, Big Macaque hastily rushed to the pond, grabbed the big carp transformed by Wang Wu’s substitute fur, fetched a gray little seal from the spring, and then took out a special talisman paper. After reciting a spell, the talisman turned into a streak of golden light shooting straight to the sky.

This was his backup. Even the spring’s domain was personally applied for by him, so how big Yu Ergou’s domain is, isn’t it up to him?

Swipe!

With a slash of the gray little seal, gosh, the hilly area originally spanning ten miles shrank by half, becoming Yu Ergou’s domain.

Come on, come on!

Don’t you know Yu Ergou, this dumb fish, was personally brought back by me?

You old wooden block, you turned cunning after coming out of seclusion. What a decline in morals, Master Mu, you’ve lost your integrity!

Serves you right if you fail while trying to trick others!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep