You Cultivate, I Farm - Chapter 145

“It’s just some unconventional methods, but they happen to work well for nurturing the spirit cranes,” Zhou Zhengqing said with a hint of pride.

“Sounds promising. As for the method you mentioned, Lu Junior Brother, while it has its merits, it’s still a concept without concrete confirmation,” Xu Yi responded.

“Here’s the plan: I’ll give Zhou Junior Brother 200 spirit cranes, and Lu Junior Brother, you’ll get a bit less, 100.”

“These cranes are temporarily entrusted to you for breeding. They’re mature, in their prime, with a strong need—perfect for reproduction.”

“For now, the transport of cultivators will be set aside. The Beast Taming Hall will provide ample resources daily for the cranes. Everything is aimed at maximizing their reproduction.”

Xu Yi glanced apologetically at Lu Xuan and spoke.

Lu Xuan accepted Xu Yi’s arrangement calmly, without much reaction.

What Zhou Zhengqing suggested was indeed more tempting than his own ideas. With techniques that influenced the spirit beasts’ mating instincts and certain intoxicating substances, the number of cranes bred would undoubtedly rise.

Seeing Lu Xuan accepting his somewhat unreasonable arrangement, Xu Yi felt relieved. He led the two of them to a marsh.

He gathered 300 spirit cranes, dividing them into two groups of 200 and 100, each with an equal number of male and female cranes.

Additionally, he handed Lu Xuan a beast control token with a drop of blood from the cranes, allowing him to control their actions.

Lu Xuan took the token and led the cranes to a designated area.

Under his mental control, the cranes orderly chose their spots to rest. Occasionally, they’d emit a clear call, their distinct black and white eyes fixed on Lu Xuan, seemingly curious about him.

Lu Xuan brought some spirit snails, cracked their shells to reveal the fresh meat inside, and evenly scattered the broken snails in front of the cranes.

A hundred cranes elegantly bent their long necks, pecked at the broken shells, and swallowed the meat.

Concentrating, Lu Xuan’s mind flashed with a thought.

“[Spirit Cranes, first-class mystical beasts, feed on spirit grass roots, tender leaves, and creatures like spirit clams, snails, and mystical insects. Adult spirit cranes have incredibly high flying speeds, are relatively easy to domesticate, possess high intelligence, and can communicate with humans.]”

“Day after day of transporting cultivators has made the sky less desirable. When will they be free to wander among the mountains and clouds?”

Understanding the detailed state of the cranes before him, Lu Xuan sighed lightly, moving to another crane.

Among the hundred cranes, most were first-class mystical beasts, with a few majestic ones classified as second-class, with a similar ratio of males to females.

Observing closely, Lu Xuan found their states quite similar—fatigued from shuttling back and forth between the Beast Taming Hall and various locations of the Sect to earn spirit stones, they harbored different degrees of weariness towards this life.

Many females were aware of their duty to bear new cranes, holding some reluctance towards it.

“Solving the issue of crane reproduction is indeed a long and challenging road.”

Lu Xuan gazed at the cranes moving gracefully among the water grasses, feeling a pang of helplessness.

He didn’t rush to push the cranes into mating but focused on proper care and occasionally calming those anxious ones.

The next day, Lu Xuan arrived early at the marsh, channeling his energy into the beast control token. Instantly, a hundred cranes flew out from the deep water grasses, gathering around him.

“Dinner time! Specially prepared food for all of you. Enjoy it!”

Lu Xuan scattered the crane food he obtained from the Beast Taming Hall in an elevated open space. After assessing the detailed status of the hundred cranes, he adjusted, ensuring they received sufficient and delightful food.

“Only when they’re well-fed will they have the strength for their tasks, be it transporting cultivators or the tasks of the female cranes.”

After attentively caring for the cranes’ nourishment, Lu Xuan took a stroll while they digested.

The crane breeding site wasn’t far from Lu Xuan’s, about two hundred feet away. Lu Xuan leisurely approached his camp.

Within a fenced area of water grass, two hundred cranes awaited. Faint pink mist enveloped the area, visibly exciting the cranes, eager and impatient behind the female ones.

The females lay on the ground, emitting hoarse cries, bearing evident hardship in their daily routine.

“Lu Junior Brother, care to come over and see?”

Spotting Lu Xuan from afar, Zhou Zhengqing greeted him with a smile.

“How are the hundred cranes you’re in charge of? Have any entered the breeding phase?”

Lu Xuan shook his head.

“It’s only been two days; it’s not that fast for them to breed yet. But, Brother Zhou seems to have some progress here. Seems like there might be good news?”

Zhou Zhengqing laughed heartily, stating, “Indeed. Thanks to my methods and the intoxicating substances, many cranes have entered the mating phase. I believe, after some time, we’ll see signs of their fertility.”

He sounded somewhat pleased with the efficacy of his methods and substances.

“I don’t have such effective methods, Brother Zhou. I’ll have to experiment slowly to find the way.”

Lu Xuan casually praised, surprised by the number of cranes already in the breeding stage.

After satisfying Zhou Zhengqing’s pride, Lu Xuan returned to his area. He focused on the cranes’ mental states and noticed they were slightly better than before.

Seeing this, he relaxed, aiming to adjust and soothe each crane according to their unique state.

“Rushing won’t yield results. Only by ensuring their mental and physical well-being can we bring forth their inner desires.”

Lu Xuan wasn’t in a hurry. His plan was to first adjust the mental states of these hundred cranes to the best condition, dispel their reluctance towards reproduction, and even imprint the idea that breeding would bring them benefits.

As days passed and Lu Xuan tended to the hundred cranes, he suddenly heard a piercing cry from Zhou Zhengqing’s camp nearby, filled with infinite agony.

Lu Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. Using his Cloud Soaring Technique, he rushed over within a dozen breaths.

Xu Yi had arrived earlier, his face grim as he stared at something inside the enclosure.

Following his gaze, Lu Xuan saw a large crane soaked in blood, standing tall with determination in its eyes.

“Xu Senior Brother, what’s happening?” Lu Xuan asked in a low voice.

“One of the male cranes couldn’t bear the forced mating daily and resorted to self-harm,” Xu Yi said slowly.

Lu Xuan gazed at the resolute male crane nearby, feeling a surge of respect.

This crane couldn’t endure the coerced mating but, under the control of the beast control token, couldn’t resist the cultivators. To escape such a life, it chose this extreme route.

—————

• You can also check out the other Novels I’m currently translating by clicking HERE.
• Your invaluable feedback and ratings mean the world to me. Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.
• If you come across any mistakes within this chapter, kindly notify me in the comments below, so that I can make the necessary corrections.