The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

Chapter 287: Outer Peak Miao Huayu

Jiang Yuan brought out five dogs.

Jiang Chen had exactly one.

Yet, the only beast entirely unfazed by Da Huang’s overwhelming, tyrannical aura was Jiang Yuan’s stout black hound.

Jiang Chen looked the pitch-black beast up and down. “Fellow Daoist Jiang Yuan, that black dog of yours is far from simple.”

Jiang Yuan smiled with unabashed pride. “He is an Ink Jade Suanni, possessing a faint trace of the ancient Suanni bloodline. Don’t let his massive size fool you; he’s barely eight months old.”

A Suanni? According to ancient lore, the Suanni was one of the nine true sons of the Dragon—a literal divine beast. Here in the Azure Realm, a purebred Suanni would stand equal to a terrifying Demon Emperor in cultivation, strength, and supreme status.

Jiang Chen blinked, looking from the Ink Jade Suanni back to Da Huang.

Unbelievable, he thought, a touch of cynical envy bleeding into his rational mind. He had spent five years feeding Da Huang premium Spirit Rice and spirit plants every single day just to get him to the size of a calf. Yet the beast across from him was only eight months old and matched Da Huang’s bulk purely on the merit of ancient bloodline privilege.

Furthermore, facing Da Huang’s vicious provocation, the Ink Jade Suanni didn’t even twitch. Its amber eyes remained completely placid, entirely unbothered by the mortal hound’s posturing.

“Senior Brother,” Jin Fugui interrupted, leaning in cautiously. “Too many male dogs in one place. It’s a recipe for a bloodbath.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan waved a hand, dismissing his four male dogs and leaving only the earth-yellow female behind.

Despite the lack of competition, Da Huang remained tense, baring his fangs. In fact, his eyes now conveyed a distinct, undeniable look of… disdain.

Jin Fugui was taken aback. “It seems Da Huang isn’t a fan of yours, Senior Brother.”

If Da Huang had actually liked the female, he would have instantly trotted over to catch her scent. Instead, he looked at her like a noble scoffing at a peasant.

Jiang Yuan, a veteran breeder, recognized the rejection instantly. “What a shame,” he sighed, looking genuinely heartbroken. “I would have loved to keep one of their pups.”

In his professional opinion, a mutated native hound like Da Huang was the absolute pinnacle of top-grade stock. In all his years, he had never seen its equal. But sadly, the spark just wasn’t there.

Pragmatic as always, Jiang Chen chuckled lightly. “No use forcing it. Let’s find the next candidate.”

“I’m coming with you,” Jiang Yuan announced, his eyes gleaming with professional curiosity. “I have to see what kind of dog a beast like Da Huang actually chooses.”

And so, the three men and two dogs set off toward the next destination.

Jin Fugui had originally scouted nearly ten breeders, but only five had shown genuine interest: Jiang Yuan, Wu Qiuya, Zhao Mo, Li Handan, and Ruan Jie. Jiang Yuan’s female had been the safest bet, yet Da Huang had entirely rejected her.

Shortly after, the trio arrived at their second stop.

“Senior Sister Wu Qiuya’s female hound is only two years old,” Jin Fugui introduced quickly as they approached.

However, history immediately repeated itself.

Just like his reaction to Jiang Yuan’s hound, Da Huang took one look at Wu Qiuya’s prized female and turned up his nose. He bared his teeth, too lazy to even take a step closer.

With no other choice, the group moved on. But surprisingly, the entourage began to grow. Wu Qiuya and her rejected hound tagged along, turning a trio into a quartet of four people and three dogs. The atmosphere shifted into a lively, comedic procession.

“Your Da Huang is ridiculously picky!” Wu Qiuya laughed.

“He didn’t like Senior Brother Jiang’s hound, and he hates mine too!”

“Well, he’s a top-grade anomaly,” Jiang Yuan defended the dog. “You have to expect some arrogance.”

Bantering the whole way, the expanding group soon arrived at the third house, belonging to Zhao Mo.

Here, the situation finally changed.

However, the expressions on the faces of Jiang Chen, Jin Fugui, and the rest of the breeders instantly contorted into masks of absolute disbelief.

Because the creature Da Huang had finally taken a liking to was not Zhao Mo’s female dog. It was a captive wolf.

To be precise, it was a majestic golden female wolf.

She was a creature of absolute, regal lethality. Her coat looked as though it were forged from molten gold, gleaming blindingly in the midday sun. Every hair along her spine stood rigid as razor wire, exuding the cold, brutal hardness of tempered steel. She looked fierce, proud, and untouchable.

And yet, Da Huang was shamelessly, enthusiastically trying to mount her.

Even as the wolf’s metallic fur sliced into his underbelly, drawing fresh, squelching trickles of blood, the thick-skinned hound absolutely refused to back down. He flashed the lethal predator a goofy, fawning grin, completely ignoring his bleeding groin while persistently shuffling his massive frame around to find the perfect angle.

The five cultivators and four other dogs stared in dead silence.

“Old Jiang…” Jin Fugui whispered, utterly aghast. “Your dog is into masochism?”

Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. “I… genuinely have no idea.”

Beside him, Jiang Yuan choked back a snicker. “Truly the pinnacle of native hounds. His tastes are… extraordinary.”

Wu Qiuya glanced at the bewildered Zhao Mo. “Well? Should we let them try?”

Crossbreeding wolves and dogs wasn’t unheard of in Beast Mountain. Many disciples and eccentric Immortal Elders conducted private experiments, occasionally birthing spirit beasts with bizarre and potent abilities.

Zhao Mo rubbed his chin, a calculating glint in his eye. “We can try. But if she drops two pups, I claim one.”

“Count me in!” Jiang Yuan yelled immediately, treating the unborn litter like precious stock. “If there are three, I get the third!”

“Me next!” Wu Qiuya chimed in eagerly. “If there are four, the fourth is mine!”

Jiang Chen and Jin Fugui exchanged a helpless, exasperated look. These people work fast. “You are all Old Jin’s esteemed peers,” Jiang Chen said smoothly, employing his usual diplomatic tact. “We must certainly give you face.”

The terms were set on the spot. If there was one pup, Jiang Chen kept it. Two, Zhao Mo got the second. Three, Jiang Yuan claimed the third. Four, Wu Qiuya took the rest. Whether the majestic golden wolf would actually conceive from Da Huang’s shameless persistence would be known in two months.

Right at that moment, a subtle vibration emanated from Jiang Chen’s Jade Green Gourd. A freshly minted Communication Talisman lit up.

Answering it, he heard the voice of Lin Ya, the guard stationed at the periphery of the Spirit Farm. She didn’t offer any specifics through the talisman, only urging him to return immediately.

Sensing urgency, Jiang Chen tossed the spirit beast leash to Jin Fugui. “Keep an eye on Da Huang. Send him back when he’s… finished.”

Bidding a hasty farewell to Jiang Yuan and the others, Jiang Chen summoned his Giant Leaf and took to the skies.

Moments later, his flight path took him over the massive Pillar Python. He couldn’t help but glance down. The titanic beast appeared to be resting, its eyes shut tight.

Yet, with his hyper-rational observation skills, Jiang Chen noticed something unnatural. After basking in the harsh sun for so long, the serpent’s body temperature should have risen. But the python remained bone-chillingly cold, its emerald scales absorbing the heat like an endless void, offering not a single trace of warmth.

Is there a deeper secret hidden within Beast Mountain? Jiang Chen pondered.

He immediately squashed the thought. Whether there is or not, it has absolutely nothing to do with me. Choosing the pragmatic path of survival, he accelerated, leaving the giant snake behind.

A short while later, he touched down at the periphery of the Spirit Farm.

Lin Ya was waiting, and the news she delivered hit him like a physical blow.

An Outer Peak disciple—someone who had just joined the sect this past summer—had cultivated a mutated spirit plant on their very first attempt at planting.

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened in genuine shock. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious!” Lin Ya nodded vigorously. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this!”

Jiang Chen drew a sharp breath, his mind racing through the implications. “Is this Outer Peak disciple a man or a woman? What’s their name?”

Lin Ya didn’t hesitate. “A man. His name is Miao Huayu!”