The rat received the command and scurried forward, movements cautious and jittery. It reached out a tiny claw and grasped the seed.

The moment skin touched shell, the rat froze.

Its body trembled violently, locked in place as if seized by an invisible, crushing pressure.

However, the paralysis lasted only a few breaths. The trembling ceased, and the creature’s expression shifted to one of manic excitement. It raised the seed high, offering it to Wu Yuan.

“What did you find?” Wu Yuan shouted from a safe distance, his voice echoing through the trees.

The rat squeaked frantically, the sound urgent and high-pitched.

Wu Yuan nodded, the intent clear despite the language barrier. “So, a message hidden inside the seed drilled into your mind?”

The rat squeaked again, acting as a translator for the mental imprint it had received. The message was arrogant and formal:

“We warmly welcome the demon race warrior who slew the Stone Wood Spirit Goat to join the Wood Spirit Temple.”

“As a token of our sincerity, the Demon Power imprint on the horn magical artifact has already been erased.”

“This seed, when planted in the outside world, will grow into a First Rank High-Grade Sacred Spirit Wood. It is the symbol and glory of the Wood Spirit Temple.”

Wu Yuan’s face instantly darkened. He stared at the green seed in the rat’s paw with cold eyes.

“Bullshit sincerity!” he spat. “I could have ground away that Demon Power imprint myself given time. Do they think I need their charity?”

He turned his gaze inward, focusing on the [Karma Pearl].

Karma Pearl, it’s up to you.

The pearl pulsed, delivering its verdict instantly.

[Green Intelligence: The magical artifact is safe. However, the seed contains a trap. Upon maturity, the plant will emit a frequency that enslaves the minds of nearby spirits and monsters, turning them into puppets.]

Wu Yuan’s expression twisted into a scowl. He ground his teeth.

“I knew it wasn’t a good thing!”

“Utterly despicable. On the surface, it looks flawless. No issues during planting, no issues during growth… it just waits until the very end to stab you in the back!”

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His fingers tapped against his chin as he analyzed the parameters.

“If the trap only triggers at maturity,” he mused, “then I just need to leave the area before it blooms. Or better yet, chop it down the moment it ripens. That should bypass the danger, right?”

He queried the artifact again. Karma Pearl!

[White Intelligence: No danger.]

Wu Yuan nodded, a satisfied smirk returning to his face. “Thank you for your hard work.”

He looked back at the waiting rat.

“Your task is complete.”

Before the words fully registered in the creature’s mind, Wu Yuan flicked his wrist.

A fireball the size of a fist shot forward.

The rat had no time to squeak, let alone dodge. It was engulfed instantly, turning to ash within the roaring flames.

Ruthless pragmatism was the only law of the wild. Wu Yuan manipulated his silk threads to carefully wrap the seed, layer by layer, sealing it away. He would plant it later, on his own terms.

With the seed secured, Wu Yuan retreated into the safety of the treehouse.

He sat down, his gaze falling on the spoils of war: the Storage Bag gripped in his hand and the two goat horn magical artifacts emitting a soft, spiritual glow.

He tapped the Storage Bag with a fingertip.

It opened without a whisper of resistance. The previous owner, a mere early-stage Qi Condensation goat demon, lacked the strength to leave a Divine Sense imprint capable of barring Wu Yuan.

The internal space was identical to the bag Bibo had given him—roughly one cubic meter. It was small, but tidy.

The first thing to catch his eye was a pile of Spirit Stones. There were over 200 of them.

Wu Yuan looked at the glittering pile and felt… nothing.

“A goat demon from a major clan comes out on official business with only 200 Spirit Stones?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “What a pauper.”

To the current Wu Yuan, this was practically pocket change.

He shifted his attention to the vegetation. A pile of vibrant Spirit Plants took up most of the space.

Most of it was Moon Spirit Grass—the same fodder he was familiar with. A rough count revealed nearly 200 stalks, each glowing with a faint trace of Lunar Essence.

“These were probably just his daily rations,” Wu Yuan guessed.

He picked up a stalk, inspected it, and sneered.

“What garbage quality is this? I wouldn’t even use it to wipe my ass! The Spiritual Qi is too faint, and the texture isn’t even smooth enough!”

He tossed it aside. However, digging deeper into the bag revealed the real treasures.

Separated from the bulk fodder were several specially crafted jade boxes, designed to lock in Spiritual Qi.

Wu Yuan opened them one by one, his eyes lighting up with surprise.

“Three First Rank Middle-Grade Spirit Plants!”

He lifted the first one—a flower radiating a gentle heat.

“[Purple Sun Flower]. Extremely precious. It only blooms for a brief window after sunrise. It significantly boosts the Yang energy of male Demon Beasts. Stew this with some goat meat, and you have a supreme tonic!”

He opened the second box. A lush, watery herb lay inside.

“[Jade Water Spirit Grass]. Grows in rivers rich in Spiritual Qi. The leaves are fresh, juicy, and tender. It nourishes the physical body and softens fur. A favorite delicacy for herbivorous Demon Beasts.”

Finally, the third box.

“[Three-Leaf Green Root]. Now this is rare. A Wind-attribute Spirit Plant.”

Wu Yuan examined the gnarled root. “It loves rooting in rock crevices, drinking in mountain winds. For any cultivator comprehending wind-attribute spells, this is a treasure.”

“It only grows one leaf every ten years. When three leaves gather, the medicinal effect multiplies. This one… fully three leaves.”

Wu Yuan muttered to himself, obsessively checking the root systems of each plant.

To his delight, they were perfectly preserved. The vitality was locked in.

“These are excellent goods. With roots this healthy, I might actually be able to replant them.”

He carefully closed the jade boxes, a newfound respect for his deceased enemy rising in his chest.

“As expected of a major clan specializing in Spirit Plants. The goat demon’s net worth is impressive after all!”

“I take back what I said about you being poor. You were just carrying your wealth in inventory.”

Wu Yuan stowed the herbs away and turned his attention to the main prize.

The [Wood Calling Spirit Horn].

He already possessed one horn, broken during the fight, but this one was the pristine artifact that had remained on the goat demon’s head.

It was distinct from the combat-focused horn. The circular patterns etched into its surface were a pale, vibrant green. The body of the horn was black, smooth and warm like ink jade, pulsing with an aura of pure life force.

Wu Yuan took a deep breath. He poured his Demon Power into the artifact, closing his eyes to sense its function.

Om.

A subtle mental connection snapped into place. Information flowed into his mind.

“[Wood Calling Spirit Horn]. Low-grade Magical Artifact. Auxiliary type.”

“Function: Accelerates the growth of Spirit Plants.”

Wu Yuan’s eyes snapped open. He scrutinized the specific effects.

Low-grade Spirit Plants: Growth speed increased by 40%. Middle-grade Spirit Plants: Growth speed increased by 20%. High-grade Spirit Plants: Growth speed increased by 5%.

Wu Yuan was overjoyed.

“A pure support artifact?”

For a cultivator focused on combat, this might be useless. But for Wu Yuan, who intended to farm his way to immortality, this was invaluable. The ability to cross ranks and accelerate even high-grade plants was unheard of for a low-grade item.

“And it has Potential,” he realized, sensing the artifact’s structure. “It can be upgraded to middle or even high grade with the right materials.”

He rubbed the smooth surface of the horn, his fingers tracing the green runes.

“Good treasure,” he murmured. “Truly worthy of being the signature artifact of the Stone Wood Spirit Goat clan!”