After managing the last section of his territory, Chen Jiuge's feeding task for the day was considered complete.
"This Hundred Dragon Pond isn't as fearsome as the rumors outside claim," Chen Jiuge mused, shaking his head.
After Hong Ling dived back into the pond, she was immediately surrounded by two other Flood Dragons. The black Flood Dragon asked in a low, rumbling voice, "Hong Ling, what about that little fellow? Is he bringing roasted sheep tomorrow?"
"Exactly, exactly! I'm starving for it! It's been so long since I've had delicious roasted meat," the slightly smaller white Flood Dragon nodded incessantly.
"With Sister Hong on the case, it's naturally a small problem, easily handled with a flick of my wrist!" Hong Ling boasted, rising to her full height and gesturing dramatically with her dragon claw.
Leaving aside the small meeting of the three Flood Dragons, Chen Jiuge felt a bit troubled as he looked at his herd of Red Flame Sheep.
That Flood Dragon is almost thirty meters long, and a Red Flame Sheep is just under three meters. It would barely be a mouthful, probably just enough to get stuck between its teeth. I just sold a batch recently, so there aren't many mature Red Flame Sheep left.
He looked at the fluffy Snow Rabbits not far away and muttered uncertainly to himself, "How about substituting with Snow Rabbits?"
According to what that red Flood Dragon said, that fellow probably hasn't eaten any other kind of food in a long time. Using Snow Rabbits should be fine; after all, it's just to satisfy a craving. Chen Jiuge thought for a moment. Still mindful of his wallet, he decided on roasted rabbit. Besides, they weren't expensive, and using them would also prevent the Snow Rabbits from overpopulating like the Spiritual Chickens.
As a farm owner, Chen Jiuge naturally possessed culinary skills. Cooks in the Cultivation World, however, were known as Spirit Chefs. Chen Jiuge hadn't dedicated much time to this particular craft. Fortunately, thanks to his decent cooking abilities from his previous life, the food he prepared, despite him being only a Second Rank Spirit Chef, was significantly more delicious than that of an average Spirit Chef of the same rank.
A Snow Rabbit stood about seventy to eighty centimeters tall. Satiating a Flood Dragon, even an undersized juvenile, with these would be very difficult. So, Chen Jiuge roasted twelve Snow Rabbits, offering them as a taste of something new—a sort of introductory gift.
「The next day.」
Chen Jiuge arrived at Hundred Dragon Pond and happened to encounter Yue Chengtian.
Seeing Yue Chengtian with dark circles under his eyes, Chen Jiuge was taken aback. "Junior Brother Yue, what happened to you?"
"Ah, Senior Brother, it's nothing," Yue Chengtian said, his eyes darting away as he took that day's Spirit Food and hurriedly left.
Was he bullied by someone, or by a dragon? Chen Jiuge was somewhat perplexed.
Shaking his head, Chen Jiuge piloted his small Flying Boat to the airspace above his designated area, carelessly scattering Spirit Food when the sky suddenly darkened.
It turned out to be an adult Black Flood Dragon appearing above the Flying Boat. Its nearly hundred-meter-long body completely blotted out the sun.
"Excuse me, Senior, is there something you need?" Chen Jiuge stood up and respectfully cupped his hands.
"Little one, are you new here? I smell the aroma of food," boomed the voice of the Black Flood Dragon.
"Are you talking about this?" Chen Jiuge asked, holding up the strip of meat in his hand that he hadn't yet thrown out.
"You call this crap food? I smell roasted meat, rabbit meat, I believe," the Black Flood Dragon sniffed deeply, an intoxicated look on its face.
"Hand over the roasted meat to this old one, and I guarantee your safety in this area."
"Damn you, Black Flood Dragon! He's my guy!" a red Flood Dragon—Hong Ling—suddenly appeared, blocking Chen Jiuge.
"Hong Ling? Little whelp, you're no match for me. Out of consideration for your parents, I won't beat you. Now, move aside," the Black Flood Dragon said, looking disdainfully at the petite Flood Dragon before him.
"Damn Black Flood Dragon, Sister Hong isn't alone!" Hong Ling retorted. Just then, a black Flood Dragon and a white Flood Dragon appeared beside her.
"You three little runts, scram!" The Black Flood Dragon's gaze flickered dangerously.
Watching the tense standoff, Chen Jiuge muttered softly, "Is all this really necessary? It's just some food. If you pay me, I can bring more; it's no big deal."
Apart from Chen Jiuge, the four dragons present were all at the Sixth Rank of Cultivation, so they naturally heard his muttering.
"Lad, are you sure? If we give you money, you'll bring more?" the Black Flood Dragon asked, coughing lightly.
"Ah, Senior, it's not a difficult matter. It's just that I'm rather poor. Otherwise, handling such a trivial task would be easy," Chen Jiuge said flatteringly.
"Hehe, little fellow, do you know the punishment for privately feeding us other food?" Hong Ling sneered.
Chen Jiuge was startled by her words. If it were truly just about some food, the terrifying reputation of Hundred Dragon Pond wouldn't be so widespread, and these Sixth Rank Dragon Species wouldn't come to blows over a mere mouthful.
He carefully recalled the feeding precautions for Hundred Dragon Pond, and a piece of information surfaced in his mind: Foreign Spirit Food can easily contaminate a Dragon Species' bloodline. If discovered, the punishment, levied in Merit, is based on the severity and amount of contamination, with a minimum of five hundred Merit and no upper limit.
"Judging by your expression, you understand now," Hong Ling sneered coldly.
Chen Jiuge calmed down slightly and said, "I have a Secret Technique that can purify a trace of your bloodline. I believe the contamination from Spirit Food isn't that severe. Perhaps my technique can offset it somewhat."
"Hah! You? A mere Golden Core Realm Cultivator?" the Black Flood Dragon scoffed.
"Senior, you have nothing to lose if I try, correct?" Chen Jiuge said, his expression unchanged.
"Agreed." The Black Flood Dragon pondered for a moment. A Golden Core Cultivator definitely can't harm me. If I back down now, those three little whelps will surely laugh their heads off. But if this works, I'll get to eat Spirit Food too! How wonderful!
"Senior, I'm going to begin. Please don't resist," Chen Jiuge said, placing his hand on the Black Flood Dragon's claw.
The Black Flood Dragon snorted disdainfully. "Go ahead. Let's see how a Golden Core Cultivator like you can purify my bloodline."
Dragon Species are inherently promiscuous, so even Flood Dragons often possess numerous other mixed bloodlines. However, thanks to the dominant nature of the Dragon Bloodline, any creature can transform into a Dragon if it reaches a certain concentration of that bloodline.
Chen Jiuge selected a moderately significant, impure bloodline and extracted it. Then, feigning extreme weakness, he said, "Senior, I trust you've felt the change by now?"
Astonished by the change within its body, the Black Flood Dragon stared at the young Golden Core Cultivator. "How did you do that? You're only in the Golden Core Realm!"
With the Black Flood Dragon's confirmation, Hong Ling and her two companions could wait no longer. They immediately surrounded Chen Jiuge, extending their claws and exclaiming, "Let me try!"
After extracting a strand of impure bloodline from each of the four dragons, Chen Jiuge said wearily, "Seniors, I truly can't continue. This Secret Technique is incredibly taxing on one's vitality, and I can only perform it for each of you this single time."
A hint of disappointment flickered in the eyes of the four dragons, then they said seriously, "We are not unreasonable dragons. Since you have helped us, we will also give you appropriate rewards."
The Black Flood Dragon said, pulling out a piece of white crystal from its mane, "This is a Celestial River Crystal. Consider it your reward."
"A Sixth Rank spiritual material?" Chen Jiuge exclaimed, accepting the Celestial River Crystal in shock.
"This is our reward for you—a Miss Snake Egg," Hong Ling said, presenting a red egg.
"A Miss Snake, the rare variant species?" Chen Jiuge was shocked once again.
"Remember to bring us enough Spirit Food tomorrow," the Black Flood Dragon and Hong Ling's group each reminded him before departing.