Chapter 155: Chapter 136: Xiaojiu’s Discovery

"You’re also that incredible guy from the Provincial Capital Red Star Zoo, aren’t you? The one who subdued a rampaging brown bear with his bare hands to save a tourist?"

Pang Yunrui asked from the other end of the line, his tone a mix of certainty and inquiry.

"It was me."

Yang Qi didn’t deny it. It wasn’t a secret he needed to deliberately hide, as quite a few people among those in the know were already aware.

He took the opportunity to ask in return, "Senior, did you guess that I trained Song Wan’s Overlord just from those two videos?"

"Not just that."

Pang Yunrui replied, a hint of smugness in his voice. ’I didn’t just guess.’ "I also heard from a friend that the cat and dog you’re raising received the titles of ’Honorary Police Dog’ and ’Honorary Police Cat.’"

"He’s with the Lvliu District Criminal Investigation Division. An internal memo mentioned your deeds helping to solve a case with your cat and dog."

"So I put it all together. You can easily get close to ferocious beasts like Northeast Tigers and brown bears, your cat and dog have become ’unofficial elites’ on the police force, plus Song Wan is your classmate and she suddenly acquired a very intelligent leopard cat recently..."

"Once I connected all those clues, it wasn’t hard to guess you were behind it all, was it?"

"You really figured it out..." Yang Qi chuckled. He had to admit the other man’s reasoning was sound and his sources were extensive.

Pang Yunrui’s tone suddenly turned earnest. "Yang Qi, I’m being officially discharged in a few days. The follow-up results are all good, and the doctor said my recovery is much faster than expected."

He paused, then continued gratefully, "This is all thanks to your help back then. When I get out of the hospital, I’ll come find you at the Zoo to discuss something in person."

"Congratulations on your discharge, Senior."

Yang Qi first offered his congratulations before asking, "What’s it about? Can’t you give me a hint over the phone?"

"I can’t explain it in just a few words over the phone, and it’s not really the place. It’s better to discuss it in person."

Pang Yunrui was being deliberately mysterious.

His tone was serious; he didn’t sound like he was joking or just trying to cozy up.

"Alright, then..."

Seeing his insistence, Yang Qi didn’t press the matter.

’I’ll find out when he gets here anyway.’

The two chatted for a few more minutes about how things were going before ending the call.

Putting down his phone, Yang Qi stroked his chin.

’That "discussion" Pang Yunrui insisted on having in person...’

’It’s most likely related to animals.’

’Maybe he wants me to help "specially train" a cat or a dog?’

As the young master of the Dazhuang Group, his father had previously donated five million to the Zoo just to thank Yang Qi.

’It wouldn’t be out of the question to do a Spirit Awakening as a favor.’

’Of course, it’ll all depend on his exact request.’

Making a mental note of the matter, Yang Qi put away his phone, got up, and went upstairs to cultivate.

Just as he reached the stairs, he suddenly remembered his newly acquired Guardian Beast, Qi Zai.

’Xiaojiu and Bai Wan get to have Spirit Rice Porridge every day. Even though Qi Zai is a carnivore, he can’t miss out on the good stuff.’

On second thought, Yang Qi headed back to the kitchen.

From his Hundred Pouches Belt, he took out about half a pound of shimmering, translucent Low-Grade Spirit Rice that gave off a faint, clean fragrance.

’I won’t make porridge this time, I’ll cook it as plain rice!’

’Once it’s cooked, I’ll form it into small rice balls and give them to Qi Zai as snacks or a dietary supplement.’

The Beaked Eagle was a purely carnivorous raptor, true, but Spirit Rice was an ingredient that contained pure Spiritual Qi and was nourishing to any living creature. As long as it was alive, nothing would refuse it.

Moreover, after consuming the Spirit Rice, the Spiritual Qi would be completely absorbed, leaving very little waste. It would hardly affect the raptor’s digestive system or its carnivorous nature, and he wouldn’t have to worry about abnormal droppings attracting a Veterinarian’s attention.

Why did Cultivators favor Spiritual Food?

Besides replenishing Magical Power, another benefit was that it spared them the mundane trouble of digestion and excretion, keeping the body pure and unobstructed.

He put the Spirit Rice in the rice cooker, added an equal amount of water, and set the timer.

Yang Qi went upstairs to cultivate.

「Early the next morning.」

Feeling another slight increase in his Cultivation, Yang Qi ended his session, satisfied.

He went downstairs and first headed to the backyard to dismantle the Demon Extermination Array.

Then he went back inside, took most of the Spirit Rice from the rice cooker, rolled it into grape-sized rice balls, and stored them in his Hundred Pouches Belt.

He mixed the rest into the food bowls for Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard. The four little guys ate without even looking up.

Yang Qi also prepared a day’s worth of regular cat and dog food for each of them.

Everything was in order.

He tallied the gains from last night’s Demon Extermination Array. The total contribution points came to just over eight hundred.

Without hesitation, Yang Qi used them for eight lottery draws.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-grade Spirit Stone (Wood Attribute)]

’Not bad, a good start.’

Yang Qi nodded. Spirit Stones were always hard currency.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-grade Spirit Stone (Wood Attribute)]

’Another Wood Spirit Stone?’

Yang Qi mused.

’Keep drawing!’

As it turned out, he drew a low-grade, wood-attribute Spirit Stone six times in a row.

The expression on Yang Qi’s face went from anticipation to puzzlement, and finally to contemplation.

’Is this preparing me to set up the Hundred Trees Nourishing Body Array?’

The Hundred Trees Nourishing Body Array was an Array for nourishing the body, cultivating the mind, and extending life. One of its core setup materials was one hundred Spirit Stones containing pure wood-attribute Spiritual Qi.

The system "stuffing" him with six Wood Spirit Stones in one go... its intention seemed obvious.

’The problem is, I have nowhere to set up this Array.’

Yang Qi frowned slightly.

’The Zoo is definitely out. It would cause too much of a stir and I’d easily be exposed.’

According to the Array’s description, it required one hundred large trees that were at least thirty years old to act as a natural foundation, supplemented by Wood Spirit Stones to guide the circulation of Spiritual Qi.

’For that, I’d need to at least lease a small mountain or own a private forest.’

’Given my current situation, I don’t have the means to do that yet.’

’I’ll just save them for now. I’m sure they’ll be useful eventually.’

Yang Qi put the six green Wood Spirit Stones, which were as smooth as jade and radiated vibrant life force, into his belt.