Chapter 137: Replenishing from Others (First Update)_1

Chapter 137: Replenishing from Others (First Update)_1

“I’m still a child, how would I know?” Mo Hua said righteously.

Zhang Lan’s expression stiffened with helplessness, and he felt compelled to explain:

“The so-called ‘replenishing from others’ is actually a type of dual cultivation.”

After Zhang Lan finished speaking, he paused and added, “You should at least know what dual cultivation is, right?”

Mo Hua blushed slightly and said, “I know just a little bit.”

Zhang Lan was unsure whether Mo Hua really didn’t know or was just pretending, so he continued:

“It’s essentially the act between a man and a woman, plain and simple. However, dual cultivation can enhance one’s cultivation, and the process is quite enchanting, which is why many cultivators are so engrossed in studying the path of dual cultivation.”

Mo Hua had a question, “Can dual cultivation really enhance your cultivation?”

“It can improve it a bit, which is better than nothing. Rather than wasting time on these side tracks, it’d be better to spend more time meditating and cultivating,” Zhang Lan said.

“What’s the difference between dual cultivation and replenishing from others, then?”

“Dual cultivation is still considered normal, while replenishing from others is malicious. Evil cultivators use it to extract the Blood Qi, Essence Element, and Spiritual Power from others. Those who have been subjected to it might at the least regress in their cultivation, or at worst have their Taoist Foundation shattered and even die; such instances occur quite often.”

Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart.

“The rapist you all are pursuing, has he also depleted someone to death?”

“He has definitely done such things before, but not this time. The reason we are hunting him is that last month, he left a woman completely emaciated, destroyed her Qi Sea, and now she is perpetually dazed and anxious...”

Zhang Lan sighed deeply, grinding his teeth as he spoke.

Mo Hua, feeling sympathy, asked, “So if you catch him, will you sentence him to death?”

Zhang Lan nodded, “The Taoist Court is always strict with crimes related to replenishing from others, imposing sentences of more than a hundred years or even the death penalty. The one we’re after, death is inevitable.”

Mo Hua then felt relieved.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Lan added:

“I forgot to tell you, dual cultivation is prohibited as well.”

Mo Hua looked confused.

I’m still a child, why are you telling me this?

Feeling a bit embarrassed by Mo Hua’s stare, Zhang Lan, having already started, pressed on with his explanation:

“Normal relations between a man and a woman, the Taoist Court doesn’t concern itself with. But dual cultivation is different; any dual cultivation techniques and secret techniques, once discovered, will be immediately destroyed...”

“If a cultivator engages in dual cultivation and is discovered by the Taoist Court, they will be held accountable. Although it’s not as severe a sentence as for replenishing from others, they will still be recorded in the Taoist Court’s files, which could affect one’s future when seeking masters, entering sects, and marriage arrangements...”

Mo Hua asked puzzledly, “Didn’t you say that dual cultivation isn’t harmful? Why is it banned then?”

Zhang Lan patted Mo Hua on the shoulder, “In the future, when you see those coquettish and licentious female cultivators, you better stay alert, who knows if they’re thinking about harvesting from you.”

Mo Hua pondered for a long while, then nodded earnestly.

Then he encountered another blind spot and asked curiously,

“Female cultivators can be harvested from by male cultivators, and male cultivators can be harvested from by female cultivators, but can male cultivators be harvested from by other male cultivators, and female cultivators by other female cultivators?”

Zhang Lan was asked until he saw stars.

What a mess this all is!

What on earth is stuffed in that little brain of yours, to ask such things?!

Zhang Lan was silent for a long moment, finally letting out a tired sigh, “Let’s sleep, I’m exhausted.”

He said this and then closed his eyes, ignoring Mo Hua.

Mo Hua wanted to ask more, but seeing that Zhang Lan already looked somewhat haggard, he tactfully refrained from asking further.

The campsite’s lights flickered, settling down into tranquility.

Mo Hua read the Formation Books for a while, and at 1 a.m., he entered his Sea of Consciousness and practiced the Formation, then closed his eyes to rest for a bit.

The next day, at 6 A.M., as the sky turned light, Mo Hua woke up.

Mo Hua got up, and at the same time, Zhang Lan and the others also opened their eyes.

The three of them ate something simple and left the campsite, continuing their journey.

Once they reached Lonely Cloud Peak, Mo Hua looked at the terrain and circled several spots on the Map.

These places were relatively secluded, seldom visited by Monster Beasts, and not easily discovered by other cultivators.

Zhang Lan instructed, “Be very careful not to leave a trace, so as not to startle the snake by hitting the grass. If you encounter the thief, don’t act rashly; just keep an eye on him from a distance, and we’ll move in once everyone is here.”

Everyone nodded, then split up to search in the areas Mo Hua had circled.

Mo Hua followed Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan had high cultivation, and it was safer for him to be with Zhang Lan.

After searching around, they all gathered in a forest not far from a campsite.

Mo Hua said, “There are traces around here, the thief must be hiding in that campsite.”

“Couldn’t it be other Monster Hunters?” Situ Fang asked.

Mo Hua said, “This campsite has been abandoned for a long time; Monster Hunters wouldn’t stay here.”

Zhang Lan nodded and said, “Let’s surround the campsite and move in together. Mo Hua, it could get dangerous here, you run far away.”

“Okay,”

Mo Hua nodded, then immediately ran off into the distance.