My best friend asked me if I was still doing system tasks.

Since they were going to cut down trees and chop firewood anyway, the two decided to build a wooden hut and enclose a courtyard. They would use a campfire to scare away low-level monsters, and then activate the array plate at night for defense, ensuring their safety.

We also have to thank Xiange for sponsoring the house's construction blueprints. Of course, Xiange also directed the entire construction process.

The daily use of fire was handled by Luo Hanying, who has a fire and wood spiritual root, while the daily use of water was handled by Ruan Chayan, who has a water spiritual root.

Everyday items that could be replaced by wood and stone were all made from these two materials.

Luo Hanying jokingly said that the two of them were doing wilderness survival, while Ruan Chayan said that compared with ordinary wilderness survival, theirs was not only more challenging, but also had no audience.

The two of them should have abstained from grains and should no longer indulge in their appetites. However, Xiange said that their current cultivation level was not very high, and that consuming the flesh and blood of demonic beasts and spiritual materials from heaven and earth could increase the spiritual energy in their dantian.

The two foodies immediately started searching for various flavorful herbs to make seasonings, taking turns going out hunting each day, going from being flustered at the beginning to being quite adept at it now.

String Song diligently followed behind its hosts, guiding them on how to circulate spiritual energy, how to cast spells, and how to activate talismans and array plates, among other things.

Later, their talents and dullness in cultivation became apparent. Ruan Chayan majored in magic and minored in array formations and talismans.

Luo Hanying specializes in formations and secondarily in talismans and alchemy.

When the two were studying, they would either hold chisels and hammers and chisel out formations on blank array plates, or they would lie on the table and draw some scribbles that were more likely to fail than succeed.

Ruan Chayan spent most of her energy examining the jade slips and reciting hand seals;

Luo Hanying also needs to learn more about the refining of medicinal herbs and the use of the alchemy furnace.

In addition, Xiange had them practice swordsmanship, telling them that they didn't have any usable techniques at the moment, but they would learn them when they joined a sect in the future.

The string song indicates that the closest major sect to this secret realm is the Shiren Sect, where Yu Chen Daozun, an important figure in the war between good and evil, resides.

If the two of them were to join the Shiren Sect, they would not only be able to get close to important figures to facilitate their missions, but they would also have a nominal master to guide them.

After Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying wielded their swords in the courtyard and learned to chop, slash, parry, stab, stir, press, and hang, they were able to easily defeat Qi Refining stage monsters with these simplest moves.

However, the monsters in this Incense-Inviting Secret Realm are generally Foundation Establishment cultivators running everywhere, and Golden Core cultivators are as common as grass.

Every so often, Xiange would organize the two of them to go out treasure hunting, fighting against weaker monsters of higher levels, gradually increasing the intensity to make up for their lack of practical experience.

The two of them had to be woken up by the music before dawn every day, and could only meditate and rest for a while in the middle of the night.

Luo Hanying threw herself at Ruan Chayan, who was slightly smaller than her, and complained that she had never been so engrossed in studying for the college entrance examination.

Ruan Chayan patted Luo Hanying's head and suggested that she think back to Zhou Lihong and Demon Lord Huaiwei. She said that the reason they couldn't escape unscathed that day was because they were too weak.

Thinking back to Qiao Hezhi and Gao Yuru, it was because they lacked the ability that they slunk away, leaving Xiange with a huge debt.

Luo Hanying gave the sky the middle finger and listlessly continued with what she was doing.

*

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying dragged the monster onto the stone slab to skin and debone it. As they listened to the stringed instrument, it taught them the names of each joint and the weaknesses of various common monsters.

"Alright." Ruan Chayan said, holding up her blood-soaked hand, "Xiaoxue, wash your hands and go check if the fire has gone out. Add firewood if necessary, and light it if needed."

Then I watered our vegetable garden, and now I'm going to cook.

Luo Hanying nodded repeatedly and went to check the campfires placed along the fence of the wooden house.

The aroma of stir-fried spicy food wafted in on the wind. Luo Hanying sniffed, a look of anticipation on her face, and then unleashed another fireball spell.

Low-cost spells can be cast as long as they resonate with the spiritual energy in the air. Thus, even without a water spiritual root, Luo Hanying was able to use the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique.

Luo Hanying stood in the medicinal field where spiritual herbs were planted, and chanted in a hand seal: "Flowing water and drifting clouds, water rises and wind arises."

The wind blew, and a large patch of dark clouds gathered above the medicinal herb field, causing a light drizzle to fall.

Luo Hanying withdrew her protective spiritual energy and enjoyed the sensation of the rain and mist pattering on her face.

"Hey?! Xiaoxue! Did you steal some food?!" Ruan Chayan shouted from the front yard.

She stared at the empty wooden plates on the stove, somewhat bewildered.

Luo Hanying couldn't possibly be that hungry, could she? She ate it all up in the blink of an eye without saying a word?

Luo Hanying was confused when she heard Ruan Chayan's shout. She wiped her face and went over to ask, "What? I stole something?"

I'm watering the plants, I haven't eaten anything.

Ruan Chayan pointed to the plate with the remaining soup and said, "I just went inside to set up the table, and when I came back, the spicy rabbit meat was gone."

I was thinking of having spicy food for lunch today, and I didn't make anything else, so I just stir-fried a large portion.

"Damn it, where did it go?"

Luo Hanying immediately contacted Xiange, who was dozing in the tree, in her mind: ["Xiange, Xiange, wake up, did you just come down to eat?"]

Awakened by Luo Hanying, Xiange looked bewildered. It leaped up and landed in front of the two of them: "What do you mean, 'eat'?"

"Didn't I say I don't eat the flesh of this kind of monster? Don't save me any food."

Ruan Chayan then explained the whole story.

Xian Ge immediately said, "Hey, what are you guessing? Can perfectly good vegetables grow legs and run away by themselves? Let me check for you."

It spread its surveillance network across the small courtyard.

"Hey, I found it! You two, don't say anything yet."

After a moment of contemplation, Xiange said, "You two, don't face me when you speak."

The creatures of this world cannot see my existence. Talking to me is like talking to thin air for you two; this behavior will only lead to inappropriate misunderstandings for them.

Luo Hanying looked obediently at Ruan Chayan, a little confused: [“This deep mountain forest is full of nothing but monsters, who could possibly misunderstand?”]

String Song: "This is the spirit beast that's stealing vegetables right now; it has the intelligence of a six-year-old child."

I will project a three-dimensional image into your consciousness.

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying both looked into their minds and saw a cute and strange spirit beast lying on the roof beam.

This mythical beast was as big as an adult domestic cat, with a long, pointed muzzle, glossy gray fur, and snow-white belly fur. Its round, large eyes were filled with alertness.

At this moment, it was stretching its neck and tilting its head, listening to the sounds coming from Ruan Chayan and the others with its round ears, its long, fluffy tail resting on its feet.