Chapter 12 It's Your Turn Now (Thanks to the recent Sugar Leader)

Qiongbi Peak days were quiet and mundane.

Several days later, a spirit farmer named Huang Shan took over Spirit Field No. 81. He threw all of Old Lu's old belongings out of the shack and burned them with fire, as if Old Lu had never existed here.

Afterward, this honest and simple spirit farmer began to take care of the seedlings planted by Old Lu, working diligently.

Months passed in the blink of an eye.

The weather started to get hot, and the three acres of Spirit Rice planted by Ning Daoran outside flourished, and unlike the other four Spirit Lands, what grew were lush, verdant bamboos.

These bamboos were clear and glossy, resembling rods of emerald jade, encapsulating extremely rich spiritual energy.

Green Bamboo Spirit Rice, a second-rank Spirit Plant!

Immediately, Xin Yan, Zhong Yan, Granny Yun Cui, and others were amazed, congratulating him frenziedly. No one had expected Ning Daoran's talent in spirit plants to be so formidable.

Ning Daoran thanked everyone for their congratulations and declared that next year when the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice matured, he would gift several pounds to each household, allowing everyone to taste the flavor of second-tier Spirit Rice.

For this, Xin Yan, Zhong Yan, Huang Shan, and others were extremely eager, aware that it was not just about the taste. Consuming second-tier Spirit Rice could enhance cultivation and even had a very low chance of breaking through bottlenecks!

However, unbeknownst to others, Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer had been eating Green Bamboo Spirit Rice for months inside the Small Cloud Mist Array!

The Spirit Rice that grew from bamboo tubes was extremely fragrant and rich in spiritual energy. After Ning Daoran consumed it, his cultivation didn't change, but Big Stupid Deer's blood qi became even more vigorous.

After all, which spiritual beast could enjoy the treatment of Big Stupid Deer, who ate Spirit Rice every meal!

Ning Daoran had his own cultivation plans; cultivating alone was too lonely—he had to bring Big Stupid Deer along!

When he asked the question, "Old Lu, would you like to cultivate together with me?" Big Stupid Deer was absolutely ecstatic!

Currently, the Spiritual Medicines on the second underground level were thriving, most already surpassing fifty years in medicinal age. Later, once he learned alchemy, he would start concocting elixirs that could increase mana and blood qi, consuming elixirs to elevate Big Stupid Deer's realm!

But... the Alchemy Dao was extremely difficult, especially the requirements for true fire.

Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators could use True Fire for alchemy, but Ning Daoran wasn't at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so he had to rent the Earth Lung Fire from the Sect for alchemy instead, which was prohibitively expensive. With Ning Daoran's current resources, he couldn't afford it.

This matter was not to be discussed further, temporarily put aside.

He began to look for other long-term development routes in the Cultivation Hundred Arts, where Dan Formation was foremost, with alchemy ranking first. But the requirements for alchemy were too high, temporarily set aside, so he turned to the Array Path.

However, after frequent visits to the Book Collection Pavilion, Ning Daoran was steadily becoming desperate.

Although the Pavilion had some books on Array Path like "Introduction to Array Path," "Crude Analysis of Small Array Formation," "Spiritual Pattern Study," "Pan Array Method Category Analysis," "Brief History of Array Path," "One Hundred and Eight Applications of Array," and more,

After reading them, he was completely clueless about the formation process and reasons behind arrays, frustrating Ning Daoran to the point of throwing the books in anger—he simply could not comprehend them!

It seemed just like the legends said.

Array and Talisman techniques, these high-end cultivation skills, were difficult to figure out alone and required inheritance.

But where could an Outer Disciple like Ning Daoran find such inheritance? Others wouldn't even consider him.

He had to let it go. All these matters were put aside for now. Later, if fate decided to strike, he would address them then. For now, he should focus on sowing Spirit Rice and improving his cultivation and technique!

…

Not long after, news came from Spirit Field No. 80 at Qiongbi Peak.

Xin Yan had made a breakthrough!

He successfully advanced from the Third Level of Qi Refining to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, breaking through a significant bottleneck from Early Stage to Mid Stage of Qi Refinement—a major event for a Loose Cultivator Spirit Farmer!

The people of Qiongbi Peak went to congratulate him, but Ning Daoran did not attend. Instead, he had Big Stupid Deer deliver ten pounds of Spirit Rice as a congratulatory gift.

As for why Ning Daoran didn't go himself, that was for Xin Yan to ponder.

A few days later, Xin Yan decided to go out in search of chances again.

Zhong Yan had a bad premonition. She felt Xin Yan was becoming too eager for quick success, wanting to rush directly from Mid Stage Qi Refinement to Qi Refining Fifth Level without even stabilizing his current cultivation—it was too reckless.

Unfortunately, she could not dissuade him. Xin Yan still left one night, taking his magic artifact from the small house where he and his wife had lived for many years.

If one does not strive on the path of cultivation, they would remain a mortal all their life.

Xin Yan had glimpsed a ray of longevity, enraptured, no longer willing to stand still.

More likely, having savored the taste of success, he no longer wanted to rely on growing Spirit Rice to slowly enhance his cultivation.

…

In the early morning, the warm sunlight dispersed the mists, casting light over a field of rice.

Ning Daoran, early in the morning, carried the Spiritual Hoe along with Big Stupid Deer to weed the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice outside. He worked fervently, sweating profusely while Big Stupid Deer did not even need a hoe, directly pulling out the weeds and devouring everything above the roots with a flick of his tongue.

"Thump thump thump~~"

Hoofbeats sounded from the path, and soon a figure appeared within the sight of Ning Daoran, Zhong Yan, Granny Yun Cui, and others.

A middle-aged man in a black robe, with a dark scabbard slung at his waist, was clearly from the Court, and judging from the cloud patterns on his sleeves, his rank wasn't too low, at least not an ordinary constable.

The man, riding atop a horse, surveyed the few spirit farmers on either side with a high and lofty gaze, snorting softly through his nose.

Ning Daoran held the weeds, furrowing his brow— there was an intense Blood Qi Power emanating from the man, indicating a level of vigor far beyond any ordinary person!

This was a Blood Qi Martial Artist.

In the "Eastern Wilderness Cultivation Realm" where Ning Daoran lived, mortals had two cultivation options: possessing a Spirit Root to become a cultivator, or following the path of Jianghu Martial Artists, practicing the Blood Qi Path.

Blood Qi Martial Artists did not require Spirit Roots but needed a substantial amount of Spiritual Medicine and Blood Food supplements. Although the saying went "poor in literature, rich in martial arts," as long as one was willing to persevere, even a child from a poor family could achieve something on the Blood Qi Path.

In terms of strength, the Blood Qi Path was divided into: Blood Qi Realm, Condensed Liquid Realm, and Embracing Elixir Realm, corresponding to the Qi Refinement Realm, Foundation Establishment Stage, and Golden Core Stage of cultivators.

But pursuing the Blood Qi Path has a significant flaw, which is life span. Cultivators seek between heaven and earth, whereas Blood Qi Martial Artists can only seek within themselves, extensively tapping into their own blood qi foundation. The eventual result is an excessive drain on the body, leaving their life span no different from ordinary people.

Thus, the achievements of Blood Qi Martial Artists generally aren't very high, even for the most top-notch talents among them. The peak they could possibly reach through cultivation is the Embracing Elixir Realm, and after that, they would lack the lifespan to progress further.

Currently, the court martial artist passing by had a cultivation roughly at the Blood Qi Realm Seventh Layer, placing him in the Late Blood Qi Stage. His strength was naturally formidable, and his eyes clearly showed he was a man accustomed to bloodshed.

He was headed north towards Han Bing's residence.

After only about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, amidst a burst of arguing, the martial artist reluctantly mounted his horse and left, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes.

...

"Who is this man?" Ning Daoran asked.

"Fellow Taoist Ning seldom leaves home, so you probably haven't seen this person."

Zhong Yan looked at the man's retreating figure and scoffed coldly, "This man's name is Li Xiu, acting as an arrest officer in Shanyang County. It's said that he used to be a servant of the Han family, later achieving some success in cultivating the Blood Qi Path. Now that the Han family has fallen, he has harbored bad intentions."

"Bad intentions?"

Ning Daoran frowned, "What do you mean?"

Zhong Yan snickered, "There's a saying, 'When a petty man gains power, he desires to trample those who once stood high above him and relish humiliating them to the fullest.'

Han Bing is the legitimate daughter of the Han family, and now she's fallen to caring for a spirit field here; Li Xiu has come here multiple times trying to persuade Han Bing to agree to become his concubine. Truly shameless!"

Disdain was evident in Zhong Yan's eyes, "After gaining some position, he wants to taste what it was like to be with the daughter of his former masters, an utter beast!"

"Is no one from the sect dealing with this matter?"

"Deal?"

Zhong Yan glanced in the direction of building 78, frowning, "If it weren't for Han Bing's status as an Outer Disciple, Li Xiu would have likely forced himself upon her long ago.

Unfortunately, Han Bing is a Ninth Grade Four Spirit Roots; her spirit root is somewhat lacking, otherwise, if she could become a registered disciple to a Foundation Establishment Elder in the Outer Sect, Li Xiu wouldn't dare to be so brazen."

Ning Daoran was momentarily silent.

"Aow~~~"

Beside him, Big Stupid Deer called out indignantly. How dare someone bully his junior sister Han Bing like this?

But it quickly recalled what Ning Daoran had once said about not intervening in karma that didn't involve oneself and its aura immediately subdued significantly, only nudging Ning Daoran's arm with its big head.

...

Eventually, reason prevailed, and Ning Daoran decided not to interfere.

Several days later, in the afternoon.

Han Bing was having tea in building 77. At fifteen, she had grown into a graceful beauty, truly living up to that name.

"Fellow Daoist, please open the array and let me in."

Li Xiu's voice came from outside the Small Cloud Mist Array.

Han Bing initially showed panic, then quickly regained her composure, and spoke softly, "Senior Brother, I will go out..."

"No need."

Ning Daoran gently shook his head, stepped onto the small building's balcony, and said, "The junior sister is here visiting me, Fellow Taoist, please leave."

"Oh?"

A flash of murderous intent crossed Li Xiu's face, and he left with a sneer.

Ning Daoran furrowed his brows, aware that he had now become entangled in this karma.

A month later, Uncle Lin departed from Qiongbi Peak and never returned.

Han Bing remained behind closed doors.

Ning Daoran felt an ominous premonition in his heart, but was powerless to change anything.

...

Summer solstice.

Ning Daoran decided to go down the mountain to sell another batch of Spirit Rice, reducing the quantity stored in his underground cellar and exchanging some for Spirit Stones to prepare for his upcoming breakthrough.

After selling the Spirit Rice and obtaining a dozen Low Grade Spirit Stones, Ning Daoran headed back to the mountain, hastening their pace to avoid any incidents on the sparsely populated path.

However, before long, Ning Daoran felt as if someone were watching him.

He slowed his pace and ordered Big Stupid Deer to Earth Tunnel, then turned around and said, "Friend, having followed for so long, why not come out and meet?"

Sure enough, a man emerged from behind a tree, clad in a black robe and carrying a Black Sword at his waist.

"Hey, I didn't expect you to be this alert..."

"Uncle Lin was killed by you, wasn't he?"

"That's right."

Li Xiu didn't deny it, smirking cruelly, "That old fool, I told him not to meddle. Did he really think sending a letter to the Han Family at Qiushui Lake could save Han Bing? What a joke. The Han family doesn't even have a Late-stage Qi Refining among them now, who can stop me?"

He looked over coldly, "Now it's your turn."

Saying this, Li Xiu slowly pushed his thumb against the sheath, the Black Sword revealing an inch, its chill piercing.