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

Qiongbi Peak's days were quiet and uneventful.

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

Afterwards, this honest-to-goodness spirit farmer began to take care of the seedlings planted by Old Lu, diligent and dedicated.

In the blink of an eye, a few months had passed.

The weather started to heat up, and the three acres of Spirit Rice that Ning Daoran had planted outside were all growing robustly. Unlike the other four patches of spirit land, what grew were lush and verdant bamboo plants.

The bamboos were translucent and lustrous, resembling strings of emerald jade, containing extremely rich spiritual energy.

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

For a time, Xin Yan, Zhong Yan, Granny Yun Cui, and others were all surprised. They congratulated him profusely, for no one had expected Ning Daoran's talent in cultivating spirit plants to be so formidable.

Ning Daoran thanked everyone for their congratulations, and declared that next year, when the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice was mature, he would give a few pounds to each household so that everyone could taste the Second-tier Spirit Rice.

Xin Yan, Zhong Yan, Huang Shan, and others were incredibly excited about this. It was not just about the taste—consuming Second-tier Spirit Rice could enhance their cultivation and even had a slim chance of helping them breakthrough their bottlenecks!

However, what people didn't realize was that Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer inside the Small Cloud Mist Array had been eating Green Bamboo Spirit Rice for months already!

The Spirit Rice that grew from the bamboo stalks was extremely fragrant and also contained rich spiritual energy. After eating it, Ning Daoran's cultivation hadn't shifted, but Big Stupid Deer had become much more vibrant in terms of its blood qi.

After all, which family's spiritual beast could enjoy such a treat as Big Stupid Deer, eating Spirit Rice at every meal!

Ning Daoran had his own plans for cultivation—cultivating alone was too lonely. He had to include Big Stupid Deer!

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

Currently, the Spiritual Medicine on the second subterranean layer was growing strong. Most of them already had medicinal properties of over fifty years. Once he learned the art of alchemy, he planned to start crafting elixir pills that could increase mana and blood qi. He wanted to elevate Big Stupid Deer's realm by doping!

But... the Dao of Alchemy was extremely difficult, especially demanding in terms of the True Fire needed.

Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators could use True Fire to perform alchemy, but since Ning Daoran was not at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could only think about renting the Earth Lung Fire from the sect to perform alchemy. However, the rent for the Earth Lung Fire was exorbitantly expensive, something Ning Daoran currently couldn't afford.

Putting this matter aside for now.

He began looking for other long-term development paths. Among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, Alchemy Dao, Talisman Arts, and Magical Arrays were the leading ones, with alchemy being the foremost. However, given the high demands of alchemy, he temporarily set it aside and focused on arrays.

However, after visiting the Book Collection Pavilion a few more times, Ning Daoran grew increasingly desperate.

Although there were some books about arrays in the Book Collection Pavilion, such as "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," etc., after reading them over and over, he still had no idea about the formation and process of arrays, driving him to the brink of frustration.

It seemed, just as the legends said.

High-end Cultivation techniques like Array Path and Talisman Arts were tough to decipher alone; transmission was necessary.

But for an Outer Disciple like Ning Daoran, where could he find such a lineage? Others didn't highly regard him.

He could only give up; all these matters were put aside. When the time was right and opportunity knocked, he would discuss it again. For now, he would focus on properly cultivating Spirit Rice and increasing his realm and cultivation techniques!

...

Shortly thereafter, 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 major bottleneck, from Early Stage of Qi Refining to Qi Refining Middle Stage—which for a loose cultivator spirit farmer was an extraordinary event!

The people of Qiongbi Peak went to congratulate him, but Ning Daoran didn't go. He merely had Big Stupid Deer deliver ten pounds of Spirit Rice as a congratulatory gift.

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

However, a few days later, Xin Yan decided to go out in search of opportunities.

Zhong Yan had a bad premonition; she felt that Xin Yan was too eager for quick success. Without even stabilizing his mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, he wanted to push through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer in one go, which was far too risky.

Unfortunately, she could no longer dissuade him, and one night, Xin Yan left the cottage where he and his wife had lived for many years, carrying his magic artifact with him.

Without taking risks, the path of cultivation would leave one forever a mortal.

Xin Yan had seen a glimpse of longevity. Enthralled, he was no longer willing to remain stagnant.

Perhaps, having tasted the sweetness, he was no longer willing to rely on slowly enhancing his cultivation by planting Spirit Rice.

…

Early in the morning, the warm sunshine cleared the mists and fell upon a rice field.

Ning Daoran was up early, wielding a Spiritual Hoe alongside Big Stupid Deer to weed the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice. He worked up a sweat, enthusiastically. Big Stupid Deer didn't need a Spiritual Hoe at all, as it simply pulled out the weeds and devoured the parts above the roots with a flick of its tongue.

"Thud, thud, thud~~"

The sound of horse hooves came from the path. Before long, a figure appeared in the sight of Ning Daoran, Zhong Yan, Granny Yun Cui, and others.

It was a middle-aged man in a black robe, with a dark sword hanging from his waist. Clearly, he was a person from the Court, and judging from the cloud pattern on his sleeves, his rank was not low—at least he was no ordinary constable.

The man rode on the horse, surveying the spirit farmers on both sides with an aloof gaze, snorting lightly through his nose.

Ning Daoran, holding a bundle of weeds, furrowed his brows. The Blood Qi Power emanating from the man was impressively strong, far beyond that of ordinary mortals!

This was a Blood Qi Martial Artist.

In the Eastern Wilderness Cultivation Realm where Ning Daoran resided, mortals had two paths of cultivation to choose from. One was to possess a Spirit Root and become a cultivator, and the other was to tread the path of Martial Artists through the Blood Qi Path.

Blood Qi Martial Artists did not need Spirit Roots but required an ample supply of Spiritual Medicine and Blood Food. Although the saying goes, "The rich raise scholars, and the poor raise warriors," as long as one was willing to endure hardship, even a poor child could achieve something on the Blood Qi Path.

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

But walking on the Blood Qi Path had a major flaw, which was life span. Cultivators sought after the essence between heaven and earth, whereas Blood Qi Martial Artists could only draw from themselves, extensively tapping into their own blood qi reserves. The ultimate result was too harsh on the body, leaving their life spans no different from ordinary humans.

Hence, the achievements of Blood Qi Martial Artists were generally not high. Even the most brilliant amongst them could at most cultivate to the Baodan Realm, after which they couldn't cultivate further due to insufficient life span.

At this moment, the passing court Martial Artist boasted cultivation roughly at the Blood Qi Realm Seventh Layer, already in the Late Blood Qi Stage. His strength was naturally tremendous, and from his gaze, he was clearly the type to kill without blinking.

This individual headed north, towards Han Bing's residence.

In approximately the time it takes to finish a cup of tea amidst a burst of quarrel, the Martial Artist, with a resentful look, mounted his horse and left, a trace of malice flashing in his eyes before departure.

...

"Who is this person?" Ning Daoran asked.

"Fellow Daoist Ning seldom goes out, so you probably haven't seen this person."

Zhong Yan looked towards the man's retreating figure, and with a cold laugh said, "This man, named Li Xiu, serves as an arrest officer in Shanyang County. It is said he was once a servant of the Han Family. After successfully cultivating the Blood Qi Path, look, as the Han Family fell, he harbored evil intentions."

"Evil intentions?"

Ning Daoran frowned, "What do you mean?"

Zhong Yan sneered, "There's a saying, 'when the villain gets power, he tries to stamp those once above him underfoot and oppress them thoroughly.' Han Bing is the direct daughter of the Han Family, now fallen and looking after the Spirit fields here. Li Xiu's repeated visits were to convince Han Bing to agree to become his concubine—truly shameless!"

Disdain was undisguised in Zhong Yan's eyes, "After the villain gains power, he wants to taste what it was like to be with the young miss of the family he once served—truly a beast through and through!"

"Does the sect not manage this matter?"

"Manage?"

Zhong Yan looked in the direction of courtyard No. 78, frowning, "If it weren't for taking care of Han Bing's status as an Outer Disciple, Li Xiu might have tried to take her by force long ago.

It's a pity, Han Bing is a Ninth Grade Four Spirit Roots; her Spirit Root is somewhat lacking. Otherwise, if she could become even a registered disciple of a Foundation Establishment Elder in the Outer Sect, Li Xiu wouldn't dare be so arrogant."

Ning Daoran fell into silence.

"Howl~~~"

Beside them, Big Stupid Deer, completely outraged, called out. Someone dared to bully his junior sister Han Bing? This must not be tolerated!

But he quickly remembered Ning Daoran's words, to not involve himself in karma unrelated to him; his demeanor instantly lessened by much, merely nuzzling Ning Daoran's arm with his big head.

...

Ultimately, rationality prevailed, and Ning Daoran decided not to interfere.

Several days later in the afternoon.

Han Bing was drinking tea in courtyard No. 77. Now fifteen, she had grown into a truly beautiful young lady.

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

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

Initially panicked, Han Bing quickly regained calmness and whispered softly, "Senior brother, I'll go out..."

"No need."

Ning Daoran gently shook his head, walked onto the balcony of the small building, and said, "Junior Sister is visiting me here, Fellow Daoist, please leave."

"Oh?"

A flash of murderous intent crossed Li Xiu's face, but he soon sneered and departed.

Ning Daoran frowned, aware that he had become entangled in karma.

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

Han Bing did not leave her home.

Ning Daoran harbored an ominous feeling but was powerless to act.

...

Summer solstice.

Ning Daoran decided to descend the mountain, to sell another batch of Spirit Rice, reduce the quantity stored in the underground cellar, and in exchange, gather some Spirit Stones to prepare for his future breakthrough.

Having sold the Spirit Rice and exchanged it for a dozen Low Grade Spirit Stones at the market, Ning Daoran returned to the mountain with Big Stupid Deer, hastening his steps to avoid any mishaps on the rarely traveled stretch of road.

But soon after, Ning Daoran felt as though he was being watched.

He slowly stopped, and while commanding Big Stupid Deer to use Earth Tunneling, turned around and said, "Friend, having followed for so long, why not show yourself?"

Indeed, a person emerged from behind a tree, donned in a black robe, with a Black Sword hanging from his waist.

"Heh, didn't expect you to be so alert..."

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

"Indeed."

Li Xiu did not deny it, sneering, "That old fool, I told him not to meddle in others' affairs, but he wouldn't listen!

He thought sending a letter to Han Bing's family at Qiushui Lake would save her? Ridiculous, the Han Family doesn't even have a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator now, who could defy me?"

His cold gaze shifted, "Now it's your turn."

With that, Li Xiu slowly pushed the sheathed sword with his thumb, the Black Sword revealing an inch, its chill biting!