Chương 10: Breaking Ground

"This is going to be a huge project." Zhang Huaijin looked at the spirit field before him and let out a soft sigh. Without him even realizing it, his cultivation had already reached the peak of the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm. Tilling this spirit field was a form of cultivation in itself. It would continuously temper his foundation, making his spiritual power deeper and more solid with every passing day. —— The next day, at dawn. The morning sun rose, its first rays splitting the darkness.

Golden light spilled across the land, draping the red slopes of Heavenly Yang Mountain in a thin, radiant veil. Zhang Huaijin, dressed in white, carried his spirit hoe over his shoulder and began his great task. He turned over the dark, rich soil, breaking up the old rice roots and stalks buried within. Strands of spiritual energy wove through the air, maintaining a delicate balance across the field.

Whenever a patch of earth felt lacking in spiritual energy, Zhang Huaijin crushed spirit stone fragments into fine powder and scattered them over the spot. Time passed slowly, and everything moved forward in perfect order. With every swing of the hoe, Zhang Huaijin's entire body was engaged. His cultivation was constantly refined, and the spiritual energy flowing through his meridians grew purer by the day. Each day, Zhang Huaijin lived a tiring but satisfying life.

He spent two hours cultivating, circulating his technique to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The rest of his time was devoted to learning new arts, practicing with his spirit artifacts, and working the spirit field. —— Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. All forty acres of spirit field had been turned over. The areas lacking spiritual energy had been replenished. Wisps of spiritual energy from the vein below began seeping into the soil, slowly restoring its fertility.

According to Zhang Huaijin's estimate, in half a month, the field's fertility would be just right for planting the spirit seeds. At that point, he could finally sow the Red Sun Spirit Rice seeds into the ground. After that, the work wouldn't be nearly as exhausting. In his spare time over those days, Zhang Huaijin had already memorized every piece of knowledge in the Spirit Plant Cultivator's manual. That book had since been burned to ashes. Once the spirit seeds sprouted, he would be ready to begin.

His Cloud Rain Art and Metal Finger Art were both steadily advancing toward major achievement. Once he cultivated them to perfection, he would become a top tier, upper grade Spirit Plant Cultivator. Zhang Huaijin sat down cross legged on the ground. Strands of spiritual energy from all around him flowed into his body. Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Fifteen minutes later, he had fully recovered to his peak condition.

"Time to start hunting spirit beasts." Now that the Red Sun Spirit Rice on Heavenly Yang Mountain had been harvested, the spirit fields held no value to rogue cultivators. In other words, he could finally move around the surrounding area. As long as he didn't wander too far from the mountain, ensuring the protective formation remained safe, he would be fine. Even if someone triggered the formation, he could return in the shortest possible time.

Zhang Huaijin walked out of the formation to the foot of Heavenly Yang Mountain. He took a thin, black incense stick, no thicker than a chopstick, from his storage pouch. He tossed it lightly and lit it. Wispy strands of fragrance drifted in all directions on the gentle breeze. This was Spirit Beast Luring Incense, capable of attracting spirit beasts from several miles around. The one Zhang Huaijin held was only a Tier 1, low grade incense.

It could attract Tier 1, low grade spirit beasts, and there was even a chance it might draw in a Tier 1 mid grade beast. The mountain range bordering Langya County was called the Purple Dusk Mountain Range. The Eastern land was vast and boundless, with countless mountains and rivers, both great and small. The Green Bamboo Mountain was at the very edge of the weakest part of the range. Within fifty miles of Green Bamboo Mountain, all Tier 1, upper grade spirit beasts had already been hunted.

There were still plenty of Tier 1 low grade beasts, but finding mid grade ones were extremely rare. Fifty miles was a vast area, and the spirit beasts were scattered far and wide. Besides, Zhang Huaijin didn't have the time right now to leave Heavenly Yang Mountain just to hunt beasts. So the Luring Incense was the perfect solution. Zhang Huaijin concealed himself, sat down cross-legged, and gripped his Blue Bamboo Sword. He waited for the beasts to come to him. —— Fifteen minutes later.

The distant stillness was suddenly broken. A Tier 1 low grade Fire Python slithered into view. The scent of the Spirit Beast Luring Incense held a fatal attraction for spirit beasts. The python was about a meter long, its body a fiery red marked with black patterns. Flickers of flame licked from its jaws. Its eyes were crimson and cold as ice. The Fire Python was a fire attributed beast, and it also carried a potent venom. From behind a large rock, Zhang Huaijin moved with blinding speed.

Before he even fully emerged, his Blue Bamboo Sword shot forward. A Tier 1 Low grade Fire Python was no match for him at all. Swoosh! The sword whistled through the air, its Blue blade gleaming. Moving like lightning, it flew straight toward the python's head. Boom! The python twisted its body, opened its mouth wide, and spat a torrent of flame to try to block the Blue Bamboo Sword, buying itself a single moment to escape. It immediately began retreating.

A Tier 1 mid grade spirit artifact was something it couldn't possibly handle. Zhang Huaijin shifted his intent. The Blue Bamboo Sword changed direction and plunged directly into the python's weak spot, seven inches below its head. Shlick! Blood sprayed out. Without so much as a hiss of pain, the Fire Python was dead. A Tier 1 low grade spirit beast was no match for him. He could kill it in a single blow.

At his current level, Zhang Huaijin could even defeat most cultivators at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm. He scanned his surroundings. He raised his left hand, two fingers glowing with a faint, golden light. Two golden rays of light shot out, leaving two bloody holes in the python's body. Snake type spirit beasts had incredibly strong vitality. Even when they appeared dead, they might suddenly lash out. Seeing no movement from the Fire Python, Zhang Huaijin relaxed.

He quickly stowed the python's corpse and hid again behind the rock.

"The fangs, the scales, and the venom sac… all good stuff." Zhang Huaijin worked quickly, beginning to dissect the Fire Python's body. He stripped away the valuable resources and threw the rest of the corpse into his storage pouch. Shifting his intent, a strand of black and white light flowed from the Realm-Breaking Pearl against his chest, down his fingertip, and into the storage pouch. The python's corpse dissolved like snow under the morning sun.

Zhang Huaijin could sense the energy within the Realm-Breaking Pearl increase by several strands.

"It really is ten times richer than ordinary spiritual energy," Zhang Huaijin said, a smile appearing on his face.

"As long as I keep hunting spirit beasts, I'll recharge the pearl's energy to full again soon." Just as the Realm-Breaking Pearl finished devouring the python's corpse, a sudden stream of information erupted from the calm Primordial Tai Chi Visualization Diagram within his spiritual sea. Zhang Huaijin's face showed a moment of stunned surprise. Then his eyes lit up with unrestrained laughter.

"Haha! From now on, I won't even fear cultivators at the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm!" Zhang Huaijin was incredibly excited. But in the very next instant, a powerful aura erupted just a few dozen meters away. Boom! A massive, three meter tall purple tiger suddenly appeared. A fierce energy filled the surrounding space as it slowly fixed its gaze on the Spirit Beast Luring Incense. Zhang Huaijin glanced from the corner of his eye.

"A Purple Spirit Tiger!"