“Joy and… surprise?” Fang Xi pondered for a moment. “Could this joyous event refer to discovering a promising talent?”
“Precisely!” Feng Manlou slapped his thigh with excitement. “At the recent Spirit Evaluation Congress, the Island Lord found a young girl possessing a high-grade fire elemental spiritual root! Overjoyed, he immediately accepted her as his disciple, bestowing upon her the surname ‘Ruan’ and naming her ‘Ruan Dan’!”
Cultivators possess spiritual roots encompassing all five elements, categorized by their strongest attribute.
With a high-grade fire elemental spiritual root, she would even qualify for admission into the prestigious Profound Sky Sect!
Notably, Ruan Xingling herself was also an artificer, with her own spiritual roots heavily inclined towards fire.
“Finding a successor must indeed bring great joy to the Island Lord,” Fang Xi murmured while fidgeting with his purple clay teacup. “And what about the surprise?”
“The surprise, well… among these young talents, there’s another child named ‘Lu Guo’, who possesses a mid-grade wood elemental spiritual root…” Feng Manlou spoke as if it pained him deeply.
“Lu Guo?” Fang Xi suddenly recalled the night of the island conquest, standing before the grisly memorial mound, where he had seen a fair-skinned infant swaddled tightly. Considering the age now, six or seven years seemed just right for testing spiritual roots. “I didn’t expect it to be him! Although, given that his father was a cultivator, the likelihood of having spiritual roots is naturally higher than for ordinary mortals.”
“Ah, it all comes down to his father,” Feng Manlou sighed repeatedly. “Others might not know, but surely you do - his father was a Lu Clan cultivator!”
Feng Manlou continued lamenting, “When the Lu Clan cultivators were slaughtered and their mortals imprisoned until death, only this infant escaped unscathed. What a coincidence that he just happens to possess spiritual roots?”If Lu Guo had been an ordinary mortal, he would have lived a peaceful life in Peach Blossom Town, with no further consequences.
But possessing spiritual roots changed everything!
It marked the beginning of his cultivation journey. While Foundation Establishment may not be guaranteed, becoming at least a Qi Refinement cultivator seemed well within reach, granting him the power for potential revenge!
“Ah… what can we do now? What did the Island Lord say?” Fang Xi asked, getting to the crux of the matter.
“The Island Lord?” Feng Manlou suddenly looked somewhat sheepish. “He said to entrust the boy to you… after all, who else named him back then?”
“Hmm?” Fang Xi’s eyes widened as he followed Feng Manlou outside the formation.
Only then did he see a young boy, around six or seven years old, kneeling near Jade Cliff. With rosy lips and fair features, the child appeared handsome despite biting his teeth against the pain from his knees, showing remarkable stubbornness without uttering a single complaint.
“What does ‘leave him with me’ mean? To become a spirit farmer under my guidance?” Fang Xi looked at Feng Manlou.
Feng Manlou shrugged. “I’m not sure, but probably…that’s what it implies?”
In his view, becoming a spirit farmer under Fang Xi seemed quite favorable. At least there would be no shortage of spirit rice, and life would be peaceful without conflict.
Moreover, Fang Xi wouldn’t likely teach the child any powerful magical techniques; only those related to spirit farming. After all, Lu Guo’s father might have been one of the many whom Fang Xi had felled using the Qinghe Sword!
As Feng Manlou pondered, he grew increasingly impressed with the Island Lord’s decision.
Among everyone on the island, Fang Xi was the most suitable choice. Known for being reclusive, Fang Xi rarely ventured out, engaged in social events, or interacted much with others.
And certainly, he wouldn’t align himself with the Lu Clan.
By comparison, the Mu Family involved too many people and opinions, while the mother-daughter pair at West Twin Peak…
Feng Manlou hastily shook his head, feeling that since her husband’s death, Hua Chanjuan had become increasingly eccentric. She and her daughter secluded themselves atop West Peak, tending flowers and bees, refusing to descend no matter what!
They were also persistent in saving money to purchase some kind of mountain protection formation, as if constantly fearing harm from others!
‘Wait… If the Island Lord wanted this child to die, he would have sent him to West Twin Peak with that madwoman!’ ‘So by bringing him here to Jade Cliff, does it mean he intends for the boy to survive?’
A sudden realization flashed through Feng Manlou’s mind, granting him a profound understanding of Ruan Xingling’s intentions.
“Sigh… Very well.” Fang Xi shook his head and approached Lu Guo.
Lu Guo lifted his head, revealing parched lips as he pleaded, “B-begging… Immortal… please accept me as your disciple…”
Like other chosen candidates, he had been brought to Mirror Moon Lake, expecting to become a lofty immortal. Instead, he narrowly escaped being cast into the abyss. Based on what he witnessed along the journey, this place seemed to be his last chance.
However, Fang Xi’s next words nearly pushed him over the edge, “I don’t take disciples…”
Lu Guo’s expression turned blank, tinged with a hint of despair.
“But…” Fang Xi continued, “I do need tenant farmers. Boy, do you know how to work the fields?” he asked.
“Yes! I’ve been helping since I was very young!” Lu Guo hastily replied.
“Alright then, let’s leave it at that.” Fang Xi nodded, signaling Feng Manlou to depart.
He led the boy into the Little Cloudrain Array himself.
Upon entering, the stark contrast with the outside world prompted Lu Guo to take a deep breath of the refreshing air. The cliff resembled polished jade, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Acres of spirit fields sprouted vibrant green seedlings, enveloped by a thin veil of white mist.
Not far away stood a massive residence.
Everything here seemed akin to a paradise depicted in paintings!
“Starting today, you’ll live here. Later, I’ll give you some wood; build yourself a shelter…” Fang Xi guided Lu Guo to the edge of the spirit fields and casually pointed out a spot.
It was a slightly flat, open area.
Lu Guo, momentarily stunned, quickly nodded in understanding.
“Remember, your allowed movement is restricted to this spirit field area only. Do not damage any crops, and do not enter the large residence… otherwise, I will kill you!” Fang Xi warned with a smile, gently patting Lu Guo’s head.
Under the dual surveillance of the Demon Tree’s roots and the array, there was no way a small boy could cross his boundaries-unless… someone possessed Lu Guo!
“Yes…” Lu Guo shrank his neck, too afraid now to inquire about when he might begin learning immortal techniques.
One month later.
At Jade Cliff.
Near the spirit fields, a simple triangular hut had been erected, primarily constructed from wood with straw roofing.
Despite its rudimentary appearance, due to the formation’s properties, it remained warm in winter and cool in summer, making it suitable for habitation.
A small figure emerged from the hut - none other than Lu Guo!
He carefully patrolled around the spirit fields, always cautious when encountering pests. After all, without having reached Qi Refinement yet, any common demonic insect could easily take his life.
Whenever he spotted weeds, he needed various saws just to manage their removal.
Despite his young age, Lu Guo was remarkably proficient at these tasks, almost to the point of eliciting sympathy.
As he struggled with another patch of ‘sawtooth grass’, his hands inadvertently touched the leaves, instantly cutting open a gash.
“Ouch! Why do you keep doing this yourself? Didn’t I tell you? Let Auntie handle it!” Nearby, a plump female cultivator in her thirties hurried over, examined Lu Guo’s hand, and cast a ‘Minor Rejuvenation Technique’.
With a flash of green light, the wound on Lu Guo’s hand began to heal.
She then glanced at the sawtooth grass in the spirit field, snapped her fingers, and unleashed a strand of golden seventh metal sword energy, effortlessly severing the weed at its roots.
“Thank you, Auntie Wang!” Lu Guo bowed respectfully.
This woman, surnamed Wang, had a cultivation base at the third level of Qi Refining. She was a widow with a child to care for.
After Ruan Xingling insisted on adding Lu Guo as a tenant, Fang Xi figured that managing one sheep or two is much the same effort. So, he asked Feng Manlou to introduce another tenant-farmer.
As a result, Feng Manlou brought Widow Wang.
The female cultivator hailed from White Feather Island, where her family had been tenant-farmers for three generations, ensuring their reputation was impeccable.
However, the spirit fields on White Feather Island were limited, and eventually, there wasn’t enough land available for all tenants.
Widow Wang’s husband tragically lost his life during a private duel over tenancy rights.
Although the Feng Clan severely punished the opponent afterward, Widow Wang, with a child to raise, no longer wished to continue living on White Feather Island.
At this opportune moment, Feng Manlou was seeking suitable candidates for Fang Xi, and thus, their interests aligned perfectly.
Upon meeting Widow Wang, Fang Xi assessed her skills and found her quite proficient in cultivating spirit rice. Consequently, he accepted her as a tenant, providing her with a wooden hut near the spirit fields to live with her son, nicknamed “Little Hu.”
Fang Xi subsequently leased five acres of spirit fields to her, agreeing that they would share the harvest with a four-six split.
Naturally, Fang Xi received sixty percent, while Widow Wang took forty.
Even these terms were joyfully accepted by Widow Wang, who promptly signed the contract and sought the Island Lord’s notarization for a ten-year lease agreement.
After all, Fang Xi provided the seeds, and having access to spiritual land for cultivation was enticing enough for any Initial Stage Qi Refinement spirit farmer.
Widow Wang, being diligent, often noticed Lu Guo getting injured while tending to the spirit fields. She frequently lent him a helping hand.
As the sun climbed high in the sky, Fang Xi leisurely strolled over, tea pot in hand, to inspect the spirit fields.
“Master!” Widow Wang respectfully greeted him.
“Greetings, Master!” Lu Guo followed suit, despite not being formally apprenticed under Fang Xi; he too had become a tenant-farmer like Widow Wang.
“Hmm… The fields look well-tended,” Fang Xi remarked. Taking a sip from his tea pot, he smiled at Lu Guo and said, “Starting today, I will teach you the first layer of the Everlasting Spring Art. Pay close attention and strive to channel qi into your body as soon as possible, becoming a true cultivator!”
“Yes, Master!”
Lu Guo clenched his fists tightly, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
Finally, he was about to become a cultivator?
Seeing his eager expression, Widow Wang hesitated to inform him that the ‘Everlasting Spring Art’ is one of the most common cultivation techniques. Even her own ‘Black Water Art’, though basic, surpassed it in intricacy!
Moreover, just the first layer…
With the master nearby, she couldn’t bear to spoil the child’s joy.
‘Well, let him enjoy this moment for a bit longer!’, she thought.
Recalling Feng Manlou’s instructions before their arrival, Widow Wang also refrained from giving Lu Guo too much guidance.
Fang Xi approached Widow Wang and engaged in casual conversation, “How’s Little Hu doing? Adjusting well?”
“Thanks to Master, everything is going smoothly,” Widow Wang smiled.
“But I’ve heard that Wan Island Lake hasn’t been peaceful lately, any idea why?” Fang Xi had agreed to bring someone recommended by Feng Manlou partly because he indeed needed assistance and also due to his lack of information sources, which required rectifying.
Widow Wang often visited Mirror Moon Lake in her free time, joining other women to gossip about local affairs, making her a suitable choice for updates.
“You’re right, it has been quite restless.”
Widow Wang didn’t suspect any ulterior motives; after all, this news was known to every cultivator:
“Oh… it’s just because our Thirty-Six Islands are planning a large market fair, isn’t it? Rumor has it that Spirit Hollow Island, where they chose for the event, contains a tier-2 spiritual vein. It’s bound to be incredibly lively when it opens…”
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