"Congratulations to Junior Brother on accomplishing great merit! It’s truly enviable that you can encounter heaven-bestowed spirit stones while staying put in your grotto mansion.

This kind of fortune calls for a celebratory drink."

Ye Changqing cupped his hands and smiled, his eyebrows revealing joy.

This feast of good wine and meat is inevitable!

The person truly has good fortune, receiving unexpected wealth both when helping over at Liang Hill and in his own grotto mansion.

In cultivation, one also relies on luck, and his luck is quite favorable.

"No problem, today I’ll take out Tier Two Pine Nut Wine, ensuring satisfaction for Senior Brother.

When you leave, take some back; bring two jars for Junior Martial Uncle Zhang to sample."

Today marks a formal connection with Junior Martial Uncle Zhang, offering small gifts wouldn’t come off as obtrusive; otherwise, forced gifting always seems opportunistic.

Ji An pursed his lips, licked them a few times, and said:

"Senior Brother, the environment here is too harsh, let’s talk outside."

He had already used the Fireproof Bead, but the magical artifact couldn’t block the continuous invasion of Fire Fiend.

The Jade Leaf Fire Lotus has the ability to neutralize Fire Fiend, but the purification range is limited to a few feet around the spirit plants, unable to provide a space for multiple people to inhale spiritual qi.

Slightly staying longer, he started feeling as if all he breathed was flames, with his internal organs seeming to burn.

"Indeed, this environment is disadvantageous for Junior Brother," Ye Changqing followed him, leaving.

He cultivated a Fire Element Technique and felt at home here.

Although there’s some Fire Fiend, the technique itself has a method to dissolve it, making this place nothing short of a cultivation paradise.

Nearing the cave’s exit, Ye Changqing added:

"Junior Brother, although Junior Martial Uncle Zhang didn’t elaborate, I must advise you not to disclose the situation here."

If the news of exotic plants spread, it’s unknown how much intrigue and conflict it might attract, needlessly causing trouble.

"Fear not, Senior Brother, I will surely remain tight-lipped.

The excavation of the passageway was handled by me and my two spirit binders, without involving others."

Secrecy is paramount lest it turns into harm; considering this, he felt the Soul Nourishing Wood’s protective measures were too inadequate.

"Senior Brother, how does one exchange for mimic arrays to seal an entrance of this size? I’d like to have two sets."

Mimic arrays won’t block light; it only required installing a small portal in the passageway for planting Soul Nourishing Wood.

Then he ordered Golden Fur to manage the portal, closed by day, opened by night, ensuring no hindrance to Spirit Wood absorbing moonlight.

"These small mimic arrays are relatively cheap, each set only costs four hundred small merit."

Activating the arrays needs middle-grade spirit stones and must be maintained constantly, presenting a considerable long-term expense.

Ye Changqing, considering the financial capacity of the other party, felt this expenditure was merely a drop in the ocean.

Now he deemed Junior Brother Ji’s wealth almost on par with seasoned late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ji An slightly nodded, properly calculated, this price isn’t cheap, yet the mimic array providing defensive functions is well worth it.

...

Back at the cold pool, Ji An commanded:

"Prepare the evening banquet, take out ten jars of Tier Two Pine Nut Wine."

The two returned to the living room, taking seats as Ye Changqing glanced around and laughed:

"Junior Brother’s arrangements here remain so simple, undisturbed by external matters, wholly devoted to cultivation, impressive!"

In the main hall hung a Seeking Immortal and Inquiry Map, with only a few tables and chairs, nothing else.

"I’ve gotten used to it."

Ji An responded, now in an upward phase of cultivation, naturally focusing his energy on it.

He shifted topics, curiously asking:

"Senior Brother, what grade is Junior Martial Uncle Zhang’s Cyan Gourd, and how fast is it for flying escape?"

The speed of their quick arrival at Red Flame Peak must be credited to that spiritual artifact.

"The gourd is called Jade Flame Purple Spirit Gourd, a Tier Two Upper Grade spiritual artifact, with Junior Martial Uncle flying escape speed surpassing the sect’s Spiritual Boat Gourd by three or four parts.

When taking it, the fierce winds cut like blades, I needed to employ magical artifact to protect myself."

"If you assume this is merely a flying escape spiritual artifact, you’d be gravely mistaken. It shares similar functions with your Purple Fire Spirit Gourd, capable of nurturing and releasing flame attacks.

Its capacity is larger, and the flame damage is stronger."

"The Chao Origin Stage cultivators’ pill fire is more potent than many Tier Two Middle Grade earth fire.

Within the spiritual artifact, always refining three Red Flame Soul-Slaying Sabers, a set of Tier Two Upper Grade spiritual artifact, the true attack items of Junior Martial Uncle."

"A multi-use gourd, truly wonderful, I wonder if the Purple Fire Spirit Gourd can be made into such a spiritual artifact?"

Listening to this, Ji An’s eyes gleamed with envy; a spiritual artifact with integrated attack, nurturing, and flying escape functions was perfectly aligned with his needs.

Filled with cultivators’ pill fire, it’s akin to continuously refining the spiritual artifact, saving much effort.

Ye Changqing grinned, "You simply dream of good things. A gourd used for refining spiritual artifacts doesn’t reach Tier Two Upper Grade, it’s impossible to stack so many spiritual prohibitions."

"Hehe," Ji An scratched his head, "Does Junior Martial Uncle Zhang have Spirit Gourd seeds?"

"No, I’ve heard Junior Martial Uncle mention this before; it’s an exotic plant discovered while traveling, with two Jade Flame Gourds grown on top.

This exotic plant itself can grow to Tier Two Top Grade, suitable as a magical treasure embryo without issues.

But the place where the spirit gourd was found was too far from the sect. At the time, it was unknown how long before the plant fully matured, and he harvested one gourd from the spirit vine, then used an array to conceal the plant, hoping to obtain top-grade materials."

"Every ten years, Junior Martial Uncle visits his hometown to check; approximately twenty years ago, when he returned to that secret place, he found the array used to mask the plant still intact, but the spirit gourd had disappeared.

The most infuriating thing is that there was a jade slip hanging where the Spirit Gourd is growing, with a message left inside: ’Thank you, fellow Daoist, for the treasure.’ At that time, it made Junior Martial Uncle Zhang furious."

"According to Junior Martial Uncle, he judged that the Spirit Plant still had thirty to forty years before maturity and was forced to ripen prematurely by someone using a secret technique, causing the Spirit Vine to wither.

He sighed more than once for making clothes for someone else."

What a sad story. Ji An also felt anger gnawing at him. If Junior Martial Uncle Zhang could obtain the mature gourd, the sect would surely have seeds, which would make things much easier.

"Ah, encountering such things, surely it would make one fly into a rage. He must still be dwelling on it?"

"Who wouldn’t? Fate is cruel."

Ye Changqing let out a long sigh. Such Spirit Seeds are rare and elusive; if acquired, the sect would enhance its foundation.

After a silent moment, he said solemnly:

"Junior Brother, let’s discuss serious matters.

There is a tricky mission, and after much consideration, I believe you are the most reliable choice for its execution.

Due to the fierce warfare on the frontline, the consumption of all kinds of supplies is enormous, most notably the issue of food supply...."

He explained the current difficulties and the predicament faced by Luofeng Valley in detail and said with difficulty:

"We must find Spirit Farmers to plant Spirit Rice and related herbs in bulk; time is tight, and the mission is critical. I plan to appoint you and Junior Brother Kong Yunyi to take charge of this task.

You will handle the planting, while harvesting and refining elixirs will be assigned to others."

Cultivators at the Chao Origin Stage and above can maintain themselves by absorbing Spiritual Mechanism, but many Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators must replenish physical and spiritual power through diet.

Ji An nodded slightly in agreement:

"I will not shirk this responsibility, rest assured, Senior Brother."

The outbreak of the demon calamity is a catastrophe in the Western Continent’s cultivation realm; either support the frontline from behind or go to the frontline, he chose the former.

Should it come to the point of exhaustion, requiring him to go to Mingfeng Mountain, he would comply.

Under a fallen nest, how can there be intact eggs?

"Alright, the sect will fully requisition the Spirit Fields near Red Flame Peak. Junior Brother, do plant as much area as possible.

Only plant Yellow Sprout Rice and a certain proportion of Huang Jing and ginseng as needed. The sect will provide seeds, and rewards will be settled once the war ends."

Yellow Sprout Rice matures quickly, most suitable for the current situation.

Ye Changqing’s eyes sparkled, and he said in a stern voice:

"This matter is extremely urgent; we cannot have the frontline cultivators fighting on empty stomachs.

Tomorrow, I will complete the requisition of the Spirit Fields, and then I will hand over to Junior Brother.

Junior Brother will need to sacrifice some cultivation time to ensure there is sufficient Spirit Rice and herbs for elixir refining."

"With my handling, Senior Brother can rest easy." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He paused, frowned, and said:

"Senior Brother, at this critical time, Luofeng Valley suffered a severe insect infestation; there’s something suspicious behind it."

Luofeng Valley is famous for alchemy, backed by numerous Spirit Farmers, surely vigilant against insect infestations, and would handle any signs urgently, making a severe infestation improbable.

There must be sabotage behind this.

Ye Changqing transmitted a message:

"Highly probable that demon cultivators are fueling the flames, the sect’s Law Enforcement Hall has already expanded the patrol scope to prevent such occurrences."

The sect’s area is vast, and the Mountain Protection Array can only guard within the spiritual vein’s range.

Ji An nodded slightly; it’s good that the sect is on guard.

...

The next day, late afternoon.

Ji An was piloting the flying shuttle, inspecting the vicinity of Red Flame Peak.

Ye Changqing guided him, saying:

"There are about ten thousand acres of Spirit Fields nearby, do what you can, Junior Brother."

Ji An’s expression suddenly turned rigid, he smiled wryly and said:

"Senior Brother, you overestimate me; planting a few thousand acres is excellent."

Magical power is a significant issue; fortunately, he has reached the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment Stage, with all planting techniques at Great Perfection level, otherwise, this task would be exhausting.

He frowned slightly and said seriously:

"From now on, I will leave the mountain to cast spells daily starting at five in the morning, ensuring that magical power is overflowing.

Finishing by noon, or until magical power is entirely depleted, what does Senior Brother think?"

This is almost equivalent to sacrificing cultivation since the Spirit Fields at Red Flame Peak also need care.

"Junior Brother, it’s tough for you; the sect will remember your contributions.

This is the hardest time; once it’s endured, things will improve.

Once the Spirit Grains outside mature, assisting disciples will allocate the proportion of Spirit Rice and herbs according to the acreage of Spirit Fields you can plant."

After some time, Luofeng Valley’s situation will stabilize; loose cultivators at Mingfeng Mountain have no supply channels, one dies, and there’s one less; the consumption of rations will gradually decrease.

The two returned to Red Flame Peak, landing by the Cold Pool.

Ye Changqing took out a Storage Bag and handed it over, "Inside are three sets of Mimic Arrays."

Ji An received the items, inspected them, and took out his pale-golden Jade Token, saying:

"Senior Brother, deduct the Small Merit; I will start casting spells and planting tomorrow."

"Good! I will arrange for disciples to accompany and record the acreage."