Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Revenge in the Shadows

“Alright, we’ll listen to you, Senior Brother.”

Both Yun Xi and Zong Hao were easy to persuade. They had not planned to plant too much anyway, since it was their first time testing the waters.

Zong Hao glanced at the distribution map and said, “Senior Brother, we want spirit fields that are close to each other, so us siblings can look out for each other.”

Yun Xi gave Zong Hao a reproachful look. “Brother Zong Hao, don’t make it difficult for Senior Brother. We don’t need them to be right next to each other. As long as the spirit fields are good and the distance isn’t too far, it’s fine.”

The managing senior brother immediately understood what these two junior disciples wanted. He waved his hand and lit up two spots on the map. While registering them, he said, “These two spirit fields have rested for a while. When you plant, you won’t need to add extra fertilizer. There are three mu of spirit fields in between, so it won’t affect you looking out for each other.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

The two of them took back their registered identity jade tokens, and each received a storage pouch.

“Inside is enough spirit rice seed for planting three mu. You can owe the spirit stones for buying the seeds for now, and pay them after you harvest.

“There’s also a spirit hoe and an array plate for controlling the spirit fields. There’s a jade slip inside too, with basic planting knowledge. Before you turn the soil, you’d better read it. Don’t miss anything important.”

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother.”

The two clasped their hands and bowed, then left the thatched hut. With this managing senior brother’s advice, they could avoid a lot of detours.

“Brother Zong Hao, my spirit field is in B Area, No. 58. What about you?”

“I’m in B Area, No. 60. No. 59 is between us. It’s not far.”

Zong Hao also felt that one low-grade spirit stone had been well spent. At the very least, they had gotten B-grade spirit fields. That was far better than C-grade and D-grade fields.

Wei Yun Xi nodded too. “Right. And this probably also involved Senior Sister Hua’s influence.”

“Let’s go. We’ll check out our territory first.”

The two went together to B Area and found their spirit fields. Using the array plates they had received, they opened the protective barriers and saw two thatched huts. These were probably places for them to stay temporarily.

When they went inside to look, it was only about five square meters of space, barely enough for a bed. The conditions were a bit harsh. But because there was a protective barrier, it was safe.

If a disciple taking the mission did not want to run back and forth, they could stay here entirely. They could cultivate while watching the spirit fields, which saved time too.

After looking around and familiarizing themselves with the environment, the two of them got to work. First, they each hoed their spirit fields once to loosen the soil. Then they planted the spirit rice seeds. As soon as they finished planting, they immediately cast the Rainfall Technique and watered all three mu of spirit fields. That counted as completing the first stage of the planting mission.

This work took the two of them seven days before it was truly finished. Zong Hao was so tired he did not want to move. He lay down in his thatched hut and slept.

Yun Xi was in better shape. Because of the milk fruit’s effects, her physical fitness increased, and her strength was steadily growing. Even though she had a loli face, she was a real powerhouse. She just did not show it much, because she wanted to act like a proper lady.

Yun Xi was also planning that after the spirit rice harvest, she would trade with Tribal Warrior for more milk fruit. Over this year, the milk fruit she had traded for had already been used up by more than half. But she still had a long time until adulthood. Something this good was obviously better in larger quantities.

The next day, after Zong Hao had rested, he came to find Yun Xi. “Sister Yun Xi, I’ve finished all my spirit-flour buns. I need to go to the dining hall to buy some food.”

Yun Xi looked at her storage pouch. Her saved food was almost gone too, so she said, “Brother Zong Hao, please make the trip. Go buy some food. Also, find a stove. Sometimes we can cook here too. Yesterday I saw a senior brother farming nearby stir-frying spirit vegetables. It looked really good.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

“I’ll stay here and watch our spirit fields. This is our first time planting. We can’t let anything go wrong. If both of us leave, I won’t feel at ease.”

Yun Xi voiced her concern.

“Alright. Then I’ll make the trip. Yun Xi, you stay here. I’ll also tell Zong Yu and the others that we’re safe. This first month, we’ll probably have to stay here in the spirit fields, but at least it won’t delay cultivation.”

“Mm. That’s what I mean too. Cultivating here isn’t bad.”

Once it was decided, Yun Xi gave Zong Hao five low-grade spirit stones. Over this year, by selling talismans, she had saved one hundred low-grade spirit stones. She was fairly well-off, so this time she wanted Zong Hao to buy more ingredients.

Zong Hao did not refuse. He took the spirit stones and headed straight to the Outer Sect market. He planned to settle the stove first, then buy ingredients. After that, he would return to the small courtyard and stay one night to report to his siblings, and then he could hurry back to Outer Fifth Peak the next day.

Zong Hao’s plan was good, but he did not know that someone had taken advantage of his absence and set their sights on Wei Yun Xi.

Ever since the two of them arrived at Outer Fifth Peak, they had never separated. In public, Wei Zong Hao’s cultivation was at Qi Refining sixth level peak and would soon break through to seventh. He was far stronger than the “Qi Refining fourth level” Wei Yun Xi.

The person lurking in the shadows had no confidence in taking both of them down at once. He could only wait for an opportunity. Wei Zong Hao’s departure gave him that opportunity, so he decided to act that very night.

Wei Zong Hao dared to leave Yun Xi alone to guard the spirit fields for a reason. He felt that since both of them had improved their spirit-root aptitude, it made no sense that his cultivation would increase so quickly while Yun Xi stayed the same. There was only one possibility – Yun Xi had been hiding her strength.

Looking at Wei Yun Qing, who always wanted to pick on Yun Xi, Zong Hao understood Yun Xi’s choice. Sometimes hiding your strength was a way to avoid trouble, so he never exposed her.

He guessed Yun Xi’s cultivation was probably not much different from his, around Qi Refining sixth level. That was why he felt safe leaving.

During the day, Yun Xi cast the Rainfall Technique once more on their two spirit fields. After the sun set, she opened the spirit field’s protective barrier and returned to her own thatched hut to meditate.

In the first half of the night, she used her time to draw talismans, exhausting all the spiritual energy in her dantian. Then she began to meditate. Because there was a spirit-gathering array here, her dantian filled with spiritual energy again after just two hours.

Just as Yun Xi was about to start drawing talismans again, she heard a faint sound. In the dead-silent environment, it was especially clear.

Yun Xi immediately sent out her spiritual sense. Then she saw someone drill up from the ground and rush straight toward her thatched hut.

Wei Yun Xi’s heart tightened. She instinctively held a Thunder Strike Talisman in her hand, and she also took out a low-grade spirit sword from her storage pouch.

She had traded for this sword from Hua Xuan Zi using talismans. After Senior Sister Hua had saved enough spirit stones to replace it with a high-grade spirit sword, this one became cheap for Wei Yun Xi.

With a bang, the thatched hut’s door was kicked open. A young man with a twisted, ferocious face appeared in front of Wei Yun Xi.

Yun Xi narrowed her eyes. “It’s you! You came to take revenge on us Wei Family disciples?”

Chen Feng let out a cold laugh. “Hmph! Little girl, aren’t you just relying on Inner Sect disciples to back you up? I want to see what the Wei Family will do after you go missing from the spirit fields! I’ve waited a long time for this day!”

As Chen Feng spoke, he released his Qi Refining sixth level aura, trying to seize the initiative.

At this moment, Wei Yun Xi felt more excitement than fear. She was not intimidated at all. She quickly threw the talisman in her hand, and a bolt of purple lightning struck Chen Feng’s head with perfect accuracy.