ALL NOVEL Chapter 108: Ten Years of Tree Planting
After obtaining the advanced techniques of the Everlasting Spring Art, Lu Guo’s cultivation progress accelerated rapidly.
In his first year, he broke through to become a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refinement. With another year of diligent training, he surpassed to the second level.
Then, within less than two more years, he achieved yet another breakthrough, reaching the third layer of Qi Refining.
He had attained the same realm as Fang Xi when they initially crossed over!
And remarkably, Lu Guo was still only twelve years old!
While breaking through the early stages of Qi Refinement is generally easier compared to later stages, it still marked him as a minor prodigy.
The reason for his lack of recognition was entirely due to his remote location and being overshadowed by another individual.
Among the same batch of immortal sprouts, ‘Ruan Dan,’ who apprenticed under Ruan Xingling, experienced extraordinary growth in her cultivation base.
Five years later, she astonishingly broke through the bottleneck of Initial Stage Qi Refinement, achieving the fourth level, well into the Middle Stage!
At this pace, breaking through to Late Stage Qi Refinement before the age of thirty seemed highly likely, making her a promising candidate for Foundation Establishment!Currently, she was adored by all and regarded as the crown princess of Peach Blossom Island.
In comparison to these two young geniuses, Fang Xi’s progress was somewhat harder to gauge.
Since starting his tree cultivation, he had noticed gradual improvements in his aptitude. The speed and efficiency at which he absorbed spiritual energy significantly increased.
However, reaching the sixth level of Qi Refinement proved increasingly challenging compared to earlier stages. It took him four full years just to master the sixth layer of the Everlasting Spring Art, yet he remained stuck at this bottleneck, unable to advance further into Late Stage Qi Refinement.
It has now been another year since then!
Despite this, Fang Xi maintained a positive mindset. He diligently practiced his cultivation daily, persisted with planting trees, and occasionally tended to fish or insects. He had a strong premonition that his Longevity Technique was on the verge of a significant breakthrough!
After years of cultivation, the spirit fields at Jade Cliff had expanded to fifteen acres.
With Fang Xi overseeing and rarely getting directly involved, most of the labor fell upon Lu Guo’s shoulders.
At twelve years old, the boy was already over a meter tall, dressed in simple linen clothes, resembling a young adult as he worked diligently in the spirit fields.
“Golden Seventh Metal Sword Energy!”
Lu Guo flicked his finger, summoning a faintly golden sword energy that instantly pierced through a plump green caterpillar.
In the next moment, his right hand moved gracefully like a blooming lotus, generating multiple streams of sword energy to cut down weeds.
“Luuu big brother!”
Nearby in the fields, there was another child, around seven or eight years old - it was Wang Xiaohu!
His hair tied up in a child’s knot, he watched Lu Guo wielding sword energy with envy on his face. “I started Qi Refinement this year, and next year Mom will teach me powerful magical techniques! Then I’ll be just like you, Lu big brother!”
“Chuckles…”
Lu Guo ruffled Wang Xiaohu’s hair, his smile filled with bitterness.
To date, Fang Xi had only taught him the first four layers of the Everlasting Spring Art, along with two basic spirit farming techniques.
As for truly powerful magical techniques? They were never even mentioned.
It wasn’t just Fang Xi; even Widow Wang dared not breach such taboos.
Cultivators matured mentally at an early age, and by now, Lu Guo understood that his ability to pursue cultivation peacefully was already immense fortune. He didn’t dare harbor excessive ambitions.
While weeding the spirit field, he thought to himself, ‘I can’t be a spirit farmer my whole life. Once I break through to Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, I should find a way to board a spirit boat and venture to the market… Ah, but will the Island Lord be willing to let me go?’
Just then, he noticed ripples spreading across the clouds of the Little Cloudrain Array, causing him great surprise. “This is… someone intruding the array?! Could there be an enemy?”
The disturbance within the Little Cloudrain Array immediately caught the attention of everyone at Jade Cliff.
When Fang Xi emerged, even Widow Wang stood nearby with heightened tension, wielding a long black blade as if ready to fight fiercely at any moment.
Fang Xi’s expression, however, seemed somewhat peculiar.
After five years, he still appeared youthful and handsome, embodying the elegance of a refined gentleman. There was no hint that he was actually a thirty-three-year-old middle-aged man.
Mu Wen then produced a restriction token and with a gentle wave, dispersed the clouds. Revealed behind them was a young man clad in opulent attire, standing on a golden flying boat and holding a golden ring-shaped magical artifact - none other than Mu Wen himself!
“Fang Xi, why disrupt my mountain protection array?” Fang Xi frowned, his voice stern as he demanded.
“Dear uncle, don’t be upset!” Mu Wen laughed heartily, unabashedly displaying his powerful magical energy at the sixth level of Qi Refinement. “Your nephew has been busy at Spirit Hollow Market and only recently returned to the island for duty reporting. Concerned about you, I made it a point to visit along the way. Uncle, would you kindly appraise this new magical artifact, the Glorious Gold Ring?”
The golden ring in his hand combined both offensive and defensive capabilities, even possessing the ability to entrap opponents. It turned out to be a rare high-grade magical artifact, and not just any ordinary one but a top-tier among high-grade artifacts!
Over these five years, the Dragonfish Zhong Clan allowed the Spirit Hollow Market to flourish, gradually eroding the trade volume from the Treasure Ship Market. Many speculative cultivators profited immensely during this period.
With decent spiritual root aptitude and favorable opportunities, Mu Wen trained diligently on a second-order spiritual vein and recently broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement!
Moreover, he acquired such a premium magical artifact!
On this triumphant return, fueled by resentment over Fang Xi’s refusal to lend spirit stones years ago, Mu Wen deliberately came to flaunt his success and mock him…
He wanted Fang Xi to see just how well he had prospered!
As for genuinely attacking Jade Cliff, that was entirely out of the question.
“Indeed impressive!” Contrary to expectations, Fang Xi remained unperturbed, even finding time to comment casually on Mu Wen’s boastful remarks. “The surface of this Glorious Gold Ring shines brilliantly; could it be infused with ‘gold essence’? That’s a material used for forging spirit artifacts, surely making it quite expensive?”
“Oh, merely around two hundred spirit stones!” Mu Wen boasted proudly. “To enlighten dear uncle, Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Lingzi now oversees our Spirit Hollow Market. The Zhong Family has chosen reconciliation, and the market grows rapidly each day, its future boundless… This nephew plans to harness the clan’s resources to acquire a shop within the market and even relocate most of our kin to Spirit Hollow Island, after all, it boasts a tier-2 spiritual vein!”
What was the eastern peak of Gemini Peak compared to that? A mere insignificant, low-tier spiritual vein held no appeal anymore.
Fang Xi initially found it peculiar when the Thirty Six Islands alliance decided to establish the Spirit Hollow Market.
Later, it was revealed that several years ago, Yu Lingzi - a rogue cultivator at the great perfection stage of Qi Refinement - had unexpectedly achieved Foundation Establishment! Not only did he succeed in his breakthrough, but he was also recruited by the Taishu Family from one of the Thirty Six Islands, becoming their guest Retired Elder and overseeing the Spirit Hollow Market.
With a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding the market, bolstered by protective formations, even if the entire Zhong Family mobilized, they might not emerge victorious.
After all, the Thirty Six Islands boasted another Foundation Establishment benefactor!
In contrast, the Dragonfish Zhong Clan currently had just two Foundation Establishment members…
Therefore, despite the Spirit Hollow Market siphoning off significant business from the Treasure Ship Market, the Dragonfish Zhong Clan could only endure this silent loss!
Initially, this information was kept secret, causing Feng Manlou immense frustration. He openly lamented that if he had known earlier, he would have acted without hesitation, preventing Mu Wen from gaining such advantage.
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi couldn’t help but sigh, attributing it to luck favoring fools.
Now, upon learning about Mu Wen’s ‘grand plan,’ Fang Xi inwardly marveled, “Market shops can be quite expensive; does my dear nephew have enough spirit stones?”
‘Even if you, old man, want to cozy up for borrowing spirit stones now, I’m not interested!’ Mu Wen mentally rolled his eyes.
Mu Wen internally rolled his eyes and retorted, “No need for Uncle to worry, I have my own connections… Since Uncle is knowledgeable about magical artifacts, why not experience one firsthand?”
“No, no thanks. I focus on cultivation for wellness, not combat,” Fang Xi waved his hands repeatedly.
“Consider it as Uncle conceding defeat!” Mu Wen declared triumphantly.
“Haha…”
Mu Wen burst out laughing, feeling deeply satisfied. While he couldn’t truly harm Fang Xi, humiliating him thoroughly did alleviate some of his pent-up frustration.
With that, Mu Wen swiftly turned his flying boat into a streak of light heading towards Mirror Moon Lake.
“Pah! What a character!” Widow Wang waited until they were gone before spitting disdainfully, showing her loyalty to the nearby master.
As for Lu Guo, he gazed at Fang Xi with a face full of disappointment.
‘Could it be that the Island Lord wanted me to follow this man just to learn spirit farming, resigning myself to a lifetime of humble agriculture?’
‘No, I refuse!’ he thought vehemently.
“All right, everyone should continue with their tasks.”
Fang Xi gently patted Wang Xiaohu’s head, enjoying the lively feel of the spirited little boy. With a smile, he asked, “Fellow Daoist Wang… after testing your son’s spiritual roots, what was his aptitude like?”
“Thank you for your concern, Master. He has a low-grade water-wood spirit root!” Widow Wang promptly replied.
“Oh? Would he be interested in learning the ‘Everlasting Spring Art’ from me? To be honest, over these years, I’ve gained considerable insights while practicing it. It can preserve youth and enhance vitality, with boundless benefits…” Fang Xi showed genuine interest.
Considering Lu Guo’s awkward position, fostering Wang Xiaohu seemed like a better alternative.
“No, thank you!”
Widow Wang hastily declined, “Our Little Hu’s water element in his spirit root is stronger than the wood element. It would be best for him to learn the Black Water Art under my guidance…”
She feared that Fang Xi might lead the child astray.
After all, as a cultivator, lacking basic combat skills could prove disastrous when facing future enemies or calamities. Even if one willingly chose to live life as a cautious old turtle, they must still ensure no adversaries dared to strike at their doorstep!
News of Mu Wen’s return swiftly spread across Peach Blossom Island.
Mu Wen orchestrated grand festivities, inviting guests and flaunting his wealth extravagantly. During the banquet, he casually revealed how he had bested Fang Xi, garnering widespread admiration.
Although Fang Xi was once renowned for his valor, it had been ten years since he single-handedly suppressed the Lu Clan with just a sword!
A decade brings many changes!
His feats had faded, gradually forgotten…
Moreover, as Fang Xi remained focused on farming and never ventured beyond Jade Cliff, whispers arose questioning his reputation, even labeling him a timid recluse!
With Mu Wen stepping over Fang Xi, he ascended to prominence, becoming the talk of the island. This wasn’t solely due to his astonishing combat prowess, securing his position as the top Mid-Stage Qi Refinement cultivator on Peach Blossom Island. It was also because he amassed vast quantities of spirit stones!
Most cultivators on the island utilized the unique peach wood, abundant there, to craft low-grade peach wood swords or talismans. They entrusted these items to Mu Wen for consignment sales, exchanging them for spirit stones and resources.
As the de facto patron saint of wealth, Mu Wen was someone no one dared offend.
Subsequently, rumors surfaced about Fang Xi’s refusal to lend spirit stones and Feng Manlou voluntarily withdrawing from business opportunities. Fellow cultivators mocked both as shortsighted and cowardly… missing out on such exceptional chances!