Chapter 40: Arrogant?
Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Arrogant?
Ever since the Cultivators from Purple Cloud Peak left, Xiao Changhua had practically handed over the management of his ten acres of Spirit Fields to his neighbor, Chen Mo. Meanwhile, relying on the Spiritual Sand gifted to him by Niu Youde, he immersed himself entirely in Cultivation, shutting out the rest of the world. He only hoped to break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer within two years, thereby joining the Cyan Yang Sect under the Purple Cloud Peak lineage. Becoming a true Immortal Sect Disciple would allow him to completely rid himself of the lowly status of a Spirit Plant Cultivator!
Back in the day, as the deputy leader of the Nujiang Gang, Xiao Changhua could Summon Wind and Rain in the mortal martial world. However, after stepping onto the Immortal Path, he realized that there was always a bigger pond and a larger fish. The so-called ability to Summon Wind and Rain in the mortal realm was nothing more than child’s play in the eyes of Cultivators. He, Xiao Changhua, was determined to seize this opportunity. He would rise above the masses once again!
That was, until the sky filled with swarming insects, leaving him completely dumbfounded. Massive swarms of Drunken Aphids seemingly appeared out of nowhere, blotting out the sun and obscuring his vision. They clung to the Spirit Yellow Rice that had yet to sprout ears, devouring everything in sight.
Xiao Changhua’s immediate instinct was to have Chen Mo handle it for him. But glancing into the distance, he saw that the other Spirit Fields were equally plagued by the insect disaster. Everyone was currently fending for themselves, making it impossible for the young man to come to his aid. Left with no other choice, he had to take action himself.
He drew a Soft Sword from his waist, executing intricate footwork by stepping on the Seven Stars as he twisted and dodged. Over the years, all of his energy had been focused on elevating his Realm. Naturally, he hadn’t spent massive amounts of time and resources cultivating the Flaming Palm like Wang Lixia had. Even though he was already at the Qi Refining Third Layer, his mastery of this essential Magic was merely at the Proficient Realm. Rather than expending a vast amount of Spiritual Qi to attack the Drunken Aphids, it was better to resort to his mortal Martial Arts!
He swung his Long Sword, generating a loud SWOOSH with his ferocious power. Every sword strike, palm thrust, and punch accurately struck the adult Drunken Aphids.
However, how could mundane weapons possibly rival Spirit Insects that consumed Spirit-Feeding Rice and absorbed Spiritual Qi? After several consecutive slashes, the Soft Sword chipped. A few more strikes later, it snapped cleanly in half!
"This?!"
Watching the Spirit Rice Seedlings in his Spirit Field being devoured bit by bit, Xiao Changhua finally panicked. This Spirit Rice was his primary resource for Cultivation in the coming year! Without them, how could he possibly cultivate to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer with just over a year left? And without reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, how would he shed his lowly status as a Spirit Plant Cultivator and successfully join Purple Cloud Peak?
He thought desperately, "No! Absolutely not! I refuse to continue associating with people of such low status as Chen Mo!"
In a fit of rage, Xiao Changhua unleashed a Flaming Palm, eradicating a large swath of Drunken Aphids but incinerating a patch of Spirit Seedlings in the process. After several consecutive palm strikes, he finally realized something was wrong. If he kept this up, the Drunken Aphids would be wiped out, but there wouldn’t be any Spirit Rice left in his Spirit Field either!
Xiao Changhua glanced around, his falcon-like gaze instantly locking onto He Zhiping in the distance. The man’s fingertips were glowing with golden light, and the sky-covering insect plague was gradually being dispersed under his attacks. Without a second thought, Xiao Changhua sprinted to the other man’s Spirit Field at top speed and barked an order, "Go kill the bugs in my Spirit Field!"
He Zhiping frowned involuntarily. He was already overwhelmed by the sun-blotting swarms of Drunken Aphids and had no energy or time to care for anyone else. However, the man before him was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, so he had no choice but to show him some respect.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, please be patient. As soon as I finish exterminating the ones in my field, I will immediately go help you!" He Zhiping spoke with utmost respect, not daring to pause the movements of his hands for even a moment.
But how could Xiao Changhua possibly wait? Clenching his fists, he said with a hint of fury, "No! Go to my field first."
He Zhiping was incredibly furious. He cursed inwardly, "Who the hell do you think you are?" Just as he was about to retort, a flash of inspiration hit him, and he pointed out, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, look!"
Following the direction he was pointing, Xiao Changhua saw Chen Mo not far away, also executing the Geng Metal Finger. With effortless grace, the young man was exterminating the Drunken Aphids that had mistakenly wandered into his Spirit Field.
"He knows it too?" Xiao Changhua felt a surge of joy.
Without waiting for He Zhiping to speak, he rushed over at full speed! In his eyes, as long as that kid had any common sense, he would have no choice but to kill the bugs for him. After all, he was the one who was going to take care of the kid in the future!
Just as Xiao Changhua left, Lan Ling ran over, her face pale with terror. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her chest heaved rapidly, presenting a beautifully tantalizing sight.
"Fellow... Fellow Daoist He, Brother He, please, hurry and help me!"
Lan Ling was frantic. If this continued, all the Spirit Rice in her field would be eaten clean. How would she be able to pay her grain tax at the end of the year? She did not want to be sold into the Black Mine Pits, where her life would be in constant peril.
He Zhiping felt a mix of joy and concern. He was thrilled that he finally had the chance to completely win her over, but worried because he wasn’t actually having as easy of a time as he appeared to be.
"One incense stick of Time. After one incense stick of Time, I’ll go to your field!"
Meanwhile, back at Chen Mo’s Spirit Field.
Because he had been steadily killing the bugs every single day, his field wasn’t currently overrun by swarming masses of Drunken Aphids like the others. However, just because his field was initially clear didn’t mean he could stop the bugs from flying over from the other Spirit Plant Cultivators’ fields! To prevent his own Spirit Rice from being devoured, he also had to utilize the Geng Metal Finger to eradicate the surrounding Drunken Aphids.
Fortunately, these insects were only in their Adult Stage, so he didn’t need to exert his full strength. A mere thirty percent of his power was enough to kill them in a single strike.
While he was clearing out the insect plague, a figure suddenly flashed toward him. Seeing the person reach out a claw-like hand to grab his shoulder, Chen Mo’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively prepared to unleash a Flaming Palm.
But a flash of reason stopped him.
He reminded himself, "Spirit Plant Cultivators are forbidden from killing one another, otherwise the Marketplace will definitely investigate and punish the offender!"
The Tribulation Cultivator who had died under Wei Wuwei’s sword was the best cautionary tale. Naturally, this was also the Marketplace’s method of management. If this rule didn’t exist, who would have the peace of mind to farm? Who would pay the grain tax to Purple Cloud Peak? If that happened, the Marketplace itself would be the one to suffer.
The moment these thoughts surfaced, Chen Mo’s feet moved in rapid succession. Having mastered the Spirit Snake Body Technique, how could his movements possibly be caught by mere mortal footwork? In just a single breath, Xiao Changhua’s attack struck nothing but empty air.
The older man froze in surprise, completely taken aback that he had failed to grab the kid. Of course, in his mind, he attributed it to his own impatience and the kid’s sheer dumb luck. There was no time to dwell on it, anyway—the insect plague in his Spirit Field was the most critical matter at hand!
"Kid, go exterminate the bugs in my field right now!" Xiao Changhua’s tone left no room for argument; he was blatantly ordering him around.
Hearing this, Chen Mo sneered inwardly. He thought, "Do you really think I’m your lackey? Your servant? Heh!"
On the surface, however, Chen Mo remained entirely impassive. He continuously fired off his Geng Metal Fingers, one after another, as he replied casually, "My apologies, my strength is far too meager. I am overwhelmed just fending for myself."
Fending for himself?
Xiao Changhua stared at him. Almost every single finger strike killed a Drunken Aphid. Whether in terms of speed or intensity, the young man was more than capable of dealing with these pests.
"I will give you one more chance. I do not want to repeat myself!" Xiao Changhua said darkly, his face completely cold.