Chapter 423: Paying a Visit
Red Leaf Valley was a long, open expanse running north to south.
The northern entrance spanned roughly twenty zhang across, bridging the gap between the Spirit Farms and Beast Mountain.
The southern exit narrowed to just over ten zhang, spilling out into rolling grasslands and the Flower Sea.
At its heart, the valley swelled to fifty zhang wide, stretching for a total length of about five li.
Gentle, undulating slopes flanked both sides, densely packed with red maple trees that had weathered over a century of seasons.
Deep in the southern reaches stood an ancient red maple. Its massive crown pierced the sky like a towering umbrella, heavy with tender, pink leaves the size of a baby’s palm.
Though late autumn had stripped the surrounding maples bare, this ancient tree remained locked in an eternal spring, entirely untouched by the frost.
This had once been the most famous trading hub in Red Leaf Valley. The paths were well-trodden and clear, opening into spacious clearings capable of holding a massive crowd.
The entrance itself had served as one of the five major trading points.
The sprawling central belly of the valley had been the stall trading zone.Of course, with everyone having relocated to the Flower Sea, the valley was now entirely desolate.
A few dozen zhang south of the entrance, a gentle slope rose on the eastern side. Backed by a dense thicket of red maples, it faced the valley’s center, offering a sweeping, unobstructed view.
The terrain here was level and sat at a comfortable elevation.
It was high enough to prevent waterlogging while allowing for natural drainage.
Jiang Chen stroked his chin. “This is a good place to build a house.”
He continued his pacing, his eyes sweeping the landscape, refusing to miss a single detail.
Ten zhang directly south, nestled in the flattest part of the valley, lay an open expanse of roughly fifteen mu.
The dark, rich earth crumbled perfectly between his fingers-ideal soil for cultivating Spirit Farms and sowing Spirit Rice.
Coincidentally, a natural depression sat just beside the clearing, already pooling with rainwater. It would take little effort to dig it out into a large pond.
Further back, near the southern exit, stood the ancient tree.
The ancient red maple towered a hundred meters high, its massive trunk requiring at least ten men to encircle. Its canopy cast a shadow over half a mu of land, a silent testament to a thousand years of life.
Jiang Chen stepped closer, his gaze falling upon several rotting meditation mats and the faint, worn impressions of cultivators who had sat in the dirt.
Clearly, someone used to cultivate beneath these branches.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply toward the ancient trunk. “This disciple is named Jiang Chen, a Spirit Cultivator from the Spirit Farms. From now on, I will be the master… no, a resident here. I hope to earn your approval.”
Though he knew little of this ancient red maple, the fact that cultivators had meditated beneath it proved it was no ordinary timber.
It was undoubtedly a tree spirit of a far higher caliber than his old poplar tree.
Moreover, it had stood here for over a millennium, its roots silently claiming the entirety of Red Leaf Valley. In a very real sense, it was the true master of this land.
Rustle!
The pink maple leaves fluttered, a crisp, rhythmic sound echoing through the quiet valley.
It sounded remarkably like a welcome.
Jiang Chen thought for a moment before making another request. “It is like this. This disciple has a companion, a poplar tree spirit. I wonder if I might transplant it here?”
He waited. When no response came, Jiang Chen blinked. “Since you do not object, I will take that as agreement. Rest assured, the poplar tree spirit will be planted right beside my house. It will not cause any trouble.”
With the locations for his house, Spirit Farm, and pond all settled, there was no need to linger.
He turned and walked back up the valley. Only after putting a respectful distance between himself and the ancient red maple did he summon Shattered Moon Flowing Frost, stepping onto the blade and streaking toward the core management office.
The flight was uneventful. Many disciples spotted him, but the shock had already worn off.
The simple fact that he was breathing was the best weapon against the rumors of his demise.
“Spirit Cultivator Jiang!”
“Good afternoon!”
“Have you eaten yet?”
Whether they actually knew him or not, everyone offered a warm greeting.
Jiang Chen nodded and replied to each in turn before finally arriving at the management office palace.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a wave of noise hit him. The hall was unusually lively, packed with official disciples possessing Wood Spirit Roots.
Jiang Chen suddenly realized. I almost forgot it’s late autumn. The Spirit Farm periphery assessment is starting again.
It was a good thing he remembered, otherwise he would have missed it for the third time.
Though no one would dare blame him, it was still better to make an appearance.
Across the hall, Elder Mu spotted him and called out with a warm smile, “Little Jiang is here.”
Jiang Chen stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Manager, I have already scouted Red Leaf Valley.”
Elder Mu’s eyes crinkled. “Have you chosen the locations for your house and Spirit Farm?”
Jiang Chen gave a slight nod. “They are decided. It is like this…”
He proceeded to map out the terrain, detailing the exact positioning of the slopes, the soil, and the water.
Barring any disasters, he would be living there for several centuries. Every detail had to be perfect.
Elder Mu was in no rush. He listened leisurely, occasionally stroking his beard and offering a piece of seasoned advice.
After the time it took to brew and drink a pot of tea, the plans were finally set in stone.
Elder Mu nodded slightly. “In that case, I will arrange for the Earth Spirit Root disciples from the Earth Vein to help transfer all your Spirit Farms over.”
Jiang Chen grinned. “Thank you, Manager!”
Elder Mu suddenly paused. “By the way, I heard you have reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment?”
Jiang Chen nodded again. “Indeed, I broke through.”
Elder Mu pondered for a moment. “Adding another mu of second-grade Spirit Farm to your previous five… it seems you now have six mu.”
Normally, progressing from Qi Condensation to an official disciple, and then reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment, would only grant a total of four mu.
But the cultivation world was rarely so rigid; the amount of Spirit Farm one managed could fluctuate for various reasons.
For instance, during the periphery assessments, one could leverage an outer disciple’s desperation to become official, signing talisman contracts to absorb their fields.
Or, more simply, fields could be acquired as gifts.
Both Elder Mu and the Valley Master were perfectly aware of how Jiang Chen’s acreage had swelled.
After all, the incident with the foolish prince had occurred right under their noses.
Furthermore, when Wang Ze transferred his fields, the core management office had to process the paperwork.
Simply put, the origins of his two extra mu of Spirit Farm were entirely clean.
As Jiang Chen turned to leave, Elder Mu offered a final reminder. “Do not forget to explain things to the Valley Master.”
Jiang Chen gave a quiet sound of affirmation, then stepped out of the hall.
Even though Zhu Fuxian already knew he was alive, Jiang Chen still owed the man an explanation-even if it was just a carefully fabricated excuse.
After all, when news of his supposed death broke, the Valley Master had personally traveled to the Canglan Sea to investigate.
That alone spoke volumes about how much weight Zhu Fuxian placed on a mere Spirit Cultivator.
…
…
In the blink of an eye, evening descended.
Carrying jars of Top-quality Spirit Wine, Top-quality Golden Wine, and Top-quality Ice Heart Jade Pot Wine, Jiang Chen soon arrived at the periphery of Zhu Fuxian’s Spirit Farm.
Nothing here had changed; the sanctuary remained exactly as he remembered.
The glowing Spirit Plants, the meticulously tilled Spirit Farms, the swaying bamboo groves, and the humble bamboo house-all existed in a state of perfect, quiet harmony.
However, this time, Jiang Chen did not call out for the “Valley Master.” Instead, he reverted to their old, familiar greeting. “Senior Brother Zhu, I am here!”
It wasn’t about laying all his secrets bare; it simply felt too cold and distant to use a formal title right now.
At first, the bamboo house remained dead silent. After a long moment, as if the occupant had finally processed the voice, a sharp creak echoed as the bamboo door swung open.
Zhu Fuxian, draped in flowing emerald robes, stepped out into the fading light. Despite the biting chill of late autumn, his feet were entirely bare against the cold earth.
Jiang Chen quickly bowed, his hands cupped in deep respect. “Senior Brother Zhu!”
Zhu Fuxian looked the young man up and down, a dry, teasing edge to his voice. “Finally remembered this old man, did you?”
Jiang Chen offered an awkward, sheepish smile. “Not at all. I just wanted to make sure I had the wine properly prepared before coming to visit!”
At the mention of wine, Zhu Fuxian’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly. “So you have a conscience after all, kid. Come in!”