Chapter 64: First Kill
Hua Changxi did not rush into the stone cave to confront Zhuo Fan, but quietly descended West Mountain.
She could stand on the moral high ground and vent her emotions at Zhuo Fan, but what then?
Alone, she couldn’t guard the Fire Spirit Mine at all times. She needed the forces held by Elder You and his companions to occupy the Fire Spirit Mine, and on this point alone, she couldn’t fall out with them.
Since the cooperation was to continue, it was best that their relationship did not become too strained.
However, this kind of cooperation made her feel extremely stifled.
Clearly, she held the advantage, yet she was the one in a passive position.
Where exactly did she go wrong?
In terms of sincerity in cooperation, she had given them the Creation Pill in advance, allowing them to forge Spiritual Roots and take the first step towards becoming cultivators.
In terms of profit distribution, she had also given them forty percent of the Fire Spirit Mine.
Although Elder You and his companions provided more manpower, if outsiders were to come and snatch the Spirit Mine, they would at most be the ones shouting and arguing. The person who would truly decide the ownership of the Fire Pit would still be her.
On this point, she felt she had not taken advantage of them either.
In terms of martial force, she was definitely far superior to Elder You and his companions.
However, this seemed to be of no use in restraining them. They dared not confront her directly, but they had many ulterior motives. One moment they wanted to freeload cultivation methods, the next they were luring outsiders, making her extremely annoyed.
Hua Changxi was somewhat exasperated. She felt she had been fair in the cooperation, yet Elder You and his companions were still not satisfied.
Then, she remembered Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lu. She had also cooperated with them on alchemy with the principle of fairness, but in the end, Eunuch Yu wanted to make things difficult for her, and Eunuch Lu directly used his authority to punish her by sending her to the Medicine Farm.
Two collaborations, and both ended unsatisfactorily.
Hua Changxi knew that while greed was a factor, there were definitely things she had done wrong.
“Where did I go wrong?”
Hua Changxi was somewhat agitated. She made her living through her skills, and when it came to the intricacies of human relationships, she truly felt powerless.
She still had to find the reason, so she wouldn’t be so passive in future collaborations.
Upon returning to Medicine Valley, Hua Changxi, as usual, made a round among the other laborers to let them know she was diligently guarding the Medicine Field, and then returned to her accommodation.
Since staying in Medicine Valley, Hua Changxi, apart from chatting with Guo Yu, spent most of her time cultivating.
During the Qi Refining Realm and Qi Sea Realm, because her cultivation would increase simply by absorbing Spiritual Energy, this kind of cultivation with immediate rewards for effort made her somewhat addicted.
Therefore, even if she cultivated for eleven hours a day, she did so willingly.
But now, she spent time cultivating, yet her cultivation did not increase. This not only made her feel frustrated but also severely diminished her enthusiasm for cultivation.
No!
This state is not right; she had to correct it quickly.
Hua Changxi lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and forced herself into cultivation.
As soon as she entered the state of cultivation, she ‘saw’ the red Inner Core suspended above her Qi Sea. At this moment, the Inner Core was swaying and trembling.
Seeing the Inner Core, Hua Changxi was even taken aback for a moment.
Nothing else, except for the first half of the month before advancing to the Core Formation Realm, she would see the Inner Core when cultivating. At other times, she had no idea where the Inner Core went.
When she cultivated in the Fire Spirit Mine today, she didn’t see the Inner Core. She didn’t expect to see it when cultivating back in Medicine Valley.
“Why is this Inner Core so elusive?”
Hua Changxi suddenly paused. Did the disappearance and reappearance of the Inner Core have a special reason?
Hua Changxi immediately began to recall the events of the day.
The only difference from usual today was that Elder You and his companions had returned, and she had heard Zhuo Fan had brought outsiders, which had made her very angry.
So, did the Inner Core appear because she was angry?
Hua Changxi herself laughed at such an absurd conclusion.
Laughter aside, the problem of her cultivation not improving still needed to be resolved quickly.
Hua Changxi calmed herself and began to circulate the Little Bird Breathing and Exhalation Method.
“Huh?”
Hua Changxi keenly noticed that as soon as the Breathing and Exhalation Method started, Fire Spiritual Energy floated out from her Qi Sea and quickly merged into the Inner Core.
“Slap!”
Hua Changxi opened her eyes from cultivation and quickly slapped herself on the head.
How could she be so stupid? During the Qi Sea Realm, her realm increased because her Qi Sea grew larger. Now that she was in the Core Formation Realm, to increase her realm, she naturally had to make her Inner Core larger.
Why had she not thought of such a simple principle before?
Hua Changxi now seemed to understand why her realm was not improving.
Before, when she cultivated, the Inner Core had disappeared somewhere, and all the Spiritual Energy absorbed into her body had merged into her Qi Sea.
If the Inner Core didn’t absorb Spiritual Energy, how could it grow?
If the Inner Core didn’t grow, her cultivation naturally couldn’t advance.
Therefore, to improve her cultivation, the Inner Core must be present every time she cultivated.
But a new problem arose: why did the Inner Core run away?
Hua Changxi was truly perplexed.
In fact, after advancing to the Core Formation Realm, she had realized that the cultivation at this stage was different from the Qi Refining Realm and Qi Sea Realm.
For example, in the Qi Refining Realm, as long as she followed the frequency and rhythm of the little bird’s breathing and exhalation in her mind, she could absorb external Spiritual Energy into her body and gradually increase her cultivation.
In the Qi Sea Realm, cultivation was similar to the Qi Refining Realm. The only difference was that she could ‘introspect’ her Dantian and watch her Qi Sea gradually expand as she absorbed more and more Spiritual Energy.
Upon reaching the Core Formation Realm, she found that as soon as she entered a state of cultivation, her consciousness would completely ‘enter’ her Qi Sea, as if her entire being had entered the Qi Sea.
Just as she was happy to see her Qi Sea grow larger in the Qi Sea Realm, she was now despairing at being immersed in the Qi Sea.
The Qi Sea was too vast; she was like a speck of dust within it.
In this state, if the Inner Core was also running around, it would be very difficult for her to find it.
Today, the Inner Core had appeared on its own.
“Could the Inner Core really have been ‘angered’ into appearing?”
Thinking of this possibility, Hua Changxi hurriedly shook her head.
Absolutely not; the Inner Core couldn’t have masochistic tendencies.
It definitely wasn’t this reason!
Hua Changxi sighed again, but what if it was?
She was truly a bit numb, but since the Inner Core had appeared, she should seize the time to cultivate. Otherwise, if it ran away again, she would be in trouble.
Fortunately, for the next ten days, the Inner Core remained present. Hua Changxi cultivated with all her might, and her realm finally improved slightly.
『 Realm: Core Formation Realm 1.57 million / 10 million 』
However, starting from the eleventh day, perhaps because her anger towards Zhuo Fan had mostly subsided, the Inner Core disappeared again.
To test whether the Inner Core was “angered” into appearing, knowing that Elder You and his companions were performing Qi Induction in the stone cave, Hua Changxi deliberately went to find a fight, deliberately provoking Zhuo Fan and arguing with her for most of the day.
However, it was useless!
The Inner Core did not appear!
“What on earth is going on?”
Without anyone to communicate with, she really couldn’t figure out the problem herself.
Hua Changxi suddenly thought of the news Zhuo Fan had mentioned earlier, that various forces were gathering at Qingzhou Five Finger Mountain.
“Many cultivators should be going, right?”
She was currently encountering a bottleneck in her cultivation. Cultivating in isolation could easily lead to a dead end. She needed to go out and broaden her horizons, to see what other cultivators were like.
It would be even better if she could meet one or two cultivators with compatible values, so they could exchange cultivation insights.
With this thought, Hua Changxi immediately wanted to head straight for Qingzhou. However, before leaving, she went to find Guo Yu first.
“What? You’re going into seclusion?”
“Yes, I’ve encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation and need to go into seclusion to break through.”
“How long will you be in seclusion?”
“I don’t know, maybe ten days, maybe longer. Anyway, don’t disturb me and Elder You and the others before I come out of seclusion. If anyone asks where I’ve gone, you’ll have to cover for me.”
After explaining to Guo Yu, Hua Changxi ignored his reaction and flew directly towards South Mountain.
She knew very well that Elder You and his companions, as well as Guo Yu, would not want her to go into seclusion.
Guo Yu wanted to become a cultivator and often came to her. He had nothing of equivalent value to exchange, so he could only hope to get closer to her, hoping she would give him Creation Pills out of goodwill.
As for Elder You and his companions, they had been unable to perform Qi Induction and also wanted her guidance.
After learning that Zhuo Fan had brought outsiders, Hua Changxi no longer intended to deepen her relationship with them. She could tolerate them now solely for the sake of the Fire Spirit Mine.
After a brief visit to the Great Rift Valley, Hua Changxi quietly left Medicine Valley.
“Boom~”
Not long after flying out of Medicine Valley, while passing through a valley, Hua Changxi saw a herd of cattle galloping at high speed.
Suddenly, a thin figure appeared among the cattle.
The thin figure continuously leaped over the herd, ran to the very front, then with a nimble somersault, jumped onto the leading bull and grabbed its horns with both hands, pulling it to a stop like a brake.
As the leading bull stopped, the bulls behind it also gradually slowed down.
The valley returned to silence.
A Niu!
Seeing who the figure was, Hua Changxi was truly surprised. This young man looked so thin, yet he had such great strength.
Looking at the leading bull, which was nearly two meters tall, Hua Changxi’s eyelids twitched.
Could a normal person stop such a charging giant bull?
Hua Changxi looked at A Niu again. At this moment, he was sitting steadily on the bull’s back, holding a bamboo flute and playing it.
The flute’s melody was melodious and continuous.
That’s some good lung capacity!
After the intense interception of the leading bull, he could immediately play the flute.
A cultivator?
Hua Changxi shook her head; he didn’t look like one. Then, Xu Ling’s figure appeared in her mind.
Returning to the ancestral line?
Since A Niu was working in the Livestock Yard of Sancha Medicine Farm, Hua Changxi didn’t want others to know she had left Medicine Valley, so she didn’t reveal herself to inquire. She thought that after returning from Qingzhou, she would investigate A Niu’s situation.
Hua Changxi was anxious because her cultivation had stagnated. She wasn’t in the mood to admire the scenery along the way. She traveled non-stop and, in a day and a night, reached Qingzhou.
As soon as she entered Qingzhou Territory, she noticed many people discussing the matter of Five Finger Mountain.
“Did you hear? The Qingzhou Army has already headed towards Five Finger Mountain, led by Prince Dong’an himself.”
“What exactly happened at Five Finger Mountain? Since July, many Martial Artists have come to Qingzhou, all heading to Five Finger Mountain.”
“What could have happened? It must be those Martial Artists fighting over territory again.”
“This time it’s quite fierce, even the Qingzhou Army has been mobilized.”
“I really don’t know what those Martial Artists see in Five Finger Mountain. That mountain is very strange; once you enter, you can’t get out. Yet they are fighting to the death over it.”
“They have nothing better to do. If Martial Artists don’t come out to spar, how can they show off their skills?”
Those speaking were ordinary citizens who all believed that the situation at Five Finger Mountain was a conflict caused by Martial Artists fighting over territory.
By the time Hua Changxi reached Anyang Prefecture, the closest prefecture to Five Finger Mountain, although Martial Artists were the most numerous, there were also many Taoist priests and Monks on the streets.
“People from Taisu Palace, Sanqing Palace, Demon Suppressing Division, Asura Gate, and some ancient Noble Families have been fighting fiercely at Five Finger Mountain.”
“It’s been almost three months of fighting. Why is there still no resolution?”
“Initially, the Demon Suppressing Division, relying on being the Imperial Court’s representative, wanted to forcibly occupy Five Finger Mountain. Taisu Palace and Sanqing Palace found it difficult to compete, and the Demon Suppressing Division almost succeeded. Unexpectedly, Asura Gate suddenly emerged. Later, some established Noble Families also got involved, making the situation even more chaotic.”
“I heard that a Spiritual Fruit has appeared at Five Finger Mountain, and mortals who eat it can cultivate immortality. Is it true?”
“Who knows? Some say it’s a Spiritual Fruit, some say it’s a Divine Fruit, and some say it’s a Spiritual Treasure. Anyway, there are all sorts of rumors.”
“Although the news is chaotic, the fact that Five Finger Mountain can attract so many forces to contend for it makes the claim of a Cave Heaven Blessed Land highly probable.”
“Alas, even if it is a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, what does it matter? With those major forces present, we ordinary people can only watch helplessly; we can’t get involved.”
What these people were discussing were things ordinary citizens did not know.
Hua Changxi did not linger in the city. She bought some Dry Rations and headed straight for Five Finger Mountain. Before long, she saw the layered peaks of Five Finger Mountain, shaped like five fingers.
On the Official Road leading to Five Finger Mountain, the Qingzhou Army, clad in armor and carrying swords, had already blocked the entrance, preventing anyone from approaching Five Finger Mountain.
“Whoosh~”
A soldier felt something flash past his line of sight and immediately reported to the leading General: “General, someone has entered Five Finger Mountain.”
The General heard this and said: “. You’re seeing things. Remember, our mission is to guard the entrance and prevent ordinary people from entering or leaving.”
The person who had flown past their guard post in the blink of an eye was not an ordinary person and was not under their jurisdiction.
The General looked towards Five Finger Mountain, his expression somewhat solemn.
Weren’t they saying that the Demon Suppressing Division of the Heavenly Department was invincible?
Because of Five Finger Mountain, various forces had gathered, and it had been a stalemate for nearly three months. The Demon Suppressing Division still hadn’t taken it down, forcing the Prince to personally intervene. What kind of invincibility was this?
“Rumble~”
Suddenly, dust and smoke billowed in the distance, and a mountain collapsed.
Upon seeing this, many of the Qingzhou soldiers’ expressions changed.
“They’re fighting again. Will it ever end?”
“General, there are quite a few villages around Five Finger Mountain. These people are so reckless, fighting without regard for the common people. If this continues, how many villages will be wiped out?”
The General also looked angry, but after his anger, he could only sigh helplessly: “The conflict within Five Finger Mountain is not something we can participate in.”
“Fortunately, the Prince sent people early to notify the villages at the foot of the mountain to evacuate quickly. Those who didn’t leave can only blame their bad luck.”
In Thumb Village, the siblings An Ze and An Ran, along with a group of young people, were continuously rescuing injured villagers from houses that had been destroyed by falling rocks.
“Boom~”
Behind the village, two cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle. Streams of spiritual energy were constantly unleashed from their hands. Wherever they passed, the mountains were being destroyed.
A mountainside directly facing the village collapsed, and rolling rocks surged towards Thumb Village like a tidal wave.
“Oh no, everyone run!”
The rocks were sliding down too fast, and many people didn’t have time to escape. An Ze and An Ran, while protecting a few children, also slowed down. Seeing the rocks about to crush them, everyone felt despair and resentment.
“Whoosh~”
A scorching hot aura suddenly swept over, and then, the villagers of Thumb Mountain saw the rapidly falling rocks suddenly fly backward.
Immediately after, two red Fire Lotuses descended from the sky, growing from small to large as they approached, directly engulfing the two people fighting on the back of Thumb Mountain.
The next moment, a horrifying scene unfolded.
Flames suddenly erupted on the bodies of the two fighting individuals. As they let out screams, the flames consumed them.
In the blink of an eye, the Fire Lotuses disappeared, and the two people… also disappeared, as if they had never existed.
The villagers of Thumb Mountain stared at the scene in stunned silence. The Qingzhou soldiers blocking the road in the distance were equally dumbfounded.
After a moment of silence, some of the elders of Five Finger Mountain suddenly bowed towards Five Finger Mountain: “The Mountain Spirit has manifested! The Mountain Spirit has manifested!”
