Chapter 125 Message from the Enforcement Hall

Seeing his master's serious expression, Ji An felt a chill run down his spine.

Some things may not weigh much on a scale, but once you put them on, they can weigh a ton.

The eruption of the earth's fiery veins carries spiritual objects, which, in principle, belong to the sect, not him.

If he had reported it to the sect the first time he discovered it, the sect probably wouldn't have confiscated his gains and might even have given him a reward. However, he wouldn't have been able to benefit from it in the future, and they might have even held the Chen family accountable.

Things have come to this point, and I don't know if there's any way to salvage the situation.

Ge Ying did not urge her, waiting for her disciple to confess on his own.

At this moment, she couldn't understand where this disciple had obtained these things. She heard Li Lingyu mention that some alchemists called him "Stone Turtle Cultivator".

Regardless of the weather outside, the other party remained motionless and never left Crimson Flame Peak.

Ji An calmed himself down and recounted the whole story in detail:

"After settling into the cave, I obtained all these spiritual items after the eruption of Crimson Flame Peak at night."

Looking back now, I realize that I couldn't control my greed, which led me to commit such a mistake. I'm currently hesitating about how and when to report this to the sect.

He didn't embellish anything and simply stated the general facts.

Ge Ying's gaze darkened, and she slowly spoke:

"If you report your first acquisition of a spiritual item, the sect will give you a great reward."

Ten years have passed; what you're doing is taboo.

If it involves high-level resources like second-tier top-grade spiritual items, reporting it to the sect will inevitably lead to inquiries.

If the sect finds out that you have been hiding this for so many years, it will be difficult for you to be cultivated as a true core member. You may even be sent to the mine to do hard labor for many years.

I need to think carefully about how to handle this better.

The two fell silent, with only the buzzing of bees' wings audible.

Ji An felt tormented, and the air seemed to grow heavy. If he were to be expelled from Crimson Flame Peak, the loss would be too great.

Ge Ying suddenly looked up, her worried brows relaxing slightly:

"When I first broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Crimson Flame Peak rarely erupted, but it has erupted repeatedly in recent years. Do you know why?"

"I don't know."

"Decades ago, the sect was at a critical juncture in cultivating spiritual veins. Changes in the spiritual energy within the main vein affected the branch veins."

Because Crimson Flame Peak is a place where multiple ley lines converge, the collision of spiritual energies is even more intense.

If my prediction is correct, once the spiritual energy stabilizes, the Crimson Flame Peak will return to its previous state of erupting only occasionally, and I estimate that no spiritual entities will surge out with the eruption.

In other words, if I don't bring this up today, it's very likely that the matter will simply fade away in a few years?

Ji An was speechless and scratched his head a few times.

Ge Ying's eyes were deep and unfathomable, her tone calm and even:

"Now, what are you going to do?"

"Report it to the sect. I'll accept whatever the outcome."

Ji An could sense how deep his master's feelings were for the sect. Now that things were out in the open, there was no longer any room for hiding.

Ge Ying snorted coldly, took a few steps forward with her hands behind her back, and solemnly said:

"In our cultivation, in addition to focusing on improving our cultivation level, we must also guard our original intentions. Sometimes, one wrong step can lead to eternal damnation."

After this matter is resolved, go back and reflect on your actions.

"Thank you, Master," Ji An sighed. What had he been after all these years?

The two began to talk about planting, and he answered his master's questions fluently.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed, and the sky gradually darkened.

Ge Ying pointed to the old tree, her tone tinged with sadness:

"This second-tier top-grade spirit peach is over two thousand years old, and like me, its life is nearing its end."

It may bear fruit again, and then slowly wither away.

"The second-tier top-grade spirit peaches are of great use to cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage who practice fire and wood attribute techniques, as they can comprehend the principle of the mutual generation of wood and fire."

If it withers, the sect's foundation will be diminished.

"The one next to me has reached the second-tier high-grade level, but I don't know if I have the ability to cultivate it to the second-tier top-grade level."

She has lived at Ningcui Cliff for over a hundred years, and she has devoted a great deal of her energy to these two sacred trees.

Life and death have their own laws; her abilities were insufficient to save herself from entering her twilight years, nor could she save the spirit tree from exhausting its life force and withering away.

Sometimes, in the dead of night, she would ask herself if there really was a spiritual tree that could last forever, and if there was an end to cultivating immortality.

Ji An smiled slightly and said:

"With Master's expertise in cultivation, as long as this spirit peach has the potential to be a second-tier top-grade plant, it will surely be cultivated to the top-grade level."

"You're good with words, but it would be better if you were more reliable in your actions."

"I will keep this matter in mind and reflect on it every day."

At this point, Ji An had calmed down, accepting what could not be changed, using his past actions as a warning to himself, but without regretting his past choices.

No matter when or who, the only thing we can grasp is the present.

The sky had completely darkened, the moon had not yet risen, and the stars shone brightly like a sea.

Ge Ying nodded slightly and said:

"Among the high-level spiritual farmers in the sect, only Junior Brother Lin Mao and I are capable of cultivating these two spiritual trees."

After I pass away, he should take over the Ningcui Cliff.

By then, Junior Brother Lin will be 180 years old, with at most 60 or 70 years left to live. I believe you are fully capable of taking over his position.

Ji An answered solemnly:

"If I have the ability, I will take on the responsibility without hesitation."

The two emerged from the herb garden, and a maidservant gracefully approached, holding a golden talisman sword in her hands.

"Senior Uncle, the sect has sent a golden sword for communication."

Both the communication talisman sword and the communication golden sword require a corresponding magical imprint to open. If they are forcibly opened, the information within the talisman sword will self-destruct.

Ge Ying took the talisman sword and probed it with her divine sense, her expression shifting between light and dark.

After a few moments of silence, she turned her head and asked:

"How long until the next eruption of Crimson Flame Peak?"

Hearing the seemingly random question, Ji An was slightly taken aback and replied:

"About three months."

"I must say, you're very lucky. I'll go back with you tomorrow."

Ji An didn't know what had happened; his master hadn't told him, and he hadn't asked.

The next day, Ji An carried his master back to Crimson Flame Peak in a flying shuttle.

He made a hand seal to open the portal and landed by the cold pool.

"Master, please sit down. I will instruct the servants to prepare spiritual food."

Ge Ying waved her hand and said:

"I'm not sitting here anymore. Come with me and let me wander around."

She wanted to test how well her disciples had cultivated these spiritual trees.

“Okay, I was planning to take Master on a tour after we finished eating the spiritual food.”

Ji An agreed, and then saw Liang Qiu jogging over, holding a golden communication sword in his hand:

"Uncle-Master, the message talisman you sent yesterday evening."

Reaching out to take it, Ji An nodded slightly:

"Understood, Fellow Daoist Liang. Please prepare a feast of spiritual food. Use as many of the ingredients we have here as possible, as I need to entertain my master."

"Yes, sir," Liang Qiu said, bowing as he took his leave.

Ji An probed the talisman sword with his divine sense, and the information inside came from the sect's Enforcement Hall:

"Three days later, each peak and hall should activate its protective array and guard its entrance. Do not panic if there is any disturbance."

After Liang Qiu had walked a distance, Ge Ying asked with a surprised expression:

"Why do you address this disciple as 'fellow Daoist'?"

Ji An hummed twice, cleared his throat, and smiled:

"I met Fellow Daoist Liangqiu when we were still in humble beginnings. We met while we were planting spirit fields at Biyue Lake. He is skilled at raising spirit fish."

After settling in Crimson Flame Peak, I contracted the entire mountain. There was a cold pool here that needed to be managed, so I invited them to come and raise spirit fish.

Not only him, but there's also Fellow Daoist Huang Feihu here, whom I met at Biyue Lake. I asked him to help with the miscellaneous tasks and cultivate the spirit fields.”

Ge Ying nodded slightly. Her disciple was quite sentimental, which was a good thing.

"Master, how about we take a walk around the Cold Pool first, and then ride the flying shuttle around Crimson Flame Peak?"

Ji An understood his master's intention in suggesting they take a walk, and it was exactly what he wanted, as it would be a good opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.

"Let's do it this way."

The two walked together, and Ji An began to share the cultivation insights he had gained over the years.

After examining the elixir, he summoned his flying shuttle and began to slowly fly around Crimson Flame Peak.

"I left thirty acres of this red pine forest uncut, and the pine nuts I roast are all made from the pine cones of the old pines."

While controlling the movement of the shuttle, he used hand seals to unleash the Azure Wood Transformation Technique with all his might, causing a shower of light to fall from the sky, like a beautiful dream.

Daytime is not a good time to cast spells, but the purpose now is to show off one's strength and attract the master's further attention so that he can say a few good words when reporting the situation of the sect's Crimson Flame Peak.

Ge Ying's expression shifted slightly. Judging from the fluctuations in magical power and the abundant spiritual energy contained within, her disciple's magical cultivation had reached the perfect level.

Such a speed of progress is definitely not something a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator with ten years of experience could achieve; it's far superior to what she had back then.

She knew this disciple was gifted in water and earth magic, but she didn't expect him to have such a strong understanding of wood magic as well.

Choosing the Wood element technique and burying one's talent suggests that after reaching Foundation Establishment, the opponent will likely spend most of their time practicing the Azure Wood Transformation Technique.

She praised him lightly, "You have a good grasp of magic."

"Hehe, Master, please continue to enjoy my performance."

Ji An lowered the shuttle's altitude, made a hand seal to activate the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra, and the warm yellow spiritual light shone brightly in the sunlight.

'What?! The Perfected Earth Returning to Origin Mantra?!'

Ge Ying was shocked and could no longer maintain her composure. Although she had a remarkable talent for planting, her disciple had completely surpassed her in terms of mastery of planting spells.

Ji An urged the flying shuttle forward, continuously introducing the situation of each piece of spirit wood and occasionally casting spells.

After circling back to the vicinity of the cold pool, he said again:

"The spirit energy is intense during the day, so these Qingling bamboos need more care."

As he spoke, the hand seals in his hands changed, and he unleashed the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique.

A cloud of mist spread rapidly, and thousands of glistening raindrops fell, spreading a moist spiritual energy that dispersed the ever-flowing golden fire spiritual energy.

'The perfect, nurturing approach!'

For many Foundation Establishment stage spiritual farmers, achieving even one of the three planting spells that can accelerate the growth of spiritual herbs to perfection is extremely difficult. This disciple achieved them all in ten years.

Why can there be such a huge gap between people?

At that moment, Ge Ying felt that the world was somewhat unreal.

The initial idea was to 'upgrade the spiritual veins and stop the Crimson Flame Peak from erupting,' so many operations seemed abnormal and were handled roughly.

(End of this chapter)