Secret Retaliation

"Alright, we'll listen to Senior Brother."

Yunxi and Zonghao both took advice well. They had not planned to plant too much anyway, since this was their first time testing the waters.

Zonghao glanced over the distribution map and said:

"Senior Brother, we'd like spirit fields next to each other, so my sister and I can look out for one another."

Yunxi shot Zonghao a reproachful look and said:

"Brother Zonghao, don't make things difficult for Senior Brother. They don't have to be right next to each other. As long as the spirit fields are good and not too far apart, that will do."

The Steward immediately understood the two young disciples' request. With a wave of his hand, he lit up two locations on the map. As he registered them, he said:

"These two spirit fields have been left fallow for some time. You won't need any additional fertilizer when planting them. They are separated by only three mu of spirit fields, so it won't affect your ability to look out for each other."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

The two accepted their registered Identity Jade Tokens, each receiving a Storage Pouch.

"Inside are enough Spirit Rice Seeds to plant three mu. You may owe the spirit stones for the seeds for now and pay after your harvest.

There is also a Spirit Hoe and a formation disk for controlling the spirit field. There is a jade slip inside as well, containing basic planting knowledge. Before turning over the soil, you'd best read through it carefully so you don't miss anything important."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

The two cupped their hands in salute, then left the thatched hut. With this Steward's advice, they would avoid many detours.

"Brother Zonghao, my spirit field is Zone B Plot 58. What about yours?"

"Mine is Zone B Plot 60. Plot 59 lies between us, so we aren't far apart."

Zonghao also felt that the one low-grade spirit stone had been well spent. At the very least, they had secured B-grade spirit fields, which were far better than C-grade and D-grade fields.

Wei Yunxi nodded as well.

"Indeed. Senior Sister Hua's influence was probably part of it too."

"Come on. Let's go take a look at our territory first."

The two went together to Zone B and found the spirit fields they would soon begin planting. Using the formation disks they had received, they opened the protective barriers and found a thatched hut at each location, presumably for them to stay in temporarily.

When they went inside, they found only five square meters of space, barely enough for a bed. The conditions were somewhat harsh, but with the protective barrier, safety was assured.

Disciples who accepted the task and did not wish to run back and forth could stay here to cultivate while keeping watch over their spirit fields, saving time as well.

After looking around and familiarizing themselves with the surroundings, the two got busy. They first hoed through their respective spirit fields to loosen the soil, then planted the Spirit Rice Seeds. Once they had finished planting, they immediately cast the Rainfall Technique, watering all three mu of spirit field and completing the first stage of the planting task.

The work took the two of them seven days to finish completely. Zonghao was so exhausted that he did not want to move, and he lay in his thatched hut sleeping and resting.

Yunxi was in better shape. The Milk Fruit had strengthened her physique, and her strength was gradually increasing. Despite her loli face, she was truly a girl of tremendous strength. She simply did not show it too much, wholeheartedly wanting to play the part of a refined young lady.

Yunxi was also calculating that once the Spiritual Rice was harvested, she would trade for more Milk Fruit from the Tribal Warriors. Over the past year, she had consumed more than half of the Milk Fruit she had traded for, yet adulthood was still a long way off. Naturally, the more of such good things, the better.

The next day, after Zonghao had rested well, he came to find Yunxi.

"Sister Yunxi, I've eaten all my Spirit Flour Buns. I need to make a trip to the dining hall to buy some food."

Yunxi checked her Storage Pouch. Her own food supplies were nearly depleted as well, so she said:

"Brother Zonghao, I'll trouble you to make the trip and buy some food. Also, find a stove. We can occasionally treat ourselves here too. Yesterday, I saw some Senior Brothers farming nearby stir-frying spirit vegetables for themselves. It looked quite good."

"You're not coming with me?"

"I'll stay here and watch over our spirit fields. This is our first time planting them, so we can't let anything go wrong. If neither of us is here, I won't feel at ease."

Yunxi voiced her concerns.

"Alright, then I'll make the trip. Yunxi, you stay here and hold the fort. I'll also let Zong Yu and the others know we're safe. We'll probably have to stay by the spirit fields for this first month, but fortunately it won't delay our cultivation."

"Mm, that was my thought as well. Cultivating here isn't bad."

Once they had settled the matter, Yunxi gave Zonghao five low-grade spirit stones. Over the past year, she had also saved a hundred low-grade spirit stones by selling talismans. She could be considered to have modest assets, so this time she had Zonghao buy more ingredients.

Zonghao did not stand on ceremony. Taking the spirit stones, he headed straight for the Outer Sect Market. He would first settle the matter of the stove, then buy ingredients, return to the small courtyard for one night, and report in to his brothers and sisters. The following day, he could hurry back to the Outer Five Peaks.

Zonghao's plan was sound, but he did not know that while he was away, someone had set their sights on Wei Yunxi.

Since the two had arrived at the Outer Five Peaks, they had never separated. On the surface, Wei Zonghao's cultivation was at the peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refining and would soon break through to the seventh layer, making him far stronger than Wei Yunxi at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

The person lurking in the shadows was not confident of taking both of them down in one stroke and could only wait for an opportunity. Wei Zonghao's departure created that opportunity, so he decided to act that very night.

Wei Zonghao had his reasons for daring to leave Yunxi alone to guard the spirit fields. He felt that since both of them had improved their Spiritual Root aptitude, there was no reason for his cultivation to rise so quickly while Yunxi remained the same. There was only one possibility: Yunxi had been hiding her true ability.

Seeing how Wei Yunqing was always trying to pick a fight with Yunxi, Zonghao understood Yunxi's approach. Sometimes, hiding one's true ability was also a way to avoid trouble, so he had never exposed it.

He estimated that Yunxi's cultivation should be on par with his own, around the sixth layer of Qi Refining. That was why he had left without worry.

During the day, Yunxi cast the Rainfall Technique over both of their spirit fields once more. After the sun set, she opened the protective barrier around the spirit fields and returned to her own thatched hut to sit in meditation and cultivate.

She spent the first half of the night drawing talismans. After exhausting the Spiritual Qi in her Dantian, she began meditating. With the Spirit Gathering Formation enhancing the area, her Dantian was filled with Spiritual Qi once more two hours later.

Just as Yunxi was preparing to resume drawing talismans, she heard the faintest trace of movement. In the deathly silent surroundings, it was especially clear.

Yunxi immediately extended her divine sense and saw someone burrowing up from underground, rushing straight for the thatched hut where she was.

Wei Yunxi's heart tightened. Instinctively, she held a Lightning Strike Talisman in her hand and took a Low-Grade Spirit Sword from her Storage Pouch.

She had traded talismans to Hua Xuanzi for it. After Senior Sister Hua had saved enough spirit stones to replace her sword with a high-grade Spirit Sword, this sword had gone cheaply to Wei Yunxi.

With a BANG, the thatched hut's door was kicked open, and a vicious-faced youth appeared before Wei Yunxi.

Yunxi narrowed her eyes.

"It's you! Have you come to retaliate against us Wei family disciples?"

Chen Feng sneered.

"Hmph! Little girl, aren't you just relying on an Inner Sect Disciple to back you up? Let's see what the Wei family members will do after you vanish from the spirit fields! I've waited a long time for this day!"

After speaking, Chen Feng unleashed the aura of the sixth layer of Qi Refining, intending to strike first and gain the upper hand.

At that moment, Wei Yunxi was more excited than afraid. She was not intimidated in the least. Swiftly, she threw out the talisman in her hand, and a bolt of purple lightning struck Chen Feng squarely on the head.