Tiger-Leopard Forest was a forbidden zone for the people of Bluestone County. Its name alone could stop a child from crying.
There were too many fierce beasts. Even a Body Tempering Fifth Layer martial artist like Yang Shi, leading a small team in, had been injured many times this year.
Flame Tiger Spirit Beast (Fire) Lifespan: 1/70 Realm: Embryonic Breath Realm, First Layer Talent: Roaring Flames (Mortal Grade) Roaring Flames (Mortal Grade): As cultivation rises, high-temperature flames can be released from the surface of the body.
"A juvenile Spirit Beast! Bring it back and raise it. It's leagues better than that Large Field Mouse."
Yang Genshuo did not even need to manifest himself; Yang Shi thought the same.
Besides the little tiger, there was also a spirit tree bearing orange-red fruit, with three Spirit Fruits still hanging from it.
Magma Fruit Spirit Fruit Spiritual Energy Concentration: 2 Five Elements Attribute: Fire 80, Wood 20
Clearly, this tiger had eaten the Spirit Fruits and advanced into a Spirit Beast.
Yang Shi brought the little tiger back for Jiang Xiaobai, delighting her beyond measure.
He named this Flame Tiger "Little Flame."
Compared to the three Magma Fruits, whose use was unknown, the three acres of Spirit Fields beneath the spirit tree delighted Yang Genshuo even more.
This proved they could cultivate more land again.
"Farming feels great!"
This time, Yang Genshuo planned to have Yang Shi plant some Spirit Wheat. Besides changing up their diet, he wanted to see whether it could trigger an achievement and earn some Incense Value.
Naturally, the heavy responsibility of buying Spirit Wheat seeds fell to Shopkeeper Liao.
Shopkeeper Liao looked at the visiting Yang Shi with suspicion in his eyes.
"How did you know I just received twenty jin of Spirit Wheat?"
"What a coincidence. Sell it to me, then. I won't short you a single Low-Grade Spirit Stone."
"Easy, easy. I'll go fetch it for you right away."
Holding twenty jin of dried Spirit Wheat still attached to its stalks, Yang Shi caught the tempting wheat fragrance drifting out and sniffed carefully.
"It smells somewhat like Fasting Cakes."
Liao Cao smiled. "Indeed. When I first received your Fasting Cakes, they were so fragrant and sweet that I thought you had added Spirit Wheat Flour. Later, after eating one and failing to sense that wondrous feeling of spiritual energy passing through my body, I finally put my doubts to rest."
Yang Shi had also been eating Spirit Rice frequently lately, so he naturally understood that marvelous sensation. It was an entirely different experience from eating food without spiritual energy.
Meals made from Spirit Rice were more like medicinal cuisine, slowly conditioning his body as every aspect of his abilities gradually improved.
"By the way, Shopkeeper Liao, where did this Spirit Wheat come from? Could it be that Bluestone County also has a Spirit Plant Family?"
Liao Cao had initially wanted to refuse, but considering the relationship between them now, he shut the door and spoke softly.
"This year's Spirit Wheat and last year's Spirit Rice Paddy were both sold to me by the same person. He is not a cultivator, merely an ordinary man. Every year, he exchanges them with me for twenty thousand taels of silver. This has continued for several years."
"Oh? Who is it?" Yang Shi could not remember anyone like that in Bluestone County.
"The steward of Xiang Residence, Xiang Sanhe."
At the mention of Xiang Residence, the smile on Yang Shi's face vanished, and his expression turned thoughtful.
"What is it?" Liao Cao asked.
"Mm... I was wondering how a mortal like Xiang Sanhe could possess such Spirit Objects."
"That would be Xiang Residence's business. I advise you not to pry. In all of Bluestone County, including the county magistrate and even Senior Liu, no one dares provoke the people of Xiang Residence. Rumor has it that the Grand Tutor Xiang Zuo stands behind them."
"I understand. I have matters to attend to today, so I'll take my leave."
Xiang Residence lay in the southeastern outskirts of Bluestone County, while Yang Family Manor was in the northwestern outskirts.
With Bluestone County at the center, their locations were perfect mirror images.
Since leaving the Safe House, Yang Shi had never gone to Xiang Residence.
Because he feared that if he saw that place, he would be unable to suppress his fury. Besides, he had no strength to do anything about it.
That place had once been Yang Residence—his home.
"Waiter, are there any seats on the second floor?"
"Yes, yes! One private seat upstairs~"
Sitting in the tavern closest to Xiang Residence, Yang Shi leaned by the window and narrowed his eyes as he observed.
He could see nothing.
"The Xiang Family has raised the walls. They're at least five meters high. What are they trying to conceal?"
"How could Xiang Sanhe sell twenty jin of Spirit Rice Paddy and Spirit Wheat every year?"
"Could it be..."
A suspicion quietly arose in Yang Shi's heart.
At that moment, a giant golden hand appeared in the sky. It pointed at Xiang Residence and transformed into a line of words:
"Truly damned!"
Yang Shi could not see beyond the walls, but Yang Genshuo could!
He had a bird's-eye view!
He could see everything within a hundred meters of Yang Shi, and could even zoom in and out.
The sight within those walls instantly left Yang Genshuo burning with rage!
Seeing the glowing Spirit Fields covering half the screen, Yang Genshuo's face turned red with envy.
"Mine! They're all mine!"
"The Xiang Family has already chosen the path to death!"
Yang Shi had spent half a year's effort, fought tigers and leopards, and lost three subordinates just to seize three acres of Spirit Fields. He had even been somewhat smug, feeling that the Lineage was about to rise.
Yet in the former Yang Family courtyard, Spirit Fields carpeted the ground!
Right before their eyes, the Xiang Family was diligently cultivating them, spraying Spirit Rain into the earth as though their lives depended on it.
This filled Yang Genshuo with immense shock, fury, shame, and a faint thread of excitement!
"If these could be brought into the Yang Family, farming would feel incredible."
Then, selling Spirit Rice Paddy and Spirit Wheat every year would earn them vast amounts of Spirit Stones. They could support several more cultivators at home without trouble.
After hearing the information his ancestor had uncovered, Yang Shi immediately understood why the Xiang Family, which had held no grudge against the Yang Family, had silently exterminated the entire Yang Family all those years ago.
It was all because of this immortal grain resource!
You had precious land but lacked the strength to protect it, so I would wipe out your entire family and seize your precious land.
"Is this what cultivation is?"
Yang Shi closed his eyes, recalling the corpses filling the courtyard that day, their eyes still wide in death. Two streams of tears ran down his face.
After finishing a jar of wine, Yang Shi staggered away.
When he returned, he doubled down on Body Tempering!
"Ancestor, please grant me immortal power. I want to become stronger!"
Use Blessing: Vitality Incense Value -1
Watching Yang Shi tirelessly wield the Trace-Free Sword Technique in the manor, Yang Genshuo sighed.
"With these Spirit Fields, the Xiang Family has developed for eighteen years. Who knows what colossal existence they have become? I alone saw three cultivators casting spells on that patch of Spirit Fields. With your mortal body, can you stand against them?"
Time accelerated. The third year in the cultivation world had already passed.
It was time for the annual ancestral rites again.
Your descendant Yang Shi has successfully completed this year's ancestral rites. Incense Value +10 You have received offerings from members of the Yang Family Lineage: 10 jin of Spirit Rice, 2 jin of Spirit Wheat, "Trace-Free Sword Technique," "Gale Saber Technique," "Mind Illumination Formula," "Overbearing Qi Formula." Would you like to bestow a reward upon a descendant of the Yang Family?
Yang Genshuo did not go out that day either. With nothing particularly good to give, he selected a book from the shelf and sent it to Yang Shi.
"The Art of War."
Yang Shi's comprehension was fairly good. The chain of schemes he had used to kill Zhao Kuangfeng had been quite convincing, and Yang Genshuo hoped he would continue improving.
After completing the reward, Yang Genshuo had not even had time to inspect his offerings when his phone rang at the worst possible moment.
"Mr. Yang, may I ask whether you have gathered the two hundred thousand? Your final repayment deadline is in three days."
"Rush, rush, rush—what are you rushing for? Tell your bank manager to wait obediently at the bank this afternoon. I'm settling the account!"
Yang Genshuo rubbed his nose, feeling his domineering aura leak out.
"Sorry, Mr. Yang, but our bank manager is very busy and has no time to concern himself with such a small loan."
"You... Hey! This... Ahh~"
Yang Genshuo hurriedly hung up, feeling that none of that had been satisfying at all.
Still, debts had to be repaid. He took out the offerings he had received yesterday: ten fifty-gram gold bracelets.
He visited ten gold shops across Shimen City, sold them all, and received two hundred and forty thousand.
"Easy as pie~"
Just as he was about to call a taxi to the bank to repay the loan, he received a WeChat message from Chen Wanting.
"Brother Shuo, what happened that night was a misunderstanding. The reasons are complicated. Are you free? I want to explain it to you in person."
Yang Genshuo slapped his thigh.
"Damn it! Her phone can see my bank transfer records!"
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