Fire Maple Trees, Warm Velvet Chickens, the Ancestor Takes Action!

Fire Maple Mountain lived up to its name. Fire Maple Trees grew across eighty percent of the mountain's surface.

Fire Maple Trees were First-grade Low-tier spirit trees, a material used in artifact refinement. Their entire bodies were crimson red, and their vitality was formidable; even thin spiritual energy could not hinder their growth.

Though their price was frighteningly low, they were easy to raise. The Fire Maple Trees covering the mountain could still bring the Zhang Family considerable profits.

Moreover, Fire Maple Trees also emitted faint fire-element spiritual energy.

Every Fire Maple Tree bore over a hundred maple fruits each year.

These fruits contained a trace of spiritual energy, but they fell far short of being First-grade Low-tier spirit fruits.

Yet they were the favorite food of First-grade Low-tier spirit chickens, Warm Velvet Chickens.

Therefore, more than thirty thousand Warm Velvet Chickens were free-range raised on the mountain.

Warm Velvet Chickens were First-grade Low-tier spirit chickens. Their meat was delicious and had body-nourishing effects, making them deeply beloved by cultivators. One chicken was worth the equivalent of a First-grade Low-tier Healing Pill—five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Warm Velvet Eggs contained gentle fire-attribute spiritual energy and could slightly increase the cultivation speed of Qi Refining Early Stage cultivators. Ten eggs were worth one Spirit Stone.

After deducting breeding costs, they could bring the Lineage an annual income of roughly five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, which was quite decent.

The moment Zhang Xuanchen stepped onto Fire Maple Mountain, he clearly felt that the temperature was much higher than it had been a hundred meters away.

As he reached the mountainside, a middle-aged man with graying temples and a longsword in hand emerged from the Formation.

His expression was stern, and he stood on full alert. But the instant he saw Zhang Xuanchen, a smile appeared on his face.

He sheathed his sword and strode quickly before the youth. "Hahaha, Xuan Chen, you came without even giving me a heads-up. I thought you would not arrive for several more days."

The middle-aged man was Zhang Hongrui, possessing a Five-element Spiritual Root and Qi Refining Level 6 cultivation.

Fire Maple Mountain was protected by a First-grade Top-tier Primordial Fire Array. The higher-ranked demon beasts in the vicinity had long since been slaughtered by the Monster Hunting Team, so normally, they only needed to clear out fierce beasts that had recently turned into demons within the mountain.

They also guarded the ten thousand or so mortals at the foot of the mountain and the three hundred mu of spirit fields upon it, lest they be stolen by others.

There was simply no need for powerful cultivators to stand guard here.

"Greetings, Uncle Hongrui. I had something to deal with earlier. Since I happened to pass by, I came here directly."

Hearing this, Zhang Hongrui raised a brow. "No need for formalities. From what you are saying, did you decide this at the last minute?

"Have you prepared your Spirit Talismans, artifacts, and pills? If not, hurry back to Xuanxiao Mountain and get them.

"You and Xuanbing are the Lineage's hope. You cannot let guarding the Spirit Vein affect your cultivation."

As a member of the Lineage, anyone who was not a fool understood that all prospered together and all suffered together.

Besides, although his Dao Path had already come to an end, he still had children.

The stronger the Lineage became, the greater the chances that his children would advance further in the future.

"Uncle Rui, do not worry. Everything has been prepared."

"That is good. Now I can return home in peace and see my child, whom I have not met in two years." Zhang Hongrui's face was filled with emotion, his eyes brimming with excitement.

He had been stationed at Fire Maple Mountain for less than seven months when his wife and child at home gave birth to a son for him.

To this day, he had not even seen him once.

At those words, a trace of shame flashed across Zhang Xuanchen's face.

"Uncle Rui, we younger descendants are incompetent. We made it so that you could not even be present when your child was born."

Zhang Hongrui patted Zhang Xuanchen's shoulder. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could this be your fault? You are already outstanding enough. How can you call yourselves incompetent?

"Besides, the Lineage belongs to all of us. For the Lineage, I, Zhang Hongrui, would not even furrow my brow if I had to give my life. It is only a temporary separation from my family. What does that amount to?"

Zhang Xuanchen's heart trembled at his words. Respectfully, he said, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Rui. Xuan Chen spoke out of turn."

Zhang Hongrui nodded in satisfaction. Then he formed hand seals with both hands. The energy screen of the operating Primordial Fire Array twisted, and a vortex entrance just large enough for one person to pass through appeared.

The two entered a wooden house built from Fire Maple Wood.

"Xuan Chen, this wooden house sits atop a First-grade Top-tier Spirit Vein. Because of the Fire Maple Trees, fire-attribute spiritual energy is rather dense here, making it well-suited for your cultivation. Outside are three hundred mu of spirit fields.

"Among them are one mu of First-grade Top-tier spirit fields, ten mu of First-grade Top-tier spirit fields, fifty mu of First-grade Mid-tier spirit fields, while the rest are all low-tier spirit fields.

"The Mid-tier and higher spirit fields are planted with spirit herbs that will not mature anytime soon. You only need to cast the Cloud Rain Technique once every three months.

"As for the Crimson Tooth Rice planted in the low-tier spirit fields, it ripens once every ten months. There are currently five months left until harvest.

"During this period, the safety of Fire Maple Mountain will be entrusted to you."

Zhang Hongrui's voice slowly rang out as he explained the matters requiring attention to Zhang Xuanchen.

Zhang Xuanchen listened very carefully. After all, this was his family's property—this was all Spirit Stones.

There was no need to say just how important resources were, was there?

"Uncle Rui, what about those Warm Velvet Chickens in the Fire Maple Forest?" Zhang Xuanchen asked in confusion.

"The chickens? You do not need to worry about that. The mortal martial artists at the foot of the mountain will help feed them. The eggs will all be laid in the chicken coops at the edge of the Formation, and your Spiritual Sense is enough to cover that area."

After saying this, Zhang Hongrui pointed at the Array Plate in the middle of the wooden house and continued:

"This is the Array Plate of the Primordial Qi Array. I have already erased the restrictions within it. Once you refine it, you will be able to control this array. Even a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator would need to spend some effort to break it."

"Alright, I understand."

"Since that is the case, I will leave."

"Take care on the road, Uncle Rui."

After Zhang Hongrui explained all the matters, great and small, concerning Fire Maple Mountain to Zhang Xuanchen, he immediately departed.

His wife and child were still waiting for him.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanchen sat before the Array Plate and began refining it.

With his Qi Refining Level 7 strength, he naturally could not unleash the full might of the Primordial Fire Array, but it did not matter much. Other than those Evil Cultivators who feared death no more than dirt, no one dared openly touch the Zhang Family's property.

Spirit Isle Mountain, Cloud Mountain Sword Sect.

Five mountain peaks rose from the earth. Clouds and mist curled through the mountains, spirit birds cried long and clear, and immortals clad in moon-white robes occasionally streaked across the sky, making it seem like a lone island between heaven and earth.

It was plainly the sight of an immortal sect.

Suddenly, an angry roar rang out from the heavens.

"Old Dog Cangming! Get your ass out here!"

Empowered by spiritual energy, the voice was exceptionally deep and resonant, echoing endlessly through the mountains. A terrifying pressure poured forth, startling the birds and beasts into fleeing in every direction.

Immediately after, a stream of white-and-gold spiritual light appeared amid the clouds above the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect before its owner did.

When the spiritual light dispersed, a middle-aged man in a white-and-gold Daoist robe appeared before everyone. His facial features were sharp as though carved by a blade, and a faint sword scar marked his forehead.

He stood straight as a pine, his eyes a deep amber that lent him the grave air of one long tempered by slaughter.

"Presumptuous! Who dares call the Ancestor by name? Are you courting death? This truly is—"

Slap!

Before that disciple could finish speaking, he was sent flying to the ground by a slap.

"Fan Jian! If you fucking want to die, stay farther away from me! You really have no brains at all!

"Do you think someone who dares call the Ancestor by name is someone you can afford to provoke?

"Get the hell away from Laozi!"

After saying that, the handsome and extraordinary disciple hurried back to his Cave Mansion to hide.

Seeing this, the other disciples hastily followed suit.

One after another, they moved away from the disciple called Fan Jian, lest they bring trouble upon themselves.