Preparations Beforehand

Dong—!

A resonant bronze gong rang through the village, followed by the booming voice of a constable:

"Listen up, everyone! In five days, a Beast Tide will erupt in the Mizhang Mountains.

"Every household must immediately prepare at least half a month's worth of provisions, hide in their cellars, and not go outside!"

The villagers of Xu Family Village followed behind the constable who had brought the news, gathering into a cluster and whispering among themselves.

Every face was clouded with panic, and their gazes toward the mountains brimmed with fear.

At that moment, inside the Jiang Family's main hall.

Jiang Fu'an cupped his hands toward the man seated opposite him in salute.

"Brother Sun, you came all this way specifically to inform me. I'm truly grateful for your trouble."

Sun Xiuyuan set down his teacup and waved a hand.

"It's my duty. What trouble is there to speak of?

"I came here for two reasons. First, there's indeed something I wanted to ask you. Second, after running around for most of the day, my throat was dry, so I thought I'd come beg a bowl of tea from you."

Seeing that he had other business, Jiang Fu'an's expression grew more serious.

"Please speak, Brother Sun."

Sun Xiuyuan raised his teacup and took another sip before slowly opening his mouth.

"This time, it's a Beast Tide. By rights, it shouldn't have much to do with Peace Town, since we don't have a Spiritual Vein here.

"But south of the town lies the Rosy Cloud Lu Family, one of the seven great families. Beneath their Rosy Cloud Mountain is a Third-Order Spiritual Vein, one of the demons' main targets.

"And Peace Town happens to sit right on the only road from the Mizhang Mountains to Rosy Cloud Mountain.

"When the Beast Tide passes through, there's no telling whether some Half-Spirit Beast might get separated from the pack and rush into the village to hurt people.

"That's why I came to advise you to bring your whole family to take shelter in town.

"There's a First-Order protective formation laid out in town. As long as the Beast Tide doesn't strike it head-on, it should be enough to keep everyone safe."

His words were heartfelt, and his arrangements sound.

Had Jiang Fu'an not already made other plans, he would certainly have agreed without hesitation.

He fell silent for a moment, an apologetic look appearing on his face.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Sun. But this time, I plan to try hunting stray Half-Spirit Beasts. I'm afraid I won't be able to seek refuge in town."

"Hunt Half-Spirit Beasts?"

Sun Xiuyuan choked on his tea. He abruptly looked up, his face filled with disbelief.

Jiang Fu'an smiled and explained.

"To be honest with you, Brother Sun, my Stone has already become a Qi Refining First Layer cultivator, thanks to several Qi-Nourishing Pills Seedling gave him before.

"With him here, we have some confidence in dealing with stray Half-Spirit Beasts."

He did not mention himself.

In this remote place without a Spiritual Vein, for a cultivator with a Five-Element Spiritual Root to break through to the Qi Refining First Layer within two years would be far too shocking.

Stone's aptitude was slightly better. If it were said that he had cultivated diligently day and night with the aid of pills, that could barely be explained away.

After hearing this, the surprise on Sun Xiuyuan's face faded, replaced by a complicated emotion.

He had not expected Jiang Fu'an to have not only a daughter, Jiang Xianghe, who had entered an immortal sect and still remembered to support her family.

But now, even his son Jiang Xiangchun was so promising.

He let out a long sigh, his tone carrying indescribable emotion.

"Brother Fu'an, you truly are a blessed man. Every one of your children is so accomplished."

Jiang Fu'an chuckled, waving a hand with a modest expression.

"You flatter me, Brother Sun. How is your eldest daughter any worse?

"She's only young and still has a child's temperament. Once she grows older and understands reason, she'll naturally know to be filial to you.

"At that banquet, I also saw your young master. His brows and eyes were bright and clear—he looked extraordinary at a glance. In the future, he'll surely be a fine seedling with a Spiritual Root."

Those words struck straight at Sun Xiuyuan's heart.

A smile immediately spread across his face, and the corners of his mouth could not help but lift.

"Ah, I'll gladly accept your auspicious words."

Seeing that he was in a good mood, Jiang Fu'an seized the chance to ask.

"Brother Sun, there is one more matter I'd like to ask about. Do you happen to have any connections through which I could buy weapons capable of dealing with Half-Spirit Beasts?"

He did not mention weapons for dealing with "demonic beasts."

Ordinary worldly weapons could not harm demonic beasts in the slightest. That required genuine magic artifacts.

And the cost of magic artifacts was far beyond what he could afford.

Sun Xiuyuan looked troubled after hearing this.

"A while ago, the imperial court did issue a batch of weapons. They're far sharper and tougher than ordinary iron.

"But military equipment isn't under my direct jurisdiction as a county magistrate.

"If you want to buy them, I'm afraid you won't get a discount, and payment must be made in Spirit Stones."

Jiang Fu'an was not surprised that Spirit Stones were required.

Those weapons were likely similar to the dagger Seedling had given Stone, mixed with trace amounts of spirit ore.

But at the moment, he did not have a single Spirit Stone on him. He had left them all with Seedling back then.

After pondering for a moment, he cupped his hands toward Sun Xiuyuan once more.

"Brother Sun, please wait here a moment."

With that, he rose and quickly walked into the inner hall.

Before long, he emerged with a talisman paper faintly glimmering with spiritual light pinched between his fingers.

"Brother Sun, this is a First-Order Mid-Grade Rejuvenation Talisman Seedling left me back then.

"Do you think this could be exchanged for some weapons?"

This talisman had also come from that Storage Ring. Its effect was to quickly restore strength and heal flesh wounds.

It was not a rare item in the cultivation world, worth roughly five low-grade Spirit Stones.

But Jiang Fu'an figured that exchanging it for some sharp worldly weapons would be more than enough.

Sun Xiuyuan's eyes fell upon the talisman, and they immediately lit up.

Though he was merely a mortal official, he had heard of such talismans that could "bring the dead back to life."

A surge of envy rose in his heart, and he sighed.

"That girl Seedling is truly filial. She even prepared such a treasure for you.

"This talisman should be more than enough to exchange for a batch of weapons. But Brother Fu'an, what weapons do you want?"

Jiang Fu'an had long since made his plans. He immediately replied.

"Two long sabers. Exchange all the rest for short spears that can be thrown."

As he spoke, he handed over the Rejuvenation Talisman.

"I'll have to trouble you to handle this matter, Brother Sun."

Sun Xiuyuan accepted the talisman without hesitation, carefully putting it away as he readily agreed.

"Don't worry, leave it to me. Around the day after tomorrow, I'll send someone to deliver the goods to you."

In his eyes, though Jiang Fu'an was only a farmer, he had two children who had stepped onto the immortal path and were exceptionally filial. Such Fu Yuan and potential made him worth befriending.

He was naturally willing to help with such an easy favor.

After seeing Sun Xiuyuan off, Jiang Fu'an immediately summoned Xu the Elder and instructed him.

"Go at once and gather every member of the Hunting Team.

"Before the Beast Tide arrives, we need to set up hunting traps around the village."

This time, he intended to use the village itself as the hunting ground rather than hunt elsewhere.

Though the harvest might be much smaller, they would hold every advantage of the terrain.

Most importantly, he could protect his wife and children hiding in the cellar.

Xu the Elder froze, astonishment flashing across his face.

"Master, are we really going after Half-Spirit Beasts?

"Those things are vicious. I'm worried about the boys on the team..."

Jiang Fu'an cut him off.

"This time, I'm only having you set traps. Those willing to stay and hunt with me are welcome;

"Those who don't dare come out, I won't force them. They can simply stay safely in the cellar."

He spoke calmly, but his mind had already been made up.

After the Beast Tide, this would be the perfect opportunity to see clearly who possessed courage and could be of use.

Those unwilling to take even the slightest risk would naturally have no place in the Hunting Team in the future.