Swish, swish, swish!
Jiang Tu raised a hand, and the thousands upon thousands of Premium Quality treasure pills suspended around him flocked into his sleeve like a hundred birds returning to the forest.
One after another, they dropped into empty medicine bottles, ringing out in a clattering chorus.
He counted roughly. There were a full 1,027 of them!
Before entering seclusion, he had brought quite a few Premium Quality pills, the entirety of his accumulation over many years. He had originally thought it would be good enough if he could conserve them and avoid using them all up on this journey. Who would have thought that not only had he not suffered any losses, he had returned with a full haul instead!
These pills were vastly different from those he and his wife refined by the furnace. Every single one had been condensed through the Pill Pinching Technique, with rich medicinal properties and flawless quality. They had been blessed by heaven alone, formed from the purest medicinal power without the slightest impurity.
Yet he also knew perfectly well that this forcible absorption of the earth's spirituality to stabilize his realm would surely cause no small commotion.
Those Premium Quality fields whose spirituality he had extracted had likely withered over vast stretches already!
But once he thought of how those Premium Quality crops had originally been paved with the flesh and blood of Agricultural Path Cultivators by the Daoist Sect, he took them with a clear conscience, without the slightest guilt!
What he had done today was the most outrageous thing he had done in over twenty years since transmigrating. Before this, he had always placed keeping a low profile above all else. This time, however, he had unexpectedly siphoned away a huge portion of New Dajiang County's spirituality underground.
Seventh Grade really harmed people!
"Herbal Scholar," you truly made me suffer miserably!
This was not a place to linger!
Before long, the Daoist Sect would certainly react and begin investigating. When that happened, they would surely find traces of him!
He immediately activated Earth Escape. The Seventh Grade Great Earth Escape Art could not only be used four times a day and cover a far greater distance, but could also carry up to two people at once. It was much more powerful than before.
Swish!
His body sank, and he vanished into the earth on the spot. In the blink of an eye, he was already dozens of miles away.
After he left, the technique that had already transformed into the Seventh Grade Earth-Shifting Art rippled with waves. The soil and rocks around the place where he had secluded himself surged and closed together like flowing water, completely restoring themselves to the appearance of ordinary earth and stone. Every trace of his breakthrough vanished into thin air.
For a long time to come, he would have to lie low completely. He could not make any more eye-catching moves.
As for the true method of breaking through to Seventh Grade, it remained unresolved, an unsolved mystery... The difficulty he had faced in stabilizing his realm after this breakthrough, as well as the eruption caused by devouring spirituality, proved precisely that the Seventh Grade breakthrough was still imperfect!
New Dajiang County.
Swish!
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
Just as the farmers and Field Stewards were panicking over the widespread withering of fertile fields and searching everywhere for the cause—
A majestic streak of sword light split open the clouds, parting them to reveal the sun as it crashed down outside the county seat.
It was a Daoist who looked to be in his thirties. His expression was solemn, and an authority born of long years in high position naturally radiated from between his brows. His aura was deep and powerful as an abyss, astral winds circling his body. He was none other than Situ Zhang, the strongest person stationed in New Dajiang County and second among the Daoist Sect disciples.
His Sword Qi had not dissipated when he landed. His robes snapped in the wind, Daoist charm hidden deep within him.
After glancing around, he asked in a low voice.
"What happened? What exactly occurred just now? Why did a spring tide surge forth, sending all things into mad growth? And why did thousands upon thousands of Premium Quality crops wither and die in the span of mere moments...?"
Rustle!
A Field Steward emerged from underground and bowed.
"Reporting to Second Senior Brother, this disciple suspects that something changed underground. But after entering the earth to investigate, I found nothing at all. There was no abnormality whatsoever."
The others also began reporting one after another, their voices overlapping in a chaotic jumble.
"Second Senior Brother! This disciple followed the direction in which the spirituality of the fine seeds was dissipating, but the trail completely ended at an underground water vein. I suspect that perhaps the underground water vein devoured the spiritual essence? Or perhaps that spiritual essence had originally merged into the earth here?"
"Second Senior Brother, before the Strange Calamity erupted in Dajiang County over ten years ago, were there similar abnormalities? Could this be a sign that strange creatures are gathering in the shadows?"
All sorts of explanations flew about, yet not one could stand on solid ground.
Situ Zhang listened expressionlessly from start to finish without giving his opinion. He bent down and picked up a pinch of ashes from the withered fine seeds.
His fingers formed an incantation. Closing his eyes in concentration, he swiftly formed a Daoist Sect hand seal and silently recited a Daoist formula.
Swish!
A thread of pale golden Daoist Sect True Astral Force emerged from his fingertips and slowly revolved around the ashes.
Traceback Technique!
This technique could trace lingering remnants, follow the vine to find the melon, and observe their echoes. It might not reveal the whole picture, but as long as he caught even a thread of aura, he was confident he could determine whether this was man-made disaster or natural calamity...!
Yet the instant the True Astral Force touched the ashes, it shook violently.
Thump, thump!
Situ Zhang's brow jumped sharply. He vaguely sensed a heavy, profound earthbound Daoist charm pressing down upon the source of the trace. It was neither the aura of the Daoist Sect nor that of strange creatures, but a vast existence so immense that it nearly left him unable to breathe. It seemed inseparable from the earth itself, pointing directly toward the source of the Great Dao.
In that single instant, he felt the world spin around him. He was shaken beyond measure, his scalp tingling!
Pfft!
The next moment, he abruptly opened his eyes. The backlash of the Daoist art made him spray a mouthful of blood, and his body swayed as he dropped to one knee!
"Second Senior Brother!"
Several Daoist Sect Field Stewards hurried over to support him. Situ Zhang waved them off and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"...The secrets of heaven are unfathomable. The hidden cause behind this matter actually points directly to the Great Dao of heaven and earth! Could it truly be a natural calamity rather than a man-made disaster!? Quick! Report to the Daoist Sect at once and have the temple send more great True Persons to investigate!"
The Field Stewards immediately took out secret whistles. Their piercing whistles joined into one continuous sound as they scattered in all directions.
Messengers of the Daoist Sect across a hundred miles were alarmed and converged upon this place like clouds—
Just then, the sky changed abruptly as wind and clouds surged!
The originally clear winter sky was suddenly obscured by rolling clouds. They were not dark rain clouds, but instead glimmered with a dusky golden sheen, as if golden wheels lay hidden within them. Layer upon layer, they gathered high above, forming an enormous vortex of clouds.
Immediately afterward, goose-feather snowflakes drifted down from the sky, fluttering and scattering across the earth.
They brought not the slightest biting chill. Instead, they carried a gentle warmth that spread across the wilds. Snow filled heaven and earth, and for a time Dajiang County was clad in silver while warm as spring.
—Phenomenon: Auspicious Snow!
The snowflakes melted the instant they landed in the soil, and fresh shoots broke through the earth, swiftly unfurling their leaves and bringing new life everywhere!
In the Premium Quality fields that had withered due to depleted spirituality, new sprouts emerged one after another, breaking through the soil and spreading into vast patches.
Even ordinary crops and medicinal herb fields underwent tremendous changes beneath the falling snow. They were infused with a measure of heaven-and-earth spirituality and more than a decade's worth of growth, with quite the feeling of pulling seedlings up to help them grow!
Quite a few ordinary medicinal herbs and crops transformed into Premium Quality crops and fine seeds on the spot! The gains were greater than the losses from the crops that had previously withered and died!
This sudden mutation left every corner in shock. From top to bottom, Dajiang County was dumbfounded and shaken!
Even many Agricultural Path Cultivators benefited immensely, their cultivation surging by a great margin. Many Eighth Grade Field Stewards even faintly touched upon a thread of the Seventh Grade threshold.
Many people who had already been on the verge of the Seventh Grade threshold also felt a rare moment of enlightenment from heaven and earth. They settled their realms and cultivation, contemplating the method of breakthrough.
"What sort of phenomenon is this? Snow fell from the heavens, yet it brought the revival of all things and the stirring of a spring tide! Unheard of, simply unheard of!"
"Look at the fields! Those withered Premium Quality crops are actually growing back!"
"A lucky omen! This is a lucky omen! Auspicious snow foretells a bountiful harvest—this is the sign of our Agricultural Path's great prosperity! May the Agricultural Path endure for a thousand years! Long live the Daoist Sect!!"
A snowfall from heaven completely overturned the fear and unease throughout New Dajiang County. All the previous speculation about strange creatures gathering and spirituality drying up was cast behind them. Everywhere rang with jubilant cries of joy over the auspicious snow.
The news spread without wings, traveling in every direction. Within mere days, the Auspicious Snow: Phenomenon of New Dajiang County had spread throughout northern and southern Jiang Prefecture.
Some said an Agricultural Path Cultivator's cultivation had reached great accomplishment and drawn down heaven's favor. Some said Dajiang County's old disaster had stirred the response of heaven and earth, brewing such an auspicious sign. Others swore they had personally seen crops shoot up a foot the instant the auspicious snow fell!
Crowds from all directions rapidly gathered in New Dajiang County.
The Daoist Sect also took the opportunity to reinforce its garrison, intending to elevate this place into a holy land, the birthplace of the Agricultural Path, and attract more farmers to join of their own accord... Thus, a disaster of withered Premium Quality crops was lightly brushed aside by a snowfall from heaven.
Several days later.
In a remote, deserted place outside the city.
Swish!
A flash of green light.
An Insect Spirit emerged from the soil and landed in Jiang Tu's palm, opening its mouth to spit out a sealed secret letter.
He unfolded it and his brow twitched.
This was clearly an internal message sent back to Lingjiang Temple by a Daoist Sect disciple stationed below the mountain. It detailed the entire course of events on the day of New Dajiang County's auspicious snow: first came the surging spring tide and revival of all things, then the mass withering of Premium Quality crops, and finally the snowfall from heaven that stirred all directions.
The investigation's conclusion read: "This disciple suspects that the disappearance of the fine seeds' spirituality was in truth a precursor to the snowfall from heaven, caused by changes in the spiritual workings of heaven and earth."
Jiang Tu froze for a moment, then could not help laughing aloud.
Well, well.
The Daoist Sect investigators had actually connected two completely unrelated things?
The demise of the fine seeds was a precursor to the auspicious snow. It sounded utterly reasonable, seamless as heaven's own garment, with cause and effect following their natural course.
So did that mean that whenever an auspicious snow phenomenon descended in the future, he could reasonably go to New Dajiang County, follow the timing of heaven, and harvest another wave of Premium Quality spirituality?
That was what it meant, right?
Withering was the prelude to auspicious snow. No one would suspect him.
This wave was not a loss!
He put away the letter, released the Insect Spirit to continue carrying messages, then used Earth Escape beneath his feet, his body dissolving into the earth.
It was time to go home!
He had remained hidden outside these past few days precisely to observe the Daoist Sect's subsequent movements and make sure no trace of pursuit would lead toward Xiaopei County.
Now that the uproar had passed and the conclusion had been reached, he could return in peace.
Come to think of it, the first Auspicious Snow: Phenomenon in this native world had actually descended upon New Dajiang County? What a waste. It had completely served to pull up the Daoist Sect's Agricultural Path by the seedlings. Why had it not descended upon the Green Mountain Lake Qin Household instead?
A one-percent chance! Who knew when he would encounter it again next time.
It was somewhat regrettable.
New Year's Eve.
Xiaopei County, Locust Tree Village.
A large red lantern hung on each side of the Jiang Residence's main gate, their light reflecting upon the lintel and Spring Festival couplets.
The sound of firecrackers occasionally drifted through the courtyard from inside and outside, while children's laughter and shouts sometimes passed through the alley.
The main hall was pleasantly warm, and the stove fire burned brightly.
The table was covered with a lavish spread of steaming dishes, complete in color, fragrance, and flavor. Zhou Ning'e had prepared them all herself. In the more than ten years since marrying Jiang Tu, she had changed from a delicate young lady who had never touched household work into someone who could grace the hall and manage the kitchen, leaving even Xueli and Xianggua full of admiration.
The only people at the table were Big Household Zhou and his daughter, the adorably vacant little Jiang Liu, along with the two personal maidservants permitted to dine at the main table.
Big Household Zhou, already nearing seventy, sat at the head of the table with a wine cup in hand, his face full of puzzlement.
"I say, Ning E, your husband has been nowhere to be seen for months now. Where exactly did he go to make his fortune? He did not even come home for the New Year? Does he still know there is a whole household here worrying about him?"
Zhou Ning'e sat at the side and was just about to explain—
"To have my father-in-law worry and think of me, this son-in-law is deeply honored."
A soft laugh came from outside.
The thick cotton door curtain was lifted, and Jiang Tu strode inside. Snow still rested unmelted on his shoulders. White breath spilled from his mouth as he rubbed his hands together and moved close to the stove for warmth, stretching his hands toward the fire. His face was full of smiles, while his brows and eyes remained calm and steady.
"On this joyous Spring Festival, as we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, has Father-in-law been well?"
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