A Year in the Blink of an Eye

Gu Hengzhi stood at the edge of the Spirit Field, staring at the Azure Sun Vine and muttering, "Same seeds, same amount of time, same spiritual energy nourishing it... so why is it growing even more vigorously than the ones in the center of the field?"

He crouched down and reached out to brush aside the soil beneath the vine. His fingertips suddenly sank, as though they had touched something damp.

"...Water?"

A faint trickling sound of flowing water actually came from beneath the soil.

He pressed his palm against the ground. Only after a while did he open his eyes, a trace of surprise in his gaze. "Earth Veins converging to nourish springwater... This springwater actually possesses spirituality."

After thinking for a moment, he rose and walked a few steps along the vine before stopping beside a cracked rock. Beneath the rock's fissure, a clear spring flowed quietly. Its surface was crystal clear, with occasional ripples spreading across it. Several palm-sized fish swam within the spring, their silvery-white scales glimmering in the water. Their movements were steady, and they did not seem like ordinary fish.

Gu Hengzhi watched them for a while, a complicated expression appearing on his face. "The fish in this spring have also been nourished by the Earth Vein's spiritual energy. Though they have yet to develop intelligence, they already have a faint sense of spiritual energy... In another year, they'll likely become False Soul Beasts—False Soul Beasts with less than ten years of cultivation."

He exhaled softly, a calm judgment flashing through his eyes. "This spring has the potential to become a Spirit Spring. The fish can be raised into Soul Beasts as well."

His gaze returned to the Azure Sun Vine. After a brief moment of thought, he said, "If I can get a few more wisps of Tier-One Faith Power to cultivate it, then within half a year, this field and this spring can become an excellent medicinal garden."

A year later...

Gu Hengzhi stood in the middle of the Spirit Field, his gaze sharp as he swept across the lush green world before him. An indescribable sense of satisfaction and comfort welled up within him.

The Spirit Field had undergone three rounds of cultivation and harvest, while the Azure Sun Vine was especially eye-catching. Its vines were thick and powerful, its leaves glimmering with a faint golden light as if they contained endless vitality and spirituality. Its branches and leaves spread quietly, and it had clearly advanced into a second-tier spiritual herb.

All around the Spirit Field, spiritual grasses and medicinal herbs clustered together. Though they were not particularly numerous, each one grew robustly, giving off faint spiritual energy as though telling their master of the hard work and generous rewards along the way.

He bent down and gently stroked a tender leaf, feeling spiritual power flow into his palm like a babbling stream. The sensation was warm and lively, carrying the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth along with the steady solidity of the land.

A resolute gleam flashed through Gu Hengzhi's eyes. He knew full well that this year of effort had not been in vain.

Beside the springhead, the water was clear to the bottom, and several small fish swam leisurely within it. The Greenback Perch moved with vigor, its spiritual aura growing increasingly dense. It had already entered the realm of a False Soul Beast, brimming with vitality and bringing even more life and hope to this tranquil land.

"Relying on this Spirit Spring and Spirit Field, if I persist for another year, the harvest will surely be even more abundant." He murmured softly, a rare gentle smile appearing on his face.

Over the past year, he had accumulated more than six hundred Gold Soul Coins by selling medicinal herbs. The Azure Sun Vine in the Spirit Field had also successfully advanced into a second-tier herb, becoming a powerful support for stabilizing his foundation when he broke through to Rank Ten.

Moreover, his soul power had now reached the peak of Rank Nine. He was only one step away from Rank Ten soul power and obtaining a soul ring.

Gu Hengzhi carefully arranged basket after basket of medicinal herbs. Their tender green leaves gave off faint spiritual energy, while their quiet fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose. He placed the last Azure Sun Vine into a basket and let out a soft breath, his gaze slowly shifting toward the Mud Carp swimming quietly inside a transparent waterskin.

The Mud Carp was sturdy, its scales glimmering with a blue-green sheen beneath the lamplight. Though it was not a top-tier Soul Beast, it was already at the False Soul Beast level and contained powerful soul power. Gu Hengzhi carefully lifted the waterskin and headed steadily toward Su Yuntao's residence.

At the door, Su Yuntao was seated at a wooden table, his expression calm though traces of concern could not be concealed in his eyes. When he saw Gu Hengzhi return, he smiled slightly and asked softly, "You're back? What good thing did you bring this time?"

Gu Hengzhi gently placed the medicinal herbs on the table, then carefully set down the waterskin. He lifted a corner of it, and the Mud Carp swam merrily in the water, occasionally making faint splashing sounds. Su Yuntao's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. "Not bad. This fish looks quite lively."

After cooking this perch—a False Soul Beast—together with Su Yuntao, the two sat around the table and began enjoying the hearty dinner. The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of herbs and springwater, as though the entire world had been dyed with a layer of mystery.

Su Yuntao suddenly spoke, his voice low and carrying a trace of undisguised shock. "A few days ago, I went to Holy Soul Village to help several children awaken their martial souls. I visited several villages, yet not a single one awakened soul power. Who would have thought that when I arrived at Holy Soul Village, a child would awaken a Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"

Gu Hengzhi's brows furrowed slightly, and something stirred in his heart. "Blue Silver Grass? Isn't that..."

Su Yuntao nodded. "That's right. It truly is a standard useless martial soul. But strangely enough, this child's Innate Soul Power is actually full. Though his soul power has yet to reach the divine level, it is already at the innate extreme. Some say this child is the Chosen One."

Gu Hengzhi's gaze gradually turned grave. His chopsticks paused for a moment, and his voice was calm, though strands of killing intent lay beneath that calmness. "Tang San... He awakened his martial soul too?"

Gu Hengzhi looked out at the night beyond the window, cold light flashing in his eyes as though he wished to tear apart the endless darkness. "I need to find a way to hinder Tang Buddha. I can't let his cultivation go so smoothly... Hmm..."