Taking Root

The long convoy was traveling along a dirt road. The large, sturdy pack animals were panting heavily under the weight of the carts, their heavy hooves kicking up clouds of dust as they trod on the dry yellow earth.

Yuan Jin rode a Desolate Ox, leading the way on the road from Xuanwei City back to the Chongming Sect.

Behind him followed a group of mortals, carrying their belongings and valuables, sitting in a carriage pulled by pack animals. They were all close relatives of the Zhou family farming master who had come to the Chongming Sect to cultivate the spiritual fields earlier.

Pei Yi and Jin Shilun also sat in the middle carriage, protecting the safety of the mortal convoy.

Han Yundao and Duan Anle rode together on an old donkey, walking at the very back of the group.

"Anle, I never imagined that the Dingnan Niu Household would be wiped out! It's truly terrifying," Han Yundao said quietly to Duan Anle.

"Yes, I heard from Zhou Jiashi that it seems people from the Immortal Dynasty have come." Duan Anle recalled the scene of Xuanwei City now being nothing but ruins, and he still felt lingering fear.

According to the fleeing Rogue Cultivator, the battle was short but intense, with many Foundation Establishment True Cultivator dying. It was a rare spectacle in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

"Fortunately, we arrived late; the state government was already arranging for people to clean up the mess. If we had come into the city to find Zhou Jiashi earlier," Han Yundao, not daring to think about it. If they had really encountered this catastrophe, their chances of survival in Xuanwei City as minor Qi Refinement of Qi Refining wouldn't have been much higher than those of ordinary people.

"Anle, thank you." Han Yundao remained silent for a while before mustering up the courage to speak.

In fact, Han Yundao performed very poorly in the mission to help White Ram Monastery exorcise the ghost.

Whether it was due to carelessness or lack of practical experience, despite his superior cultivation level compared to the female ghost and the protection Law Artifact the Clear Spirit Bell, he was still bewildered by her low-level sonic attacks.

If Duan Anle hadn't been reliable and activated the Clear Spirit Bell in time, Han Yundao would likely have been injured.

If Kang Dabao finds out about this, he'll definitely give them a severe beating.

Han Yundao wasn't afraid of being scolded or punished by his master; it was just that he had always considered himself the eldest disciple among his fellow disciples, and if his other junior brothers found out about this shameful affair, he would probably be laughed at.

Especially Kang Rongquan, who might even ridicule him to his face. At that time, he would definitely be ashamed beyond measure.

However, Duan Anle concealed this embarrassing incident from Han Yundao, and even attributed the credit for discovering the locust tree Spirit Plant to the two of them, which made Han Yundao even more grateful.

Duan Anle was taken aback. He was indeed an honest and simple-minded boy, but he was not stupid. He was also quite insightful, so he naturally understood why Han Yundao thanking him.

His surprise stemmed from the fact that Han Yundao was a very proud person and rarely said such things to his junior brother.

Especially after considering himself the senior disciple of the contemporary era, he became somewhat fond of showing off, always wanting to be the best and lead the way in everything he did.

Although he also practices diligently and is strict with himself in his daily life, this kind of behavior is indeed somewhat unpopular.

Therefore, apart from Duan Anle, Han Yundao's relationship with his other fellow disciples was quite ordinary. However, among the three families nearby, there were several peers who often praised him and became quite close to him.

Hearing his senior brother say this, Duan Anle felt a little happy. He thought to himself that if this defeat could lead to some change in his senior brother, then it would be a blessing in disguise.

"Why thank me, senior brother? We've already agreed to be senior brothers for life." Duan Anle smiled, Han Yundao, seeing this, also put his mind at ease and revealed the innocent smile that should belong to a young man.

"Fellow Daoists, you must be tired from your journey. Please have some spiritual tea to relieve your fatigue." A girl who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old walked gracefully from the middle of the group, her eyes smiling, carrying a teapot.

"Han Yundao of the Chongming Sect greets fellow Daoist. This is my junior brother Duan Anle. Thank you for your hospitality." Upon seeing the young woman bring tea, Han Yundao immediately resumed his upright posture, sitting behind Duan Anle, and bowing with clasped hands in thanks, looking somewhat comical.

"Pfft, why do you speak so pretentiously, fellow Daoist?" The girl seemed to possess an untainted, natural innocence.

She glanced at Han Yundao's deliberately mature demeanor, narrowed her large eyes into crescents, put down the teapot, placed one hand on her hip, pointed at Han Yundao with the other, and laughed heartily, making the boy's thin face blush with embarrassment.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Han, why are you so shy, like a little girl?" Han Yundao lowered his head in embarrassment. The little girl bent down, tilted her head, and insisted on looking at his face, continuing to smile at her.

In the end, Duan Anle couldn't sit still any longer. He couldn't bear to see Han Yundao in such an awkward situation, so he got off the old donkey, took the spirit tea, and poured a bowl for each of the three of them.

"Fellow Daoist, this spiritual tea is truly excellent!" Duan Anle's words were genuine, as he had only been able to drink such spiritual tea a handful of times within the Chongming Sect due to his stingy master.

The last time I had this drink was probably more than two years ago when He Dezong visited.

"Yes, this is my father's prized possession." The girl proudly raised her chin.

"Who is your father?" Duan Anle asked curiously.

"My father is Zhou Jiashi. My name is Zhou Xinran. In my family, only my father and I are cultivators. There are also a bunch of aunts and sisters, all of whom are mortals." The girl replied with a smile, picked up the teacup with both hands, and took a small sip.

"Zhou Xinran, she sounds so beautiful." Han Yundao thought to herself, her blush still lingering. She pretended to drink tea, covering her face, but couldn't help but steal glances at the girl's bright face out of the corner of her eye.

"Wait, if she's Zhou Jiashi's daughter, then isn't she Junior Brother Kang's little wife? Then what about me?" The budding romance in the young man seemed to exude a pleasant scent of youth, but only he himself could smell it.

Because the group included many elderly and young people, the journey was very slow. It took them more than half a month to reach Chongming City. As usual, Kang Dahou led several clan leaders out of the city to welcome them.

Although Yuan Jin had never liked his lecherous Kang Dabao, he had to maintain appearances out of respect for his senior brother. So he Desolate Ox and said to Kang Dahou, "City Lord Kang, my senior brother specifically instructed us that Zhou Jiashi's clansmen are honored guests of our Chongming Sect, and we must not neglect them."

"Please rest assured, Immortal Master Yuan, I know what's important and will certainly do my best to provide proper hospitality." Kang Dahou hurriedly agreed, then added, "The sect leader previously sent word that after Immortal Master Yuan and the young immortal masters have settled Zhou Jiashi's clan, they should not linger in the city but return to the sect as soon as possible."

"Oh?" Yuan Jin was a little surprised by Kang Dahou's words. Although he didn't know what urgent matter had occurred, he nodded in agreement and decided to go back as soon as possible.

Yuan Jin then summoned four more disciples and bid farewell to Zhou Xinran, saying, "Miss Zhou, my fellow disciples and I must return to our sect as soon as possible to report back, and we cannot stay any longer. We must take our leave now. Although the city lord of Chongming City is old and dull, he is a close relative of my sect leader and can be considered honest and reliable. Miss Zhou, please do not stand on ceremony; if you need anything, just let us know."

"Thank you, Uncle Yuan Household and fellow Daoists. We'll part ways here. I'll settle my family here and wait for my father to return." Zhou Xinran laughed heartily, her expression completely natural and unpretentious, displaying a very generous and proper demeanor.

The young woman bowed deeply to Yuan Jin and the others before leading the caravan towards the accommodations arranged by Kang Dahou. She turned away so quickly that it's unclear whether she saw the lingering affection in the young man's eyes.

When Yuan Jin returned to the mountain gate, he saw Kang Dabao leading Jiang Qing to carry a huge locust tree and move it to the location that Zhou Jiashi had just determined.

"Sect Leader Kang, be gentle! These tree roots must not be damaged, otherwise even Second Tier cultivator would have difficulty planting them." Seeing that Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing were moving too roughly, Zhou Jiashi shouted anxiously from the side.

"These crude tasks could be easily done by the recruited ordinary warriors. Why are Master and Uncle doing them themselves?" Pei Que looked at the scene before him with some confusion.

"Even if we have to take action ourselves, we should at least use the Object Manipulation Technique together; that would save a lot of effort." Han Yundao couldn't figure it out either.

"Senior Brother Pei, don't be surprised. Let's go over there first." Although Jin Shilun didn't understand either, he pulled Pei Que to help.

Yuan Jin had arrived long before them.

However, he initially went to the space between the two, but when he got there he found that he was too short to reach them, so he took Kang Dabao's spot instead.

The three brothers carried the locust tree up the mountain. A few of the younger ones wanted to help, but Kang Dabao chased them away. So they could only watch dumbfounded as their superiors carried the locust tree, following along the way.

"Phew, it's going to stand up!" Kang Dabao shouted, and the three of them exerted their strength together, and the locust tree fell into the large pit that had been prepared in advance.

Zhou Jiashi had already connected the earth's veins beforehand and had also selected two cartloads of Yin-type spiritual soil to nourish the locust tree's vital energy.

According to Zhou Jiashi, this large locust tree was originally of a high grade, at least First-Tier Superior-Grade or higher, and there was even a very small possibility that it was originally Second Tier. If everything goes smoothly, it will produce some spiritual items in three to five years, and it will be completely restored to its original state in ten to eight years.

However, the spirit wood was incredibly heavy. Even after carrying it for just this short distance, Jiang Qing lost his chivalrous demeanor and became a disheveled figure, drenched in sweat.

"Senior brother, why did you have to lift the tree yourself?" Yuan Jin was even more exhausted. Although he was the strongest after practicing the White Ape Scripture, he was also the shortest and had the most difficulty. He was so tired that he sat down on the ground.

"I brought Zhou Jiashi to see this spiritual land, and he immediately said that it was very suitable for planting spiritual trees." Kang Dabao also sat next to Yuan Jin, looking at the locust tree that was taking root in the spiritual soil, and a hint of joy flashed through his heart.

"How come you have such good taste, Senior Brother?" Jiang Qing asked curiously from the side.

"What good taste?" Kang Dabao shook his head with a smile, then gently patted Yuan Jin's shoulder and asked, "Second, do you still remember this place?"

"Here? Oh, I remember! That big elm tree was planted right here!" Yuan Jin clapped his hands excitedly, almost jumping up and down. But seeing that there were still younger people around, he wiped the smile off his face and said in a deep voice, "I remember that big elm tree was barely considered First Tier Spirit Plant. When the family divided their property that year, Uncle-Master Xiu moved it away."

"Yes, I remember back then, although most of the leaves from that big elm tree had to be taken to the Linghe Market to sell, my teacher's wife would come back every year to collect the fallen leaves under that tree, and then make us dumplings with elm leaf filling every night. Ah, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye," Kang Dabao said, turning his head to look at Jiang Qing with a smile, "You're unlucky, you haven't had the chance to taste them many times."

Yuan Jin and Jiang Qing laughed heartily, but Kang Dabao's face relaxed slightly. "From the day Uncle Xiu moved that big elm tree away, I told myself that given time, I would definitely transplant a better Spirit Plant! Not only that, since they've taken away everything Master left me from the Chongming Sect, I'll take it all back, one by one, and bring back even better ones!"

The smiles on Yuan Jin and Jiang Qing's faces vanished. They straightened their clothes, stood up, and adopted a solemn expression.

Seeing their expressions, Kang Dabao laughed, "Why the long faces? This is a good day!" He then turned to the four still somewhat bewildered boys, "They won't be able to try the elm leaf dumplings for now, so let them try the locust flower dumplings instead; they might even taste better."

"Haha, then senior brother should hurry up and find them a master's wife, we can't do that well." Yuan Jin lay on the ground, tilted his head back, and clapped his hands with a hearty laugh.

"You bastard, you're asking for it!"

"No, no, please be gentle, senior brother."

Jiang Qing and the others laughed along, their laughter gradually filling the low hillside until it attracted Zhou Jiashi, who was working hard.

The old man stroked his beard, lost in thought, as he looked at the harmonious scene before him.

Thank you to readers 20220326173013000 and ERT_Bc for their Extended Net Moon.

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(Lao Bai is on the night shift again this week, so updates will be in the afternoon. Please forgive me.)