Chapter 43

"Fellow Daoist Shan, we've met quite a few cultivators with Chaos Spirit Root, but none of them possess the aura of Breathing Earth. Perhaps it's not a problem with their Spirit Root, but rather that your Cultivation Method is rather unique? We've heard that you cultivate the 'Spring Transformation Art'?"

Shan Heyuan shook his head. "My Spring Transformation Art is just a regular version from a general store. In the Hidden Spirits General Store, there are only twelve forms. How many people cultivate the Spring Transformation Art? It can't possibly be a problem with the Cultivation Method itself."

The Alchemist were still unwilling to give up, surrounding Shan Heyuan, hoping to get information about the Breathing Earth from him.

Shan Heyuan was a disciple of the Sword Reverence Academy. He insisted that he did not have Breathing Earth. Everyone pleaded with him for a while, but they could not get it and had to give up for the time being.

The news of the Breathing Earth spread like wildfire.

In no time, half of Sword Reverence City knew that a junior teaching assistant at the Sword Reverence Academy had refined Fertilizer Pill imbued with the aura of the Breathing Earth.

The leaders of the Sword Reverence Academy were also alarmed and immediately sent Shan Heyuan to check the situation.

Tong Liangji had only meant well in offering advice, but he never expected it to cause such a huge mess. He felt incredibly guilty and apologized to Shan Heyuan when he found him. "Young Friend Shan, I'm so sorry. I never imagined that the 'Great Dao' aura within the Fertilizer Pill was actually the aura of the Breath of Breathing Earth."

Shan Heyuan: "It's alright. Even if it doesn't get out this time, it will be discovered later. I swapped Fertilizer Pill with quite a few people, so those who need to know probably already know."

Tong Liangji was surprised that he was so open-minded. "Then you must be careful from now on. I have a jade pendant here that can withstand an attack from a Core Formation Stage; you can take it."

Shan Heyuan was taken aback by his generosity and exclaimed, "No, no, no, this is too valuable. I can't accept it. Thank you, senior."

"Why are you being so polite with me? This whole thing started because of me. If you don't take it, I might get haunted by something. Just take it."

Tong Liangji sighed, "I knew you were exceptionally talented, but I didn't expect it to be this extraordinary. But don't worry, you're from the Sword Reverence Academy, and there shouldn't be many people in Sword Reverence City who would dare to be so audacious as to attack you."

As they talked, they arrived in front of the dean's office.

Tong Liangji knocked gently on the door, and after receiving permission, led Shan Heyuan inside.

Several leaders were sitting in the dean's office.

Huai Liu, the dean of the Planting Institute, sat behind the table, holding a Fertilizer Pill that Shan Heyuan had exchanged. Seeing Shan Heyuan, he smiled and said, "Assistant Instructor Shan Fertilizer Pill is truly remarkable; our institute has gained fame once again."

Shan Heyuan bowed slightly. "Dean, I don't know what happened myself."

"It's alright," Huai Liu said gently. "Cultivation is all about gaining clarity the more you cultivate. You cultivate external things, you cultivate yourself, you cultivate the Great Dao. You're still young, it's normal to have doubts."

Shan Heyuan nodded.

Huai Liu: "I can see the aura of the Breathing Earth in this Fertilizer Pill, but it doesn't seem like it has been Breathing Earth. Perhaps it's because of the special nature of your Cultivation Method?"

Shan Heyuan herself didn't know either, and looked at him with a troubled expression.

One of the leaders from the Plum Blossom Sect couldn't sit still any longer. He pushed the potted Spirit Plant next to his desk over and said, "Assistant Instructor Shan knew as soon as he made a move. Doesn't your 'Spring Transformation Art' have a move that can promote the growth of Spirit Plant? If it's convenient, why don't you demonstrate that move?"

With so many leaders sitting here, the news that he possesses a rare treasure is about to break, and that's precisely the time when he needs the protection of the Sword Reverence Academy.

Without hesitation, Shan Heyuan cast the "Gentle Breeze" spell on the Spirit Plant.

This was the first move he practiced, and also the one he was most proficient in. Practicing this move was as natural as breathing; he didn't need to think about it or prepare for it. He would just raise his hand and use it naturally.

The leaders noticed the rich and precise Spiritual Power falling onto the Spirit Plant.

Someone couldn't help but exclaim "Huh!" and the others stared wide-eyed in surprise at Shan Heyuan's actions.

The dean's office was too small. The leaders were generally quite accomplished, and at such close range, they saw many different things.

For example, the power of the Breathing Earth mixed within Shan Heyuan's Spiritual Power.

No one expected that the problem actually lay in his Spiritual Power. It wasn't that he had obtained the Breathing Earth, but rather that his Spiritual Power itself possessed the aura of the Breathing Earth.

Inside the dean's office, even the youngest leader has been with the college for over seventy years.

Over the past seventy years, they have taught countless talented disciples, appraised countless treasures, and read enough books to fill half a library.

But this was the first time they had ever seen anything like it.

A human cultivator, yet he possesses the aura of the Breathing Earth!

This aura was very faint, so faint that it was almost imperceptible without close inspection; yet it was also incredibly pure, so pure that one might doubt whether the person before them was even human.

Perhaps this young teaching assistant is a spirit born from the Breathing Earth.

For a moment, everyone's expressions became incredibly varied, with all sorts of doubts practically dripping from their faces.

In particular, they all knew that Shan Heyuan was not a native cultivator, but came from another dimension.

Perhaps this teaching assistant is lying; maybe he's not from another dimension at all, but rather a spirit Breathing Earth?

Most people's eyes are still innocent, but a small number of people's eyes hide greed.

The Breathing Earth.

Even a million Spirit Stone couldn't buy a small piece of the Breathing Earth.

The Breathing Earth, which has not appeared before the public for tens of thousands of years.

It's unbelievable that he's gotten involved with such a lowly teaching assistant.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Huai Liu spoke up, "It is indeed the aura of the Breathing Earth, but it's not the true aura of the Breathing Earth. Assistant Instructor Shan, I'm afraid your Chaos Spirit Root has mutated."

Shan Heyuan was already mentally prepared. "I don't know either. I've never seen any other Chaos Spirit Root."

Huai Liu: "We haven't seen each other often. But this is a good thing for you. The aura of the Breathing Earth might cause you some minor trouble temporarily, but in the long run, it will be very beneficial to your cultivation."

Huai Liu: "Congratulations, you're Assistant Instructor Shan."

Chapter 43

After meeting Shan Heyuan, Huai Liu made it clear that she intended to protect him.

Once the news spread, the overt and covert surveillance subsided considerably.

Shan Heyuan could sense that many of the restless cultivators had given up their plans, and most of the remaining ones were not very capable.

The main problem is that he doesn't actually possess any Breathing Earth. Although his Spiritual Power has a trace of Breathing Earth's aura, it's not very useful since he can't extract it.

With that little bit of aura, tying him up wouldn't be of any use.

We can't just tie him up and make him refine Fertilizer Pill day and night.

The Law Enforcement Team in Sword Reverence City is not to be trifled with; getting caught would be a big problem.

Faced with this situation, Shan Heyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He was just a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator; if there were too many malicious people outside, his situation would become very dangerous.

You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days.

Being targeted can lead to a lot of trouble later on.

The competition at the Sword Reverence Academy was still ongoing, Shan Heyuan knew that he was attracting a lot of attention recently, so he dared not be careless.

He hasn't been going anywhere lately, sticking to just his home and college, always going to crowded places, and making sure not to cause any trouble for those around him.

When he got home that day, he found Shen Duheng there as well.

Shen Duheng has been home every day lately, and I can see him every morning and evening, as if they have returned to the days in Jingzhishan Town.

Shan Heyuan stood quietly in the courtyard, feeling a sense of peace wash over him.

After standing there for a while, Shan Heyuan called out towards the kitchen, "Brother Shen? What are you making? It smells delicious!"

Shen Duheng's voice came from the kitchen. "I got a pretty good piece of spirit beast meat today, I'll make a meat soup. I've put a gift for you on the table, see if you like it?"

What day is it today? I'm actually receiving a gift!

Shan Heyuan strode into the living room and immediately noticed a belt on the table.

It was a white belt covered with various runes drawn in spirit ink.

These rune arrays connect to form a small protective array. As long as Spiritual Power is injected into the array's core, it should be usable.

Guardian accessories are quite common, but they're not cheap.