Chapter 25: Fire‑Burning Water‑Stirring Technique

After the roots of the Iron Anvil Wood grow for a while, they become entangled with each other, and the framework becomes unusually solid, so Li Xuan no longer has to worry about the tunnel collapsing.

After returning to the surface, Li Xuan exchanged boxed meals and a bottle of mineral water in the System Mall, sat in the Mao Cao Wu, and began eating.

He had been toiling all morning, and Li Xuan was both tired and hungry.

So he rested for a while lying in the straw pile, then Li Xuan got up from the straw pile and began tidying the Courtyard.

Li Xuan also worried that his reckless use of the Silver Thunder Walnut might cause tremors and make people suspect him.

But Li Xuan did not expect that the Silver Thunder Walnut exploding against the Stone Wall would create such a commotion.

Under normal circumstances, tremors of this magnitude caused by the Silver Thunder Walnut would not attract much attention, since tremors do happen from time to time.

However, Li Xuan also feared that an idle overseer might come here to investigate the cause of the tremor.

After eating his fill, getting drunk, and resting a while, Li Xuan finally walked out of the Mao Cao Wu.

Li Xuan first went to the area above the tunnel and carefully inspected the soil above it.

Li Xuan also worried that the recent tremor might cause a surface collapse, which would easily expose the tunnel.

Fortunately, no surface collapse occurred, saving Li Xuan the trouble of fabricating a scene.

Relieved, Li Xuan returned to the Mao Cao Wu, lay in the straw pile, ate bread and drank water, and relaxed contentedly.

Thus, Li Xuan waited until the sun set.

"It seems no one really cared about today's tremor," Li Xuan said with a laugh, shaking his head, then headed into the Courtyard.

He took out a dozen or so earthen jars from the corner, filled them with clear water, and placed them into the Void Pearl.

After completing these tasks, Li Xuan finally returned to the basement,

Immediately after, Li Xuan skillfully entered the tunnel.

Arriving at the Stone Wall, he took all the water‑filled earthen jars out of the Void Pearl and placed them inside the tunnel.

"I hope my idea works," Li Xuan shrugged, then slowly raised his hand.

As soul power surged, it transformed above Li Xuan's palms into Burning Heart Divine Flame.

The golden‑red flame struck the Stone Wall, and a wave of heat surged forward.

If Li Xuan did not possess the fire‑type martial soul Nine Hearts Nine Flame Lotus, he could not endure such scorching heat.

Within just a few minutes, the stone became scorching hot.

Feeling the moment had arrived, Li Xuan grabbed a water‑filled earthen jar and poured the water onto the scorching Stone Wall.

"Ssshh……"

As a plume of steam spread, Li Xuan stepped back and waved his hand.

After a few breaths, the steam cleared, revealing the Stone Wall riddled with cracks.

Looking at the cracked Stone Wall, a hint of joy flashed in Li Xuan's eyes, and he immediately extended his hand and struck forcefully.

Chunks of debris fell from the Stone Wall, deepening the original indentation by several degrees.

Li Xuan thought for a moment, then took out tools, cleared the debris from the ground, and put it into the Void Pearl.

Although the excavated stones were few this time, it proved that Li Xuan's idea of attacking stone with fire could work, albeit a bit slowly.

Li Xuan was also young, full of vigor, stubborn, and the Burning Heart Divine Flame burned the Stone Wall relentlessly as if it cost nothing.

……

Half an hour later.

While releasing the flame, Li Xuan's body suddenly went limp, his face turned pale as he sat on the ground, and the Burning Heart Divine Flame dissolved into nothingness.

He looked as if emptied out. "Heh… heh… this really drains soul power…" Li Xuan leaned against the tunnel, grabbed an earthen jar, and gulped the water down, regardless of its cleanliness.

Fortunately, Li Xuan's exceptional talent allowed his soul power to recover quickly.

Half an hour later, the soul power in Li Xuan's body had fully recovered.

After his soul power recovered, Li Xuan once again threw himself into the effort, scorching the Stone Wall with flame while dousing it with water.

Thus Li Xuan toiled back and forth in the tunnel throughout the night.

Until early the next morning, Li Xuan finally emerged from the tunnel, now sporting two dark circles under his eyes.

Just after returning to the surface, Li Xuan happened to meet Bai Wen, who had come looking for him.

"Xuan Ge'er'er, are you at home today?" Bai Wen stood outside the Courtyard and asked Li Xuan.

Li Xuan sighed helplessly, squeezed his own thigh to perk himself up, and then walked out of the Courtyard.

"I'm at home, Bai Wen, what's up? Anything wrong?" Li Xuan opened the door, welcomed Bai Wen inside, and asked with a smile.

"Hehe, Xuan Ge'er'er, is there anything else you need me to do? I… am a bit hungry…" Bai Wen said shyly.

"Haha, I see. Bai Wen, I'll get you more bread; there haven't been any tasks lately, but if you're hungry, feel free to come find me—my bread supply is plenty." Li Xuan smiled at Bai Wen and said.

"This… this is a bit embarrassing." Bai Wen awkwardly rubbed his head and gave Li Xuan a simple smile.

"Bai Wen, hold on." Li Xuan said, returned to the Mao Cao Wu, took out a large bag, filled it with bread, and then carried the bag to the Courtyard.

Bai Wen hesitated briefly, then thanked Li Xuan repeatedly, and finally left Li Xuan's Courtyard carrying a bag of bread.

Li Xuan shook his head at Bai Wen's retreating figure, thinking he was a good‑natured person, and since Li Xuan was now digging tunnels underground—a dangerous affair—he didn't want to involve Bai Wen.

After sighing, Li Xuan returned to the Mao Cao Wu, lay on the straw pile, tilted his head, and fell into a deep sleep.

Last night, Li Xuan's repeated use of soul power had left him utterly exhausted.

……

As the sun set and the evening breeze turned slightly cool, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

After being exhausted, he slept soundly, and waking up felt wonderfully comfortable.

Li Xuan climbed off the straw pile, stretched his stiff joints, patted his rumbling stomach, and helplessly bought a boxed meal and a bottle of mineral water from the System Mall, then ate and drank.

After finishing the boxed meal, Li Xuan returned to the basement; with time tight and the mission heavy, he needed to double his effort to finish the tunnel.

Once inside the tunnel, Li Xuan took out a stick and measured the depth of the stone cavity he had excavated.

After a quick measurement, Li Xuan spent the whole night yesterday and actually dug a stone cave ten meters deep!

In the morning, Li Xuan was so exhausted that he didn't care how deep he had dug and went straight back to sleep.

A ten‑meter‑per‑night excavation speed is already fast! At this rate, Li Xuan should be able to carve a tunnel through the Stone Wall that also reaches the outside before Ju Douluo comes here to inspect.

Today it has already been half a month since the Seed was distributed, and in another half month Ju Douluo will personally come to the Flower Sea to inspect these flower seeds.

In fifteen days, Li Xuan finally excavated a tunnel one hundred and fifty meters long, while the mountain wall is just over one hundred and twenty meters thick; as long as Li Xuan works overtime, he can dig an escape route before Ju Douluo arrives.

If the passage cannot be completed before Ju Douluo arrives, Li Xuan will be in danger.

Li Xuan has already exposed the fact that he is good at breeding, but he can't help feeling uneasy.

In less than ten short days, he cultivated over a thousand plants.

It will inevitably draw Ju Douluo's attention; if I still try to escape then, it will be too late…

Ladies and gentlemen, today is Friday, tomorrow is the happy weekend; I wish you all a happy weekend.

(End of chapter)