Chapter 612: Vice Hallmaster

The heavens operate by constant law, neither enduring for Yao nor perishing for Jie.

Although Fei Changnong's affair once stirred great uproar in Qingmu Ridge and might be recorded by various cultivators in their texts as a warning to posterity,

the heat of public attention would eventually subside.

Qingyu Garden.

"Congratulations, Manager Shu, on your promotion!"

Yu Santian and others bowed deeply in salute, never imagining that this Yixiangbuzhengshishu would one day rise to glory!

"No need."

Fang Xing, as usual, wore a beast pelt; with a sidelong glance, he spotted Yu Hua: "I appoint you, Yu Hua, as temporary manager of Qingyu Garden. You know what to do, right?"

Though Yu Hua was only at the ninth level of Qi Sensing, Qingmu Ridge was now short of personnel everywhere; places as insignificant as Qingyu Garden were unlikely to receive another Foundation Establishment cultivator for rotation.

Given Fang Xing's current authority, assigning a Hunyuan Qi cultivator as acting manager was only natural.

"Yu Hua, what do you say?"

Fang Xing looked at Yu Hua.

Yu Hua knew this shu Shu was wholly devoted to planting trees; perhaps neglecting a few spirit herbs and letting them die was no great matter—but if the Evergreen Trees suffered damage, it would truly be fatal!

He immediately said: "Rest assured, Fang Shu. As long as I am here one day, I will guarantee the Evergreen Trees in the valley remain evergreen!"

"Hmm, good. After some time, I'll remove the 'acting' title and make you permanent."

Fang Xing unhesitatingly painted a grand picture.

After all, if anything went wrong at Qingyu Garden, he would surely sense it.

This instruction was merely a precaution.

…

After giving his orders, Fang Xing rode his aura-light to Shennong Hall.

"Hail, Vice Hallmaster!"

A group of disciples lined up to welcome him, including two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Fang Xing glanced over and saw the usual old-and-young pairing; he nodded and entered Fei Changnong's signing chamber.

Having seen much, he merely exchanged a few words with his two deputies and immediately understood the old Foundation Establishment cultivator was just going through the motions.

The young Foundation Establishment cultivator, named Min Zinong, was clearly a trusted aide of that Min senior.

His appointment as Vice Hallmaster was merely a temporary measure to hold the position for the other.

But Fang Xing didn't care.

He had no interest in Shennong Hall at all.

The only reason he accepted the vice position was because Qingyu Garden had been fully cultivated.

After learning the duties of Vice Hallmaster, he summoned Min Zinong and several other clerks and said solemnly: "As Vice Hallmaster, I must fulfill my responsibilities."

At these words, the subordinates reacted with varied expressions, especially Min Zinong—but since his status was low, he could only listen.

Fang Xing, seeing this, smiled inwardly.

Traditionally, a new official burns three fires to seize power; if he insisted on doing so, he'd inevitably clash with Hallmaster Min.

Though crushing the man was easy, why bother?

"Here is my reorganization plan. Take a look."

Fang Xing casually tossed a scroll over.

The elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator took it first, scanned a few lines, his face flickered with surprise, then passed it to Min Zinong.

Min Zinong glanced at it and internally gasped.

Fang Xing had made no sweeping changes—only reaffirmed Shennong Hall's core duty: planting trees!

Yes, beyond cultivating spirit rice and medicinal herbs, Shennong Hall's original duty was landscaping Qingmu Ridge.

But this core duty had too little visibility and was later ignored.

Fang Xing, upon taking office, neither touched the spirit fields nor managed the herb gardens, pill rooms, or storerooms—he went straight to planting trees in the corners.

This naturally didn't threaten anyone's interests; everyone welcomed it.

"Senior, this is a strategy of returning to the root and clearing the source."

Min Zinong praised enthusiastically, though inwardly he sneered: 'Word has it this Fang senior is a tree-obsessed maniac—today I see it's true…'

"Good. Then let's proceed this way… From now on, Shennong Hall must carefully cultivate superior Evergreen Tree seeds and nurture them into saplings."

As for the final step of planting, Fang Xing would handle it himself.

"Yes."

Though the tree-planting procedure seemed odd, everyone obeyed solemnly.

That night, the scroll was delivered to Hallmaster Min.

"This Fang Xing is truly interesting… Starting from the margins, avoiding conflict?"

Hallmaster Min smiled; since this younger brother was so considerate, he had no reason to obstruct him—he signed his spirit seal.

He even decided to tilt future benefits and perks toward this younger brother.

After all, the man was clearly sensible.

…

With full support from Shennong Hall, Fang Xing's greening campaign progressed smoothly.

Though many cultivators saw him as doing meaningless work,

Qingmu Ridge was mostly pristine wilderness—what difference did planting more Evergreen Trees make?

In truth, it made little difference—but to Fang Xing, it mattered immensely.

Whether in gaining experience or encompassing all of Qingmu Ridge within the scope of the 'Sacred Grove'!

Ignoring the suspicious glances of other cultivators, Fang Xing went to a chosen open patch, dug a pit, and planted the Evergreen Tree sapling.

Then he cast spells, watered, fertilized…

'Some cultivators actually think I'm scheming to seize power through this indirect method?'

'Only cultivators could dream up such convoluted theories!'

Fang Xing ignored all such speculation completely.

What he sought had already been fully obtained the moment he planted the Evergreen Tree.

…

Time flew, stars shifted.

One day,

a aura-light arrived outside Shennong Hall.

"Who are you?"

The gatekeeper disciple, seeing the visitor was merely a senile man at Qi Sensing sixth level, flying on a magical artifact, immediately felt a tinge of contempt.

"I am Lu Feng, patriarch of the Poisonous Dragon Slope Lu family."

Lu Feng was ancient and frail, beside him stood a boy; he quickly handed over a letter: "I have a petition from Master Fei Yong, seeking an audience with Fang Xing, Uncle Fang…"

"Ah, an old acquaintance of the Vice Hallmaster…"

The disciple had intended to make trouble, but seeing Fei Yong's letter and hearing the man call Fang Xing "uncle," he dared not delay—he hurried to report.

"Thank you both so much…"

Lu Feng bowed repeatedly, and as he stepped closer, slipped a handful of talisman coins into their hands.

Having received the bribe, the disciple's mood improved—he quickened his pace.

Not long after, he returned: "The Vice Hallmaster receives you both in Qingyu Hall. Follow me!"

"Thank you, young brother, for guiding us."

Lu Feng bowed repeatedly, making the boy beside him frown.

Sensing his expression, Lu Feng secretly gripped the boy's wrist and whispered into his ear: "Tian, the uncle you're about to meet is the Vice Hallmaster of Shennong Hall—high in rank and power… Our Lu family endured great hardship to secure our foothold on the Eastern Peak of Poisonous Dragon Slope; among our descendants, I place all my hopes on you… Do not act out now."

Vice Hallmaster of one of Qingmu Ridge's Three Halls!

This title alone could decide the life or death of many cultivating families.

Especially those without Foundation Establishment foundations!

Lu Feng feared his Lu Tian might falter at a critical moment and kept babbling about Fang Xing's personality and preferences…

Unaware that… he himself was hardly to Fang Xing's liking, and being old and near death, his memories had been self-romanticized—far from the truth, if not by ten thousand miles, then by eight thousand.

"Qingyu Hall has arrived."

Soon, they reached a blue wooden hall.

The structure seemed meticulously designed: several Evergreen Trees formed its walls, perfectly blending architecture with nature, everywhere radiating clever thought.

"Reporting, Vice Hallmaster: Lu Feng has arrived."

The Qingmu Ridge disciple bowed deeply, but Qingyu Hall offered no response.

After a moment, a young voice rang out: "Hard! Hard! Hard! The Dao is most mysterious—do not treat the Golden Core as trivial… Idle, I chant a thousand verses, yet not one true secret is revealed…"

The voice was ethereal and divine—clearly that of a senior master.

Lu Tian's heart swelled with awe.

"Enter."

The voice spoke again. Lu Feng immediately led Lu Tian into Qingyu Hall and saw a youth in beast hide, a strand of white hair on his forehead, seated atop a massive wooden stump.

"… "

Lu Tian was speechless.

Although he had long been warned by the Ancestor, knowing that Fang Xing valued the liberation of nature and loved the wild,

he still could not comprehend why someone would forsake the sect's formal robes to wear animal hides—this taste was utterly baffling.

Yet at this moment, Fang Xing seemed lost in another world.

In truth, before Lu Tian arrived, he had just seen his attribute bar refresh:

【Your Druid level has risen to 18!】

【You have gained a new talent—'Mass Natural Summoning'!】

'All that tree-planting across Qingmu Ridge was worth it—I've leveled up again!'

Compared to Lu Tian's arrival, Fang Xing naturally paid far more attention to his new Druid talent.

After a quick glance, he saw it was an upgraded version of the 'Natural Summoning' talent, allowing him to summon multiple natural allies at once.

This ability was far from useless—it was immensely powerful.

If he had awakened a dozen or more ten-thousand-year Treefolk to appear together on the battlefield, how great would their impact be?

Fang Xing drifted in thought for a moment, clearly neglecting his guest.

Yet Lu Tian still stood quietly to the side, his demeanor far more respectful than before.

'Little Feng… you've grown old.'

Fang Xing snapped back to reality, gazing at Lu Tian and sighing.

This nephew of his had once enjoyed a brief period of glory, but later suffered grave damage to his foundation in battle—his cultivation regressed, and his lifespan may have been shortened.

He had come now, likely because his life was nearing its end, hoping to use his last remaining favor to pave the way for younger clan members.

Though Fang Xing held no affection for the Lu family, merely being seen by him carried immense Weishe in the outside world.

'Uncle Fang remains as ever… this is our clan's young one—Lu Tian!'

Lu Tian tugged and pulled for a while before finally bringing the boy before Fang Xing, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile: 'Little Tian's cultivation potential far surpasses mine… alas, our clan earned too little battle merit last time to secure a Dao Foundation spirit item for him—we've held him back, truly…'