[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},151741,261,"Chapter 55: Fire Spirit Stone","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>To avoid running into Old Man You and the One-Armed Man on the cliff face, Hua Changxi shifted her original position while climbing, which caused her to take a long detour through the mountains before returning to Medicine Valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she reached the medicinal field she was responsible for, Hua Changxi immediately released her spiritual power, used the Earth-Turning Technique to tidy up the field, and then began quickly planting medicinal seedlings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, she had planted seedlings on four mu of medicinal fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, she stopped planting further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the speed of other menial laborers, planting this many seedlings was considered normal speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After planting the seedlings, Hua Changxi picked up buckets and went to fetch fertilizer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she returned carrying two buckets of stinking farm manure, she saw the One-Armed Man on the field ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Guo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi approached and actively greeted the One-Armed Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The One-Armed Man looked Hua Changxi up and down, paying particular attention to her shoes. Seeing nothing unusual and that the medicinal fields were all planted, he grunted \"Mm,\" then said nothing and left directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the One-Armed Man's receding figure, Hua Changxi let out a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who has been in the mountains knows that when you wander through the mountains, you will pick up some things on your body—either mountain soil or some special scent traces. Fortunately, as soon as she returned, she used the Cleansing Technique to clean her clothes and shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Hua Changxi finished fertilizing and completing the work in the medicinal field. She did not immediately return to her lodging but instead went to a secluded spot and summoned the Shennong Cauldron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Shennong Cauldron isn't big, so how can it hold so much stuff?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hua Changxi knocked and tapped on the Shennong Cauldron, when she inadvertently pressed her head against it, a scene of the inside of the Shennong Cauldron suddenly appeared in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interior of the Shennong Cauldron was huge; she couldn't say exactly how big, but she 'saw' that the Yuanling Grass and dates she had collected were like grains of rice inside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was a bit speechless. Could she even control such a large Shennong Cauldron?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, she couldn't help condensing a ball of flame and directly threw it under the Shennong Cauldron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this, Hua Changxi continuously output spiritual energy to make the flame grow larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After outputting one hundred points of spiritual energy, the surface of the Shennong Cauldron showed no trace of heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two hundred points of spiritual energy, still the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After five hundred points of spiritual energy, finding that even under the flame's roasting, the surface of the Shennong Cauldron still had no heat, Hua Changxi withdrew her spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew then that she could not use this Shennong Cauldron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, not now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can only use it as a portable magic treasure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hua Changxi thought of taking out one date, a date immediately appeared in her hand: \"At least storing and retrieving things is quite convenient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After putting away the Shennong Cauldron, Hua Changxi went \"crunch\" and started gnawing on the date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected of something that makes you salivate at just one look, this date was incredibly delicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no ordinary date; it was a Fire Date, a spirit fruit imbued with abundant fire spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If before Hua Changxi hadn't known her spirit root attribute, now that she had entered the Qi Sea Realm and looked at the immaculate red Qi Sea opened in her dantian, she guessed her attribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She should be a single fire spirit root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, after eating the Fire Date, she felt no discomfort; instead, her stomach immediately warmed up, and then a warm current surged through her limbs and bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling was not unfamiliar to Hua Changxi—it was the same when taking, absorbing, and refining Yuanling Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the increase in spiritual energy, Hua Changxi immediately checked her data and found that eating one Fire Date could increase her spiritual power by ten points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had picked at least a thousand Fire Dates, meaning that after eating them all, she could increase her spiritual power by ten thousand points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being watched by the One-Armed Man here in Medicine Valley, she had no chance to refine pills, so eating Fire Dates to increase spiritual power was just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that there were still many places at the bottom of the cliff she hadn't explored, Hua Changxi felt an itch of impatience and wanted to go down again to see if she could find more good things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she found nothing, gathering more spirit plants for pill refining could increase her rank as an alchemist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the day after tomorrow Old Man You would go deliver medicine, so that day she should be able to find another chance to go down to the cliff bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fourteenth day of the third month, Hua Changxi still methodically worked alongside the other menial laborers, diligently planting medicinal seedlings, but out of sight of others, she would occasionally take out Fire Dates to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fifteenth day of the third month, Hua Changxi got up early and closely watched the movements on West Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the servants were eating breakfast, Old You, who had never shown himself before, came down from West Mountain with the one-armed man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the two appeared, all the servants put down their bowls and chopsticks and stood up respectfully: \"Old You.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You looked around, his gaze sweeping over Hua Changxi without lingering, as if a casual glance: \"I am taking Guo Yu to the Medicine Department today. You must take good care of the Medicine Valley.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the grandmaster had spoken, no one dared to raise any objection, so they respectfully watched the two leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Medicine Valley, Guo Yu looked at Old You with confusion: \"Master, usually you deliver medicine alone. Why did you call me along this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You said calmly: \"If we don't leave, how would that little girl make her move?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu suddenly showed a look of understanding: \"Master, this disciple understands your intention. First I'll pretend to follow you to the Medicine Department, then I'll secretly sneak back. If Hua Changxi really has some scheme, I'll catch her red-handed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You looked at Guo Yu, somewhat exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This disciple had been wandering the martial world before, accustomed to acting straightforwardly, and didn't understand that many things in this world cannot be achieved through fighting and killing alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you considered the consequences of trying to catch that girl?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The consequences are: if you can't beat her and she discovers your secret, you die; even if you can beat her and catch her, then what? Are you sure she will tell you her secrets?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu frowned: \"Then we just do nothing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You said: \"Are we not already leaving the Medicine Valley?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu was still a bit confused: \"Master, if we both leave, even if Hua Changxi makes a move, we won't know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You smiled, this time without explaining, and using his lightness skill, dashed toward the Medicine Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Guo Yu immediately understood that his master had a plan, so he didn't ask further and quickly followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the Medicine Valley, Hua Changxi was indeed extremely delighted to see that both Old You and Guo Yu had left. Even though she had some doubts about their departure, it couldn't stop her determination to explore the bottom of the cliff again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not immediately go to West Mountain, but first finished planting all the herb fields she was responsible for. Only after confirming that Old You and the one-armed man had left did she sneak over to the stone cliff while everyone was at lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jumping off the cliff for the second time, Hua Changxi was much more composed. With the experience from last time, she landed steadily this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were dozens of types of spirit plants at the bottom of the cliff. Hua Changxi picked some of each, spacing them out as she picked. Afterwards, she used the Earth-Turning Technique to fill in the ground and erase the traces of her activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most eye-catching thing at the bottom of the cliff was a lush green fruit tree. The green fruits on the tree were densely packed, but all very small, only the size of a thumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the green fruits were small, they were fragrant and intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green fruits are wood-attribute spirit fruits. Because they are rich in vital force, they are very good healing and restoration spirit fruits. The older they are, the higher their grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First-grade green fruits are the size of a fist. The green fruits on the tree were clearly not yet mature. Thinking of the fruits Old You and the one-armed man picked yesterday, Hua Changxi guessed that the fruits they took to the Medicine Department were probably green fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the fruits weren't ripe, picking them would be useless. Hua Changxi felt a bit regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second type of spirit fruit at the bottom of the cliff was the fire jujube. Unlike the fragrant green fruit tree, the fire jujube tree gave a feeling of being surrounded by fire and baked as soon as one approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi possessed a fire spiritual root, so under the fire jujube tree it felt like soaking in a hot spring. But if someone else came, they would be very uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should be the reason why, even though there were so many fire jujubes, Old You didn't pick them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire jujube tree was also lush and leafy, with bright red fire jujubes hanging on it, exceptionally pleasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi discovered that the fire jujube tree had actually produced second-grade fire jujubes, and in no small number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, when she knocked down some fire jujubes with her spiritual power, she hadn't looked carefully and hadn't noticed this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi climbed the fire jujube tree and picked all the second-grade fire jujubes, ending up with a total of five hundred second-grade fire jujubes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, she took another round at the bottom of the cliff and found that there were more fire-attribute spirit herbs, and only fire-attribute spirit herbs and fruits had advanced to second grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the Medicine Valley, the fire spiritual energy is the most abundant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where does this fire spiritual energy come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Old You and the one-armed man were not there, Hua Changxi still couldn't stay long at the bottom of the cliff to avoid being discovered missing by other servants. Seeing that there was nothing else to find at the bottom, she quickly leaped up the stone cliff and returned to the Medicine Valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You and the one-armed man returned the next morning. When they got back to the Medicine Valley, Old You said nothing and went directly to West Mountain, while the one-armed man called the Medicine Valley steward and questioned him for a while before returning to West Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, the steward said that Hua Changxi left for a while yesterday at noon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You gave an \"mm-hmm\" and leaped straight off the stone cliff, only returning half an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the joy on Old You's face, Guo Yu couldn't help asking, \"Master, did you discover something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You nodded. \"That girl went to the bottom of the cliff.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The things at the bottom of the cliff involved state secrets. Even if it were a single blade of grass or a single fruit, he had them all memorized. Even if Hua Changxi had erased all traces of her presence, the medicinal herbs and fruits that were now missing could not be replaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu's expression changed. \"Then what do we do now? Should we go find Hua Changxi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You shook his head. \"We don't need to do anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu was confused. \"Why?\" After a pause, he tentatively asked, \"Master, do you already know the secret about Hua Changxi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You shook his head again. \"I do not know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu was even more puzzled. \"Since you don't know, then why not just call her over and ask clearly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You looked at him. \"If we call that little girl over, would she just tell us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu said, \"The things at the bottom of the cliff belong to the court, you know. She stole court property. With such a big leverage in our hands, how dare she not listen to us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You gave a derisive laugh. \"The things at the bottom of the cliff do not belong to the court. Don't forget, the common people living nearby were the first to discover the Trident Herb Valley.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Guo Yu fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In previous years when he traveled the jianghu, he had often seen the court forcefully commandeer ancestral lands and mountain peaks from the common people. Many clans that had lived in one place for generations were forced to relocate just because some new medicinal herbs appeared in their forests and caught the officials' eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The things in the forests and mountains are inherently ownerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If possession is determined by who arrived first, then the court could be said to be acting like bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You continued, \"Our goal is to find out the secret about that girl. Going up to her and threatening her right away won't work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu frowned deeply. \"Then what should we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You said, \"The best and fastest way to accomplish something is through exchange. That girl has a secret we want to know, so we have to offer something in exchange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu thought for a moment and said, \"Let Hua Changxi have free access to the bottom of the cliff?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You shook his head. \"She can go in and out of the bottom of the cliff even without our permission. It's just a bit more trouble for her. That bargaining chip isn't enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The work in the herbal fields will keep us busy at least until the end of the third month or the beginning of the fourth. During this time, I need to think carefully—think about what terms I can offer to move that girl.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yu could see that his master cared a great deal about the secret Hua Changxi held, so much so that even interacting with Hua Changxi required extreme caution, for fear of displeasing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You was indeed very concerned. Hua Changxi was the only person he could approach who might know the secret of the bottom of the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was honored as a grandmaster, he had not pledged allegiance to anyone because he did not want to be controlled by the powerful and influential. He was free, yes, but that also meant he had no backing, which left him severely lacking in information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent years, as more and more fierce beasts were slain and more and more young high-rank martial artists appeared, he increasingly felt that something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed as if a tremendous change was taking place in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The source of that great change all pointed to those newly appearing precious herbs and exotic fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There definitely had to be a great secret hidden within all this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a strong premonition: if he did not investigate and uncover the secret behind all this, he would be left behind—left far behind by those young high-rank martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi noticed that the one-armed man was no longer watching her, which puzzled her a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she wasn't planning to go down to the bottom of the cliff again anytime soon, she couldn't be bothered to think about why the one-armed man had stopped. She just quietly did her menial chores, ate fire jujubes during the day, and cultivated at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her rapidly rising stats, Hua Changxi was in a very good mood: [Realm: Qi Sea Stage\u002F]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her realm points broke through the threshold, Hua Changxi found that the red qi sea at her dantian had more than doubled in size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, she understood: the outward manifestation of improvement in the Qi Sea Stage was the expansion of the qi sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, it was the last day of the third month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the medicinal fields in Herb Valley had been planted with seedlings, and it was time for Hua Changxi and her group to return to the Trident Herb Estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they left, Old You appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hua Changxi, come here. Old You is looking for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Old You waiting for her at the entrance of Herb Valley, Hua Changxi frowned, vigilant inside but smiling on the surface. \"Old You, what do you need me for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You smiled at Hua Changxi, his expression very kind: \"This old man knows you went to the bottom of the cliff.\" Seeing Hua Changxi about to deny it, he raised a hand to stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not here to pursue that matter—I want to take you to a place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi naturally wouldn't agree; she opened her mouth to refuse, but at that moment Old You took out a red crystal the size of a fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the red crystal and sensing the dense fire spirit Qi inside it, Hua Changxi's expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire Spirit Stone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She should have guessed—where could the spirit Qi come from? Of course, it emanated from a spirit mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the fire spirit Qi around Medicine Valley so dense, there must be a fire spirit mine underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You watched Hua Changxi's expression shift and sighed inwardly in relief. Fortunately, this was a young girl whose skill at putting up a front wasn't fully developed—this further confirmed his speculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little girl, do you want to know where I found this stone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Old You, her mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old You had discovered that she went to the bottom of the cliff, yet he hadn't brought it up and had even come to her with a Fire Spirit Stone—this meant he needed something from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing about her that could be of interest to a grandmaster was her cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi wasn't speaking, Old You turned and walked toward the direction of Southern Mountain. After a few steps, he noticed Hua Changxi hadn't followed and even paused to wait for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced at him, then stepped forward to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>",3091,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","aef985981172adf83f4ba707a6690bbb023a41afd6b1b1ed3df4881200041e96","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-56","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-54",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]