Chapter 64: First Kill

Hua Changxi did not rush into the stone cave to confront Senior Senior Zhuo Fan, but quietly went down Xishan.

She could certainly stand on the moral high ground and go to Senior Senior Zhuo Fan to vent her emotions, but what then?

She was alone and could not guard the Fire Spirit Mine all the time. She needed the power in the hands of Old You and the other four to occupy the Fire Spirit Mine. Just for this point, she could not fall out with them.

Since the cooperation had to continue, it was better not to make the relationship between them too stiff.

But such cooperation made her feel extremely aggrieved.

Clearly, she had the advantage, but now she was the one who was passive.

What exactly did she do wrong?

In terms of cooperation sincerity, she gave them the Creation Pill in advance, allowing them to shape their spiritual roots and take the first step toward becoming cultivators.

In terms of benefit distribution, she also gave them 40% of the Fire Spirit Mine.

Don't look at the fact that Old You and the other four provided more manpower, but if outsiders really came to snatch the mine, they would at most be at the forefront shouting and arguing, and the person who really decided the ownership of the fire mine would still be her.

On this point, she asked herself that she did not take advantage of them.

In terms of martial force, she was definitely far superior to Old You and the other four.

But relying on this didn't seem to be able to restrict them. They didn't dare to have a direct conflict with her, but they had many little thoughts behind her back, wanting to get techniques for free one moment, and bringing outsiders the next, making her annoyed.

Hua Changxi was a bit bald. She asked herself that the cooperation was very fair, but Old You and the other four were still dissatisfied.

Immediately, she remembered Eunuch Yu and Eunuch Lu. She also cooperated with them on the principle of fairness in refining medicine, but in the end, Eunuch Yu wanted to make things difficult for her, and Eunuch Lu directly used his power to punish her to the Medicine Manor.

Both collaborations had unsatisfactory results.

Hua Changxi knew that while there was human greed involved, there was definitely something she didn't do right.

"Where didn't I do it right?"

Hua Changxi was a bit irritable. She relied on technology to eat, and she was really powerless about the twists and turns in human relationships.

She still had to find the reason, so she wouldn't be so passive next time she cooperated with others.

After returning to the Medicine Valley, Hua Changxi circled around the other handymen as usual, letting them know she was guarding the medicine fields well, and then returned to her accommodation.

Since staying in the Medicine Valley, Hua Changxi spent most of her time cultivating, except for chatting with Guo Yu.

In the Qi Refining Realm and Qi Sea Realm, because she could see the increase in cultivation as long as she absorbed spiritual energy, this kind of cultivation with immediate rewards after effort made her a bit addicted.

Therefore, even if she cultivated for eleven hours a day, she was willing to do it.

But now, she spent time cultivating, but her cultivation didn't increase, which not only made her feel frustrated but also severely reduced her enthusiasm for cultivation.

No!

This state is wrong, she must correct it quickly.

Hua Changxi lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and forced herself into cultivation.

As soon as she entered the state of cultivation, she "saw" the red inner core floating above the Qi Sea. At this moment, the inner core was swaying left and right, trembling up and down.

Seeing the inner core, Hua Changxi was stunned for a moment.

Nothing else, except for the first half month after advancing to the Golden Core Realm, she would see the inner core when she cultivated, but at other times she didn't know where the inner core had gone.

When she was cultivating in the Fire Spirit Mine today, she didn't see the inner core. She didn't expect to see it when she returned to the Medicine Valley to cultivate.

"How can this inner core be so elusive?"

Hua Changxi was suddenly stunned. Was there any special reason for the disappearance and appearance of the inner core?

Hua Changxi immediately began to recall what happened today.

The only difference today from the usual days was that Old You and the other four returned, she heard that Senior Senior Zhuo Fan had brought in outsiders, and she was very angry.

So, did the inner core appear because she was angry?

Reaching such an outrageous reason, Hua Changxi herself laughed.

Laughing aside, the problem of cultivation not improving still had to be solved quickly.

Hua Changxi calmed down and began to run the Bird Breathing and Exhaling Method.

"Eh?"

Hua Changxi keenly discovered that as soon as the breathing and exhaling method started, fire spiritual energy floated out of the Qi Sea and quickly merged into the inner core.

"Slap!"

Hua Changxi opened her eyes from cultivation and quickly slapped her own head.

Why was she so stupid? In the Qi Sea Realm, the realm improved because the Qi Sea became larger; now that she was in the Golden Core Realm, if she wanted to improve her realm, she naturally had to make the inner core larger.

Why didn't she think of such a simple truth before?

Hua Changxi now seemed to understand a bit why her realm couldn't be improved.

Before, when she was cultivating, the inner core didn't know where it had gone, and all the spiritual energy absorbed into her body merged into the Qi Sea.

If the inner core didn't absorb spiritual energy, how could it become larger?

If the inner core didn't become larger, her cultivation naturally couldn't be improved.

Therefore, if she wanted to improve her cultivation, the inner core must be present every time she cultivated.

But a new problem came: why would the inner core run away?

Hua Changxi was really confused.

Actually, after advancing to the Golden Core Realm, she realized the difference between the current cultivation and the Qi Refining Realm and Qi Sea Realm.

For example, in the Qi Refining Realm, as long as she followed the frequency and ups and downs of the bird breathing and exhaling in her mind, she could absorb the spiritual energy from the outside world into her body and then increase her cultivation bit by bit.

In the Qi Sea Realm, the cultivation state was actually similar to the Qi Refining Realm. The only difference was that she could "look inside" her dantian and watch the Qi Sea become larger as she absorbed more spiritual energy.

In the Golden Core Realm, she found that as soon as she entered the state of cultivation, her consciousness would completely "enter" the Qi Sea, as if her whole person had entered the Qi Sea.

In the Qi Sea Realm stage, she was so happy watching the Qi Sea become larger; now that she was in the Qi Sea, she was just as desperate.

The Qi Sea was too large, and she was like a speck of dust inside.

In this state, if the inner core ran around, it was really difficult for her to find it.

Today, it was the inner core that appeared by itself.

"The inner core couldn't really be angered out, could it?"

Thinking of this possibility, Hua Changxi shook her head hurriedly.

Absolutely not, the inner core couldn't have a tendency to be abused.

It definitely wasn't this reason!

Hua Changxi then let out a sigh, but what if it was?

She was really a bit numb, but since the inner core was out, she should seize the time to cultivate. Otherwise, when the inner core ran away again, she would be blind.

Fortunately, for the next ten days, the inner core was always there. Hua Changxi cultivated against time, and her realm finally improved a bit.

【Realm: Golden Core Realm 1.57 million/10 million】

However, from the eleventh day, she didn't know if her anger toward Senior Senior Zhuo Fan had dissipated, but the inner core disappeared again.

To test whether the inner core was angered out, knowing that Old You and the other four were inducing qi into their bodies in the stone cave, Hua Changxi specifically went to find a fight, deliberately provoking Senior Senior Zhuo Fan, and scolded him for most of the day.

However, it was useless!

The inner core didn't appear!

"What exactly is going on?"

Without anyone to communicate with, she really couldn't find the problem herself.

Hua Changxi suddenly thought of the news Senior Senior Zhuo Fan said before, saying that all parties were gathered at Mount Wuzhi in Qingzhou.

"There should be many cultivators going, right?"

Her cultivation had encountered a bottleneck, and it was easy to fall into a dead end by closing the door to build a car. She had to go out to see the world and see what other cultivators looked like.

If she could get to know one or two cultivators with similar values, it would be even better, so they could exchange cultivation insights.

Thinking of this, Hua Changxi immediately wanted to head straight to Qingzhou. However, before leaving, she still went to find Guo Yu.

"What? You want to go into seclusion?"

"Yes, I encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation and need to go into seclusion to sprint."

"How long will you be in seclusion?"

"I don't know, maybe ten days, maybe longer. Anyway, before I come out of seclusion, you and Old You and the others don't come to disturb me. If any outsiders ask where I went, you have to help me cover."

After explaining to Guo Yu, Hua Changxi didn't care about his reaction and flew straight toward Nanshan.

She knew very well that Old You and the other four and Guo Yu certainly didn't want her to go into seclusion.

Guo Yu wanted to become a cultivator and would always come to her side when he had nothing to do. He couldn't take out things of equal value to exchange, so he could only hope to get closer to them, wanting her to give him the Creation Pill out of friendship.

And Old You and the other four, who had always been unable to induce qi into their bodies, also wanted her to give them some pointers.

After knowing that Senior Senior Zhuo Fan had brought in outsiders, Hua Changxi didn't want to continue to associate with them deeply. She could tolerate them now, all for the sake of the Fire Spirit Mine.

After wandering around the rift valley, Hua Changxi quietly left the Medicine Valley.

"Boom~"

Not long after flying out of the Medicine Valley, while passing through a valley, Hua Changxi saw a herd of cattle running wildly.

Suddenly, a thin figure appeared in the herd.

I saw that thin figure constantly crossing the herd, running to the front, then a flexible flip, jumping onto the head cow running at the front, then stretching out both hands, grabbing the horns, like pulling a brake, and forcibly pulling the head cow to a slow stop.

Once the head cow stopped, the cattle behind also slowly stopped.

The valley returned to quiet.

A-Niu!

Seeing clearly who the figure was, Hua Changxi was quite surprised. This boy looked so thin, she didn't expect his strength to be so great.

Looking at the head cow that was nearly two meters high, Hua Changxi's eyelids jumped.

Could a normal person stop such a giant cow running?

Hua Changxi looked at A-Niu again. At this moment, he was sitting steadily on the back of the head cow, holding a bamboo flute, and was playing the flute.

The flute sound was melodious and continuous.

This lung capacity... is good enough!

Just experienced a fierce interception of the head cow, and then could play the flute...

Cultivator?

Hua Changxi shook her head, it didn't look like it. Immediately, the figure of Xu Ling appeared in her mind.

Ancestral return?

Because A-Niu worked in the livestock yard of the Sancha Medicine Manor, Hua Changxi didn't want others to know she had left the Medicine Valley, so she didn't appear to ask. She thought in her heart that after she returned from Qingzhou, she would come to probe A-Niu's situation.

Because her cultivation was stagnant, Hua Changxi was anxious, and she was not in the mood to enjoy the scenery along the way. She didn't stop all the way, and it took her a day and a night to reach Qingzhou.

As soon as she entered the territory of Qingzhou, she found that many people were talking about Mount Wuzhi.

"Have you heard? The Qingzhou Army has already gone to Mount Wuzhi, led by Prince Dong'an himself."

"What happened at Mount Wuzhi? Since July, many martial artists have come to Qingzhou, all going to Mount Wuzhi."

"What can happen? It must be those martial artists fighting for territory again."

"This time it's quite fierce, even the Qingzhou Army has been dispatched."

"I really don't know what those martial artists see in Mount Wuzhi. That mountain is very evil. Once you go in, you can't come out, and they are actually fighting to the death."

"Nothing to do, so they are idle. If martial artists don't come out to compete, how can they show off their skills?"

Those who said these things were all ordinary people, who all thought that Mount Wuzhi was a fight caused by martial artists fighting for territory.

By the time Hua Changxi arrived at Anyang Prefecture, which was the prefecture city closest to Mount Wuzhi, although there were the most martial artists, there was no lack of Daoist priests and monks on the street.

"People from Taisu Palace, Sanqing Palace, Demon Suppression Department, Asura Gate, and some ancient families have already fought to the point of breaking their heads at Mount Wuzhi."

"They have been fighting for almost three months, right? It's been so long, why is there still no conclusion?"

"At first, the Demon Suppression Department relied on being the spokesperson for the imperial court and wanted to forcibly occupy Mount Wuzhi. Taisu Palace and Sanqing Palace were not easy to compete with, and the Demon Suppression Department almost succeeded. Who knew that the Asura Gate suddenly jumped out, and later, some old families also got involved, and the situation became even more chaotic."

"I heard that there are immortal fruits in Mount Wuzhi, and mortals can cultivate immortality if they eat them. Is it true or false?"

"Who knows? Some say it's a spiritual fruit, some say it's a divine fruit, and some say it's a spiritual treasure. Anyway, everyone says everything."

"Although the news is chaotic, Mount Wuzhi can attract so many forces to compete, the saying of a blessed land is nine times out of ten true."

"Alas, even if it is a blessed land, so what? With those big forces there, we ordinary people can only stare, and we can't get involved."

What these people were talking about were things that ordinary people didn't know.

Hua Changxi didn't stay in the city for long, bought some dry food, and headed straight for Mount Wuzhi. Not long after, she saw Mount Wuzhi, with its overlapping peaks and five-finger shape.

On the official road leading to Mount Wuzhi, the Qingzhou Army, wearing armor and carrying knives, had already blocked the intersection and did not allow people to approach Mount Wuzhi.

"Whoosh~"

Some officers felt something flash in their sight and immediately reported to the leading general: "General, someone has entered Mount Wuzhi."

The general listened and said: "...... Your eyes are dazzled. Remember, our task is to guard the intersection and not let ordinary people enter or exit."

People who flew over the intersection they were guarding in the blink of an eye were not ordinary people and were not under their jurisdiction.

The general looked at Mount Wuzhi, his expression a bit heavy.

Isn't it said that the Demon Suppression Department of the Heaven Department is invincible?

Because of Mount Wuzhi, all parties gathered, and they have been pulling for almost three months, and the Demon Suppression Department hasn't taken it down yet, making the Prince have to come forward in person. What kind of invincibility is this?

"Boom~"

In the distance, dust and smoke suddenly rolled, and a mountain collapsed.

Seeing this, the expressions of many people in the Qingzhou Army changed.

"Fighting again, is there no end to it."

"General, there are quite a few villages around Mount Wuzhi. Those people are so unscrupulous, and they don't avoid the common people when fighting. If this continues, how many villages will be wiped out?"

The general was also full of anger, but after being angry, he could only sigh helplessly: "The fighting inside Mount Wuzhi is not something we can participate in."

"Fortunately, the Prince sent people to notify the villages at the foot of the mountain early, asking them to evacuate quickly. Those who didn't leave can only blame their bad luck."

Thumb Village, An Ze and An Ran, brother and sister, led a group of young people to constantly rescue injured villagers from houses collapsed by mountain stones.

"Boom~"

On the mountain behind the village, two cultivators were locked in a fierce battle. Waves of spiritual power were constantly unleashed from their hands, and wherever they passed, the mountain terrain was left in ruins.

A mountain facing the village was blasted down, and rolling mountain stones attacked Thumb Village like sea waves.

"Not good, everyone run."

The speed of the mountain stones sliding was too fast, and many people didn't have time to escape. An Ze and An Ran slowed down to protect a few children. Seeing the mountain stones about to press down on them, everyone was desperate and hateful.

"Whoosh~"

A scorching breath suddenly attacked, and then, the villagers of Thumb Mountain saw those rapidly sliding mountain stones suddenly fly backward.

Immediately after, two red fire lotuses descended from the sky, from far to near, from small to large, directly covering the two people fighting behind Thumb Mountain.

The next moment, a horrific scene appeared.

Flames ignited on the two people fighting with a "swish". As soon as they screamed, the flames swallowed them.

In the blink of an eye, the fire lotus disappeared, and those two people... also disappeared, as if they had never appeared.

The villagers of Thumb Mountain looked at this scene dumbfounded, and the Qingzhou Army blocking the road in the distance was also dumbfounded.

After a period of silence, some old people in Mount Wuzhi suddenly knelt down toward Mount Wuzhi: "The mountain spirit has manifested! The mountain spirit has manifested!" ===== CHAPTER 65 =====