A flying sword, a treasure bead, with mutual assistance, wreaked havoc in the forest sea of fire, constantly cutting tree demons in half, sending them crashing to the ground.
The green light screens that were consecutively formed were all slashed open by the Sun and Moon Heaven and Earth Sword, unable to serve any protective function, as fragile as tofu.
As for the tree demons’ attacks, the vines they conjured were utterly ineffective in the face of the Nine Fire Flame Dragon Bead, completely suppressed.
Just , it took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea for twelve peach blossom tree demons to fall under Lu Changfeng’s sword.
After the slaughter was complete, Lu Changfeng recalled the Sun and Moon Heaven and Earth Sword, which transformed into a stream of light and entered the Storage Bag.
"Clean up, the fire ends here, time to extinguish it."
Seeing the peach grove ahead turned to ashes, its black smoke billowing, with flames scorching the earth and rocks, heating the very air, Lu Ping decided it was time to put out the fire to prevent further spread.
Lu Changfeng nodded, and the Nine Fire Flame Dragon Bead slowly rotated like a rising red sun, drawing in the surrounding flames, which were absorbed into the bead strand by strand.
The flames converged like a river, quickly returning to the bead.
Around him, the flames vanished, leaving not a spark, only scorched earth.
The twelve peach blossom tree demons did not even leave behind one or two-tenths of their bodies, burned clean, turned to black ash, and scattered with the wind.
[Doorway Affairs: Clear Peach County’s peach blossom tree demons, task completed]
[Completion Reward: Reputation 660, Two-star Alchemist Upgrade ×1]
Lu Ping also achieved his goal, seeing the dialogue box that appeared before him.
However, what he cared about at the moment wasn’t this matter.
Upon arriving here, he discovered this place contains spiritual energy, a Tier One lower-grade spiritual vein, prompting Lu Ping to decide to explore the site thoroughly.
Because any newly emerged spiritual vein nurtured by the world has a high chance of generating other spiritual material resources.
Such as Lingxi and spiritual springs.
Having cleared away the peach blossom tree demons, Lu Changfeng tidied up and prepared to return to the Cyan Mountain Sect.
He attempted to communicate with Lu Ping, stating that he was now heading back, but received no response from Lu Ping.
Not because Lu Ping was ignoring him, but during Lu Changfeng’s tidying, Lu Ping conducted a thorough exploration of the area.
As a consciousness body, capable of flying and burrowing through water and land, Lu Ping had significant advantages.
Delving into the veins for a moment, the sight before Lu Ping changed drastically, from fragmented soil and gravel to an expansive cavernous scenery.
With it came the sound of flowing water.
The flow contained abundant water spiritual energy, rippling, catching Lu Ping’s attention, making him take another look.
The speculation was almost identical.
This vein actually contained an underground Lingxi.
Lu Ping carefully sensed, observing the spiritual intensity of this Lingxi.
Using the insight of a Golden Core Ancestor, he accurately inferred that the grade of this Lingxi had reached Tier Two lower grade!
Its spiritual energy level is equivalent to that of the Cyan Lotus Mountain spiritual vein!
Lu Ping was secretly excited.
No wonder this place spawned a spiritual vein.
It must be that under the nourishment of this Tier Two Lingxi over the years, the area gradually was subtly influenced, giving birth to the spiritual vein.
Lingxi inherently has the effect of nurturing spiritual veins, able to cultivate veins of the same grade as itself.
And Lingxi’s water can also be used for drinking, assisting in cultivation, facilitating quicker absorption of spiritual energy, nourishing the body, and consolidating cultivation.
It can also be used to water spirit grasses, spirit medicines, and even refine some Tier One elixirs, offering significant utility.
"Changfeng, you should head back to Cyan Lotus Mountain first; your father will return later."
Having discovered Lingxi, Lu Ping wanted to examine its source further, pondering where it originated from, and decided to let Lu Changfeng return to the Cyan Mountain Sect first.
Exploring the Lingxi’s source would take considerable time.
Moreover, Lu Changfeng staying here wouldn’t serve any purpose.
Understanding this, Lu Changfeng didn’t question it further, communicated a farewell, and embarked on the journey back to the Cyan Lotus Mountain alone.
After Lu Changfeng’s departure, Lu Ping traveled upstream along Lingxi, moving forward, passing through layers of rock and soil, discovering that this Lingxi extended lengthily.
It took a little over half a month of movement without seeing any sign of its source.
Attempting to return to the surface, Lu Ping checked his position, discovering he had left the Chu Kingdom, surrounded by a series of mountain ranges.
His current location belonged to Guangling County in the Qi Kingdom.
To his surprise, tracing a Lingxi’s underground source led him out of the country.
Lu Ping returned underground, back to Lingxi, and continued heading upstream, keeping track of his location.
Until over two months later, Lu Ping finally found the source of the underground Lingxi.
Upon returning to the surface, a white, snowy landscape met his eyes, with winds and snow howling, the scene a picture of ice and snow.
Lu Ping examined it, seeing snow-capped mountains in the distance, extending and connecting, with a wide river flowing down from the continuous snow mountains.
This was the Lingxi State’s primary river — the Lingxi River.
This place was the origin of the Lingxi and the northernmost area of Lingxi State, the Snowfield Plateau.
Feeling somewhat surprised, to trace the origin of the underground Lingxi, he ended up traveling from the southern coast of the Chu Kingdom all the way north to the Snowfield Plateau.
Spanning almost half of the Lingxi State, crossing the entire Qi Kingdom.
But this exploration wasn’t due to idleness on Lu Ping’s part.
The spiritual energy at the source of the underground Lingxi was even denser than that of the Lingxi itself.
Through examination, it was found that the source was within a towering snow mountain, its grade reaching Tier Four middle grade.
A Tier Four middle-grade underground Lingxi of this level surpassed the Cyan Lotus Mountain spiritual vein in its prime.
Back then, the Cyan Lotus Mountain spiritual vein was at Tier Four lower grade, acquired from Lu Ping slaying the Tier Four Demon Beast, the Green Water Flood Dragon.
This underground Lingxi is of a higher level!
It could supply many Golden Core Cultivators with cultivation needs.
However, problems also arose.
The area was far from the Cyan Mountain Sect, separated by the vast Qi Kingdom; based on Cyan Mountain Sect’s abilities, putting aside whether they could send disciples to occupy this Lingxi source.
The climate here alone was unsuitable for habitation.
The Cyan Mountain Sect couldn’t secure this level of resource either.
Currently, the ability to maintain their Tier Two level Cyan Lotus Mountain spiritual vein is primarily due to the Sect Establishment Order.
While the Sect Establishment Order is in hand, and the Sect System protection period remains, no sect would dare offend Dubhe Institute to seize the Cyan Lotus Mountain spiritual vein.
Now, with only a few years left of the Sect System protection period, improving the sect’s strength is urgent, and Lu Ping is keenly aware that this matter cannot be delayed.
"For now, this Tier Four Lingxi is beyond the Cyan Mountain Sect’s reach. It’s best to mark this spot and consider claiming it when the sect is strong enough."
Lu Ping memorized the location, to be revisited when the sect’s power suffices to expand these territories.