It was a busy day.
Until late at night.
The fifty mu of Spiritual Fields were finally all planted.
The three little ones were too strong and showed no signs of fatigue, just covered in dust and dirt.
Li Ping'an hadn't rested yet; he was moving through the Spiritual Fields, nourishing them with the Rain Summoning Technique.
After finishing everything, the total Cultivation points soared to 14,800 points.
"Use 800 Cultivation points to replenish Spiritual Power."
Li Ping'an stretched his body, called out to Heihei and the others, and walked out of the Xianyan Sect under the cover of night.
Their luck was good this time.
800 Cultivation points allowed his Spiritual Power to recover to 1,000,000 points...
The following days were very peaceful.
In the Outer Sect Utility Disciple Ling City, without the division of powers, the Utility Disciples all got a good planting environment.
Time passed quickly.
Unconsciously, two months slipped away quietly.
The Spiritual Plants outside the Xianyan Sect were growing vigorously, a pleasing sight to behold.
Regrettably, all the Cultivation point rewards that could be obtained had been obtained; besides watering, doing other things yielded no rewards.
The Spiritual Fields on Ping'an Peak had also been fertilized twice and weeded once, plus other miscellaneous tasks, totaling 24,000 Cultivation points.
Wang Sanshi was very sensible.
Every few days, he would seek out Li Ping'an; in these two months, he had received 150,000 Spirit Stones!
Originally, he wouldn't have gotten so much.
According to Wang Sanshi, the decrease in the price of Ling Lake water led to more Utility Disciples drawing water.
Jiang Family Village.
A bonfire burned, and the scent of Spiritual Beast meat wafted through the air.
The little ones sat around the fire, their eyes gleaming with greed.
Jiang Ming handed Li Ping'an a piece of roasted meat and said, "Junior Brother, now is the time for Xianyan Sect Disciples to visit home; many Disciples have left to visit their families."
Li Ping'an nodded, "I know."
Jiang Ming asked, "Aren't you planning to go back and see?"
Li Ping'an chuckled, "There's nothing good to see. My parents are gone, and I only have a father-in-law."
"Besides, I don't know where my father-in-law went, so I might not find him if I go back."
Jiang Ming's face stiffened as he said, "Junior Brother, a father-in-law is half a father. He married such an excellent daughter to a good-for-nothing like you; you should show some filial piety."
"You've been here for quite some time. I think you must go back. Whether you see him or not isn't important; what's important is the thought."
"Also, you need to bring back more wine. Without wine, this roasted Spiritual Beast meat will lack its Soul."
Li Ping'an took a bite of meat, "That's your real thought, isn't it?"
Jiang Ming rolled his eyes, "I promise, making you filial is the first thought; drinking is completely a secondary thought."
"Who would believe that?" Li Ping'an pouted.
However, if he thought about it carefully.
It had been more than half a year since he left Tiankui City, and his father-in-law had indeed been very kind to him.
Now, all the Spiritual Fields were in their growth period and required no care, and it was also the time for Xianyan Sect Disciples to visit home. Perhaps it was time to go back.
While he was at it, he could also deal with the Imperial Advisor Jiang Yun, settle his Mortal World grievances, and then focus wholeheartedly on Cultivation.
Li Ping'an said, "Since Senior Brother wants to drink, I'll go back tomorrow and bring you more wine. Does Fifth Senior Brother want to come with me?"
"No," Jiang Ming shook his head and said helplessly, "I can't leave yet."
Li Ping'an did not ask for the reason.
After all, everyone has their own secrets.
Although he had long become familiar with his Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers, he couldn't ask indiscriminately.
Xianyan Sect, Elder Hall.
Li Ping'an used his Sect contribution points to exchange for some Medicinal Pills beneficial to his body and Cultivation, as well as Spirit Stones, which he put away.
As for the hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones Wang Sanshi had given him, they were all fed to Heihei and the others. There was progress, but it wasn't significant.
After all,
Divine Beasts are no different from Cultivators; the stronger they are, the slower their progress becomes later on, as if they've encountered a Bottleneck.
Early the next morning.
Li Ping'an went to the Grand Hall to greet his master and expressed his desire to go home for a visit.
The Great Protector did not stop him and even kindly gave him some resources for Li Ping'an to take back to his family.
"The journey is long. If you need a Spiritual Beast for travel, I can help you ask the Sect for one."
Li Ping'an shook his head, "Riding a Spiritual Beast is not as good as walking on solid ground; everything seen brings something gained."
"You're quite insightful, young man." The Great Protector nodded in satisfaction and asked, "It's been two months. Has the Nine Armor King Overlord Body shown any progress in Cultivation?"
Li Ping'an said nothing.
He demonstrated it on the spot, and a phantom of a tortoise shell appeared on his body!
The Great Protector showed surprise, "You've already Cultivated to the first layer in two months. It's clear you've worked hard and have considerable Comprehension Ability."
"It's just a pity that fate is not with you, leaving you without a Spiritual Root."
Li Ping'an smiled, "This Disciple believes that with every loss there is a gain. Perhaps in the future, there will be a path very suitable for me."
The Great Protector nodded gently, "Go, and remember to return early..."
Leaving the Grand Hall.
Li Ping'an went to inspect the Spiritual Fields again before embarking on the road back to Tiankui City.
Leaving Tianling Mountain, crossing Dongming Lake.
Li Ping'an reached out and beckoned Heihei, "I remember you said you could fly before, right?"
"Mhm," Heihei nodded.
Li Ping'an pointed at Dahhuang, then at Niuniu, "Take them all. Can you fly?"
"That's a small matter, alright." Heihei shook his dog head, and black light swirled around his body.
His knee-high figure actually soared tenfold in an instant, and even more miraculously, he grew two black furry wings.
Heihei looked down at them, "Boss, come up."
"Let's go." Li Ping'an leaped up, and Dahhuang followed.
Niuniu shook his head, "Your small frame, this ox is afraid of trampling you. I'll just fly myself."
Fly himself?
Li Ping'an raised an eyebrow, "You have wings too?"
Niuniu shook his head, "No."
Li Ping'an was suspicious, "How do you fly without them?"
Niuniu proudly raised his head, "Riding the clouds and mist, flying through the air, is that not allowed?"
After speaking,
All four of his ox hooves sparkled with brilliant light, and he actually ascended into the air.
Li Ping'an exclaimed, "Holy cow, Niuniu is awesome."
"Whoosh~"
Heihei flapped his wings and soared away.
This was a flying dog, and its speed was very fast...
It took over two months to get there, but only five days to return.
And that was even with stopping frequently.
Tiankui City was still the same Tiankui City; aside from the marks on the city walls that looked like they had just experienced war, there were no other changes.
Li Ping'an entered the city with Niuniu and the others, walked through the familiar streets, and arrived near the City Lord's Mansion.
Seeing familiar sights brought back memories, and melancholy was inevitable.
Restaurant.
Li Ping'an ordered a table full of delicious food and bought a lot of wine, which he stored in his System warehouse.
He found a waiter to inquire, and received the sigh-inducing news that Tiankui City had experienced war, and many people had died.
After the Crown Prince's death, the Second Prince thought he could ascend to the throne, but unexpectedly, the Imperial Advisor Jiang Yun had long harbored ambitions to become emperor.
Many generals and ministers in the court were his people!
There were also many generals and ministers who supported the Second Prince, and coupled with the secret forces of the Fengyun Business Firm he had cultivated, they launched a rebellion.
Including his father-in-law An Lan, who also brought many people to join this rebel army and was highly valued, being appointed as the Grand General of the Rebellion.
However,
The Second Prince's forces suffered repeated defeats and heavy casualties. Now, only 50,000 troops remained, hiding in Yandang Mountain.
Jiang Yun's forces were strong and numerous, and he held many advantages. He led 300,000 troops stationed in Hanshui Ancient City outside Yandang Mountain, determined to wipe out the Second Prince's forces!
The situation was not optimistic; according to the waiter, the Second Prince's forces could only last five more days at most.
"Alas, this father-in-law really doesn't make things easy. People are fighting for the throne, why are you joining in the fun?"
Li Ping'an had no money.
He gave two Spirit Stones and then left, heading straight for Hanshui Ancient City.
Dusk approached, and the setting sun was like blood.
Hanshui Ancient City closed very early tonight, with strict guards, yet they couldn't stop Li Ping'an's steps at all.
After entering the city, it was deserted.
This was an order from Jiang Yun: before the general attack tomorrow, no one was allowed to move freely within the city.
He was very cautious, fearing any disorder.
Li Ping'an captured a few people, and after some interrogation, learned that Jiang Yun and many generals were in the City Lord's Mansion, discussing tomorrow's battle plans.
"Let's go, little ones."
"We've always been low-key, but today, let's go wild and do something big!"
Li Ping'an strode forward, carrying a hoe.
Heihei, Niuniu, and Dahhuang followed majestically.
Killing Jiang Yun for revenge could also help his father-in-law resolve this crisis. If the Second Prince ascended the throne, he might even bestow great rewards upon his father-in-law.
The street was very deserted.
Soon, city patrol guards surrounded them. The leader, after a quick glance, ordered fiercely, "The Imperial Advisor has ordered that anyone walking on the street shall be executed as a rebel!"
"Come on, chop that boy down, and slaughter those three beasts..."