"grandfather?"
Jiang Yuebai ran home quickly, but saw no trace of Tao Fengnian and there was no one in the village, so he ran towards the spiritual field behind the valley and met Shi Xiaowu on the way.
"Senior Sister Jiang, you're back. Tao Laogang asked me to take his token to the Spirit Beast Valley to borrow a ferry goose to pick you up."
Shi Xiaowu was able to enter the first level of Qi training within the time limit thanks to Jiang Yuebai selling him five Qi-Attracting Pills, so he has always been very friendly to Jiang Yuebai.
"What happened? Where did everyone go?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Shi Xiaowu said, "Isn't it because of the heavy snow? This year's snow came early and fast, and it was a bit abnormal. All the winter wheat seedlings were frozen and even had ice beetles."
"Not only our Huaxi Valley, but most of the Tianyan Sect has been hit by the disaster. If we don't deal with it quickly, we will have no harvest this winter. Many precious spiritual medicines have not been spared, and the spiritual fields may also be damaged, and we won't be able to cultivate them next year."
Jiang Yuebai was surprised, "It's so serious, but the sect didn't react?"
"Of course there are. The elders and disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall have all been dispatched. They are investigating all over the sect to see if there are any monsters causing trouble. The Wanfa Hall and Shenji Hall are also busy setting up a large formation to turn the tide. I don't know who has been wronged so badly that the snowstorm is endless."
Jiang Yuebai was shocked. He originally thought that only mortals would be unable to fight against the power of heaven and earth, but he didn't expect that the world of immortals would also suffer from disaster because of the heavy snow.
The power of heaven is so overwhelming that it makes it hard for people to breathe and makes them feel extremely oppressed.
"Where's my grandpa?"
"Old Tao is leading everyone to clear the snow and insects from the spiritual fields. He has been busy for a whole day and a night without rest. By the way, Old Tao asked you to go find him as soon as you come back."
Jiang Yuebai's heart tightened. His grandfather's health was not good to begin with, and he was still working in the spiritual field in such a heavy snowstorm. He would definitely not be able to hold on.
"Let's go to the spiritual field."
Heavy snow fell. More than a hundred spiritual farmers in Huaxi Valley led their apprentices to various parts of the spiritual fields. They waved their sleeves and used wind-rolling techniques to clear the thick snow covering the fields.
Tao Fengnian squatted in the ten-acre spiritual field rented by Song Pei'er, his back hunched, and he had not moved for half a minute. Covered with snow, he looked like a statue.
He looked exhausted, with his dry hands protecting both sides of a delicate red spiritual plant. He circulated fire spiritual energy and activated the Red Flame Art, carefully warming the roots of the red grass and expelling the cold.
The frostbitten leaves slowly stretched out and regained their vitality, and Song Pei'er, who was standing beside them, breathed a sigh of relief.
She accepted a commission from the Internal Affairs Hall and planted ten acres of red snake grass as an auxiliary medicine for refining foundation-building pills.
Red Snake Grass has a strong fire property, and a winter snow should not have frozen its roots. However, this heavy snow was very cold and very strange. If it had not been for timely treatment last night, ten acres of Red Snake Grass would have been destroyed.
Song Pei'er's fate will be more than just compensation.
In fact, if she had extra spirit stones, she should buy some formation flags to set up a large formation to protect the elixirs. However, the daily maintenance of the large formation consumes spiritual energy, which is another expense of spirit stones.
Ordinary cultivators are hoping for the best and are mostly unwilling to spend more spirit stones to set up formations. After all, natural disasters do not happen often.
"Don't let the snow cover you anymore, and your red snake grass won't be a big problem."
Tao Fengnian stood up with difficulty, his head swaying twice due to dizziness, and was supported by Song Peier.
"Thank you for your help today, Senior Brother Tao. If you need my help in the future, I will be happy to help you."
Tao Fengnian waved his hand and said, "Now I just hope that the sect can turn things around and stop the heavy snow soon, otherwise we, the low-level monks who dig for food in the soil, will be the only ones who suffer."
Song Pei'er looked sad, "I'm afraid it will be hard to endure. Ninety percent of the cultivators in Huaxi Valley have learned the Cloud and Rain Skill. It is most taboo to apply rain during heavy snow. The Earth-shaking Skill for loosening the soil and turning the fields is also useless."
"To deal with ice beetles, you need the second level of Sharp Edge Technique or above. The frostbitten roots of seedlings need to be repaired by Red Flame Technique, but what I am proficient in are Cloud and Rain Technique and Earth Shock Technique. The Grass and Tree Technique also requires the bugs to be eliminated before the vitality of the plants can be restored."
Tao Fengnian was in a heavy mood. When the monks who were clearing the snow around him stopped to rest, they all looked at him with pleading eyes.
The spiritual fields are the foundation of their livelihood and the basis of their cultivation. If the spiritual fields do not produce any harvest, it would be equivalent to cutting off their path to cultivation.
Tao Fengnian looked up and saw that most of the seedlings in the valley were covered by a hard ice shell, and the green leaves were gradually melting into the ice shell and disappearing.
Ice beetles have appeared in winter in previous years, but they were only small, scattered pieces that could be discovered and dealt with promptly. But have you ever seen an ice beetle plague that covered the entire valley overnight
The sharp technique for eliminating insects is difficult to learn, and the red flame technique for root cultivation is difficult to control.
There are 1,200 acres of spiritual fields, but there are not many people who can help.
"Brother Fang! Someone come, Brother Fang is injured, someone come quickly!"
There was a commotion and a sixty-year-old man who was removing insects in the fields was carried aside, with blood on the corners of his lips and his breath was weak.
Tao Fengnian walked over quickly to check his pulse and said, "Overwork has damaged your sea of consciousness. You should not work any more."
"ah?"
Everyone's face turned pale, and Fang Zhong struggled to get up.
"I'm fine. I haven't gotten rid of all the ice beetles in my field yet. My son finally entered the outer sect and cultivated to perfection. He was counting on the spiritual wheat this winter to exchange for foundation-building pills. I can't ruin his hope of building a foundation."
"That's enough!" Tao Fengnian scolded, "If you die, your son's inner demon will be with you, and there will be no hope for him to build his foundation!"
Fang Zhong sat on the edge of the field in a daze, staring at the wilted seedlings in the spiritual field and crying.
"How could this happen! How could this happen? God wants to kill me! God wants to kill me!"
The dark-skinned man Han Zhen asked, "Master Tao, what should we do now? There are only five people in Huaxi Valley who know the Fengmang Jue. Three of them are not on the second floor and cannot help. Only Senior Brother Fang Zhong and Junior Brother Liu Dashan can eliminate the insects."
"Now that Senior Brother Fang is injured, Junior Brother Liu is the only one left. Even if he works himself to death, he still can't get rid of all the insects in so many acres of fields. Moreover, many of our fields are seriously infested with insects. I'm afraid we won't survive tonight. Even if there is one more person who can get rid of the insects, there is still a glimmer of hope!"
Tao Fengnian looked gloomy. "You don't have to worry too much. This disaster is fierce and serious. The sect will not sit idly by. I believe that the Internal Affairs Hall will soon come up with a way to remove insects and snow. Let's hold on."
Han Zhen's eyes were red. "What's the point of persisting? The ice beetles will not stop eating the seedlings. No matter what, we have to get rid of the bugs first. Otherwise, before the sect can take action, our spiritual wheat this winter will be all gone."
"Yes, Mr. Tao, please help us think of a solution. We can only count on you now."
"Please help us, Mr. Tao. You are a spiritual cultivator, so you must have a solution."
Everyone begged, Tao Fengnian was coughing violently, his body could no longer bear it. Even if he had spirit stones to replenish his energy, he was at the end of his life and lacked energy. How could he deal with the insect infestation in so many spirit fields
What's more, he still has hundreds of acres of medicinal fields that have not been processed, and that is the top priority.
"grandfather!"
The clear child's voice struck his heart directly. Tao Fengnian turned his head suddenly and saw his own girl running towards him. His heavy mood just now suddenly became clear.
Song Peier looked over and said, "I haven't seen this girl for a few days. Where has she been? What level of Qi training is she at?!"
Jiang Yuebai ran to Tao Fengnian, ignoring Song Peier's surprised look, "Grandpa, can I help you?"
Tao Fengnian felt relieved, seeing his girl was full of intelligence, he knew that she had not only mastered the "Five Elements Return to Truth" and built the Five Elements Rotating Bridge she mentioned, but her cultivation level had also improved a lot.
Tao Fengnian felt proud to face the inquiring and surprised looks and whispers from those around him.
"Follow me. This is an ice beetle. It has turned into an ice shell and covered the leaves. You need to use the sharp edge technique to break the ice shell and crush the ice beetle underneath..."
Tao Fengnian brought Jiang Yuebai to the spiritual field. Song Peier stood there and followed him with her jaw open for a long time.
Not only her, but also the monks around her who were familiar with Jiang Yuebai, and the apprentices of the same period as her were all dumbfounded and shocked.
Previously they were still laughing in the fields at Tao Fengnian for treating his apprentice with five spiritual roots like a treasure, but now they were all speechless.
When a man has been away for three days, he should be looked at with new eyes!
"Senior Sister Lu, what are you all looking at?" Shi Xiaowu stood beside Lu Ying and asked in confusion.
"Liar!" Lu Ying twisted the corner of her clothes and bit her lips, feeling sour in her heart.
Jiang Yuebai didn't bother to pay attention to other people's gazes. After Tao Fengnian finished speaking the key points, she began to activate the Fengmang Jue to prepare for her first insect extermination mission.
“Wait!”
Guo Zhen walked out of the crowd. He was the owner of this spiritual field and also Shi Xiaowu's master.
A master is not a teacher and only has the responsibility to teach. This is different from the Yuanying Zhenjun in the same sect accepting disciples. It is a contractual relationship.
Guo Zhen learned the Cloud and Rain Art and the Earth-shaking Art. Faced with the insect plague in the fields, he was helpless and could only beg Tao Fengnian for help.
"Mr. Tao, if you don't want to help us, just say so. How can you use a little girl to perfunctorily deal with us?"
After Guo Zhen finished speaking, the people around him nodded in agreement.
They were surprised at the rapid increase in Jiang Yuebai's cultivation, but they had never seen Jiang Yuebai working in the fields, and they couldn't believe that she could deal with the ice beetle that required the second-level Sharpness Technique to kill by herself.
Tao Fengnian protected Jiang Yuebai behind him and said, "You don't trust me?"
Guo Zhen frowned, "It's not that I don't trust you, Mr. Tao, but... in the face of a disaster, you can't treat our lives as a joke."
Faced with the doubts, Jiang Yuebai felt indignant and tugged at Tao Fengnian's sleeve.
"Grandpa, if they don't want me to help, forget it. You've been tired all day, let's go back and rest."
As soon as he finished speaking, Guo Zhen was furious. "What are you, a little girl, doing here to butt in on the elders' conversation?"
"How dare you!" Tao Fengnian's eyes widened in anger, "I won't tolerate your scolding of my people!"
Guo Zhen clenched his fists and remained silent. The others gritted their teeth and endured. They disliked Jiang Yuebai more and more. As soon as he arrived, he wanted to drag Tao Fengnian, who could save their lives, away. He was undoubtedly a naughty kid.
Tao Fengnian protected Jiang Yuebai, "As a spiritual cultivator, I have the responsibility to manage Huaxi Valley, but in the face of such a natural disaster, according to the sect rules, I should prioritize protecting the precious spiritual medicine from disaster. Even if I don't help you save the spiritual wheat seedlings, it's not wrong, and no one has the right to blame me."
Jiang Yuebai nodded hurriedly, finally seeing the tough side of his grandfather. It would be great if he could be so tough when facing Jia Wei.
Jiang Yuebai turned his head and looked around. Jia Wei seemed to be gone. Could it be that he went to his sister's house to drink again
Jiang Yuebai retracted his gaze and saw that everyone was lowering their heads. It was obvious that they were resentful, but they did not dare to vent.
Guo Zhen, a seven-foot-tall man, had red eyes at this moment. It was snowing heavily and the wind was cold. Jiang Yuebai felt a sense of powerlessness and grief from him.
(End of this chapter)