Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Strictly Enforce Cultivation Safety Regulations

"Good news?"

"That’s right! The Sect took action and has already driven away the Mother-Child Spirit-Devouring Insect!"

"Driven away?"

Jiang Xu keenly sensed that something was off about Shen Ji’s wording.

"Yeah. Actually, I heard there was another matter related to this that caused a huge stir throughout the Sect." Shen Ji looked secretive.

"Don’t keep me in suspense. Spit it out."

"I heard that an Inner Sect Disciple from Celestial Sword Peak was the first to act. But unexpectedly, that genius disciple, who had already reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer at only eighteen years old, was severely injured by the Mother-Child Spirit-Devouring Insect.

Although he managed to escape with his life, the severe injuries caused him to lose his entire Cultivation.

His master is a Foundation Establishment Elder. In his rage, he went to seek revenge on the Mother-Child Spirit-Devouring Insect, but he discovered it had already vanished. After searching the entire surrounding area and finding nothing, the matter was probably just dropped in the end.

Sigh... What a waste of a genius."

Jiang Xu was also quite surprised to hear this:

"Something like that actually happened? That’s a real shame. I’m afraid the Sect didn’t investigate the matter thoroughly. They probably saw that the individual Sub-Insects were very weak and mistakenly thought the problem would be easy to solve, only to end up ruining a genius’s future."

To be able to reach the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer at a mere eighteen years old, his Spirit Root must have been at least Dual Spirit Roots, second only to a Single Spirit Root.

For a genius like that, reaching Foundation Establishment would have been a certainty, and even attaining a Golden Core wouldn’t have been out of the question.

No wonder his master was so furious.

’Come to think of it, the pressure I felt back then must have been from that Foundation Establishment Elder.’

This left Jiang Xu in awe.

’The difference between the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Realms really is like heaven and earth.’

Just the aura he released was that terrifying.

But even with such a fearsome Foundation Establishment master, being on the verge of the Qi Cultivation Late Stage himself, and carrying who knows what kind of protective Treasure...

...that genius disciple still met a bitter end, falling to a mere insect.

The incident sent a cold sweat down Jiang Xu’s back.

’If I had foolishly thought back then that my Skilled Level Concealing Breath Spell and Light Body Spell would make me immune to the Sub-Insects, and that I was capable enough to go investigate the nest...’

’...then the same thing might have happened to me.’

’I might not have even gotten the chance to just lose my Cultivation. I could have ended up as not even a corpse.’

’Caution! I must think thrice before acting!’

’Remember construction site safety...’

’No.’

’Remember the Cultivation Safety and Production Regulations.’

’I must strictly adhere to the Cultivation safety procedures, quality standards, and safety specifications to ensure high-quality Cultivation and that my progress meets expectations.’

’I need to conduct regular Cultivation safety inspections to promptly identify and resolve any problems or safety hazards in my Cultivation, ensuring my Cultivation is safe.’

’Mmm.’

’As expected, there really is a connection between Cultivation and a construction site.’

’Not only is there a strict hierarchy between the different Realms in both, with promotions to a new Great Realm being extremely difficult...’

’...but it’s also always the lowest-level Cultivators who are the most oppressed.’

But there was nothing to be done about it, and it was useless to dwell on it. Right now, Jiang Xu had something else he wanted to ask Shen Ji:

"Fellow Daoist Shen, after you submitted your report, did the General Affairs Hall give you any reward?"

Shen Ji, who had been in high spirits, wilted a little upon hearing this.

"They did, at first. They even gave me two bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills, worth five Spirit Stones each.

But after that genius disciple was harmed, the people at the General Affairs Hall claimed it was because my intelligence was incomplete. So they used me as a scapegoat, throwing me to the Foundation Establishment Elder for him to vent his anger on.

If the Elder and his disciple hadn’t decided not to take their anger out on me, and even personally released me, I probably wouldn’t be standing here right now.

As for the Qi Replenishing Pills, they were taken back when they arrested me."

Jiang Xu was stunned by Shen Ji’s words.

He had only been gone for two days.

How did something like this happen to Shen Ji?

’What a disaster out of the blue!’

’Wait a minute.’

’Wasn’t it me, Jiang Xu, who suggested Shen Ji report this to the General Affairs Hall?’

A wave of guilt washed over Jiang Xu at this thought.

He had almost gotten Shen Ji killed.

"...I’m sorry. I didn’t know something like this would happen. Otherwise, I would never have..."

"It’s fine. The final outcome was good, wasn’t it? At least the insect infestation is gone, right?

You have to take risks to get rewards. If I had gotten the Qi Replenishing Pills, I wouldn’t have thought to share them with you, so you don’t need to blame yourself.

Besides, I got to see a Foundation Establishment Elder and even interact with him up close. So I guess reporting it wasn’t a total waste."

Jiang Xu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He hadn’t expected Shen Ji to be so big-hearted.

Still, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but feel guilty.

After all, she had essentially stepped on a landmine for him.

’If possible, I should compensate her somehow in the future. I don’t have the ability to do so now, so I’ll just consider it a debt I owe.’

Seeing Jiang Xu like this, Shen Ji changed the subject. Pointing to the Spirit Field behind her, her smile returned:

"Even without those Qi Replenishing Pills, it’s no big deal. Look! This Spirit Rice is enough for me to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer!"

Jiang Xu looked toward the Spirit Field behind Shen Ji.

Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, casting a golden glow upon the golden rice paddies.

In the field, heavy heads of rice swayed in the breeze, and the fragrant scent of the grain filled the air, refreshing the soul.

Jiang Xu was in a daze for a moment.

’That’s right.’

More than three weeks had passed since he first transmigrated here.

The panic and unease he felt when he first arrived were still as vivid as if it were yesterday.

He never imagined so many days would pass in the blink of an eye.

In another two or three days...

...after he finished harvesting and processing the Spirit Rice in his own Spirit Field...

...his life as a servant would finally be over.

"Finally! No more farming!"

Jiang Xu was so moved he was on the verge of tears.

"I can’t waste any more time! I need to hurry up and harvest my own Spirit Rice!"

Realizing this, Jiang Xu said a quick goodbye to Shen Ji and hurried back.

...

"So exhausting! Thankfully, this Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill I’m cultivating is somewhat useful. Otherwise, I really would have had to find someone to help!"

Having spent the better part of the day harvesting the Spirit Rice, Jiang Xu collapsed right onto his Spirit Field.

The stalks of the Spirit Rice were much tougher than weeds, so Jiang Xu could only use the Sharpness Technique enchanted on his Spiritual Hoe to harvest them.

Although it could easily cut through the Spirit Rice, the efficiency... well...

Actually, Jiang Xu had other options, like hiring the servants who specialized in helping people harvest Spirit Rice at this time of year.

They had scythes enchanted with the Sharpness Technique, and they were incredibly efficient.

But the price... Jiang Xu just couldn’t bring himself to spend the money.

"Actually, doing it myself isn’t so bad. At least it increased my Body Cultivation progress a little."

Mortal Martial Artists were divided into Postnatal and Innate.

The Postnatal Realm was divided into three stages: Skin and Flesh, Root Bone, and Inner Viscera.

Those who perfected Skin and Flesh could not be harmed by ordinary blades, their skin as hard as armor and their muscles as tough as steel.

Bone is the foundation of strength; strong bones mean great power. Those who perfected Root Bone possessed the strength to lift a great cauldron.

In the Inner Viscera Realm, the most significant aspect is the tempering of the Inner Viscera with Power.

As the Inner Viscera are tempered by Power, they become tougher, and Inner Strength is also born from within them. The moment the first wisp of Inner Strength is generated, it signifies that one has reached the Beginner stage of the Inner Viscera Realm.

Jiang Xu was currently at the Skin and Flesh stage.

He had always focused on the path of Magic.

As for the Martial Dao, it wasn’t so much that he didn’t care for it, but rather that he didn’t have the time to dedicate to its Cultivation.

’A strong physical body is indeed crucial. After my Light Body Spell and Concealing Breath Spell reach Mastery, perhaps I should set aside some time to focus specifically on my body.’