"I don’t know how long this situation will last, so you must make arrangements in advance."

Zhang Zizhao said. Due to the siege by the demon beasts, only the spirit ship can break through the blockade of the flying demon beasts to transport supplies.

Although each sect has a teleportation array, the cost of teleportation is high, and it’s not worth using unless there’s an urgent matter.

Ye Changqing scratched his head and nodded slightly:

"Disciple understands."

Refining fasting pills relies on Spirit Rice, but expecting qi refining stage spirit farmers to complete the task is almost impossible.

Low-tier cultivators take too long to harvest Spirit Rice, which isn’t fast enough to meet the demand.

It’s best to assign forced tasks to Foundation Establishment Stage spirit farmers, as cultivators with stronger planting techniques should take responsibility.

Thinking of this, he naturally thought of Ji An.

At this moment, he sensed the aura fluctuation of the Communication Golden Sword and respectfully said:

"There’s a talisman sword looking for me outside, disciple requests to leave."

Zhang Zizhao waved his robe, "Go on with your work."

Ye Changqing retreated and left. After getting the Golden Sword outside and sensing the aura of the magical mark on it, he chuckled softly.

’Junior Brother Ji, I was just thinking about you, and now I received your message.’

As he stepped forward, he read the information in the Golden Sword.

After walking a dozen steps, he showed a joyful expression and immediately turned back.

In the room, Zhang Zizhao heard the returning footsteps and frowned slightly, wondering.

’Why is he coming back? Is there an emergency?’

"Junior Martial Uncle, there’s good news!"

...

The cyan gourd is as large as a carriage, painted with pale golden cloud patterns and streaks of purple lightning.

The gourd’s mouth opened, spewing out a blazing blue flame that soared through the air at high speed, dragging a long tail flame.

Like a flying missile, steep mountains were left behind in an instant.

On the ground, a disciple unintentionally looked up and, upon seeing the spiritually radiant artifact, couldn’t help but ask:

"Which ancestor’s treasure artifact is that?"

The mountain spewing golden-red mist was close at hand, and Zhang Zizhao slowly reduced his speed.

Upon arriving at Red Flame Peak, he controlled the spiritual artifact to circle outside.

On this clear day, a faint mist rose from the mountain.

Zhang Zizhao observed the inner situation carefully and whispered:

"The Mountain Protection Array here is activated. We can’t break in by force; you should send a Talisman Sword inside."

Upon learning of the discovery of the Cyan Leaf Red Lotus here, he immediately summoned his spiritual artifact and rushed here.

He was familiar with the name of the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire; he knew from an ancient text that when the spiritual fire possesses three layers of flame, refining it can slightly increase the chances of core formation. Such a rare treasure was irresistible.

Ye Changqing sensed his junior martial uncle’s urgency from the flying speed of the spiritual artifact, so he immediately took out a Communication Golden Arrow, quickly recorded the information, and activated it.

A flash of light passed by, and the Communication Golden Sword disappeared into Red Flame Peak.

"Junior Martial Uncle, please wait a moment; Ji An will soon receive the news of our arrival."

Approximately ten breaths later, the mist in a certain area dispersed, clearly indicating that the entrance had been opened.

The cyan gourd immediately darted through the gap in the magic array, and Ye Changqing said:

"Junior Martial Uncle, there’s a pool at the foot of the mountain where we will land, as Ji An spends most of his time near the pool."

"Got it."

Zhang Zizhao responded softly, controlling the spiritual artifact to begin descending.

He smiled as he saw Spirit Light emerging from the mountains and forests:

"Usually, you only hear about feedback figures, saying how many Two Realms Spirit Plants are here.

It didn’t seem like much at the time, but seeing it in person feels different.

Red Flame Peak, what a good place."

He began to recall the produce from Red Flame Peak, feeling more and more like it was a treasure trove.

"The sect has been underdeveloping Red Flame Peak for too long, leaving it barren for years.

Until Junior Brother Ji settled here, the situation quickly improved.

There are also several Tier Two Earth Spirit Fruit Trees growing in the earth cave here."

Ye Changqing spoke with a sense of pride, as he had participated in the planting there to some extent.

Jade Leaf Mulberry, Copper Patterned Mulberry, Biluo Fruit seedlings were all transported here by him using a Spirit Ship, and he was fully involved in cultivating the fifty acres of Tier Two mid-grade Spirit Field.

At this time, Ji An was already waiting by the Cold Pool, waving to the cultivator on the spiritual artifact.

He muttered in his heart that they arrived too quickly; it had only been two double hours since the Communication Golden Sword was sent out.

On regular days, it would take him one and a half double hours to rush to Lingxiao Mountain via Flying Shuttle at full speed.

Ji An operated the Flying Shuttle, approaching the cyan gourd:

"Junior Martial Uncle Zhang, Senior Brother Ye, please follow me directly to the earth cave to check."

With them arriving this quickly, they certainly wanted to see the Spirit Plants as soon as possible, so there was no time for pleasantries.

"Haha, Junior Brother Ji understands me well!"

Ye Changqing laughed; he wasn’t actually in that much of a hurry himself. Having a drink before looking at the Spirit Plants was also fine, but he couldn’t stop his junior martial uncle’s eagerness.

The Flying Shuttle led the way, with the Spirit Gourd following, quickly flying toward the Ant Nest.

Ji An landed at the entrance and waved his sleeve, signaling the two Beast Taming beasts to move aside.

The Beast Taming beasts, informed by their spiritual sense of Zhang Zizhao’s power, immediately complied and cleared the entrance.

"Please, Junior Martial Uncle!"

Ji An said, leading the way into the passage.

"The Magma Pool was only excavated today, and the Luminous Beads have not been embedded in the passage yet, so the lighting is a bit dim. Please excuse us."

"No problem," Zhang Zizhao didn’t mind, as the vision of a Chao Origin Stage cultivator wasn’t affected by the cave’s darkness.

"Are those two demon beasts at the entrance your Beast Taming pets, Nephew Ji?"

"Yes, they are."

"Well raised, their eyes are bright and spiritually full."

It’s not difficult to raise powerful Beast Taming beasts, but it’s difficult to raise ones with spirit.

Unfortunately, many cultivators’ Beast Taming beasts grow dumber the longer they are raised, becoming good-for-nothing except for fierce battles.

Such beasts are prone to injury in high-intensity fights.

"Thank you for the compliment, Junior Martial Uncle."

Chatting casually, they soon reached the Magma Pool inside the mountain’s belly.

Zhang Zizhao carefully examined the growth of the Cyan Leaf Red Lotus, occasionally placing a jade slip on his forehead.

In the end, he sighed softly:

"The timing is unfortunate; it will likely take two hundred years for this Spirit Plant to fully mature."

He couldn’t help but grimace; in two hundred years, if he hadn’t broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he would already be a pile of yellow earth.

He primarily wanted to use the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire to enhance his core formation success rate, but now it seemed impossible.

Thinking of this, Zhang Zizhao felt a bit disheartened.

He pondered for a moment and said:

"According to the rules, those who discover and report spirit plants with great potential in the sect’s territory are awarded one hundred to two hundred Great Merits and enjoy the priority to select the plant’s harvest.

I assess a reward of one hundred Great Merits. If in the future, the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire exhibits two-colored flames, an additional fifty Great Merits will be awarded, and if it exhibits three-colored flames, an additional one hundred Great Merits will be awarded.

Ji An, do you have any objections?"

If he couldn’t break through to the Golden Core Stage, the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire wouldn’t be of use to him. Who knows which lucky cultivator might benefit from this immense advantage?

"Junior Martial Uncle is fair and impartial. Disciple has no objections and is convinced."

Ji An respectfully cupped his hands, feeling overjoyed inside.

This policy was essentially an advance reward, which could be used to purchase future benefits, making it incredibly cost-effective.

One hundred Great Merits— that’s equivalent to ten thousand Small Merits, providing him with more confidence when exchanging for a Nourishing Yuan Pill in the future.

Zhang Zizhao nodded slightly:

"I have a Spirit Disc with me to award you the Great Merits shortly!

The Cyan Leaf Red Lotus cannot be transplanted; Nephew Ji, you have the responsibility to look after it, not to neglect it.

If the spirit plant is damaged, the sect will hold you accountable, so be mindful!"

"Rest assured, Junior Martial Uncle, I will certainly ensure its protection."

Ji An decided to move Dahuang’s nest nearby to guard it day and night.

At the same time, he would have the Fire Crystal Ant colony be responsible for vigilance in the passage.

After awarding the Great Merits with the Spirit Disc, Zhang Zizhao showed satisfaction and turned his head to instruct:

"Changqing, when you return to the Diligence Hall, remember to bring a set of Mimic Arrays to seal the entrance."

"Disciple understands."

"Now that the matter is settled, I’m going back to the Diligence Hall.

Changqing, will you accompany me back?"

"Junior Martial Uncle, I have some matters to discuss with Junior Brother Ji, so I will take this opportunity to chat with him."

Ji An quickly said:

"Junior Martial Uncle, since you have come to Red Flame Peak, please allow me to offer a little hospitality.

There are some special ingredients here; please enjoy them."

"Haha, maybe another time.

The Spirit Wine from Red Flame Peak is exceptionally mellow; I have heard Junior Brother Jia Yu mention it.

Once the demon calamity ends, I’ll come back for a few drinks."

Zhang Zizhao politely declined and summoned the cyan gourd, riding the spiritual artifact away.