Chapter 40

Although Xishan has only one main peak, the entire mountain covers a vast area, almost matching the size of the Baique Mountain hunting ground. It is the primary location for the residents of the Tuoqiu and Tushi villages to hunt, cut firewood, and gather herbs.

There are many springs and streams on Xishan. These streams rush down from the mountain, forming a flat, open area at the foot of the eastern side of Xishan, which has become the main farming area for the two villages. About seven or eight out of ten of the two villages' spirit fields are distributed in this open area.

The streams flowing from the mountain provide irrigation for these fields, but they also divide the open area into several regions. These streams gradually converge, and about seven or eight li from the two villages, they all merge into a single main stream that winds eastward through half of Mengyu County. Along the way, several tributaries join, nourishing tens of thousands of acres of farmland, which is known as the Qin River throughout Mengyu County.

The three acres of spirit fields that Tuoqiu Village is cultivating are right next to a small stream at the foot of Xishan. This area was originally fertile farmland. Under the leadership of the village head, Yang Tiangang, the villagers of Tuoqiu Village spent more than three years finally cultivating these spirit fields to near maturity.

At this moment, Yang Junshan was standing on Xishan, looking down at the spirit fields that were about to mature, which were about five or six li away. The villagers of Tuoqiu Village placed great importance on these three acres of spirit fields, especially as they were nearing maturity. The spirit farmers of Tuoqiu Village patrolled day and night, and the three martial artists, including Yang Tiangang, cooperated sincerely, agreeing that at least one martial artist must remain in the village to guard the spirit fields until they matured.

Beyond these three acres of spirit fields, the village of Tuoqiu was not far away. Yang Junshan's home, the spirit fields, and his current position formed a straight line. In fact, the location where Yang Junshan vaguely saw the spiritual spring emerge when Xishan collapsed in his previous life was probably in this area. However, Yang Junshan had searched the vicinity three times and had not found any trace of a spring.

Upon returning to the mountain, Hu Niu immediately exuded far more vitality than when she was at home. The aura of a mountain lord began to gradually emanate from her. There were no large fierce beasts in Xishan, and even if there were some mountain pigs or earth wolves, they would not pose a threat as long as Hu Niu did not provoke them. Therefore, Yang Junshan did not restrain Hu Niu after entering the mountain.

There were many prey in Xishan. Although Yang Junshan entered the mountain to find the spring, Hu Niu had already brought him two fat wild rabbits, a wild chicken with beautiful feathers, and a half-dead earth badger in just half a day. Judging by her round belly, she had probably already eaten another prey.

It was still late summer, and the sun was getting higher, making the weather increasingly hot. After searching in vain, Yang Junshan had no choice but to take shelter in a pomegranate grove to avoid the sun.

This pomegranate grove seemed to have grown naturally. The branches were twisted and intertwined, with some even entwining with two or three other trees. Under the dense canopy, large pomegranates hung, their skins mostly yellow and red, indicating that they would be fully ripe in about a month.

Although the pomegranates were not yet ripe, the seeds should already be sweet. Despite the coolness and the mountain breeze in the grove, Yang Junshan still felt a hint of the scorching heat. At the sight of the large pomegranates, his mouth began to water, and he felt even more eager to taste them.

After walking a few steps in the grove, he found the thickest pomegranate tree, which bore the most plump and large fruits. He climbed up the tree and sat on a branch, picked a pomegranate with the best skin, and peeled it open. The slightly red pomegranate seeds looked like sparkling gems.

He eagerly broke off dozens of seeds and stuffed them into his mouth. The cool and sweet taste gathered in his mouth, and Yang Junshan instantly felt the heat of the day dissipate.

Sitting on the branch, Yang Junshan enjoyed the pomegranate seeds while looking out through the dense foliage. Most of Xishan came into view.

The trees on Xishan were lush. Looking around from the pomegranate tree, the deep greenery stretched everywhere. When the mountain breeze blew, the tree canopies swayed like waves in the sea.

Seeing the swaying tree canopies, Yang Junshan was momentarily stunned, forgetting the magnificent scenery before him. He then thought to himself: This pomegranate grove is only halfway up the mountain, and the surrounding terrain is uneven. Why do I feel as if I am at the highest point?

With this doubt in mind, Yang Junshan could no longer focus on the delicious pomegranate. He stood on the branch and looked around again, only to realize that it was not the surrounding forest that was high, but the pomegranate grove itself was taller and more robust than the surrounding forests!

Most pomegranate trees are not very tall, and their branches tend to twist, making it difficult for them to grow tall. However, the pomegranate trees in this grove appeared more robust than ordinary trees, especially the one Yang Junshan was on, which was the most robust in the entire grove.

Yang Junshan first thought of the spiritual spring, suspecting that the pomegranate grove was nourished by it, which is why it grew more lush and robust than other areas.

He put the remaining pomegranate seeds in his mouth, almost filling it, and concentrated his senses. He detected a faint trace of spiritual energy in the juice.

Yang Junshan became even more convinced. After jumping down from the tree, he cleared away the dead branches and leaves on the ground and compared the soil in the pomegranate grove with that in other forests, finding that the soil in the pomegranate grove was more moist.

However, after searching the pomegranate grove again and finding nothing, Yang Junshan finally decided to dig near the thickest tree where he had picked the pomegranate. He took out the iron shovel he had prepared and began digging.

Compared to before he entered Baique Mountain, Yang Junshan's strength had nearly doubled. In a short time, he dug a pit about one foot wide and two feet deep near the roots of the pomegranate tree. The soil at the bottom of the pit was increasingly moist, but there was still no sign of water.

Hu Niu, having played to her heart's content in the nearby mountains, returned to the pomegranate grove to watch Yang Junshan dig. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, not knowing what he was doing.

Yang Junshan spat into his palms, widened the pit by another foot, and then jumped into it to continue digging. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the pit had extended another two feet, and most of Yang Junshan's body was now in the pit.

After a brief rest, Yang Junshan continued to widen the pit and dig deeper. However, the soil became increasingly hard. Previously, one shovel could dig a full load, but now it could only dig half, then three inches, and finally just one inch.

Yang Junshan was already drenched in sweat, but his expression became increasingly excited. The harder the soil, the more he smiled.

Hu Niu, initially puzzled by Yang Junshan's expression, sniffed the hard soil he had dug up and then began to play around the pit.

Soil nourished by spiritual energy always becomes compact and hard, and the more spiritual energy it contains, the harder it becomes, sometimes as hard as stone.

This is why spirit fields can only be cultivated by spirit farmers, not just because they have cultivation and skills, but because only cultivators can till the hard spirit fields. Ordinary people, or cultivators below the third level, would find it very difficult to cultivate even a low-grade spirit field.

Imagine a one-acre stone slab that needs to be broken into pieces and then ground into powder. Even cultivators below the third level would find such labor impossible.

Of course, spirit fields can also be cultivated with the help of tame and docile fierce beasts like the ox beast, but there are very few such beasts in Tuoqiu Village, and ordinary people or low-level cultivators cannot control them. Moreover, cultivating spirit fields involves more than just tilling the land.

The harder the soil Yang Junshan dug, the more spiritual energy it contained, confirming his suspicions.

Another shovel of soil was thrown out of the pit, and now Yang Junshan was entirely in the pit. The soil at the bottom of the pit was beginning to seep with spiritual energy, and each shovel could only scrape off a thin layer of soil.

Leaning on the shovel and catching his breath, Yang Junshan suddenly heard Hu Niu calling out, "Hao hao hao." He looked up to see her front half of her body leaning over the pit, ready to jump in.

Yang Junshan quickly called out, "Don't jump, don't jump, the pit can't hold you!"

However, it was too late. As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Niu leaped onto him.

Yang Junshan quickly hugged the now thirty to forty-pound tiger cub, and his body sank suddenly. He thought she had grown even fatter.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard a crisp "crack" under his feet. He was startled and thought, "No way!"

Then a series of "crack" sounds followed, and the ground under his feet suddenly gave way. Before he could even cry out, he instinctively tightened his hold on Hu Niu and fell down.

The sound of soil and rocks falling was like a shower of broken stones, followed by a dull thud. Yang Junshan's groans echoed in the darkness.

Hu Niu immediately broke free from his arms as he landed, her eyes glowing in the darkness. She let out a roar, and the low echo reverberated around.

Yang Junshan sat up and heard the sound of flowing water. The darkness made it impossible to determine his location, but a series of choking coughs confirmed that the air was thick with spiritual energy.

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