Star Sky Professional
Chapter 697 - 595: The War Begins (Happy New Year!!!)

Chapter 697: Chapter 595: The War Begins (Happy New Year!!!)

Several years later.

Qingmu Ridge suddenly began preparations for war, and the initially low prices of elixirs and magic artifacts skyrocketed, causing many merchants who sold at a loss before to be furious.

Qingyu Garden.

Fei Changnong came as usual to collect the spiritual medicine.

He looked at the Qingyu grass, which had multiplied five or six times to become one hundred and fifty-six plants, over a hundred Azure Dragon flowers, and dozens of Three-Life Fruits, and couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise on his face: "This newly developed medicine garden, how can its yield be so abundant?"

If farming could yield such profits, why would those Dao Foundation cultivators need to endure hardship by joining the Four Seas Hall, defending the four directions, or undertaking the dangerous fighting tasks from the Reward and Punishment Hall?

"Junior Brother Fang, your skills as a spiritual farmer, truly a pity you are not stationed at the medicine garden..."

Fei Changnong looked at Fang Xing, smiling: "The sect is in great need of a large amount of spiritual objects, and with your production being so ample, the reward will surely be substantial. How about I give you five thousand merit points this time?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Fang Xing responded with a smile.

This was both in preparation for obtaining the Divine Skills Fundamental Diagram and to showcase his value.

Originally, he hadn’t been kicked out from being the steward of this medicine garden, only due to the sect’s rules.

But rules are meant to be broken.

When the inevitable war comes, and Dao Foundation cultivators perish in battle, surely many will be envious.

But with solid merit, it would be impossible to be replaced.

Or rather... to have the ability to ruin things!

Fang Xing ensured that if anyone dared to replace him, the yield of Qingyu Garden would immediately revert to its original level.

The sect’s higher-ups would weigh the pros and cons and naturally make a decision that satisfied him.

"This time, you disciples capable of qi sensing can each receive a few hundred merits..."

Fei Changnong glanced deeply at Fang Xing, then looked at Dong Mei’er and others, and spoke.

Having given the bulk, he certainly wouldn’t shortchange these connected individuals.

"Thank you, Uncle Fei."

Dong Mei’er and others were overjoyed, thinking of the years of hard work in farming finally paying off richly.

Several disciples exchanged glances, all relieved: ’Judging by this situation, war seems imminent. Though farming is tough, at least we don’t have to risk our lives... Besides, with Uncle Fang, the farming yield multiplied several times, no less than going to the battlefield...’

...

While Fang Xing was calmly handing over the task.

At the edge of Qingmu Ridge.

A desolate mountain.

Suddenly, a thunderclap boomed from the sky.

Burning papermen, tattered shadow puppets fell from the sky dome, occasionally mixed with strange wooden puppets and severed limbs.

"Blood Shadow Sect..."

Several streaks of azure light retreated with a roar: "This time, you’ve chosen your own demise!"

"Jie jie..."

The sky seemed shrouded in a layer of blood light, with layers of shadow puppets and papermen frolicking and cackling: "The Outer World is too small to accommodate many sects... letting one family suffer is better than all the families suffering... Your Qingmu Ridge is weak; why not choose you directly this time..."

The few streaks of azure light collided wildly, but were unable to escape the blood-colored sky, ultimately falling with screams.

Papermen and shadow puppets fell, starting to set up an array on this unnamed desolate mountain.

Soon, disciples from Blood Shadow Sect arrived, clearly treating this place as a bridgehead for attacking Qingmu Ridge.

Not long after, a peculiar shadow puppet stage was erected.

A stunning woman stood quietly on the stage, dressed in opera costumes, like a celebrity about to perform an opera.

Below the stage, a group of Dao Foundation cultivators from Blood Shadow Sect all bowed respectfully: "Greetings to ’Master Xilian’!"

"Hmm..."

A male voice came from the lips of that beautiful woman.

Clearly, the woman was just a façade from a skin technique: "From today on, the great war is upon us... it’s a great opportunity to collect shadow puppets and living souls. Evil cults like us thrive when people are in misery, hehe..."

At the end, the voice changed to the high-pitched laugh of a woman: "Go on now, each follow your assigned tasks, the Yellow Gourd stays."

The Dao Foundation cultivators quickly got up and left, as if chased by some bloodthirsty demons.

Only a Dao Foundation cultivator with a yellow beard remained on the stage, his face filled with bitterness.

Master Xilian spoke, the voice of a man again: "How are the spies sent to Qingmu Ridge? They are using a skin technique I specially improved, undetectable by any magic artifact..."

"Thirteen targets have been chosen, skinned successfully, and hidden by our sect’s disciples, entering Qingmu Ridge..."

The Yellow Gourd bowed and replied.

"Good... Inside Qingmu Ridge, there is an ’All-Plants-as-Soldiers Array’, with a millennia-old Evergreen Tree as the array eye. Each additional Evergreen Tree increases its power... at critical moments, it must be destroyed..."

"Yes!"

"Alright, you may go now... I wonder if in this war, I can successfully skin a Yin God Real Person..."

Master Xilian giggled: "To completely peel off the painted skin of a Yin God Real Person and retain its divine skills is quite challenging... the previous three all failed, do you think I can succeed this time?"

A drop of cold sweat suddenly ran down the Yellow Gourd’s forehead...

...

Qingyu Garden.

"Young Fei Changqing, pays respects to Martial Uncle."

A young man with honest features and dark skin kowtowed to Fang Xing.

"You are the person sent by Fei Yong?"

Fang Xing took a good look at this Fei Changqing and found that he only had the fifth level of Qi Sensing cultivation. His appearance was unremarkable, with nothing outstanding about him.

Though confused as to why Fei Yong sent this lad over, could it be because he had some familial ties with Fei Changnong?

Nonetheless, after seeing Fei Yong’s token, he accepted him.

"Dong Mei’er."

He called the girl in the red dress over: "This Fei Changqing, Junior Brother Fei, you will be responsible for him for now."

This girl usually disliked tending to miscellaneous farmwork and always found ways to slack off, but Fang Xing was about to hand her another burden: "Regarding the precautions in the medicine fields, you must teach him personally, hand in hand..."

"Yes..."

Dong Mei’er immediately put on a reluctant face, and Fei Changqing, seeing several unfriendly gazes directed his way, also secretly lamented.

This woman seemed like trouble at first glance. This Dao Foundation cultivator, rumored to be of his grandfather’s generation, perversely had this woman lead him, obviously wanting to see a good show.

But since the elder had spoken, he had no choice but to comply, reluctantly saying, "Please guide me, Senior Sister..."

"Hmm."

Dong Mei’er, being a clever little trickster, naturally noticed Fei Changqing’s reluctance, which instead stirred up a bit of a rebellious spirit in her.

Having been admired by peers since childhood, encountering someone who didn’t care was rather intriguing.

After arranging the chores, Fang Xing was preparing to return to tree planting.

Suddenly!

A burst of flames shot high into the sky.

There was an unusual glow flashing atop the Evergreen Tree in the valley.

"Is this... a sect alarm?!"

Meng Tiandong counted the glows, his face turning pale: "Nine changes... indicates war with one of the Top Ten Righteous and Evil Factions!"

"What?"

One stone stirred a thousand ripples!

All the disciples in Qingyu Garden exchanged glances: "Are we really going to war with the Blood Shadow Sect...?"

"I heard Blood Shadow Sect cultivators are the worst of demonic cultivators, liking to flay captured cultivators to make shadow puppets... and collect living souls to refine life soul papermen..."

"Luckily, we are already medicine garden disciples and need not go to the battlefield for a hundred years."

"Hmph, this Qingyu Garden is on the sect’s edge, and it may not be safe..."

...

"Enough."

Fang Xing furrowed his brows as he saw the chaotic scene.

As the steward of the Medicine Garden and the highest cultivator, he silenced the place with a single shout.

Everyone looked at him, this Dao Foundation elder.

"Starting today, all leaves are canceled, everyone must stay in the valley, and no one is to go out!"

Fang Xing issued a direct order: "At night, shifts are needed, two people per night!"

"Aside from that, everything as usual, disperse!"

...

After assigning tasks, Fang Xing continued with his usual routine, heading to an open space to plant trees.

He first dug a row of holes, then transplanted the cultivated Evergreen Tree saplings, watering them as he went.

Buzzing!

A mass of green light entered the saplings, and they immediately took root, the roots beginning to grow robustly.

For Fang Xing, the vast sky and earth were nothing compared to his home tree planting.

As for the threat of the Blood Shadow Sect?

Fang Xing simply didn’t care.

After all, Qingyu Garden wasn’t an important asset, and by the principle of equivalence, even if the Blood Shadow Sect attacked the Qingmu Ridge headquarters, having a few Dao Foundation Initial Realm cultivators show up would be a big deal.

And allowing for wide consideration of threats, even if several Dao Foundation Middle Realm or even Post Realm cultivators came, Fang Xing might not be able to defeat them openly, but relying on the Druid profession, he still had a fighting chance.

’This is the advantage of a hidden profession; on the surface, I’m just a Dao Foundation Initial Realm Spiritual Farmer, but in reality, I’ve already reached Dao Foundation Middle Realm...’

’Even if enemies discover I’m a Dao Foundation Middle Realm cultivator, secretly... I still have the Druid profession hidden.’

The Druid profession at level 15 is on par with a Yin God Real Person. Currently, Fang Xing is level 14, which is equivalent to an ordinary Dao Foundation Post Realm cultivator.

Plus, with the Druid’s innate abilities never before seen by cultivators in this world, it would be quite simple to catch them off guard.

’If pushed, I’ll directly enchant that millennial Evergreen Tree into a Tree-man... which might be another Yin God Real Person’s combat power!’

Fang Xing thought indifferently, continuing his tree planting.

Day by day passed, while outside the valley, things were alarming three times a day!

Especially the Poison Dragon Slope, and even various Dao Foundation families, all realizing the Blood Shadow Sect went head-to-head with Qingmu Ridge, even burning the flames of war deep into Qingmu Ridge’s territory.

In no time, almost all cultivators were on edge.

On the other hand, after the initial chaos, Qingyu Garden returned to tranquility and appeared very orderly.

In just a few months, they flew by swiftly.

Fang Xing picked up a yellow gourd, casually took a swig of spiritual wine, and glanced over the busy disciples in the medicine fields.

Pausing particularly on Fei Changqing for a moment.

’This lad has some inner wisdom, having shaken off Dong Mei’er... and those other senior brothers didn’t trouble him.’

He chuckled, shifting his focus onto another person.

The Druid’s perception made him aware that something was amiss with this individual: "This person..."