C44

As one's cultivation realm increased, one's abilities would increase as well.

There were no excessive records in some of the literature.

Very few people were able to obtain this kind of strange beast.

Right now, it was still young, so it had no battle prowess. Thinking back to that calamity from back then, it had eight eyes on its forehead. Presumably, its strength was above the Worldly Immortal Stage.

Otherwise, how could a single glance kill all the Scaled Snakes at the Spirit Condensation realm?

Maybe this was one of the abilities of the fight?

Many thoughts flashed through Xu Zongyi's mind. He suddenly yearned for this little calamity to quickly grow and become strong along with him.

"Woof!" Little Charmer looked at Xu Zongyi drowsily, as if to say, you know, then went back to sleep.

Xu Zongyi sighed softly. Who told him to raise such a strange beast? He could only resign himself to his fate.

Looking at the calamity, he knew that he had to prepare more food in the future, in exchange for some existences similar to Earth Fire Crystals to raise it.

There was a splendor on its forehead, and it appeared when it was devouring the Heart Nurturing Fire. However, it was becoming more and more obvious, and it was unknown when it would break through again.

Seeing that it was sleeping soundly, Xu Zongyi also returned to his bed and pondered carefully: "If the person who went to Duke Wen Palace back then and wanted to divine Father's whereabouts was the one who obtained the storage ring, then it's very likely that he's the Hall Master. Senior Brother Changping is too young, so it's obviously not him.

This was one of the reasons he agreed to help Wen Su nurture the ancient jade.

If so, what was the relationship between the Guardian and his father?

However, he was sure that the Guardian would not harm him, or else he would not hand the ring over to him.

"Forget it, let's talk about the future later." Xu Zongyi closed his eyes. Too many things had happened on this day.

The Shang Clan had an old relationship with his father, and to be able to reach this stage was already an incredible feat.

He wanted to investigate exactly what happened that year.

Prime Minister Xu was currently outside the bamboo house with his hands behind his back.

There were some things that Xu Zongyi had to discover by himself.

Although he was still just a child, he had to have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and search for the truth.

In the past, who was right and who was wrong with Xu Chen? This conclusion had been reached by the Farmer's family, the Xu family.

After all, Xu Zongyi was his own son. It was one thing for outsiders like him to not know the truth of the matter, but Xu Zongyi himself should know.

Prime Minister Xu left this question to him.

"Your destiny must be grasped by yourself. You must also walk your own path in the future. The things that we can help you with, will always be limited." Prime minister Xu muttered.

One night passed.

After Xu Zongyi got up, he washed himself and began to clean in the Scripture Hall.

When it was almost noon, Xu Xindie came along with Xiao E and Xu Zhengdao.

At the moment, there were basically no one who came to the Scripture Hall. Everyone was at the Celestial Food Plaza, exchanging for things they wanted. They were all in high spirits.

"Why are you guys here?" Xu Zongyi was somewhat surprised.

"What? Are we still not allowed to come see you?" Xu Zhengdao laughed out loud. A few days ago, he and Xu Xindie went to meet with many of the people of the same generation.

"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Xu Xindie was obviously in a good mood.

"It feels so mysterious. Is there something wrong?" Xu Zongyi looked at Xiao E at the side, hoping that she would quickly reveal the secret.

Xiao E shrugged her shoulders. She had already reached the Qi Drawing Realm. "I don't know either. Actually, they came to find you yesterday, but you weren't here. Senior Chang Ping said he could come to find you at this time."

"En, senior apprentice brother Changping allowed me to put down what I was doing by noon. Since you guys are here, I'll make some food for you." Xu Zongyi could tell from a single glance that the two of them definitely had something to tell him.

The backyard of the Scripture Hall was normally not allowed to enter.

Since Xu Zongyi was currently living in the Scripture Hall, and the identity of the person who had come was not complicated, it was naturally fine.

He was familiar with the route and lit a fire to cook.

Xu Zhengdao looked at the growing patches of Purple Spirit Grass and was very excited. "You little rascal, you really have hidden your strength. It seems that this time we can exchange it for quite a few items."

"Mm. Before the winter comes, I can harvest all seven seasons worth of grass. I'll have to endure for a while to see if there are any good things I can save on. At that time, I'll feel embarrassed if I have what I want." Xu Zongyi actually had many things he wanted, but he had to find the one he needed the most.

After all, he only had so much capital. He could only accumulate it bit by bit.

"These purple Demon Emperors are enough for you to earn a fortune." In these past few days, Xu Xindie had known quite a few children and many of them came for the Purple Demon Empress, "If I had known this would happen, I would have given you more seeds."

Although the outside world was in chaos, the demand for the Purple Demon Empress was still not small.

"It's alright, this is enough." The purple Demon Empress that Xu Zongyi had planted was exceptionally beautiful, brimming with vitality, and of extraordinary quality.

Every flower flowed with purple light, but not every pot of purple amorous roses could reach such a degree.

In the backyard of the Scripture Hall.

Xu Zhengdao and Xu Xindie, Xiao E, were both here for the first time.

Here, the environment was tranquil and seemed simple like a country house, but the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth was quite dense and profound.

Little Charmer lazily slept on the side. He woke up early in the morning and refined another twenty high-grade Earth Flame Crystals. He was in a happy mood.

On a closer look, there was a red stone in its mouth. The light on the left side of its forehead was getting brighter and brighter.

It was precisely the Warm Stone that Xu Zongyi had obtained. Up till now, he still did not know what secrets this stone had. It had almost never left his mouth before that it could cause a calamity and so much trouble.

"Speak, what do you want to tell me?" Xu Zongyi felt his heart itch.

Xu Zhengdao, Xu Xindie knew that he was focused on cultivation, so she rarely visited the Scripture Hall to disturb him. Even if she did come, she would not notify him.

Seeing that the food in the wok was already cooked, Xu Zhengdao smiled and said, "It's nothing much. It's just that according to the usual practice, we will have an Autumn Hunt competition with the disciples of the same age."

"Is that any different from the trial training in our Heart Nurturing Valley?" Xu Zongyi was stunned.

"Of course. This time, we're going to face a lot of Spirit Condensation beasts, so Righteous Dao and I came to find you." Xu Xindie smiled brilliantly: "The reason I came to find you is because I received quite a bountiful reward this time."

"What reward." Xu Zongyi's eyes lit up when he heard this. He had originally been worrying about how to start a calamity. One must know that as its strength increased, its demand for Earthly Fire Crystals would probably grow larger and larger.

"Eye of Water, if you get first place in the Autumn Hunt this time, this item will be too important to you." Xu Zhengdao looked at him and laughed.

"…" Xu Zongyi was moved. Whenever something good happened, the two of them would think of him.

"That's right. Although you've already entered the Scripture Hall, the Water Melting Ceremony is your foundation. We can see the ability of growing plants in our eyes. If you can get this Water Eye, then I'm afraid the road ahead will be much smoother." Xu Xindie was very serious.

"I might not get first place, but I'll try my best." Xu Zongyi smiled.

"If I can get first place this time, I'll get a double reward." Xu Zhengdao laughed, his eyes burning with passion, "For this Autumn Hunt, each of the foreign forces has proposed a reward of equal weight, allowing the juniors to compete. Quite a few of the major forces' children will be joining in."

"What are their rewards?" Xu Zongyi's curiosity was piqued.

"That I do not know. He has already been taken into custody. Our first place spot is the Water Eye. I was pestered by ancestor Xuan before he told me." Xu Xindie also wanted to know.

"The Autumn Hunt starts in a few days?" Xu Zongyi wanted to make preparations in advance.

"Ten days later, on the day of the Frigid Dew." Xu Xindie said.

This Autumn Hunt is different from the usual one. Indeed, you have to prepare in advance. Xu Zhengdao chuckled happily as he felt that he owed Xu Zongyi in his heart.

He clearly knew that there was someone who wanted to harm him, but he had no way of investigating. He also wanted to quickly grow stronger, or else he could only continue to be passive.

"Alright." Xu Zongyi's pot of rice had also been cooked.

"Your cooking skills are quite good." Xu Xindie had spent a lot of time and effort in cooking the rice these days.

Due to Xu Zhiyan's suggestion, all of the disciples of the Xu family had to make connections with the techniques of brewing rice and herbs. Almost everyone had zero foundation.

However, with Xiao E by Xu Xindie's side, coupled with her intelligence, it was naturally not slow for her to learn.

The daily attendants that Xu Xindie had taken in before had now become the most popular topic in the Spring Festival. There were a lot of people who consulted them every day, and now they were able to earn quite a bit of resources for her.

"However, come to think of it, even if you don't obtain first place, we will still give you the water source. Since the Great Elder proposed for the rice rations, on the one hand, they would be distributed according to everyone's ability to cook, and the amount released would also be controlled. Only after you give us the rice grains and herbs, will we then have the nerve to come and plunder from time to time." Xu Zhengdao ate a big mouthful of rice as he talked. He was so vague that even the women from the other four courtyards would not know that he had such a side to him.

"Haha, that's only natural. Just take whatever you want right now." Xu Zongyi naturally wouldn't be stingy towards the two of them.

"It's fine now, but you need to properly accumulate it. We'll wait for you to get rich and then rob the rich to help the poor." As Xu Xindie ate, she took small sips to maintain her noble temperament.

"Alright, then I'll look forward to the day when I become rich." Xu Zongyi laughed heartily. After he finished eating the rice, he took out a gift box from his storage ring and passed it to Xiaoye, "Big Sister Xiao E, this is for you. It can be used to focus."

"Zong Yi." Xiao E blushed. Because Xu Zhengdao and Xu Xindie were both watching, she was a bit shy. She took the gift box. It was extremely exquisite, and had obviously been carefully decorated.

This was the most precious gift she had ever received. She was afraid that the decorations on the box would be messed up. "I'll open it when I get back."

"Alright." Since she was young, little E had taken care of her and suffered countless hardships. Now that she was as capable as she was in the past, she naturally had to take care of her as much as possible.

"Aiya, little brother has grown up and knows how to pamper big sister." Xu Xindie, who was at the side, chuckled merrily.

Xiao E's face turned even redder.

"We won't be envious." Xu Zhengdao also understood that it had been tough for Xiao E to take care of Xu Zongyi.

"Miss Xindie, Brother Righteous, this is for you." Xu Zongyi gave each of them a hundred stalks of Marrow Washing Grass and a hundred stalks of Spirit Gathering Grass.

"Tsk tsk, the quality of this thought gathering grass is not ordinary, I'll accept it." Xu Zhengdao did not stand on ceremony.

"I also need it now. The last Essence Purification Grass is almost gone." Xu Xindie did not refuse and accepted it immediately: "I had a free meal and even brought some things. It seems like I need to come and walk around the Scripture Hall more in the future. The most important thing is to bring Little E along, hahaha."

Xiao E's face almost fell down to her neck from all the flattery, but she was feeling sweet and happy at the same time.

After the meal, Xu Xindie and Xu Zhengdao left him each a five hundred jin worth of purple ranked Mighty Bone Rice. Knowing that Xu Zongyi was a big eater, he feared that the rest of the Heartbreak Valley would not be able to support him for long.

Xu Zongyi happily accepted it. He knew that the best way to repay them was to give them more of the good things that he had grown.

As the Autumn Hunt was coming, everyone had to make their preparations. Xu Zongyi was also heading to the Scripture Hall in search of the records regarding the Autumn Hunt, so he wanted to send them off.

"Autumn Hunt, does not hunt young beasts, does not harvest bird eggs, does not kill pregnant beasts, kills underaged small beasts, does not destroy beast nests, and leaves room for manoeuvres. This is called the Heavenly Dao …"

It was only after Xu Zongyi missed the relevant records that he discovered that the Autumn Hunt had many rules.

Once the rules were broken, it was equivalent to losing. There were many restrictions.

The Autumn Hunt this time was intended for the disciples of both sides.

However, regardless of what the various dukes thought, on the surface, they were still the rulers of the Great Zhou Empire.

For the Great Zhou to rule the world with courtesy, it must have paid close attention to the rules.

It was likely that there would be other rules before the Autumn Hunt, and the only thing left to do was to wait and see.

Xu Zongyi examined the documents before heading to the barracks where Duke Wen Palace resided.

On this day, Princess Wen Su did not enter the main house of the Xu family.

When Xu Zongyi finally let out a breath of relief, Chi Yue had long been waiting for him at the entrance of the camp. "Young master Zongyi, the princess has been waiting for you for a long time. She thought that you wouldn't come anymore!"

"Hmm?" Xu Zongyi looked astonished. What was he waiting for?

"Since we invited you to teach us how to cook and refine medicine, we naturally have to clarify the reward. Our Duke Wen Palace is not so ignorant as to the rules and regulations." Princess Wen Su was dressed in silver armour and was a valiant figure.

"Uh, then you guys, name your price." Xu Zongyi also felt that it was better this way.

"10,000 jins a day, what do you think?" Princess Wen Su did not beat around the bush.

"…" Xu Zongyi was silent. According to the real Xu family's purple rank body strengthening rice, ten thousand kilograms of red rank marrow could be bought for two thousand catties. If it was purple rank strengthening bone rice, it could be bought for two hundred catties.

Princess Wen Su saw Xu Zongyi fall into silence and immediately said, "20,000 catties."

Seeing how rich and imposing Duke Wen Palace was, Xu Zongyi hurriedly said, "Five thousand kilograms is enough."

"Then let's do it this way. 20,000 jins of Red Jade Marrow, one day." Wen Su immediately made her decision. "The Wen King Manor is not afraid of a high price. I believe in Young Master Zong Yi's abilities. It's worth it."

Xu Zongyi was not greedy, but he had to think about it carefully.

Every day, the female soldiers of the barracks had to eat at least five hundred catties of strong rice. For such a powerful force like the Wen King's Manor, this kind of reward was indeed nothing but a drop in the bucket.

After setting a price, Princess Wen Su left.

She handed the ancient jade over to Chi Yue. If Xu Zongyi had the time, he could use his blood to nurture it.

Inside the tent, the elder said with a sigh, "It seems that the princess still wants to bring him back to the Duke Wen Palace."

"Try your best. Without him, I don't know when the secret hidden within the jade pendant that my mother left behind will be unraveled." Wen Su was not Wen Wang's biological daughter; she was just an adopted daughter.

For the past few days, Xu Zongyi had been doing his best, and every day, he would send a message to the King's Manor to help these female soldiers improve their cooking skills and medicine concocting skills.

In addition, he would help Princess Wen Su nurture Gu.

He would also ask some questions about the Autumn Hunt, waiting for the day of the Frigid Dew.