In the dream, Chen Xingzhen was talking with his father. After some discussion among the group, they came up with potential solutions to the problem of the Blood Rice halting its growth.
They suggested spreading straw around the Blood Rice plants, keeping fires burning in the fields, or, in a more cumbersome approach, using cloth and wood to cover the entire field. All of these methods aim to raise the temperature in the fields, accelerate the growth of the Blood Rice, and make it ripen faster.
Chen Xingzhen nodded slightly after hearing these suggestions. He had considered these methods before, but apart from the first one, the others were quite labour-intensive and tedious. Spreading straw might slightly increase the temperature, but the effect would likely be minimal.
Still, Chen Xingzhen decided to try it the next day. Regardless of the outcome, they couldn’t afford to give up on this Blood Rice crop.
As for the Liu clan’s actions, Chen Changming decided to withdraw all clan members who had been sent to investigate.
He and his team of spirits would handle the task instead. If martial artists were sent, they might accidentally leave behind clues or evidence.
If the Liu clan had no intention of targeting them initially, such discoveries could provoke them, backfiring and putting the Chen clan in danger. In their current state, the spirits were best suited for this investigation.
Aware that spirit bodies also risked being detected by martial artists, Chen Changming decided to have the deceased clan members observe from a distance without entering the Liu clan compound.
This approach would be slower but safer. Considering the Liu clan’s extensive activities, it was unlikely that Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists guarded every corner, giving them an opportunity to gather information.
After further discussion, Chen Changming’s figure gradually faded from the dream.
The next day, the Chen clan made some critical moves. A large number of clan members were sent to the fields to begin isolating the Blood Rice.
However, given the vast size of the spirit fields, their manpower was insufficient. It took an entire day just to cover the fields with straw. In the days that followed, the clan’s martial artists were busy working tirelessly in the fields.
Their efforts were not in vain. Chen Xingzhen noticed tiny grains beginning to form on the previously shriveled rice ears, and the worried expression on his face softened with a hint of joy.
But after the initial excitement, Chen Xingzhen looked up at the sky and sighed inwardly. The clan’s recent efforts had shown some results, but it was already the middle of October, and the weather was growing colder by the day.
Frost had even begun to form on the higher peaks of Chaotic Burial Mountain. At this rate, frost would soon cover the fields, and the Blood Rice would still struggle to produce a harvest. Their hard work in the extreme cold might not make much of a difference.
Watching the clan members labouring in the fields, even Chen Xingzhen felt a flicker of doubt. Was it time to give up?
But his heart felt lighter when he saw the smiles on the faces of the clan members, who were still full of hope despite their struggles. Even if they couldn’t harvest this crop of Blood Rice, it didn’t matter. They could always try again next year.
Chen Xingzhen decided to stop worrying and called out to the clan members working in the fields,
“Everyone, it’s time to eat!”
“Thank you, Clan Leader!”
“Long live the clan leader!”
The food announcement energized the clan members, and they worked even harder.
Meanwhile, inside the Liu clan compound, a middle-aged man suddenly stood up after receiving a report from one of his subordinates.
“Clan leader, we’ve made a discovery!” the clan member exclaimed.
The clan leader’s eyes flashed with a piercing light as he quickly commanded, “Take me to see it!”
Recognizing the urgency in his voice, the messenger swiftly led the way.
A group of people quickly departed from the mansion, arriving shortly at a deep pit. Around the pit, numerous Liu clan members stood guard, and on closer inspection, even the weakest among them were at least in the Blood Coagulation Realm!
Several tunnels had been dug around the deep pit. These tunnels had been constructed hastily, using simple excavation methods.
The supporting pillars were little more than a few wooden stakes, and from the fresh earth piled outside the pit, it was clear that these tunnels had been dug in a short period of time.
The middle-aged man paid no attention to the precarious state of the tunnels. Following the lead of one of his men, he quickly entered one of the newly dug passages.
Soon, the group reached the depths of the tunnel. At the tunnel’s end, a patch of red earth greeted them, and the middle-aged man’s face lit up with excitement.
He immediately approached and reached out to touch the soil. As he kneaded it, bright red blood streaked through his fingers.
Seeing the blood, the middle-aged man's face shone with joy.
He quickly ordered, "Keep digging! Keep digging! This time, we must find the exact location of the Natural Blood Spring!"
“Natural Blood Spring? What’s that?”
Chen Xingzhen was completely confused in his dream.
In the Chen clan, Chen Changming had just entered his dream to inform him that the information gathered by the clan members over the past few days had returned.
After careful analysis, Chen Changming revealed that the Liu clan was most likely searching for a Natural Blood Source.
Since Chen Xingzhen had never heard of this term, he had no idea what it meant. But the serious expression on his father’s face made him uneasy. After a brief silence, Chen Changming began to explain:
“The world is vast, and in some places, special geomantic treasures can form, causing unusual phenomena. The Natural Blood Spring is one such treasure. This type of blood spring is born underground, but it doesn’t gush out like a normal spring. Instead, it forms an underground stream that gradually alters the surrounding area.”
After saying this, Chen Changming sighed.
“In fact, the Blood Rice that our clan is currently cultivating is also influenced by this Natural Blood Spring. I had only suspected it before, without any confirmation. But last night, I personally investigated the tunnels dug by the Liu clan and confirmed that they are indeed searching for the Natural Blood Spring hidden within Chaotic Burial Mountain.”
Chen Xingzhen’s face went blank as he processed the news. He hadn’t expected something so extraordinary to be hidden beneath the seemingly ordinary Chaotic Burial Mountain.
However, he quickly snapped out of his daze and asked, “What does the Liu clan want with the Natural Blood Spring? Are they going to take it away?”
Chen Changming shook his head.
“Once a Natural Blood Spring is formed, it cannot be moved. The Liu clan must have other reasons for wanting it. Although the Natural Blood Spring is a geomantic treasure, its effects aren’t extraordinary compared to other treasures. It mainly supports the growth of Blood Rice and similar things.”
“From what you’ve said, the Liu clan hasn’t cultivated much Blood Rice since arriving at Chaotic Burial Mountain. They likely have little interest in the side effects of the Natural Blood Spring. Their true objective must be the spring itself.