Chapter 36 - Conflict (1/2)

Three months passed from the field's sowing. During this period, Hei's training routine consisted of getting hurt, healing, cultivating, and looking after the field. Despite the enormous burden on the body, the results were equally satisfying.

The various parts injured in training had begun to harden due to the continuous process of wounding and healing. His hands, in particular, showed a considerable increase in hardness, so much so that Hei had finally been able to complete the well, digging at a depth that he considered suitable.

But it wasn't just his body that showed improvement; his spirit power had increased from the first stage, skin, to the second stage, muscles. His talent combined with the unique cultivation method he practiced and his constant training allowed him to breakthrough quickly without bottlenecks.

In the Flower Sect and Rainbow Island, this speed bordered on the absurd. However, it wasn't just him who showed signs of improvement. Lian had also grown a lot.

Her muscles had assumed more tonicity, and her body had acquired a more curved appearance. Her movements had also begun to possess grace and lightness not present before, in particular, while she was dancing.

Even if at first glance it might have seemed stupid to get her trained in dancing, since she was supposed to be a martial artist, Bao Bei knew what she was doing and how deadly the lotus flower style was.

Countless martial artists had been killed by the graceful movements of the flower and plant type divine beasts' queen. As for the elusiveness, she was among the first in absolute among the divine beasts.

From the perspective of spirit power, she also advanced to the second stage as Hei. With a talent comparable to that of him and undergoing training regimes no less intense than his, this result was very reasonable.

It should be known, however, that although the bloodlines had incredible effects on the comprehension's speed of elemental laws, they had no impact on cultivation speed. That depended solely on the amount of personal talent and how much a person would train in cultivation.

Ye and Xing, on the other hand, had grown to reach half a meter in size, although this wasn't obvious to the outside since they could adjust their size. Even from the combat point of view, they had improved a lot. Frequently fighting, they had learned how to move correctly against bigger opponents and how to react.

Bao Bei, Shui, and the other buffaloes remained the same. After all, it was difficult for normal animals to awaken their spirit power, while Shui was in its adulthood and had to accumulate slowly its power to be able to become stronger.

But they weren't the only ones to show the changes of the time. In these three months, the field had given harvest several times. The portion intended for vegetables was planted with seeds of rapid growth vegetables, so during this period, all of them could eat the vegetables produced. However, the spirit grain was the pride of this field.

After three months and with the help of the spirit vein, the wheat was finally ready, just in time for the expiry of the sect's donation quota. Even with the three-section division, given the initial size of the field, the wheat's quantity produced was considerable.

Therefore, on the last day of the period in which to make donations, Hei prepared to go to the designated collection point. As busy as he was in training, Hei had never left the territory assigned to him, not to mention that he had no particular interest in visiting the outer sect's territories. Except for personal houses, there were, in fact, nothing but agricultural land, and with his status as outer disciple, he was allowed to wander only in those areas.

For outer disciples to go to the inner sect's area, it was necessary to pay an entry fee in the form of contribution points. Only on rare occasions, the inner territories were open for free to particular outer disciples, like the selection tournament's participants.

Therefore, after placing the wheat in large bags and having them tied to buffalo with his mother's silk threads, Hei left with everyone in the collecting point's direction.

*

Donation Collection Point

It was nothing but a large warehouse that served as a temporary warehouse before transporting the donations to the warehouses present in the inner territories.

Outside the warehouse, a long counter had been set up in which various inner sect's members were busy evaluating the goods and assigning contribution points or other forms of currency.

Around the warehouse's perimeter and close to the collectors, numerous guards were positioned with the task of supervising the goods and resolving all kinds of problems that could arise.

There was a fundamental difference between these guards and the donation collectors, even if they were all part of the inner sect - the former was part of the regulations division led by the sixth elder, while the latter was part of the supply division led by the seventh elder.

It should be known that, regardless of the faction to which they belong, each member of the inner sect could be differentiated according to the task they were in charge of.

There were a total of five divisions and seven elders in the Flower Sect and, excluding the first two elders, the others were in charge of supervising their respective divisions, making sure that there were no problems in the sect's activities.

Incidentally, the third, fourth, and fifth elders were respectively in charge of alchemy, blacksmithing, and formations and were chosen by the respective three factions. Only the sixth and seventh elders were neutral in inner power games due to their duties.

As for the guards' presence, that was necessary due to the presence of spies in the outer sect. They were usually unimportant members of other sects, placed in large sects to monitor the situation. It was mainly the mid-level sects who used this trick - after all, their most important goal was to be part of one of the Rainbow Island's five big sects, and they awaiting the right moment to strike.

Since it was the last of the five big sects, the Flower Sect was often subjected to those spies. And even if an accident had never happened during the collecting session, it became common practice to adopt guards during every public event that involved both inner and outer sect member.

It was due to this reason that Hei had been forced to stay at the outer sect, despite the interest aroused in the sect elders. However, it had to be said that from their point of view, not even the craziest sect would risk the life of a talent like Hei using him as a spy. Without taking into account the albino buffalo and Lian, who had an equal level of talent.

But, even with the danger of spies, those present at the collection point were somewhat relaxed, thinking that it would be another day as usual. Unfortunately for them, their hopes were shattered, and soon, there was confusion in the people waiting in line for their turn.

Riding on the albino buffalo and leading the remaining buffaloes, Hei was approaching the place designated for the collection. The sight of all those mighty animals that walked neatly was amazing. How much skill did that boy have to maneuver a similar herd without constant orders?

”Hey, do you know who that guy is? Is he new in the sect? I've never seen him before. ”

”I never saw him either, yet with that number of buffaloes, it shouldn't have gone unnoticed.”

”Wait, now I remember something. Almost four months ago, there was a rumor among the new arrivals. They said that in the entrance test, a strange boy had arrived leading a herd of buffaloes. Is it possible that he is?”

Similar conversations were taking place among those present. When Hei first appeared in the sect territories, he caused quite a stir. But since he had disappeared from everyone's sight after that, the rumor had soon subsided. However, now that rumor began to circulate again, more powerful than ever.

The regulation division guards became annoyed by all this turmoil and ordered those present to be silent.

”I'll take care of it, stay at your positions.” At one point, a white-haired man who had left the warehouse said.

Although he appeared old, the man showed a solid physical prowess, and his age didn't affect his movements at all. His sturdy build was also noticeable from under his clothes.

Seeing him approach, Hei raised his guard. The man in front of him was strong, perhaps at the same level as the sect leader and the other two elders he had met.

”You don't need to stiffen like that, Hei. I don't have bad intentions.”

Hearing his name come up, Hei become more serious,

”How do you know my name?”

”Ahaha, a prudent type. It's a pleasure to meet you, the same goes for the girl behind you.” The man said, turning to Lian on Hei's back before continuing.

”I am the Flower Sect seventh elder, in charge of the supply division. I heard your name from the sect leader and the other two elders, that's why I know your name.”

Hearing his words, Hei, together with the outer members in that place, couldn't help but be surprised. It was not a common occurrence to be able to meet one of the seven sect elders.

”It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, seventh elder,” Hei replied briefly, joining his fists in respect. Before all these people, he certainly couldn't behave as he had done with the sect leader during their agreement.