Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Sponging Spiritual Energy

Feng Jun hadn’t planned to transform the bamboo forest so quickly, he wanted to wait until after his parents had stayed for a while before taking action.

However, when he returned to the villa, Lu Xiaoning told him she had just made a phone call and learned that Uncle Feng was busy with the procedures for the old house.

With Feng Wenhui handling the paperwork, and the store being watched by Zhang Junyi, the old couple said they would come over after they were done with the busy period.

Since that was the case, Feng Jun began the transformation of the bamboo forest. This time, he didn’t need to use excavating machinery; he started working with his own hands.

Once he got to work, Wang Haifeng and the other two couldn’t just sit around, could they? So, they began to plant bamboo with great enthusiasm.

With the Spirit Gathering Array as the foundation, Feng Jun didn’t hesitate to use spiritual energy. No matter how many rocks there were on the ground, a couple of shovel digs would always result in a small pit.

Having planted bamboo once before, they had some experience. This time, he didn’t dig the holes too close together and planted the bamboo carelessly—none of these were problems as long as the Spirit Gathering Array was operational.

His speed at digging holes left Gazi and the others slack-jawed with amazement, and Wang Haifeng couldn’t help but mutter, “One person digs, and three people can’t keep up with the planting. Is this… the ultimate level of martial arts?”

In fact, although planting bamboo was exhausting for the three of them, working beside the Spirit Gathering Array had its benefits.

No matter how tired they got, as long as they took a break and sat on the cement, circulating energy through their bodies a couple of times, the fatigue would disappear, and their cultivation levels would greatly increase.

Gazi was an honest person. He practiced cultivation during the breaks a few times but didn’t dare to continue. “According to Brother Jun, I’m already an intermediate-level martial artist. Wouldn’t want shaky foundations, would I?”

Wang Haifeng also sighed, “This is the charm of farming, isn’t it? I’m just worried that I won’t like women in the future… and only like planting bamboo.”

Xu Leigang took a break in the middle and went home. He had something to say about this. “No need to worry, Haifeng. You are overthinking it. If we continue farming like this, you’ll just be more popular with women… My sister-in-law thought I was taking some pills and wanted to dock my allowance.”

They persevered and planted at least forty acres of land, and it took only seven days, yes, just seven days.

Xu Leigang and the others didn’t ask why Master Feng didn’t hire farm workers… did they need to ask?

In fact, during those seven days, Feng Jun wasn’t always present. He had contacted someone to deliver farm vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and diesel.

These goods were delivered to the warehouse in batches and then disappeared in batches, leaving the two warehouse workers a little puzzled: Why did goods only seem to come in but not go out?

This was the advantage of having separate entry and exit points. The two sides didn’t discuss it too much, and there was a third door to the warehouse leading to the villa. This model made it difficult to track the flow of goods and minimized the chances of potential problems.

It took Feng Jun ten days to gather enough vehicles and diesel for the Yongyi Duke’s Princely Heir, who then came to collect the goods.

Although puzzled, the Princely Heir found it strange. You said you would deliver the rest of the goods on the twentieth day, and there wasn’t a single vehicle in the parking lot on the nineteenth day. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything was ready—wasn’t that storage bag a bit too large?

Feng Jun had no interest in explaining, and once the goods were delivered, that was it. What mattered was that the Mi Family had brought a large amount of indigo silver juice in exchange for the rights to copy more secret texts.

Indigo silver juice, one of the materials for constructing a Spirit Gathering Array, was extremely rare and toxic, making it difficult for most people to collect.

But as merchants, the Mi Family had a stockpile of indigo silver juice, and the client who ordered it had disappeared six years ago. The Mi Family was worried about how to deal with such contraband—after all, it was a prohibited item.

Feng Jun realized that gathering these materials wasn’t that difficult for him. Although he approached multiple powers and some of the list might be leaked, it would be hard for anyone to complete the list and decipher it.

Speaking of which, who could obtain a list from the Yu Family? The Yu Family might truly be devoid of innate abilities, but they have cultivators!

Feng Jun waited another two days, and the collection of materials was more or less complete, enough to build thirty Spirit Gathering Arrays.

However, this “more or less” was only theoretical, as a considerable portion of the materials were still on the way—arranged by the Yuntai Chen Family.

Yuntai wasn’t far from here, but it took time to prepare the goods, and Chen Junsheng would come with the shipment.

On the third day, the Chen Family’s horse team finally arrived. They were eight in total, led by none other than Chen Junwei, who pretended to be his brother.

The real Chen Junsheng had disguised himself, dressed like a scholar with a sickly complexion and a shaved beard.

Feng Jun received the group in the courtyard.

Since the Chen Family brought a large amount of goods, they also used Storage Talismans. After taking the items out, Feng Jun had Lang Zhen check them on the spot. Once everything was confirmed to be correct, without waiting for Chen Junwei to speak, he pointed directly at Chen Junsheng, “Go to the backyard, and don’t enter the Spirit Gathering Array.”

Chen Junwei, aware of Feng Jun’s miraculous abilities, wasn’t surprised by this arrangement. Chen Junsheng, however, couldn’t help but tremble inwardly at the realization that he had been recognized outright—Immortals were indeed extraordinary.

When they arrived, Yu Changqing happened to have activated the Spirit Gathering Array again. Chen Junsheng went to a spot three feet away from the array and, facing the middle-aged man inside the array, he bowed his hands and quietly sat down crossing his legs.

Yu Changqing had already been informed by Feng Jun. Siphoning a little spiritual energy wasn’t a big deal; what mattered most was maintaining the separation between immortals and mortals. Since Senior Feng had requested it, there was no need for her to fuss about it.

Even if her Spirit Gathering Array was rudimentary, it could still support the cultivation of two Qi-Refining Middle Stage cultivators at the same time—what difference would a little siphoned spiritual energy make?

But right after that, she became somewhat unsettled: why had that one-armed guy also shown up?

This was where Feng Jun had been inconsiderate. Initially, he merely wanted to do an exchange with the Chen Family, where they would provide him with formation materials, and he would allow them to leech off spiritual energy for cultivation—just a simple trade.

However, when he saw Chen Junsheng able to cultivate next to the Spirit Gathering Array, people under Feng Jun’s command became uneasy. Not to mention the Deng Family Brothers, even Lang Zhen’s gaze towards the backyard was odd.

Feng Jun noticed this sentiment and then realized, if outsiders could leech spiritual energy, there was no reason his own people couldn’t too.

So, mimicking the example set in the Earth Realm, he said to the Deng Family Brothers and Lang Zhen, “You can come and take turns to leech spiritual energy, each for half a day—do not neglect your proper duties.”

Once this opportunity was granted, things went awry. Tian Yangni also came looking: “Divine Doctor, our Tian Family has always been closely following in your footsteps.”

This claim was not without truth; apart from an initial conflict with Feng Jun, the Tian Family had since been providing him with a plethora of services, and had even helped build most of the foundations under Mount Zhige.

Just recently, when Feng Jun was collecting materials for formations, the Tian Family had been one of the most dedicated groups, and although they had their own motives, Feng Jun believed that those who worked with diligence deserved rewards—who can have no purpose behind their actions? The effort is what counts.

Thus, he granted the Tian Family a spot, and as for who would come to leech spiritual energy, the Tian Family could decide for themselves.

Yu Changqing, who was cultivating within the formation, could barely tolerate it any longer. Although the two additional spots granted were to Martial Cultivators leeching spiritual energy for the purpose of increasing their cultivation speed, having almost no impact on the spiritual energy, but still…

As a cultivator, one simply does not disregard the divide between immortals and mortals like this!

Before she could figure out how to broach the topic with Senior Feng, Feng Jun arranged for another person to come and leech spiritual energy.

It was none other than her twin sister, Yu Changzhu.

Yu Changqing was completely out of arguments—what could she say when she saw the joy on her sister’s face?

This was her first time bringing a Spirit Gathering Array into the Mortal World; if possible, she too wanted her family to benefit from it, especially her sister. Unfortunately, the Yu Family couldn’t publicize this matter.

Therefore, even though she had set up a Spirit Gathering Array here, the Yu Family couldn’t openly come to leech spiritual energy—there were too many eyes watching.

But if Feng Jun openly made arrangements, then it was no longer a problem. He did not need to explain himself to anyone.

Yu Changqing then cultivated for another two days and two nights before shutting down the Spirit Gathering Array.

The four who were leeching spiritual energy sat silently in meditation, showing no reaction—they simply had no right to speak up.

Yu Changqing approached Feng Jun in the front yard, “Senior, having so many people cultivating around the Spirit Gathering Array… won’t there be any problems?”

“There’s only one cultivator, who has yet to enter the phase of transcending the mortal coil, what problems could there be?” Feng Jun said dismissively, “What’s important is to control those leeching spiritual energy from now on.”

Yu Changqing’s eyes flickered, “Then… could we add another spot for the Yu Family?”

“Adding one isn’t an issue, but you’ve seen for yourself,” Feng Jun gestured towards the backyard and shook his head with a mix of laughter and helplessness, “Zhu Er hardly cultivates with dedication… Her spot is basically wasted.”

Yu Changqing sighed softly, “Since she was young, she wanted to cultivate, but… ah, can’t a quota be flexibly assigned to her?”

“Of course,” Feng Jun nodded, “let’s just say… let’s just say your Yu Family has made a great contribution.”

After a moment of silence, Yu Changqing suddenly said, “She has quite a favorable impression of you, Senior.”

Feng Jun was taken aback, then chuckled as he shook his head, “It’s a pity her cultivation level is too low… We both are cultivators, and choosing such partners will only lead to future troubles.”

What he referred to as ‘partners’ meant companions in the realm of cultivation, not necessarily romantic partners.

However, Yu Changqing quietly replied, “Being able to accompany each other for a part of the journey is also good… she could actually save you a lot of trouble.”

Feng Jun was silent for a while before he sighed softly, “I have progressed too quickly, and others… simply can’t catch up.”

He didn’t want to continue this topic and thus turned and walked away.

For the thirty sets of Spirit Gathering Array materials, he was short by ten jin of Crystal Fire Potato Mud, but he no longer wanted to wait. He decided to head back to the Earth Plane first.

As soon as Feng Jun returned, he encountered another stretch of continuous rain, lasting intermittently for over ten days.

The Bamboo Forest once again showed peculiar phenomena, but the continuous rain was much better than sunshowers. With the misty rain shrouding everything, the white fog here was not very prominent.

Gazi and his two companions were gradually getting used to cultivating in the Bamboo Forest, making startling progress. However, at the same time, they also noticed a problem—the number of small animals entering the forest was increasing.

(On the first day after the double rewards ended, although I know there aren’t many monthly tickets left, asking for monthly tickets is an attitude in itself, so… I continue to summon monthly tickets.)