Chapter 30: Lifting the Field

"Greetings, Uncle-Master Luo." Gu Yunyue put away her flying boat, stepped forward a few paces, and respectfully saluted the rough-hewn man.

"Niece Gu, you have worked hard on the journey. This must be Fellow Daoist Han?" The man nodded, his gaze falling on Han Li as he asked.

"I am Han Li." Han Li replied impassively.

"Today, Peak Master Nan Gong had intended to welcome you personally, but urgent matters in the sect kept him away, so he asked me, Luo Jun, to receive you in his stead. I hope Fellow Daoist Han does not mind." The rough-hewn man said with a smile.

"You are too kind, Fellow Daoist." Han Li said with a smile.

"This must be the new disciple that Niece Gu has taken on. Not bad, not bad! You have a good eye, Niece." Luo Jun's gaze shifted to Yu Menghan beside her, his eyes brightening slightly.

"This junior, Yu Menghan, pays respects to Elder Luo." Yu Menghan quickly stepped forward and performed a curtsy.

"As long as this child cultivates diligently, her future achievements will surely be no less than mine." Gu Yunyue said with a full smile.

Afterward, Luo Jun also greeted Liu Le'er. Upon learning that she and Han Li addressed each other as brother and sister, a strange expression flickered across his face, but it vanished in an instant, and he said nothing more.

Having witnessed Han Li's formidable strength along the way, Liu Le'er was no longer as nervous and uneasy when facing unfamiliar human cultivators. She believed that as long as her "Stone Brother" was there, no one could bully her.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you can kill a Nascent Soul cultivator across realms and safely escort my niece and her disciple back to the sect. With such strength and merit, you are more than qualified to be an outer sect elder on our Chuyun Peak. There are still over a dozen cave dwellings available for you to choose from. Do you have any special requirements? I can arrange it for you." Elder Luo's gaze returned to Han Li. After a compliment, he asked.

"To be honest, Han has been nursing an injury that has yet to heal. I would prefer a relatively secluded place for quiet recuperation. Additionally, I have some knowledge of alchemy, so it would be even better if there were a spirit field near the cave dwelling for growing medicinal herbs." Han Li said unhurriedly, without standing on ceremony.

"Ah, that's rather unfortunate. Among the remaining cave dwellings, there are a few secluded spots that meet your requirements, but unfortunately, none have spirit fields. Most of the spirit fields on Chuyun Peak are tended by disciples and are generally located on sunny slopes below the mountainside—hardly quiet places." Luo Jun was momentarily taken aback, then frowned slightly and said hesitantly.

Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, as if caught in a difficult choice.

"How about this, Fellow Daoist Han? Choose a spot in the spirit field area, and I will have someone build a new cave dwelling for you right away." Luo Jun, seeing Han Li's expression, pondered for a moment and then suggested.

"Haha! Why go to all that trouble? Since the peak's cave dwellings lack spirit fields, I'll just move one up. But may I ask, Elder Luo, would that be against the rules?" Han Li blinked, then suddenly laughed and said.

Gu Yunyue and Yu Menghan were both startled, not understanding what he meant.

Liu Le'er, nestled beside Han Li, paid no attention to what they were saying, instead looking around curiously at the surrounding scenery.

"Haha! Instead of going to the mountain, you make the mountain come to you. Fellow Daoist Han, what boldness! Why not? Please, follow me." Luo Jun, clearly not expecting such a response, laughed heartily, his face showing interest.

Thus, under Luo Jun's lead, they arrived at a sunny valley on the mountainside of Chuyun Peak. Inside the valley were several cultivated spirit fields, totaling about an acre, where some servants were busy working.

"Fellow Daoist Han, these spirit fields once belonged to an outer sect elder. However, a few years ago, he met with an accident while out on a trip and perished. The fields have been under my care and not yet reassigned. If you find them suitable, you may take your pick." Luo Jun gestured casually ahead and said to Han Li with a meaningful look.

"Thank you, Elder Luo. Then I won't stand on ceremony." Han Li's gaze swept around the valley, a faint, enigmatic smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this, Luo Jun inexplicably felt a strange sense of unease.

Han Li stepped forward, took a deep breath, then bent down, raised his fist, and slammed it heavily into the ground.

With a thunderous boom!

The entire valley trembled violently, and at the spot where the fist landed, a large hole immediately caved in, not very wide but seemingly bottomless.

Yu Menghan's footing gave way, and if not for Gu Yunyue's steadying hand, she would have nearly fallen.

Liu Le'er swayed a few times, staggering as well, before quickly casting a spell to stabilize herself.

The servants working in the spirit fields, mostly minor cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage, had no idea what was happening and screamed in panic, scattering and fleeing out of the valley.

Luo Jun, however, had now calmed down, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Han Li without a word.

Han Li walked along the edge of the spirit fields toward the valley's interior. After covering several dozen zhang, he crouched down and punched the ground again.

For the next quarter-hour, booming sounds echoed continuously through the valley. Han Li's footprints circled the entire valley before he finally returned to stand before Luo Jun and the others.

Luo Jun, watching Han Li's composed demeanor, found his mouth dry and couldn't help swallowing.

Without saying much, Han Li crouched down and rubbed his palms together.

Suddenly, he raised both hands, striking them like blades into the ground.

"Rise!"

Han Li bellowed, lifting his hands with force.

"Rumble..."

A continuous roar filled the valley as a crack split open on the ground, starting from Han Li's hands and gradually expanding, extending to the left and right.

Every spot where Han Li had punched earlier was now connected by this fissure, ultimately encircling the entire valley's spirit fields.

Only then did Liu Le'er understand what her brother was doing; her face flushed red with admiration.

"This..." Gu Yunyue opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

With another thunderous crash, Han Li lifted his hands, abruptly tearing the entire spirit field from the ground and holding it upright.

From a distance, it looked as if the spirit field were floating in midair.

Yu Menghan, staring at the scene before her, was completely dumbfounded, her mouth open but speechless.

"Let's go, Elder Luo, and take a look at my new cave dwelling," Han Li said with a relaxed expression, turning to Luo Jun with a smile.

Luo Jun looked at the spirit field that had been entirely dug up and the valley now left in ruins, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation.

He had originally thought Han Li would at most select a portion of the spirit field and use some magical treasure or secret technique to move it, but he never expected Han Li to rely solely on his physical strength to uproot the entire field.

However, since he had just told Han Li to take whatever he wanted, he naturally couldn't say anything now. He could only force a bitter smile and lead the way up the mountainside.

Carrying a spirit field covering nearly an acre, Han Li spent over half an hour wandering around Chuyun Peak before finally choosing a cave dwelling in a secluded spot near the summit.