Tiankui City.
It was still peaceful.
But secretly, killing intent had already filled the air.
Zhang Jinhu wanted to use the Crown Prince's hand to kill An Lan, but he didn't expect the old butler to betray him.
He was also too angry and ignored the taboos.
How could a Crown Prince who could execute five hundred people just for a rumor be willing to hear others spreading rumors?
What's more,
These rumors were all true!
Da Huai Village gained dozens more guards.
They were all people sent by An Lan, worried that Zhang Jinhu might jump the gun and cause trouble overnight.
The next day.
Li Ping'an brought horse manure to fertilize the last ten mu of corn that had been planted.
Some guards wanted to help, but he refused.
There were too many people here, and Li Ping'an didn't display his swift movement technique. Fertilizing ten mu of land took nearly a day, and he gained 50 cultivation points.
As dusk approached.
Huang Jinye rode alone, "Everyone, fall in! Return to the city immediately!"
Someone asked, "Commander Huang, is there something big happening?"
Huang Jinye said in a deep voice, "Something happened to the Zhang Family. Zhang Jinhu, and thirty core members of the Zhang Family, have all been killed. You will follow me back to the city to investigate this matter."
Zhang Jinhu is dead?
All the core members of the Zhang Family are dead?
Li Ping'an was full of doubts. Could it be that besides himself, there were other powerful people the Zhang Family had offended?
Huang Jinye came to Li Ping'an's side and said, "Son-in-law, we're going back to the city first. With what happened to the Zhang Family, their entire Family is finished."
"They probably won't bother you anymore."
"Mm, go on, go on." Li Ping'an waved his hand, "Brothers, safety first! It doesn't matter whether you find anything or not."
Huang Jinye chuckled, "Of course."
The Zhang Family's misfortune shocked the entire city.
And the Zhang Family's businesses and properties were naturally taken over by the City Lord's Mansion, to be handed over to the national treasury.
The other two Families, though they found the matter strange, were all very happy. After all, they had lost a major competitor.
As long as they strengthened their relationship with the City Lord's Mansion, their Family's wealth would surely increase by a notch.
However, there was one thing An Lan couldn't understand: who exactly killed Zhang Tiepeng and the other members of the Zhang Family?
He knew very well it wasn't An Ruoyi's doing.
He had also considered Li Ping'an, but he had no Spiritual Root and no Spiritual Power fluctuations.
He couldn't figure it out, absolutely couldn't figure it out...
Da Huai Village became quiet.
No one came to cause trouble again.
Ten days later, the corn husks dried.
Although not fully ripe, it was time for harvest.
"Niuniu, Hehei, let's get to work."
For the two mu of Spiritual Field, Li Ping'an took the two little fellows to the ground.
They were very cooperative.
With a single roll, Niuniu flattened a patch of corn stalks, and Hehei, with his dog's mouth agape, began to tear and bite.
"Very sensible."
Li Ping'an chuckled, displaying his full speed, achieving unity of mind, eye, and hand.
"Swish~ Swish~ Swish~"
His figure flickered continuously, and corn cobs were collected into the System warehouse one by one.
As for whether there were any first-grade Corn Essence gains, Li Ping'an didn't care; that would only be revealed at the end.
(Ding: Congratulations to Host for receiving a Cultivation Treasure Chest reward while picking corn.)
Hearing this sound, Li Ping'an knew that he and the two little fellows had already harvested one mu of land.
Not long after, the work was complete.
(Ding: Congratulations to Host for receiving a Cultivation Treasure Chest reward.)
(Ding: Congratulations to Host for receiving one Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence Treasure Chest.)
At this point, the two mu of Spiritual Field corn were completely harvested.
"This speed is quite a bit faster."
Li Ping'an clapped his hands and turned his head with a smile.
When he saw Hehei, Li Ping'an was a little shocked, "Holy crap, in such a short time, you've doubled in size?"
That's right.
Hehei's height had already reached Li Ping'an's knees, and his chubby frame looked a bit imposing.
Not good.
This guy must have gnawed on Corn Essence.
Looking at Niuniu, it had grown to Li Ping'an's chest, and its fur shimmered with a faint greenish luster in the sunlight.
"You two, how many did you secretly eat?!"
Li Ping'an's face was a bit ashen. He went to the scattered piles of corn and, with a wave of his large hand, collected them all.
"Woof woof, this dog only ate two."
Hehei barked twice first, then spoke human words, once again revealing the extraordinary nature of a Divine Beast.
"Moo~" Niuniu's voice was drawn out, "Heidog, you're lying! You also secretly ate the three corn kernels I dropped on the ground."
It could also speak human words now, and its eyes shimmered with a cunning glint.
It could be said that,
Not only had they grown in size, but their intelligence had also greatly expanded, making tremendous progress!
Li Ping'an was shocked and excited, so he rubbed the dog's head and stroked the ox's head to show his forgiveness, "It's okay, the corn that's grown is for you to eat."
Upon hearing this,
Hehei actually squinted his dog eyes and grinned with his dog mouth, "This dog ate four."
Niuniu also confessed, "I ate five."
"Woof woof~" Hehei barked twice, "You big clumsy ox, you actually secretly ate more."
Niuniu was very proud, "My belly is big, I'm hungry."
The two of them started arguing, not just with their mouths, but also with their teeth.
"Don't bite my ear, dead dog, dead dog, let go, moo~"
Niuniu spun around, swinging Hehei so his feet didn't touch the ground.
"Don't spin, dog is dizzy, dog's head is dizzy." Hehei didn't let go, spinning round and round.
"..."
Li Ping'an was a bit speechless.
However, this was a good thing.
At the most basic level, this proved that the harvest from the two mu of Spiritual Field corn was several times more than the previous harvest.
What's more, there was still a large pile of unhusked corn in the warehouse, and maybe there would be a dozen or so first-grade Corn Essence cobs.
Li Ping'an spoke, "Stop arguing, you two are full now. Go clear away the corn stalks."
Upon receiving the order.
Niuniu stopped spinning, and Hehei let go.
The two of them went to the cornfield. Hehei transformed into streaks of black shadows, spiritual power winds whistling around him, pulverizing the corn stalks.
This effect, this speed, was faster and better than a stalk shredder!
"Moo~"
Niuniu lowered its head, and with a low bellow, flames actually shot out from its nostrils.
"Whoosh~" A patch.
"Whoosh~" Another patch.
Blazing flames, the scorching temperature turned the still-moist corn stalks entirely into ash.
"This is a fire-breathing ox."
Li Ping'an exclaimed, they were progressing incredibly fast, which was delightful.
System: 'Host, do you know how powerful this System is now?'
Li Ping'an gave a thumbs up, "System is powerful, System is super handsome."
(Ding: This System has received Host's praise, specially rewarding one Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence Treasure Chest.)
Damn, there's a reward for this too?
It seems this System is a narcissist, no doubt about it!
Li Ping'an's heart swelled with joy, and he continued to praise, "System is super handsome, System is super cool, System is awesome."
System: 'Enough, enough, enough! No more praise, there'll be no more rewards, and this System will float away.'
'This kind of thing, only once, no exceptions.'
Li Ping'an pouted, "What a waste of emotion."
The corn stalks were cleared.
Li Ping'an called the two little fellows to Da Huai Village. As for the two mu of Spiritual Field, he would have to plan carefully before deciding what to plant.
After all, the season no longer allowed for planting corn.
In Da Huai Village, the corn wasn't quite ripe yet.
Li Ping'an ate something simple, then threw the large pile of corn onto an empty space and began husking the corn cobs.
At the same time, he locked onto the two Cultivation Treasure Chests and two Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence Treasure Chests in the warehouse, opening them all at once...