Du Rong was a high-level cultivator, and yet the rebound force from the iron rod was enough to push him back. If it had been Chen Xiao, he probably would have been thrown off balance and might have even suffered a fracture. Du Rong, holding the iron rod, immediately became serious and warned, "Master, step back a bit. You might get injured by the shock!"
Tong Nuonuo was surprised and immediately raised his hand, saying, "Let me give it a try."
Chen Xiao had been smiling, but when he saw Tong Nuonuo take the iron rod, he quickly took a few steps back. The energy in the area was extremely active; finding the right spot to insert the rod was key. It might look like just a small space, a meter wide or so, but even with a thin iron rod, it wasn't that easy. If the spot was missed, the rebound force could be quite dangerous. The greater the force used, the stronger the backlash would be.
Du Rong had already shown considerable force, and Tong Nuonuo, being in the Foundation Establishment stage, would be even more powerful. Chen Xiao didn't want to risk getting affected, so he moved further away from Tong Nuonuo.
However, to everyone's surprise, Tong Nuonuo, a master of mechanisms, had focused his training on machinery and not body refinement. Without using his vital essence, his strength was actually no match for Du Rong's. He casually found a spot and pressed the rod in, but the force rebounded so strongly that it caused him to stumble a little.
"That's interesting," Tong Nuonuo said in curiosity. He turned to Chen Xiao and asked, "What's going on? Is the ground here really off-limits?"
Chen Xiao walked back and took the iron rod from him. Du Rong looked at him with caution, disapproving of his decision to risk testing the ground. Chen Xiao smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Uncle Rong. It's fine. I was just here a moment ago, and as long as you're not trying to pierce the ground, the energy won't surge."
Tong Nuonuo's curiosity grew, and he asked earnestly, "What exactly is 'ground energy'? Is it a type of spiritual energy?"
Chen Xiao hesitated before answering, "It's something similar, but different. Ground energy is an invisible and colorless force found in the earth veins…"
Tong Nuonuo looked a bit puzzled, and Chen Xiao felt a bit helpless. In his previous life, Feng Shui had been explained through science, with some experts claiming that Feng Shui was simply a form of microwaves. Earth veins had varying strengths, and the environments they created through microwaves also differed. Some places were perfect for growth, while others were inhospitable. Chen Xiao had absorbed this knowledge because the Dongyu Sect took the best parts from various schools. However, trying to explain this to someone with a completely different knowledge base made Chen Xiao's head spin.
He could only explain it in simpler terms. "It's a collective term for the forces of vitality, killing energy, Yang energy, and Yin energy."
At this point, Du Rong, still cautious, had crouched down and was carefully testing the ground. He placed his hand on the surface, then gently tapped it, finding nothing unusual. This confirmed what Chen Xiao had said, so long as one didn't try to break through the surface, the energy wouldn't be triggered.
After considering Chen Xiao's actions, Du Rong decided to trust him. There was no need to risk making a fool of himself. He resolved to stay behind Chen Xiao so that if any backlash occurred, he could support him.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao tried to tear a strip of cloth from his clothes. However, the clothes worn by cultivators were exceptionally sturdy, and the fabric wouldn't tear. Tong Nuonuo, seeing this, quickly retrieved a rope from his mechanism box and handed it to him.
As Chen Xiao tied the rope to the iron rod, Tong Nuonuo asked, "What's the point of tying this?"
Chen Xiao's expression became serious as he carefully wrapped the rope around. "This is a way of marking the spot, signaling to others that a Feng Shui master has identified this site and claimed ownership. Anyone who knows the rules will understand they shouldn't touch this place. If they do, it'll be considered a violation, and later on, we'll have the upper hand when it comes to claiming rights."
However, this was a rule from his previous life, and now, what Chen Xiao was doing was more symbolic; a ceremonial act with significant meaning.
Tong Nuonuo found this approach quite clever. He said, "If we had such rules for finding spiritual herbs and plants during expeditions, we wouldn't have so many disputes."
After tying the rope securely, Chen Xiao prepared to insert the rod into the hole. Both Du Rong and Tong Nuonuo couldn't help but feel tense as they watched his actions. Chen Xiao's expression became serious, his hands gripping the steel rod in front of his chest. Then, with swift precision, he thrust the rod into the target. The two men were surprised to see that there was no backlash when he made the move. Instead, the rod made a sound, like piercing through leather, clear yet muffled, as if it had punctured something.
It was as if an air pocket had been burst. After the rod pierced the ground, a long, soft "whoosh" echoed through the air. A gust of wind blew up from the ground, carrying with it tiny fragments of dirt that splattered across the faces of the three.
"What is this?" Tong Nuonuo squinted, feeling the dirt on his face. He stared at it in shock, his eyes wide. The dirt particles weren't the usual brown color, but a shade of purple-red mixed in with the usual yellowish soil.
"Ah!!" Tong Nuonuo exclaimed, his voice rising in astonishment. He couldn't contain his excitement and let out several more sharp cries.
Du Rong, squinting to protect his eyes, held his hand over his forehead to shield himself from the rain of dirt. Spitting out the dirt that had gotten into his mouth, he asked, "Immortal Master Tong, what's going on?"
Tong Nuonuo's face was twisted in disbelief and joy, unsure whether he should be shocked or thrilled. His heart raced, as if it might leap out of his chest. He wanted to jump up and scream in excitement. Turning to Chen Xiao and Du Rong, he shouted, "It's the soil! Look at the soil!"
Du Rong, still confused, squinted at Tong Nuonuo and said, "Yes, it's soil, no doubt about it."
Tong Nuonuo raised his hands, almost on the verge of tears from his joy, and exclaimed, "This is refined soil! And it's the essence of the mineral heart! The best material for crafting mechanisms!"
Du Rong's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he looked at the hole, which continued to expel the mineral-rich soil. He felt lightheaded. Wiping his face, now coated in dirt, he muttered, "This is it, we've really struck it rich…"
At that moment, the three of them were in a state of shock, one was overjoyed, one was stunned, and the other was still trying to understand what was happening. But from far off in the mountains, the sound of fierce beast roars suddenly echoed through the forest. In just a short time, it seemed something had triggered the animals, and chaos ensued.
None of them were foolish. They quickly realized the commotion was likely caused by the leak of ground energy, with the essence of the refined soil spraying out. Chen Xiao's expression shifted. He shouted to the others, "Quick, get something to cover the hole!!" He then pulled the iron rod out of the hole.
Du Rong immediately sprang into action, moving to the side to lift a large stone. Tong Nuonuo, though reluctant, knew they couldn't let things escalate. As Du Rong returned with the stone and forcefully blocked the gap in the hole, Tong Nuonuo crouched down and quickly grabbed a handful of materials to stuff into his mechanism box.