Chapter 25: Fruit

Chapter 25: Fruit

“Fruit?” Li Xiangping looked up with confusion as he gazed at Li Qiuyang, who was seated cross-legged before him.

“Yes,” Li Qiuyang responded, his voice tinged with nervousness as he gripped the corner of his shirt tightly.

After several nights of cultivating, he had successfully condensed a strand of Embryonic Breathing’s spiritual qi, but he was worried. The speed of his progress did not seem to align with what the cultivation scripture suggested, making him fear he was straying off the correct path. Anxious, he decided to seek Li Xiangping’s guidance on the matter.

Hearing about Li Qiuyang’s unusually rapid cultivation, Li Xiangping was taken aback. He took time to thoroughly read through the Azure Essence Meridian Nourishment Technique, pondering deeply over its contents.

After a while, Li Xiangping looked up and asked Li Qiuyang if he had eaten anything unusual.

Li Qiuyang thought hard and then recalled a significant incident.

“A few years back, my friends and I dared each other to climb the mountain behind our village. I was the only one who actually went up. I got lost since I didn’t see my friends anywhere. While wandering, I stumbled upon a small tree with a turquoise hue, bearing six or seven reddish fruits. They were so bright and tempting.”

“I picked one and ate it. The next thing I knew, I was walking down the mountain in a daze and then slept for three days straight. My father was so worried, he called many physicians to check on me.”

Li Xiangping listened intently to Li Qiuyang’s story, momentarily lost for words. He then patted Li Qiuyang on the shoulder and said, “It seems that with this unexpected help, you might be able to condense the Profound Scenery Chakra within a year.”

Li Qiuyang’s face lit up with hope at these words. Li Xiangping, seeing his reaction, added, “But there’s something important we need to do first.”

Li Qiuyang looked up at him, his expression turning serious.

“We need to go up that mountain and search for that spirit root,” Li Xiangping declared.

————

Li Tongya returned to the small courtyard in Lijing Village. As he crossed the stone threshold at the entrance, he noticed Liu Rouxuan sitting quietly in the courtyard.

She was idly counting the fruit saplings in the spirit field with a blank look on her face.

Upon seeing Li Tongya enter, Liu Rouxuan quickly stood up from the stone bench and shyly greeted, “Immortal Master.”

“There’s no need for such formality,” Li Tongya replied, waving his hand dismissively.

He glanced at Liu Rouxuan’s beautiful face and smiled. “I’m only six or seven years older than you. Just call me Tongya.”

The people of Lijing Village, blessed with lush and abundant reeds, found little need to venture into the more dangerous parts of the mountains. The reeds provided ample sustenance, feeding the fish and livestock, making it unnecessary to risk confrontations with wild beasts in the mountains for food.

For their basic needs, the villagers depended on the forests at the foot of the mountain. They harvested firewood there or used readily available wood like the branches of evergreen shrubs or snow roses for cooking. The shrubs grew fast and their branches were easy to collect, so they were the preferred choice for firewood.

The villagers would only go up to the mountain to cut down the wood if they needed to build houses.

The mountain paths, rarely trodden, were overgrown with thorns and vines. Li Qiuyang struggled to recall the way, so a few villagers led the way, clearing the path with their firewood knives, with Li Xiangping and Li Tongya trailing behind.

Li Xiangping, holding Li Qiuyang’s hand, turned to Li Tongya with a question, “Brother Tongya, I have some questions.”

“What is it?” Li Tongya asked.

Li Xiangping continued, “Si Yuanbai set a boundary for our family, and the land outside this boundary belonged to other families. Before the rise of our Li Family, those families could have easily sent a cultivator who has attained the Embryonic Breathing realm and we would have been powerless against them.”

“Yet, why hasn’t a single immortal cultivator come forward throughout the past two centuries our family has cultivated these fields? Is it possible they genuinely hold such disdain for mortals?”

Li Tongya, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, replied with a serious expression, “I’ve pondered over this as well. From what Si Yuanbai implied, this region lacked spiritual energy for centuries, leading to a scarcity of resources for immortal cultivation. That’s probably why no immortal cultivator wants to waste their time here.”

“Additionally, we’re near Mount Dali, a vast range riddled with demons and spirits. It’s far less hospitable than the comforts of the provincial cities.”

Li Xiangping nodded, his expression turning somber. He then spoke to Li Tongya in a hushed tone, “Brother, there’s another grimmer possibility.”

“While the Azure Pond Sect is formidable and controls a significant portion of Yue State, they occupy only a quarter of it. Aren’t there formidable enemies nearby? I fear that our Li Family is situated right at the edge of the Azure Pond Sect’s influence.”

“When two villages compete for water, naturally, no one wants to cultivate near the disputed area. According to Xu Wenshan, to the south lies the Wu State. With continuous conflicts between Wu and Yue States, the relationship between their respective immortal sects is likely strained!”

Li Tongya’s heart sank, and his expression darkened. “We must investigate thoroughly. Tomorrow, I’ll send people to scout around the Guli Road. Understanding our family’s position is crucial.”

“I only hope that our Li Family isn’t merely a disposable asset, planted at the border by the Azure Pond Sect,” Li Xiangping added, mustering a bitter smile.

Their attention was then drawn by Li Yesheng and several villagers, drenched in sweat.

“Immortal Master! There’s a huge long worm here!” Li Yesheng shouted.

1. Dragon hour = 7-9 am and Snake hour = 3-5 pm ☜