Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Bitter Spirit Gourd and Love Life and Death Beans
"You want to plant something?"
"That should be simple enough!"
Su Ya, who came over immediately with a lunchbox after he built the courtyard, said without hesitation:
"I know of a Spirit Plant that doesn’t require much Spiritual Qi, in fact, its concentration needs to be adjusted constantly and cannot be too abundant."
"That thing is in high demand among us Alchemists.
If you can plant such a Spirit Plant, my fellow senior and junior disciples would be willing to buy it at a high price."
Li Ye’s gaze lingered on the plate of pastries adorned with honey and walnuts that Su Ya took out, and he silently swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
He couldn’t tell what exactly was used to make this green cake. The aroma was so tempting that even a cultivator like him, who hadn’t eaten breakfast, found it difficult to resist.
Then he inquired, "What kind of Spirit Plant are you talking about? From what you say, it sounds like it would be hard to grow."
Su Ya teasingly pushed the pastries over: "It’s called the Bitter Spirit Gourd."
"It’s a special type of gourd that can open and close freely from sprouting to maturation, allowing materials or Spirit Pills to be stored inside."
"Remarkably, anything placed inside the gourd is preserved better than in a Sealing Spirit Box, even purifying the Spiritual Qi within."
"There are different Spirit Seeds for these gourds, which can grow to have varying lifespans and quantities, from one month to a year or even a hundred or a thousand years."
"Once past the maturation stage, it becomes as hard as iron, beginning to nurture the Spiritual Materials or Spirit Pills inside, only retrievable once its lifespan expires."
"Cultivators in the sect who can grow gourds over ten years old are quite renowned.
Because the daily required Spiritual Qi for these gourds subtly changes, but overall doesn’t need much."
Saying this, he flipped his hand and took out several red gourd seeds from his Storage Ring:
"Here, I’ve brought some. If you’re willing to plant them, I’ll give you the Spiritual Materials needed for one month right away."
At this point, Li Ye slowly consumed the sweet and glutinous green cake, contentedly squinting his eyes as he gazed at the red seeds.
[Name]: Bitter Spirit Gourd·Red·One Month Growth
[Status]: Awaiting Germination, Expecting Death
[Mood]: Anticipating Germination
[Bindable]: Special Turtle-type Spirit Beast.
Hmm?
Special Turtle-type Spirit Beast? Isn’t that a bit vague?
Previously, the descriptions on the status screen have been clear and precise, but this one is quite ambiguous. What exactly qualifies as "special"?
"My friend, bringing such a delicious meal must mean you have a request."
Li Ye shook his head: "But I’ve never planted this before. Isn’t your bet a bit too risky? What if it fails and is wasted?"
One must always be upfront with potential drawbacks.
"I believe in your capabilities." Su Ya’s expression became slightly peculiar when discussing this:
"Have I ever mentioned that my older sister, during every holiday, has to gift her senior brother?"
"That’s to request him to grow more of the Spirit Plants she needs."
"He’s the owner of the Spiritual Mechanism Vine."
Afterward, he couldn’t help but sigh: "In a little while, there will be several junior disciples stationed here, preparing for the tri-annual external missions. By then, your doorstep will probably be worn down."
"You mustn’t forget me!"
Goosebumps rose all over Li Ye’s body, and he quickly replied: "Alright, alright, I’ll plant them! Please don’t say such strange things anymore!"
Su Ya instantly showed a radiant smile, pushing the box of seeds and another jade box over, urging,
"Quick, eat up! After this, you have to attend Master’s preaching assembly."
"???"
"Preaching assembly?" Li Ye nearly choked, thinking he should’ve been informed beforehand about this!
"Yes." Su Ya nodded: "Previously, I mentioned that after the snowstorms ended, our Master would hold a preaching session based on the completion progress of planting Spring Wheat.
You’re first-place and did exceptionally well, so Master decided to meet you personally to convey the teachings."
Though his tone was light, Li Ye felt as if a fire had been lit under his seat.
From what he understood, it was highly likely to be a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Nascent Soul cultivator was to personally impart teachings? And here he was, still indulging himself?
Su Ya shrugged, pointing at the box of food:
"Because it’s made by that senior, using the Flint Fire of yours. When you meet in a bit, the True Man might ask how it tastes, so you can’t possibly leave it unfinished."
"..."
"Next time, make sure to inform me clearly!" Li Ye helplessly cupped his hands and then began to leisurely enjoy the delicacies in the box: fish, meat, desserts, soup, and staple food.
Of course, during the process, he didn’t forget to mention to Su Ya his interest in participating in mining. Su Ya readily agreed, only asking to wait until the distribution of wheat before arranging it.
Li Ye felt assured and continued to savor it.
With every bite, he felt the numbers on his status screen tick upward—
"+1"
"+5"
"+10"
...
By the time he finished everything in the lunchbox, Su Ya had already handed over a handkerchief, and when Li Ye touched the handkerchief, the surrounding space suddenly began to rotate and change.
It seemed as if only a breath had passed.
He found himself in a field that stretched endlessly, growing countless beans, and a female cultivator in white stood not far away, casting her gaze toward him.
"Oh, all five elements are present."
"The Five Elements Spirit Ascension Technique you practiced is impressive."
"If my senior brother hadn’t said he wanted to take you as his disciple, I probably couldn’t resist this rare find myself, unable to pass up such a gem."
She tossed Li Ye a pair of grayish gloves:
"For the technique ’Scattering Beans into Soldiers,’ you need the right kind of beans, so go ahead and search. This field is a Grotto Heaven of mine, containing many Spirit Seeds and even some Divine Seeds.
If you’re truly capable, finding something of value will ease my effort in teaching later, at least I won’t waste my effort in putting on a show."
With those words, her figure disappeared abruptly.
Li Ye blinked, quietly putting on the gloves, looking at the endless vista, taking the first step intending to walk forward, only then lowering his head unexpectedly.
"Oh."
He squinted, pulling a very petite seedling out of the ground and said to the emptiness before him: "Senior, just this one then!"
"Swoosh!"
The female cultivator’s previously vanished figure reappeared in an instant.
She looked at the arm-length seedling in Li Ye’s hand, with merely five or six black and white beans scattered on it, looking wilted and unimpressive.
Her expression turned somewhat subtle.
"Are you sure you want to choose this one?"
"Yes, I find it pleasing to the eye." Li Ye confidently nodded: "I’m sure I’m destined for it!"
"..."
"With such sharp perception, you should learn to conceal it moving forward."
The female cultivator pointed at the seedling: "It’s the Love Life and Death Beans, a Spirit Seed that originated from the Hell Path, which I painstakingly purified."
"But never mind, since I’ve decided and you indeed possess this talent and Qi Fortune, this Love Life and Death Bean is now yours!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a surge of Spiritual Qi flushed towards the beans.
Gradually, the black surface of the beans melted, revealing layers that were nearing the color of black blood!
Transforming from red to black, it’s evident how much "red" was amassed.
Such an exceptionally terrifying level of Spiritual Power!