Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Peach Garden Gathering, Jade Reward from the Mountain God
Gold.
It’s clear that what’s inside the bottle is flowing gold.
It emits an extremely fragrant aroma, merely smelling it makes Li Ye feel refreshed, and its color is indeed pleasing to the eye, truly somewhat peculiar.
"What is this?"
"Is this the harvest that the Spiritual Mechanism Vine spoke of?"
Li Ye quietly corked the bottle, carefully placing it in the corner of his cabinet, right next to the sprout dropped by the Flint Fire Crystal Insect.
He planned to gather more and, while chatting with people, tactfully inquire about what exactly this item might be.
But he didn’t notice that when he closed the bottle, a trace of golden light silently merged into his body.
...
Time flies by in an instant.
Three days later, Li Ye left home on time and went to the "Peach Garden" mentioned by Taoist Friend Zhou.
The so-called Peach Garden is on the east side of the Marketplace of Huiya, and Li Ye easily found the bright Peach Garden just by casually asking a few passersby.
Though it was just the beginning of spring, and there’s still a chill in the air, the endless peach blossoms were already extremely vibrant, each peach tree extraordinarily tall with gnarled branches, clearly having lived for a long time.
Pink petals flew like sunlight, and as they fluttered, floral scent and spiritual energy surged together; merely standing there, the spiritual energy directly drilled into the body!
[Name]: Spring Pink Peach
[State]: Releasing accumulated spiritual energy to bloom
[Mood]: Joyful
"Taoist Friend Li!"
Just as Li Ye was absorbed by this scenery, Taoist Friend Zhou, wearing a gray Taoist robe, hurried over: "It’s really you, I just heard from the forest keeper that someone came, so I hurried to greet you."
"Quick, Senior Su and several other seniors have booked this place today; the spiritual energy accumulated over the winter is being released as these peach blossoms bloom, and soon we will compete to see who absorbs the most spiritual energy!"
He enthusiastically led Li Ye through the small path embraced by peach trees to a small lake, stepping on the stone stairs built in the lake, arriving at the small island in the heart of the lake.
At this time, there were already more than a dozen cultivators seated here.
Among them, surrounded by the cultivators, was a white-robed figure—the Four Seasons Sect’s Su Ya, Pill Master Su!
"Oh."
"It’s really you!"
Upon seeing Li Ye, Su Ya immediately smiled and, without further ado, squeezed past the surrounding cultivators to grab Li Ye’s sleeve and introduce: "This is my friend, Li Ye."
With such an introduction from the respected Alchemist of Four Seasons Sect, for a moment they couldn’t discern the background of this cultivator, who merely looked a bit more handsome, and thus nodded in agreement.
"Taoist Friend Li!"
"Taoist Friend Li appears unfamiliar."
"Has the Taoist Friend ever attended gatherings here usually?"
Evidently, these cultivators were all astute, smiling with enthusiasm and speaking in a manner that was perfectly measured, the atmosphere becoming considerably harmonious and congenial.
Li Ye naturally returned their greetings one by one.
After these mutual exchanges were over, Li Ye sat beside Taoist Friend Zhou, feeling his face stiff from smiling.
A female cultivator proposed: "Since Taoist Friend Li is new and hasn’t met us before, how about letting him start summoning spirits? I am willing to accompany with music."
This female cultivator sat beside Su Ya, and she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Summoning Spirit?
Just as curiosity arose in Li Ye’s heart, Su Ya smiled and said: "Naturally, that’s great. Taoist Friend Li, this peach forest in the Peach Garden comes from our Four Seasons Sect’s Peach Blossom Mountain, it was the Mountain God who personally broke off the branches."
"They have accumulated spiritual energy over a whole winter, and with the blooming in spring, the accumulated energy is released; this first wave of energy can summon the Mountain God’s blessing from Peach Blossom Mountain!"
"If it weren’t for the slight strength of myself, Taoist Friend Jiang, and Taoist Friend Xiao, it would still be a bit troublesome to be the first to seize this Peach Garden for discussion, flower viewing, and summoning spirits."
"Ah!" The female cultivator surnamed Jiang quickly waved her hand: "It’s mainly thanks to Brother Su’s effort.
Let’s not say more.
Taoist Friend Li, are you willing to summon spirits?"
Having heard about Li Ye’s matters long ago, she knew that this young cultivator was definitely going to join Four Seasons Sect, plus Su Ya valued him so much, she didn’t mind extending a kindness.
Li Ye pondered for a moment and stood up: "With the kind favor of the seniors, I am naturally willing, though I don’t know how the summoning spirit is conducted?"
The female cultivator didn’t speak, she only took out a bamboo flute brimming with spiritual light and gently blew on it, the melodious flute sound flowed out like water, seemingly resonating with the surrounding peach blossom spiritual energy.
Petals of pink surrounded Li Ye and danced.
In a trance, Li Ye seemed to see a gigantic peach tree standing atop a mountain, whenever it blooms, it rains flowers that extend for thousands of miles.
A lofty consciousness glanced at Li Ye from afar.
Then a voice as gentle as water echoed:
"An interesting child."
"On your body, there’s much love from little creatures... Oh! And their gratitude, gratitude for being freed from endless suffering."
"It’s good that you learned that cultivation technique."
"Go, break off a branch of peach blossoms that you find most pleasing, that will be your reward for summoning spirits."
As this voice disappeared, Li Ye instantly awakened.
"Oh, Taoist Friend has received a response so quickly."
The female cultivator surnamed Jiang was quite surprised, summoning spirits doesn’t always ensure success, it depends on whether the Mountain God is willing to respond.
Ordinarily, she would turn a blind eye.
But unexpectedly, this Qi Refining cultivator received a response so swiftly from the Mountain God, it seems he indeed has something special.
Li Ye seemed a bit dazed, he nodded: "The Mountain God let me..."
"Just go and do it." Su Ya sat up straight, looking at Li Ye with eyes as if beholding a rare treasure.
"Okay." Li Ye also found it peculiar, he walked over to the peach forest aside, feeling that these evidently vibrant peach trees lacked color, except for one branch, which shone brightly in his eyes.
He naturally broke it off without hesitation.
With a crunching sound.
That detached flower branch instantly began to jadeify from the fracture, the few peach blossoms atop also followed suit, quietly staying in his hand.
[Name]: Peach Jade Flower Branch
[State]: Mountain God "Peach Blossom" Blessing
[Mood]: Joyful
[Can bind]: Any spirit beast with wood attribute that can bloom
The spiritual energy from the jade-colored peach branch flowed swiftly into his body, rapidly transforming into his cultivation, instantly elevating him from the Fifth-Layer of Qi Refining to the Sixth-Layer!
"This is so terrifying."
He murmured a bit while holding the flower branch and returned to the island in the center of the lake, the cultivators were waiting for his return, as soon as he came back, the female cultivator surnamed Jiang immediately glanced at his hand.
"It’s a Jade Reward!"
The female cultivator was evidently very surprised: "Gold, jade, iron, copper, wood, the Peach Blossom Mountain God favors you so much that he gave you a Jade Reward, thanks to you, we can taste what the peach flavor is like."
She smiled as she spoke.
This reaction piqued Li Ye’s curiosity, surely this peach is very special? What kind of miraculous peach makes the Foundation Establishment cultivator so astonished?