Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Golden Red Dragon Carp, Gathering Invitation
A few days later.
The gentle spring rain finally came to a complete stop.
The sunlight of spring pierced through the clouds, shining upon the earth, noticeably warming the body. The wheat seeds in the courtyard had grown lush and green within these few days.
A fresh green scene, looking exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Among them, more than thirty stalks had grown exceedingly tall, with a cold hint of blue amidst the green. Beside them were the rather sluggish Cold Ice Wheat.
Cold Ice Wheat, well, as the name suggests, prefers icy environments and must absorb enough ice attribute Spiritual Qi to grow. Clearly, the current environment is not suitable for them.
But perhaps it’s because of their bond with the Spring Wheat.
Although it grew unenergetically in the slightly warm spring breeze, it continued to grow, just no longer producing wheat.
But it doesn’t matter.
"As long as it’s alive, it’s good."
"At least the bond is still effective."
Li Ye strolled around the courtyard and came to the beavers’ nest, where they had already constructed a dam around the entire spring. The water would be diverted through the outlets they deliberately left open.
They were smart enough to understand Li Ye’s instructions and would check if the wheat needed water, releasing water at the appropriate times. This spared a lot of trouble.
Li Ye picked up the peanuts he bought and tossed them one by one to the beavers, watching them raise their paws in thanks before each took a peanut back to their nest to enjoy slowly.
"It’s time to plant some water Spirit Plants."
"Something edible...
With one acre in the courtyard occupied by wheat, Li Ye planned to buy some Spirit Plants to plant in the remaining acre, resolving some miscellaneous tasks, and bringing the Spring Rain to the Spiritual Mechanism Vine.
And so he left after tidying up his things.
...
The marketplace was particularly bustling.
During spring, everything revives, many Spirit Plants can be planted, Spirit Beasts become more numerous, and it even starts becoming noisy.
Li Ye wandered around, quickly attracted by a large jar in front of a cultivator.
Inside it were golden-red carp, looking exceptionally festive, with small bumps on their heads, as if hiding horns beneath.
[Name]: Golden Red Dragon Carp
[Mood]: Stifled
[Status]: Eager to jump
[Can be bound]: Any moderately-sized water Spirit Plant, provided it can offer a jumping platform and is sufficiently sturdy.
"Taoist Friend, are you interested in my Golden Red Dragon Carp?" The stall owner was a middle-aged cultivator.
He laughed, "These Golden Red Dragon Carp shed a scale every seven days, which can be eaten directly after being fried, tasting excellent."
"The name does sound grand."
"I just don’t know the benefits of eating these scales?"
Li Ye examined the carp swimming around. As they say, the carp are indeed beautiful in golden-red. If the benefits are enough, he might actually buy some to raise in his spring water.
Seeing Li Ye interested in purchasing, the middle-aged cultivator quickly said:
"These scales are of great significance! It is said that this fish once swam with the Dragon Clan in a vast lake, fortunate enough to have eaten dragon scales.
Consistent consumption of these fish scales not only enhances beauty and retains youth but also increases physical strength. Indeed, the benefits are plentiful!"
Li Ye was aware that there must be some exaggeration in this, but firstly, these fish are indeed beautiful, and secondly, they can be bound, fitting his need to purchase some water Spirit Plants, so it’s a win-win.
Thus after brief hesitation, he decided to buy.
Just then, a slightly delighted voice suddenly came from the side—
"Hey, aren’t you Taoist Friend Li!"
Turning to look, it was Cultivator Zhou, who had been selling Spiritual Grain the other day, now full of smiles as if having good news.
Cultivator Zhou walked quickly over, glanced curiously, and was surprised: "Third Uncle, what are you doing here? You’re actually daring enough to catch these Golden Red Dragon Carp!"
Obviously, he knew the fish seller well.
The middle-aged cultivator helplessly replied: "Nephew, these fish were raised by me, so of course, I can sell them. But is this Taoist Friend your friend?"
"Yes! Not only a friend, but he has also helped your nephew. Give Taoist Friend Li a discount on these Golden Red Dragon Carp."
"... You little rascal always taking sides!" The middle-aged cultivator jokingly scolded: "These Golden Red Dragon Carp should’ve been priced at one hundred Spirit Stones each, but I’ll lower it, eighty Spirit Stones each!"
The "uncle-nephew" conversation had Li Ye feeling somewhat dazed.
The scene seemed almost like a trap, yet these Golden Red Dragon Carp were indeed Second Tier Spirit Beasts with special effects. Eighty Spirit Stones each is not expensive.
Perhaps sensing his skeptical gaze, Cultivator Zhou hastily explained:
"These Golden Red Dragon Carp are unique Spirit Beasts from my third uncle’s family, sourced from Huiya, an Ancient Cultivator’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.
Taoist Friend can inquire freely; I absolutely have no intention of deceiving you, besides I came today seeking Taoist Friend specifically, bringing some gifts!"
He took out a package weighing about ten pounds and a small box from his Storage Pouch, leaned closer, and whispered:
"Thanks to Taoist Friend, the batch of Spring Thunder Wheat indeed produced Wheat Pills. Here are ten pounds of refined flour and twenty Wheat Pills; Taoist Friend must accept them!"
After saying this, he resumed his normal tone, sincerely saying: "Without Taoist Friend’s advice that day, this one would likely have sold that batch of wheat long ago, missing out on such a good harvest. This one is truly grateful."
He even bowed slightly.
Li Ye quickly dodged: "That wheat was cultivated by Taoist Friend; the harvest is rightful, and this one merely spoke casually."
"Hey!" Cultivator Zhou waved his hand: "Don’t say that, sometimes things just need a hint. Taoist Friend’s guidance is indeed a favor."
"Speaking of which, does Taoist Friend have time in three days? We Spirit Plant Cultivators are organizing a gathering at the Peach Garden in Huiya Marketplace, and it would be great to get acquainted."
This was good news.
The cultivators’ circle is sometimes so hard to enter. Without guidance, it’s impossible to get in, and Li Ye wasn’t training to be some solitary Immortal, destined to interact with other cultivators.
So he agreed promptly: "With Taoist Friend Zhou’s invitation, this one will surely find time, even if it’s busy, to attend in three days!"
Cultivator Zhou was quite pleased.
His family was somewhat influential here and naturally knew who had taken on the tasks from the Four Seasons Sect. His grandmother speculated that this cultivator named Li Ye might highly likely enter the Four Seasons Sect.
If not forging a good relationship at this moment, it would truly be a waste!
Moreover, he personally felt Taoist Friend Li was quite special and wanted to befriend him.
Li Ye accepted his goodwill reluctantly, ultimately purchasing five Golden Red Dragon Carp, planning to raise them first and see.