Chapter 25: Fruit

"A fruit?" Li Xiangping looked up, gazing quizzically at Li Qiuyang, who sat cross-legged.

"Yes..." Li Qiuyang seemed uneasy, nervously clutching the corner of his clothes. After just a few nights of cultivation, he had condensed a wisp of spiritual energy, but he felt his progress didn't match the speed described in the scroll. Fearing he had made a mistake in his practice, he quickly brought the technique to Li Xiangping.

Hearing of Li Qiuyang's cultivation speed, Li Xiangping was startled. He took the Azure Origin Wheel Nurturing Method and reread it repeatedly, pondering over it carefully. After a full tea's worth of time, Li Xiangping finally looked up and asked if he had eaten anything unusual.

After thinking carefully, Li Qiuyang suddenly recalled something significant and quickly replied: "A few years ago, some friends insisted on a bravery test. We agreed to climb the back mountain, but in the end, I was the only one who went up. My friends weren't there, and before I knew it, I was lost. As I walked, I saw a small, emerald-green tree with six or seven bright red fruits hanging from it. The fruits glowed red and looked incredibly delicious. I couldn't resist. As if possessed, I picked one of the fruits and ate it. Then I stumbled confusedly down the mountain. When I returned, I slept for three days, which worried my father so much that he called many people to see me."

After listening to Li Qiuyang's story, Li Xiangping was speechless for a moment. He patted Li Qiuyang's shoulder and said, "It seems now that in just over a year, you'll be able to condense the Profound View Wheel."

Seeing Li Qiuyang's face filled with hope, Li Xiangping continued, "However, there's another important matter."

Li Qiuyang was startled and looked up at Li Xiangping.

"Take us up the mountain to find that spiritual root."

****

Li Tongya returned to the small courtyard in Lijing. As he stepped over the stone threshold, he saw Liu Rouxuan sitting obediently in the courtyard, chin in hands, idly counting the fruit saplings in the spirit field.

Seeing Li Tongya enter through the doorway, Liu Rouxuan sprang up from the stone stool. Her brows lowered, she looked at him and spoke timidly, "Immortal Master."

"No need to be so formal," Li Tongya waved his hand, his gaze briefly sweeping over Liu Rouxuan's delicate features. He smiled and said, "I'm only six or seven years older than you. Just call me Tongya."

Seeing Li Tongya's approachable demeanor, Liu Rouxuan relaxed considerably. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Brother Tongya."

Li Tongya nodded, rose, and took a wooden slip from the wooden shelf in the room. He said to Liu Rouxuan, "This is the cultivation technique for the Qi Sensing realm, called the Azure Origin Wheel Nurturing Method. Memorize it here in the courtyard. Remember, never spread it outside."

"Yes!" Liu Rouxuan responded with surprise, respectfully taking the wooden slip with both hands and carefully holding it to her chest.

"Someone will bring meals every morning and afternoon. If you need anything else, you can tell them, and they will arrange for it to be brought." Li Tongya took the teapot, pouring tea as he spoke. He poured two small cups of tea and continued, "I'm not often in this courtyard, but I will come every morning and afternoon to apply spirit rain to this spirit field. If you have any questions about your cultivation, feel free to ask."

Watching Liu Rouxuan nod repeatedly, Li Tongya smiled and asked softly, "Have your household items and clothes been delivered?"

"Yes, they have," Liu Rouxuan replied.

"Then settle into the East Wing. Cultivate diligently every day. Don't go out until you've reached the Profound View realm. Have you studied before?" Li Tongya suddenly asked.

"I studied a little when I was young and learned some characters."

"Then I won't need to teach you every detail. Read through it first, and then ask me if you have any questions."

Liu Rouxuan repeatedly assented, holding the wooden slip and beginning to read it word by word.

Watching Liu Rouxuan immerse herself in reading the Azure Origin Wheel Nurturing Method, Li Tongya sipped his tea, idly thinking: "This child has come to Lijing Village, unfamiliar with the place, and confined to this courtyard. For the next few years, there's no need to worry about the cultivation method leaking out."

Just as he was thinking, a loud laugh echoed, and someone pushed open the gate to the small courtyard.

"Third Brother, why are you here?" Li Tongya asked, surprised, then saw Li Qiuyang behind Li Xiangping, looking uneasy.

Li Xiangping explained about the spiritual root. Li Tongya was naturally astonished and kept a closer eye on Li Qiuyang from then on. After a brief discussion, the two of them, along with Li Yesheng and several strong villagers, headed up the back mountain.

The season had already deepened into late autumn. The back mountain was bleak and scattered, with leaves falling everywhere. Wild beasts, plump and robust, had begun to hibernate in preparation for winter. With the abundant and vibrant reed marshes providing fish and meat, the people of Lijing Village had never shown much interest in the back mountain. Why risk their lives battling wild beasts in the deep mountains when the reed marshes supplied everything they needed? Thus, for generations, the people of Lijing Village only harvested firewood from the small patches of forest at the foot of the back mountain, using privet or snowflake for cooking. These low-lying trees grew quickly and were easy to gather. They only ventured further up the mountain to fell timber when constructing houses.

Consequently, the paths on the back mountain were overgrown with thorns and covered in vines. Since Li Qiuyang couldn't clearly remember the exact route, several village guards used their hatchets to clear a path, with Li Xiangping and Li Tongya following behind.

"Second Brother, I have a question." Li Xiangping, taking Li Qiuyang's hand, turned to look at Li Tongya.

"What is it?"

"You mentioned that Siyuan Bai drew boundaries for our family, and beyond these boundaries are other families' lands. Before our Li family rose, that family only needed to send one cultivator in the Qi Sensing realm here. Who would dare to disobey? Then why, after two hundred years of our Li family cultivating this land, has not a single immortal cultivator been willing to come here? Do they truly disdain mere mortals?"

Li Tongya stroked his chin and spoke with a grave expression: "I've considered this as well. From what Siyuan Bai implied, this place originally lacked spiritual energy for centuries. Therefore, with no cultivation resources, no immortal cultivators were willing to waste their time here. Secondly, right beside us is Mount Dali, with its endlessly stretching ranges. How many monsters and ghosts might dwell in those mountains? It's far less comfortable than the county city."

Li Xiangping nodded in agreement, his expression somewhat grim, and said in a low voice to Li Tongya: "Brother, there's an even worse possibility. Although the Green Pool Sect is said to be incredibly powerful, it only occupies a quarter of Yue Kingdom. Are there no strong enemies around them? My fear is that our Li family is situated right on the periphery of the Green Pool Sect's influence! Just like two villages fighting over water, no one wants to plant crops on the contested borders. That's the principle. According to Xu Wenshan, to the south lies Wu Kingdom. There's constant friction between Wu and Yue, so the relationship between their underlying immortal sects probably isn't good either!"

Li Tongya's heart chilled, and his face also grew grim. He said, "That's an oversight. Tomorrow, we'll send people to thoroughly investigate the area around Ancient Li Road. Understanding our Li family's situation is the most pressing matter right now. I just hope our Li family isn't merely a crop that the Green Pool Sect casually planted on its border."

Li Xiangping gave a bitter laugh, then heard Li Yesheng and several sweaty village guards calling out from ahead.

"Immortal Master! What an enormous snake!"