Chapter 37: Spirit Rice

Li Tongya felt his heart skip a beat, his head swimming slightly. He quickly turned his head and looked down at the swaying, pale green spirit rice in the fields, whispering softly:

“You… had better wait until you’ve cultivated the Profound Vistas Wheel before discussing anything else.”

Liu Rouxuan giggled, leaned closer to Li Tongya’s face, her beautiful eyebrows gently unfurling, and whispered in his ear:

“Then, Brother Tongya, don’t go off with someone else first…”

Li Tongya immediately flushed crimson. He rose, a little indignant and ashamed, and said:

“You should focus on your cultivation!”

With that, he fled the courtyard as if escaping, heading into the distance.

Li Tongya walked a short distance along the stone path and splashed his face with river water. Only then did he slowly calm down, letting out a wry smile.

“It seems I’ve fallen into her trap.”

“Second Brother truly has feelings for Liu Rouxuan! Father’s strategy was brilliant!”

Li Xiangping, smiling broadly, was sitting by the bank. He chuckled at Li Tongya:

“When Father arranged for you to take Liu Rouxuan, Second Brother, you only saw the external strategy of relocating her to prevent her from growing too powerful. But as an insider, you were blinded to the internal strategy aimed specifically at you, Li Tongya.”

“Third Brother, stop laughing at me!”

Li Tongya gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head helplessly, and replied:

“The more I observe Father, the more I realize there’s always something to learn from the old man.”

“Indeed!”

Li Xiangping nodded, his expression serious as he said:

“The three Serpent Essence Pills left by Xiao Yuansi—I intend to use them to break through when you and I advance to the Jade Capital Wheel.”

“Father and Yesheng have already dripped their blood onto the Misty Illusion Array. I will personally take the Dharma Mirror quietly up to the small courtyard in the mountains. As for the Dark Water Sword Art… I’m afraid I don’t have the talent for it. Second Brother, perhaps you should study it more.”

Li Tongya scooped up a handful of river water, washed his hands, and replied:

“Chijin has been at the Immortal Sect for nearly three years, and this first batch of spirit rice we planted is about to mature. You and I won’t have a moment to spare in the coming days.”

This year, the snow in Lijing Village was thicker than usual. The spirit rice in the fields had matured, its pale green stalks holding grains like white jade, standing upright. Even heavy snow couldn’t bend its branches and leaves.

This spirit rice was unlike ordinary grain; its leaves were sharp as blades, and its stalks had to be harvested with an axe. Only after Li Tongya and the others enchanted their sickles with a Golden Radiance spell were they able to harvest these few spirit fields completely.

Looking at the spirit rice piled into bundles of small green stacks, Li Qiuyang stepped on the snow, clapped his hands, and laughed:

“Brother Xiangping, this spirit rice looks truly impressive.”

Li Qiuyang cultivated the Profound Vistas Wheel last month. He took the Profound Vistas Spirit Oath in the family ancestral hall and learned several spells. The boy was now ten years old, and with his features maturing, he looked quite handsome and somewhat like an adult.

He had accumulated eighty-one wisps of spiritual power a year ago, but unfortunately failed at the final step when forming the Profound Vistas Wheel. He had to spend another year meditating to restore his spiritual power, nearly being overtaken by Liu Rouxuan.

“Good.”

Li Xiangping was also full of smiles, his spiritual power flowing endlessly; he had already cultivated the Revolving Cycles Wheel.

Tian Yun was pregnant with twins, and she gave birth to a boy and a girl for the Li family, making him beam with joy. The elder repeatedly looked at the children, naming the boy Li Xuanfeng and the girl Li Jingting, according to the family’s generational naming scheme.

“The White Origin Fruit isn’t ripe yet, but the spirit rice harvest is complete. Let’s take it back first.”

The village guards behind them had already used clippers to snip off each of the spirit rice leaves and bound them with thick rope. Only then did they dare to carry them, two by two. The spirit rice leaves were as sharp as knives, and everyone had endured quite a bit of hardship.

Upon reaching the foot of Lijing Mountain, a thin mist gradually began to spread. Li Yesheng said gravely to the few people behind him:

“Stay close! If you get lost in this array, be careful of your lives!”

The village guards quickly affirmed. The group walked up the stone path to the mountaintop, placed the bundles of spirit rice in the courtyard, and Li Xiangping waved his hand, saying:

“Take them down.”

Removing the spirit rice from its stalks required spiritual power for harvesting, followed by specialized incantations to husk and dehull it, ensuring the spiritual energy of the rice grains was not lost.

In the process of harvesting spirit rice, mortals could only cut and transport it with sickles enchanted with the Golden Radiance spell. The truly important steps still required cultivators to handle.

“Third Uncle! Cousin!”

Li Xuanxuan walked out of the courtyard and cupped his hands towards Li Qiuyang and Li Xiangping. He was now over seven years old, his frame gradually developing, and his face bore a striking resemblance to the deceased Li Changhu.

“Xuanxuan, come here.”

Seeing Li Xuanxuan walk towards Li Qiuyang, Li Xiangping’s expression changed. He quickly called him over, and once Li Xuanxuan was seated beside him, he chuckled:

“This child’s spiritual aperture was detected before the New Year. He cultivates incredibly fast and is estimated to complete the Profound Vistas Wheel in a few more months.”

Li Xuanxuan, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned, his mind filled with doubts as he secretly wondered:

“The family clearly hasn’t measured my spiritual roots, nor have they passed down any cultivation methods. What does Third Uncle mean by this…”

Yet, he smiled broadly and nodded towards the envious Li Qiuyang.

“Xuan’er is truly amazing!”

Li Qiuyang couldn’t help but praise him, then felt a little ashamed, recalling that it had taken him two years to form his Profound Vistas Wheel.

The two chatted for a few moments. Once Li Tongya ascended the mountain, Li Xuanxuan withdrew. The others then spent several hours plucking the spirit rice and removing its husks. Li Mutian divided it into bags, lifted one gently, and announced:

“One hundred and twenty jin of spirit rice, and forty jin of spirit rice husks.”

“We’ll get another harvest in two years. This should be enough for the offerings.”

After seeing Li Qiuyang off, Li Xiangping placed the two bags of spirit rice and husks on the table and examined them. Seeing the spirit rice grains, smooth and beautiful like white jade, he couldn’t help but praise them. He then put the rice inside the house and quietly said to Li Tongya:

“Xuanxuan’s physique has stabilized at seven years old; it’s time for him to begin cultivation.”

Li Tongya paused, then nodded thoughtfully, following Li Xiangping into the house.

Charcoal fire burned in the room. The elderly tend to be drowsy in winter, so Li Mutian had already gone to bed. Only Li Xuanxuan remained in the hall, leaning by the stove, warming himself.

Inside the room, Li Xuanxuan gazed at the falling snowflakes on the mountain, staring blankly at the silver-clad Lijing Mountain. Seeing the two approach, he quickly stood up and asked:

“Third Uncle, why did you tell my cousin that I’m close to cultivating the Profound Vistas Wheel? If I don’t have a spiritual aperture, wouldn’t that be embarrassing and conspicuous…”

Li Xiangping carefully closed the doors and windows, made a shushing gesture to Li Xuanxuan, and said gravely:

“Follow me.”

Li Xuanxuan immediately fell silent, obediently following Li Xiangping to a green-brick-and-tile house in the deepest part of the courtyard.

Li Xiangping took out a key, unlocked the door, gently pushed it open, and whispered to Li Xuanxuan:

“Come in.”

Seeing Li Xiangping’s solemn expression, Li Xuanxuan also felt uneasy. He saw that the room was quite spacious, with only a green stone platform in the very center, on which rested a grayish-blue mirror-like object.

Incense burned inside, its scent calming and refreshing. Li Xuanxuan glanced at Li Xiangping, seeing him quietly staring at the mirror, and dared not speak.