Gold.
Inside the bottle was clearly flowing gold.
It gave off an exceedingly fragrant scent. Merely smelling it made Li Ye feel refreshed and clear-headed, while its color was pleasing to the eye. It truly was rather peculiar.
"What is this?"
"Could this be the harvest Spirit Vine mentioned?"
Li Ye silently sealed the bottle with its wooden stopper and carefully placed it in a corner of his cabinet, beside the tender sprout dropped by the Flint Crystal Worm.
He planned to gather more of it first, then sound people out in casual conversation to see if he could learn what this thing actually was.
But he did not notice that as he fitted the stopper back in, a wisp of golden light silently merged into his body.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Three days later, Li Ye left home on time and headed for the "Peach Garden" Fellow Daoist Zhou had mentioned.
That so-called Peach Garden lay east of Returning Shore Market. Li Ye merely asked a few passersby and easily found the bright, splendid peach garden.
Though it was only the Start of Spring and there was still a trace of chill in the air, the boundless peach blossoms had already bloomed in dazzling profusion. Every peach tree was exceptionally tall, with gnarled, twisting trunks and branches, clearly having lived for many years.
The pink petals seemed to carry the glow of rosy clouds. As they drifted through the air, floral fragrance and spiritual energy surged forth together. Simply standing here, one could feel spiritual energy drilling straight into the body!
Name: Spring-Gazing Pink Peach Status: Blooming to release its accumulated spiritual energy Mood: Joyful
"Fellow Daoist Li!"
Just as Li Ye was captivated by the beautiful scene, Fellow Daoist Zhou, clad in a gray Daoist robe, hurried over. "It really is you. I heard the forest keeper say someone had come, so I rushed over to receive you."
"Hurry along. Today, Senior Su and several other seniors have reserved this place together. The spiritual energy accumulated through an entire winter is being released along with these blooming peach flowers. Later, we'll compete to see who absorbs the most spiritual energy!"
He warmly led Li Ye down a path embraced by peach trees, arriving at a small lake. They crossed the stone steps built across the water and reached the small island at its center.
More than a dozen cultivators were already seated there.
Among the gathered cultivators sat a man in flowing white robes. It was none other than Su Ya, Alchemist Su of the Four Seasons Sect!
"Hm."
"It really is you!"
The moment Su Ya saw Li Ye, he broke into a smile. Without another word, he squeezed past the surrounding cultivators, came over, and tugged Li Ye by the sleeve as he introduced him. "This is my good friend, Li Ye."
For an alchemist of the Four Seasons Sect to introduce someone in such a manner, they could not figure out what background this cultivator—who merely seemed somewhat better-looking—possessed. They simply nodded one after another.
"Fellow Daoist Li!"
"Fellow Daoist Li looks unfamiliar."
"Do you usually attend gatherings here, Fellow Daoist?"
These cultivators were clearly all shrewd old hands. Smiles adorned their faces, and their tones were warmly measured. The atmosphere immediately became exceedingly harmonious.
Li Ye naturally returned every greeting in turn.
After the round of pleasantries ended, Li Ye sat beside Fellow Daoist Zhou and felt as though his smile had gone stiff.
A female cultivator suggested, "Since Fellow Daoist Li is new and we have not met before, why not let Fellow Daoist Li perform the Spirit Summoning first? I am willing to play a tune in accompaniment for Fellow Daoist Li."
This female cultivator sat beside Su Ya and was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Spirit Summoning?
Just as doubt rose in Li Ye's heart, Su Ya smiled. "Naturally. Fellow Daoist Li, the peach grove in this Peach Garden came from Peach Blossom Mountain of my Four Seasons Sect. The branches were personally broken off by the Mountain God."
"They store spiritual energy for an entire winter, then release what they have accumulated when they bloom in spring. The spiritual energy from this first bloom can summon the Peach Blossom Mountain God's blessing!"
"If Fellow Daoist Jiang, Fellow Daoist Xiao, and I did not possess a little meager influence, we would never have been able to be the first to occupy this Peach Garden for discourse, flower-viewing, and Spirit Summoning."
"Ah!" Cultivator Jiang hurriedly waved her hand. "It was mainly Brother Su's doing; let us not speak of the rest. Fellow Daoist Li, are you willing to perform the Spirit Summoning?"
She had long heard of Li Ye's affairs and knew that this minor cultivator was certain to enter the Four Seasons Sect. Coupled with Su Ya's high regard for him, she did not mind doing him a favor.
Li Ye considered for a moment, then rose to his feet. "Senior, you honor me. I am naturally willing, but I do not know the procedure for this Spirit Summoning."
The female cultivator said nothing. She merely took out a bamboo flute overflowing with spiritual light, brought it to her lips, and gently blew. A melodious flute tune slowly flowed forth like running water, seeming to resonate with the peach blossom spiritual energy around them.
Pink petals danced around Li Ye.
In a daze, Li Ye seemed to see a peach tree towering atop a high mountain, blotting out heaven and earth. Whenever it bloomed, flowers fell like rain, and the rain of peach blossoms stretched for countless thousands of miles.
A lofty consciousness cast a distant glance at Li Ye.
Then a voice as gentle as water sounded:
"An interesting child."
"There is much affection from many little ones upon you... oh! And their gratitude as well—the thanks of those who have escaped endless suffering."
"Fortunately, you still cultivate that technique."
"Go. Break off the peach blossom branch that pleases your eye the most. That shall be the reward for your Spirit Summoning."
As the voice vanished, Li Ye instantly awakened.
"Hm? Fellow Daoist received a response so quickly?"
Cultivator Jiang was rather surprised. Spirit Summoning was not something that was guaranteed to succeed; it depended on whether that Mountain God was willing to respond.
Generally speaking, she would simply turn a blind eye.
Yet this Qi Refinement cultivator had received the Mountain God's response so quickly. It seemed he truly was somewhat extraordinary.
Li Ye was a little dazed. He nodded. "The Mountain God asked me to..."
"Then go do it." Su Ya sat up straight, his gaze upon Li Ye resembling that of someone looking at a rare treasure beyond price.
"Alright." Li Ye also found it strange. He walked into the peach grove nearby and felt that all these peach trees, which ought to have been brilliant, had no color at all. Only one branch shone dazzlingly in his eyes.
Naturally, he broke it off without the slightest hesitation.
With a crack.
The flower branch, severed from the peach tree, immediately began to turn to jade from its broken end. Several peach blossoms atop it turned to jade as well, resting quietly in his hand.
Name: Peach Jade Blossom Branch Status: Blessed by the Mountain God "Peach Blossom" Mood: Joyful Bindable: Any wood-attributed spirit beast capable of flowering
The spiritual energy pouring from the jade-colored peach branch into his body swiftly transformed into his cultivation, directly raising it by one level. In an instant, he went from the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!
"This... is so terrifying."
He murmured to himself, then returned to the island in the lake's center with the flower branch in hand. The cultivators had been waiting for his return, and the instant he arrived, Cultivator Jiang looked toward his hand.
"It is actually a Jade Reward!"
The female cultivator was clearly extremely surprised. "Gold, jade, iron, copper, wood—the Peach Blossom Mountain God actually favors you so greatly that she gave you a Jade Reward. Thanks to you, we can taste what peaches are like."
As she spoke, a smile appeared on her face.
Her reaction made Li Ye curious as well. These peaches must be quite special, right? What kind of wondrous peaches could make a Foundation Establishment Cultivator react with such astonishment?
Before you continue