His doubts were quickly answered.
Su Ya pointed at a nearby tree. "This peach branch bears the divine blessing of the Peach Blossom Mountain God. It can swiftly ripen plants, and its effect is even greater on peach trees."
"Only under this divine power can these peach trees grow delicious peaches. Otherwise, once the season of spring blossoms passes, there will never be flowers falling and fruit forming."
"Though this divine power is attached to the peach branch, if you diligently study and sense it, it is not impossible for you to learn it. In the future, it will become a divine ability and spell you possess yourself."
As he spoke, he swept his gaze around the surroundings, seemingly casually.
"This item was bestowed by the mountain god of our Four Seasons Sect. Since it was granted by the mountain god, it naturally belongs only to those favored by Her Elderly Self.
If others take it, not only will they be unable to learn the divine ability and spell within, they may even invite calamity."
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Xiao, who had remained silent until now and wore a fitted martial outfit, spoke as well. "Naturally. Within Returning Shore Market, one is certainly not permitted to casually seize another's opportunity."
The others voiced their agreement one after another.
The cultivator surnamed Zhou even urged, "Fellow Daoist Li, quickly cast the spell. We have never tasted peaches ripened by the mountain god's divine power!"
"Since all you fellow Daoists and seniors are waiting."
"Then I shall make a fool of myself."
With his words, the slightly tense atmosphere from earlier naturally vanished like smoke. Everyone watched expectantly as Li Ye held the peach branch and walked over to a peach tree that was not especially tall.
Jade-colored light swept gently past, accompanied by flowing radiance like the pink clouds of peach blossoms.
The peach blossoms blooming brilliantly across the tree fluttered down in profusion, while large fruits, white flushed with red, rapidly grew forth.
The fragrance of peaches immediately rushed toward them.
It was a scent more delicious and more substantial than the fragrance of peach blossoms. Merely smelling it made their mouths water, leaving them eager to taste the delectable peaches.
And, as it happened, there were seventeen cultivators present, and exactly seventeen peaches.
Once the peaches had fully ripened, they were wrapped in an inexplicable wind and fell into the hands of every cultivator.
Unsurprisingly, the one in Li Ye's hand was the largest and reddest.
What followed naturally needed no further words.
The cultivators all enjoyed the delicious peaches. Their juice was sweet and their flesh fragrant; although they did not provide much spiritual energy, being able to enjoy such a rare and peerless delicacy was already excellent.
After they finished the peaches, Su Ya spoke first:
"Next, please draw lots, fellow Daoists."
"Let us see who will be fortunate enough to perform Spirit Summoning."
He casually took out a lot cylinder and allowed the cultivators to draw lots in turn. In the end, it was unexpectedly the other four Qi Refining Cultivators who drew the winning lots.
Judging from their wild delight, they clearly had not expected to draw them.
To be honest, Li Ye had also thought that several Foundation Establishment Cultivators would certainly draw the lots next. He knew full well that he had been the first to perform Spirit Summoning only because he possessed enough value for Su Ya to regard him highly.
At this moment, Fellow Daoist Zhou, seated beside Li Ye, leaned closer and said, "These fellow Daoists were all invited by us. They are Rogue Cultivators among the cultivators of Returning Shore."
"You need not feel that you have taken someone else's place either. Senior Su Ya should originally have occupied one himself; this time, he gave it to you."
"So that was it." Li Ye nodded, sighing faintly in his heart.
Fellow Daoist Su Ya valued him so highly merely because of the Moon Nectar Pearls produced by that Silver Moon Grass. It seemed that the Silver Moon Grass was also an important item within the Four Seasons Sect.
It appeared he would need to be more careful in the future.
Nothing would happen within Returning Shore Market, but who knew whether he might encounter cultivators outside who wished to kill him and seize his treasures?
But then again, what Spirit Vine had said a few days ago was also right: caution was good, but opportunities would become few—if he truly only cowered away and concealed his edge, could he really obtain so many resources and opportunities?
Thinking this, he shook his head.
He had to strive, but he had to strive in a suitable and reasonable way.
At the very least, he could not allow himself to fall into danger he was unable to resist.
He reached out, picked up the prepared wine on the table, and drained it in one gulp.
The wine was clear and sweet, entirely without the fiery bite that burned the throat and stomach. Instead, it dispersed the vexation in his mind.
He looked into the distance. Those cultivators fortunate enough to receive the chance for Spirit Summoning were carrying it out one after another.
But clearly, their luck was not as good as Li Ye's.
The best among them received only a Copper Reward, while the rest received Wood Rewards.
Yet even so, they were extraordinarily happy. It had been an unexpected gain to begin with; greedily wanting more would only be bad.
After Spirit Summoning ended, everyone began discussing the strange tales and interesting events they had encountered recently. As expected, the topic turned to the Demon Sect invasion that the Four Seasons Sect was trying to resolve.
"That Demon Sect is truly hateful."
A young cultivator said bitterly, "They actually used mortals to research that Hell Method, and this time they even used the most horrifying Hungry Ghost Method to refine countless cities!"
"You must know that nowadays, we Spirit Herbalists can casually cultivate enough grain to feed ordinary mortals for years. In such a flourishing age, the Demon Sect still managed to exploit a gap!"
Cultivator Jiang sighed softly. "Alas, the Demon Sect truly is detestable. I heard the Four Seasons High Sect is already doing everything possible to remove those Demon Flowers growing all over the land?
If the resentment within those Demon Flowers is dispelled, will they truly yield Aura of Golden Fortune?"
She looked toward Su Ya.
The latter's expression did not change at all. He nodded.
"You should trust in the capabilities of our Four Seasons Sect. You have likely also heard some rumors: if the resentment in those Demon Flowers is resolved through the correct method, they indeed produce Aura of Golden Fortune.
That strange spiritual material is part of a contract our Four Seasons Sect signed with the Heavenly Dao of that region through the power of a Transformation God Ancestor. Whatever you fellow Daoists may think, so long as you can dispel the resentment, take as much Aura of Golden Fortune as you wish!
Of course, if you are willing to trade with our Four Seasons Sect, the benefits will naturally be plentiful. The nominal top-grade Spirit Artifact is merely one of them."
At this point, he paused, his tone growing heavier.
"But you should also know that even if we can eliminate the effects brought about by the Demon Sect, we cannot undo these sins."
"Most importantly, where exactly did all this suffering come from?"
"Mortals are born into all manner of suffering and can only rest once their lifespans end. The demon path is indeed hateful, but why suffering exists is the root cause."
"Several fellow Daoists present have Lineages that are renowned clans near Returning Shore Market. Do not let the inspectors of our Four Seasons Sect discover any acts of exploiting mortals."
He swept his gaze across the cultivators.
Quite a few cultivators clearly stiffened.
Fellow Daoist Zhou, seated beside Li Ye, was among them.
Immediately afterward, Cultivator Jiang smiled. "Fellow Daoist Su, those words sound rather like you do not trust the fellow Daoists gathered here. We all come from renowned clans and distinguished Lineages; how could we possibly exploit mortals?"
"Naturally." Su Ya smiled as well. "When the Start of Spring Wheat is harvested in the coming days, I must trouble the Lineages of you fellow Daoists to distribute this batch of Start of Spring Wheat to the mortals under your respective authority."
The cultivators naturally nodded and voiced their assent.
Blending into the crowd, Li Ye felt somewhat moved. Fellow Daoist Su Ya had seemed unreliable before, yet when it was time to be formidable, he truly could be formidable. As expected of a disciple from a great sect.
But... so that thing was called "Aura of Golden Fortune"?
Could it be capable of increasing Fortune?
Should something related to Fortune not be extremely precious? Why was it being released so easily?
Before you continue