Bitter Spirit Gourd, Love-Sickness Life-Death Bean

"You want to grow something?"

"That couldn't be easier!"

After Li Ye had finished building the courtyard, Su Ya arrived carrying a food box. Hearing this, he replied without a second thought:

"I know of a kind of spiritual plant that doesn't need much Spiritual Energy. In fact, its Spiritual Energy concentration has to be adjusted constantly—it can't be too abundant."

"That thing is also in short supply among us alchemists.

"If you can grow some of that spiritual plant, several of my fellow disciples and I would be willing to buy it at a high price."

Li Ye's gaze lingered on the plate of soft, adorable-looking pastries Su Ya had taken out, garnished with honey and walnut kernels. He silently swallowed.

He had no idea what these green rice cakes were made of, but their rich fragrance wafted straight into his nose, making even a cultivator who had skipped breakfast find them difficult to resist.

Only then did he ask, "What spiritual plant are you talking about, Fellow Daoist? From the sound of it, I'm afraid it's hard to grow."

Teasingly, Su Ya pushed the pastries toward him. "They're called Bitter Spirit Gourds."

"They're a very special kind of gourd. From the time they sprout until they reach maturity, the gourds can be opened and closed at will. During that time, you can put materials or spiritual pills inside for storage."

"It's quite miraculous, really. Any Spiritual Materials or spiritual pills placed inside will be preserved even better than they would be in a Spirit-Sealing Box, and it can even purify Spiritual Energy."

"These gourds come from different kinds of seeds. They can grow into gourds with differing lifespans and quantities—there are seeds for one month, one year, even a hundred or a thousand years."

"Once they pass their growth stage, they become hard as iron and begin nurturing the Spiritual Materials or spiritual pills inside. The items can only be taken out once the gourd's lifespan runs out."

"In the sect, cultivators capable of growing gourd storage lasting more than ten years are already quite famous.

"That's because the Spiritual Energy these gourds need changes subtly every day, though generally speaking, they don't require all that much Spiritual Energy."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand and took several crimson gourd seeds from his storage ring.

"Here, I brought some with me. If you're willing to grow them, I'll hand over the Spiritual Materials that need one month of gourd storage right now."

By then, Li Ye had slowly finished the sweet, soft green rice cake. Squinting in satisfaction, he turned his gaze to the crimson gourds.

Name: Bitter Spirit Gourd · Crimson · One-Month Growth

Status: Awaiting Sprouting, Awaiting Death

Mood: Awaiting Sprouting

Can Bind: Special turtle-type spirit beast.

Hmm?

A special turtle-type spirit beast? Wasn't that far too vague?

The descriptions on the panel had always been clear and explicit before, yet this time it was so ambiguous. Just what counted as "special"?

"So this box of fine food you brought was because you had something to ask of me."

Li Ye shook his head. "But I've never grown this before. Fellow Daoist, aren't you being a little too bold? Wouldn't it be a wasted loss if I failed?"

It was best to lay the ugly truth out first.

"I believe in your ability," Su Ya said. At that, a somewhat strange expression suddenly surfaced on his face.

"Have I ever told you that during every festival, my elder sister has to bring gifts to her senior brother?"

"She does it to beg him to grow more of the spiritual plants she needs."

"That person is the owner of the Spirit Vine."

After saying that, he could not help sighing. "In a few days, several junior disciples will be stationed here to prepare for the once-every-three-years external assignment. By then, I'm afraid your doorstep will be trampled flat."

"You really can't forget about me!"

Goosebumps immediately rose all over Li Ye's body. He hurriedly said, "Fine, fine, fine, I'll grow them! Fellow Daoist, don't say such strange things again!"

A dazzling smile immediately bloomed across Su Ya's face. He pushed over the box of gourd seeds, along with another jade box, and urged him:

"Hurry and eat, Fellow Daoist. After you finish, we still have to attend Martial Uncle's Dao lecture assembly."

"???"

"A Dao lecture assembly?" Li Ye nearly choked. No, you were actually notifying me about this at the last minute too?!

"Of course." Su Ya nodded. "Some time ago, I told you that after the wind and snow ceased, Martial Uncle would give a lecture based on the completion progress of the Start of Spring Wheat.

"You came in first and completed it exceptionally well, so Martial Uncle decided to meet you and personally impart the Dao to you."

His tone was relaxed, but Li Ye felt as though his backside had caught fire.

From what he knew, there was a high chance that person was a Nascent Soul Cultivator. A Nascent Soul Cultivator was going to personally impart the Dao, and I was still stuffing my face?

Su Ya shrugged and pointed at the box of food.

"Because this was made by that senior, using your Flint Fire Seed. When you meet in a while, the True Person might even ask you how it tastes. Wouldn't you have to finish it before going?"

"..."

"Fellow Daoist, you must make things clear to me next time!" Li Ye clasped his hands helplessly, then began to leisurely enjoy the box of food. There was fish, meat, desserts, soup, and staples within.

Of course, while eating, he did not forget to tell Su Ya that he wanted to take part in mining. The latter agreed at once, saying only that arrangements could be made after they returned from distributing the wheat.

Reassured, Li Ye began eating to his heart's content.

With every bite, he could feel the numbers on his status panel ticking upward—

"+1"

"+5"

"+10"

By the time he finally finished everything in the lunchbox, Su Ya had already handed him a handkerchief. The instant Li Ye touched it, the space around him suddenly began to whirl and shift.

It seemed to take no more than a single breath.

He appeared in an endless field filled with countless varieties of beans. A Female Cultivator dressed in white stood not far away, her gaze falling upon him.

"Oh, all five elements are present."

"You've cultivated the Five Elements Ascending Spirit Art quite well."

"If Senior Brother hadn't said he wanted to take you as his disciple, I fear I too would have been unable to resist cherishing talent and letting such a fine piece of jade slip away."

She tossed Li Ye a pair of dull gray gloves.

"The Bean Soldiering technique I am going to teach you requires suitable beans. Go and look for some. This field is my Personal Grotto-Heaven; it contains many spiritual seeds, even divine seeds.

"If you truly have the ability to find something good, it will make it much easier when I pass the technique on to you later. At the very least, my little act of putting on airs won't have been wasted."

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure vanished outright.

Li Ye blinked, silently put on the gloves, and looked over the boundless field. He had just taken a step forward when he suddenly lowered his head.

"Hm?"

Narrowing his eyes, he reached down and pulled up a very small bean sprout. Facing the empty air before him, he said, "Senior, this one will do!"

Whoosh!

The Female Cultivator's just-vanished figure instantly reappeared.

She looked at the bean sprout in Li Ye's hand. It was no longer than an arm, with only five or six black-and-white beans scattered across it. It looked wilted, unremarkable, and utterly inconspicuous.

Her expression turned subtly strange.

"Are you sure you want to choose this?"

"Yes. This junior finds it rather pleasing to the eye." Li Ye nodded with certainty. "I'm definitely fated with it!"

"..."

"You brat are far too sharp. You should hide it a little better in the future."

Pointing at the bean sprout, the Female Cultivator said, "Seven emotions of love-sickness, life and death forever apart—this is a spiritual seed once left behind by the Hell Dao. I went to great lengths to purify it."

"But so be it. I have already said it, and you truly possess both the talent and fortune for it. This Love-Sickness Life-Death Bean is yours!"

As her words fell, a surge of Spiritual Energy washed over the beans.

The beans' pitch-black surfaces gradually melted away, revealing fresh blood piled up so densely it had nearly turned black!

From red to black—one could imagine just how much "red" had accumulated.

What terrifying spiritual power!

Thank you all for the monthly votes and recommendation votes! If possible, this little brother would like to beg for some recommendation votes, at least so I know you esteemed readers are still reading! My deepest thanks!