Lotus Seeds Gifted to Neighbors, Longevity Dao Rhyme Forges Good Ties

On the eastern side of the Hongmeng Great Land lay a village settlement called Qinghe Town. Most of its people lived by farming, leading plain yet peaceful lives. Ever since Shen Hao had stabilized the spiritual veins and held the convention to answer doubts, Qinghe Town's people had grown ever more respectful of this common lord who cared for all living beings. Yet because the journey was long, few had the chance to see him in person. On this day, Shen Hao brought Zi Xuan and dozens of disciples, carrying carts full of newly harvested lotus seeds from Longevity Lotus Pond, to Qinghe Town to gift seeds and forge ties, intending for the blessings of the Longevity Dao Rhyme to benefit more ordinary people.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when the party set out. Shen Hao wore a plain cloth robe and coarse cloth shoes, utterly without the airs of a common lord. Instead, he resembled a scholar visiting friends and relatives. Zi Xuan carried a bamboo basket lined with soft brocade and holding several plump, round lotus seeds. Her steps were light, and her face held an eager smile—this was her first time accompanying Shen Hao into the countryside to give gifts, and her heart brimmed with anticipation.

"Brother Hao, can these lotus seeds really help crops grow better?" Zi Xuan reached out to touch the lotus seeds in her basket, their warmth and smoothness brushing her fingertips. "I heard that the Dao Rhyme of the Longevity Lotus was especially nourishing to all things, but I don't know whether it works on ordinary rice and wheat."

Shen Hao turned to look at Zi Xuan's curious expression and could not help smiling. "The Dao Rhyme of the Longevity Lotus makes no distinction between high and low, noble