Heart-Questioning

"Even when brewed and drunk, this Heart-Questioning Tea has incredible effects, but it seems only when combined with the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony does it possess the miraculous effect of Increasing Spirit Yuan!"

Fang Yuan sat at the table, gazing at the less than half a pound of tea leaves before him, lost in thought.

After harvesting them, he experimented with the tea leaves a few times, following his habits from his dreams.

First, he simply brewed them directly. Without the series of mental cultivation exercises like centering the mind and focusing the spirit from the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony, the impact of the flavor remained, and it did have a certain effect of Cleansing the Mind, but the miraculous effect of Increasing Spirit Yuan had vanished.

This made him even more convinced that his Master, the Heart-Questioning Hermit, must be an extraordinary person.

And the second point made Fang Yuan even more regretful.

"The first time drinking this Heart-Questioning Tea yields the best results, with its efficacy decreasing afterward... there should be a limit. Is it a matter of tolerance?"

Fang Yuan habitually recorded these observations.

Through experimentation, standardization, and data collection, he formed a basis for future reference, an experience he had learned from another dream life.

Although he was only eighteen, in that dream, he had lived a lifetime.

Unfortunately, after he came of age, that dream vanished.

"To have obtained this Spiritual Object is already a stroke of luck. What more could I be dissatisfied with?"

Fang Yuan consoled himself and resumed his daily inspection rounds.

"Hmm, what should I do about that Heart-Questioning Tea Tree? Transplant it?"

He walked along, his brow furrowed slightly.

The plantation behind the hidden valley, while concealed, was not foolproof. Although Fang Yuan had obtained the land deed for the valley and the surrounding ten miles through Steward Lin's connections, the temptation of Spiritual Objects was too great. He didn't want to entrust his safety to the whims of others.

The anomaly of that Heart-Questioning Tea Tree was too conspicuous. If discovered, it would inevitably attract covetous eyes, so it had to be moved.

As for those Crimson Jade Rice Seeds, because they were the lowest-grade Spiritual Objects and their origins were relatively clear, he had fewer worries about them.

"I wonder what the flavor of the spiritual rice will be like?"

Fang Yuan stroked his chin, feeling a sense of impatience. Upon arriving at the Crimson Jade Rice Field, he was met with a mixture of surprise and joy.

Before him, fiery red seedlings were breaking through the soil, like young lotus buds just peeking out, brimming with vitality.

"They've actually sprouted?"

Fang Yuan was overjoyed.

After all, from the teachings of the Heart-Questioning Hermit, he knew that Spiritual Seeds and Immortal Seeds were highly dependent on blessed lands.

In other places, only where the Earth Qi was fertile to the Extreme point and the environment was spiritually endowed and exceptionally beautiful could there be a mere three-tenths hope, and even then, only the lowest-grade varieties could be cultivated.

No matter how poor the Crimson Jade Rice was, it was still a spiritual object!

He never imagined he could actually cultivate it himself. If it could be popularized, perhaps the Gui Ling Sect wouldn't be as wealthy as he would be?

'That Gui Ling Sect, they think they're so great, but can they eat spiritual rice every day? I can!'

A slight curve formed on Fang Yuan's lips. His peripheral vision flickered, and he suddenly cried out, "Oh no!" and ran to the edge of the rice field.

"This..."

He stared at the scene before him, his expression a little dazed.

At the edge of the thriving rice field, the adjacent patch of Blue Star Grass had yellowing stems and leaves, with some leaves appearing withered, as if their vitality had been instantly drained.

There were also the Yellow Fruit trees and Kudzu Vines... anything that came close to the Crimson Jade Rice Field suffered the same fate.

"No way... I planted the surrounding plants, which are relatively easy to grow and have soil-enriching effects, specifically for the spiritual seeds..."

Fang Yuan looked at the scene and suddenly had an epiphany: "This spiritual seed is too overbearing. It can actually plunder the vital energy of its own kind... No, it's because this isn't a spiritual land or blessed ground. For it to grow, it must be like this!"

As soon as he thought of this, Fang Yuan rushed to the tea garden anxiously and carefully examined the area around the Heart-Questioning Tea.

As expected, although this spiritual plant was becoming more vibrant, the surrounding tea trees were all showing signs of wilting.

"It seems... in the future, when cultivating spiritual seeds, I must either plant them separately or ensure the land's strength is sufficient, otherwise the impact on the surroundings will be too great..."

Fang Yuan bit his lip: "There's an emergency solution for now. It's just a matter of insufficient land strength and nutrients. One is to increase fertilization, applying the Fire-Returning Liquid three times a day, and ideally piling some Fire Fertilizer around... There's a shortage of some materials, so I'll have to trade with Old Man Tian!"

Old Man Tian was from an external Medicine Hall, responsible for purchasing medicinal ingredients and sometimes personally entering the mountains to gather them.

Once, he was bitten by a venomous snake and happened to be saved by the Heart-Questioning Hermit, forming a connection. He often brought in daily necessities in exchange for medicinal ingredients with the master and disciple.

According to the Heart-Questioning Hermit, the old man offered a fair price and was an honest person, so Fang Yuan had maintained contact with him.

In any case, he knew clearly that in the last few trades, the goods he cultivated were of superior quality and had excellent medicinal effects. The other party should have profited quite a bit.

"Young Layman! Young Layman!"

As he was thinking, Old Man Tian's voice drifted in from outside: "The old man is here again."

"It's Old Man Tian, please come in!"

Fang Yuan went to the valley entrance and smiled as he invited Old Man Tian into the dwelling.

Old Man Tian had long limbs, a pointed mouth, and a monkey-like face, resembling a large ape. His eyes held a cunning glint characteristic of mountain villagers. He entered carrying a large bamboo basket, which he set down with a huff, then rubbed his hands together and said with a fawning smile, "Young Layman, please take a look. Everything you asked for last time is here..."

"Hmm, Old Man Tian, you've worked hard!"

The mountain path was not short, and it was difficult for ordinary people to climb, let alone carry so much.

"The Yellow Fruit from last time is ripe. Please wait a moment, I'll go get it!"

Fang Yuan said with a smile.

"Alas..."

Old Man Tian, who should have been smiling, had a hesitant look on his face. He suddenly gritted his teeth: "This... Young Layman, there's one more thing this old man needs to tell you. This transaction is the last one!"

"Oh?"

Fang Yuan's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Is it that you're not satisfied with the medicinal ingredients from last time? Or do you find the price too high? These can all be discussed?"

"No, no! The medicinal ingredients cultivated by the Heart-Questioning Hermit are top-notch. Not to mention yours, Young Layman. Even the wild herbs found in the Deep Mountain Old Forest don't have as potent medicinal properties as yours. It's just..."

Old Man Tian waved his hands erratically: "In short, it won't work anymore!"

"Alright!"

Fang Yuan tested the waters, already having a rough idea in his mind. He smiled again: "Since that's the case, at least this time we should settle the money and goods, right? Old Man Tian, please wait a moment. It's getting late, how about we eat and have some tea before you go?"

"Eat?!"

Old Man Tian swallowed. As if recalling the deliciousness of the Jade Crystal Rice from last time, the hesitation on his face flashed, and he was ultimately overcome by his craving. He said, "I'm already very satisfied if you, Young Layman, can spare a couple of Rice Balls for this old man..."

But his feet were rooted to the spot, refusing to move.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan chuckled inwardly.

Jade Crystal Rice was already a superior grain that only well-off families could afford in the outside world. Moreover, the Pearl Jade Crystal Rice he cultivated was the absolute best of the best. Last time, he had only treated this old man to one meal, and it had left him so preoccupied that he had asked for some seeds. Unfortunately, he didn't even need to look to know the outcome.

"Old Man Tian, you jest. You rarely come here, and how could I be someone who doesn't know how to entertain guests?"

Fang Yuan said with a faint smile and turned into the inner room. Not long after, a rich fragrance wafted out.

Old Man Tian stretched his neck, sniffing vigorously, looking like a monkey scratching its ears and cheeks in impatience. It was truly amusing.

"My humble abode is simple, please forgive my lack of hospitality!"

Before long, Fang Yuan came out holding a wooden tray. On it were two bowls of rice and two small dishes.

The vegetables were freshly picked Cucumbers, tender and young. They were simply washed with Spring Water and sliced, still glistening with water droplets. They were verdant and translucent, almost too beautiful to eat.

There was also a plate of pickled beans, a small dish that emitted a peculiar fragrance. Just smelling it made Old Man Tian's stomach rumble.

"Good! Good!"

Of course, the most eye-catching item was the Pearl Jade Crystal Rice in the wooden bowls, its grains perfectly round and lustrous like pearls. The aroma rising from it mingled with the scent of the pickled beans, making Old Man Tian's eyes widen.

He couldn't afford to be polite at this point. He directly dug into the rice in the wooden bowl, exclaiming from time to time, "Delicious! Delicious... Wuwu..."

Like a gust of wind sweeping away clouds, he directly downed three large bowls of rice and finished all the side dishes. Old Man Tian then smiled sheepishly, "Young Layman, your cooking is simply turning decay into magic. I've eaten banquets at Fugui Tower in the city, and not a single dish there could compare to yours!"

"Come, please have some tea!"

Fang Yuan's expression was calm as he served another cup of Clear Tea.

This tea was Heart-Questioning Tea, but not the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony. He had long planned to test its effects on others, and Old Man Tian showing up today was opportune.

"What a wonderful aroma!"

Even without the elaborate steps, the brewed Tea Soup was like a wave of jade water, carrying a rich Fragrance that aided digestion and relieved heat. Old Man Tian's Hands, holding the teacup, trembled slightly.

"This tea is precious, unlike anything I've ever seen. Could it be another new variety you've cultivated, Young Layman?"

He asked, and seeing Fang Yuan smile without answering, he felt ashamed and didn't dare to ask further, directly taking a sip.

Rumble!

As the Tea Soup entered his mouth, it was like a jade Dragon waterfall, rushing down from high above, Cleansing the Mind. Then it flowed upstream, directly to his forehead. Old Man Tian instantly recalled his entire life: a poor childhood, a struggling youth, and now, still living a life of petty striving. Sorrow welled up, and two lines of tears flowed down involuntarily.

Fang Yuan, in front, immediately appreciated the various interesting changes in Old Man Tian's Demeanor.

"Wuwu... Young Layman, I am ashamed!"

Suddenly, Old Man Tian burst into tears and directly knelt down, "Heart-Questioning Hermit saved my life, yet I was bribed by outsiders to cut off your path. I am truly less than human, worse than a pig or dog!!!"

"This..."

Fang Yuan was a little stunned, not expecting the effect of Heart-Questioning Tea to be so potent.

However, he carefully observed Old Man Tian and shook his head, "That's right, without the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony, it wouldn't have the ability to Increase Spirit Yuan... Otherwise, he wouldn't be in this state!"