Peaches of Immortality as Fertilizer

Looking at the empty valley, Hongyun could not help but frown and ask, "Brother Shi Mo, are you sure those flat peach trees grew here?"

Shi Mo stepped forward to the edge of a dirt pit. Looking at the series of pits ahead, which seemed to grin like an open mouth, he could not help but frown in speechless astonishment.

"It seems they were transplanted away in advance," Zhen Yuanzi, who had also stepped forward with a furrowed brow, immediately added, "What place could possibly hold so many flat peach trees? The person who moved them must have been quite confident they would survive the transplant."

Who would know the flat peach trees were here? And to take them all at once—they must have been very confident they could keep them alive. Could it be... In the myths of the Primordial World, the flat peach spiritual roots in the Heavenly Court were gifted directly to the Queen Mother of the West by Hongjun.

Thinking of this, Shi Mo guessed who was behind this and could not help but secretly mutter to himself, To think that a dignified Saint and Dao Ancestor would act so sneakily.

"Brother Shi Mo, you said you discovered this peach forest before, so why didn't you transplant them all to the Eight Treasures Peak on your Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain? Now look, someone else has beaten you to it," Hongyun said.

Shi Mo feigned a helpless smile. "I didn't have total confidence back then, so I only transplanted one. Later, I heard the Dao Ancestor was going to preach in the Purple Heaven Palace, so I rushed off, ran into Old Ancestor Minghe, and ended up wandering to Longevity Mountain."

"So that's how it was! Brother Shi Mo, it seems those other flat peach trees were not meant for you; one cannot force these things," Zhen Yuanzi realized.

"Brother Shi Mo, you worry too much. If it were me, regardless of whether I could keep them alive or not, I would have taken them all the moment I saw them," Hongyun pouted. "I thought I'd get to eat some flat peaches! So much for that."

"Hongyun, what are you so anxious about? Doesn't Brother Shi Mo still have one tree? Once it bears fruit, you won't be short of peaches to eat," Zhen Yuanzi rolled his eyes at him.

Hongyun's eyes lit up. "That's right! Brother Shi Mo, it's lucky you transplanted one, otherwise I wouldn't know if I'd ever get the chance to taste them!"

"Hmph, no matter who transplanted those trees, they will eventually be exposed. Once we see who has flat peaches besides Brother Shi Mo, we'll know," Hongyun said, then added, "Brother Shi Mo, when that time comes, I'll accompany you to their doorstep to vent your anger."

Shi Mo only offered a helpless smile, noncommittal. By then, I don't even know if you'll be alive or dead, Brother Hongyun!

"Although the trees were moved, there are still quite a few ripe peaches that fell from the branches earlier."

As he walked toward the cluster of pits, Shi Mo looked at the scattered peaches on the ground and frowned. "What a pity, they've all rotted. It's such a waste!"

It seems it was indeed Hongjun who took the trees; only he would be indifferent to these fallen, ripe peaches. Convinced of his hypothesis, Shi Mo looked around. "Strange, why is there no preservation effect here? Are these peaches not fresh because of the environment, or was it because of the trees themselves?"

"Wait, where is the snowy mountain pond water from before? Is it shrouded in mist?" Looking up into the distance, Shi Mo became even more puzzled.

"So many flat peaches? This is simply a waste of heaven's gifts!" Seeing the rotten peaches, Hongyun stomped his feet in distress.

Hearing this, Shi Mo's expression shifted. "Flat peaches, even rotten ones, are still good things! They are innate spiritual fruits; even if they can't be eaten, they contain innate energy. I can take them back to use as fertilizer."

And these pits—if I take them back to the Eight Treasures Peak and plant them, even if they can't compare to the original trees, the fruit they bear will still be better than ordinary spiritual fruits. Thinking of this, Shi Mo's eyes lit up. He focused his intent, controlling the spiritual energy of the earth to gather all the rotten peaches together.

"Brother Shi Mo, what are you doing? These rotten peaches can't be eaten," Hongyun said, stunned.

"I don't intend to eat them; I'm taking them back to fertilize the fields." Shi Mo's words left Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi speechless.

Using innate spiritual fruits to fertilize fields was definitely extravagant. It hadn't occurred to them at first, but now that they realized it, they looked at each other with rather colorful expressions.

After Shi Mo brought the large quantity of rotten peaches to the Eight Treasures Peak on Nine Tripod Iron Fork Mountain and scattered them across the forest, Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi, who had watched the whole process, still looked somewhat unnatural.

"Two brothers, I'm sorry to have dragged you on a wasted trip," Shi Mo said apologetically, then hesitated before continuing, "To be honest, I invited you here for another matter as well. I was hoping for your help."

"Brother Shi Mo, speak your mind. If we can help, we certainly will," Hongyun said readily.

Facing Zhen Yuanzi's smiling gaze, Shi Mo said bluntly, "It's like this: when I was connecting the ley lines earlier, I discovered that the ley lines in the West were severely damaged. I spent some effort repairing them and discovered that I actually received the power of merit from the Primordial World's Heavenly Dao."

"Merit?" Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi exchanged a look, and Hongyun immediately asked, "What power of merit? And what is the use of this merit?"

What is the use of merit? Shi Mo was rendered speechless by the question. Seeing that Zhen Yuanzi also seemed confused, he said:

"You two don't know about the power of merit? This is no ordinary thing; it requires a great contribution to the Primordial World to be bestowed by the Heavenly Dao."

"Merit is closely linked to one's destiny. Possessing it not only aids in cultivation and enlightenment, making progress faster, but once an innate spiritual treasure absorbs the power of merit and becomes a treasure of merit, it can kill without incurring karma," Shi Mo continued. "In short, merit has many uses, and the benefits of possessing great merit are numerous."

"Oh? Merit has such uses?" Hongyun raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"But it is not easy to obtain," Shi Mo said, looking at Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi's expression shifted. "Brother Shi Mo, are you asking us to help you repair the western ley lines? Why would you want us to participate in such an opportunity to gain merit?"

Seeing Zhen Yuanzi's puzzlement, Shi Mo smiled helplessly. "Brother Zhen Yuanzi, do you know how vast the West is? How long would it take for me to repair it alone? This great merit is something I am destined not to hoard for myself."

"Furthermore, if I could have your help in using the Earth Book to mobilize the power of the ley lines, it would be much easier for us to repair the western ley lines together," Shi Mo added.

"So, Brother Shi Mo, you mainly wanted Brother Zhen Yuanzi to help, and I'm just an afterthought!" Hongyun joked with a laugh.

"Hongyun, be content that Brother Shi Mo is willing to share such great merit with you!" Zhen Yuanzi said.

Shi Mo looked at Zhen Yuanzi with burning eyes. "Does this mean Brother Zhen Yuanzi agrees to help?"

"If you are offering me great merit, how could I refuse?" Zhen Yuanzi laughed.