Tea Gathering Begins (Please Vote)

"West of Longharvest lies a lake called White-Scale Lake."

Lu He ran his fingertips across the yellowed pages, the inked characters seeming to carry a flowing spiritual charm:

"Its waters stretch for over seven thousand li, emerald waves joining the sky and clouds. Islands dot the lake like stars in the heavens, and its heavenly treasures are too numerous to count. It is especially famed for producing spirit-gold immortal mines of the Five Elements. Over the past century, the twenty-eight cities around it—including Longharvest, Bright Tower, and Nine Rivers—have fought without cease."

"There is also the White-Scale Water Palace, which dominates one region and commands a million demons within the lake, wielding immense power."

With a crisp snap.

The book closed, stirring up a wisp of dust from the desk.

Lu He leaned back in his chair. His chest rose and fell faintly, his breathing unconsciously quickening, while a bright flame burned in his eyes.

Heaven did not fail those with determination. Over this period, he had nearly turned the entire study's collection upside down.

At last, in a book titled White-Scale Demon Bestiary, he had found a clue to the Five-Element gold needed to forge the Myriad-Dharma Marvelous-Insight Treasure Wheel.

"Spirit-gold immortal mines, heavenly treasures... No wonder there are so few immortal cultivators in the city. So they've all crowded around White-Scale Lake?"

Lu He tapped the solid wooden desk with his fingers, producing a dull thud.

"A Demon Race water palace, twenty-eight human cities... What a tangled mess."

He raised his eyes toward the window. The morning mist had dispersed, and daylight had broken.

With a sigh, he rose, stuffed White-Scale Demon Bestiary back onto the shelf, smoothed the folds of his robe, and pushed open the door to head outside.

There was no use thinking so much now. Better to focus on improving his strength and meet ten thousand changes with the unchanging.

Perhaps because the spirit wheat in the fields was nearly ripe, an inexplicable tension hung faintly over the entire Medicine Garden. Even the seeds who usually strolled about at leisure had begun hurrying along.

"Come to think of it, Zheng and his lot cultivate in Enlightenment Pavilion every day. What happens to the spirit fields he's responsible for?"

Lu He strode toward Steward Lu's spirit fields, a trace of doubt rising in his heart.

The stewards couldn't possibly be going into the fields themselves, could they?

Besides, he truly had not seen any of the stewards in the spirit fields for over half a month. It was as though the entire group had vanished together.

Just as he was thinking.

Tap tap—

A man and a woman hurried past Lu He.

Lu He found them somewhat familiar, but he did not speak.

Yet in the next moment, the man among them jogged back.

"Brother Lu!" The other man stared at Lu He with blazing eyes.

"So it's Brother Bai. That must be Miss Su, then. What are you two doing?"

Lu He paused, then quickly understood. He pointed at the figure ahead, who had not even turned her head and was holding a jade talisman, seemingly calculating the yield of spiritual crops.

"Well, Brother Zheng is in seclusion, cultivating bitterly. Seems he's preparing to compete for some sort of spot, so he couldn't keep up with his work as a Spirit-Slaying Envoy. Hehe, so I got to pick up the leftovers."

"But his spirit fields are too large, and I can't handle them alone, so I brought Su Lingchan in too."

Bai Hao grinned, his voice brimming with excitement.

"So that was it."

Lu He understood.

"Oh, right. I've earned quite a few contribution points lately. I reckon I can exchange them for one or two Black Jade Pills. You should have time to attend the tea gathering on the seventeenth this month now, Brother Lu, right?"

Bai Hao seemed to recall something, and eagerness immediately flashed across his face.

He had thought there was no hope of winning back his dignity from that day.

But Heaven had favored him. He had been handed Brother Zheng's position as Spirit-Slaying Envoy for nothing, and it just so happened that Brother Lu had wasted his contribution points on a cave dwelling and courtyard.

In short.

Bai Hao clearly felt that he was back in the game!

"Don't worry. I'll attend this tea gathering." Meeting Bai Hao's longing gaze, Lu He smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.

"Good! We'll spar again then."

Bai Hao rubbed his hands excitedly, then glanced ahead, only to find that Su Lingchan had already disappeared from sight.

"That girl, she sees an acquaintance and doesn't even know to say hello."

He muttered softly, then turned back and smiled apologetically at Lu He. "Don't mind her, Brother Lu. Su Lingchan is actually quite a good person—just a little too practical."

"I'll take my leave first. Take care, Brother Lu."

Bai Hao cupped his hands, turned, and chased after Su Lingchan in the direction she had vanished.

Where he stood.

Watching Bai Hao's gradually disappearing back, Lu He could not help but smile.

Since he had rented the cave dwelling, this Miss Su's attitude toward him had grown somewhat distant. Usually, when they met, she would only offer a shallow greeting—or simply pretend she had not seen him.

Practical? There was indeed some truth to that.

But such trifles were not worth Lu He's concern.

His gaze had long since turned toward those people in Enlightenment Pavilion, toward the approaching tea gathering.

"Spots... Brother Zheng and the others are competing for some kind of spot?"

"It should be decided at this tea gathering. Tsk. If Qin Lie and the descendants of those stewards are all preparing for it, it must be a tremendous opportunity!"

As his thoughts turned.

Scattered fragments of information gathered in his mind, piecing together a vague outline.

"Since twelve people are already competing, surely one more won't hurt."

Lu He murmured inwardly.

In an instant, a suppressed yet tyrannical aura slowly spread outward from beneath his feet.

The insects around him fell silent at once.

At the edge of his vision, the Golden Book trembled and rang, its tiny characters flickering with sudden speed.

[Name: Lu He]

[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment · Late Body-Shedding Realm (2,700 jin in one arm)]

[Method: Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Eighth Layer (70%)

Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Runes: 5]

The moment he entered the spirit fields.

Xiong Dayou hurried over with several men, their movements somewhat restrained.

"Master He."

"Mm." Lu He nodded, his expression mild. "How is it? Have you gotten used to working in these spirit fields?"

"Thanks to you, Master He. Since we were transferred to Steward Lu's spirit fields, not only did our wages go up, but the work has become much easier too. Hehe, we all feel like life has more promise now than before."

Xiong Dayou scratched his head, grinning from ear to ear.

"That's right, Master He has gone to a lot of trouble for us."

"Many thanks, Master He."

The others hurriedly chimed in, all looking at Lu He with deep gratitude.

"That is good. Today is the ninth day of the tenth month. By custom, the spirit wheat in the fields should be ready for harvest in no more than seven days. Tell the other tenant farmers to be more attentive during these final days."

Lu He instructed them.

Steward Lu was absent, so he could only remind them himself.

Otherwise, if the harvest suffered and Steward Lu was held accountable, Lu He would not escape responsibility either.

"We understand. Master He, just put your heart in your stomach."

Xiong Dayou patted his chest in assurance, then led the others proudly and spiritedly toward the depths of the spirit fields.

"Seven days left. I won't be able to gather enough contribution points for a second Black Jade Pill."

Standing in the pavilion, Lu He glanced at the thirty-three contribution points displayed on his jade talisman and muttered to himself.

Fulfilling his duties as a Spirit-Slaying Envoy, cultivating day and night, fighting for one of the only thirty daily Enlightenment Pavilion comprehension spots...

Lu He packed every moment of his time full.

He had almost no rest at all.

On the fifteenth day of the tenth month, the spirit grain was stored away, and the window of opportunity quietly passed.

After exchanging for one Black Jade Pill, the contribution points on Lu He's jade talisman settled at eighteen.

Unless something unexpected happened, that number would only decrease, never increase, until next year's window of opportunity.

The tenant farmers in the Medicine Garden entered a rare idle period, allowing them to rest and recover properly.

Yet the many seeds grew ever more tense. Each day, aside from competing for spots at Enlightenment Pavilion, they spent every remaining moment cultivating in their rooms.

News that the stewards would place heavy stakes on the tea gathering in the tenth month had long spread like wildfire.

Noon, the seventeenth day of the tenth month.

Boom boom—boom boom!

Massive drumbeats thundered from the palace halfway up the mountain, carrying an unquestionable authority. Every strike landed upon people's hearts.

As the drumming faded.

At the outskirts, the wooden doors of courtyard after courtyard were pushed open, their creaks rising one after another.

Figure after figure strode out swiftly—some with robes fluttering, some with impassioned expressions, some calm and restrained. All were different, none alike.