A bowl of spirit rice

Seeking the Dao World.

Ever since someone had confirmed that martial arts from Seeking the Dao World could be brought into the real world, the game's player count had surged.

The players who had kept complaining that the game was too difficult no longer complained.

But as player numbers soared, there were also reports of far more players dying under mysterious circumstances.

The players' struggles over territory had also grown much fiercer than before.

This was because the influx of players had sent the exchange rate for silver soaring again.

At that moment, at the foot of Yingping Peak.

Fang Zelin looked at the rice paddy before him with a hint of delight.

Unlike at the very beginning, the spirit rice plants were now fully ripe.

The ears were laden with spirit rice, each large, plump grain having burst out of its husk.

Unlike ordinary rice, these grains of spirit rice would force their husks open once they ripened.

It was rather as though they were announcing to everyone, "I'm ripe!"

"Finally!"

Looking at the large grains of spirit rice, Fang Zelin reached out and picked them all.

At that moment, ripples of light spread across the distant river, and He Chenyi was the first to arrive.

As soon as He Chenyi emerged, he hurried over, his eyes full of anticipation.

Fang Zelin had invited him earlier, so naturally he felt no need to stand on ceremony.

After him came Zhang Weichu, hurrying over beneath an umbrella.

Following the two of them, a white milu deer called as it trod across the water toward them.

The white deer, too, was full of anticipation.

After all, every single grain of spirit rice contained rich Spiritual Qi.

By the time all three had arrived, Fang Zelin had harvested the grains from all the spirit rice plants.

The pot beside him had long since been prepared. After gathering firewood, he lit a fire and started cooking.

There was not much spirit rice in his hands. Fang Zelin kept less than a tael and poured all the rest into the pot.

The deer and the other two simply stood to one side, watching eagerly, their eyes full of anticipation.

Soon, a rich fragrance rose from the iron pot.

The fragrance slowly drifted outward. Even some fish in the distant river could not help poking their heads out, their mouths open as they looked this way.

"It smells so good..."

Holding his black umbrella, Zhang Weichu could not help swallowing.

To be honest, he had not eaten anything in a long time since becoming a ghost, and no longer knew what food tasted like.

But now, the spirit rice before him had stirred his appetite.

He Chenyi was also full of anticipation, his half-grown body circling the iron pot over and over.

He looked like a child circling the stove as he waited for dinner.

"It certainly does smell good."

Hearing this, Fang Zelin glanced at the iron pot and nodded.

Whatever else might be said, the fragrance of this spirit rice as it cooked was simply wonderful.

It even made Fang Zelin keep swallowing.

The fragrance was extremely unusual. If asked to describe it, Fang Zelin could have put some of it into words.

But those words alone could not convey the actual sensation to anyone else.

"Don't rush. It'll be ready soon."

He Chenyi was still circling the iron pot beside him, and Fang Zelin found the sight amusing.

He Chenyi was a river child to begin with and looked no different from a little boy. As a yin ghost of the water, he ought to have looked somewhat sinister.

Yet he followed the righteous path and could be considered a local river god.

With two lotus leaves atop his head, one large and one small, he looked rather cute instead.

"I'm just taking in more of the smell."

He Chenyi was not actually impatient. The main thing was that the fragrance was so intoxicating that he wished he could inhale every bit of it into his belly.

Seeing this, Fang Zelin shook his head and said no more.

A short while later, Fang Zelin lifted the lid and looked inside. The plump grains in the pot were cooked through, each one glistening and translucent.

At that moment, the fragrance reached its peak.

"Here, a bowl each!"

Fang Zelin could barely restrain himself now either.

He set out the wooden bowls he had made earlier and immediately dished up four bowls.

After receiving his wooden bowl, Zhang Weichu first offered his thanks. He was just about to draw in its essence directly when he hesitated, then ate a mouthful instead.

The next moment, Zhang Weichu froze. I can actually eat it?

As a ghost, he could normally only draw in the Qi of the essence. He could not actually eat offerings of fruit or other food.

Yet now, the spirit rice released a rich fragrance in his mouth.

Along with it, wisps of Spiritual Qi cleansed his body. That wondrous sensation instantly gave him the illusion that he was ascending into the clouds.

Then he could feel an immense satisfaction spreading throughout his entire body.

Seeing that Zhang Weichu had actually eaten it, He Chenyi paused, then followed his example and took a bite.

The immense satisfaction instantly made his eyes widen too.

The white deer stretched out its neck and began carefully savoring the rice as well.

As the rich Spiritual Qi entered its body, it could clearly feel its cultivation increasing.

Seeing that all three had begun eating, Fang Zelin used his chopsticks to pick up a mouthful of spirit rice and put it into his mouth.

As the spirit rice entered his mouth, a rich fragrance spread through it, accompanied by a hint of sweetness and a pronounced, clean, refreshing taste.

Even after Fang Zelin swallowed, he could still feel a trace of its fragrance lingering in his mouth.

"Even delicacies from the mountains and seas cannot compare to such a spiritual treasure."

After one mouthful, Fang Zelin immediately sighed with immense satisfaction.

The other three nodded repeatedly at his words, expressing their wholehearted agreement.

Especially the white deer, which had only eaten things like tender grass before. When had it ever tasted such a spiritual treasure?

"Oh? Does it truly taste that good?"

Just as Fang Zelin finished speaking, a figure in the distance slowly approached.

The newcomer wore a jade crown and luxurious robes, yet his body carried a heavy veil of moisture.

Fang Zelin turned at the voice and froze when he saw the newcomer.

When did this person appear? I didn't notice him at all just now. He looked around but saw no boats.

Then how did he cross the river?

Could he be another yao? Or perhaps a Dao cultivator?

"Who might you be?"

Looking at the man before him, Fang Zelin immediately asked.

"I was passing through when this fragrance suddenly greeted my nose. Might I beg a serving of rice?"

As the young man spoke, he looked at the rice before him, a trace of hunger appearing in his eyes.

He could sense just how enticing this rice was. Even he found it somewhat difficult to restrain himself.

Fang Zelin smiled at his words. Once the spirit rice was eaten, he could grow more, so there was no need to be stingy over something like this.

It was only a bowl of spirit rice, after all.