"Fellow Daoists, Happy New Year! May the coming year bring a bountiful harvest!"
Li Ye raised his cup and clinked it with those of the many friends gathered before him, toasting to the new year and letting the joy and well wishes flow into the wine.
Outside the restaurant, the faint crackling of firecrackers could be heard, adding to the festive atmosphere.
In Huan Kingdom's cultivation world, due to the relative scarcity of resources and its overall lower level, even a sect like the Purple Profound Sect just at the Golden Core stage was considered a dominating force. Most market towns were made up almost entirely of Qi Refining cultivators; Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare.
This meant the majority of cultivators still had lifespans within the range of normal humans.
As a result, many customs from the mortal world had been preserved even within these cultivation markets.
Gazing out the window at the gently falling snow, the brightly decorated streets, and the festive red lanterns, Li Ye found himself momentarily dazed.
It all felt... so familiar.
Even though friends like Zhang Liangfu and others sat around him, filling the air with lively chatter, a subtle and indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.
"This… is my first New Year in this world."
He thought quietly to himself as he downed the wine in his cup in one go.
.....
After the New Year festivities, he returned to the sect.
The bustling, joyful market scene was instantly replaced by serene, misty mountains.
The snow-covered, icy landscape gave way to lush green hills, shrouded in clouds and mist.
Looking up at the warm glowing orb in the sky and feeling the spring-like climate that stood in stark contrast to the world outside, Li Ye couldn't help but be moved.
"Sealed off from the outside world, forming a partially self-contained system that can regulate weather and maintain optimal conditions allowing spiritual plants to grow year-round without being affected by external climates… A third-grade formation truly is something else."
"By comparison, the formations in the market are only first-grade and can't fully eliminate the effects of natural weather. They still get snow and ice…"
Even so, the power of a first-grade formation was more than enough to protect an area and maintain order in a market town.
"Unfortunately, formation arts are rare and hard to come by. Whether it's sects or noble families, none are willing to let such knowledge spread easily. Even with my current wealth, I haven't been able to purchase any. All I can do is wait for an opportunity…"
He couldn't help but shake his head as he remembered how the shopkeepers, like Yue Quan, had all forced a smile when he mentioned buying formation manuals.
He had also inquired about rare spirit root seedlings or seeds once upon a time.
But such things, like formation arts, were treasures their suppliers would never actually sell if they managed to obtain them they'd keep them for their own use.
No need to waste energy thinking about that.
But none of this was urgent.
He had already made solid progress in body refinement. Recently, he'd also repaired the Blackwood Sword, restoring most of its power. His experiments with using the Sunfire Spiritual Essence in talisman crafting had also shown some promising results giving him another card to play.
So for now, he wasn't lacking in ways to protect himself.
Selling pills continued to bring in a steady flow of spirit stones, so there was no rush on either front.
As he made his way through the various mountain peaks, Li Ye sorted through the many random thoughts in his mind, gradually letting the emotions of the holiday fade away.
As usual, he arrived at Elder Ji's cave residence.
After greeting the young attendant, giving a small red envelope as a token of appreciation for the New Year, and asking him to pass along well-wishes to Elder Ji, Li Ye headed straight for the spiritual fields in the back mountains.
Several months had passed, and now all four acres of Blood Grain Rice were thriving.
The dense, red-hued crops swayed in the breeze, and every day, while working among them, Li Ye would breathe in that strange mix of blood and fragrant rice. It always made his blood feel more energized during cultivation afterward.
Meanwhile, the Sunfire Flower seedlings in the second-grade spiritual field had already started to shoot up. The green stems were thickening, and the buds were swelling day by day.
After a quick inspection, Li Ye rolled up his sleeves and pant legs and got to work on his daily care routine.
By now, he had successfully cultivated all 1,000 Sunfire Flowers to the same healthy state. He had already collected experience feedback and spiritual essence from the remaining 750 flowers, bringing his total to ten full portions of Sunfire Spiritual Essence.
Though some of it had already been used up.
Perhaps once they bloomed, he could harvest another round…
And even in the years to come, as their medicinal potency increased, he could still expect regular returns.
The Blood Grain Rice had also reached a critical growth stage within a few days, it should offer another wave of experience feedback.
That would likely be the last before harvest.
Once he acquired that, many of his cultivation skills could be improved again.
Otherwise, on such a joyous holiday, why else wouldn't he go unwind at Spring Night Pavilion? What else could drive him to work so diligently?
......
A few days later.
The Cave Residence of the Purple Profound Sect's Third-Grade Spiritual Vein Patriarch
Cai Siwei and a handsome, dignified middle-aged man dressed in moon-white robes descended from the sky atop a cloud, landing on the sect's highest peak.
A strong spiritual aura radiated from Cai Siwei he had already formed his Foundation!
From the time he had been at the seventh level of Qi Refining, to surviving a life-or-death battle with a demonic cultivator in his former residence where he awakened his Blood Soul Physique only a little over a year had passed.
Even accounting for the many battles he had fought in, the resources granted by the sect, and the fortuitous encounters he had experienced, such a rapid rise was still nothing short of astonishing. His talent seemed to surpass even that of those with superior spiritual roots.
Naturally, this aroused suspicion in his master, Jiao Jinhan
He suspected that Cai Siwei's awakened constitution was not merely a Blood Soul Physique, but likely a far more advanced and rare physique!
So much so that even the Golden Core Patriarch, who rarely emerged from seclusion, was surprised upon hearing the news and personally summoned Cai Siwei to assess his potential.
"Siwei, being summoned by the Patriarch is a great blessing. Though the Patriarch only accepted Li Qiushuang as a personal disciple back then, he has spoken highly of you as well…"
"If you can earn the Patriarch's favor today, even a slight reward would be an incredible opportunity. You must seize it well!"
Jiao Jinhan spoke with heartfelt sincerity and high expectations.
"Disciple will keep Master's words firmly in mind!"
Cai Siwei replied solemnly, though a flicker of nervousness and eager anticipation could be seen in his eyes.
With that, the two of them approached an ancient palace. The spiritual energy here was far purer than that of a second-grade vein, rolling across the mountaintop like waves. Most of it was contained within powerful formation barriers, with only a fraction spilling into the surroundings.
The palace gates stood open, and a graceful female cultivator, her aura ethereal and cold like a drifting cloud, stepped out slowly.
Cai Siwei and Jiao Jinhan immediately recognized her Li Qiushuang, the one blessed with superior Wind Spiritual Roots!
She spoke calmly, "The Patriarch summons Cai Siwei inside."
"Go ahead, I'll wait here for you," Jiao Jinhan said, giving him an encouraging glance.
"Then I shall go, Master…"
Cai Siwei smiled slightly, bowed once more, and confidently climbed the steps into the palace.
...
"Wretched beast! How dare you!"
Without warning, a furious and pained voice aged and trembling with rage suddenly echoed throughout the entire Purple Profound Sect.
Whoooosh!
Violent winds howled as divine light erupted from the sect's highest peak.
And yet, in that instant, a streak of crimson light tore through the heavens amidst wild, maniacal laughter, breaking through every layer of containment with unbelievable speed and fleeing into the distance.
Disciples across the sect stared upward in shock and confusion, only to witness a scene that would be forever etched in their memories.
The sect-protecting grand formation activated instantly!
Winds roared and clouds surged as the sky itself sealed off. Vast energy and resplendent lights converged from all directions, surrounding the blood-colored light with the intent to crush it utterly.
But just then, a talisman, inscribed with intricate runes, flew from within the crimson light. As it activated, countless formation restrictions instantly failed.
It forcibly tore open a gap within the sealed space of the grand formation!
The blood-colored light surged forward with renewed speed, slipped through the breach, and vanished from sight.
After a brief, stunned silence, the Patriarch's furious voice rang out once more:
"From this moment forth, Cai Siwei is listed under our sect's highest bounty…"
"Whoever takes his life shall become my disciple and will be handsomely rewarded!"
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