Chapter 90: The Ceremony (Congratulations to Alliance Master KKRGUN! )
Chapter 90: The Ceremony (Congratulations to Alliance Master KKRGUN! )
Time flowed like water, a month flew by.
Mirror Moon Lake.
In the medicinal field area, beneath the two-stage spiritual peach tree at its very center.
Ruan Xing Ling, dressed in a pink palace dress, caressed the ancient, dragon-like branches of the peach tree, her expression lost in memory, in remembrance. . .
On the branches of the spiritual peach tree, a few green peaches still hung, clearly unripe.
"I remember. . . these peaches ripen once every three years, and their taste is incredibly sweet. It's a pity Father wouldn't let me eat too many, saying they had to be saved for the children who would establish our foundation in the future. The spiritual energy of this peach is gentle, completely free of pill toxins, making it an supreme marvel for cultivating vitality and establishing a foundation. . . Back when that thief Lu rebelled, Father clearly had the leisure to destroy this tree, but he simply couldn't bear to. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling seemed to murmur to herself: "Now. . . this spirit plant has finally returned to my hands."
"Xing Ling, I am also very relieved that you were able to endure such humiliation, bear such a heavy burden, and finally avenge yourself."
He lightly stroked his beard, his tone amiable: "You don't need to worry about the alliance now. With this old man's standing, even Old Daoist Kumu has some connections. Your Ruan family is, after all, the rightful master of Peach Blossom Island. Now that you've suppressed the rebels, no one can say anything. . ."
"As for the neighboring families, my White Feather Feng family and Black Sand Mo family naturally fully support you, seeing as we're in-laws. . . That Lu Jing Qing also knew this, so he didn't ally with our two families; instead, he tried to curry favor with the Golden Tooth Old Freak of Golden Flame Island. But how could the Golden Tooth Old Freak possibly go against our three families for the sake of a mere dead man? Your position as Island Master is very secure. When do you plan to hold the grand ceremony for assuming the Island Master role? I'll make sure Feng Man Lou brings a substantial congratulatory gift!"
Feng Bai Meng babbled on and on, saying many things.
It seemed that as people aged, they tended to become more talkative: "Oh, by the way, do you still remember Feng Man Lou? That little rascal back then, he's grown into a handsome young man, a true talent now!"
"It's just that, how can this spiritual land of Peach Blossom Island be so easily promised to outsiders? Old Daoist Kumu might be one thing, but the other three rogue cultivators are only at the mid-stage Qi Refinement realm, and they have no connections or special skills. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling's expression was resolute: "I have my own plans for this. My Ruan family is short-handed and needs assistance!"
"Exactly! " Feng Bai Meng clapped his hands and laughed: "If you're short-handed, don't my Feng family and Mo family have plenty? We're all one family, would we ever harm you?"
"Sigh. . . why must you press me so? " The lines on Ruan Xing Ling's face gradually hardened: "Since Great-Grandfather is here, Xing Ling will make it clear. . . Even if I am to seek a son-in-law to join our family in the future, I will absolutely not choose from the Mo or Feng families. After all, my surname is Ruan!"
"You. . ."
Feng Bai Meng's beard trembled slightly, then quickly settled. He sighed deeply: "Alas. . . Yuan Zhan had a good daughter."
...
Emerald Cliff.
A group of mortals, holding the blueprints Fang Xi had given them, were laying foundations, stacking bricks. . . working extremely diligently.
When Fang Xi occasionally came to supervise, they would all become trembling with fear, wearing humble and ingratiating smiles, almost ready to prostrate themselves and kowtow on the ground.
Moreover, most of them wore worn-out clothes, covered in numerous patches, and looked pale and emaciated.
Yet even so, they felt stronger than the common folk of the State of Yue.
Seeing this, Fang Xi could only secretly feel fortunate that he hadn't transmigrated into a commoner without spiritual roots.
Otherwise, life truly wouldn't be bearable for a single day.
He went into the spiritual field and began weeding, fertilizing. . .
Occasionally, he would cast the Spring Breeze Rain Art and the Geng Metal Grass Cutter Sword, sighing that he hadn't neglected his old profession after all.
"Hoo. . ."
After finishing another mu of farm work, Fang Xi straightened his back and let out a heavy breath.
"Generally speaking, a spirit farmer can at most manage three or four mu of land."
"Now I have thirteen mu of land. Under normal circumstances, I could hire several spirit farmers and become a cultivation-world landlord. . . Then I'd have beautiful wives and maids, fine clothes and delicious food, a grand mansion and a large courtyard – what a joyful life that would be!"
"Fortunately, I'm a body cultivator, so I can manage it alone."
After a moment of reflection, Fang Xi continued to bend down and work.
According to the heritage of a spirit plant master, after tending to the spiritual field once, he could sow the seeds of the Scarlet Blood Spiritual Rice.
This spiritual rice is sown in spring and harvested in autumn. During its growth, it requires irrigation with special spiritual water, preferably mixed with some beast blood, with demon beast blood being the best.
Only then would the harvested spiritual rice be rich in vital energy and blood.
While demon beast blood might be troublesome for other spirit farmers, for Fang Xi, it was as common as ordinary spring water.
"Fellow Daoist Fang, cultivating spiritual rice?"
Half an hour later, a large paper crane slowly glided over, and a person jumped down from it. It was none other than Old Daoist Kumu!
He greeted him with a chuckle, only to see Fang Xi raise his head: "Fellow Daoist Kumu, are you here to rush me for spirit stones? Didn't I tell you I'd return them once the spiritual rice harvest is in?"
"It's not about the twenty spirit stones. . ."
Old Daoist Kumu quickly waved his hand, then looked at the fields: "Oh? Fellow Daoist, you're growing Scarlet Blood Spiritual Rice? This kind of spiritual rice doesn't fetch much of a price. . ."
"The spiritual energy here is insufficient, so I'm just growing something that doesn't require much spiritual energy for now, to build up soil fertility first. . ."
Fang Xi jumped onto the edge of the field and rubbed his hands: "I wonder why you've come, fellow Daoist?"
"Three days from now will be Fairy Ruan's grand ceremony for assuming the Island Master role. " Speaking of serious matters, Old Daoist Kumu's expression grew solemn: "This old Daoist is here to deliver an invitation!"
"Hmm!"
Fang Xi took the invitation, glanced at it, and casually put it into his storage pouch: "Thank you, fellow Daoist. Please let her know that I will definitely be there in three days!"
Old Daoist Kumu was startled. This Fellow Daoist Fang had been quite worldly and savvy in the market town, but why did he seem a bit distant after arriving at Peach Blossom Island?
He thought for a moment, then still offered a reminder: "At Fairy Ruan's grand ceremony this time, it's said that people from both the Feng family and the Mo family will be attending. . ."
"Oh!"
Fang Xi wanted to project an aloof image, so he intentionally gave a few noncommittal, sarcastic replies.
Old Daoist Kumu felt a surge of anxiety and simply spoke directly: "Fairy Ruan still values the four of us, but we are, after all, under someone else's roof. It would be best for us to stick together, advance and retreat as one, so we can support each other!"
Could it be that this Fang Xi didn't even understand this much?
"So that's how it is!"
Fang Xi nodded, then shook his head: "But I merely wish to cultivate diligently at Emerald Cliff and truly have no desire to bother with external matters. Fellow Daoist, your suggestion of advancing and retreating together, please spare me from it. . ."
Old Daoist Kumu was speechless for a long while. Finally, he stomped his foot and flung his sleeve, walking away.
...
Three days later.
By Mirror Moon Lake.
The Ruan family mansion.
Cultivators from the vicinity gathered, filling over a dozen tables.
Red silks hung throughout the courtyard, making it look especially festive.
The tables were laden with freshly picked spiritual fruits and pastries made from spiritual rice, while tea was served continuously like flowing water.
Fang Xi casually chose a low-grade artifact from his spoils as a congratulatory gift and was seated at the edge, sharing a table with Wei Yi Xin and his wife.
Old Daoist Kumu, on the other hand, was quite the social butterfly, acting as a temporary greeter, welcoming guests as if he were half the host of the family.
Occasionally, some cultivators would look at Fang Xi and the others, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy. . . even resentment!
"Fairy Ruan is unwise! Why would she recruit these rogue cultivators? I think their cultivation is only mediocre. . ."
"Indeed, and she even promised them spiritual land! Even if it's unranked, it's still a foundation! They truly hit the jackpot!"
What is a rogue cultivator? Their lives are like rootless duckweed, without a fixed abode, drifting with the wind, with no one to rely on in old age. . . they are the absolute lowest stratum of the cultivation world!
But with a piece of spiritual land, one gains the foundation to establish a family or a sect.
Countless rogue cultivators yearned for this their entire lives!
Alas, they never saw hope their whole lives.
Now, seeing Fang Xi and the three other rogue cultivators successfully 'land ashore', they were naturally filled with envy, and there was no shortage of those who harbored resentment!
"You wouldn't understand this; Fairy Ruan's move is quite brilliant."
An old cultivator with a ruddy complexion took a sip of spiritual tea and began to chatter: "Although she is a grand master at the late-stage Qi Refinement realm, she is still only one person. Therefore, she has gathered rogue cultivators without a foundation to be her wings and also brought in her in-laws' influence. This creates an internal and external balance, ensuring temporary peace. . . Furthermore, by promoting mortal children with spiritual roots and granting them the Ruan surname, she deepens her foundation, creating a 'three-legged cauldron' stability. . . After several decades, when trusted cultivators have grown, this will be a nation as solid as an iron barrel!"
Fang Xi's ears were much sharper than those of Wei Yi Xin and his wife. Hearing this, he immediately felt speechless.
For the territory of a mere small island, they were talking about building a 'nation'!
Could this old cultivator have started out as a geomancy swindler in the mortal world? Did he even practice 'Dragon Slaying Arts' or something?
"Fellow Daoist Fang, please have some tea!"
Wei Yi Xin forced a stiff smile onto his face, actively trying to ease their relationship with Fang Xi.
After a few days of guidance from his Daoist Companion, he had come to realize something.
From now on, he would be a cultivator with a foundation, no longer needing to constantly fight and kill. It was better to maintain good relations with his neighbors.
This matter was beneficial and harmless!
What's more, within Peach Blossom Island, it wasn't exactly all peaceful and quiet!
"Hmm, have the esteemed couple settled down on West Peak already? What do you plan to do for a living in the future?"
Fang Xi sipped his spiritual tea, asking casually.
"There are quite a few houses on West Peak; we can move in after a little renovation. . . " This time, it was Hua Chan Juan who initiated the conversation. She smiled charmingly, full of vitality, her brows filled with anticipation for the future: "There's also a sea of flowers there, truly beautiful. . . I have a knack for raising Jade Bees, and I plan to domesticate more of them, so we can harvest spiritual honey next year. As for my husband, his hands are used to killing people with a blade; he can't even make a beehive properly, it's all crooked and ugly. . ."
"Now that we have spiritual land, we can save on the pills needed for cultivation in the future and buy more spiritual seeds. Fellow Daoist, you're a spirit plant master, so you must teach us how to farm properly! I really don't want to go back to a life of 'licking blood from a blade's edge. ' I can just sell my artifacts and buy some pretty clothes. . ."
She babbled on for a long time, then finally invited: "My husband and I are planning to establish a family. How about 'Twin Wei Clan'?"
"Why would you talk about something like that here?"
Wei Yi Xin's face flushed red.
Fang Xi was taken aback, then immediately looked at Hua Chan Juan's flat stomach, feeling a bit speechless.
To establish a Qi Refinement family, they still had a long and arduous road ahead.
"Feng Man Lou of the White Feather Island Feng family, and Mo Qing Yu of the Black Sand Island Mo family, arriving!"
Outside the gate, Old Daoist Kumu's booming voice resounded.
Most guests looked out, and saw two young cultivators, one dressed in white, the other in a green robe, arriving together. Both were as elegant as jade trees, graceful and refined, secretly captivating all who beheld them.
"The Feng family and Mo family are shameless, harboring thoughts of taking a son-in-law! Ptooey!"
Hua Chan Juan spat softly, her expression rather displeased.
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