Chapter 94: The Departed (Congratulations to Alliance Master KKRGUN! )
Chapter 94: The Departed (Congratulations to Alliance Master KKRGUN! )
Summer faded, and autumn arrived.
The rice ears in the thirteen acres of spirit fields at Emerald Cliff were full and plump, almost touching the ground, revealing uniformly sized spirit grains within.
Fang Xi held a sickle and began to harvest.
The growth of this Crimson Blood Spirit Rice was similar to his estimation; each acre could yield three hundred catties of spirit rice.
During this period, Elder Mu Kui still shamelessly came to his door, wanting to introduce some of his family's spirit farmers to Fang Xi, but Fang Xi directly refused.
Then Wei Yi Xin also arrived, showing off his abundant gains from his last excursion and inviting Fang Xi to explore outside the island with him.
In response, Fang Xi naturally rolled his eyes and still refused.
By this point, his relationship with these two families had truly grown increasingly thin.
A granary had been specially built within the courtyard, and after putting the last sack of spirit rice into storage, Fang Xi couldn't help but let out a long breath.
The continuous days of labor had left even him feeling a little weary.
After meditating and adjusting his breath for a while, Fang Xi took out the spirit rice he had just harvested this year and cooked a pot of Crimson Blood Spirit Rice.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Once the rice was thoroughly cooked, he lifted the lid, revealing a pot of fiery red spirit rice, still steaming profusely.
However, within the steam, there was also a hint of fishiness.
Fang Xi picked up his chopsticks and, after just one bite, frowned, "It truly has a coarse texture, and a slight fishy smell. . . It's best not to eat it on its own, but rather make it into pastries or something similar."
Still, after eating this Crimson Blood Spirit Rice, he felt his blood-qi lively within him, not much different from having eaten Taisui meat.
'Anyway, this spirit rice isn't for me to eat, but for the Taisui. So be it. . . '
For the Taisui to produce meat, it also needs to be fed continuously.
Fang Xi believed that the spirit rice of this cultivation world must be much stronger than ordinary mortal grains.
"When the time comes, I'll plant spirit rice, feed the spirit rice to the Taisui, then harvest Taisui meat to feed the Demonic Tree. . . a perfect self-sustaining production and sales chain!"
A bit of spirit rice can be saved as seeds for continued planting next year.
This way, it's almost equivalent to a continuous supply of Taisui meat, eliminating the need to venture out for blood food!
This also reduces the risk of the Demonic Tree being exposed!
"Hmm, I still need to return the Spirit Stones. I am a man of my word."
Fang Xi had specially set aside six hundred catties of Crimson Blood Spirit Rice, preparing to return it to Elder Mu Kui.
That elder had lent him twenty Spirit Stones to buy a 'Flying Talisman' back then; his foresight and courage were actually not bad.
Unfortunately, too many of his descendants were useless, and the future of the Mu family was likely worrisome.
Although Elder Mu Kui had previously thumped his chest, assuring that his family members would definitely work their hardest, Fang Xi still didn't accept, purely because he didn't want to be disturbed.
This had nothing to do with returning money.
'But. . . once I begin cultivating the 'Longevity Art' in the future, I won't be able to leave Emerald Cliff too far. . . Perhaps I'll really need someone like that to scout for outside information, or even purchase supplies. . . '
'But I definitely can't pick an adult; it would be best to cultivate someone from a young age, the loyal and devoted kind. . . '
'It's still too troublesome. If only I could find some puppet techniques. '
Fang Xi put the spirit rice into his storage bag, released his black cloud pouch, and immediately soared into the sky, heading towards Mirror Moon Lake.
Today, Ruan Xing Ling had also sent a sound transmission talisman, stating that the flying artifact was finished, so he could handle both matters at once.
...
Mirror Moon Lake.
Spiritual mist billowed, within which phantom moon wheels seemed to rise and fall.
Fang Xi took out his artifact token, and the mist automatically dispersed, revealing a passage.
He steered his black cloud pouch directly into the Ruan family mansion and found Ruan Xing Ling.
Backyard.
Ruan Xing Ling took out a palm-sized flying boat and handed it to Fang Xi: "I did not disappoint; take a look!"
Fang Xi nodded, taking the small boat and examining it carefully.
The boat was palm-sized, displaying an apricot-yellow color, showing some wooden grain patterns.
On each side of the boat's hull, a black wing pattern was depicted.
"Black Feather Boat, this boat uses the wing bones of a first-order superior-grade avian as its main material. I also added a piece of Cloud Cotton Wood to increase stability and comfort, and it can activate a windproof shield to prevent gale winds from interfering during flight. . ."
Ruan Xing Ling said, "You can try it out."
"No need, Island Master. I naturally trust your craftsmanship."
Fang Xi chuckled and directly put away the Black Feather Boat: "I wonder, Island Master, how many Spirit Stones is this endeavor worth?"
"Just give me the cost of the Cloud Cotton Wood material; refining such an artifact is beneficial for my cultivation of artifact refinement techniques!"
Ruan Xing Ling waved her hand: "After all, I was originally going to reforge your Green Reaping Sword for you; this time, it was just a change of request. . ."
...
"There doesn't seem to be any earth fire within Mirror Moon Lake?"
Fang Xi walked out of Mirror Moon Lake, but his mind was on something else.
He also possessed artifact refinement inheritance, though he had only dabbled in it, stopping once he confirmed his lack of talent, but he still knew some general principles.
To refine a first-order artifact, if one wasn't a Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of wielding their innate true fire, then one could only utilize earth fire!
Yet, there shouldn't be any fire veins on Mirror Moon Lake, or even Peach Blossom Island!
'So. . . it's other obscure artifact refinement methods, like. . . raising a demon beast that can breathe demonic fire? ! '
Fang Xi stroked his chin and took out the Black Feather Boat.
After injecting spiritual power, the boat immediately expanded, transforming into a small craft about ten feet long.
Feeling no obstruction when injecting his spiritual power, Fang Xi nodded with satisfaction.
He jumped onto the small boat and found that there were several grooves on its base, into which Spirit Stones could be placed to replenish a cultivator's spiritual power consumption.
Generally speaking, most spiritual boats for long-distance travel cannot be fully propelled by a cultivator's spiritual power alone; they still need to consume Spirit Stones!
However, for flying around Peach Blossom Island, Fang Xi's own spiritual power was sufficient.
"Let's go!"
He formed hand seals, and the Black Feather Boat immediately soared into the air, like a streak of black light!
"This speed is much faster than the black cloud pouch, almost comparable to a 'Flying Talisman'!"
After flying a distance into the sky and confirming its performance, Fang Xi couldn't help but fall silent.
Such a spiritual boat was probably already close to the level of a superior-grade artifact.
"This favor is not small. . ."
Regrettably, the more significant the favor, the more Fang Xi dared not ask Ruan Xing Ling to refine the Spirit Serpent Armor.
"After returning, while the farming season is slack, I must quickly set up the Minor Cloud Rain Array to block all prying eyes. . ."
After all, with the underground cavern excavated, everything was on the right track.
By next year, he would probably be able to plant the tree.
Fang Xi was in a good mood as he arrived at East Twin Peak.
"Old Ancestor!"
At this moment, heart-wrenching wails suddenly echoed from the continuous line of houses.
"What happened?"
Fang Xi landed his flying boat and, seeing a cultivator from the Mu family, quickly asked.
"Patriarch Mu Kui. . . has passed away!"
The cultivator, around fifty years old, had bloodshot eyes and a choked voice: "Fellow Daoist, you've come at just the right time; I was just about to notify everyone. . ."
"Mu Kui, he actually. . ."
Fang Xi recalled how Elder Mu Kui had seemed to be nearing his end previously, and fell silent.
Life, at times, was so fragile.
Compared to those rogue cultivators, adrift like duckweed in the wind, Elder Mu Kui being able to pass away at home, buried in the family's spiritual land after his death, and recorded in the family genealogy as having made great contributions, his life could already be considered complete. . .
"This is truly. . ."
Fang Xi hurriedly offered words of comfort, yet he remembered seeing Elder Mu Kui just a few months ago and noticing the aura of death about him.
Presumably, the elder himself had long known and made arrangements for his afterlife, leaving Fang Xi with nothing more to say.
He walked a few steps to the main hall of the Mu family, which had been temporarily set up as a mourning hall, where a group of filial children and grandchildren wept in mourning clothes.
"Patriarch Mu Kui and I were also friends; I have specifically come to pay my respects!"
Fang Xi lit three incense sticks, bowed solemnly, then turned to the Mu family members and said.
"Thank you. . ."
Mu Wen, dressed in mourning clothes, wiped his tears; his demeanor seemed less arrogant than before.
'This young man is growing up quickly. . . I hope he changes in the future, not letting Mu Kui's hard work be in vain. . . '
Fang Xi sighed inwardly, then said, "I previously borrowed twenty Spirit Stones from Elder Mu Kui. With a bountiful harvest of spirit rice today, I intended to return them, but I never expected to be parted forever by death. Alas. . . I hope Elder Mu Kui can reincarnate in the future and continue on the path of Dao!"
These were just polite formalities; after all, there was no concept of an Underworld in the cultivation world.
The so-called reincarnation was merely a beautiful wish.
Upon hearing this, Mu Wen was somewhat stunned: "Old Ancestor never mentioned this before his soul wandered the void. . ."
That's twenty Spirit Stones! Could Old Ancestor have been muddled at the time?
It's just, why didn't he leave behind an IOU or proof of debt?
Thankfully, this person still came to return the money, but who knew if he'd deducted any interest!
Mu Wen's mind churned with a thousand thoughts.
Seeing him standing there dumbfounded, Fang Xi said no more, handing Mu Wen a storage bag containing six hundred catties of spirit rice: "This contains six hundred catties of spirit rice. The storage bag is my condolence gift; there's no need for you to see me out, my dear nephew. . ."
"How can I accept this? " Although Mu Wen spoke politely, his hand gripped the storage bag tightly.
Fang Xi offered a few more words of comfort, then turned and left, sighing inwardly: "He's only gained a superficial understanding. . . indeed, what's deepest in a person's bones is the hardest to change."
...
Emerald Cliff.
Fang Xi did not attend Elder Mu Kui's funeral.
He had paid his respects once, fulfilling his intentions, and that was enough.
After all, he only had some acquaintance with Elder Mu Kui.
As for that elder hoping Fang Xi would transfer their acquaintance to his descendants? That was truly a bit naive. . .
Fang Xi took out the geographic jade slip he had previously measured, came to a certain position, gripped an array flag with both hands, and forcefully plunged it into the ground!
The array flag was pure white, with numerous mysterious runes embroidered on its banner surface, shimmering with circulating luminescence.
"The Minor Cloud Rain Array requires eighteen array flags in total, along with other auxiliary components. . . Plus the most crucial array disc, it's far more expensive than ordinary artifacts. . ."
"If there's even a slight error or omission in setting up the array, the formation won't function smoothly. . ."
Fang Xi also sighed at this moment, realizing why it was best to cultivate Divine Consciousness for array formation beginners.
Without Divine Consciousness, unable to project it externally, many measurements and calculations became troublesome. Even observing the flow of spiritual energy after setting up the array flags was far less clear than with Divine Consciousness.
Fortunately, he had a jade slip; if he copied the answers from it, Fang Xi could still manage.
After a day of busyness, he came to his cultivation room, solemnly embedding low-grade Spirit Stones onto the array disc one by one.
"The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are all correct. . ."
"Now's the time!"
After calculating the precise time and distance, Fang Xi buried the array disc into the excavated array core.
Hum, hum!
The array disc instantly activated, and pure white spirit patterns emerged one by one, continuously spreading outwards.
Fang Xi, holding the main token that controlled the restrictions, continuously adjusted it. . .
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