Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Ceremony (Congratulations to Clan Leader KKRGUN!)_1 Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Ceremony (Congratulations to Clan Leader KKRGUN!)_1 Time flies, a month whisks by.
Mirror Moon Lake.
In the medicinal fields area, beneath the most central rank two Spirit Peach Tree.
Ruan Xingling, clad in a pink palace dress, caressed the branches of the peach tree, which were as intricate as Qiu Dragons, her expression one of reminiscence, of nostalgia…
On the twigs of the Spirit Peach Tree, there still hung a few unripe green peaches.
“I remember… these peaches bear fruit every three years, and they are exceedingly sweet. Regrettably, father wouldn’t let me eat more, saying they should be saved for the children who would lay the foundation in the future. These peaches contain gentle spiritual energy, absolutely free of pill toxins, making them an unparalleled treasure for foundation establishment… When the Lu rebel staged his rebellion, father could easily have destroyed this tree, yet he truly couldn’t bring himself to do it…”
Ruan Xingling spoke to herself, “Recently… this Spirit Plant has finally returned to my hands.”
“Xingling, you endured humiliation and bore a heavy load to finally exact vengeance. I am very comforted by this,” an old man in a crane robe said as he walked over at a slow pace; it was Feng Baimeng.
He twiddled his beard, his tone kind, “Now within the alliance, you needn’t worry. With my support and the connections of Comrade Xuimu, your Ruan Family is, after all, the rightful master of Peach Blossom Island. Now that the traitors have been suppressed, no one can say anything…”
“As for the families nearby, my White Feather Feng Family and the Mo Family of Black Sand Island will naturally support you with all our might, since we are indeed related by marriage… Lu Jingqing is aware of this and does not associate with our two families, instead trying to curry favor with Old Gold Teeth Weirdo from Golden Flame Island. But would Old Gold Teeth Weirdo really oppose our three families over a mere dead person? Your position as Island Master is very secure. When do you plan to hold the ceremony for your inauguration as Island Master? I’ll definitely have Manlou bring a hefty congratulatory gift!”
Feng Baimeng rambled on and on, saying quite a lot.
It seemed that with age, people do become more talkative, “By the way, do you still remember Manlou? The little devil from back then has grown up to be a handsome and talented man!”
“But why promise the Spirit Land of Peach Blossom Island to outsiders? Comrade Xuimu is one thing, but the other three Individual Cultivators are merely at mid-stage Qi Refining, without any significant connections or exceptional skills…”
Ruan Xingling’s expression was resolute, “I have my own plans for this matter. Our Ruan Family is short-handed and needs support!”
“Right!” Feng Baimeng clapped his hands, laughing, “If you’re short on help, aren’t the Bai and Mo families here for you? We’re all family after all, would we harm you?”
“Sigh… why must you press me?” Ruan Xingling’s facial lines gradually hardened, “Since my great-grandfather has come here, I’ll lay it out clearly… even if I have to take a son-in-law in the future, I will definitely not choose from the Mo or Feng families. After all, I bear the surname Ruan!”
“You…”
Feng Baimeng’s beard trembled slightly, but he quickly calmed down and sighed deeply, “Ah… Yuanzhan has a fine daughter indeed.”
…
Jadeite Cliff.
A group of mortals, holding the blueprints given by Fang Xi, were laying foundations and piling up bricks… working with great effort.
Every now and then, Fang Xi would come over to supervise the work, and they would all act very apprehensive, with humble and pleasing smiles, nearly kneeling on the ground to kowtow.
Moreover, their clothes were mostly worn and patched, giving an appearance of being sallow and emaciated.
Yet even so, they felt somewhat stronger than the common folk of Yue Country.
Seeing this, Fang Xi could only quietly rejoice that he hadn’t been reborn as a commoner without a Spiritual Root.
Otherwise, life would truly be unbearable, not even for a single day.
He went to the Spiritual Field and began weeding and fertilising…
Occasionally, he would use the Spring Rain Skills and Metal Grass Mowing Sword, feeling nostalgic about his former profession which he had not let slip away.
“Huff…”
After finishing a day’s work on an acre of land, Fang Xi straightened his back, gasping for a heavy breath.
“Typically, a Spirit Farmer can at most handle three or four acres of land.”
“Now I have thirteen acres which, under normal circumstances, would allow me to hire several Spirit Farmers to act like a cultivator version of a small landlord… Then there’d be a cherished wife, beautiful servants, sumptuous food, lavish house, quite the joyous life!”
“Fortunately, I am a body cultivator, so I can handle it alone.”
After a moment of reflection, Fang Xi continued to stoop and busy himself with the work.
According to the Spiritual Plant Farmer Inheritance, after tending to the Spiritual Field, one could sow the seeds of the Red Blood Spirit Rice.
This Spirit Rice is planted in spring and harvested in autumn, and during this period, it must be irrigated with special Spirit Water. Ideally, it should be mixed with some wild beast blood, with Blood of Demonic Beasts being the best.
Thus, the harvested Spirit Rice would be rich in vitality and blood essence.
For other Spirit Farmers, Blood of Demonic Beasts might be a troublesome material, but for Fang Xi, it was as common as ordinary spring water.
“Mr. Fang, are you planting Spirit Rice?!”
Half an hour later, a large paper crane flew over leisurely. Jumping down from it was none other than Comrade Xuimu!
He greeted Fang Xi with a hearty laugh, only to see Fang Xi lift his head and reply, “Comrade Xuimu, are you here to chase up the Spirit Stones? Haven’t I told you that the Spirit Stones will be repaid after the Spirit Rice harvest?”
“It’s not about the twenty Spirit Stones…”
Comrade Xuimu hurriedly waved his hands, then glanced at the fields, “Eh? The Spirit Rice you’re planting is Red Blood Spirit Rice? This type of Spirit Rice doesn’t fetch much of a price…”
“The local spiritual energy is insufficient, so for now, I’m planting crops that don’t require much spiritual energy to boost the fertility for the time being…”
Fang Xi stepped up from the field, rubbing his hands, “What brings you here today, sir?”
“In three days, it will be Fairy Ruan’s ceremony to assume the position of Island Master.” Comrade Xuimu became solemn as he spoke of important matters, “I am here to deliver an invitation!”
“Hmm!”
Fang Xi took the invitation, glanced at it, then casually placed it into his Storage Bag, “Thank you, sir. Please relay my message that I will certainly attend on time in three days!”
Comrade Xuimu paused, surprised. Wasn’t Mr. Fang quite sociable in the market? Why did he seem somewhat distant now after coming to Peach Blossom Island?
He pondered for a moment and still gave a hint, “During Fairy Ruan’s grand ceremony this time, it is said that the Feng and Mo Families will both have people coming…”
“Oh!”
Fang Xi wanted to cultivate an image of reclusiveness, so he intentionally responded in a sarcastic manner.
Xiumu, anxious in his heart, simply spoke plainly, “Recently, Fairy Ruan still values the four of us, but after all, we are living under someone else’s roof. It’s best if we band together, acting in unison, so that we can support each other!”
Does Fang Xi really not understand even that?
“I see!”
Fang Xi nodded then shook his head, “But I just want to quietly farm at Jadeite Cliff and really don’t want to deal with external affairs. Sir, this proposal of advancing and retreating together, let’s forget it…”
Xiumu was speechless for a long while, and eventually, he stomped his foot and left with a flick of his sleeves.
…
Three days later.
By Mirror Moon Lake.
The Ruan family’s large estate.
Cultivators from neighboring areas gathered, filling more than a dozen tables.
The mansion was also decorated with red silk, looking exceptionally festive.
The tables were filled with freshly-harvested Spirit Fruit and cakes made from Spirit Rice, with tea served as continuously as flowing water.
Fang Xi casually picked a low-grade magical item from his spoils as a congratulatory gift and was seated at the edge, sharing a table with Wei Yixin and his wife.
But Xiumu, adept at socializing, became a temporary welcoming host, acting as if he were half the master, attending to the guests.
Occasionally, some cultivators who saw Fang Xi and the others revealed envy, jealousy… even resentment in their eyes!
“Fairy Ruan is unwise, why recruit these individual cultivators? Their cultivation is just mediocre…”
“Indeed, it gave out a piece of Spirit Land, even though it’s of low quality, it’s still a foundation! What luck!”
What does it mean to be an individual cultivator? The bottom of the Cultivation World, like duckweed with no home, drifting with the wind, old with no one to rely on…
But with a piece of Spiritual Land, there is the foundation to establish a Family or School.
Countless individual cultivators dream of this all their lives!
Alas, they never get to see such hope.
Seeing these four individual cultivators now securing a position, it’s natural to be filled with envy and even resentment!
“You don’t understand; Fairy Ruan is quite clever with this move.”
An old cultivator with a ruddy face took a sip of Spiritual Tea and started, “Although she’s a great master in the later stages of Qi Refining, she is but one person. Hence, by gathering rootless individual cultivators as her wings and introducing marital alliances, she achieves mutual restraint and temporary peace. Then she nurtures children with Spiritual Roots from mortals, granting them the Ruan surname to establish deep roots. It is a tripod’s balance… After decades, when trusted cultivators have grown, it will be an impregnable kingdom!”
Fang Xi, with ears far more sensitive than Wei Yixin and his wife, listening to this, felt speechless.
A mere island’s territory is being spun into a kingdom.
Is this old cultivator a geomancer who started with tricks in the mortal world? Or has he also practiced dragon-slaying techniques?
“Mr. Fang, please enjoy the tea!”
Wei Yixin’s face forced a stiff smile, actively trying to smooth things over with Fang Xi.
In the recent days, with his Taoist Companion’s guidance, he too had come around.
He would soon be a cultivator with a foundation, no need for any more fighting and killing, and it was necessary to maintain a good relationship with the neighbors.
The matter was beneficial and harmless!
Moreover, inside Peach Blossom Island, it was not all calm waters!
“Hmm, have the honorable couple settled in West Peak? What do you plan to live on in the future?”
Fang Xi, drinking Spiritual Tea, asked casually.
“There are quite a few houses atop West Peak, and with a bit of renovation, they will be fit to live in…” This time Hua Chanjuan took the initiative to engage in the conversation. With a bright and vivacious smile, full of vitality and expectancy for the future, she said: “There’s also a sea of flowers which is so beautiful… I will personally cultivate the technique of raising Jade Bees, planning to domesticate more, and by the next year, we could harvest Spiritual Honey. As for my husband, his hands are more used to wielding a blade and killing; he can’t even make a proper beehive – they’re all crooked and ugly…”
“Now that we have Spirit Land, the medicines for cultivation can be saved in the future. We’ll buy more Spirit Seeds. Sir, as a Spirit Plant Farmer, you should really teach us farming. I don’t want to live a life on the edge of the blade anymore. It’s just right to sell off the magical items and buy some nice clothes…”
She chattered on and on, and finally invited, “My husband and I plan to establish a Family, calling it ‘Twin Wei’ – how does that sound?”
“Why bring up such matters out in the open?”
Wei Yixin’s face flushed red.
Fang Xi was taken aback and then glanced at Hua Chanjuan’s flat belly, feeling rather speechless.
Aspiring to build a Qi Refining Family, these two surely had a long way to go.
“White Feather Feng Family’s Feng Man Building, Black Sand Island’s Mo Qingyu, have arrived!”
Outside, Xiumu’s strong voice echoed in.
Most guests looked over to see two young cultivators arriving side by side, one dressed in white, the other in green – both elegant and refined, making onlookers admire them.
“The Feng Family from White Feather Island and the Mo Family from Black Sand Island are shameless, eyeing the position of a son-in-law, pah!”
Hua Chanjuan spat softly, looking displeased.