Chapter 46: Offerings

"The magical power has solidified, transforming into Azure Essence."

Waving his hand to disperse the pale white moonlight essence in his palm, Li Tongya felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

Although the Azure Essence Wheel could not be considered a major milestone, it was, after all, the fourth wheel of the Fetal Breath Realm. He was extremely satisfied that his magical power had solidified so smoothly over the past half year.

"It's just that this Azure Essence magical power looks somewhat unusual. The growth is so immense that it looks similar to the cultivation level of the Jade Capital Wheel described in the 'Azure Essence Nourishing Wheel Method.' It seems my family's 'Taiyin Breathing and Nourishing Wheel Scripture' is truly extraordinary."

Li Tongya lifted the Qingfeng sword in his hand and began to wipe it carefully with a white cloth. Most people on the Guli Road used knives or staves; he had traveled through four villages to find this precious sword from the Liu family of Jingyang.

The Jingyang Liu family was precisely Liu Rouxuan's maternal family. Upon hearing that Li Tongya was looking for a sword, they eagerly offered up this heirloom sword, refusing to take any money from him and insisting it was part of Liu Rouxuan's dowry.

"After practicing for over half a year, I have finally entered the threshold. I can now steadily manifest this Profound Water Sword Qi."

Li Tongya pressed his two fingers together and slowly slid them along the Qingfeng. The sword immediately spat out a streak of pale gray sword qi, which clung to the edge of the blade as thin as a cicada's wing, looking incredibly sharp.

Walking out of the courtyard, Li Tongya found a secluded spot in the mountains and began to dance with his sword in secret.

"Hah!"

After several rounds of practice, Li Tongya raised the Qingfeng and flicked his wrist. The sword swept across a large tree in front of him, and the massive banyan tree instantly crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Truly sharp."

Looking at the smooth stump before him, Li Tongya felt as though his strike had encountered almost no resistance before snapping the tree in half.

After practicing with enthusiasm for a while, Li Tongya hung the Qingfeng at his waist. Once he had recovered his magical power through breathing cultivation, he headed back toward the Lijing courtyard.

The White Essence Fruits in the Lijing courtyard had ripened. They hung atop the pale yellow seedlings, white and plump, looking extremely tempting.

Harvesting these White Essence Fruits was much easier than harvesting spirit rice; one could use magical power to pick them and then store them in jade boxes. Fifteen White Essence Fruits had grown in the courtyard all at once. Li Tongya had borrowed two jade boxes from Wan Tiancang to hold them all.

"Brother Tiancang, I wonder about the tribute..."

"Follow Guli Road to the east, all the way to Guanyun Peak of the Xiao family in the east. The various families of Lixia County submit their tributes there together. Each family also brings goods they produce in abundance or have in surplus to trade, right at the foot of that mountain."

Hearing Li Tongya ask about the submission of tributes, Wan Tiancang waved his hand and explained carefully

"The market at the foot of the mountain is guaranteed by the Xiao family, so there are generally no incidents of treasure-snatching or killing. It is simply a matter of exchanging goods for money; once you leave your stall, they take no responsibility. It all depends on one's own discernment."

"I see."

After discussing matters with Li Xiangping and Li Mutian for the duration of a tea service, Li Tongya took the Songyue fruit sent by the Wan family and several manuals of incantations and techniques. He packed up the family's spirit rice and spirit fruits and quietly headed toward the Wan residence.

The Wan family's carriage was parked by the side of Guli Road. To prevent the Ji family from learning of the news and launching a sneak attack, the Wan family had only sent Wan Yuankai, who was at the Azure Essence Wheel stage, and a single driver to wait for Li Tongya by the road.

Having packed everything, Li Tongya loaded the spirit rice and spirit fruits onto the Wan family's carriage and set off toward the east, swaying slightly under the cover of night.

————

"To obtain the Golden Autumn of the Lake, one must find a great lake spanning three thousand miles. When the autumn colors turn golden on the shore, the sky is clear, the air is crisp, and the night is bright, one must use the Bingzi Incantation to absorb Qi for an entire night to obtain a portion of Autumn Qi. After eighty-one nights, one obtains a wisp of the Lake's Golden Autumn; ten wisps make a portion. This process takes ten years and is also known as a decade of Lake Autumn Qi."

Li Chijing flipped through the book in his hands, silently memorizing the method recorded within, while thinking to himself

"This 'July Qi Refining True Manual' given by Master is quite detailed. I wonder if there is a method for refining the Taiyin Moonlight."

After flipping through the book carefully several times, Li Chijing muttered to himself

"Taiyin Moonlight... Taiyin Moonlight... Here it is!"

"Taiyin Moonlight: as white as frost, flowing like water. It shines bright when the moon is full and grows dim when the moon wanes."

Li Chijing stared blankly as he flipped a few more pages, then opened his mouth and said

"That's it?"

"Sigh..."

Li Chijing had mastered the Spirit Initial Wheel some time ago and only needed a bit more time of accumulation to reach the Qi Refining stage. Thus, taking advantage of the time spent waiting, he had begun reading the essentials of Qi Refining early.

"If there is no clue regarding this Taiyin Moonlight, I will have to practice the 'Yuanqing Rain-Controlling Manual' instead."

As Li Chijing looked up, he saw that a certain mission outside the Martial Arts Pavilion had abruptly disappeared. As the pavilion doors opened, a figure slowly emerged.

Li Chijing had waited outside the Martial Arts Pavilion for three days before seeing that the mission to collect the tributes for Lixia County had been taken. Seeing the person about to depart on a flying shuttle, he hurriedly called out

"Fellow Daoist!"

Hearing this, the person lowered their head and said softly

"What is it?"

Only then did Li Chijing notice that the person was a beautiful woman dressed in a light cyan long dress. He smiled awkwardly and explained

"Did you take the mission to go to Lixia County to collect tributes?"

"I did."

The gentle woman looked at Li Chijing. Seeing that he was only a boy of about sixteen, she immediately softened her tone and said softly

"Do you have family in Lixia County?"

"Indeed, indeed! I am Li Chijing of Qing穗 Peak. May I ask the Fairy's name?"

"Ning Wan of Yuehu Peak."

Ning Wan nodded slightly, signaling Li Chijing to continue.

"Since Fairy is going to Lixia County to collect tributes, I hope you can look after my family. I would be eternally grateful."

Li Chijing cupped his hands and replied in a respectful, low voice.

"I am from the Li family of Lijing, right by the edge of Moon-Watching Lake."

"We are fellow disciples; looking after them is only natural."

Ning Wan nodded slightly, but asked with some confusion

"Since you were born by Moon-Watching Lake, within the jurisdiction of my Yuehu Peak, why did you not join Yuehu Peak?"

Li Chijing responded with a smile

"My Master, Si Yuanbai, passed by Mount Dali. I was blessed with great fortune to catch Master's eye, so he brought me back to the sect to cultivate."

Ning Wan gave a dissatisfied huff and muttered

"Si Yuanbai should have stayed in his Mushroom Forest Plain instead of coming to my Moon-Watching Lake to poach people. It makes no sense at all."

Li Chijing could only give a bitter smile and pretend he hadn't heard her.

"Very well."

Ning Wan pursed her lips and said softly

"Is there anything you wish for me to bring?"

"Yes, yes!"

Li Chijing had been worrying about how to ask. Hearing this, he was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Fairy!"

With that, he handed over a small pouch with both hands. Ning Wan took it and gave it a weigh; the crisp clinking of spirit stones could be heard inside. It seemed to contain four or five spirit stones. Feeling somewhat puzzled, she spoke

"Does your sect not collect resources from your family during cultivation? Instead, you are sending things back to them. What kind of logic is this?"

Li Chijing quickly shook his head and replied

"The family sent some medicinal pills through an acquaintance. The peak has everything we need, so we have no immediate use for spirit stones, and using them for cultivation would be too extravagant. It is better to send them home to supplement the household expenses."

"I see. Your sincerity is commendable."

Hearing this, Ning Wan's heart softened, and she developed a bit of a fondness for the boy. She smiled and said

"I will certainly deliver them."

(End of Chapter)