Chapter 6 : A Tree of Hope and Ancient Power

A single first-rank lower-grade Spirit Peach Tree [a mystical tree that bears fruit imbued with spiritual energy] can produce roughly forty to fifty Spiritual Peach [peaches infused with spiritual essence] each year, translating to an annual income of over two hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

The lifespan of a Spirit Peach Tree [a mystical tree that bears fruit imbued with spiritual energy] often spans several centuries at the very least. An annual yield of two hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], accumulated over time, becomes a substantial source of wealth.

If this were indeed a Spirit Peach Tree [a mystical tree that bears fruit imbued with spiritual energy], it could significantly alleviate the current predicament of the Chen Family.

"What a pity," he sighed.

As he was lamenting, Eldrin Chen suddenly froze, a crucial memory flashing through his mind.

"The Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare and profound energy of creation and transformation]," he whispered.

He recalled that the Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare and profound energy of creation and transformation] could elevate one's foundational potential and possessed the wondrous property of Creation [the divine ability to create or transform matter and essence]. Perhaps it could induce a metamorphosis in the Spirit Peach Tree [a mystical tree that bears fruit imbued with spiritual energy].

Yet, hesitation crept in. The Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare and profound energy of creation and transformation] was exceedingly rare. After over a decade of diligent cultivation, he had only managed to accumulate a mere one and a half breaths' worth of this Creation Purple Qi [the violet-hued manifestation of the Primordial Mist Violet Aura].

"I once wished to further enhance my cultivation aptitude, but it seems the Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare and profound energy of creation and transformation] can only be used once. It is of no use to me now," he mused.

"Perhaps advancing the peach tree into a true Spiritual Tree [a tree of higher spiritual grade and potency] and using the Spiritual Peach [peaches infused with spiritual essence] to aid my cultivation would be the most prudent course of action at present."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist] resolved himself. He exhaled a wisp of Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a rare, high-grade spiritual energy] and guided it to merge into the Spirit Peach Tree [a magical tree bearing spiritually infused peaches].

As expected, once the Spirit Peach Tree absorbed that single wisp of Primordial Mist Violet Aura, a wondrous transformation occurred.

The tree grew taller and more luxuriant, its form becoming more ancient and vigorous. An aura of potent spiritual energy seemed to press against the senses, and its peach blossoms bloomed with even more vivid and delicate beauty.

"Spiritual Root [the foundational spiritual quality of a plant or cultivator]."

"It has indeed advanced into a First-Order Spiritual Peach Tree [the initial rank of a spiritually enhanced peach tree]."

Eldrin Chen's face lit up with joy, yet a pang of heartache followed. A decade of diligent cultivation and condensation was required to accumulate a single mouthful of Dawn Violet Qi [a purer, more potent form of Primordial Mist Violet Aura], and now it was gone in an instant.

Now, with only half a mouthful of Dawn Violet Qi remaining, he would likely have to wait another five or six years to accumulate a full portion again.

After the tree's advancement, Eldrin Chen decided to build a simple Bamboo Hut beside it. His next task was to begin the meticulous work of opening up a Spiritual Field [a plot of land specially cultivated to grow spiritual plants].

Creating a Spiritual Field was a delicate and intricate process. It involved not just clearing and tilling the land, but also laying down a Spirit Gathering Formation [an array designed to concentrate ambient spiritual energy]. Finally, the land had to be nurtured and tempered over time using the Land Nurturing Art [a specialized cultivation technique for spiritual farmers], a skill possessed by Spiritual Farmer [cultivators who specialize in growing spiritual plants]. Only then could a true Spiritual Field be successfully established.

Eldrin Chen spent two full days clearing and preparing three mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of land. Setting up the Spirit Gathering Formation consumed another seven or eight days of his time.

The Land Nurturing Art [a technique to enrich and vitalize the land] is a first-rank upper-grade spell. Cultivators with either water or wood Earth Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the earth element] can cast it, though the expenditure of spiritual energy is considerable. Even with Eldrin Chen's cultivation at the Vital Essence Refinement 7th Tier [the seventh stage of refining one's vital essence], he could only perform it three times in succession before needing to wait for his True Qi [the refined energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] to recover before he could use the art again.

To nurture three Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spiritual Field [a field imbued with spiritual energy for growing special crops], he cast the Land Nurturing Art over thirty times, finally succeeding in opening up those three plots.

It was not that more could not be opened, but the spiritual energy from a first-rank upper-grade Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] is limited. It had to sustain the Azure Spirit Fish [a type of spiritually infused fish] and also supply Eldrin Chen's own cultivation. The remaining energy was only sufficient for a Spiritual Field of three Mu-area.

To open more would require consuming Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to establish the fields. However, opening one Mu-area this way consumes one thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], and with the Chen Family's coffers now empty, they simply could not produce such a large sum.

By the time he finally finished opening the Spiritual Field, it was already the end of the third month. Eldrin Chen worked diligently for another three days, managing to plant two Mu-area with Spirit Rice [a grain infused with spiritual energy] and one Mu-area with Spirit Herb [plants that absorb and concentrate spiritual energy, used in alchemy].

"Done."

Gazing at the Spirit Rice and Spirit Herb in the Spiritual Field, Eldrin Chen allowed a smile to touch his lips.

Spirit Rice matures once a year. One Mu-area of Spiritual Field can yield an annual profit of over twenty Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], so the two Mu-area should bring the family an income of roughly fifty Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] each year.

The maturation of Spirit Herb [plants that absorb and concentrate spiritual energy, used in alchemy], however, is an exceedingly slow process. In this one Mu-area, he had sown seeds for over thirty plants. The fastest would need ten years to grow, while the slower ones would require several decades, even centuries, to reach maturity.

The value of Spirit Herb [plants that absorb and concentrate spiritual energy, used in alchemy] is immense. Though they do not generate income as quickly as Spirit Rice, they are indispensable for the cultivation of those at the Foundation Establishment [the stage of establishing one's foundational cultivation core] and beyond. They are treasures that are sought after but rarely found.

A few years ago, the Spirit Herb Garden at Verdant Chariot Mountain matured a Verdant Origin Mushroom. The clan patriarch, Alistair Chen, commissioned someone to refine a cauldron of Second-Rank Superior-Grade Pill using this herb, which finally allowed him to break through the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment 7th Tier.

Only after planting the Spirit Rice and Spirit Herb did Eldrin Chen finally let out a sigh of relief. From then on, he only needed to nurture the Spiritual Field with the Land Nurturing Art every half-month and irrigate it once with the Spirit Rain Art. The rest of his time could be devoted to cultivation with peace of mind.

Time slipped away in the blink of an eye during cultivation, and two months passed in a flash.

On this day, after completing his cultivation routine, Eldrin Chen steered a solitary boat across Spirit Isle Lake, taking stock of the Azure Spirit Fish population.

"Why are two missing?"

After repeated counts, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow.

The Azure Spirit Fish typically followed their king, moving in schools to feed on aquatic plants. Guarded by the Azure Spirit Fish King at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage, the young fish were generally safe, and disappearances were rare.

Yet, despite multiple counts, he was certain two were missing. With his current eyesight, miscounting a little over a hundred Spirit Fish was nearly impossible.

Thus, Eldrin Chen suspected something was amiss within the Spirit Lake—likely a demonic beast that had hunted two of the Spirit Fish.

"The demonic beasts in the Spirit Lake have been purged three times. Logically, there shouldn't be any fierce ones left."

"Could it be that another demonic beast has migrated here?"

Eldrin Chen pondered internally, considering going to Verdant Chariot Mountain to seek aid, but ultimately suppressed the thought.

Only two Azure Spirit Fish fry were lost, so the perpetrator likely wasn't an overly powerful demonic beast; otherwise, the Azure Spirit Fish King wouldn't have been able to protect the school.

The Azure Spirit Fish King has a docile temperament. Although it possesses the cultivation level of the Late Stage of Vital Essence Refinement, its combat prowess ranks among the weakest within that realm.

Since the demonic beast couldn't even handle the fish king, its strength was probably quite limited. He was confident he could subdue it with ease.

The immediate priority was to find the demonic beast that was stealing the Spirit Fish and capture it.

That day, Eldrin Chen searched nearly half of the Spirit Lake. He continued until the Supreme Yang [the sun] set in the west, yet found nothing. He could only return to Lake Heart Island, planning to resume the search the next day.

Early the next morning, after inhaling the morning mists and completing his daily cultivation of Primordial Mist Violet Aura [a pure, foundational spiritual energy], Eldrin Chen set out once more for the Spirit Lake.

As soon as he saw the fish school, his brow furrowed; the number of Spirit Fish seemed off.

A quick count confirmed it: the Spirit Fish population had decreased by another two. With his cultivation at the Late Stage of Vital Essence Refinement, his memory far surpassed that of ordinary people. He instantly recognized that the missing two were the smallest fry in the school.

This filled Eldrin Chen with profound anguish, his heart seething with a hatred that gnawed at his very bones. A single mature Spirit Fish [a type of fish that absorbs spiritual energy, prized by cultivators] was worth five Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. The loss of four young fish in succession meant the family had essentially lost twenty Spirit Stones.

The annual stipend for a Chen Family cultivator at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final phase of the first major cultivation stage, focusing on refining the body's vital energy] was only ten Spirit Stones. Losing four Spirit Fish at once, even though he held a senior position within the family and likely wouldn't face formal censure for such a minor loss, filled him with shame and fury.

"Damned creature, don't let me catch you," he swore through gritted teeth.

Eldrin Chen, his jaw clenched, activated the Water Avoidance Art [a mystical technique that allows the user to move through water without getting wet] and slipped beneath the lake's surface. He followed the school of Spirit Fish, intending to lie in wait for the predator.

The fish faced no attacks that day. Yet, resolved to capture the beast, he did not return to Lake Heart Island. Instead, he stubbornly trailed the fish school, keeping watch through the entire night.

Finally, as dawn broke the next day, his vigilance was rewarded. He discovered the culprit responsible for stealing the Spirit Fish.

A furtive, shadowy creature emerged from the Middle Reaches of the Reed Marsh and began swimming stealthily toward the Spirit Fish.

"A Violet-Striped Goose?"