Chapter 6 : The Peach Tree's Hidden Potential

A single First Rank Low Grade Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually infused peaches], capable of producing approximately forty to fifty Spirit Peach [spiritually nourishing peaches] each year, translates to an annual income of over two hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

A Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually infused peaches] possesses a lifespan spanning 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, represents a substantial and enduring source of wealth.

If this were indeed a Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually infused peaches], it could significantly alleviate the current predicament faced by the Chen Clan.

"A pity," he sighed.

As he lamented, Eldrin Chen suddenly froze, a crucial memory striking him.

"Primordial Essence [the foundational, creative energy of the cosmos]," he whispered.

He recalled that Primordial Essence [the foundational, creative energy of the cosmos] possessed the wondrous ability to elevate one's innate foundation and refine one's spiritual constitution. Perhaps it could induce a metamorphosis in the Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually infused peaches].

Yet, hesitation crept in. Primordial Essence [the foundational, creative energy of the cosmos] was exceedingly rare. After over a decade of diligent cultivation, he had managed to accumulate only a mouthful and a half of this creative Violet Qi [the violet-hued spiritual energy absorbed at dawn, a refined form of Primordial Essence].

"I once sought to further enhance my cultivation aptitude," he mused, "but it seems Primordial Essence [the foundational, creative energy of the cosmos] can only be utilized once for that purpose. It is of no use to me now."

"Perhaps advancing the peach tree into a true Spirit Tree [a plant that has absorbed spiritual energy and gained mystical properties], and using its Spirit Peach [spiritually nourishing peaches] to aid my cultivation, is the most prudent course of action at present." This content originates from audio novel.com. Please respect copyright.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen steeled his resolve. He exhaled a wisp of Primordial Essence [the purest, most fundamental energy cultivated within a being] and guided it to merge into the Spirit Peach Tree.

As expected, once the Spirit Peach Tree absorbed that single breath of Primordial Essence, a wondrous transformation began to unfold.

The tree grew taller and more luxuriant, its form appearing more ancient and extraordinary. An aura of potent spiritual energy [the vital force that permeates the world and fuels cultivation] became palpable around it, and its peach blossoms bloomed with even more vivid and captivating beauty.

"A Spiritual Root [the innate conduit within a living being that allows it to absorb and utilize spiritual energy]," he murmured.

"It has truly advanced into a First Rank Spirit Peach tree."

Eldrin Chen's face lit up with joy, though a pang of regret quickly followed. It had taken him a full decade of dedicated cultivation to accumulate that single breath of Dawn Violet Qi [a rare and potent spiritual energy gathered at the break of dawn], and now it was gone in an instant.

Now he only had half a breath of Dawn Violet Qi left. To gather another full breath would likely require another five or six years of patient effort.

After the Spirit Peach Tree's advancement, he decided to build a simple bamboo hut right beside it. His next task was to begin cultivating Spirit Farmland [land infused with spiritual energy, suitable for growing spiritual crops].

Creating Spirit Farmland was a meticulous 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] within the plot. Finally, the land had to be nurtured and tempered over time using the Land Nurturing Art [a specialized technique used by Spirit Farmers to enrich soil with spiritual energy], a skill possessed by Spirit Farmers. Only then could true Spirit Farmland be 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 soil] was a First Rank High Grade spell. Cultivators with water or wood Earth Spiritual Root [an affinity for the earth element] could all cast it, though the toll it took was considerable. Even with Eldrin Chen's cultivation at the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer [the seventh stage of refining one's vital energy], he could only manage three consecutive castings before he had to wait for his True Qi [the refined vital energy cultivated within a practitioner] to recover before using it again.

To nurture three mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spirit Farmland [land imbued with spiritual energy for growing special crops], he had to cast the Land Nurturing Art over thirty times in succession before finally establishing the three plots.

It was not that more could not be opened; it was simply that the spiritual energy from the First Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a vein of earth that emits spiritual energy, graded by potency] was limited. It had to sustain the Azure Spirit Fish [a type of fish that thrives on spiritual energy] and also support Eldrin Chen's own cultivation. The remaining energy was only sufficient to establish three mu-area of Spirit Farmland.

To create more would require consuming Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] to establish the Spirit Farmland. However, opening one mu-area of land in this manner would consume one thousand Spirit Stone. With the Chen Clan's coffers now depleted, there was simply no way to produce such a vast sum.

By the time he had finally finished establishing the Spirit Farmland, it was already the end of the third month. Eldrin Chen hurriedly worked for another three days, managing to plant two mu-area with Spirit Rice [a type of rice that grows on spiritual energy] and one mu-area with Spirit Medicine [herbs infused with spiritual energy, used in alchemy].

"Done."

Looking at the Spirit Rice and Spirit Medicine sprouting in the Spirit Farmland, Eldrin Chen allowed a smile to grace his features.

The Spirit Rice matured once a year. One mu-area of Spirit Farmland could yield an annual profit of over twenty Spirit Stone. Thus, the two mu-area would bring the clan an income of roughly fifty Spirit Stone each year.

The maturation of Spirit Medicine, however, was 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 Medicine was immense. Though it did not generate income as quickly as Spirit Rice, it was indispensable for the cultivation of those at the Foundation Establishment [the stage of solidifying one's cultivation foundation] realm and beyond. It was a treasure one could hope to encounter but could never count on finding.

A few years prior, a Verdant Origin Ganoderma [a rare spirit fungus] matured within the Spirit Medicine Garden [a garden dedicated to cultivating spiritual herbs] of Verdant Chariot Mountain. Clan Patriarch Chen Thalion commissioned an alchemist to refine this herb into a cauldron of Second Rank High Grade Pill [high-quality pills for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage], which finally allowed him to break through the bottleneck to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer.

Only after planting the Spirit Rice [rice imbued with spiritual energy] and the Spirit Medicine did Eldrin Chen finally allow himself to relax. From then on, he merely needed to nurture the Spirit Farmland [fields infused with spiritual energy] with the Land Nurturing Art [a technique to enrich spiritual soil] every half-month and irrigate them once with the Spirit Rain Art [a rain-summoning technique that carries spiritual energy]. The rest of his time could be devoted to cultivation without worry.

Time flowed like water during cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

On this day, after completing his cultivation routine, Eldrin Chen guided a solitary boat across the Spirit Isle Lake, taking stock of the Azure Spirit Fish [spiritually-enhanced fish with azure scales].

"Why are two missing?"

After repeated counts, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel`com.

The Azure Spirit Fish typically swam in schools behind their king, grazing on aquatic plants. Guarded by the Azure Spirit Fish King [the alpha fish of the school], which was at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage, the young fish were generally safe, and disappearances were exceedingly rare.

Yet despite multiple counts, he was certain two were missing. With his current visual acuity, miscounting a school of over one hundred Spirit Fish was virtually impossible.

Thus, Eldrin Chen concluded something was amiss in the spirit lake. Some kind of Demonic Beast [a beast that has absorbed spiritual energy, often becoming aggressive] must have hunted two of the Spirit Fish.

"The Demonic Beast in the spirit lake have been purged three times. In theory, there shouldn't be any fierce ones left."

"Could it be that another Demonic Beast has migrated here?"

Eldrin Chen pondered the situation, his thoughts turning to seeking aid from Verdant Chariot Mountain, yet he ultimately suppressed the impulse.

Only two fry of the Azure Spirit Fish had been lost, suggesting the perpetrator was not an overly powerful Demonic Beast; otherwise, the Azure Spirit Fish King could never have protected the school.

The Azure Spirit Fish King possessed a docile temperament. Despite having cultivation at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage, its combat prowess ranked among the weakest within that realm.

Since the Demonic Beast couldn't even overcome the fish king, its strength was likely quite limited. Eldrin judged he could subdue it with ease.

The immediate task was to locate the Demonic Beast pilfering the Spirit Fish and capture it.

That day, Eldrin Chen searched nearly half of the spirit lake. As the sun dipped below the western horizon, he had found nothing and could only return to Lake Heart Island, resolving to resume the hunt the following day.

Early the next morning, after absorbing the dawn's essence and completing his cultivation of Primordial Essence, Eldrin Chen set out once more for the spirit lake.

Upon sighting the fish school, his brow furrowed. The number of Spirit Fish seemed off.

A swift count confirmed his suspicion: the Spirit Fish were indeed two fewer. His memory, honed by cultivation at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage, far surpassed that of ordinary men. He instantly recognized the missing pair as the two smallest fry.

This caused Eldrin Chen immense heartache, and his teeth ground together in silent fury. A single mature Spirit Fish [a fish infused with spiritual energy, valuable for cultivation] was worth five Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and cultivation]. Losing four fingerlings in a row meant the clan had suffered a loss of twenty Spirit Stones—a substantial blow.

An elder of the Chen Clan at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage [the advanced stage of refining one's vital life force] received an annual stipend of only ten Spirit Stones. To lose four Spirit Fish at once was a heavy loss. Even though his high status within the clan likely shielded him from direct reprimand for such a minor setback, shame and fury burned within him.

"Damned creature, don't let me catch you,"

Eldrin Chen muttered through clenched teeth. He activated the Water Avoidance Art [a technique that allows one to move unimpeded underwater] and slipped into the lake's depths. Shadowing the school of Spirit Fish, he prepared to lie in wait for the predator.

The fish school went unmolested that entire day. Resolved to capture the Demonic Beast [a beast that has absorbed spiritual energy and gained monstrous power], he did not return to Lake Heart Island. Instead, he stubbornly trailed the fish throughout the long night.

Finally, at dawn the next day, his vigilance was rewarded. He discovered the culprit responsible for devouring the Spirit Fish.

A furtive creature emerged from the Reed Marsh [a dense wetland area thick with reeds] and began swimming stealthily toward the Spirit Fish.

"A Violet-Striped Goose?" Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel.com (official site).