The next day.
As Li Ye walked through the streets of the marketplace, a subtle gleam flickered in his eyes.
After cultivating through the night though he hadn't fully mastered the Thousand Thoughts Divine Refinement Technique his mind felt much clearer, and his senses had quietly grown sharper.
His perception of the details around him had subtly transformed as if the entire world in his eyes had taken on a fresh new clarity.
"The grand formation has fully recovered…"
Looking up at the sky and the faintly shifting protective barrier above, he felt a reassuring sense of relief.
Although a Formation-Breaking Talisman could temporarily disrupt formations of the same level, its effects were fleeting it was usually used for ambush tactics.
As long as the core structure wasn't too badly damaged, it only required some adjustments to the formation tools to quickly restore its function.
Three days ago, Elder Yu had deliberately activated and sacrificed a portion of the formation for the Flying Feather Sect to destroy. Much of it was already restored, and its protective power now once again blanketed the market. In truth, the damage had been quite limited.
As he watched the bustling crowd and took note of many unfamiliar faces, and listened to the growing noise from shops and stalls, a thoughtful expression appeared on Li Ye's face.
"Even with so many cultivators pulled away for the counterattack, the marketplace feels livelier than before. Shops are reopening one after another… Seems like that resounding victory gave a lot of rogue cultivators and minor factions a strong boost of confidence. They're all returning now…"
With the Flying Feather Sect coalition suffering a major defeat and being forced to retreat, they wouldn't be able to launch another large-scale assault anytime soon. For now, Zimolin Marketplace has become an ideal place for cultivation.
Even though the war wasn't over, staying here somehow felt more comfortable than being back at the sect.
"Hmm… If I could just get a plot of land to grow things freely, that'd be perfect."
He chuckled to himself and shook his head.
Unless he advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, there was no way he'd be granted the freedom to use sect-assigned spirit fields however he liked.
Elder Yu's residence came into view.
As fellow disciples greeted him along the way, Li Ye casually chatted with a flirtatious senior sister trying to cozy up to him. They arrived at the Alchemy Hall, where Yu Xiaoshan was already waiting by the entrance.
When she saw the elaborately dressed senior sister by Li Ye's side, her expression shifted slightly. But she quickly flashed a charming smile and walked up to him.
"Good morning, Senior Brother. I've been waiting a while on Elder Yu's orders…"
She glanced faintly at the overly dolled-up woman and added apologetically,
"The Alchemy Hall is a restricted area those unrelated really shouldn't enter. I hope you understand, Senior Sister."
What nonsense is "unrelated"? The queue of people trying to get pills from Li Ye could break down the door! And she dares say this with a straight face?
The senior sister's smile froze. She looked at Li Ye, hoping for a reaction, but seeing none, she could only respond sweetly,
"If that's the case… Junior Brother Li, should you find yourself with free time, why not visit my residence? I know a bit of music zither, flute, and song. Wouldn't tea and a tune make for a lovely time?"
Li Ye smiled brightly. "Thank you for the kind invitation, Sister Duan. If I have time, I'll be sure to visit."
"Then I shall await your arrival with great anticipation…"
Her eyes lit up, and she glanced smugly at Yu Xiaoshan's displeased expression before turning away with a playful laugh and a waft of fragrance in her wake.
"Senior Brother, instead of going to her, you'd be better off…"
When Li Ye turned back, he found Yu Xiaoshan staring at him with a trace of grievance, like she wanted to speak but hesitated.
But then she suddenly paused and narrowed her eyes in surprise.
"…Senior Brother, I feel like something's different about you today?"
She notice?
Li Ye's heart stirred. Ever since he began cultivating the Thousand Thoughts Divine Refinement Technique, his spiritual aura hadn't yet fully stabilized, so a faint trace would still leak from his eyes. No one else had picked up on it during his walk yet Yu Xiaoshan had noticed.
"Hmm… I made some minor progress in my cultivation."
He replied casually, then swiftly changed the topic.
"So, what did Elder Yu ask you to bring me?"
"This is the token for the Spirit Herb Garden, along with care instructions for the Spirit Mulberry trees. Elder Yu has assigned you two acres of land, with a total of three hundred trees under your care."
Yu Xiaoshan hurriedly handed him a token and a booklet. Seeing him happily flipping through it, she asked in confusion,
"But Senior Brother, with your remarkable alchemy skills, why waste time tending to spiritual plants?"
Putting the items away, Li Ye responded calmly with a smile,
"Heh… I have dull talent. It's only when I'm close to the earth, tending to plants, that my mind feels clear. It helps me understand techniques and arts in a different light… I suppose I'll always be tied to flowers and greenery in this life."
"…Is that so…"
Yu Xiaoshan was momentarily dazed.
She had heard that many skilled cultivators in the mystical arts had strange quirks.
She just never expected that Li Ye's eccentricity was caring for spirit plants and that he found inspiration in communing with nature.
Then her heart fluttered with joy, and a shy smile appeared on her face.
If Senior Brother Li shared something like this with her, then surely… he already saw her as one of his own, right?
That vixen Duan? How could she possibly compare to her?
"If any alchemy commissions come in, handle them for me. I'm heading to the Spirit Herb Garden to take a look first."
With those words, Li Ye turned and walked off. By the time Yu Xiaoshan snapped out of it, his figure had already disappeared around the corner.
....
Within the Spirit Herb Garden, amidst the grove of Spirit Mulberry Trees
Two figures were speaking in hushed tones.
"Senior Brother Wen, did you let Elder transfer this spirit field to that Li… ahem, that person for management?"
A scrawny cultivator asked cautiously, his tone laced with indignation and apprehension as he looked at the young man before him, whose face was visibly gloomy.
There was even a flicker of fear in his eyes.
"It's true. As of today, the position has already been handed over…"
Wen Xun let out a long, heavy sigh, as though all the strength had drained from his body.
He had tended to this patch of Spirit Mulberry trees for a long time. Aside from cultivation, nearly all his time had been poured into it.
This place wasn't just his main source of income it had become a part of his life, a source of hope on his path of cultivation.
He used to worry about what he would do if the Flying Feather Sect forces overran this area.
But in the end, Flying Feather Sect hadn't taken the land yet someone from his side had taken it from him instead.
"How could this happen?!"
The scrawny cultivator growled in disbelief and anger, keeping his voice low.
"You've looked after those trees with such care how could he compare to you?! He's a proper alchemist! Why meddle in our affairs? The contribution points from this are nothing compared to the massive wealth he earns from pill refining!"
"Don't forget, this was ordered by the Elder. It's a done deal…"
Wen Xun shook his head.
"And that person… as you said, holds a high status. He's not someone you or I can afford to offend not even slightly."
The smaller cultivator's eyes flickered, and he leaned in, lowering his voice further.
"Then what if you… left behind a few tricks? If he fails to take proper care of the trees and they start to wither and fall ill, the Elder will surely call you back to fix things. How would he have the nerve to keep the position then?"
Wen Xun was visibly tempted by the idea but quickly shook his head again.
"That would be far too risky. If I'm caught, I'd be ruined."
"So you're just going to accept this quietly?" the scrawny cultivator asked, unwilling to give in.
"I'm afraid I have no choice but to accept it."
Wen Xun replied, his voice flat and defeated.
The two fell into a heavy silence.
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