Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Autumn Harvest Token
’Just giving a few casual pointers warrants a gift?’
After bidding farewell to Taoist Friend Zhou, Li Ye thought that this was quite absurd. At the time, he was simply acting out of goodwill, saying just a couple of words, and didn’t expect the other party would actually give a return gift.
Ten pounds of flour and a box of Wheat Pills.
This was indeed not a lousy gift.
"From this alone, this Taoist Friend Zhou seems like someone worth associating with. In three days, I should make sure to meet him as promised."
Li Ye pondered as he kept walking.
Unfortunately, he didn’t see any suitable Water Spirit Plants along the way.
Soon he would have to look for the Spiritual Mechanism Vine, maybe there he might find something suitable to buy.
About the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea later, he arrived at a rather peculiar iron structure tower.
This tower stood at a corner of the market; although the windows had decorative engravings, it felt exceptionally "orderly."
Square and straight, as if crafted by someone with an obsession for perfection.
He scrutinized it for a moment, then stepped into the pavilion.
As soon as he stepped in, the floor beneath him slightly quivered, causing a downward sensation, and after a few breaths, he found himself in a very simply decorated room.
Behind the counter sat a young female cultivator with a delicate appearance.
She looked at Li Ye and smiled slightly, gesturing with her hand: "Please sit, Daoist friend. It’s your first time at our Mo Family Mechanism Workshop, right? For the privacy of each Daoist friend, every visitor is transported to a separate room by the mechanism.
I am Mo Dingliu, pleased to meet you."
Li Ye was a little surprised inwardly; he had to admit that this innovation by the Mo Family was quite clever, aligning well with the desires for privacy held by most cultivators.
He smiled too and sat down: "I came this time to buy a Fire Seed Box that can hold five fire seeds."
"Five fire seeds, is it?" Mo Dingliu nodded and quickly took out a box made of purple sandalwood, placing it in front of Li Ye and opening it.
"This is the best-selling Fire Seed Box from our Mo Family Mechanism Workshop; it can hold five fire seeds inside.
When needed, it can provide fuel for the fire seeds through the mechanism at any time, making it extremely stable for both artifact refining and alchemy."
The box, about a foot long, contained five grooves inside.
Strange flame runes were drawn around the pockets.
It... oddly had a feeling of a gas stove.
It really was somewhat similar.
Seeing Li Ye silent, Mo Dingliu was aware that some cultivators didn’t like showing their treasures to others, so she took out a fire seed prepared in advance for demonstration.
"Daoist friend, please take a look."
She placed the fire seed into one of the grooves, where it was enveloped in a gel-like pink liquid and slowly sank to the bottom.
Then she pressed a button under the groove.
With a "whoosh" sound, a stable flame flared up inside the groove.
Even with the box closed, the flame emerged from the holes on the box surface, and the size of the flame could be adjusted, looking more and more like a gas stove.
"How much Spirit Stone does this cost?" Li Ye decided to purchase it.
"Two hundred Spirit Stones."
"If it has any damage or issues, feel free to bring it to our Mo Family Mechanism Workshop for repairs; rest assured, our products are definitely premium!"
The price was, frankly, a bit steep.
Usually, a First Tier Spiritual Artifact only costs a few dozen Spirit Stones, while Second Tier ones might sell for more than two hundred Spirit Stones.
But this item was hard to categorize, after all, it was a Qimen Magical Artifact.
Those who needed it, truly needed it.
"Here are two hundred Spirit Stones."
Li Ye took out two hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and handed them over. Mo Dingliu collected all the Spirit Stones, swiftly replaced the box, and handed over a token.
"This is proof for repairs."
"You must keep it safe; you need to present this certificate for us to acknowledge and carry out repairs at our Mo Family Mechanism Workshop."
After carefully explaining this, she inquired again: "Do you have any other needs, Daoist friend?"
"Do you have any smaller Viewing Mirrors?"
The so-called Viewing Mirror was what Li Ye previously bought to observe the Flint Fire Crystal Insect and Silver Moon Grass. He wanted to purchase more to observe the beaver and that peculiar Hungry Bone Spirit Plant.
"Certainly, we do."
Mo Dingliu brought out Viewing Mirrors in different sizes, the smallest being only the size of a grain of rice.
It was unclear what such a size would be used for; could it be the Cultivation Realm’s version of a "pinhole camera"?
Of course, he didn’t buy one that small.
He bought three that were the size of a baby’s palm, spending a few dozen Spirit Stones.
Then, under Mo Dingliu’s courteous send-off, he left the Mo Family Mechanism Workshop, walking directly toward the Four Seasons Sect’s shop.
Upon seeing the Spiritual Mechanism Vine, he directly took out a jar containing the Spring Rain. Inside was a gooey rainwater with a tinge of purple and an orbiting halo.
"This is what I promised as a junior."
"Spring Rain."
"Senior, please check if it is satisfactory?"
The Spiritual Mechanism Vine was evidently surprised and delighted at Li Ye’s ability to actually bring the Spring Rain, its demeanor shifting from calm to amazed and pleased, the voice carrying satisfaction.
"You kid, you really did well!"
It stretched out a vine, slowly immersing it into the jar. The vine twitched, seemingly about to sigh in comfort.
As the rainwater visibly decreased, small electric arcs sizzled on its vine, the surface cracked open and then regenerated; in just a short while, its aura seemed significantly strengthened.
"Comfortable!"
The Spiritual Mechanism Vine said with satisfaction: "Earlier, when I mentioned it, I hadn’t expected you to really find Purple Oil Spring Rain.
I don’t know how you managed it, but the Spring Rain is an extraordinary elixir for spiritual plants with spirituality like us.
If you have any Spirit Plants you wish to meticulously cultivate, you can use this to water them, but the quantity must be limited, one tael at a time is enough."
While saying this, it took out a box from underneath the counter and placed it on the table.
"Since you’ve given me such a fine item, I shall give you something in return; open it and see."
"Then I shall gratefully accept as a junior."
Li Ye opened the box.
Inside, lying quietly on satin, was a token with the words "Autumn Harvest" written on it, devoid of any additional patterns or inscriptions.
But Li Ye felt a stir in his heart.
Looking at the Spiritual Mechanism Vine with surprise.
The latter nodded gently: "This is our Four Seasons Sect’s entrance assessment token for the Autumn Harvest.
If you can complete three seasonal tasks at that time, gaining entry will be a sure thing."
"Wait up, youngster; how coincidental, as it happens, there’s an Alchemist here today, let him examine your wounds.
Though not equivalent to a true in-house physician, an Alchemist has some skill."
As these words fell, a male cultivator in flowing white attire stepped through the door.
At this moment, Su Ya was already free from his previous bloodshot eyes and dry lips, neatly groomed, standing anywhere represented the quintessential Immortal aura.