Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Homecoming, Purple Oil Spring Rain Stream
With the power of the Life Breath Spirit Transformation Scroll’s divine techniques.
Li Ye casually grasped and collected the "Mo" dropped by the Hungry Ghost Evil Bone.
Then, using his divine sense as a brush, he sculpted a perfect Hungry Bone.
Li Ye was also very familiar with the Hungry Bone, for the beaver hugged it to sleep daily.
He had secretly peered into the beaver’s den before; thus, painting it came naturally and effortlessly to him.
As he stood there, after finishing his brushwork, the Hungry Bone before him had already shed its ominous color. The inked shades seemed to separate life from death, exceptionally vivid.
"Hungry Bone."
He reached out and took the shrunken Hungry Bone into his hand.
Clearly, he felt the endless hunger and pain emanating from within it—life without boundary, death without end.
As a "scenery" depicted by the Life Breath Spirit Transformation Scroll, its function naturally surfaced in Li Ye’s mind—
The function of this thing is simply to encumber divine sense and spirit bodies, as well as impose boundless torture upon the imprisoned.
Yet, he vaguely sensed a warm power contained within, intertwining with another power, creating the present Hungry Bone.
If he wanted to use it, he would need to bear some initial "pressure" upon activation.
Nonetheless, overall, it was a powerful treasure—another valuable addition to his collection.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have!
"Hm?"
As he stood there absorbing the scene, he realized the massive Hungry Ghost Evil Bone before him had completely weathered away, leaving only some dark dust shimmering with a purple light.
The glimmers in the heavenly dome had all faded away, and even the evil ghosts that the Cyan Bird eliminated were completely gone.
The bird had transformed into a green glow and returned to his pocket.
"It’s over."
Su Ya sighed deeply as he stepped forward, producing a brocade bag to collect the remaining dust.
Then he said to Li Ye, "Now that the matter here is settled, does Junior Brother Li wish to stay a bit longer or head back right away?"
Upon hearing this, Li Ye suddenly realized he had been here for merely two days, yet within just those two days, he managed to take care of so many affairs.
The efficiency truly seemed astonishingly fast.
Nevertheless, the gathering of so many tasks still left him feeling somewhat exhausted.
Thus, after a glance at Senior Sister Liu, he nodded, "Let’s return. Have Zhao He leave with me. If anything arises here, I’ll send him back and forth."
"Hm, that lad is undoubtedly ecstatic." Senior Sister Liu had already informed Zhao He’s family while Li Ye was in seclusion.
To venture to the "Immortal Realm" with an immortal, Zhao He certainly wouldn’t refuse, already overjoyed beyond belief.
Li Ye put the Ink and Water Starving Bone into his storage pouch and said to them, "I still wish to linger here a bit longer. Please, Senior Brother and Senior Sister, wait for me a moment."
"Go ahead, it’s quite safe here."
"Hm." Li Ye began wandering within Locust Village, collecting "Mo" for painting spirit scrolls.
It wasn’t long before he amassed a pile, contentedly leaving with Su Ya and Senior Sister Liu.
...
Atop Tianhe Mountain.
When Li Ye saw the white flying boat, Zhao He was already waiting there with a small bundle on his back.
Upon seeing Li Ye, he prostrated himself: "An immortal is willing to take this lad along! I shall serve you with my life!"
The young man’s tone carried a slight choke, but more than that, it was filled with determination.
"Rise."
Li Ye calmly nodded, "Follow me and do your duties diligently."
Obediently, Zhao He stood up, hesitated a bit, then offered a ham forcibly given by his parents:
"This is ham made by my parents. If the immortal does not mind, please accept it!"
At this moment, Li Ye felt a bit dazed.
It really seemed like a child about to attend school, with parents offering the family’s best goods as "gifts."
Regaining his senses, he accepted with a smile, "This ham looks quite nice. It must be aged for a few years, right?"
Clearly processed, the ham had its moldy and bug-infested parts cut away, revealing a purple-red sheen beneath, with translucent golden fat, oily and fragrant, releasing a deep aroma.
More interestingly, the material must be extremely fine, emitting an intoxicating fragrance alongside a rich spirit Qi aroma that tantalized one’s appetite.
Standing beside, Su Ya exclaimed: "This must be the hind leg of the Spirit Stove Pig that intruded here a few years ago. That was indeed the Kitchen God’s gourmet delicacy, undeniably excellent.
Junior Brother Li, when you plan to enjoy it, you must call me, and hopefully, we can pair it with a bottle of Peach Blossom Wine!
With wine and meat, I’ll also prepare some mild tea—how delightful it would be!"
"Senior Brother Su, you’re already eager?" Li Ye chuckled, casually tucking the ham into his storage pouch, then looked at Zhao He, "This is wonderful, I quite like it.
Your parents entrusted you with this family treasure, hoping you achieve something. Follow me, and I won’t mistreat you. I have pills for extending the lifespan and curing ailments for mortals."
"A thousand thanks to the immortal!"
Zhao He’s eyes sparkled as he knelt again. His main concern was his aging parents.
"Get up."
Li Ye gestured for him to board the flying boat and then turned to Senior Sister Liu: "Senior Sister, if there’s spiritual material, I’ll have Zhao He return to deliver it."
—Earlier, back in Locust Village, they discussed this matter.
Senior Sister Liu informed him that there was a regular cloud boat transport for supplies here.
Zhao He could return on his own to deliver items, exercising himself in the process.
"Alright." Senior Sister Liu looked hopeful, "The next time we see you, you might be completely transformed, Junior Brother! Don’t forget about us in Tianhe City!"
"Of course!" Li Ye spoke earnestly.
Having promised, he certainly wouldn’t break the agreement.
At this moment, with all settled, the flying boat started on its own, transforming into a beam of light rushing toward the sky, with the landscape below quickly becoming veiled by clouds and mist.
Zhao He, standing behind Li Ye, exerted all his strength to avoid falling, feeling dizzy.
The last view was the majestic Heavenly River scenery visible after the flying boat left the Grotto Heaven.
The clouds in the morning light glowed with golden radiance, rolling endlessly in the vast sky.
This image deeply etched itself into his memory.
...
After returning to Huiya Marketplace, Li Ye bid farewell to Su Ya, agreeing to check on the mineral veins later and find someone to build a house.
Then, he led Zhao He home. Throughout the journey, Zhao He followed him obediently, without looking around recklessly.
This pleased Li Ye quite well.
After all, he couldn’t let it show that he was unfamiliar with the world.
As for what would follow, he planned to arrange a room for Zhao He in the front yard and find someone to teach him some basic knowledge.
Then allow him to explore and learn within the relatively safe Huiya Marketplace, hoping his cleverness would come into play.
With this in mind, Li Ye opened the door to his house.
The beaver, waiting behind the door for some time, immediately sprang onto his shoulder, nuzzling his face and "chirping" nonstop.
"It’s only been two days, you silly thing."
Li Ye said this, but his hands didn’t stop, reaching out to stroke the beaver for a good while before it contentedly pulled at a lock of his hair, urging him to the backyard.
With the beaver causing a commotion, Li Ye had no choice but to say to Zhao He, "Someone should come to build you a house soon—you’ll host them generously."
"Yes." Zhao He indeed felt a bit nervous, but he had already undergone some housekeeper training and understood it was his task.
Li Ye nodded in satisfaction, then followed the beaver, who was already chirping anxiously, into the backyard.
Upon entering, he discovered a new small stream had been dug near the beaver’s nest at some point.
Flowing within it was Purple Oil Spring Rain!
It amounted to at least a dozen pounds.
Why was there so much? I have only been away for two days; what has happened?