Early afternoon the next day.

The Transporting Locust Spirit went to the Four Seasons Tower to retrieve a large box sent by the Merfolk. The box was made of first-grade Spiritual Material Cold Jade.

Inside, there was unthawed snow, along with some small silver corals. The coral was Gathering Spirit Coral, which could ensure that the Spiritual Qi wouldn't dissipate.

It was also a "food" favored by Spirit Beasts and Spirit Plants for rooting and entangling.

Additionally, there were ten lively little deer hopping around inside. They were only about the size of a palm, with slightly protruding antlers, looking delicate and lovely.

[Name]: Snow White Deer

[Mood]: Happy

[State]: Hopping around without worries

"..."

They really were in an adorably cute state.

Li Ye looked down at these palm-sized little deer. They weren't afraid of him at all, gazing back with their round eyes.

Their eyes revealed a clear purity.

"They look kind of silly." Although he said this, a smile appeared on Li Ye's face.

He then extended a finger, gathering moonlight he had collected the previous night into a ball and offered it to the Snow White Deer.

The silver-white deer swallowed the Moonlight Ball in one bite and chewed it slightly.

Their small, cute antlers glowed slightly, and silver-white snowflakes began to sprinkle from them.

Snowflakes drifted down into the Cold Jade box.

"Not bad."

"Come with me then."

Satisfied, he took the Cold Jade box to move the Snow White Deer into the Inch-Sized Mountains and Rivers Box he had prepared the night before.

It took about the time to drink a cup of tea for Li Ye to place the Gathering Spirit Coral tree, the prepared Moonlight Ball, and the little deer into the box.

Then he watched as they began to happily gnaw on the moonlight, transforming it into snowflakes.

Soon, snowflakes were flying everywhere. If it weren't for their extraordinarily small bodies, just this ability to create snowflakes might have been enough for mortals to call them "Snow God".

The array in the Inch-Sized Mountains and Rivers Box activated, and a light screen emerged from the sides of the box, eventually converging to ensure that the icy snow aura inside wouldn't leak outside.

Once enough snow had accumulated, he took a deep breath and moved the Flint Fire Crystal Insects and Silver Moon Grass from a nearby array to the Inch-Sized Mountains and Rivers Box.

Then, he waited a bit nervously.

"It has to succeed."

Fortunately, it didn't take too long—just a few dozen breaths—before the round and plump Flint Fire Crystal Insects squirmed, waking from their months-long hibernation.

There was nothing wrong in their status.

They even started to wriggle and gnaw at the pearl powder Li Ye had prepared for them immediately upon waking—powder milled from the remaining two Wangshu Pearl Tears.

After munching for a while, they all raised their heads towards Li Ye, a tiny flame sprouting from their heads.

The flame looked faint but was incredibly resilient.

A sense of joy emanated from the Flint Fire Crystal Insects and the gradually awakened Silver Moon Grass.

It seemed to say—Thank you.

"I should be the one thanking you."

Li Ye sent more of the lunar energy he had collected into the box, speaking warmly: "Live here well, and don't worry about the changing seasons."

He gently touched the Flint Fire Crystal Insect with a finger.

Just like the first time they met, the boldest Flint Fire Crystal Insect tried to nudge his finger, a warmth emanating from its body, completely opposite to the surrounding cold.

But Li Ye declined this power.

He smiled and said, "Take good care of yourself, how about trying my Flint Fire to see if it's delicious?"

A golden-red aura encircled the Flint Fire Crystal Insect from his fingertip, and the latter immediately relaxed its body comfortably, appearing more energetic.

He infused each Flint Fire Crystal Insect with power one by one.

After carefully ensuring there were no issues, he sternly warned the Snow White Deer not to approach the Silver Moon Grass and Flint Fire Crystal Insects before leaving happily.

After his efforts, he finally awakened the Flint Fire Crystal Insect and Silver Moon Grass. Next, he needed to nurture them well and await the winter that truly belonged to them.

...

In the courtyard.

Either due to today's good fortune, Li Ye noticed that the gourd seeds tended by the Gourd Spirit Turtles began to take root and sprout as well.

Depending on the different attributes of the gourd seeds, the Gourd Spirit Turtles changed more or less accordingly.

Originally a uniform grayish-black, they now became colorful, with the Five Elements—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—appearing on their shells and the gourds embedded on their backs.

Even their names changed to things like "Earth Gourd Spirit Turtle" and "Fire Gourd Spirit Turtle".

"Different types of gourds really can change you." Li Ye murmured, "I wonder what they will look like when they mature in the future.

It's a pity these gourds don't grow as quickly as the Bitter Spirit Gourd."

This change was, of course, a good thing.

The unique Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts bound by symbiosis had already brought Li Ye many benefits, which allowed him to progress so smoothly.

However, there were also some causes for concern.

That's the Qi of the Five Elements, for the growth of the Five Elements Gourd which requires absorption of the corresponding Qi of the Five Elements, not just the simple Five Elements Spiritual Qi, and it also needs to distinguish between the yin and yang of the Five Elements...

Such as Jia Wood and Yi Wood, Geng Metal and Xin Metal.

"Although it's a bit troublesome, compared to those cultivators who painstakingly accumulate resources, this is already quite comfortable for me."

"Next, I'll just wait for more Spirit Stones to come in and then make the purchase."

He turned his gaze towards the lotus growing in the jade stone and glanced at the Golden Red Dragon Carp and Spirit Water Phoenix Eye Lotus.

"Calculating the time, it seems when they mature, the commission from the feed store will be in hand, probably over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

Li Ye took a sip of honey tea to calm the restlessness brought by the impending gain of Spirit Stones.

...

Another dozen or so days passed, with the sunlight growing ever more scorching.

It happened to be a full month, and Li Ye and Qian Fang divided the earnings of the Earth Emotion Feed Store.

After deducting the three thousand Spirit Stones for Zhou Qiumai's half share, each of them divided a total of two hundred eighty-five thousand Spirit Stones.

Regarding this gain of Spirit Stones, Li Ye remained very calm — after all, he had already calculated how much he would be able to share.

After depositing the Spirit Stones into his Storage Ring, he sought Qian Fang's assistance: "I want to purchase some Qi of the Five Elements, Senior Brother, where could I buy it?"

Raising this matter troubled him; he initially thought anything could be bought at Four Seasons Tower, but when he wanted to buy the Qi of the Five Elements, Spiritual Mechanism Vine told him there was none.

If he entered the sect, buying these things would be quite easy, but Four Seasons Tower here wouldn't easily sell them, they didn't even have stock.

Qian Fang heard Li Ye's plea:

"Qi of the Five Elements? That stuff isn't available at Four Seasons Tower here because it mostly originates from Five Elements Land, encouraging cultivators to explore and obtain it."

"After all, this isn't a sect."

Li Ye sighed along with him: "So how can I buy it then?"

"It's quite simple." Qian Fang pointed out a path: "Why don't you find cultivators nearby; around Huiya Marketplace, there are many cultivators looking for various rare items.

Even us, sometimes we have to rely on these loose cultivators, otherwise, how would they earn a living?

This is also a means of the sect."

"Loose cultivators?"

"How do I find them?" Li Ye truly didn't know.

"Just post a task outside Four Seasons Tower, specifying what you want to buy, and someone will quickly bring it to you; if not, go and try posting a notice." Qian Fang advised.

"Alright then."

Li Ye quickly found paper and pen and wrote down his intention to acquire Qi of the Five Elements, then pasted it on the wall outside Four Seasons Tower.

As soon as he returned to his room, someone came to notify him that someone wanted to fulfill the task.

"...Why so fast?" He was surprised.

"This is quite normal; compared to those cunning merchants, loose cultivators are sure to prefer selling these items to us from Four Seasons Sect.

After all, our offered price surely won't be low, and we won't suddenly decide to kill and rob; you better hurry."

Qian Fang stood up: "With this lot of Spirit Stones, I can buy some interesting materials and go into seclusion to refine artifacts."

Li Ye also stood up: "Then I wish Senior Brother to achieve what you desire."

"Same to you, same to you!" Qian Fang laughed.

Hence they both left, under the guidance of a disciple Li Ye met a young cultivator waiting in a quiet chamber.

The other turned his back on Li Ye, wearing a set of black attire and carrying a Sword Box, instantly reminding Li Ye of someone.

He felt a stirring in his heart and probed, asking: "Is this Taoist Friend Wei, Wei Qingye?"

The Sword Cultivator immediately turned around, carrying remaining bloodlust and killing intent, and heartily laughed:

"That's right! Just now I happened to see your notice, so I took it instantly."

More than two months had passed, and the sword qi on this Sword Cultivator had reached an eye-piercing level, an uncomfortable feeling when one's Divine Sense got close.

"Please have a seat, Taoist Friend." Li Ye gestured, and after the two sat down, he inquired: "Taoist Friend, how's that Sword Vein Bamboo Shoot doing?"

"Oh, look."

Wei Qingye reached out and pulled, handing a Bamboo Sword to Li Ye.

This time he seemed to have improved his control over sword qi; even as the Bamboo Sword came near, there was not an iota of sword qi emanating.

Of course, there was no repeat of cutting off hair.

Li Ye squinted slightly at the Bamboo Sword, initially thinking if this Sword Vein Bamboo Shoot had completely adapted to the other's Spiritual Power, it was very obedient.

But then he saw on the panel the state of the Sword Vein Bamboo Shoot [Dying].

There was even a countdown.

Only half a two-hour remained before it would completely perish.

From the surface, however, this Bamboo Sword brimmed with spiritual qi and vitality, utterly devoid of any sign of dying; what on earth was the reason?

Puzzled thoughts surfaced, and he asked calmly: "Taoist Friend, do you think this Sword Vein Bamboo Shoot is alright?"

"Hmm?" Wei Qingye sharply noticed a change in Li Ye's expression and said directly:

"If you have something to say, just tell me. Did the Sword Vein Bamboo Shoot have any issues?"

Now that the other had seen through it, Li Ye didn't beat around the bush anymore, pointing to the Bamboo Sword, he said:

"It's dying!"

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