Chương 779: Chapter 778: The Harvest

The second month in Silkwood brought a deeper understanding of the earth and the martial path. The morning air was cool. Li Yu stood in the clearing near the pale silver forest. Commander Tara blurred into motion. She threw a heavy punch aimed at his chest. Li Yu did not dodge. He met her strike with his own palm. The impact sent a shockwave through the dirt. Tara suppressed her cultivation to the top of the Divine Transformation realm as before. The dense energy crashed into Li Yu.

Instead of resisting the force, Li Yu absorbed the pressure. He used the external force to compress his internal Qi. His meridians had expanded during his refinement of the royal treasures. The vast energy he accumulated from the liquid ash poison and his daily cultivation was reaching a tipping point.

"You are leaving your left side open." Tara warned. She shifted her weight and swept her leg toward his ribs. Li Yu stepped back. He gathered his Qi and pushed it through his pathways. The pressure from Tara acted like a hammer. The bottleneck within his core shattered. A loud crack echoed from his body. A shockwave of pure Qi erupted from his form. It blew the loose dirt and leaves away from the clearing. Li Yu didn't try to fight it. He let the surging energy through his newly expanded meridians.

He broke through. He reached the sixth level of the Divine Transformation realm. Tara stopped her attack. She dropped her fighting stance. Hollis walked out from the shade of the trees. The two Half King commanders stared at Li Yu. Li Yu opened his eyes. He let out a long breath. The raw power within his physical vessel felt denser and much more refined. He offered a polite bow to his sparring partners.

"Thank you for the guidance." Li Yu said. Tara crossed her arms in surprise.

"Congrulations on your breakthrough. How long ago did you reach the fifth level?" She asked.

"A few months ago." Li Yu answered honestly.

"Right before I came to Silkwood." Hollis shook his head in surprise.

"Two or three months." Hollis muttered.

"That is impossible."

"Is something wrong?" Li Yu asked.

"Each level at this stage requires years." Tara explained.

"Sometimes tens or hundreds of years depending on the person and their foundation. You advanced a minor realm in a matter of weeks. You are an absolute monster." Li Yu smiled.

"I am just lucky." He replied.

"I absorbed some unique energies recently that pushed my foundation forward." Li Yu lacked a proper scale to measure his own progress. He spent his life fighting from the bottom. He never attended a formal academy to compare his speed with peers. He simply fought and survived. He truly thought he was just fortunate. Hollis and Tara exchanged a look. They knew luck had nothing to do with it. The human standing before them possessed a terrifying talent.

They couldn't believe they were witnessing such a prodigy in the flesh. By midday, Li Yu left the clearing and returned to his estate. It was time to tend the fields. The agricultural arrays and the rich soil had done their work. The faster growing crops were ready for harvest. Li Yu opened the wooden gate and walked into his enclosed field. The Silverleaf Radishes pushed thick silver tops out of the dark dirt. The leaves hummed with gathered Qi. Li Yu grabbed the base of the nearest plant.

He pulled it from the ground. A large and crisp white root emerged. It smelled of fresh rain and pure energy. He tossed it into a woven basket. He moved down the row. He harvested dozens of radishes. He felt a deep satisfaction with every pull. This was not a treasure found in a dusty tomb or looted from a vault. This was not a reward for killing an enemy. This was the result of his own time, effort and patience. The soil demanded labor and it rewarded that labor with life.

Next, he walked to the edges of the field. The Void Pod Peas hung heavy on the wooden trellises he built. Even though he had to replant them, they grew quickly. The dark green shells were swollen. He plucked them from the vines. The aerated soil provided the perfect environment for the roots to breathe and the yield was tremendous. He filled a second basket with the thick pods. He then moved to the Azure Cloud Cabbages. The wide swirling leaves held pockets of morning dew.

He used a sharp iron knife to cut the heavy heads from their stalks. Li Yu carried the baskets to the river. He washed the dirt from the vegetables. He looked at the vibrant colors of the food he grew with his own hands. The Dao of the harvest was fulfilling. He decided it was time to celebrate the fruits of his labor. He walked to his pond. He used a net to catch a few of the large and silver fish he raised. He then pulled a large cut of premium beast meat from his spatial ring.

He obtained the meat during his travels in the demonic realm. If there was one thing Li Yu was never short of, it was different meats and drinks. He stocked up everywhere he went. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Li Yu was taking out this meat because he planned to host a dinner. He spent the next hour walking through Silkwood and extending invitations to the people he had grown close to. Evening approached.

The three suns cast an orange glow over the courtyard. Li Yu arranged his refined wooden chairs around the large courtyard table. He built a cooking fire near the edge of the property. He sliced the demonic beast meat into thick cuts. He marinated them in a mixture of spices and sweet nectar. He set the meat on an iron grate over the fire. The rich savory scent filled the air. He prepared the vegetables. He chopped the Silverleaf Radishes into thin crisp slices.

He boiled the Void Pod Peas in clear river water until they were bright green and tender. He steamed the Azure Cloud Cabbage to preserve its sweet natural flavor. He roasted the river fish with a coating of spices and wrapped them in leaves to add a cooling contrast to the spicy meat. The first guests arrived just as the food was ready. Jax walked through the gate. The mantis barkeep carried a large clay jug.

"I brought the good stuff!" Jax announced.

"The oldest sweet nectar wine from the Silver Lantern cellar for this occasion."

"Thank you." Li Yu said with a smile. He directed Jax to the table. Oren arrived next. The seed shop owner brought a loaf of fresh bread. Elise walked in right behind him. The old farmer wore clean clothes but she still had dirt under her nails. She carried a basket of wild berries. Brak, the beetle blacksmith, ducked his large frame through the wooden gate. He brought a set of polished iron cups for the table. Tara and Hollis walked out from the stone house next door. They joined the townsfolk at the table.

Unlike Rawtus who mainly kept to himself, these two had gotten to know some people in the town as well. Li Yu brought the large platters of food to the table. The feast looked incredible. The spread showcased the labor of the past two months. Li Yu took his seat and invited everyone to eat. The conversation flowed easily. The food was a grand success. Elise took a bite of a Silverleaf Radish. She chewed slowly. Her critical eyes studied the crisp white root.

"Not bad." Elise stated.

"The Qi is dense. You aerated the soil well. Most beginners end up with soggy roots. You actually listened to my advice."

"I would be a fool to ignore the best farmer in town." Li Yu replied happily. He poured wine into her iron cup. Elise snorted but a proud smile touched her lips. Brak tore into a piece of the roasted demonic meat. He let out a loud and satisfied groan. The marinade ignited a spark of heat in his stomach.

"This meat is incredible." Brak boomed.

"It makes the blood boil in a good way. What kind of beast is this?"

"Just a wild creature I hunted during my travels." Li Yu answered vaguely. Jax drank his wine and pointed at Li Yu.

"You should have seen him heal my aphid. One touch and the beast was eating grass again. He is a master physician and will soon become a master farmer."

"He is a terrible carpenter." Hollis added dryly. Li Yu had not had the time to fix up his home or tower yet so it was an ongoing joke that he was the worst carpenter in town. The table erupted into laughter. Li Yu laughed along with them. He remembered the wobbly half log benches he made on his first night.

"My current table says otherwise." Li Yu countered vigorously. He tapped the smooth polished wood of the table they were sitting at.

"Only because Rawtus took pity on you." Tara smirked. The atmosphere was perfect. There were no tense negotiations. There was no killing intent. The Half King commanders sat next to a merchant and a local barkeep. The strict hierarchy of the cultivation realm dissolved around the wooden table. They were just neighbors enjoying a good meal. Li Yu looked around the table. He felt the same peace he experienced during his later years with the Green Mountain Sect.

The Dao was present in the shared laughter and the passing of food. He built a community out of what was a barren plot of dirt. The feast lasted late into the night. The stars filled the dark sky. The townsfolk eventually said their goodbyes. They thanked Li Yu for the food and walked back down the dirt path toward their own homes. Li Yu began clearing the empty platters. Hollis and Tara stood near the courtyard gate. They did not return to their stone house.

"That was a good meal." Hollis said. He looked at the quiet farm.

"It was." Tara agreed. Her voice lacked its usual sharp edge.

"It was exactly what we needed." Li Yu set a stack of plates down. He noticed their formal posture.

"Are you leaving?" He asked. Hollis nodded.

"We received orders this afternoon. The front lines are breaking down. The rogue factions are pushing harder against the borders. The Queen needs us back in position. Our rest period is over." Li Yu understood. The peace of Silkwood was a temporary shelter. The violent reality of their world always called them back. They were not as lucky as he was to be able to stay here as he did.

"Wait here." Li Yu requested. He walked to his storage tower. He gathered a large wooden crate. He filled it with dozens of Silverleaf Radishes, a heavy sack of Void Pod Peas and several heads of Azure Cloud Cabbage. He added a sealed jar of the sweet nectar wine. He secured the lid and carried the heavy crate back to the courtyard. He handed the crate to Hollis.

"Take this." Li Yu said.

"Share it between the two of you. And please deliver a portion of it to General Rawtus for me. Tell him his student is eating well on a straight and proper table." Hollis took the heavy crate and he stored it in his spatial ring.

"We will make sure he gets it." Hollis promised. Tara stepped forward. She offered a crisp military salute. It was a gesture of deep respect from a Half King commander to a Divine Transformation wanderer.

"Maybe fortune be with you." Tara stated.

"Do not let the peace dull your instincts. The realm is a dangerous place."

"I will remember." Li Yu bowed. The two commanders activated their movement techniques. They shot into the night sky and left behind a faint trail of energy as they sped toward the capital. Li Yu stood alone in his quiet courtyard once again. The wind rustled the leaves of the silver trees. He looked at his plowed fields and the sturdy fence. The month brought new growth and new departures. He turned back to the table and began washing the dishes under the starlight.