CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 95: CAVE MANSION ECOLOGICAL PLANNING

After purchasing the aquatic Spiritual Objects, Su Ya led Li Ye to the sect’s internal marketplace designated for free trading.

Of course, this marketplace is specifically for transactions among cultivators below the Golden Core stage.

Moreover, due to the sect’s vastness, there are as many as twenty different marketplaces, each selling distinct objects.

They are also categorized into four seasonal marketplaces: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

The place they are currently visiting is the Winter Marketplace, where various objects such as Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills, Spirit Beasts, Spirit Plants, along with arrays and talismans, are leaning towards Yin attributes and related to snow.

Initially, they were in the mysterious and deep waters, but after leaving the Hongqiao, they found themselves in a vast marketplace where snowflakes were drifting down. This marketplace was much more orderly compared to the Huiya Marketplace.

At the very least, there were no stalls set up directly on the ground; every cultivator had a stone house serving as a shop. Outside the shop, there was a Divine Sense sign that would reveal what items were for sale with just a glance of Divine Sense.

Moreover, various Spirit Plants that bloom only in winter were also planted here, with flowers like plum blossoms, wintersweet, snow lotuses, and cold chrysanthemums flourishing beautifully, adding vibrant colors to the winter snow scene.

It seemed that the swirling snowflakes and the surrounding Spirit Plant foliage helped calm the cultivators’ impatience.

Anyway, the cultivators coming and going were walking leisurely.

There was no sense of urgency at all.

"Why do these flowers’ branches have names on them?" Li Ye was observing with interest when he suddenly noticed the words "Sui Han" on the flower branch.

"This is just you Spirit Plant Masters competing with each other." Su Ya pouted, "The sect has so many marketplaces, and each year at the beginning, the Spirit Plants in each marketplace are replaced, which is when Spirit Plant Masters compete.

For example, all the Spirit Plants in this Winter Marketplace were solely cultivated by True Man Sui Han.

I’ve heard that every year, people even fight over this spot."

"..."

Is there really such a thing?

But it does seem like a method to gain reputation; countless people pass through this marketplace daily, almost like advertising.

Speaking of which...

"Senior Brother, why haven’t I seen any Spirit Plant Masters?"

It was understandable not to see them in the Huiya Marketplace, but why can’t I see any Spirit Plant Masters within the sect?

"You know about the Hungry Bone affair, right?"

"Almost all of the Spirit Plant Masters have been mobilized, and some went with Uncle Master Su Xing to the Southern Domain to help build a spectacle there."

Su Ya showed a sympathetic expression, "Junior Brother, Uncle Master Su Xing is the one responsible for assessing Spirit Plant Masters. Once he returns, you will have to diligently study Spirit Plant-related Magic and Divine Techniques.

By then, you won’t have the leisure to chat and joke with me like this."

"..."

"!!!"

Is Master really the chief examiner?

Surely, Master will not let me pass easily; he might even be stricter.

Li Ye took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

"Then I must promptly handle the affairs in my Cave Mansion so that I have time to focus when the time comes to study hard."

He quickened his pace, "Senior Brother, don’t walk so leisurely! Hurry and take me there!"

The urged Su Ya showed a subtle smile.

Having once been troubled by Alchemist assessments, it’s amusing to see Junior Brother being troubled by even tougher Spirit Plant Master assessments now!

...

The two spent a two-hour period choosing suitable Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts.

As it happened, when the shopkeeper learned that Li Ye intended to rear Spirit Beasts and plant Spirit Plants in the Snow and Moonlight Spiritual Land, he immediately recommended several kinds.

He confidently claimed these were all certified by True Man Sui Han.

Having already heard of this True Man’s illustrious name multiple times, Li Ye naturally trusted his recommendations.

For his premium plan, Li Ye selected to nurture and cultivate the Cold Cyan Rong Tree, Glazed Ice Needle Pine, and Snow-Stepping Spirit Deer.

He also chanced upon a good deal on a Mist Ripple Radish through the panel.

This way, he spent another fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

Arriving with six hundred thousand Spirit Stones and now only left with sixty thousand, it seemed as though it was spent like water.

After buying this large quantity of Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts, Li Ye thanked Su Ya and hurried back to his Cave Mansion to begin his busy work.

Naturally, he first settled the Water Series Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts.

He took out two Juvenile Flood Dragons and got out the Kansheng Potato.

The former was a crystal blue Flood Dragon, and the latter had sprawling leaves and vines, as well as a root system as large as a stone pedestal that should grow in water.

"A Flood Dragon wanting to eat potatoes, huh?"

Li Ye looked at these two Juvenile Flood Dragons, and the panel showed that information about them was [able to bind with any aquatic, root-tuber edible Spirit Plant].

At that time, he thought for a long time and finally chose the "Kansheng Potato" that was placed before him now.

This is a Primordial Spirit Plant.

It is said to be used as the main food by certain sects in the Southern Domain, brought back and cultivated by a patriarch surnamed Zheng. They can grow as long as they are put in water filled with spiritual qi.

The purer and cleaner the spiritual qi within the water, the larger and sweeter they grow.

He glanced at the Profound Water Flood Dragon and activated the panel.

[Binding requires 700 points of Vital Essence.]

Seven hundred, huh.

Li Ye, ever since handling the binding of the Crystal Spirit Bee and Mist-Imbibing Magnolia, has accumulated about three thousand points of Vital Essence, which amounts to half a month’s time.

In that case, one should be able to accumulate six thousand points in a month—provided one consumes enough vital-filled fruits, vegetables, and dishes or pills every day.

"It’s less than I imagined, a Third-Tier Spirit Beast, could it be because it’s juvenile?"

He pondered for a moment and chose to bind it.

Directly using up fourteen hundred points of Vital Essence.

After binding was completed, he threw the Profound Water Flood Dragon along with the Kan Water Potato into the river, then walked along the bank, throwing the remaining Green Wave Carp, Thousand-tentacled Jellyfish, and Profound Crystal Water Algae and other spirit plants and beasts into the water.

The rest of the Green Wave Carp and Profound Spirit Water Algae were sent into the stream.

The Green Wave Carp, with scales like waves, started to stir the water the moment they entered, causing ripples on the calm river surface. They swam happily above the waves, patrolling their new home.

But before they could boast for long, two crystal blue tails emerged from the water and snapped the waves apart with a "snap".

Soon, the Profound Water Flood Dragon, originally in the water, quietly watched the Green Wave Carp, causing a panic among them before they obediently began to act according to the Flood Dragon’s will.

Can’t deny the prowess of a Profound Water Flood Dragon; even just two juvenile dragons can suppress over two hundred Green Wave Carp, an impressive bloodline suppression indeed.

As for the Thousand-tentacled Jellyfish, they spread immediately upon entering the water.

They shook their numerous tentacles, filtering impurities and spiritual power from the water as nutrients.

The Profound Crystal Water Algae then spread outward along the waves, absorbing spiritual power to grow, each grain sparkling, absorbing spiritual qi, while expanding and splitting.

This is the basic ecological environment Li Ye envisioned.

Naturally, at the top is the Profound Water Flood Dragon, which can eat Kan Water Potatoes, Thousand-tentacled Jellyfish, and Green Wave Carp.

Thousand-tentacled Jellyfish can filter food residues and impurities, while Green Wave Carp consume Profound Crystal Water Algae and Kan Water Potatoes.

Finally, Profound Crystal Water Algae and Kan Water Potatoes absorb spiritual qi to grow.

In this way, a simple ecosystem should be complete.

It seems somewhat simplistic and idealistic, but with the help of Li Ye and the Beaver, it can still operate.

Later, if he encounters more interesting spirit plants and beasts, he can add them gradually, constructing his cave mansion’s aquatic ecosystem.

—And the setup of the Snow Flower Spirit Land is almost there.

First, he released the Snow-Stepping Spirit Deer, covered entirely in icy blue fur and about a person’s height, with sharp antlers.

Unexpectedly, these Spirit Deer did not leave.

Instead, they all bowed their forelegs to Li Ye slowly and knelt down.

Emitting soft and pleasant "yo-yo" sounds.

"Hm?" Li Ye was slightly surprised, then he understood, "You want to recognize me as your master, right."

The Snow-Stepping Spirit Deer all nodded in unison.

The Snow White Deer, which didn’t know when it arrived, lifted its head to look at its much larger kin, its pure and innocent deer eyes filled with shock.

Then it followed suit and kneeled down with them.

This scene made Li Ye quite pleased; these deer indeed have spirituality.

He directly unleashed his spiritual power, letting each deer become accustomed to his spiritual power fluctuations.

Then he took out the Mist Ripple Radish, which can float midair like frost ice qi, choosing a few to bind symbiotically using the panel.

He ordered the Spirit Deer, "Take them to places you think are suitable for living. They’ll be your food in the future."

"Yo-yo!"

The Spirit Deer immediately carried the Mist Ripple Radish off, and the Snow White Deer closely followed their kin, the antlers atop their heads constantly spraying icy mist, evidently joyful.

This scene also pleased Li Ye.

Next, he selected some spots to plant the bought Cold Cyan Rong Trees and Glazed Ice Needle Pines, though not many in number, only a dozen, but sufficient within an acre.

After this busy ordeal, his spirit land and water series are now arranged.

What’s left is how to arrange the spirit field used for cultivating crops.

He planned to ask at the Steward Hall, see if he could take on some sect tasks to familiarize himself with planting while doing them.

With his plan in mind, his steps naturally were unhurried, casually strolling to where the Flint Fire Crystal Insect and Silver Moon Grass were located.

As a result, he was surprised to find that the top of the Silver Moon Grass had started growing red and silver beads.

The red ones were fire seeds, while the silver ones were clearly Moon Liquid Pearls!

Unexpected that even in rented spirit land, they could grow.

Now he wondered if the sect still needed Moon Liquid Pearls?