The pot was set up on the spot.
Luo Qingyao was indeed absent-minded; this time, she didnât rush to be the firemaid, and it was Fu Manman who was channeling immortal energy to light the fire beside her.
Fan Wubing didnât hurry to cook immortal energy with Ai Yinianâs blood.
The first thing to figure out is, what is that "Qi" in his blood that can attract creatures?
He used the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill to deeply sense it.
This type of Qi was very unfamiliar to him, being experienced for the first time. So, it took a lot of time. Jiang Maodian and others waited patiently, as such matters couldnât be rushed.
He drew a wisp of Qi into his body and then used "Swallowing Stars and Chewing Moon," analyzing it with "Tongue Desire."
["Tongue Desire" activated, you absorbed a small amount of Rootless Qi, maximum life increased by +50]
That much?!
Fan Wubing was shocked. He had only drawn a very small wisp of Qi, and it directly added 50 points of health.
Gee, no wonder it attracted creatures; not to mention the creatures, he was now quite interested in Ai Yinian.
Feeling Fan Wubingâs fiery gaze, Ai Yinian awkwardly asked,
"Senior Brother Fan, why are you looking at me like that?"
Fan Wubing quickly withdrew his gaze,
"Itâs nothing, just curious about how the Qi in your blood can attract creatures."
"Did Senior Brother Fan discover anything?"
What exactly is Rootless Qi, Fan Wubing did not know. But just a tiny wisp could increase his health by 50 points, it must be something extraordinary. He thought it over and decided not to say it out loud, lest Ai Yinian be targeted by someone with bad intentions and turned into a living furnace.
Even Fan Wubing entertained some skewed ideas.
However, he ultimately upheld the virtues of a new-age young man from his past life, suppressing such unscrupulous thoughts.
He began to attempt to integrate the so-called Rootless Qi into divine food.
During the process, he discovered that the ingredients containing Immortal Spirit Qi began to stir immediately upon encountering Ai Yinianâs Rootless Qi, starting to revolve around it.
Could it be that Rootless Qi is a higher form of "Qi" compared to the Immortal Spirit Qi in the ingredients?
Fan Wubing couldnât quite understand yet, only knowing that "Qi" is a profound subject of study, and even with a magical technique like the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, he needs time to research it.
He thought that perhaps with the evolution of the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, he might gain deeper insights into "Qi" in the future.
About half an hour later, the first portion of divine food infused with Rootless Qi was ready.
Since itâs meant to attract creatures, it naturally had to be portable and easy to store.
So, he made pastries.
"Junior Brother Yinian, have a taste and see if itâs what you imagined."
Ai Yinian took a piece of the pastry, and the moment it entered his mouth, he became mentally invigorated. As he chewed and swallowed, his eyes widened in disbelief,
"Senior Brother Fan, how on earth did you do this?"
"What?"
"I feel like youâve even amplified that creature-attracting aura! Itâs even denser than what I can release!"
Fan Wubing smiled,
"Thatâs good, thatâs good. I was afraid I wouldnât achieve the effect you mentioned."
"Is this Senior Brother Fanâs culinary skill? Iâve long known your cooking was exceptional, but I didnât expect it to be this miraculous!"
Everyone tasted it.
But to them, it was just better-tasting, more effective divine food, without anything particularly special about it.
Only Fan Wubing and Ai Yinian could feel the allure of that Rootless Qi.
Nevertheless, it didnât matter; it was meant to attract creatures, after all, and as long as the creatures could sense it, it worked.
Ai Yinian contributed some blood, and Fan Wubing made several portions of Rootless Qi pastries,
"This much should be enough, right?"
The whole room was filled with fragrance.
However, Jiang Maodian had already set up a Qi and sound isolating divine technique in advance, so it wouldnât leak out directly.
Ai Yinian nodded,
"Itâs enough, definitely enough! You guys might not realize how strong this auraâs attraction is to creatures."
"So, what do you say, should we head out now?" Fan Wubing asked.
Jiang Maodian said,
"Itâs already been eleven days, and the remaining time is precious; we canât afford to delay, letâs move now."
"Okay!" Ai Yinian was very eager.
Jiang Maodian looked at Fan Wubing and Fu Manman,
"Junior Brother Wubing, Junior Sister Manman, are you joining us this time?"
Fu Manman said,
"Iâll follow Senior Brother Fanâs lead."
Beside them, Luo Qingyaoâs eyebrows twitched as she glanced at Fu Manman, deep in thought, then tightly pressed her lips together with a tangled look in her eyes, finally sighing quietly, her shoulders slumping.
Fan Wubing thought it over,
"Letâs go together this time. Itâs uncertain how many creatures are lurking in the city; if one bait attracts multiple creatures, surely having more people is better for handling it." He chuckled, "I actually do have some combat ability."
Luo Qingyao said,
"There are a total of forty-nine Fateful Opportunities. If all of them are occupied by creatures, there could be forty-nine creatures. Of course, there could also be a scenario where one creature occupies multiple opportunities."
"Forty-nine? That many?" Fan Wubing was a bit surprised.
The Fateful Opportunity obtained from the Umbrella Demon gave him the Seven Luminaries Rain Control Skill... Forty-nine such opportunities, just thinking about it made him drool.
Luo Qingyao nodded,
"Each opening of the Peach Blossom Spring is when forty-nine Fateful Opportunities have been nurtured."
"Why are fifty slots given for forty-nine Fateful Opportunities?"
"Probably to round it up. The Daoist School often says, âThe Heavens have fifty ways, yet leaving one out...â and also speaks of forty-nine great paths; perhaps the Daoist School just favors the number âforty-nine.â"
Jiang Maodian said,
"Forty-nine Fateful Opportunities, thatâs quite a lot. Hopefully, we can get one or two."
The four then set out.
Luo Qingyao continued to operate alone, and before parting, she repeatedly reminded Fan Wubing not to forget her just because Senior Sister Manman was accompanying him. She said this casually and naturally, with no shyness, while Fu Manman was awkward and uneasy.
The saying goes,
Why isnât the extroverted one embarrassed? Because the introverted one beside them has already been embarrassed for them.
...
Outside Peach Blossom Spring, among the clouds in the sky.
Zhu Zixuan from Wangxian Pavilion lay on a cloud, with legs raised, eyes squinted, looking at He Youyi beside him,
"Sigh, itâs been eleven days, and only one person has obtained a Fateful Opportunity. Seems like my Peach Wood Sword is bound to land somewhere."
He Youyi slightly furrowed his brows,
"It shouldnât be like this. Eleven days have passed, how could only one opportunity have appeared? Zhu Zixuan, what exactly is going on here?"
"What, you think Iâm behind this? Donât overthink it. Any Daoist Blessed Land is handed down with the purple Qi from the Dao Ancestor. Everything within the Blessed Land evolves naturally from the purple Qi; itâs not something a small Daoist like me can change at will."
He Youyi looked towards Peach Blossom Spring. From his perspective, a purple Qi enveloped the entire Peach Blossom Spring, preventing him from directly seeing its entirety, only sensing when a Fateful Opportunity is found or rules are broken.
He also understood that the purple Qi left by the Dao Ancestor, even after thousands of years, wasnât something that someone of his Integration Realm, even if a grand scholar, could decipher.
Seeing He Youyiâs slightly troubled brows, Zhu Zixuan laughed,
"Donât tell me youâre a sore loser."
He Youyi adjusted his mindset, returning to a relaxed demeanor,
"The universe is not set, and everything has the potential to change. Until the end, neither you nor I know what will happen."
"I really donât understand your thinking; you actually believe that in this Little South Continent, someone will have a grand harvest, which would require seven Fateful Opportunities. Do you know what seven Fateful Opportunities mean?" Zhu Zixuan seemed confident, "Not just in Little South Continent, even in places like Changsheng Continent or Daluo Continent, thereâs no guarantee of someone achieving such a bounty. Only a place like Immortal Continent can say thereâs sure to be a great harvest."
"Do you judge people by their region?"
"Isnât it the simplest method?"
"Thatâs why you Daoist disciples are lazy and boring, not caring about worldly matters."
Zhu Zixuan taunted,
"And you scholars care about worldly matters, thinking thereâs actually someone in Little South Continent whoâll achieve a great harvest."
He Youyi didnât wish to argue over such things and remained silent.