"Here, this is rice cooked from Spirit Rice planted by Spirit Leaf over there. I've specially brought some; why don't you all try it?"

Saying that, he really took out a stone pot the size of a large jar, filled with rice that shimmered with a hint of golden light, each grain distinct and looking very soft and springy.

The moment it was taken out, the aroma of the rice instantly surged into the noses of the True Men present, combined with the unique spiritual power of the wild creatures, making their expressions even more sour.

How excessive this guy is!

Two True Men from Bitter Journey Academy and Qiongguan Mountain couldn't help but purse their lips, secretly cursing Cultivator Lu and Cultivator Zhu in their hearts, wondering why they didn't invite Li Ye to the Central Domain earlier to travel?

True Man Lin sniffed the air, then reached out to Su Yu: "Taoist Friend Su, could you kindly give me a bowl? A sea bowl, please."

Su Yu: "..."

She handed True Man Lin a jade bowl and chopsticks with a strange expression, also giving him a spoon to serve the rice, and then True Man Lin brazenly served himself a full bowl and began eating as if nobody was watching.

Moreover, he ate one bowl after another.

Enjoying it thoroughly.

For a moment, only his eating sounds were left, alongside the complex expressions of the True Men, especially Wei Canyang, who was at a loss for words.

"You shameless one, even as a high-status cultivator, do you really have to eat like a starved ghost here?"

Being a Body Cultivator, naturally, his appetite was slightly larger.

Soon, the stone pot filled with a thousand pounds of rice was utterly cleaned out by him.

He licked his lips, still unsatisfied: "The taste is quite good indeed, Taoist Friend Su, the stone pot must be what you sold to Celestial Vein Sword Mountain, right?

Can you sell us thirty million pounds of this special rice each year?

As for the stone pots, let's start with a hundred thousand.

Oh, the jade bowls and chopsticks are nice to use too; let's make it two hundred thousand sets then."

His eyes gleamed mischievously, attempting to close the deal while everyone was speechless, hoping to secure Spirit Rice even with just one promise.

Although Su Yu knew who True Man Lin was, she was still rendered speechless by his words.

True Man Bai Shi from the Artifact Refining Hall chimed in: "Stone pots and jade bowls are easily discussed, but the rice output..."

He looked towards True Man Chen, the third senior brother of Li Ye representing the Spirit Plant Hall.

True Man Chen immediately appeared earnest: "To be honest with you, Senior Lin, the Xiguang Rice can't yet be grown in large quantities; it requires generations of seed cultivation, then gradually distributed to the lower marketplaces.

Three million pounds truly is unavailable."

True Man Lin understood and smacked his lips: "We'll take however much there is..."

Before his words fell, a True Man from Bitter Journey Academy intervened: "Hey, wait! Not only do we recite Holy Books daily, but we also arduous study the Six Arts of the Gentleman.

Taoist Friend, isn't there food on your side too? Why not sell it to us?"

Bitter Journey Academy you say.

As this world's sole Confucianism faction, their wealth accumulation is exceedingly impressive.

They straightforwardly said, "Better to sell to us; how does one thousand Spirit Stones per pound sound?"

However, he forgot about a person who had been silent all along, not speaking but surrounded by the golden lotus light:

"Don't be hasty."

The monk's tone carried a benevolent compassion for the suffering.

Just as he began to speak, a True Man immediately shouted from the side: "Kongxiang Temple's monk, why do you want it too, are you short of rice?"

The monk's expression remained unchanged, slowly replying:

"Kongxiang Temple is willing to sign a contract with the Four Seasons Sect using the water from the Eight Treasure Pool or the Willow Purified Water from the Jade Purification Bottle.

Buddhist Mountain shall not fall, and Buddhist Temple shall not collapse.

This contract will last until you and I reach extinction."

"..."

This monk is willing to go to such great lengths!

Water from the Eight Treasure Pool and the Willow Purified Water from the Buddha's Jade Purification Bottle, gifts with unique Buddhist charm, are indeed a significant temptation for the Four Seasons Sect in their efforts to study various Spirit Plants and land.

It's known that in this world, only this Buddhist sect possesses such treasures.

Legend has it that their Buddha brought it from the true paradise, equivalent to the true Immortal Realm where their ancestors reside.

Just some Xiguang Rice... is there something unknown within it?

"Water from the Eight Treasure Pool and Willow Water from the Jade Purification Bottle?"

True Man Chen rubbed his chin, eyes gleaming: "This quote is quite high, but can you make the decision?"

The monk was silent, simply extending his hand.

In his palm floated two droplets of water, one resplendent and one pure, gold and silver light instantly permeating the entire hall.

"Tsk."

"Though you usually rely on offerings from faithful believers, you're being quite generous now."

The True Man from Bitter Journey Academy was displeased to be cut off; they've rivaled each other for thousands of years without fear.

The monk placed his hands together and, after quietly saying a line of Amitabha, spoke aloud: "Anger corrupts so; Taoist Friend, how can one cultivate talents?

If Taoist Friend is willing, this humble monk would personally shave the head for Taoist Friend, entering our Buddhist sect, living forever alongside the ancient Buddha by the blue lamp, ensuring no anger or resentment."

He looked at the opponent with compassion and pity for a cultivator who had strayed.

"Haha." The True Man from Bitter Journey Academy said no more; had this not been the Four Seasons Sect's grounds, he would've dragged the other down for a good beating.

The Confucian Sage once said to conquer through virtue, and when virtue fails, use another form of "virtue."

He knew a bit of martial arts.

The other True Men exchanged glances, eager to see the drama unfold.

As the two seemed ready to spar, True Man Chen had to speak up: "Since all of you want it, let's auction it then.

The yield of Xiguang Rice is indeed very low; later on, we'll auction off the right to purchase all annual production, after which it'll be at your discretion."

Auction?

Now, that's a good idea.

The highest bidder wins, after all.

So no one objected, and they began discussing the sale and supply of other treasures.

Occasionally, angry insults and rebukes echoed, and sporadic clashes of weapons and magical treasures sounded, as talks went less than smoothly; after all, everyone wanted something, and each was from significant sects and could certainly afford Spirit Stones.

Hence, reluctantly, they had to spar to test strengths.

The True Men of the Four Seasons Sect were prepared; fighting was no issue for them, they were already used to it.

They watched calmly at the Sword Qi, Buddha's Light, and fist-sized punches... eventually, after many bumps, all contracts were settled.

After the skirmish, True Men acted as if nothing happened.

They walked out, chatting and laughing:

"Let's go!"

"Your sword may be sharp, but it can't harm me."

"Master, your killing intent is too heavy; have you read the Holy Books to see how far you've gone?"

True Man Chen was quite helpless, as the junior, he could only be the one escorting the True Men.

In the end, while sending the True Men off, he received a stack of invitations, instructing him to pass them onto Li Ye.

He felt even more helpless but also a bit proud.

After all, Li Ye was his junior brother.

Holding a thick stack of invitations, he sighed: "So many, guess I have to go run a trip to deliver them to Junior Brother... hmm?"

Just as he planned to turn back, he suddenly heard that a Merfolk named Yang Ke wanted to visit Li Ye at the Foundation Establishment.

He pondered for a moment, then took Yang Ke to hurry to Li Ye's Cave Mansion.

Li Ye was already awake, wearing simple cloth attire, seeing them arrive, he came forward to greet: "Senior Brother, Taoist Friend Yang."

The third senior brother casually patted Li Ye on the shoulder saying not to mind him, but Yang Ke respectfully saluted: "Greetings, True Man Lingye."

Li Ye's smile briefly froze.

He could tell this was not mockery nor politeness, but truly there was a distance; now that he was a Golden Core True Man of the Four Seasons Sect and had cultivated many Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts.

Yang Ke was merely one son of a Nascent Soul, and although his family owned mines, he was still just one among the more favored of dozens.

How could a Merfolk Nascent Soul compare with Li Ye's master?

Li Ye knew all of this; after a brief sigh, he laughed: "Brother Yang visiting is indeed rare, shortly I'll call Senior Brother Su, and we can drink tea and discuss the Dao here, wouldn't that be delightful?"

Yang Ke finally relaxed.

His tightly clenched hands finally eased, though a droplet of gold-tinted blood lightly dripped onto the ground, stirring up dust.

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