Hidden Moth

Moreover, Old Man Jiang said, "It's best to wait until Tier Four," but he didn't say you must wait until then—it's almost as if he's hinting at something.

He Kao felt emotional, recalling how he had once tried everything to learn the techniques but couldn't succeed.

Initially, he wanted to ask Wu Yanjun for help in making an introduction, but unexpectedly, Xiaowu himself wasn't even a formal Magic Sect disciple, speaking hesitantly.

Later, he finally had the chance to formally become Lin Qingshuang's disciple, and just when Lin Qingshuang seemed ready to agree, he suddenly took back his promise...

Afterward, to find a technique to help Huang Xiaopang recuperate, He Kao went to great lengths to "steal" a fragment of the Observing Body Skill from Peng Xian's office.

Now, all is well—Old Man Jiang just extended a finger, and he had access to seven complete techniques!

Although Jiang Daozhen did this supposedly just to let Hidden Moth understand the situation, the techniques were complete, and various applied techniques were included as much as possible, yet the promotion ritual was still unintroduced.

It seemed as though He Kao didn't need these; he was currently specializing in the Insect Concealment Skill, a technique without any promotion ritual within its inheritance...

Before his eyes flickered, and He Kao found himself back at the entrance of the farmer's market under the parasol tree. Although he remembered standing before, he was now inexplicably sitting on a small stool, with the little old man and the unfinished chess game still before him.

Everything that happened seemed like a dream—or perhaps illusions experienced in the Fixed Realm. With some cultivation, He Kao was able to handle the unexpected, though he secretly marveled—what remarkable skills Elder Jiang had!

There was no wind, yet the branches and leaves of the parasol tree above were gently swaying, producing a rustling sound.

Elder Jiang found a gorgeously crafted gourd from somewhere, just small enough to hold in one hand, only about ten centimeters high, with a bright yellow, exquisitely decorated skin.

He casually tossed the gourd over, and He Kao caught it steadily with both hands.

The elderly man explained, "Inside, there are ninety-nine Jade Phoenix Tree Seeds I've collected over these years. One per month is enough to replenish the Qi Xiaopang has lost from the Huang Family.

But don't give them all to him; just enough would do, and save the rest for yourself. Before reaching Tier Four, this will greatly aid your technique cultivation."

The parasol tree outside Pugang Town's farmer's market appeared no different from other parasol trees, but it had distinctive qualities; it was called the Jade Phoenix Tree.

The parasol tree is a deciduous tree, but even in winter, its leaves do not fall completely, retaining a green hue, though not as lush as in summer.

Ordinary parasol tree seeds resemble peas; upon maturing, their skin becomes wrinkled.

Though peas can either have wrinkled or smooth skins, the ones available in the market these days are usually smooth and plump due to artificial breeding.

Yet the seeds produced by this parasol tree come in two kinds, one being the typical wrinkled seeds that mature annually.

The other type has a smooth, fine surface resembling jade beads, which take several years to mature; these are the Jade Phoenix Tree Seeds.

Jade Phoenix Tree Seeds take specific years to mature, depending on climate and environmental factors, needing at least three years and usually taking three, five, or seven years; the longest is twenty-three years, coincidentally, the time when Old Man Jiang finished the promotion ritual.

Interestingly, their maturation isn't random but follows a unique pattern linked to prime numbers with three, five, seven, eleven, thirteen, seventeen, nineteen, and twenty-three years.

This Jade Phoenix Tree isn't another parasol tree variety but one that happens to grow at the Earth Qi Spirit Core location, causing unique variations over the years.

Later, Earth Master Gu Chun used it as the basis for an array, which concealed the Jade Phoenix Tree's features while protecting Jiang Daozhen, making it difficult for others to notice.

Otherwise, if sorcerers from Alchemy Sect or Observing Body Sect passed by and found the Jade Phoenix Tree, they might come annually to harvest spirit medicine, thus disturbing Elder Jiang below the tree.

Jade Phoenix Tree Seeds are a spirit medicine and a key component in making Peiyuan Pills. In producing Peiyuan Pills, the longer the seeds mature, the better—at least seven years or more.

If not used for Peiyuan Pills, they can also be consumed directly, cooked with skin removed—their effects similar to but distinct from Peiyuan Pills.

The specifics are as follows: detoxification, clearing sludge, aligning energy, clarifying mind, expelling evil, healing injuries, nourishing life force—even reputed to lighten the body and delay aging. Though not as exaggerated as the legends, they do have similar effects, such as treating premature graying of hair.

Comparing with Peiyuan Pills, it's challenging to determine the relative value, as a Peiyuan Pill uses less than a full Jade Phoenix Tree Seed, combined with additional spirit medicines to bolster foundational strength.

Directly consuming Jade Phoenix Tree Seeds, especially high-year ones, appears quite extravagant. The gourd Jiang Daozhen gave, consisting of high-year twenty-three seeds, truly proves precious.

He Kao carefully examined the small gourd, its top unscrewable and fitted with an ivory stopper. Upon turning it over, a Jade Phoenix Tree Seed emerged, looking like a deep green bead, mistaken for a bead if not for the sprouting point on top.

The same type of gourd seemed spotted today hanging on a young lady's waist at the train station, apparently slightly smaller than the one in his hand.

He Kao raised his head, "These are too precious! Actually, Senior Lin Qingshuang already gifted me three bottles of Peiyuan Pills, one of which I gave to Qian Guran, and kept another specifically for Xiaopang, having let him take two already."

Jiang Daozhen's expression showed some surprise, then he laughed, "I knew about Lin Qingshuang giving you Peiyuan Pills, but wasn't expecting you to be so generous, keeping only one bottle for yourself after getting three bottles.

You've come all this way to pay your respects to me, an old man, so I can't let you leave empty-handed. Take this gourd of seeds—use them as you wish. Compared to Peiyuan Pills, these are more suitable for sorcerers.

Besides, there's something else—I have a disciple named Wei Luo, a rather pretty girl. She turned twenty-one and recently became a Tier Five Wanderer; staying perpetually in the sect isn't practical, so she must venture out.

I directed her to Qi Yuan City a month ago, yet she hasn't found me here so far—I wonder where she's lost her way. If you encounter her, please inform her not to come looking for me, instead to wander around Qi Yuan.

This girl is good at everything except she's prone to getting lost. Should you have the chance, try to look after her as much as possible. If she asks for your help, do lend her your aid."

He Kao already knew whom he talked about and immediately nodded, "Okay, I'll remember... Is any of this gourd meant for her as well?"

As he spoke, he also pondered inwardly. She's a Tier Five Cultivator—aid might go both ways! Plus, Jiang Daozhen wasn't aware that the Peiyuan Pills he reserved for himself wasn't a full bottle but half a bottle.

Jiang Daozhen said, "When I give something to you, it's yours. Yet if you wish to impress someone with it, I won't object... I've conveyed all I needed; no further ado, I shall take my leave now."

He Kao quickly took out his phone and asked, "Where are you heading, sir? How can I contact you for inquiries, let's become friends first!"

Jiang Daozhen took a phone from his pocket, connected with He Kao, then waved his hand, "The world is vast; where couldn't one go? I've been suppressed all these years!"

He departed swiftly, turning around and beginning to hum a tune with exceptionally sprightly steps. He Kao felt indescribably, sensing the old man's rejuvenation, looking much more spirited than before.

"You haven't packed up your chess booth yet!" He Kao called out.

"No need, no booth anymore, I've given everything to you!" Jiang Daozhen's voice echoed from afar, and in just these few sentences, he vanished without a trace.

**