"Yueniang, you're welcome. If they dare to bully you again in the future, just tell them my name," Li Taixing said with a smile, feeling rather satisfied with how things had turned out.
"And if they don't know who I am, just tell them my master's name," he added, clearly enjoying the idea of using his master's reputation to intimidate others. After all, any problems would ultimately be dealt with by his master, not him. A junior like him didn't have much to worry about.
"Mm," Li Yueniang responded quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her gaze toward Li Taixing had changed. There was a soft, almost shy expression in her eyes, one that she hadn't had before. Whenever Li Taixing looked in her direction, she would blush and quickly lower her head, avoiding eye contact.
Li Taixing noticed this and felt a bit awkward. 'Is she... falling for me?' he thought to himself, slightly embarrassed. It was possible—after all, his actions had left a strong impression on her. He had helped her out of a difficult situation, and it perfectly matched the image of a person she could admire.
Still, Li Taixing wasn't keen on discussing this matter. He didn't want to make things uncomfortable between them, so he decided to let it slide for now.
"Alright, I've left a few things for you to use later," he said, changing the topic. "I need to head back now."
"You're leaving already, Brother Li?" Lu Tong asked with a hint of disappointment. He, along with the others, had grown quite fond of Li Taixing, especially with all the help and guidance he had provided.
"Yes, I've been out for a while, and I snuck out without telling my master. If I stay too long, she might notice and get upset," Li Taixing explained with a helpless smile.
Lu Tong and the others nodded in understanding, though they were sad to see him leave so soon. "Alright then, Brother Li, take care."
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon," Li Taixing reassured them, but before leaving, he handed each of them a gift—spiritual stones, elixirs, and even some weapons.
After Li Taixing left, the group looked through the items in their storage rings, and their jaws dropped.
"Wow, Brother Li is so generous!" Lu Qingyao exclaimed, amazed by the sheer value of the gifts. "I've never seen so many spiritual stones and elixirs in my life!"
"I know, right? Brother Li really is kind to us," Lu Tong said, equally astonished. "We need to remember this and work even harder in our cultivation."
"Yes, we must live up to his expectations!" they all agreed, feeling motivated by Li Taixing's generosity and kindness.
Meanwhile, Li Taixing had already left the area and found a secluded spot to teleport back to Chifeng Mountain.
---
Back at Chifeng Mountain, Wang Xuanwu was sprawled out on a table in the courtyard, fast asleep. Beside her were dozens of empty wine jars, evidence of her excessive drinking.
When Li Taixing returned and saw the state of the yard, he sighed. "Master..." he muttered, shaking his head. "I suppose I have to clean this up."
He gently picked up Wang Xuanwu and carried her inside to rest. After tucking her into bed, he returned to the courtyard and began tidying up. Using his spiritual power, he cleared away the mess, gathering the empty wine jars and leftover food scraps into a pit, where they would be crushed later.
Once the courtyard was clean, Li Taixing stepped outside and surveyed the area. Chifeng Mountain was quiet, almost barren, save for a few patches of wild grass. An idea suddenly formed in his mind.
'Why not use this space to plant spiritual herbs?' he thought. He had learned a lot about spiritual herbs as a former alchemist, and with the dimensional storage bag he possessed, he had all the necessary materials. Plus, the formation surrounding Chifeng Mountain ensured that no one could see what was happening inside, so there was no risk of his actions being discovered.
With that thought, Li Taixing sprang into action. First, he spread his spiritual sense over the entire mountain, examining the terrain in detail with the help of his Sky Eye. The whole of Chifeng Mountain appeared in his mind like a vast, three-dimensional map, and he quickly identified the best locations for planting.
Next, he used his telekinetic powers to overturn the soil across the mountain, preparing it for planting. Then, with a wave of his hand, countless spiritual herbs flew out from his dimensional bag and floated to their designated spots, planting themselves neatly in the earth. Each herb was placed in the optimal position based on its growth requirements.
Li Taixing wasn't done yet. He took out a wooden barrel, poked small holes in the bottom, and filled it with water. Using his spiritual power, he multiplied the barrels until there were dozens. Then, with a flick of his hand, the barrels flew through the air, raining water over the newly planted herbs like a gentle drizzle.
As he worked, Li Taixing couldn't help but wish for a spiritual spring. "It would be great if I had a spiritual spring to nourish these herbs," he mused. "But that's too rare to come by. For now, I'll just have to use my own spiritual power."
Fortunately, he knew how to use spiritual energy to nourish the plants, though it required a great deal of effort. But with his massive spiritual sea, Li Taixing wasn't too concerned. He channeled his energy into the plants, sending waves of spiritual power throughout the mountain, revitalizing the herbs.
Within moments, the spiritual herbs began to thrive, their leaves glowing with vitality. Li Taixing felt his spiritual sea nearly empty out from the effort, but with a thought, it was instantly replenished.
Satisfied with his work, he smiled and looked around. Chifeng Mountain had been transformed from a barren peak into a lush, verdant garden filled with spiritual herbs.
Unbeknownst to him, however, someone had been watching the entire time.
---
Wang Xuanwu, having woken up at some point during Li Taixing's planting spree, stood at the door of her residence, her eyes half-lidded and a faint smile on her lips. She had watched in silence as her disciple transformed Chifeng Mountain into a paradise of spiritual herbs.
'This kid... He's even more talented than I thought,' she thought to herself, amazed by his abilities. Though she was proud of her own strength, seeing Li Taixing's incredible potential stirred a mix of pride and slight envy in her heart.
As Li Taixing finally noticed her presence and turned around, she greeted him with a smirk. "Disciple... you've been quite busy while I was sleeping, haven't you?"
Li Taixing chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, Master, I thought I'd make good use of the time. Chifeng Mountain was looking a little... bare."
Wang Xuanwu laughed softly and walked over to him, giving him a playful nudge. "Bare, huh? I guess it was. But now, thanks to you, it looks like a treasure trove."
Li Taixing smiled sheepishly. "I just wanted to help out."
Wang Xuanwu looked at the mountain with a sense of satisfaction. "You've done well, Taixing. Very well. Perhaps you've got a future in more than just cultivation."
Li Taixing's heart warmed at the praise. "Thank you, Master."
She gave him a gentle pat on the back. "Now, let's see how these herbs grow. With your talent, I'm sure Chifeng Mountain will become one of the most valuable peaks in the sect."
As they both stood there, gazing at the flourishing herbs, Li Taixing couldn't help but feel proud of his work. Little did he know, his actions had not only earned him the admiration of his master but would soon attract the attention of others in the sect as well.