Chapter 6: Di Ze Gui Yuan Great Formation
The back mountain was actually just a mountain hollow.
Beyond the back mountain lay an endless stretch of mountains.
Shu Province had many famous mountains, such as Mount Emei, Qingcheng, and Gongga.
Xu Yue wasn't sure how vast the mountain behind Taoyuan Village was, as it wasn't a famous peak or river.
No one in the village dared to venture deep into it, not even his grandfather when he was young.
"Xiao Yue, are you going into the mountains to look for morels?"
Xu Yue met someone from the village at the mountain entrance.
In March and April, there were also morels in the mountains.
Villagers would occasionally go into the mountains to pick some, either for themselves or to sell.
"That's right!" Xu Yue said with a smile, "Uncle Dashan, you've had a good harvest!"
Xu Dashan exchanged some polite words with a smile.
He had many morels in his pocket and was holding a few wild rabbits.
He had indeed had a good harvest this time.
Especially those few wild rabbits.
He had only wandered around the edge of the mountain.
Was Xu Yue going into the mountains to look for morels?
Only as an afterthought.
He wanted to find some old wild tea trees.
Xu Yue intended to set up the Di Ze Gui Yuan Great Formation in the back mountain, which required twenty-four century-old ancient trees as formation eyes to draw in the Earth Vein Qi to nourish the soil and increase its fertility.
As for whether it could transform into spirit soil, and how long it would take, Xu Yue had no certainty.
He had only recently started cultivating, and many things were still in the experimental stage.
He wasn't even sure if he could successfully set up the formation.
Of course, trees of a younger age weren't out of the question, but the success rate and effect would definitely be greatly reduced.
Ancient trees might not have as much vitality as new trees, but they contained a richer Wood Qi and could withstand more Earth Qi.
Why choose wild tea trees?
With the nourishment of Earth Qi, the wild tea could also transform into spirit tea.
This was Xu Yue's decision after much thought.
If he planted fruit trees, how much money could he sell the fruit for?
Tea trees were more cost-effective.
Besides, century-old fruit trees were hard to find.
"What a pity!"
Not long after Xu Yue entered the mountain, he encountered a wild tea tree.
It was just a pity that it wasn't a hundred years old.
He continued deeper into the mountain, picking up many morels along the way.
However, there were more porcini mushrooms.
Such as white porcini, red porcini, yellow porcini, and some morels.
"Ha! This trip wasn't in vain!"
Xu Yue smiled, looking at the half-human-tall tea tree in front of him.
There were many varieties of wild tea trees.
They varied in size.
This wild tea tree wasn't tall, but it was very lush.
Xu Yue hadn't brought a hoe, but that didn't make it difficult for him.
He reached out and pointed, the soil loosened, and he easily pulled out the wild tea tree.
Soil Loosening Technique!
It didn't have much practical value.
He also didn't dare to use this Soil Loosening Technique to till the land in the village.
Moreover, using this thing to till the soil was not as good as using a hoe, let alone a tiller.
The conversion of Earth Qi and the replenishment of Primal Chaos Qi were far less than the consumption.
Of course, this might also be due to his low cultivation level.
After digging up two more wild tea trees, he saw that it was getting late and immediately returned.
If he didn't return before dark, his parents would probably worry.
After returning, he would inevitably be nagged again.
Xu Yue feared this.
"Dahuang, let's go back!"
Xu Yue called out to Dahuang and then headed down the mountain.
With three tea trees planted at the formation nodes, Xu Yue returned with half a basket of morels on his back.
"Quite a lot!" Xu Chengyang said casually, "How was it in the mountains?"
"Other than the weeds being a bit deeper, it seems there's no difference. Many mountain paths from before are no longer passable!" Xu Yue said, "Wild rabbits and such seem to be more numerous than before."
"Only your Uncle Dashan occasionally goes up the mountain to hunt some wild rabbits, so naturally there are more." Xu Chengyang shook his head, saying, "Nowadays, the income from going up the mountain is lower, far less than moving bricks at a construction site. Who would risk going into the mountains?"
If you couldn't earn money, who would go up the mountain?
The mountain wasn't without danger.
"By the way, Grandpa!" Xu Yue asked, "Do you know where there are century-old wild tea trees? I only found three today when I went up the mountain. Logically, there should be many century-old wild tea trees in the mountains!"
"Why are you digging up wild tea trees?" Xu Chengyang said, "The taste isn't very good, and few villagers drink it."
"I'm trying to cultivate them to see if I can change the taste." Xu Yue said.
"There are many wild tea trees on the mountain, but century-old ones are hard to find." Xu Chengyang said, "It's already very good that you found three. The tea made from fresh leaves picked from century-old tea trees is very different compared to tea from artificially cultivated, younger tea trees."
Hard to find?
Xu Yue gave an awkward smile.
"Do you need a lot?" Xu Chengyang then asked, "You can go check by the Green Dragon Pool."
"For cultivation, naturally, the more the better." Xu Yue said, "Tomorrow I'll go check by the Green Dragon Pool. If I really can't find any, then so be it."
The Green Dragon Pool was a pool in the mountains.
It was as big as three or four football fields, and there was also a waterfall nearby.
The scenery at Green Dragon Pool was quite good.
Moreover, there was a large lawn by the pool, undoubtedly a good place for camping.
The next day, after breakfast, Xu Yue went into the mountains with his back-basket.
Along the way, he encountered many wild tea trees, but none were a hundred years old.
Yesterday, perhaps, was truly a burst of good luck.
"Eh?"
Before Xu Yue even reached Green Dragon Pool, he saw a century-old tea tree.
This one was a different variety from the three yesterday, and relatively taller.
Xu Yue pulled it out and could only carry it on his shoulder.
Go back now?
Obviously not possible.
After Xu Yue opened his Dantian, and thoroughly mastered the Yandi Hunyuan Fundamental Sutra, his strength, speed, and physical endurance all underwent a qualitative change.
It was just one tea tree; carrying it, he wouldn't feel tired even if he ran tens of kilometers, let alone hundreds.
Eh?
Xu Yue arrived at Green Dragon Pool, but unexpectedly, there were people camping there.
Six people, three men and three women.
The women were all quite beautiful.
Judging by their appearance, it seemed like it wasn't just a simple camping trip.
"Live streaming?"
Xu Yue naturally understood this.
The game company he worked for had collaborated with some game streamers and even cultivated its own game streamers.
Never mind!
He wouldn't disturb them.
"Villager!"
Xu Yue was about to turn and leave, to continue searching for his ancient tea trees, but he was called out by a Fat Man.
"Oh!"
The Fat Man jogged over, and after seeing Xu Yue's appearance clearly, he paused for a moment.
However, he reacted quickly, immediately pulled out a cigarette, and offered it to Xu Yue.
"Thanks, I don't smoke."
Xu Yue waved his hand, declining.
Even though the cigarette seemed quite good.
"Handsome guy, are you from a nearby mountain village?"
The Fat Man put away the cigarette, he didn't smoke it either, and then asked.
He had changed from "villager" to "handsome guy."
He didn't look like a villager, but he was carrying a bamboo basket and a tree.
"Mm!"
Xu Yue nodded.
"Then you're very familiar with this area?" the Fat Man continued to ask.
"Not bad." Xu Yue nodded.
He was indeed quite familiar with this area.
He used to come to Green Dragon Pool to swim with his third uncle often.
"Besides this Green Dragon Pool, what other places are worth visiting?" the Fat Man asked.
"To the west, there's a valley with cycads." Xu Yue said, "And there are many wild flowers; you might be interested."
"Really?" The Fat Man smiled and asked, "Are there fish here?"
He didn't seem very interested in flowers.
"Yes!" Xu Yue nodded and said, "And there are big fish. You'd best be careful not to be dragged into the water."