C14 Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid

As Shen Yong pondered this, he was struck by a memory of his college days—the very first lesson on entrepreneurship his teacher had imparted. One phrase had etched itself deeply in his mind: "Men need kidney support, women need beauty care, children need toys, and the elderly need health maintenance." At the time, his classmates had dismissed it as a mere jest. Yet Shen Yong's understanding went beyond the superficial humor that others saw. He distilled it into a guiding principle: "Cater to desires, create businesses based on needs."

With a month left before the peaches reached full maturity, Shen Yong recognized the current market's urgent demand for them. If he could hasten their ripening while enhancing their flavor and nutritional value, they would surely become a hit in the fruit market once introduced.

It was then that Shen Yong turned to the Immortal Doctor Secret Technique and discovered a method within—the Herbal Cultivation Spell—to produce an Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid. "Wow, this is great! This might just be the solution to our urgent problem!" he exclaimed with joy.

Without hesitation, Shen Yong found a small, transparent glass vial and filled it with water. He inserted the tip of his left middle finger into the vial and silently recited the Herbal Cultivation Spell. A stream of green spiritual energy flowed from his fingertip into the water, which soon transformed into a dense green hue. To his surprise, the liquid even carried the delicate fragrance of ripe peaches.

However, concocting this Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid drained all the spiritual energy from his dantian, leaving him lightheaded. Quickly setting the liquid aside, Shen Yong sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and began meditating, focusing on the Seven-star Qi Refining Spell. Before long, a small amount of green spiritual energy began to coalesce in the tiny orb at the end of the seven-star spoon within his dantian.

Opening his eyes, Shen Yong felt his earlier discomfort fade significantly. "Nani! Who would have thought that spiritual energy could have such an impact on my body?" he mused in amazement.

Shen Yong had an epiphany about the purpose of the seven small orbs within his dantian.

These orbs served not only as reservoirs of spiritual energy but also symbolized the seven stages of cultivation: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, Transcending Tribulation, and Achieving Immortality!

That is to say, spiritual energy started to accumulate in the orb at the end of the Seven-Star Scoop. Filling each orb signified the completion of a cultivation stage, and once all seven orbs were brimming with spiritual energy, one could attain the Dao and ascend to immortality!

Yet, Shen Yong had no interest in the path of cultivation!

His focus lay solely on making money!

Why does one worry so much?

Simply because a lack of money means a lack of freedom!

Moreover, the freedom Shen Yong sought wasn't the kind to do anything he pleased, but rather the freedom to not do anything he didn't want to!

Being coerced into actions was far more agonizing than the inability to do something!

Shen Yong knew this all too well!

For the sake of freedom, Shen Yong grabbed the Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid from the table. Peering through the doorway, he noticed the lights in his parents' room were out—they must be asleep.

Moving silently, he slipped out of the house, found the family sprayer, filled it with water, and mixed in the Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid. With the sprayer on his back, he headed up the mountain.

Under the moonlight, Shen Yong located his family's peach trees and sprayed the Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid onto ten peach-laden trees.

After marking the ten trees treated with the Early Ripened Spiritual Liquid, Shen Yong made his way back home, planning to return the next morning to check on them.

His footsteps were incredibly light, virtually soundless, a skill honed in the snowy mountains of the West Realm. So light were his steps that he could walk on snow over a foot deep without making a sound.

As Shen Yong neared his house, he was startled to see a woman standing at the courtyard gate. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her white dress resembled a sheet draped over her form. Her feet were invisible, yet she moved subtly.

"What the heck? A female ghost?!"

Most people would be terrified at such a sight, running away in sheer panic.

But Shen Yong wasn't scared at all; in fact, he felt a twinge of excitement.

'How intriguing, a female ghost!' he mused.

He had heard tales of their seductive nature but had never encountered one. Now was his chance to bring her inside for a closer look.

Sneaking up behind her, Shen Yong playfully slapped her on the behind.

She shuddered as if shocked by electricity and was about to scream.

Before she could, Shen Yong clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Mmm! Mmm!"

She let out muffled cries of surprise.

Suddenly, Shen Yong recognized the voice, and he took a closer look.

This was no ghost—it was Lee Xiaona!

"Xiaona?! What are you doing dressed like that, standing at my doorstep?"

He released her mouth and asked, puzzled, "Didn't you go back home with your dad? What brings you here? I mistook you for a ghost!"

"Mr. Shen Yong! I missed you so much that I sneaked out! When you slapped my behind, you almost scared my soul out of me!"

Lee Xiaona was still trying to calm her nerves.

"Oh! If you missed me, you could have just come by tomorrow! Why tonight? It's been raining; you could have slipped and hurt yourself!"

Shen Yong chided.

"I've walked the path from my house to yours since I learned to walk, over twenty years! I've trodden that path at least nine thousand times, if not ten thousand. I could do it with my eyes closed, let alone in a bit of rain!"

Lee Xiaona retorted.

"Well, since you're here, don't just stand outside. Come on in!"

Shen Yong invited her and swung the courtyard gate open.

But with a "Rip!" sound,

The hem of Lee Xiaona's white nightgown caught on a nail, tearing a long slit in the fabric.

The original straight-cut nightgown had somehow been transformed into a cheongsam with a slit up one side.

"Shen Yong! You owe me a nightgown! That was my favorite one!" Lee Xiaona exclaimed, clutching the ruined garment, her voice a mix of embarrassment and anger.

"Alright! No problem!" Shen Yong replied.

"Well, now I can't walk! You'll have to carry me!" Lee Xiaona demanded, hands on her hips.

This bad habit of Lee Xiaona's, claiming she couldn't walk at the drop of a hat, was something Shen Yong had indulged since she was young.

With a sense of resignation, Shen Yong scooped Lee Xiaona into his arms in a princess carry.

Lee Xiaona wrapped her arms around Shen Yong's neck, resting her head against his chest.

Suddenly, Lee Xiaona sniffed the air around Shen Yong and asked with a mix of curiosity and annoyance, "Shen Yong, why do you smell so nice? It's the middle of the night; you haven't been visiting Widow Zhang, have you?"