C19 The Food of the Purple Gold Gourd

Zhao Lei was troubled by the scarcity of Immortal Dew. Initially, he had been quite satisfied with the Purple Gold Gourd producing a single drop every three days. But as his business expanded, he quickly realized that the small amount of Immortal Dew was nowhere near sufficient.

He needed the Immortal Dew to fortify his own body, to water his vegetables, and it was essential for cultivating top-quality ginseng. With the upcoming orchard requiring Immortal Dew as well, the pressure on the already limited supply would only increase.

The demand for Immortal Dew was growing, yet the Purple Gold Gourd could only produce one drop every three days, which was a constant source of frustration for Zhao Lei.

In a moment of helplessness, Zhao Lei gazed at the Purple Gold Gourd and murmured, "One drop every three days is just not enough. Isn't there a way to increase the production of Immortal Dew?"

While pondering this issue, Zhao Lei absentmindedly took out Chen Lan's bracelet and began to fiddle with it. The jade was of excellent quality—smooth, warm, and radiant—a true testament to its status as a treasured family heirloom from Chen Lan's mother.

As he admired the bracelet, thoughts of Chen Lan naturally came to mind. The Beautiful Widow was not only stunning but also at the peak of her allure. Her gentle and considerate nature had left a strong impression on Zhao Lei. Recalling their recent encounters, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of her.

But just then, Zhao Lei's left hand, which was holding the Purple Gold Gourd, began to shake unexpectedly. Initially dismissing it as his imagination, he soon felt the unmistakable quiver of the gourd within his palm.

Startled, Zhao Lei was about to inspect the gourd more closely when it suddenly stilled. Driven by curiosity, he experimented and discovered that the Purple Gold Gourd would respond whenever it neared the jade bracelet.

Considering the Purple Gold Gourd was a treasure, its reaction wasn't entirely surprising. However, Zhao Lei was intrigued by the cause of this mysterious response.

To uncover the truth, Zhao Lei cautiously moved the Purple Gold Gourd closer to the jade bracelet. The nearer they got, the stronger the gourd's response became.

Just as the Purple Gold Gourd was about to make contact with the bracelet, Zhao Lei paused. The bracelet was, after all, Chen Lan's cherished possession, and he had promised her the chance to buy it back in the future. Without knowing what might happen, it seemed best not to let them touch.

Zhao Lei set the bracelet aside and, after a moment's reflection, retrieved a jade pendant from his drawer. He had once given this pendant to his girlfriend, but she left him for a man from a wealthier background and returned the pendant.

Back then, Zhao Lei was heartbroken and carefully stowed the pendant away. But with the benefit of hindsight, he saw the ordeal as nothing more than a chapter in his journey of growth. The pain was real, but it was now in the past.

The jade pendant, once a symbol of that relationship, had found new purpose. Zhao Lei used it to investigate why the Purple Gold Gourd reacted to the jade bracelet.

As the pendant inched closer, the gourd sensed it once more. Without hesitation, Zhao Lei placed the Purple Gold Gourd onto the pendant. The moment they touched, something miraculous occurred.

The part of the pendant that met the gourd turned grey and white at a speed visible to the naked eye. The once smooth and lustrous pendant quickly lost its shine, becoming dull and lackluster.

Zhao Lei didn't understand exactly what had happened, but it seemed as though the Purple Gold Gourd had absorbed the essence of the pendant, leaving behind mere residue.

Simultaneously, the Purple Gold Gourd began to glow brightly. The purple-red light radiated from within, creating the illusion that the gourd was semi-transparent and contained a shining light bulb.

Zhao Lei watched intently as the Purple Gold Gourd grew increasingly luminous. A mix of astonishment and delight filled him as he mused, "So this is why the Purple Gold Gourd reacts to jade. This treasure has the power to absorb the essence of jade!"

The gray-white area on the jade pendant expanded rapidly. Within moments, half of the pendant had transformed. The rest soon followed, and within mere minutes, the entire piece was a uniform gray-white, crisscrossed with cracks that made it seem as if it would crumble at the slightest touch.

And that's precisely what happened. No sooner had Zhao Lei set the pendant on the table than the once-decent jade shattered into fragments. With a gentle tap, it disintegrated into a pile of gray-white dust. Had Zhao Lei not witnessed it himself, he might have mistaken it for a heap of cement.

At this point, Zhao Lei's concern for the pendant was replaced by curiosity about the Purple Gold Gourd. He scrutinized it closely, musing, "It appears the Purple Gold Gourd can absorb the essence from jade. It's a good thing I didn't let it come into contact with Ms. Lan's bracelet, or I'd have no way of explaining it to her."

Realizing the gourd's unique ability piqued Zhao Lei's interest further. He resolved to purchase more jade stones for the gourd to absorb, eager to discover the outcome of such an experiment.

The following day, Zhao Lei set out early, heading straight for the jewelry store in the county town. With the remainder of his earnings from selling dates—over five thousand yuan—he bought two jade pendants, spending every last cent.

Zhao Lei was well aware that the quality of jade he could get for five thousand yuan wouldn't be top-notch. Lacking expertise in jade, he based his selection on size, opting for larger pieces in the hope of getting his money's worth.

Once back home, Zhao Lei wasted no time. He secured the doors and windows, then took out the newly acquired pendants and carefully placed the Purple Gold Gourd upon one.

As it had the night before, the gourd immediately began to draw out the jade's essence upon contact. The jade faded to gray-white, while the gourd emitted a bright, yet soft glow. The small vessel became translucent, glowing as if crafted from the finest crystal glass.

Zhao Lei watched the scene unfold with a sense of satisfaction, murmuring under his breath, "Go on, eat. I'm eager to see what kind of transformation you'll undergo once you're full!"

The Purple Gold Gourd did not disappoint Zhao Lei. It swiftly drained the essence from the jade pendant. Without hesitation, Zhao Lei placed another pendant for the gourd to continue its absorption.

To be honest, watching the jade pendant turn into a pile of grayish-white powder did tug at Zhao Lei's heartstrings. These were, after all, items worth thousands of yuan, reduced to dust in an instant. It would be a considerable loss if the Purple Gold Gourd showed no change after consuming the essence of the jade.

Luckily, the Purple Gold Gourd lived up to Zhao Lei's expectations. Following the complete absorption of the second jade stone, the gourd underwent a surprising transformation that left him in awe.