My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Ye Qingfeng opened his eyes and glanced at him.

There was a hint of a smile in his eyes, so subtle that it was almost imperceptible unless you looked closely.

"What did you drink last night?"

Lu Yang was taken aback: "Last night? We had porridge. A-Luo made the porridge."

Ye Qingfeng smiled and shook his head.

Lu Yang was even more puzzled now. He hadn't drunk anything else besides porridge last night.

Seeing his confused look, Ye Qingfeng smiled and offered a word of advice.

"It tastes like carrot."

When I heard the words "radish flavor".

Lu Yang's expression changed from blank to confused, from confused to enlightened, and from enlightened to incredulous.

"Immortal Master...you wouldn't mean to..."

Ye Qingfeng nodded slightly: "Radish urine and radish farts are both part of the precious medicine. If you drink them and smell them, you will naturally be able to increase your Qi."

Lu Yang stared, his mouth agape, completely frozen in place.

He remembered the stench in his blankets and the chubby baby's cheerful comment, "It's radish farts."

He remembered the "radish juice" poured on his head, and its pungent, irritating smell.

His face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled a few times, he seemed to want to say something but couldn't get the words out.

Ye Qingfeng didn't look at him again, standing there with his hands behind his back and a slight smile on his lips.

Lu Yang stood there, completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.

He wanted to be angry, but he didn't know who to be angry at.

"Chong Pangwa? That kid is hiding in A Luo's arms right now, he can't very well argue with a little radish spirit."

He hesitated for a long time before finally managing to stammer, "Then... then should this disciple drink more of that...?"

Lü Yang didn't continue speaking, but his meaning was clear.

Ye Qingfeng smiled faintly, turned around and walked away.

"When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on someone, it first tests their resolve, strains their muscles and bones, starves their body, and empties their resources..."

Lu Yang stood in the courtyard, a ruthless look gradually appearing on his face. For the sake of cultivating immortality, he would endure it!

Little did they know that as Ye Qingfeng walked into the house, a teasing expression gradually appeared on his face.

If we don't tease this future Lu Zu now, we won't have many more opportunities later.

Miao Gui came out of the house and happened to see this scene.

He paused for a moment, walked over, and patted Lü Yang on the shoulder: "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"

Looking at Miao Gui's forty-year-old face, Lü Yang suddenly became wary.

Miao Gui didn't drink it last night, so he definitely doesn't know about its effects.

He had read vernacular novels that said the path to immortality was full of deceit and treachery, and resources were limited, so one had to fight for them.

No, Miao Gui absolutely cannot know about this.

"Oh, nothing, I just need to poop, oh yeah! I just need to poop!"

With that, Lü Yang ran towards the toilet.

Miao Gui was a little puzzled. What was wrong with Lü Yang?

Are you constipated?

......

Soon, a person came to the outside of the courtyard.

Aro was the first to discover it.

"Elder, what brings you here?"

This man was the clan elder who had received them yesterday. He was leaning on a cane, wearing a clean, traditional Chinese jacket, and his hair was neatly combed. Clearly, he had come on business.

He stood at the door, not rushing in, but just smiling at the people in the courtyard.

Ye Qingfeng knew they were looking for him, so he nodded slightly and said, "Please come in, sir."

The clan elder then entered, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Good morning, Daoist Master. I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing your meditation."

Ye Qingfeng waved his hand: "It's alright. Is there something you need, old man?"

The elder didn't rush to talk about anything. He first praised the courtyard for being well-maintained, the sunshine for being nice, and the weather for being nice. Then he asked if the person was comfortable with the place and if the food was good.

Ye Qingfeng responded to each question one by one, unhurriedly. The clan elders were not in a hurry either, and they chatted on and on.

Lu Yang listened from the side and found the old man quite interesting.

They clearly came with something important, but instead of saying it, they went around in circles, as if afraid of being disrespectful to the guests.

After chatting for a while, the clan elder finally turned the conversation to the main topic.

"Master, tomorrow is the village's annual grand ceremony, a sacrifice to the Ginseng God, to pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests in the coming year."

This old man wishes to invite the Daoist priest to grace us with his presence at tomorrow's grand ceremony.

Ye Qingfeng did not answer immediately.

The clan elder quickly added, "If you have something to do, Daoist Master, there's no need to force yourself. I just feel that your arrival in the village is a blessing for the village."

"If the Taoist priest could be present at tomorrow's grand ceremony, the whole village would be more than happy to have him."

His words were polite, but his eyes held a hopeful look.

Ye Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. I will attend the ceremony tomorrow."

Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well go and take a look.

The elder's eyes lit up immediately, and the slight nervousness on his face turned into a smile.

His hand, which was holding a cane, trembled slightly as he repeatedly said, "Good, good! It's an honor for the village that the Taoist priest is willing to come! I'll go back and make preparations right away!"

He bowed to Ye Qingfeng again, turned and walked out, his steps much lighter than when he came.

Watching his retreating figure, Lü Yang couldn't help but laugh: "This old man acts like he's passed the imperial examination just because he invited a celestial master."

Ye Qingfeng ignored him and turned back into the house.

Miao Gui stood in the courtyard, watching the elder's departing figure, lost in thought.

"The grand ceremony at Caishen Village..." he murmured. "I've heard of it; it's quite a grand affair. Ginseng gatherers from hundreds of miles around come, it's even more lively than the New Year."

Lu Yang became interested: "How grand will it be?"

Miao Gui thought for a moment and then told him everything he knew.

The grand ceremony in Caishen Village is held once a year, fixed before winter each year.

The villagers first worship the Ginseng God, praying for a good harvest next year. Only then can they enter the mountains at the beginning of spring.

The rules are strict; you can't mess around with them.

The offerings are three sacrificial animals—pig, sheep, and chicken—all raised by the villagers themselves for a year, specifically for this time of year.

There are also three vegetarian offerings—grains, fresh fruits, and wildflowers—to symbolize a bountiful harvest and mountains full of flowers and fruits.

The most important offering was ginseng.

Not just any ingredient will do.

It must be the best ginseng harvested in the village that year, in perfect condition, aged for the full term, with not a single rootlet missing and not a single ginseng root missing.

The selection of ginseng was led by the clan elders, and several experienced ginseng gatherers would look at the plants together. If they found a particular plant that they liked, that family would have great prestige for the year.

Once the offerings are prepared, the grand ceremony can begin.

The clan elder led the way, followed by the villagers of all ages, carrying sacrificial animals, grains, fresh fruit, and wildflowers, all the way from the village entrance to the ginseng temple.

The ginseng temple was located in the middle of the village. It wasn't large, but it was kept clean.

Inside the temple is a statue of the Ginseng God, made of clay and painted with gold, smiling and leaning on a ginseng staff.

Upon entering the temple, the clan elder respectfully placed the most important ginseng root before the statue, and then led everyone in kowtowing.

After kowtowing, the clan elders recited prayers, asking the Ginseng God to bless the village with peace and to ensure everyone could harvest good ginseng.

The prayer is a traditional, literary form passed down from generation to generation. Most of the young people in the village can't understand it, but they recite it every year without fail.