Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The New Courtyard—Arrangements of Mo and the Ants
The warm spring sunlight poured down, accompanied by the fragrant scent of grass and wood carried by the gentle breeze.
On the second day after Li Ye returned home, a person claiming to be from the Steward Hall of the Huiya Marketplace came to him, saying they were there to help expand his courtyard.
They asked if he had time now.
"Perfect timing, I do have time right now," he replied.
Li Ye naturally did not refuse. Currently, there was actually a large vacant land surrounding his courtyard.
There was a distance of two or three acres between his courtyard and his neighbor’s, which was why he had yet to meet his neighbor.
"Alright then, what kind of courtyard does the Dao You desire?"
"Please look, this is the diagram."
He took out a hand-drawn sketchbook, which contained designs for various courtyards.
There were classic pavilions and towers, simple grass huts with fences, and even a chaotic style of rocky shores.
It could be said to have everything, fully equipped.
"Oh, let me have a look," he said.
After careful reading, Li Ye chose something slightly simpler. As long as there was a pavilion and flowing water, it seemed comfortable; the rest could be gradually filled in later.
"...Will this do?"
After thoroughly understanding Li Ye’s requirements, Steward Yang patted his chest and said, "Dao You can rest assured, this matter is simple and will be completed in two days!"
After saying this, he turned and left.
Soon after, Li Ye saw him bringing over some cultivators, who began releasing dog-like spirit beasts that were adorable, slender, and as straight as rulers.
These spirit beasts used their bodies to measure the land, and their paws dug in with extreme speed, quickly excavating the ponds and waterways Li Ye needed.
Most importantly, their collaboration was remarkably precise. Though appearing as a chaotic group, each spirit dog’s dug-out waterway seamlessly connected.
They divided the work effectively, their efficiency strikingly rapid.
Then, Steward Yang had a cultivator release spirit beasts resembling mud bulls.
Wherever they roamed, the soil was controlled, gradually forming the embryonic structures of courtyard walls and pavilions.
However, they seemed to be guided, with a cultivator nearby obviously sitting in meditation, forming hand seals.
Presumably, through divine sense guidance, the mud bulls could build intricate structures.
Li Ye watched for a while before returning inside his courtyard.
Murmuring:
"Luban Spirit Dogs, Yellow Mud Bulls."
"Third tier spirit beasts used for building houses?"
"Truly a luxury indeed."
After learning the divine techniques from the Life Breath Spirit Transformation Scroll, his sensitivity to spiritual Qi and spirituality increased.
He could almost deduce the tiers of spirit beasts or spirit plants—those spirit beasts undoubtedly were third-tier Foundation Establishment stage.
Using Foundation Establishment stage spirit beasts to construct a courtyard.
He lay down on a deck chair, near the stone table that had a Glazed Snow Lotus crafted through divine technique, emanating cool coldness and fragrance amidst the spring sunlight and gentle breeze.
This divine technique was indeed magical.
The only difficulty was finding ink.
The ink required the special method passed down through divine technique, gathering "death Qi" to create ink depicting spirituality.
"Forget it."
"Su Ya Dao You invited me to distribute wheat."
"Let’s see if there’s a chance to find some."
Within his courtyard, he certainly couldn’t obtain enough death Qi, which was crucial for the divine technique. He relaxed in the rocking chair, gazing at the distant Golden Horned Ants in a daze.
Those Golden Horned Ants...seemed a bit peculiar.
——The willow branches of the Spirit Vein Willow exist between tangible and intangible, allowing them to easily penetrate thick soil layers.
The Golden Horned Ants actually separated the willow branches, transporting them into their dug chambers, using them continuously to dig downward.
Like creating tunnels.
With these "tunnels," they could effortlessly dig up minerals hidden within the soil layers.
Even as Beavers used urine and other means to interfere, the ants quickly detected it.
"If you don’t mine with these talents, it’s quite a waste."
"Wait, mining..."
Li Ye suddenly remembered hearing about the Mo family reopening a gold mine at Huiya Marketplace this summer during a pill auction event.
The most precious mineral there can create "Buddha’s Crown Gold," known for peace and exorcism properties.
There were accompanying minerals like sharp gold, silver, and brass, considered less valuable and common.
Due to the mine’s unique nature, collaboration with the Four Seasons Sect would occur, utilizing Earth Vein Arrays to migrate thirty mine entrances directly to the sect’s shops for cultivators to mine.
Renting a mine entrance will cost fifty spirit stones per day; the Buddha’s Crown Gold mined belongs entirely to the Mo family, while other possible accompanying minerals will belong to the cultivators.
Fifty spirit stones for occupying a day, which is indirectly providing benefits and requires connections for obtaining a quota.
At that time, he noted down this news, reflecting he must ask Su Ya if he could secure a spot, to see if his Golden Horned Ants could surprise him.
...
Two days later.
Steward Yang, smiling, pointed at the courtyard identical to Li Ye’s original courtyard walls, saying:
"Your request has been fulfilled. Please inspect it to see if it’s satisfactory. If so, you just need to give me one hundred spirit stones as compensation."
Li Ye actually visited over the past two days, and was quite pleased with the courtyard they constructed.
This courtyard had flowing streams and blooming flowers, even a small pond surrounded by pavilions.
Perfect for chatting, tea drinking, philosophical discussions, and flower appreciation.
Thus, he happily paid one hundred spirit stones, saying, "I’ve inspected the courtyard; I’m very satisfied. Dao You’s skills are indeed up to credit."
"Haha," Steward Yang responded with a laugh, "Dao You overly praises me; I shall take my leave. If there are any issues, just come to the Steward Hall."
"Farewell, Dao You."
Watching Steward Yang leave, Li Ye opened the gate, entering this new courtyard approximately two acres large.
This courtyard still preserved the natural beauty, although only a few pavilions, they wonderfully integrated with the surroundings.
As he glanced around, he noticed the Beavers, seemingly sneaking out from the portal leading to the inner courtyard.
They looked left and right, as if surveying their new territory.
Li Ye let them do as they pleased.
Whenever someone visits, they surely retreat to the backyard immediately, having a big space to play is also beneficial.
Observing this newly built courtyard, he wondered if he should plant something?
Though lacking a spirit vein and source, there’s still enough spiritual Qi; not planting anything would be a pity indeed.