Li Yi dug small holes, each about 15 centimeters deep, on the ground, and planted cabbage seeds in them. He didn’t plant too many—just fifty seeds to observe how they would grow. After planting them, he watered them with well water, and whether they would survive or not depended on the vitality of the cabbage.
He had never grown vegetables before, so he could only plant them this way and hope for the best. Li Yi was busy with his task, unaware that many people from the village were looking for him. It was mealtime, and since they couldn’t find Li Yi to eat, several people had come to search for him.
Previously, the villagers might have hesitated to search for him. They didn’t know his situation and were cautious because he seemed to be a very powerful individual who might be healing somewhere in secret. However, now that Li Yi had offered a sacrifice to the Willow Spirit and it had been accepted, the villagers considered him one of their own. They didn’t need to be as cautious as before.
Li Yi had barely put down his hoe when people greeted him warmly. Many children, who used to avoid him, now came closer and smiled. Li Yi greeted them back with a smile and walked to the center of the village. He grabbed a bowl, took some meat, and began eating.
Recently, the village had been consuming a lot of meat, and due to the training, each time they practiced the cultivation method, they felt extremely hungry, even if they had eaten before. Their bodies had absorbed most of the food, and thus, they were always hungry. To make things easier, Stone Yunfeng had ordered the construction of several large clay stoves in the village. Now, every family came to the central stove to eat, and the stoves always had freshly cooked meat ready.
This had greatly sped up the villagers' cultivation progress. Many of the children’s daily routine consisted of eating, then cultivating, and then eating again. The adults did the same. Without the need to sleep or rest, they dedicated all their time to cultivation. Li Yi thought that if it weren’t for the exhausting mental and physical demands of cultivation, the villagers might not sleep at all.
Li Yi ate two large bowls of meat and then took out a book. He handed it to Stone Yunfeng, who had been watching the other villagers train. Surprisingly, Stone Yunfeng accepted the book without hesitation or resistance, easily taking it from Li Yi.
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The reason for this was clear. Li Yi was now considered a part of Stone Village. Before, when Li Yi had offered the book, it was a transaction since he was seen as an outsider, but now he was one of their own. Stone Yunfeng felt no guilt in accepting the book now.
Stone Yunfeng also started thinking of ways to help Li Yi heal his wounds. As a member of the village, it was his responsibility to ensure Li Yi received proper treatment.
Li Yi, on the other hand, began cultivating again. With the cultivation method’s benefits, along with the medicinal herbs and the vast amount of beast blood he had absorbed, Li Yi was confident he could soon close the gap between himself and the average men of Stone Village. However, he knew that after reaching a certain point, his progress would slow down, and his cultivation might plateau since he didn’t have a solid foundation. But for now, that was something to worry about later.
A few days later, the hunting team returned with a much larger haul than before. Their increased strength had allowed them to capture more game. Even some of the older children had joined in the hunt.
Stone Yunfeng arrived, wanting to arrange for Li Yi to participate in a ritual. It was a special event that had different significance compared to the usual rituals. Normally, Li Yi would observe from the sidelines, but this time, he was required to join in the dance.
The ritual in Stone Village wasn’t complicated, except for the dance, which was the centerpiece. Fortunately, with his growing strength, Li Yi quickly picked up the dance moves, and soon, he was ready to participate.
The ritual began! This time, the scale was grander than usual. Stone Yunfeng and several elders had obtained a full set of ritual instruments, and they painted strange symbols on Li Yi and the other hunters with the blood of wild beasts.
Li Yi led the hunting team in a dance in front of the Willow Tree. The large cauldron in front of the tree was filled with beast blood, but as usual, the Willow Spirit did not consume the offerings. However, as Li Yi danced, a powerful figure with great vision could see a willow tree slowly forming behind him. It was not like the current willow tree in the village; it was lush and green.
This represented the Willow Spirit’s protection. If Li Yi were ever in danger, this protection could potentially save his life.
After the ritual, Stone Yunfeng and the others began preparing more beast blood for use. As usual, Li Yi and Stone Shao went into the medicinal cauldron, silently practicing the cultivation method while absorbing the medicinal energy to strengthen their bodies.