Ordinary Bone

"Should I water it too?"

"Snap!"

Just as Xu Taiping was about to fetch some water, the clod of soil he had used to cover the soybean was suddenly pushed aside by something.

"Huh? It… sprouted? So fast!"

Curious, he crouched down and was utterly stunned to find that the soybean he had just planted in the ground had already begun to sprout.

Not only that, but as soon as the sprout broke through the soil, it began to grow visibly before his very eyes. The stem and leaves quickly developed, and it bloomed and bore fruit in mere moments.

In the blink of an eye, a fully grown soybean plant stood before Xu Taiping.

The plant was about four feet tall, its leaves a lush, vibrant green that seemed to drip with life. It bore three pods that glowed like translucent jade, their extraordinary nature apparent to anyone who saw them.

"Is this the opportunity Grandpa spoke of?" Xu Taiping muttered in astonishment, staring at the three pods on the vine.

He reached out, intending to pick the three pods.

"Little one."

Just as Xu Taiping reached for the pods, a melodious voice suddenly emerged from the plant.

Startled, Xu Taiping watched as a milky-white light, like mist, emanated from the stem and leaves of the plant. The light gathered before him, eventually taking the shape of a breathtakingly beautiful celestial maiden.

"Don't be so hasty to pluck them," the maiden said with a sweet smile, looking at the now-dumbstruck Xu Taiping.

"Y-you… Are you a demon? Or… or a celestial being?" Xu Taiping stammered, trying to steady his nerves, though his voice still wavered.

"A celestial being? Perhaps I once was," the maiden mused, her smile tinged with bitterness. "But now, I am merely a remnant soul clinging to life, parasitically bound to this soybean."

She paused before continuing with a faint, self-deprecating smile. "Don't be afraid, little one. I mean you no harm, nor am I capable of harming you. I've appeared only to propose a deal."

"A deal?" Xu Taiping asked, puzzled.

"My name is Chu Lingyue," the maiden began. "Six hundred years ago, I was betrayed by an enemy. My physical body was sealed, and my soul was shattered. Only this fragment of my spirit managed to escape, using this soybean as a vessel. Over countless miles, the bean eventually ended up in your grandfather's hands, and he passed it down to you. Today, you planted it in this sacred soil, allowing it to be reborn—and granting me the chance to manifest once more."

Her tone was sincere, and Xu Taiping listened intently.

"If I hadn't planted it, would you have stayed trapped inside the bean forever?" Xu Taiping asked curiously.

Though mature for his age, Xu Taiping was still a boy of ten or so, and his curiosity outweighed his fear.

"Yes," Chu Lingyue nodded. "And not just trapped—in another year or two, when the energy within the bean is completely depleted, even this fragment of my soul would dissipate into nothingness."

She didn't hide the truth from Xu Taiping.

"So what's the deal you mentioned?" Xu Taiping asked, his curiosity giving way to focus.

"Out of the three pods on this plant, could you take just one and leave the other two for me?" Chu Lingyue asked earnestly, her expression serious.

"According to what you said, only I can harvest these pods, correct?" Xu Taiping blinked his wide eyes at Chu Lingyue.

Her bright eyes widened slightly in surprise before she let out a bitter laugh. "With such a clever grandson, your grandfather, Xu Zhian, must be at peace in the afterlife."

She nodded and confirmed, "That's right. Only the one who planted the seed can harvest its fruit."

"I see," Xu Taiping nodded, understanding. "Since this is a trade, what are you offering in exchange?"

"If you agree to take just one pod, I will share with you some secrets about this bean, as well as provide you with a formula for a medicinal elixir that aids in cultivating bone-deep strength."

Her tone was sincere, and her gaze no longer regarded Xu Taiping as just a child.

Hearing that she had a recipe to aid in cultivation, a glimmer of joy flashed in Xu Taiping's eyes.

"How do I know I can trust you?" he asked cautiously.

"I'll give you the formula first," Chu Lingyue replied openly. "You can test it yourself. If it works, then we can finalize the trade."

Xu Taiping stared unblinkingly into Chu Lingyue's eyes. After a long moment, he nodded. "No need to test it. I'll agree to the trade."

"What? You're not afraid I'll deceive you?" Chu Lingyue seemed surprised by his quick agreement.

"Grandpa said that planting the bean would bring me an opportunity. Now it seems clear to me that you are that opportunity," Xu Taiping answered earnestly.

Chu Lingyue was briefly taken aback before covering her mouth with a laugh. "I didn't expect you to be so articulate. In that respect, you're much better than your grandfather."

"You knew my grandfather well?" Xu Taiping asked, his curiosity piqued.

From her words, he could sense that she must have had interactions with his grandfather in the past.

"I don't have much time to remain outside. Let me first tell you about this bean," Chu Lingyue said, steering the conversation away from the topic.

"Alright," Xu Taiping nodded, letting the previous question drop. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his posture attentive as he prepared to listen.

"The soybean your grandfather gave you is known as the Dìzàng Fruit. It's an extraordinarily mystical artifact. When planted in a sacred mountain, it absorbs the mountain's spiritual energy and uses it as a foundation to nurture unique treasures within its fruit."

Chu Lingyue explained directly, without withholding anything.

"So you're saying that planting it in different sacred mountains will yield different results?" Xu Taiping asked, astonished.

"Exactly," Chu Lingyue nodded approvingly.

"Every sacred mountain contains distinct spiritual energies, just as no two humans are identical. Because of this, the Dìzàng Fruit produces entirely unique treasures depending on the mountain in which it's planted."

She elaborated further.

"A tiny soybean with such extraordinary properties—no wonder Grandpa called this a great opportunity," Xu Taiping said, his face full of amazement.

Initially, he had assumed the bean was merely a type of rare fruit or treasure. He never imagined it was a divine artifact capable of nurturing treasures.

"Now, pick one pod and open it," Chu Lingyue instructed, pointing to the three pods on the plant.

[--------------------------------------------]

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