Blossoming Path-Chapter 180: Millet and Martial Fusion

"Behold!"

I extended my hands dramatically, presenting the small clay jar before me. The morning light caught the rim, casting a faint sheen over the golden grains nestled inside.

Lan-Yin and Wang Jun exchanged a glance, unimpressed. Their gazes flicked to the jar, then back to me, waiting for an explanation.

"Is this like that red rice you made before?" Lan-Yin finally asked. "That was pretty tasty, actually. The Verdant Lotus disciples loved it."

"Sort of," I said, barely containing my grin. "But this is different. Last night, after much deliberation, testing, and research, I finally settled on millet as the prime candidate for a hybrid crop."

"Millet?" Wang Jun frowned. "Why millet?"

"Because," I said, tapping the jar, "it grows quickly, it doesn’t require as much attention as rice, and it’s already a staple crop here. But more importantly, I infused it with something special."

"Special?"

I nodded. "Golden Bamboo. I extracted its essence and infused it into these seeds."

That caught their attention. Wang Jun’s posture straightened, and Lan-Yin’s eyes gleamed with intrigue.

"Golden Bamboo is incredibly rich in yang energy," I explained. "So its properties, like rapid growth, resilience, and body-enhancement of those who consume it, would apply to it. In theory, this millet should not only grow much faster than normal, but it should also be resistant to the winter cold. The yang energy should give it just enough warmth to survive the frost."

A beat of silence.

Then, Wang Jun exhaled through his nose. "You’re telling me you made spirit millet?"

I grinned. "Essentially, yes."

Lan-Yin picked up the jar, tilting it slightly to watch the golden grains shift inside. "And you think it’ll work?"

"I won’t know for sure until we plant it," I admitted. "Which is why I’m going to plant it in my greenhouse. But my space is limited, and I need to see how it performs in different conditions." I glanced between them. "Would you two be willing to plant some in your gardens? I also plan to distribute some to other families to test its viability on a larger scale."

Wang Jun shrugged. "I don’t see why not. My mother will probably appreciate it more than I will."

Lan-Yin hummed in thought before nodding. "If it can grow in winter and help people, it’s worth testing."

I clapped my hands together. "Perfect! I knew I could count on you both. Such wisdom, such foresight! Truly, I am a man of remarkable generosity and vision!"

Wang Jun rolled his eyes. "You’re really proud of yourself, aren’t you?"

As we walked outside of the Soaring Swallow to show off my newest invention to the rest of Gentle Wind village, the reaction was immediate.

When word spread that I had cultivated a crop that might grow through winter, the villagers gathered in the square with hopeful curiosity. Their fields lay dormant, their food stores rationed for the cold months ahead, and the idea of a winter harvest—no matter how small—was enough to bring a spark of excitement.

"If this millet works," one of the elders murmured, "we won’t have to rely so much on stored grains."

"Even if it only grows a little," another added, "it’s better than nothing."

Elder Wen, one of the more experienced farmers, stepped forward, eyeing the jar in my hands. He studied the grains with an expert’s eye before finally speaking.

"The idea is sound," he said. "But the fields need time to rest. We just finished harvesting. Even if the grains grow, the soil might not be ready."

I nodded. "I understand. Ideally, we’d rotate the crops to prevent exhausting the land. Give one field a season to recover while another is planted. But with the winter being longer than expected, and no supplies coming in, I figured this would tide us over."

Wang Jun furrowed his brow. "Rotate?"

Ah, right. He wasn't as familiar with crop rotation like I was.

"How do I put this... think of the land like a blacksmith’s forge," I said, switching to terms he’d understand. "If you keep hammering the same piece of metal without letting it rest, it becomes brittle and weak. The land is the same. If we use the same field for every harvest, the soil loses its strength. That’s why farmers let fields rest for a season before planting again."

Understanding dawned on his face. "Ah. So if we keep planting in the same spot, the soil gets weaker?"

"Exactly."

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Elder Wen nodded approvingly. "You’ve done your reading."

"I try," I said with a humble bow. "But I was hoping we could test the millet in a smaller section at least."

Instead of answering, Elder Wen knelt, reaching past the layer of snow and into the soil. When he withdrew his hand, his fingers were coated in dark, rich earth.

He frowned. "Perhaps we won't have to worry about it right now."

"Why?"

"This soil… it shouldn’t be this rich so soon after the last harvest. It should be weaker, drained from months of growing crops. And yet…" He crumbled a bit between his fingers. "It’s full of vitality. Almost like it’s been resting for years."

A realization dawned on me, sending a quiet thrill through my thoughts. The ambient qi in the village. It wasn’t just helping cultivation. It was enhancing the environment too.

"Then we should try planting," I said. "If the soil is this fertile, it might support a winter crop after all."

Elder Wen nodded slowly. "It’s worth a shot. I’ll oversee a test plot. If your millet grows as you claim, we’ll know soon enough."

The village square buzzed with renewed energy as Elder Wen relayed instructions to the other farmers. A test plot would be established near the outskirts, where the soil had been least disturbed, ensuring the experiment wouldn’t interfere with their main fields.

I handed out small pouches of golden millet to each volunteer, careful to portion it out evenly. The seeds gleamed faintly in the light, a subtle sheen of yang energy lingering around them. Even those who knew nothing of alchemy or qi could sense something unusual about them.

As the village began its quiet preparations for the millet experiment, I took a deep breath, letting the crisp winter air fill my lungs.

This was good. This was progress.

But I had one more stop to make.

The newly built courtyard for the sect disciples stood as a testament to the sect artisans craftsmanship and Li Wei's talent. The wooden beams were sturdy, the roofing flawless, and the courtyard itself had been arranged with both practicality and aesthetics in mind. It blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings, a subtle but undeniable improvement to the village.

I paused for a moment, admiring the work before knocking on the door.

Jian Feng answered, looking as tired as I expected. His usual composed demeanor was intact, but there was a heaviness to him that hadn’t been there when he first arrived. Losing three disciples in the forest had left its mark.

“You’re here early,” he said, stepping aside to let me in.

“Sorry for intruding, but I really do need your help.”

He gave a dry chuckle, leading me to the courtyard. “Of course, of course.”

There’s only so much I can learn from fighting Lan-Yin and Wang Jun. I need training partners who can actually push me. Tianyi matched that description. But she couldn’t hold back—her nature as a spirit beast made every fight an all-or-nothing exchange. The most she could compromise was not bisecting me with her lethal moves. But these disciples? They had control. They could lower themselves to my level, force me to refine my techniques without completely overwhelming me.

A few disciples remained in the courtyard. Most were either patrolling or helping out in the village. The ones here were training or meditating.

Jian Feng stepped back, motioning toward the open space. “Three free moves,” he said. “Use them wisely.”

I didn’t waste time.

A controlled pulse of Heavenly Flame Mantra ignited along my palm—not enough to leave lasting damage, but enough to make each strike painful if it landed. I launched forward, striking with precise bursts of flame, each attack carefully measured.

Jian Feng deflected my first two strikes with ease, his movements fluid, effortless. The third strike came closer, a feint leading into a real attack, but he still evaded, twisting just enough to avoid the hit before countering with a swift palm strike to my chest.

I barely managed to deflect it, skidding back a step.

Even while holding back, he was leagues ahead. Our first spar from back then wasn't indicative of our true abilities. Although it was easy to say I was handicapped with the Black Tortoise Tribulation, it was hard to say whether or not I could beat him even without being weighed down. A lifetime of martial training wasn't that easy to overcome, even with the advantage of the Heavenly Interface.

Thinking otherwise was arrogant; the equivalent of me looking down on the Jianghu.

He stepped on my foot, stopping my momentum and drawing me forward as his fist stopped right in front of my face.

I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders. “I yield. I learned well.”

Jian Feng tilted his head. “Satisfied?”

“For now,” I said. “But I want to try something else in the next round.”

He crossed his arms. “What is it?”

I hesitated. “I don’t know if it’ll work if I tell you beforehand.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but after a moment, he nodded. “Alright. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The watching disciples murmured among themselves, curiosity piqued. I reached for my satchel, tightening the strap as I adjusted my stance.

The quest's requirement to learn the Combat Anticipation Array echoed in my mind.

- Use the Refinement Simulation technique on an alchemical reaction mid-combat to create an advantage. (0/1)

I had struggled to make sense of it before. But now, after days of reflection, I understood.

The quest hadn't been asking me of anything new. It was reminding me of something I didn't utilize properly.

If I had used this during the battle with Wei Long, could I have changed the outcome? Could I have tipped the scales before I needed Tian Zhan to rescue us?

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I had made a mistake—one I wouldn’t make again.

The spar began.

This time, I wasn’t just Kai the martial artist, nor Kai the alchemist.

For the first time, I would fight as both.

Jian Feng’s stance remained steady, his expression unreadable as he studied me. The other disciples were silent, their curiosity clear.

What was I planning?

I reached into my satchel and pulled out a small vial, rolling it between my fingers. The liquid inside sloshed slightly, dark and viscous.

Jian Feng’s eyes narrowed. “The Ambrosia of Radiant Dawn,?”

I smiled. His memory was sharp, to remember me using potions to enhance myself against Ping Hai.

“Nope.”

Before he could question me further, I threw the vial down at his feet.

The glass shattered with a soft crack, releasing a dark liquid that quickly pooled on the courtyard floor. Jian Feng glanced at it, wary, but I gave him no time to think.

I lunged.

Flame flickered around my palm, controlled and sharp, striking toward his midsection. Jian Feng sidestepped, his movement swift and effortless. His foot touched the liquid for barely a second before he twisted away.

Not enough time.

I pressed forward, driving him into an exchange of strikes. The familiar wall of experience met me head-on. No matter how fast I moved, no matter how much I refined my techniques, Jian Feng’s responses were effortless, built on years of dedicated training. Even with the Black Tortoise Tribulation weighing me down, the gap between us was undeniable.

But that was fine.

Because I wasn’t trying to beat him head-on.

I reached into my satchel again, retrieving a second vial. I let it slip from my fingers.

This time, as it fell, I activated the Refinement Simulation Technique.

A burst of understanding filled my mind.

The first vial, nightshade flowers and dried wood fungus, blended into an oil that clung to surfaces.

The second vial; ginger essence, volatile and reactive.

By themselves, harmless. But together?

My mind visualized the interaction before it even occurred.

The instant the ginger essence met the first mixture, the conflicting natures clashed. A thick, acrid smoke erupted from the impact point, curling into the air in a dense, choking cloud.

I withdrew just before it occurred.

Jian Feng was a moment too late.

He emerged from the smoke coughing, his stance momentarily unsteady. His eyes were squeezed shut, reflexively protecting themselves from the irritants in the air.

Opportunity.

I surged forward, weaving through the dissipating cloud. My leg swept out, catching his ankle just as he adjusted his footing. He tried to recover, his instincts still razor-sharp, but the brief moment of disorientation made the difference.

I pressed my palm forward, stopping just short of his chest.

Silence.

Jian Feng coughed once more, rubbing his eyes as he blinked rapidly. He exhaled through his nose, clearing out the last traces of the smoke, before glancing at the palm inches from his ribs.

Then he let out a soft chuckle.

“I yield,” he admitted.

I lowered my hand, stepping back as the smoke fully dissipated. The gathered disciples murmured among themselves, processing what had just happened.

“Clever,” Jian Feng continued, rubbing his jaw. “You're using potions to create an advantage mid-battle. Alchemical combat.”

I nodded, breathing heavily. The Refinement Simulation Technique was more than just a tool for the furnace—it could be a tool for battle. I had been limiting myself, seeing alchemy and combat as separate disciplines. But they weren’t. hadn't the final round of the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet been proof?

Whether through pills to enhance my reserves or concoctions to tilt a fight in my favor, alchemy was another weapon in my arsenal.

I just had to wield it properly.

Quest: Beyond the Memory Palace has been completed.

Due to your status as Interface Manipulator, your rewards will be adjusted accordingly.