Chapter 3: The Miracle Grapes

Zhou Yu found a shovel in the yard that was already half rusted away. First, he cleared away the debris around the grapevines. Then, he started digging holes with the shovel.

Following the explanation from Uncle-Master Wu on the radio, he dug four small holes in certain spots around the two grapevines. He carefully placed four pieces of Jade Stone into the holes.

After putting them in, he adjusted the positions of the jade pieces a bit. According to the radio, although this Spirit Gathering Array was the lowest-level formation in the Cultivation World, it couldn’t be formed just by placing things randomly.

After the adjustments, Zhou Yu stood up, stretched his back, and looked at the Jade Stone in the four holes with a smile on his face. He did not fill the holes with soil because he wanted to see what happened when the formation was completed.

These four pieces of Jade Stone were placed in different positions, forming a circle around the two grapevines. He slowly stood in the very center of the Spirit Gathering Array, a full smile on his face as he said to himself, “Next, it’s time to witness a miracle.”

As he spoke, he took out a keychain, opened a small knife attached to it, and placed his left index finger before his eyes. At this moment, a look of hesitation appeared on his face.

Even though the Spirit Gathering Array was the lowest-level formation from another Immortal World, it still needed to be activated with Spiritual Energy. It wouldn’t just form by being buried in the soil.

However, Zhou Yu was an ordinary person, a very average one who had never even practiced martial arts, let alone possessed the Spiritual Energy that only a Cultivator could have.

But according to Uncle-Master Wu’s explanation, the Low-Grade Spirit Gathering Array was the lowest-level formation in the Cultivation World, and even ordinary people could activate it. Human blood symbolized life and was the essence of a person. So, blood could barely serve as Spiritual Energy, allowing an ordinary person to activate the Spirit Gathering Array.

Zhou Yu looked at the Spirit Gathering Array around him, then at his own finger. He couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh lightly. If only he could obtain a Cultivation technique from the Immortal World someday. Gritting his teeth, he cut his finger with the knife.

A drop of blood fell from his finger. When it touched the ground, it left not a single trace, as if it had disappeared completely. Zhou Yu widened his eyes, looking all around, but there was no unusual phenomenon at all.

Just as he thought the formation had failed and was about to drip another drop of blood, he suddenly felt a wave of comfort throughout his body. He took a deep breath, a look of ease appearing on his face. At the same time, he was startled in his heart; the air here was beginning to change.

With the continuous development of the city, the air was full of various pollutants. Sometimes it even made people feel it was hard to breathe. In the mountains and wilderness, the air was very fresh and refreshing. But now, the air within the Spirit Gathering Array, with just one breath, made his entire body feel comfortable.

This was only the beginning. It couldn’t be done instantly for the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy around to fully gather here.

After pressing down on the wound on his finger, Zhou Yu walked a few steps to the side and looked towards the Jade Stone in the holes. A look of surprise appeared on his face. The patterns carved on this piece of Jade Stone now seemed to have come alive, emitting faint points of light.

Indeed, the Spirit Gathering Array had been formed. “Haha, success!” Zhou Yu laughed excitedly. When he dripped the blood earlier, he was still hesitating, thinking he might not succeed. He didn’t expect to succeed on the first try.

The Spirit Gathering Array gathered Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy in one place. Something from another Immortal World was now shining again in his hands, on Earth.

Next, Zhou Yu picked up the shovel and carefully filled the holes containing the jade pieces with soil. Patting the soil off his hands, a look of anticipation remained on his face. The Spirit Gathering Array was now complete. Later, he would see how effective this formation was and whether it would change the sour and hard grapes.

Standing within the Spirit Gathering Array, he watched the two grapevines with full concentration. At the same time, he also felt the increasingly dense Spiritual Energy around him.

Under the influence of this growing density of Spiritual Energy, Zhou Yu noticed that some of the withered and yellow leaves on the grapevines slowly began to turn green. Some dried-out, lifeless branches also showed signs of sprouting new buds.

This… this was simply turning decay into magic, truly unbelievable. Looking at the changes happening on the grapevines, a look of shock appeared on Zhou Yu’s face.

Yesterday on the radio, Uncle-Master Wu didn’t explain the effects of the Spirit Gathering Array in too much detail. Now, seeing it, the effects of this Spirit Gathering Array were really beyond imagination.

In the Immortal World, what was used with the Spirit Gathering Array were Spirit Grass, which definitely had higher growth requirements than these ordinary grapevines. If that was the case, then the changes happening to the grapevines were also very normal.

After a while longer, Zhou Yu saw that the originally small grapes on the vines began to grow larger. At the same time, they also started to change from opaque to transparent.

After watching carefully for some time, he slowly walked out of the range of the Spirit Gathering Array. He couldn’t help but frown. It was like two different worlds. Inside the Spirit Gathering Array, it was like staying in an air-conditioned room on a hot summer day. Stepping outside was undoubtedly returning to the hot summer.

The Spiritual Energy inside here, besides what was gathered through the formation, also had the enhancement from the Low-Grade Immortal Stones serving as part of the Spirit Gathering Array. Just by the appearance of those few Immortal Stones, one could see they were extraordinary.

He waited until almost noon when his mother called to urge him to come eat. Only then did Zhou Yu reluctantly stand up from the small stool. For almost this entire morning, he had basically been sitting within the Spirit Gathering Array, enjoying the comfort of the dense Spiritual Energy.

In this morning’s time, the two grapevines, which had long been uncared for and looked withered and lacking in vitality, were completely renewed. They became vibrant and full of life. Not a single withered yellow leaf could be found on them. Those dried-out branches also regained their vitality, sprouting fresh green new buds.

As for the most important part of the grapevines, the fruit, it also changed from being small, hard, and sour. Now, the grapes were larger in diameter than a coin. At the same time, they became plump and translucent. Their originally green color also changed to a current half-red, half-green shade, developing towards purple.

Zhou Yu was the sole witness to all of this, witnessing the magical transformation of these grapevines. Looking at the grapes that were not yet fully ripe, he thought for a moment and first picked one. He gently squeezed it with his fingers; it was very elastic.

Then, he peeled the grape skin. It came off very easily, revealing the plump grape fruit inside. He hesitated for a moment, first licking it with his tongue. His expression shook, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared. So sweet.

Zhou Yu directly put the whole grape into his mouth. The fresh fragrance of the grape and the sweetness of its juice made him almost unable to believe it. This was actually the same sour and hard grape from his family’s plot before.

Looking at the bunches of crystal-clear, beautiful grapes above, he couldn’t help but pick a few more. He peeled them and put them into his mouth, a look of enjoyment on his face. These were definitely sweeter and more fragrant than any grapes he had ever eaten.

This was the magic from the Immortal World’s Spirit Gathering Array. A look of excitement appeared on Zhou Yu’s face. He carefully picked two bunches of grapes, planning to take them back for his parents to taste.

After leaving the Old Family House, Zhou Yu headed home. Passing by his aunt’s shop, he thought for a moment and took out a bunch of grapes from his handbag. “Aunt, Uncle, I just picked a bunch of grapes from the old yard. They taste pretty good. Here, try some.”

“You kid, still pulling this trick. Back in the day, Biaozi and you fooled me more than once into eating sour grapes. Haven’t eaten yet, right? Come in, I’ll grill you a fish to eat.” Li Guomin laughed and scolded, then beckoned with his hand.

“Hehe, Uncle, these grapes are different this time. They’ve been improved. You’ll know once you try them. My mom is urging me, so I’m heading home to eat.” Zhou Yu smiled mysteriously, placed the grapes on the counter, waved his hand, and left directly.

“Take it slow on the way.” Li Guomin called out a reminder, then turned back to look at the half-green, half-red grapes on the counter. He couldn’t help but shake his head. These grapes didn’t look ripe yet.

At this moment, at a table outside the shop, a group of several people had finished their meal. One middle-aged man among them called toward the shop, “Boss, we’re a bit thirsty from eating barbecue. Do you have any fresh fruit? We’ll settle everything together later. Hey, bring over the grapes on the counter first to quench our thirst.”

“Alright, no problem. Please wait a moment, gentlemen. But these grapes were brought from home, they might be very sour…” Li Guomin quickly responded, glanced at the grapes on the counter, and reminded them.

“It’s fine. We came here from the big city to experience the original ecology. A bit of sourness is even better. Boss, bring them over.” The middle-aged man waved his hand, speaking without concern.

Li Guomin, having no other choice, had to wash this bunch of grapes with water. He placed them on a plate and brought it over to these people. “If you find them too sour, just leave them aside. No charge.” Regarding the grapes from Zhou Yu’s family’s old yard, he really didn’t have much confidence.

“It’s just a bunch of grapes, not that serious. Are these grapes that sour? Let me try one first.” One person wearing a white shirt couldn’t help but reach out, pick a grape, peel it, and put the whole thing into his mouth. Instantly, his eyes widened, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.