The max-level trait [Blessing] of Nature's Gift enhanced martial talent for father, while strengthening constitution for mother. For elder brother Li Pingfu, it boosted martial comprehension, and for second brother Li Ping'an, it improved memory for studying.
Thanks to the passive effect [Good Fortune], Nature's Gift's blessings would develop in the direction Li Pingcan desired, with destiny naturally aligning in mysterious ways.
Li Pingcan took out a pine nut candy. "Yuan Yuan, be good. Want some candy?"
The effects of Nature's Gift were stronger when the recipient was more relaxed. What child doesn't love candy?
Xie Yuan's eyes lit up as she fidgeted with her fingers, stammering shyly, "C-can I really?"
"Of course." Li Pingcan placed the candy in Yuan Yuan's palm. Watching her bloom into smiles as she happily ate the treat, he silently prayed: "Great Nature God, please bestow heavenly blessings. May my sister Xie Yuan grow up safe and sound, free from illness and disaster, protected by heaven and earth."
As the words faded, faint glowing light gathered above Xie Yuan's head and slowly infused into her body, flowing through her limbs.
Xie Yuan suddenly felt her body lighten, the exhaustion from long journeys and mental tension completely dissipating. After finishing the candy, waves of drowsiness hit. Rubbing her eyes, her little head leaned against Li Pingcan's shoulder as she mumbled sleepily, "Mmm... Yuan Yuan sleepy..."
Xie Yuan became part of the Li family, gradually growing more lively and cheerful. Li Pingcan noticed Nature's Gift seemed more effective on her than on his elder brothers from the collateral line, almost matching the effects on his direct-lineage parents.
Yuan Yuan couldn't possibly be father's secret illegitimate child, leaving only one possibility.
"Could it be Yuan Yuan has innate high natural affinity?"
He had vague suspicions. Whether his guess was correct, he could ask Grandpa Peach Tree later.
"Wife, I plan to add three more rooms."
Li Rongzhou discussed with Lady Qin. Xie Yuan was still young enough to share a bed with Lady Qin, but it wouldn't be proper for long. Their finances allowed for better arrangements - one large room and two smaller ones to give the children more comfortable living space.
Lady Qin agreed, "Children do need separate spaces when they grow up."
Three thatched cottages would only cost three taels of silver, while brick houses would be twice as expensive. With three years of favorable weather, their eight-acre orchard earned sixty-four taels annually. After accounting for martial training, studies, taxes and miscellaneous expenses, yearly costs reached about forty taels.
More income meant more expenses. But combined with mushroom profits and salamander carp sales, they'd saved over a hundred taels in three years - quite the financial achievement.
The brick house craftsmen did excellent work, completing three bright new rooms in just over ten days. One for Yuan Yuan, one for Li Ping'an, and one for Li Pingcan.
Li Pingfu continued living in the old thatched cottage. "My skin's thick and rough - anywhere's fine. Second brother's particular, while little brother and sister are young - they deserve better quarters."
Lady Qin's heart ached hearing this. As a child, her eldest had been mischievous and troublesome, but now his excessive thoughtfulness was heartbreaking.
Such maturity came at a price. Privately, she told her husband they'd renovate again when Pingfu married, building nice brick houses for all without favoritism.
After six firecrackers' "bang-pops" for celebration and warding off evil spirits, the new house was ready for occupancy.
Li Pingcan was delighted. Not that he disliked sharing rooms, but elder brother's martial training made his feet reek like pickled rotten fish - one whiff could knock you out, requiring constant use of [Dance of the Wind] for deodorizing. Second brother, the ultimate grinder, burned midnight oil constantly - only years of martial arts preventing nearsightedness.
Now with private space, practicing skills became easier. Feeding the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede fresh chicken blood proved challenging in summer heat - the centipede ate less, producing fewer venom drops. Still, under [Blessing], they harvested three drops monthly, far exceeding Li Dahu's era, sufficient for family martial training.
After feeding, the centipede obediently returned to its clay pot. After one contracted year, affinity reached 100%, unlocking a second contract slot. Li Pingcan's new contract was with a colonial insect species.
In the peach grove, father and elder brother busied with autumn harvest as peaches tumbled down. Li Pingcan whispered, "Summon the ant colony."
Dense swarms of black ants emerged from the ground, enough to make scalps crawl. Upon closer look, these ants had robust builds, slender limbs, and antennae constantly collecting airborne information.
This ant species, discovered accidentally by Li Pingcan, were thumbnail-sized with exceptional strength, speed and aggression, resembling army ants. Who'd have thought the original palm-sized colony would grow to such terrifying numbers in two years?
Li Pingcan contracted the queen ant for practical reasons - as decomposers, ants conveniently "disposed of evidence." Moreover, these black ants could construct transport conveyor belts or even living bridges across gaps at his will. After [Blessing], their strength and speed peaked.
As for why not contract another blood qi venomous insect like the centipede... In his past life, was it because he didn't want to attend Tsinghua or Peking University?
Under Li Pingcan's command, the black ant army worked diligently, secretly transporting fragile peaches to baskets when unobserved, saving significant labor.
After autumn harvest profits, Li Rongzhou purchased four more acres for peach cultivation. Initial planting proved arduous, but maintenance was manageable - Li Rongzhou and Li Pingfu could handle twelve acres together.
Li Pingcan never hesitated to bless the peach grove, reducing pests and diseases.
[Your father Li Rongzhou successfully planted a peach tree. Druid experience +1]
Notifications kept popping up. The four acres ultimately yielded over 500 experience points.
[LV3 Druid (572/1000)]
[LV9 Spore Growth [Delicious][Spore]]
[LV9 Spore Sense [Connection][Spore]]
[LV9 Glowshroom [Mark][Spore]]
[LV9 Animal Affinity [Passive][Beast King]]
[LV9 Animal Speech [Passive][Beast King]]
[LV9 Moonlight Microbeams [Passive][Astrology]]
[LV9 Dance of the Wind [Rotation][Element]]
[LV9 Elemental Amplification [Double][Element]]
[LV9 Earth Pulse Sense [Passive][Earth]]
[LV9 Thorn Whip [Proliferation][Earth]]
[LV9 Nature's Gift [Good Fortune][Blessing]]
[LV7 Insect Proliferation (73/799) [Insect Tribe]]
[LV1 Insect Tribe Contract (Ant Colony 89/100) [Insect Tribe]]
[LV1 Enchanted Stone (65/199) [Transformation]]
[LV1 Earth Molding (25/199) [Element]]
[LV0 Restoration (88/99) [Transformation]]
Enchanted Stone, Earth Molding and Restoration were new skills obtained after leveling up. Li Pingcan had tested Enchanted Stone on village children - currently with "Sting," "Frost" and "Toxin" effects.
Restoration could repair one damaged or cracked spot on a touched object, seamlessly fixing breaks under ten inches in any dimension.
Earth Molding could manipulate specified soil or rock on the surface.
Looking at Earth Molding, Enchanted Stone and Thorn Whip, Li Pingcan conceived a bold idea - a combined skill: Thorn Whip Projectile Enchanted Stone!