Random Buff Multiplier: 3

Yuheng Realm, Earth God Sect.

Han Yuan, having just completed an Outer Sect Disciple task, dragged his weary body back to the mountain Small Courtyard tucked away in a secluded corner of Ancient Wood Peak.

The courtyard was not large. A little dog came running over happily, tail wagging as it circled around Han Yuan's feet.

Han Yuan patted its head and smiled faintly. "Wangcai, how are things with the Spirit Field?"

"Woof! Woof!"

The little dog lifted its head and ran to the two mu of Spirit Fields before the courtyard, pinning a Rat-like Small Animal beneath its paw while wagging its tail nonstop.

A rare smile appeared on Han Yuan's face. Wangcai had a trace of Blazing Hound Spirit Beast bloodline and possessed decent intelligence. Though it would be difficult even for it to grow into a Qi Refining First Layer Spirit Beast, it was still an excellent helper for guarding the home and courtyard. Han Yuan had spent an entire Spirit Stone to trade for it from the outer peak of Spirit Beast Peak.

"Wangcai, watch closely. Don't blink!"

Han Yuan called out to Wangcai.

A flicker of delight flashed through Wangcai's fiery-red eyes, and it leaped to the edge of the Spirit Field to wait expectantly.

Han Yuan stood beside the Spirit Field and gathered his emotions. Then he formed a hand seal with his fingers, drawing upon the Rune long condensed within his Dantian, and murmured, "Spirit Rain Technique!"

Within his Dantian, the last fifth of his spiritual power poured out in full, activating the Spirit Rain Technique Rune. Soon, countless wisps of water vapor carrying threads of spiritual energy gathered above the Spirit Field, forming a rain cloud that covered the two mu of fields.

"Fall!"

Fine droplets drifted down over the Spirit Field, mixed with spiritual energy as they seeped into the Rice Grains, nourishing every stalk of Low-grade Yellow Tier Spirit Rice, Blood Spirit Rice.

Meanwhile, Wangcai, standing at the edge, happily chased the excess Spirit Rain around the border of the field, absorbing those negligible traces of spiritual energy.

The Blood Spirit Rice in the Spirit Field had already grown ears of grain. Harvest was not far away.

Han Yuan's face was slightly pale, a sign of spiritual power depletion. His task had already consumed more than half his spiritual power, but he had no choice. The Blood Spirit Rice needed one casting of Spirit Rain Technique each morning and evening, and the evening casting had to be completed before sunset. Otherwise, the Blood Spirit Rice harvest would suffer.

"Harvest will be here in two more days. By then, these two mu of Spirit Fields can yield One Thousand Jin of Blood Spirit Rice. After handing over seventy percent, I'll still have around Three Hundred Jin left. That can be exchanged for 150 Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

Han Yuan was already very satisfied. One hundred and fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones equaled the gains from a year and a half of his Outer Sect tasks. It was a huge sum.

It seemed he could finally buy a bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills.

He had been in the sect for two years and was still at Qi Refining Second Layer. The Spirit Stones he had saved before had all been invested in purchasing the Spirit Rain Technique. On top of that, he had spent heavily on a Simple Concealment Array to hide the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Spirit Field and the scent of the Spirit Rice, preventing large wild beasts from tracking the smell here. He simply had no money left for pills.

As for pills distributed by the sect? That was treatment reserved for Formal Disciples of the inner sect, benefits only elites at Qi Refining Seventh Layer and above could enjoy.

"Wangcai, keep guarding the Spirit Field. I'm going to cultivate!"

"Woof! Woof!" Wangcai agreed without hesitation.

Han Yuan turned and returned to the Small Courtyard. Sitting cross-legged, he absorbed the spiritual energy between heaven and earth and circulated it through his meridians. He could not even bear to use Spirit Stones; every Spirit Stone he saved had to be spent on the cutting edge.

That was also the old Zhonghua Family tradition of thrift and diligent household management.

That was right.

Han Yuan was a bona fide Transmigrator. At first, he had been wildly excited, searching for his Golden Finger, a system daddy, an old grandpa, and the like, yet he found absolutely nothing.

Then he had thought himself a cultivation genius, one who would slay gods in his path and kill Buddhas in his way. But during the Spiritual Root Test, he discovered his aptitude was merely average. He possessed only a Mid-grade Five Elements Spiritual Root, the lowest grade among Mid-grade Spiritual Roots. Though it was somewhat better than most low-grade Spiritual Roots, it was not better by much.

Fortunately, Mid-grade Spiritual Roots still had their advantages. He had directly become an Outer Sect Disciple of the Earth God Sect rather than the even lower-ranked Menial Disciple.

After entering the sect and learning about the Cultivation World, he made a sensible plan. Rather than spending all the Spirit Stones he obtained, he slowly saved them up. He first spent 100 Spirit Stones to exchange for the Spirit Rain Technique and practiced it painstakingly, then spent another 50 Spirit Stones to buy a Concealment Array and began planting Blood Spirit Rice!

Perhaps the farming genes of the Zhonghua Family had kicked in. In his very first year, he had actually succeeded in growing Blood Spirit Rice, leaving quite a few people slack-jawed.

But it had also drawn prying eyes.

At this thought, Han Yuan's brows furrowed slightly. "It's still safe within the sect. They can't possibly risk violating Sect Regulations just to seize my Blood Spirit Rice and Spirit Stones. Still, I can't let down my guard. And there's a high chance they'll try to exclude me or force me to choose a side..."

Where there were people, there was Jianghu. Among the Outer Sect Disciples, factions stood in great numbers and relationships were tangled and complex. Many of those who had entered alongside Han Yuan had already formed or joined small groups.

Most of them had no habit of saving Spirit Stones. They spent them as soon as they got them. They had already made considerable progress through Qi Refining Second Layer, and some outstanding ones had even broken through to Qi Refining Third Layer, not far from Qi Refining Level 4.

But for that very reason, they lacked Spirit Stones badly. Without reaching Qi Refining Level 4, they could not take on many high-reward tasks and often fell into Spirit Stone Anxiety. Once they heard of Han Yuan's bountiful Spirit Field Harvest, they would inevitably set their sights on Han Yuan, who had planted Blood Spirit Rice.

"Once I harvest the Blood Spirit Rice, I'll have Spirit Stones and pills for cultivation. I'll catch up on the progress I've fallen behind on very soon!"

Han Yuan was confident. Cultivation Talent was indeed important, but in the Cultivation World, cultivation resources were equally important. Having Spirit Stones and pills for cultivation or not having them were fundamentally two different matters.

The peaceful days on Ancient Wood Peak continued as usual.

Fourteen days later, Han Yuan requested leave in advance. Early in the morning, he arrived at the Spirit Field. Looking at the sea of blood-red within it and breathing in the rich fragrance of rice, a heartfelt smile appeared on his face.

He did not rush to begin harvesting. Instead, he waited. As the orange-red sun rose, a creaking sound approached from afar.

Han Yuan immediately looked over.

He saw a young man slowly driving a Grain Cart pulled by a Swiftwind Horse toward him.

Han Yuan hurried forward and bowed. "Han Yuan greets Senior Brother. May I ask Senior Brother's honorable name?"

"Hehe, Junior Brother needn't stand on ceremony. My name is Di Qing. Tsk, tsk, Junior Brother Han has some courage. This is the first time I've seen an Outer Sect Disciple begin planting Blood Spirit Rice only two years after entering the sect."

The young man glanced at the blood-red Spirit Rice in the distant field and spoke with half courtesy, half admiration.

Han Yuan gave a bitter smile. "This junior brother knows his own aptitude is dull. I have no choice but to study this bitter work of planting, hoping it might provide a tiny bit of security in the future."

Di Qing stroked his chin, sensed Han Yuan's cultivation level, then looked over his attire. He nodded thoughtfully.

He cleared his throat and said, "Let's get to business. The sect takes seventy percent of the Blood Spirit Rice. You know that, right?"

"This junior brother knows!" Han Yuan immediately nodded.

"Mm. Also, will you exchange your thirty percent directly with the sect, or keep it for your own use? If you exchange it with the sect, the sect will buy it back at two jin per Spirit Stone. This price is absolutely fair. If you exchange it elsewhere, it'll probably be even lower."

Han Yuan had long since made his decision and nodded. "I'm willing to sell it to the sect!"

"Very well. Then I'll begin collecting it!"

Di Qing came to the edge of the Spirit Field and took out a green longsword.

Han Yuan stared without blinking.

Di Qing held the sword and gave a light shout. "Light Spirit Sword Art!"

Spiritual light immediately flared from the green longsword.

Under Han Yuan's astonished gaze, a sword light extended three zhang from the green longsword. Then Di Qing stepped into the Spirit Field and slashed from one end to the other.

Rows of rice ears fell cleanly at their roots. His technique was decisive, his movements crisp, and his speed astonishing. In only a short while, Di Qing had harvested the entire two mu of Spirit Fields.

Then Di Qing used another technique, the "Object Control Technique," and every rice ear fell into the Grain Cart, quickly filling more than half of it.

The efficiency was simply too fast.

Di Qing returned to Han Yuan's side, his face unflushed and his breath steady. He glanced at the Grain Cart, then said, "A total of 1,080 jin. Thirty percent is 324 jin, worth 162 Spirit Stones in total. No problem with that?"

"No problem!" Han Yuan confirmed.

"Mm!"

Di Qing brushed the bag at his waist, and a small pile of Spirit Stones appeared before Han Yuan.

"One hundred and sixty-two in total. Confirm them," Di Qing said.

Han Yuan swept them with his Spiritual Sense and confirmed, "No problem!"

Di Qing smiled lightly, then leaped onto the cart. "In that case, I'll take my leave!"

Han Yuan froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?"

"No need. I must complete my sect task as soon as possible."

Di Qing flicked the reins, and the Swiftwind Horse naturally began to turn.

"This junior brother sees Senior Brother off!"

"Mm, Junior Brother Han, may we meet again if fate allows." Di Qing chuckled and drove the Grain Cart away at speed.

Han Yuan's brows drew together slightly. He vaguely felt there was something beneath Di Qing's words, but his heart was already filled with Spirit Stones, leaving him no mind for anything else.

He carefully took out a palm-sized Storage Pouch and put away all the Spirit Stones. He had spent 10 Spirit Stones on this Storage Pouch. Its capacity was extremely small, only about half a cubic meter, but it was more than enough to hold Spirit Stones.

"It's time to buy pills!"

Han Yuan's heart leaped with joy as he hurried to the Exchange Courtyard.

Not long afterward, he returned with a bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills. One Spirit Gathering Pill cost 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones, while a bottle of twelve cost only 108 Low-grade Spirit Stones!

Come to think of it, small groups did have their advantages. Group purchases like this were somewhat cheaper.

Back in the Small Courtyard, Han Yuan sat cross-legged and began taking a Spirit Gathering Pill for the first time.

The pill entered his stomach, and before Han Yuan could experience the pleasant sensation of its effects, a line of text suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Random Buff Multiplier: 3

Spirit Gathering Pill Effectiveness *300%

Spirit Gathering Pill Toxin -30%

"Hmm?"

Han Yuan froze. Before he could react, the Spirit Gathering Pill that had entered his stomach already erupted with an enormous amount of medicinal power, far beyond his expectations!

He hurriedly focused his mind and began circulating his cultivation technique.