Sprouting

The cups passed from hand to hand, and everyone was in high spirits.

Ji An set down his wine cup and said:

"Senior Brother Zhang is cultivating at Cliff Mountain now. I wonder how far his cultivation has progressed."

Cliff Mountain was a Grade 1 High-tier Spirit Vein. The spiritual energy within must be rich and dense; cultivators could rapidly raise their cultivation simply by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The path of immortality emphasized Law, Companions, Wealth, and Place. Having a cultivation ground rich in spiritual energy could greatly accelerate one's cultivation progress.

Chu He swallowed the meat in his mouth and said with a smile:

"Senior Brother Zhang reached Qi Condensation Layer 6 after just two months at Cliff Mountain. Now, he's preparing to break through into Late Qi Condensation."

His tone sank as he sighed.

"I only advanced to Qi Condensation Layer 5 not long ago. There's no hope of catching up to Senior Brother in this lifetime.

On the other hand, Senior Sister Zhao has advanced to Qi Condensation Layer 6. That's truly cause for celebration."

Zhao Mengyao smiled and said modestly:

"I merely advanced by luck."

Chu He scratched his head and gave a bitter smile.

"My talent for artifact refining is ordinary. Perhaps when the sect's three-year assessment comes around, I'll have to leave the Artifact Refining Hall and become a combat cultivator who makes a living by hunting demonic beasts.

It's just that I'll have failed my family's upbringing. I don't know how I'll repay them in the future."

Everyone fell silent. It was a cruel subject.

The three-year assessment for new disciples was extremely important, especially for new disciples of the Artifact Refining Hall and Beast Taming Hall. Those who failed would have to leave their halls.

Combat cultivators did not engage in production. They could only earn Contribution Points for cultivation by accepting sect missions or hunting demonic beasts.

In terms of safety, it was far inferior to cultivating peacefully within the sect.

Wei Songnian chuckled. Once he had drawn everyone's attention, he said:

"Junior Brother, I have a few words. Take them for what they're worth."

Chu He cupped his hands.

"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."

"Artifact refining requires talent. If Junior Brother has already confirmed that his talent is lacking, then give it up sooner rather than later. Do not hesitate between two paths like a rat with its head in one hole and tail in another.

There are still two years until the sect assessment. During this time, complete only the tasks assigned to you, then use all your remaining time to improve your cultivation and practice offensive and Defensive Spells.

My family once arranged for me to enter the Artifact Refining Hall as well. Half a year after entering the sect, I accepted the fact that my talent was poor and chose a path more suited to me. Haven't I done quite well for myself now?"

Those words went deeper than was proper for such a shallow acquaintance, but Wei Songnian still spoke them, thinking that one more friend meant one more road.

Artifact Refiners with poor talent needed far more practice to keep pace with everyone else, yet their upper limit was low. There were countless who spent years refining artifacts, only to end up worse off than Spirit Farmers.

Changing tracks might make life easier.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for speaking frankly. I'll think it over carefully after I return."

Chu He nodded slightly. He had recently been considering whether it was worth continuing. After hearing those words today, his wavering heart reached a decision.

Zhao Mengyao changed the subject, and everyone began discussing cultivation.

Although everyone cultivated different techniques, the collision of their thoughts gave every person present something to gain.

This was the "Companions" in Law, Companions, Wealth, and Place. A person's thinking would always be limited in one way or another. By exchanging insights and sparring with fellow cultivators, by listening to their elders' repeated instruction, they might draw inferences from one example to another. Perhaps, in some unguarded instant, a question that had troubled them for days would suddenly become clear.

After the wine, host and guests alike were thoroughly satisfied.

Ji An signaled for Wei Songnian to stay behind, then personally saw the others off.

"Junior Brother, what else is the matter?"

Ji An took out 2 Spirit Stones, counted out another 40 Spirit Crystals, and pushed them toward him.

"Another eight Azure Jade Pills."

As before, Spirit Stones were worthless sitting in his hands. Unless there was some special need, he intended to spend every last Spirit Crystal.

"Junior Brother really doesn't save a single Spirit Stone. What if some urgent matter comes up—"

Wei Songnian laughed, but still briskly took out the pills. Letting money slip through his fingers was not his style.

"If something urgent comes up, I'll borrow some from Senior Brother to tide me over. Senior Brother, don't refuse me then."

"Haha, no problem." Wei Songnian nodded.

After receiving the pills, Ji An rode a Talisman Bird to the General Affairs Hall.

When he arrived at the General Affairs Hall, he happened to find Li Changfeng on duty. He stepped forward and exchanged greetings.

"Senior Brother Li, sorry to trouble you.

I've come to exchange for some Spirit Grain seeds and Talisman Grass seeds, and also the Mid Qi Condensation formula of the Clear Origin Scripture."

Li Changfeng's eyes lit up as he smiled.

"Junior Brother Ji is a rare guest indeed. It's not often that I see you.

Congratulations, Junior Brother. You broke through to Qi Condensation Layer 4 in just one year. Among this batch of Spiritual Farmer Disciples, you can be called outstanding."

That's because you haven't met Senior Brother Liu Yu. He should be nearing the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation by now.

Ji An gave a laugh and handed over his jade token.

"Spirit Grain seeds for four mu of land, and Talisman Grass seeds for one mu."

Li Changfeng accepted the jade token, found the corresponding jade slip and grain seeds, weighed them out, and swiped the token over the spirit plate.

"Spirit Grain seeds cost 16 Contribution Points, Talisman Grass seeds cost 8 Contribution Points, and the Clear Origin Scripture formula costs 50 Contribution Points. Junior Brother has 6 Contribution Points remaining."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ji An accepted the jade slip and grain seeds, then asked:

"Senior Brother, I'm curious. How many Contribution Points would it take to exchange for a formula for a Farming Spell at the perfected level?"

Although spells were divided into five levels—beginner, proficient, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfection—perfection was not the end.

The Dao had no bounds. The realm called perfection merely meant that one's understanding of a spell had entered an entirely new domain.

Li Changfeng shook his head with a laugh.

"The sect has no formulas concerning the perfected level, at least none that I've seen.

If a spell at the major accomplishment level is still within the scope of a spell, then a perfected spell is skill approaching the Dao.

Formulas for the perfected level can only be understood, not taught. Insight cannot be stored inside a Jade Slip for Spells.

However, I have heard that there is a kind of transmission jade slip that can record insights. I don't know whether it's true.

Even if such jade slips exist, they wouldn't record Farming Spells, would they?"

There were no formulas left for him to reference. Ji An felt deeply disappointed.

This meant he could only pour in more spiritual opportunity, spend more time, and consume more spiritual power to make progress.

After planting the Spirit Grain and Talisman Grass, Ji An practiced spells and mixed talisman ink. His days were simple yet fulfilling.

The spiritual energy contained within the vegetables in the small courtyard grew ever richer. One day, this place would be cultivated into a Grade 1 Spirit Field.

He took an Azure Jade Pill every four days, and his cultivation advanced rapidly for two months.

Yet with the Stone Turtle as a tenant that plucked every feather from passing geese, his progress was only barely average among the disciples at Qi Condensation Layer 4.

Three months later.

He harvested the Spirit Grain and Talisman Grass, then made the Talisman Grass into talisman paper.

Ji An went to the General Affairs Hall to pay his field rent and taxes. The tax on Talisman Grass was the same as that on Spirit Grain. He also exchanged for seeds for the next season's planting.

After so many days of hard work, all that ended up in his hands were 200 jin of Yellow Bud Rice, 3 Spirit Stones and 10 Spirit Crystals, along with some talisman paper and talisman ink.

These gains barely gave him enough crystals to buy pills for cultivation. He still needed to save 200 Contribution Points to buy a Jade Slip for Spells; from the look of things, that day was still far away.

He scattered the seeds and cast the Thick Earth Art. The seeds sank into the soil.

Ji An formed the hand seals for the Minor Cloud and Rain Art as usual, and felt as though he had fallen into a wondrous, ethereal state.

Wisps of white mist gathered wildly before him. In the blink of an eye, a mass of clouds large enough to cover the entire Spirit Field, with plenty left over, formed overhead. Spirit Rain came pattering down.

The rain carried a unique aura that made one's thoughts unconsciously sink into its silver-threaded lines, as though falling into a beautiful dream.

When the clouds dispersed and Ji An's mind returned, he saw tender green shoots appearing throughout the Spirit Field he had just planted.

Holy shit, they used to sprout only after one or two days!