Germination

Everyone raised their cups in turn, the atmosphere warm and merry.

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 had to be rich and dense; cultivators could rapidly improve their cultivation simply by drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Cultivation emphasized Law, Companions, Wealth, and Place. Having a cultivation ground rich in spiritual energy could greatly accelerate one's advancement.

Chu He swallowed the meat in his mouth and laughed.

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

His tone sank, and he let out a sigh.

"I only advanced to Qi Condensation Layer 5 not long ago. In this lifetime, I have no hope of catching up to Senior Brother.

On the other hand, Senior Sister Zhao has advanced to Qi Condensation Layer 6. Congratulations are in order."

Zhao Mengyao smiled and modestly said,

"I merely advanced by luck."

Chu He scratched his head and gave a bitter smile.

"My talent for artifact refining is average. 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 lives by hunting demon beasts.

It is only that I would have failed my lineage's nurturing. I do not know how I could repay them in the future."

Everyone fell silent. This topic was cruel.

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 take sect missions or hunt demon beasts to earn Contribution Points for their cultivation.

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

Wei Songnian chuckled. Once everyone's attention had turned to him, he said,

"Junior Brother, I have a few words to say. Take them for what they are 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 abandon it as early as possible. Never be like a rat hesitating at the fork of two paths.

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

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

Those words went somewhat too deep for such a shallow acquaintance, but Wei Songnian still spoke them, thinking that every additional friend opened another road.

Artifact Refiners with poor talent needed far more practice to keep pace with everyone else, yet their potential ceiling was low. There were countless who had refined artifacts for years, only to end up worse off than Spirit Farmers.

Changing tracks might make life easier.

"Thank you for your frank words, Senior Brother. 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 the other man's words today, his wavering heart reached a decision.

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

Although they cultivated different techniques, the clash of their thoughts gave everyone present something to gain.

This was the "Companions" in Law, Companions, Wealth, and Place. One person's thinking would always have its limits; by exchanging insights and sparring with fellow cultivators, by listening to their elders' constant instruction, they might draw inferences from one instance to another. Then, in some unguarded moment, a problem that had troubled them for days might suddenly become clear.

After wine and food, both host and guests were thoroughly satisfied.

Ji An motioned for Wei Songnian to remain and personally saw the others off.

"Junior Brother, what else is the matter?"

Ji An took out 2 Spirit Stones, then counted out 40 Spirit Crystals and pushed them over.

"Another eight Azure Jade Pills."

As before, Spirit Stones had no value sitting in his hands. Unless he had some special need, he intended to spend every last Spirit Crystal.

"Junior Brother truly doesn't save even a single Spirit Stone. What if some urgent matter arises—"

Wei Songnian laughed, but still swiftly took out the pills. Refusing money placed before him was not his style.

"If an urgent matter arises, I'll borrow a little from Senior Brother to tide me over. Senior Brother, do not turn me down then."

"Haha, no problem." Wei Songnian nodded.

After exchanging for the pills, Ji An rode a Talisman Bird toward the General Affairs Hall.

Upon reaching the General Affairs Hall, he happened to find Li Changfeng on duty. He stepped forward and greeted him.

"Senior Brother Li, sorry to disturb you.

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

Li Changfeng's eyes brightened, and he smiled.

"Junior Brother Ji is a rare guest. It is hard to see you even once.

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

You simply haven't met Senior Brother Liu Yu. He should be nearing the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation already.

Ji An laughed vaguely, handed over his jade token, and said,

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

Li Changfeng took the jade token, found the corresponding jade slip and grain seeds, weighed them out, and swiped the token across 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 still has 6 Contribution Points available."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

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

"Senior Brother, I am very curious. How many Contribution Points would it take to exchange for a formula of a perfection-level Farming Spell?"

Although spells were divided into five levels—Beginner, Proficient, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and perfection—perfection was not the end.

The Dao had no horizon. The perfection realm was merely a designation indicating that one's understanding of a spell had entered an entirely new realm.

Li Changfeng shook his head with a laugh.

"The sect has no formulas for perfection-level spells, at least none that I have seen.

If Great Accomplishment-level formulas still fell within the scope of spells, then perfection-level spells were skill approaching the Dao.

Perfection-level formulas could only be grasped through intuition, not passed down in words. Insight could not be stored inside a jade slip.

However, I have heard of a kind of inheritance jade slip that can record insight. I do not know whether it is real.

Even if such a jade slip existed, it would not record Farming Spells, would it?"

There was no formula left for him to use as a reference. Ji An felt rather disappointed.

This meant he could only pour in more Spiritual Inspiration, spend more time, and expend 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 within the vegetables in the small courtyard grew ever richer. One day, this place would be cultivated into a First-tier Spiritual Field.

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

However, with the Stone Turtle as a tenant that plucked every feather from every passing goose, his advancement rate could only barely be called average among the Qi Condensation Layer 4 disciples.

Three months later.

He harvested the Spirit Grain and Talisman Grass, turning 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, and he exchanged for the seeds needed for the next season.

After all those days of hard work, all that ended up in his hands was 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 purchase a Jade Slip for Spells; at this rate, that day seemed distant beyond reach.

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, but he felt as though he had entered a wondrous, ethereal state.

Wisps of white mist gathered frantically before him. In the blink of an eye, a mass of cloud and mist large enough to blanket the entire Spirit Field, with some left over, formed overhead, and Spirit Rain came pouring down.

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

When the clouds and mist dispersed, Ji An's mind returned to itself. He saw tender green shoots emerging in patches across the Spirit Field he had just planted.

What the hell? Before, they always took one or two days to sprout!