Cultivation Begins with Farming

Three years later.

In the courtyard, Lu Xuanji circulated the Li Fire Yi Wood Art. His body was like a magnetic field, drawing in the spiritual energy around him. Strands of spiritual energy flowed through his acupoints and into his flesh, circulating endlessly within them. Part nourished his body and strengthened his physique.

Another portion of the spiritual energy was refined, tempering his meridians before entering his dantian and merging into the vortex of qi.

Forming the first vortex of qi in the dantian meant Qi Refining First Layer.

Nine vortices of qi meant Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

A moment later, Lu Xuanji withdrew his aura, and the presence around him gradually calmed.

He opened his eyes and got down from the bed.

Perhaps due to the tempering of spiritual energy, his body had matured early. Though only nine years old, he was already one meter sixty tall, like a little adult.

Lu Xuanji tested himself and found that he was remarkably strong, able to lift three hundred jin with ease.

With such strength in his previous life, he would already have been a weightlifting champion. Yet in the Cultivation World, he was merely a newbie.

"There is still some distance to Qi Refining Second Layer... The three years of compulsory education have already ended. I wonder whether I can enter the Danyang Sect."

A trace of doubt flashed through Lu Xuanji's mind.

The Danyang Sect was a major sect in Qing Province, with three Golden Core Ancestors stationed there.

Its foundations ran deep, far beyond what the mere Lu Clan could compare to.

Most cultivators in Qing Province wished to enter the Danyang Sect as disciples. Even Menial Disciples received top-tier treatment and benefits.

To join the Danyang Sect, a Triple Spirit Root was the minimum requirement, and one also needed a quota.

Qingfeng Commandery only had ten quotas each year.

Just then, his mother, Ye Xinlan, came over and said regretfully, "Xuanji, your quota to enter the Danyang Sect is gone."

"Gone? What happened?"

Lu Xuanji asked anxiously.

"Qingfeng Commandery is in a remote region, and in previous years the quotas were never filled. But this year there are quite a few geniuses, and you did not make the cut." Ye Xinlan spoke with regret for her son.

"Mother, even if I do not go to the Danyang Sect, staying at home is not bad."

Lu Xuanji comforted his mother. "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. The Danyang Sect is vast and powerful. With my Triple Spirit Root aptitude, even if I joined the Danyang Sect, I could at most become an Outer Sect Disciple and might not receive much attention. But in the Lu Clan, Triple Spirit Roots are rare. Everyone has great hopes for me and expects me to achieve Foundation Establishment, bring glory to our ancestors, and receive much greater attention."

"Silly child, how can the Lu Clan compare with the Danyang Sect? Even the treatment of a Menial Disciple is better than that of some elite disciples in our Lineage." Ye Xinlan felt sorry for her son.

Who would be willing to remain in a Lineage if they could join a great sect?

The resources of a Lineage were ultimately inferior to those of the Danyang Sect.

Just the channels for acquiring Foundation Establishment Pills were far more numerous than those of the Lu Clan.

Not joining the Danyang Sect left Lu Xuanji somewhat disappointed.

After his disappointment, however, he calmed down again.

Staying in the Lineage was actually not bad either.

The Lineage had more than fifteen hundred cultivators, but over twelve hundred possessed Five Spirit Roots, more than two hundred possessed Quadruple Spirit Roots, and only over fifty were Triple Spirit Root cultivators. As for Dual Spirit Roots, there were none at all.

As a Triple Spirit Root cultivator, Lu Xuanji counted among those with the best aptitude and would surely receive the Lineage's focused cultivation. That was a blessing amid misfortune.

The next day, in the main hall, Lu Xuanji met the Lineage's Patriarch, the Purple Mansion Ancestor.

"Pay respects to Ancestor."

Lu Xuanji said respectfully.

The Purple Mansion Ancestor smiled. "Not bad, not bad. You are quite good. Your spirit roots possess the wood and fire attributes, making you suited to become an Alchemist. An Alchemist must understand the properties and attributes of all kinds of medicinal ingredients. Take this book on alchemy and read through it often."

"Thank you, Ancestor."

Lu Xuanji accepted the book on alchemy and stood respectfully.

"Cultivation is not easy. You must focus on cultivation and enter Late Qi Refining as soon as possible... Only after reaching Late Qi Refining will you be able to go outside and carry out various tasks. As for now, go to the foot of Ziyang Mountain and farm. This is your assigned area."

"Your task is to cultivate one hundred mu of Spirit Fields. Your Cave Mansion is Number Thirty-Eight."

The Purple Mansion Ancestor made the arrangements.

"Thank you, Ancestor."

Taking the key, Lu Xuanji withdrew respectfully.

With the key in hand, he arrived at Cave Mansion Number Thirty-Eight.

The Cave Mansion was very small, less than ten square meters, yet it was a place for cultivation.

There was a Spirit Aperture here, from which dense spiritual energy leaked out. Cultivating near the Spirit Aperture would greatly increase one's cultivation speed.

A Cave Mansion was not merely a place to live; it was also a right to a share of spiritual energy.

He left and descended Ziyang Mountain.

Within a hundred li around Ziyang Mountain, all manner of Spirit Rice and spiritual herbs were planted.

Some people fertilized, some summoned spiritual rain, some hoed weeds, and some cleared pests. The crops in the Spirit Fields grew vigorously.

At a certain spot, Lu Xuanji looked over the surrounding Spirit Fields, their plots laid out in neat order.

He picked up a hoe and began tilling the land, clearing away weeds before sowing Spirit Rice in the fields. After planting the Spirit Rice, he formed a hand seal and cast the Minor Spirit Rain Technique. The spiritual energy in the surroundings changed from gas into liquid, and rain began to pour down with a patter.

The spiritual rain watered the Spirit Fields and moistened the earth.

He controlled the rainfall carefully. The spiritual rain could be neither too much nor too little.

And so, he became a farmer and began his life of working the land.

False cultivation: Sword Travel, flying swords slaying demons and banishing devils, fasting and carefree wandering, ascension and eternal life.

True cultivation: striving for three meals a day, struggling to earn money—either farming the fields as a peasant, working the mines as a miner, or serving as a shop assistant, living a miserable 996 or 997 life.

Cultivation prized resources above all else. Where did resources come from? From growing spiritual herbs and Spirit Rice, or from operating businesses.

The Spirit Rice grown by the Lu Clan was primarily White Yang Rice.

White Yang Rice was food for cultivators. It could strengthen a cultivator's qi and blood and nourish the body.

White Yang Rice was also the primary ingredient for refining White Yang Pills.

White Yang Pills were supplementary pills for Qi Refining cultivators and sold for a high price on the market.

Of the spiritual herbs grown in the Lineage's medicinal garden, some were given to the Lineage's Alchemists to refine into pills, while others were taken to the market and sold for money.

Growing Spirit Rice, spiritual herbs, and the like accounted for more than sixty percent of the Lineage's income.

If they did not farm and instead relied on fighting and plundering, how long could they keep that up?

And even if they fought and killed, whom could they defeat?

The nearby cultivation lineages all paid tribute to the Danyang Sect and were not allowed to casually start wars.

Wars between cultivators and wars between lineages were best avoided whenever possible.

Wasn't it better to farm peacefully?

If they lost, their entire family might be wiped out.

If they won, they would still have to pay compensation to the bereaved.

Of course, they could refuse to pay compensation—but who would risk their lives for them next time?

Refuse compensation, and someone might stab them in the back at a critical moment. That would truly be a grand delight.

The Lu Clan's goal was to farm steadily, then sell White Yang Pills, White Yang Rice, and other spiritual herbs and pills, accumulate Spirit Stones, and cultivate a second Purple Mansion Ancestor. Failing that, they would at least cultivate several more Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

As for war, it was best not to fight.