Two months later.
Chen Changming's Spirit Rice had ripened, but his cultivation was still stuck at the first level of Qi Refining. He still hadn't touched the threshold of the second level.
He had stopped deliberately practicing the Cloud Rain Art. It was already more than enough for now, while he had continued to work hard at the Evergreen Art. He had practiced it over three thousand times, with a long way still to go before reaching ten thousand.
Although he hadn't practiced the Spirit Armor Art, an accidental test had filled Chen Changming with delight: supported by his abundant spiritual power, the pale golden layer of spiritual armor had doubled in thickness!
That meant its defensive power had increased.
Chen Changming still practiced the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade every day.
Even after joining the Lingxiao Sect, he was still as lonely as duckweed adrift. He had no one to rely on here; he was merely an insignificant servant disciple.
That sense of crisis kept him on edge.
So the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade, his only offensive martial art from the mortal world, became his hope.
He had originally thought he would need to practice it a hundred thousand times before reaching the blade-arts stage. To his surprise, the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade broke through after only thirty thousand repetitions!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
A layer of silver blade light covered the blade. Chen Changming moved as swiftly as thunder, at an almost unbelievable speed. Every slash brimmed with tremendous force; even a thick slab of refined steel could be shattered with ease.
Even more astonishingly, as he performed the blade art, the huge, flickering phantoms of five Variegated Fierce Tigers appeared and vanished, letting out a series of soul-shaking roars that made the blade art even more domineering!
"Not bad. This blade art should be able to stand up to spells now, at least to some extent."
The youth sheathed his blade and smiled with satisfaction.
The Spirit Armor Art was for defense, while the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade was for attack. If he faced a cultivator and managed to get close, he would become his opponent's nightmare.
"Thirty thousand times, not fifty thousand..."
Chen Changming returned to his room and slowly sat down, recalling what had triggered the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade's breakthrough. A thoughtful look appeared on his face.
It seemed he still couldn't figure out the pattern behind these strange phenomena.
He had originally thought the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade would need a hundred thousand repetitions to break through, but it had done so after only thirty thousand.
The youth closed his eyes and began practicing the Evergreen Art.
Among the newly admitted servant disciples, his cultivation wasn't especially slow. He had visited some of the others recently, and most of them, like him, were still at the first level of Qi Refining.
Chen Changming attributed his breakthrough to the constant enhancement of the Evergreen Art.
Otherwise, with his Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root, he would still be stuck at the first level of Qi Refining.
Half a month later.
The five mu of Spirit Rice had fully ripened. Chen Changming harvested it, then went to find Tian Shouyi.
"What? Your Spirit Rice has ripened?"
In a valley where the outer disciples lived, Tian Shouyi stared at Chen Changming in disbelief. The corner of his mouth twitched before he burst into laughter. "Good lad, your aptitude may be lousy, but you're incredibly lucky. Heaven must have favored you! The spiritual vein underground has actually reached your five mu of farmland!"
Chen Changming smiled without comment.
Next, Tian Shouyi came by and collected four thousand one hundred jin of Spirit Rice.
Watching helplessly as such a huge pile of Spirit Rice went into a tiny cloth pouch, Chen Changming's eyes widened. "Senior Brother, what kind of treasure is that pouch? How can it hold so much Spirit Rice?"
"This is a Storage Bag."
Tian Shouyi's gaze shifted to the large pile of Spirit Rice still in the courtyard. He stared in disbelief. "Good lad, the yield from your five mu of spirit fields is pretty high. It's doubled, hasn't it?"
Chen Changming nodded.
"Heaven really does favor you."
Tian Shouyi grew even more envious. He tossed over a jade token and, turning to leave, said, "This is a Contribution Token. It already has one hundred points on it. If you want to trade your surplus Spirit Rice to the sect, come with me."
Chen Changming took the token and hurried after him.
For his first harvest, he planned to trade the rice directly to the sect. He wasn't familiar with the markets outside, and to be on the safe side, he would rather earn a little less.
Tian Shouyi took out another Storage Bag and packed away all the remaining several thousand jin, then led Chen Changming out of the valley.
Half an hour later.
The two arrived at the sect's Logistics Hall, where they were received by a white-haired old man.
"Elder Luo, Chen Changming is a newly admitted servant disciple. His Spirit Rice has had a bountiful harvest, and he wants to trade the surplus to the sect."
Tian Shouyi spoke with a bow, his manner respectful.
Elder Luo was one of the sect's deacon elders, with a cultivation level at Foundation Establishment.
"Mm, very well."
Elder Luo took the Storage Bag and looked inside. His expression brightened. "That's quite a yield. Has the spiritual vein spread to the foot of the mountain?"
"It must have. Otherwise, with this kid's abilities, how could his Spirit Rice ripen twice a year?"
Tian Shouyi spoke casually, his eyes filled with faint contempt.
"Right, now I remember. This young fellow has a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root."
Elder Luo laughed heartily. As he looked at the youth beside Tian Shouyi, his gaze held even more pity.
For someone with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root, even reaching the second level of Qi Refining in this lifetime would be no small feat.
So he didn't take a disciple who had little value to the sect seriously at all.
Tian Shouyi was no different.
Even as an outer disciple, he didn't think much of such a worthless servant disciple.
Chen Changming's brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed. His expression remained calm, as though he hadn't noticed a thing.
A fire burned inside him.
It was a scorching fire, one that made him want to lash out.
This time, Chen Changming had truly seen the faces of everyone in the Lingxiao Sect. Nobody took him seriously; the contempt in their eyes was utterly undisguised. It hurt him like a knife in the heart.
"Five thousand one hundred jin. That can be exchanged for one hundred and twenty Contribution Points,"
Elder Luo said.
Chen Changming silently handed over his Contribution Token. Elder Luo lightly brushed it with his hand, and the number of points on it changed.
"When you have another good harvest, bring it to Elder Luo. Got that?"
Seeing that Chen Changming seemed downcast, Tian Shouyi glared at him and spoke without the slightest courtesy.
"All right."
Chen Changming deliberately answered meekly.
He wasn't strong enough yet, and he had no one to rely on within the Lingxiao Sect. He should avoid offending the outer disciples if he could.
He would keep his head down and grow stronger first.
The road of cultivation was long. As long as he was given enough time, he would eventually make something of himself.
"Elder Luo, can I exchange for Spirit Gathering Pills here?"
Chen Changming suddenly asked.
"For Spirit Gathering Pills, go to the Pill Pavilion."
Elder Luo glanced at the youth and sneered. "They cost fifty Contribution Points each. How many do you want?"
That expensive?
Chen Changming was stunned. These servant disciples had it far too rough. They worked themselves to the bone for a year to earn one hundred Contribution Points, enough to exchange for only two Spirit Gathering Pills.
No wonder Pi Dong had planted Spirit Rice in the valley for ten years and was still only at the second level of Qi Refining.
"Then... I'll exchange for two."
Chen Changming gave an awkward smile.
After all, the Spirit Rice ripened twice a year. Even after spending one hundred Contribution Points, he would still have one hundred and twenty points left, enough to exchange for the Spirit Finger Flick.
Tian Shouyi glanced at the youth, turned to leave, and waved a hand with a cold laugh. "Chen Changming, I'd advise you to save your Contribution Points. Taking Spirit Gathering Pills with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root like yours is a complete waste!"
Chen Changming: "..."
Damn it, how I spent my points was my business. An outer disciple like you had no right to meddle!
Elder Luo rose and patted Chen Changming on the shoulder, deliberately speaking with solemn concern. "Young man, he's right. Taking Spirit Gathering Pills would be a complete waste. You'd be better off saving your points and exchanging for more talismans to protect yourself in the future!"
"I understand, Elder Luo. Thank you for your advice."
Chen Changming acted humbly, then took his leave. After asking for directions along the way, he eventually made it to the Pill Pavilion.
No matter what, he was going to find out what the Spirit Gathering Pills tasted like!