A Letter from Home

"These are the two cheapest spirit fields available right now, with the lowest lease prices."

Steward Wang stood on the field ridge beside Li Muyang, beaming as he pointed to the two plots before them.

"Though they're a bit far from the area below, and getting in and out is a hassle, there's an empty tile-roofed house here. The previous spirit farmer built it. The only downside is that it's been vacant for a while, so you'll have to spend some time cleaning it up."

"You could move your home here and live here from now on. It's peaceful, and nobody will bother you—perfect for cultivators like us."

Fatty Wang looked warm and affable, not at all like the other stewards, who were overbearing and arrogant.

Still smiling, he pointed toward the tile-roofed house in the distance. "That's the one."

Li Muyang followed the direction of his finger. He saw the run-down house with weeds covering its roof, then looked at the cheerful Fatty Wang beside him. He felt so conflicted he hardly knew what to say.

"Um... Steward Wang, aren't there any other spirit fields?"

I did want a cheap, secluded spirit field, but this place was way too remote!

The two plots sat halfway up the mountain. From here, he could look down on the town-like cluster of buildings belonging to the Demon Refining Sect's outer sect. Behind him stretched a lush, dense primeval forest, where demonic beasts were said to roam.

Li Muyang had wanted a secluded, cheaper spirit field, but this place went beyond secluded.

This was the middle of nowhere.

There were no other spirit fields nearby, just these two lonely plots.

According to Guan Xiaoshun, the old spirit farmer, when spirit fields were crisscrossed by paths and their ridges connected, the spiritual energy could nourish one another, helping the spirit rice grow better.

So Guan Xiaoshun had advised Li Muyang to choose an empty field surrounded by other spirit fields.

With two isolated plots like these, it would take Li Muyang far more effort and spiritual energy to keep them in good shape on his own.

Li Muyang felt helpless.

The smiling, plump Steward Wang sighed too. "There's nothing I can do about it. I've shown you all the few spirit fields that are still available, but you can't afford the lease deposits. These are the only ones within your budget."

"Why not write home and ask your family to send you some money?"

Steward Wang made the suggestion considerately. "I'll reserve two of the other empty fields for you. Once your family's money arrives, I'll lease them to you."

"The sect has rules. If you don't have enough for the lease deposit, I can't rent the fields to you. There's nothing I can do."

Fatty Wang's manner was exceptionally pleasant. He was even willing to help Li Muyang as much as he could.

In terms of status, he was far above a menial disciple like Li Muyang.

Yet he still took the time to explain everything patiently.

After all, the young man before him had joined the sect only two months ago and had quietly cultivated all the way to the third level of the Qi Refining Realm.

That kind of talent was considered excellent among the outer disciples. In a few years, he might become a steward like Wang—or perhaps even enter the inner sect.

So Fatty Wang was being especially patient.

Li Muyang fell silent at the suggestion.

Family...

He did have family in this world.

But the original owner had fallen out badly with them. Li Muyang felt no attachment to these strangers and had no desire to get involved with them.

After hesitating, Li Muyang sighed. "Forget it. I'll rent these two fields for now. Once I've earned some money next year, I'll rent better ones."

After getting the Endless Spirit Rice Jar, he had advanced to the third level of the Qi Refining Realm in less than a week.

Then he had easily learned the Cloud and Rain Art, making it possible for him to lease a spirit field from the sect and become a spirit farmer.

But as far as Li Muyang was concerned, becoming a spirit farmer was only a temporary way to avoid the hard labor of tending sheep.

With the Endless Spirit Rice Jar, he had a good chance of reaching the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm within a few months. There was no way he would spend his life farming for the Demon Refining Sect.

Once he successfully established his foundation and became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the tiny outer sect wouldn't be able to hold him.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, whether he left the Demon Refining Sect and regained his freedom or joined its inner sect for a more privileged status, neither would be a problem for Li Muyang.

Even if he failed to establish his foundation, he could simply build up his strength and try again next time.

So he would make do with these two fields. If they produced a poor harvest, so be it.

Once his cultivation was higher and he could protect himself, he could always sneak out some top-grade spirit rice to sell. He would never be short of money.

Having thought it through, Li Muyang finally took out his meager savings, signed the lease contract with the affable Steward Wang, and got the rights to farm the two empty plots.

But after Steward Wang left, Li Muyang stood on the weed-choked ridge and looked at the waist-high weeds in the fields. He couldn't help sighing.

"Forget farming. Just clearing all these weeds will take days..."

But whatever. It wasn't as though he was short on time.

Li Muyang didn't waste a moment. He went straight down the mountain, borrowed a wheelbarrow, and hauled over every jar and bottle from his thatched hut, along with two sets of bedding and several changes of clothes. He really did intend to settle down here for the long term.

As for the game, he hadn't logged in for nearly twenty-four hours.

He had been stuck at the same point for so long that he'd temporarily lost interest.

Over the past few days, Li Muyang had died hundreds of times in the game. He had explored the entire village, talked to every villager, and gathered every bit of instance information he could find.

Yet he still hadn't triggered the storyline about assassinating the culprit, and he kept dying for no apparent reason.

He had been stuck for seven days straight. He had even advanced to the third level of the Qi Refining Realm and learned the Cloud and Rain Art, but he still hadn't found a way to break through the deadlock.

At last, he truly understood the weight of the words "no time limit" in that [unlimited-time cultivation game].

—If this game instance really had a time limit, he might as well give up.

Standing on the ridge and looking at the waist-high weeds, Li Muyang rolled up his sleeves and plunged into them.

The game had him stuck, so he decided to focus his energy on real life for now. He'd clean up the spirit fields and his new house before slowly getting back to the game.

That was just how it went when you got stuck in a game. You could keep playing and keep getting nowhere. But if you took a couple of days off and logged back in, inspiration might suddenly strike and show you a way through.

And so, Li Muyang began his life as a spirit farmer, cleaning the new house and clearing weeds from the abandoned spirit fields.

His life settled into a new rhythm.

Then, on the third day after he moved into the new house, a letter from his family outside the sect disrupted his routine.

His family, with whom the original owner had fallen out badly, had actually written to him of their own accord.

And the sender was his adopted younger sister, a girl the original owner hadn't much cared for.

As soon as Li Muyang read the first line, the girl's grinning, pretty face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

"Big Brother, that Miss Ning you've been so set on marrying—the one you even fell out with Father and Mother over—has joined the Demon Refining Sect too!"

"Oh, and I've joined the Demon Refining Sect as well. I'll report in a few days."

"This time, I'll help you. Together, we'll win over Miss Ning and get her to agree to marry you!"

After reading the letter, Li Muyang's mouth twitched. He suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Miss Ning...

In the original owner's memories, she was a beauty from Jiuyuan City. He had been completely smitten with her and sworn he would marry her, even going so far as to turn against his parents over it.

But from Li Muyang's perspective, the relationship between Miss Ning and the original owner was just a story about a green-tea beauty keeping a string of men on the hook and a hopeless simp...

Miss Ning...

Li Muyang rubbed his brow, speechless. "I'm not interested in the slightest!"

Who wanted to marry a green-tea beauty who loved keeping men on the hook?

Not me!