Cultivating Minor Spells—Anyone with Hands Can Do It

"Our first step is to carve out a cave dwelling, then start cultivating the spirit medicines in these herb gardens. No need to increase their age."

"Second, we accumulate Sect Contributions. If we hand over enough spirit medicine, we'll earn far more contributions than ordinary disciples."

"Third, once we have enough contributions, we'll trade for a flying sword. I noticed a very secluded spot behind the waterfall. We can fly there later and carve out a cave dwelling to cultivate spirit medicine."

"Fourth, we'll ask around the sect about Foundation Establishment Pills. The Nandou Mountain Secret Realm is far too dangerous. There's no need to risk our lives."

Chen Xun laid it out methodically and seriously. Black Bull listened with bright eyes, and his admiration for Chen Xun deepened even further.

"Most importantly, isn't there a Sect Tournament every year? We can go watch the excitement!"

"Moo!!"

Laughter rang out beside the waterfall. Chen Xun stripped off his clothes, revealing sixteen blocks of abs, then plunged headfirst into the water. So comfortable!

The sky stretched clear for thousands of miles today, with a gentle breeze brushing past. Beneath the skyvault, Chen Xun and Black Bull began working tirelessly.

Thunderous crashes echoed continuously through Medicine Valley. Holding the Mountain-Splitting Axe, Chen Xun hacked wildly at the cliffside, sending shards of stone flying and clouds of dust billowing.

Black Bull brought buckets out from the thatched hut and kept fetching water from the waterfall. He also had a spell to cultivate, called the Water Spirit Art.

This art specifically infused water with spiritual energy. It was a rather useless spell, meant for irrigating spirit fields, yet it actually had three levels. Black Bull was overjoyed—he could learn something new again.

On the long Longevity Path, nothing exhilarated him more than learning something new. Both he and Chen Xun thought so, their hearts brimming with passion for the future.

"Old Bull, slow down when you fetch water. Don't drown yourself—I'm not saving you, hahaha."

Chen Xun's face was covered in lime dust, even his hair coated in it. He turned to look at Black Bull, remembering the days when they had chiseled ice.

"Moo!!"

Black Bull was furious. He would never slip and fall into the water. Last time had only been an accident.

What they did not know was that the Water Spirit Art was actually quite difficult to cultivate. Most disciples assigned to manage herb gardens had only reached the first level.

After the conclusions drawn over countless generations, this minor spell truly had to be polished by time. There were no shortcuts.

No one knew which great immortal had written it, but every sect used the Water Spirit Art, because they could not find anything better.

In this Cultivation World where strength reigned supreme, one would have to be full to the point of idleness to waste time cultivating such an art. This was also one major reason why there were so few herb farmers.

Yet the Ten Great Immortal Sects truly did have such extraordinary people. They were all treasured darlings of their sects and never appeared before the public.

"Cleave Mount Hua!"

Chen Xun bared his teeth and grimaced as he delivered another savage chop at the mountain wall. "Fuck..."

"Moo?!" Black Bull did not even care about the water bucket. It toppled to the ground as he hurried toward Chen Xun.

"It's this hard?!"

Chen Xun's eyes widened, his brows covered in lime dust. "Old Bull, the Mountain-Splitting Axe is chipped."

"Moo?" Disbelief filled Black Bull's eyes. The stone wall in the Ningyun Mountain Range had been split open by a single strike of Chen Xun's Mountain-Splitting Axe.

He had chopped here for so long that he had actually broken the Mountain-Splitting Axe.

"Sigh, it's fine. I'll grind it down again. Ours is just ordinary iron."

Chen Xun sighed, looking painfully at his Mountain-Splitting Axe. This had been his proud masterpiece from the blacksmith's shop. "Maybe the rocks in this mountain range are harder."

"Moo~"

"Go on, Old Bull. Don't mind me." Chen Xun sat on the ground, found a stone, and began sharpening the axe.

Black Bull nodded, then ran off to fetch water again.

Two days later, Chen Xun finally finished carving out the cave dwelling. He moved all the pots, bowls, and utensils inside, then began chopping wood to make all sorts of furnishings.

Chen Xun was remarkably skilled with his hands. Wooden tables, wooden chairs—he finished them in no time at all.

"Old Bull, put everything in place first. This will be our home from now on."

Chen Xun smiled with emotion as he took out the wood carvings and various other items, placing them throughout the dwelling.

"Moo~" Black Bull dragged things around everywhere as well.

"Dust-Cleansing Technique!"

Chen Xun formed a hand seal. A breeze rose, and his entire body became fresh and clean, gleaming with a slick shine. "Hahaha..."

"Moo?" Black Bull was startled. This was even cleaner than taking a bath.

"Old Bull, don't underestimate these minor spells."

Chen Xun clicked his tongue in wonder. He discovered that every minor spell saved them time, even things like Grain-Avoidance Pills.

"Moo~~" Black Bull grinned and sat cross-legged to cultivate the Water Spirit Art.

The night was like water, and stars dotted the vault of heaven. Chen Xun quietly stepped out of the cave dwelling and looked up at the starry sky alone.

"What kind of world is this world of cultivation, really?"

A faint smile appeared on Chen Xun's face, his eyes hazy. Back on the flying boat, he had heard Ji Kun bragging. Ji Kun said he had read in ancient texts that unimaginably distant places possessed true cultivation civilizations, while this place was merely a backward land.

Like primitive people... Chen Xun snorted disdainfully, not believing a word of it. Was this not the most orthodox cultivation already?

"Cultivation civilization..."

Chen Xun murmured softly. Leaning against the outside of the cave dwelling, he gradually fell asleep. "Old Bull and I will definitely go there..."

The next day, dawn broke and the blazing sun rose. Chen Xun cast aside all stray thoughts and began bustling about with Black Bull.

"Old Bull, let's go hunt."

"Moo!"

With an axe resting on his shoulder, Chen Xun led Black Bull into the mountains. There were countless wild beasts in the mountain range, and the sect would not concern itself with them.

Time flowed on like a clear spring spilling forth, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed.

Spirit medicines grew in profusion throughout Medicine Valley. Medicinal fragrance filled every corner, and their growth was exceedingly gratifying. Chen Xun and Black Bull sat cross-legged among them.

Ripples of water spread around them, then transformed into vivid water spheres, each filled with spiritual energy and mana.

Pop! Pop!

The water spheres burst one after another in midair. Chen Xun and Black Bull slowly opened their eyes. "The second level of the Water Spirit Art—success!"

"It doesn't seem difficult at all."

Chen Xun frowned slightly, though inwardly he began showing off. Even Old Bull has reached the second level.

"Moo? Moo!" Black Bull glared. What did that mean? Other than his cultivation advancing slowly, he cultivated arts very quickly.

"Still, this Qi Refining Realm cultivation of ours really can be ground out."

Chen Xun pondered for a moment, then continued, "With this Dantian Liquidification, if we grind away for another hundred years or so, we might be able to grind our way up."

"Moo!" Black Bull's pupils shrank as he nudged Chen Xun. What a pair of suckers they were.

"Hahaha, I'm just teasing you."

Chen Xun laughed heartily and stroked Black Bull. "Everything is proceeding according to plan. Action!"

"Moo~" Black Bull cried out cheerfully and hurried after Chen Xun.

In Medicine Valley, Chen Xun even wove himself a straw hat and made a large one for Black Bull too. It delighted him so much that he even wore it while sleeping.

Under the sunlight, one man and one bull, both wearing straw hats, busied themselves endlessly in the medicine fields. Their eyes shone with delight, and no one ever came to disturb them.