Collecting Spring Seedlings, Recommendation: Four-Leaf Clover

As the days passed, the winter snow began to melt.

The temperature grew lower and lower.

The little fellow was so cold it refused to leave its nest.

"Stay home and behave. I'm going to collect the spring seedlings." Whether it understood or not, Xu Changqing opened the door after speaking and headed toward the Core Administration Office.

There were only a few days left until spring, and none of the necessary steps could be skipped.

Normally, it took around half an hour to reach the Core Administration Office.

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However, the thaw had made the roads difficult to travel.

This time, it took a full hour to arrive.

"If it really comes down to it, I should buy a Flying Paper Crane first." Standing at the steps, Xu Changqing disgustedly scraped the mud off his soles before entering the hall.

Since it was still early, there were not many disciples around.

Men and women alike, all of them were Wood Spirit Root disciples.

"Steward!" Xu Changqing stepped forward and greeted him respectfully.

"You're here." Flower Elder recognized him quickly this time.

Xu Changqing nodded. "I've come to collect this year's spring seedlings."

Flower Elder sounded quite pleased. "It's good to be diligent."

In his view, if one's aptitude was poor and one's comprehension ordinary,

then the only way was to use acquired diligence to narrow the gap created by others' innate advantages.

He greatly admired people like Xu Changqing.

Last winter, despite knowing the yield would be reduced, he had still insisted on planting.

He had even managed to grow Spirit Rice of supreme-grade quality.

Both talented and extraordinarily diligent—such a person was truly rare.

Now, before the New Year had even fully passed, he had come early in the morning to collect spring seedlings.

Xu Changqing asked, "May I ask, Steward, what if I wish to plant other spirit plants?"

Flower Elder instead asked, "Have you reached Middle Qi Refining?"

Xu Changqing froze for a moment before answering, "I'm still short by a few threads of spiritual power."

Flower Elder asked again, "What level is your Evergreen Formula at?"

Xu Changqing frowned slightly. Since he had grown Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, he obviously could not claim it was only at the first level. Thus, he answered, "The third level."

Flower Elder could not help shaking his head. "Though your cultivation technique level is sufficient, your cultivation realm is too low. I suggest you continue growing Spirit Rice."

Anyone who reached Middle Qi Refining

could exchange for other spirit plants here.

However, Flower Elder did not know

that the person before him had not only reached Middle Qi Refining long ago,

but was now merely one step away from the late stage.

Even his Evergreen Formula was not at the third level, but at the fifth level—a height few had reached before him, and fewer still would reach after him.

"Uh..." Xu Changqing was helpless.

Flower Elder said meaningfully, "Here, I can only handle matters according to the rules. Whatever realm you reach determines what spirit plants you may exchange for."

Xu Changqing blinked. "What if I buy seeds from other spirit farmers?"

Flower Elder turned his face away. "That is none of my concern, nor can I control it."

Xu Changqing's eyes immediately lit up.

Clearly, Flower Elder had made himself very clear.

On his side, things could only be handled according to the Dongting Immortal Sect's rules.

But he would not stop spirit farmers from trading in private.

In other words, as long as the annual task was completed, that was enough.

As for where spirit seedlings, seeds, and such came from,

the higher-ups did not care in the slightest.

Flower Elder turned back again. "One more reminder: exchanging for spirit seedlings is free, but if you exchange for other spirit plants, points will be deducted."

The rarer and more precious they were, the more points they consumed.

Most spirit plant seeds on the market could be traded privately.

But the higher their quality, the more tightly they were controlled by the Dongting Immortal Sect.

Not only was private trade forbidden,

ordinary disciples were not even allowed to plant them.

For example, outer disciples could only grow Spirit Rice.

As for formal disciples, besides Spirit Rice, they could gradually unlock more spirit plants as their cultivation realm and cultivation technique level rose.

But they were almost all relatively common varieties.

Only core disciples could grow exceptionally rare, high-quality spirit plants.

"Understood." Xu Changqing could not help drawing a deep breath.

No wonder the five great powers monopolized resources.

The beam above was crooked, so the rafters below were crooked too.

From the Immortal Sect's upper management to the middle and lower ranks,

there was monopoly upon monopoly, exploitation upon exploitation.

They held nearly all cultivation resources tightly in their own hands.

If one wanted more,

one could only raise one's cultivation realm, cultivation technique level,

and even one's social standing.

Very soon, Xu Changqing collected all of this year's spring seedlings.

Yet after descending the mountain, he did not head toward his remote Spirit Fields.

Instead, after weaving through several paths, he arrived at the door of formal disciple Zhang Su.

Xu Changqing called inside, "Is Senior Sister Zhang here?"

Not long after, a female disciple with a Water Spirit Root emerged from the house directly opposite.

Xu Changqing cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoist!"

The Water Spirit Root disciple looked him over as she asked, "What do you need Senior Sister Zhang for?"

Xu Changqing smiled lightly. "I've come to offer New Year's greetings."

The Water Spirit Root disciple nodded slightly. "Please wait."

"Hahaha... Junior Brother Xu!" After roughly two or three minutes, Zhang Su walked out laughing loudly.

"Senior Sister Zhang!" Xu Changqing hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

Zhang Su asked with a smile, "It isn't harvest season yet. Why has Junior Brother come looking for me?"

Xu Changqing naturally understood the meaning behind her words, so he explained, "There were too many people a few days ago, and I didn't dare disturb you. I could only come at a quieter time, specifically to offer Senior Sister New Year's greetings."

The smile on Zhang Su's face grew even brighter. "It's enough that you have the thought. Come in!"

Only then did she open the wicker gate.

The two of them then walked into the house step by step.

After sitting down, Zhang Su called out, "Come—serve tea to my Junior Brother Xu!"

Xu Changqing curiously examined the interior and found it quite luxurious.

The walls were covered with all manner of precious calligraphy and paintings.

Even the meditation cushions used for cultivation were actually made from spirit stones.

Before long, the Water Spirit Root female disciple from earlier brought over two cups of hot tea.

This tea was no ordinary tea either.

A faint spiritual aura wafted from it.

Zhang Su asked with narrowed eyes, "Junior Brother Xu, how is this tea?"

"Fine tea." Xu Changqing took a shallow sip. "It leaves sweetness in the aftertaste and fragrance on the lips and teeth. The spiritual aura within even stirs my spiritual power."

Zhang Su said rather proudly, "Of course. This is Centennial Flowerwood Tea."

Xu Changqing said enviously, "Senior Sister truly knows how to enjoy life."

Zhang Su set down her teacup and leaned her plump body back, looking completely languid. "Cultivation is no different from being human. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, and enjoy what should be enjoyed."

Xu Changqing deeply agreed. "Senior Sister sees life clearly."

Zhang Su narrowed her eyes slightly and stared at Xu Changqing. Only after a long while did she ask, "Junior Brother Xu, you've offered your New Year's greetings. Is there anything else?"

One did not visit the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason.

Especially not a formal disciple who had only recently entered the core.

She had already prepared herself for him to borrow rice or spirit stones.

Xu Changqing hesitated before saying, "This junior wishes to buy some seeds, but I have no channels at all. That is why I could only come trouble Senior Sister."

Zhang Su looked slightly surprised. "So you want to buy seeds!"

"Exactly." Xu Changqing shrugged as if it were only natural.

"It's nothing." Zhang Su waved her hand somewhat awkwardly, then asked, "What type of seeds or spirit seedlings does Junior Brother wish to buy?"

Xu Changqing shook his head. "I'm not quite sure what seeds or spirit seedlings I should choose."

Zhang Su asked again, "What is Junior Brother's cultivation realm? What level has your cultivation technique reached?"

"Close to Middle Qi Refining." Xu Changqing paused, then continued, "My Evergreen Formula is currently at the third level."

"The third level of the Evergreen Formula?" Zhang Su was quite surprised.

After all, once one became a formal disciple, one could learn the more advanced Wood-Spirit Cultivation Art.

Few people still raised the Evergreen Formula to such a level.

This junior brother before her truly had perseverance.

Thus, Zhang Su thoughtfully rubbed the stubble on her chin. "Your cultivation realm is a little lacking, so there are not many seeds or spirit seedlings you can choose from.

Since it is spring now, Senior Sister recommends Four-Leaf Clover."

"Four-Leaf Clover?" Xu Changqing had never heard of it, so he was completely bewildered.

Zhang Su explained, "This Four-Leaf Clover is slightly more advanced than Spirit Rice and barely suits your current cultivation realm and cultivation technique level.

Of course, the most important thing is that it is not expensive."

Xu Changqing hurriedly asked, "How much?"

"Senior Sister happens to have a batch here. It only costs ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones." Zhang Su took out a large storage bag and quickly retrieved the Four-Leaf Clover seeds.

Xu Changqing examined them carefully and found that the seeds were extremely tiny.

Some were even exceptionally shriveled.

Zhang Su curled her lips. "Let me make this clear first. This batch of Four-Leaf Clover seeds has been stored for many years. How many you can grow depends entirely on your own skill and luck."

Xu Changqing put on a show of thinking it over.

Zhang Su did not urge him.

She drank tea as she waited.

Only after quite a while did Xu Changqing nod. "This junior wants to give it a try!"

"Very good." Zhang Su said with great satisfaction, "If you truly manage to grow them, Senior Sister is willing to buy them all at the current market price."