When Schools of Carp Vie for Flowing Waters, the Clumsy Bird Must Fly First

Xu Changqing had barely left when the female disciple with a Water Spirit Root appeared at once.

She stood with Zhang Su, watching his retreating figure grow ever more distant.

"Which number is this? How many people have come to borrow spirit stones or spirit rice from you?"

"Junior Brother Xu came to buy seeds from me."

"That's not so bad. There have been far too many people coming to borrow things lately!"

"This is only the beginning. There are still two years until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition!"

"Heavens—this is going to last another two years?"

The day Xu Changqing had arranged with Han Su arrived.

The frozen snow had already melted away.

The temperature gradually rose.

Spring was about to arrive, and all things were stirring back to life.

"Woof woof!"

The little yellow dog tore wildly about atop the field ridges.

A slightly chilly wind blew across Xu Changqing's face.

His hair swayed back and forth over his forehead.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on the newly sprouted weeds beneath his feet.

They said ducks were the first to know when the spring river waters warmed.

But these weeds were the true "prophets," the first to know spring was coming.

"Woof woof!" The little yellow dog barked twice more, its cries rather sharp.

"Eh—Senior Brother Xu, when did you start keeping a dog?" Han Su's voice followed.

Xu Changqing raised his head, looking toward the source of the voice with a smile. "I started keeping it during the New Year. You just never saw it."

Han Su scratched his head. "Looking at how it bares its fangs and claws, it won't bite me, will it?"

Xu Changqing could neither laugh nor cry. "You Earth Spirit Root disciples have the strongest defenses. You're afraid of a dog bite?"

"Just joking." Han Su grinned.

Xu Changqing pointed at the Grade-Two Spirit Field ahead. "It's frozen pretty solid. I don't know whether you can handle it in one go."

Han Su neatly took off his shoes, then stepped onto the frozen Black Soil. Feeling the bone-chilling cold seeping up from below, he frowned. "This Grade-Two Spirit Field really is different from a Grade-One Spirit Field."

"How is it?" Xu Changqing raised a brow. "If you can't do it, I'll find someone else!"

"Senior Brother Xu, you're looking down on me a little too much. I'm a formal disciple, after all." Han Su's expression shifted at those words, clearly displeased.

But Xu Changqing said seriously, "I only care about yield."

Loosening the soil, fertilizing, bringing rain, killing pests.

Every planting was more or less these same steps.

Yet every one of them affected the final yield, so none could be neglected.

If Han Su had not only charged fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice per season, Xu Changqing would have replaced him long ago.

"I'll do my utmost. I definitely won't disappoint you, Senior Brother." Han Su gritted his teeth and promised.

"Fine." Xu Changqing did not waste words.

Han Su took a deep breath, then activated the Earthdraw Formula.

It was as if a valve had opened within his body.

Earth Qi instantly surged into him like a tidal flood.

But this time was different. It was mixed with an extreme chill.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

As the ground trembled continuously, it was as though earth dragons were burrowing through the soil.

The Black Soil, originally frozen hard as iron, first cracked open.

Then it suddenly flipped over, exposing the soft earth beneath.

As time passed, more than half the Spirit Fields had been loosened.

Strangely, Han Su's complexion grew increasingly wrong.

Normally, after running the Earthdraw Formula for some time, his skin would turn earthy yellow.

But this time, it became extremely mottled, patches of white spots of varying sizes appearing across it.

Once Xu Changqing realized what was happening, he asked with concern, "Are you all right?"

"I... feel... so cold!" Han Su shivered uncontrollably from head to toe.

Xu Changqing quickly waved a hand. "Stop first and rest."

Han Su did not stubbornly insist after hearing that. He immediately climbed onto the field ridge.

Only after interrupting the Earthdraw Formula did his condition ease.

Even so, his face still looked terrible.

Faint chill continued to seep from his body.

"Could it be that the spell you cultivate hasn't reached the second level?" Xu Changqing guessed.

Han Su froze, then asked in shock several seconds later, "How did you know, Senior Brother?"

Seeing his reaction, Xu Changqing immediately understood. "Because spells are important. Every level brings different, even better effects."

Take himself as an example.

Different levels of the Evergreen Formula brought different effects.

Once it reached the fifth level, he would absolutely be able to grow Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice.

Since that was the case, the spell Han Su cultivated should be the same.

"Soon."

Han Su took a deep breath, striving to calm himself before continuing, "As long as I reach Middle Qi Refining, I can delve deeper into the Earth Vein again. Then, using Earth Qi to temper myself, I'll definitely be able to raise my Earthdraw Formula to the second level."

That was also why he so desperately needed spirit rice.

"Earth Vein? Earth Qi?" Xu Changqing looked somewhat puzzled.

Han Su explained, "For us Earth Spirit Root disciples to improve our strength, we must delve into the Earth Vein again and again, searching for deep Earth Qi to temper our bodies."

Xu Changqing said in surprise, "Then your body becomes a vessel."

Han Su revealed an envious look. "Unlike you Wood Spirit Root cultivators, we Earth Spirit Root cultivators have only two and a half ways to become core disciples.

"First, those with poor comprehension switch to body cultivation and use their bodies to absorb a wisp of Yellow Qi.

"Second, those with high comprehension become formation masters, continuously raising their spiritual power."

"And what's the remaining half?" Xu Changqing asked curiously.

Han Su gave a bitter smile. "Participating in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition."

At that, the corner of Xu Changqing's mouth twitched several times.

The Dongting Immortal Sect had more than ten thousand disciples.

The formal disciples participating in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition were like crucian carp crossing a river.

Trying to stand out from the crowd was far more than merely difficult.

"My comprehension is poor, so I can only use the stupidest method." Han Su's face was full of helplessness.

Xu Changqing reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him. "You work this hard. You'll definitely succeed."

Han Su said wistfully, "I wonder when I'll finally be able to absorb a wisp of Yellow Qi."

Xu Changqing asked in surprise, "I've only heard of Mysterious Yellow Qi. What is this Yellow Qi?"

Han Su thought for a while before explaining with only half-understanding, "They say it's a relatively high-grade Earth Qi. It isn't invisible—it's yellow mist floating within the Earth Vein.

"A single wisp of Yellow Qi weighs ten thousand jin. It's one of the superior materials used to forge spirit artifacts and magical artifacts."

Xu Changqing came to a sudden realization.

Since they had nothing better to do anyway, the two chatted for quite a while.

He then learned that Han Su had endured a miserable childhood.

His family had once been fairly well-off—not rich and noble, but comfortably prosperous.

Yet because his father offended some petty villain, their entire family was framed.

His father died in humiliation, while his mother hanged herself in grief and fury.

He had only managed to escape with his life by crawling through a dog hole.

From then on, he wandered everywhere.

Several years later, while sheltering from rain in a ruined temple, he encountered an old Daoist.

Seeing that Han Su possessed the aptitude for immortality, the old Daoist recommended him for entry.

Who would have thought it would be the legendary Dongting Immortal Sect?

Xu Changqing could not help sighing. "This is fate."

Han Su said apologetically, "Senior Brother Xu, this time it was my fault. I'm sorry."

Xu Changqing smiled lightly. "No, it isn't. Haven't you already finished more than half of it?"

Han Su could still feel the intense chill emanating from his body. "But I can't help for now."

Xu Changqing took out his everyday spirit artifact hoe from his small storage pouch. "Just rest first. I can use this chance to see how effective this newly bought hoe is."

Han Su's eyes instantly reddened. "Senior Brother Xu, I..."

Before he could finish, only choked sobs remained.

He had selfishly believed that Senior Brother Xu was an extremely pragmatic person.

But after this exchange, he realized—

He had both overestimated himself and underestimated others!!!