No sooner had Xu Changqing left than the female disciple with a Water Spirit Root appeared.
She stood beside Zhang Su, watching his receding back.
"Which number is this, coming to borrow spirit stones or spirit rice from you?"
"Junior Brother Xu came to buy seeds from me."
"That's not so bad. Too many people have been coming to borrow things lately!"
"This is only the beginning. There are still two years until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition!"
"Heavens—these days are going to continue for another two years?"
The day of his appointment 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!"
Little Yellow Dog raced wildly along the ridge between the fields.
A slightly chilly wind blew against Xu Changqing's face.
His hair swayed back and forth over his forehead.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on the newly sprouted weeds beneath his feet.
They said ducks were the first to know when the river warmed in spring.
But these weeds were the true "prophets," the first to know spring was coming.
"Woof woof!" Little Yellow Dog barked twice more, the sound rather shrill.
"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 got him during the New Year. You simply never saw him."
Han Su scratched his head. "Looking at the little fellow baring his teeth like that, he won't bite me, will he?"
Xu Changqing could neither laugh nor cry. "You Earth Spirit Root disciples have the greatest defense, yet 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 rather solidly. I wonder whether you can handle it all in one go."
Han Su swiftly took off his shoes, then stepped onto the frozen Black Soil. Feeling the icy chill rising from below, he frowned. "This Grade-Two Spirit Field truly 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 is looking down on me a little too much. No matter what, this junior brother is a Formal Disciple." Han Su's expression changed, showing some displeasure.
But Xu Changqing said seriously, "I only care about yield."
Loosening the soil, fertilizing, bringing rain, killing insects.
Every planting was almost always these steps.
Yet every one of them concerned the final yield, so none could be neglected.
If Han Su had not charged only 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 Senior Brother." Han Su gritted his teeth and promised.
"Fine." Xu Changqing did not waste words.
Han Su drew a deep breath, then activated the Earthdraw Formula.
It was as though a valve had opened within his body.
Earth Qi instantly surged into him.
But this time was different; mixed within it was an extreme, bone-piercing cold.
Bang!
Bang! Bang!
As the ground continually shook, it seemed as if Earth Dragons were burrowing through the soil.
The Black Soil, originally frozen hard, first cracked apart.
Then it abruptly turned over, exposing the soft earth below.
As time passed, more than half the Spirit Field had been loosened.
Strangely, Han Su's complexion grew increasingly wrong.
Normally, after operating the Earthdraw Formula for a while, his skin would turn earthy yellow.
But this time, it became extremely mottled, patches of white spots of varying sizes emerging 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 hurriedly waved his hand. "Stop first and rest."
Han Su did not stubbornly persist 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 awful.
A faint chill continued to seep from his body.
"Could it be that the technique you cultivate hasn't reached the second layer?" Xu Changqing guessed.
Han Su froze. Several seconds later, he asked in shock, "How did Senior Brother know?"
Seeing his reaction, Xu Changqing immediately understood. "Because techniques are important. Every layer brings different, perhaps even better, effects."
Take himself as an example.
Different levels of the Evergreen Formula had different effects.
Once it reached the fifth layer, he would definitely be able to grow Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice.
Since that was so, the technique Han Su cultivated should be no different.
"Soon."
Han Su took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself. Then he continued, "As long as I reach Middle Qi Refining, I can enter the Earth Vein deeper once more. Then, with the tempering of Earth Qi, I'll certainly be able to raise my Earthdraw Formula to the second layer."
That was also why he needed Spirit Rice Grain so desperately.
"Earth Vein? Earth Qi?" Xu Changqing looked somewhat puzzled.
Han Su explained, "For us Earth Spirit Root disciples to increase our strength, we must venture deeper into Earth Veins again and again, seeking the Earth Qi in their depths to temper our bodies."
Xu Changqing said in surprise, "Then the body becomes a vessel."
Han Su's eyes showed a trace of envy. "Unlike you Wood Spirit Root disciples, we Earth Spirit Root disciples have only two and a half paths to becoming core disciples.
"First, those with low comprehension turn to body cultivation and use their bodies to absorb a wisp of Yellow Qi.
"Second, those with high comprehension become formation masters and continuously strengthen their spiritual power."
"And what is the remaining half?" Xu Changqing was deeply curious.
Han Su gave a bitter smile. "Participating in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition."
At those words, the corners of Xu Changqing's mouth twitched several times.
The Dongting Immortal Sect had over ten thousand disciples.
The Formal Disciples participating in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition were like crucian carp crossing a river.
To stand out from such a crowd was far more than merely difficult.
"My comprehension is poor, so I can only use the clumsiest method." Han Su's face was full of helplessness.
Xu Changqing reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him. "You work so 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 speaking with half-understanding. "They say it's a relatively high-grade Earth Qi. It isn't invisible, but yellow mist drifting through the Earth Veins.
"A single wisp of Yellow Qi weighs ten thousand jin. It is one of the high-grade materials for forging spirit artifacts and magical artifacts."
Xu Changqing understood.
Since they were idle anyway, the two chatted at length.
Then he learned that Han Su had suffered terribly since childhood.
His family had originally been fairly well-off—not immensely wealthy, but comfortably prosperous.
Yet because his father offended a petty man, the entire family was framed.
His father died after suffering humiliation, while his mother hanged herself in grief and indignation.
He had only escaped 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 met an old Daoist.
Seeing that Han Su had the aptitude for immortality cultivation, the old Daoist recommended him for Initiation.
Who would have thought it was the legendary Dongting Immortal Sect?
Xu Changqing could not help sighing. "That is fate."
Han Su said with a face full of apology, "Senior Brother Xu, this time it was my fault. I'm sorry."
Xu Changqing chuckled. "No, more than half of it has been done, hasn't it?"
Han Su could still feel the intense chill radiating from his body. "But I can't help for the time being."
Xu Changqing took out his everyday spirit artifact hoe from the Small Storage Bag. "Just rest for now. I can take 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 once selfishly believed that Senior Brother Xu was an extremely pragmatic man.
But after this conversation, he discovered—
He had both overestimated himself and underestimated others!!!
Before you continue