A thousand jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice harvested from Grade-Two Spirit Fields had been submitted. Points +250.
Added to the 250 from last winter, the total had now reached 500.
But he was still 1,500 points short of exchanging for a second High Grade cultivation technique.
Xu Changqing had actually done the math.
Submitting five thousand jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice every year would earn 1,250 points.
Therefore, as long as he kept it up for one year, he could exchange for a High Grade cultivation technique.
For others—especially Spirit Farmers who had just joined the core—it might be somewhat difficult.
But for Xu Changqing, it was as easy as drinking water.
"You've completed the task once again. Very good." Flower Elder was extremely satisfied.
Of course, what pleased him most was that Xu Changqing had submitted Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice again.
Once might have been a coincidence, but twice in a row meant it was inevitable.
The disciple before him was practically a born Spirit Farmer.
Xu Changqing respectfully cupped his hands. "Steward, is there a way to quickly earn more points?"
Flower Elder smiled without quite smiling. "It seems your Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art hasn't been successfully cultivated."
Xu Changqing did not answer. He merely blinked.
It was not that he did not want to say anything.
But if he said it aloud, he was afraid he would frighten the other man senseless.
Flower Elder continued, "You can help others complete their tasks, and naturally earn points that way."
Xu Changqing was startled. "Doesn't that mean those people who accepted my tasks not only received payment, but even got points?"
Flower Elder asked matter-of-factly, "Otherwise?"
Xu Changqing was instantly choked speechless.
No wonder so many people liked doing tasks.
He had thought it was because of the rewards.
Now it seemed they were clearly eating from both ends.
They took the payment, then took the points too.
Flower Elder chuckled. "Any task requiring the assistance of a disciple with a Wood Spirit Root can be found here. As long as you meet the requirements, you may accept it."
Hearing this, Xu Changqing hurriedly cupped his hands in farewell, then headed toward the task collection area.
Before long, he arrived before a wall.
Tasks densely covered it.
[Seeking a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple with a Wood Spirit Root to help cultivate century-old spirit plants]
(Points +60)
(Reward +5 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones)
[The emerald bamboo outside has withered somewhat. Seeking a disciple with a Wood Spirit Root to restore it]
(Points +1)
(Reward +10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones)
[Urgent task: requires a disciple with a Wood Spirit Root and Evergreen Formula (Second Layer)]
(Points +50)
(Reward +1 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone)
"The tasks are all so-so." None of them satisfied Xu Changqing.
Either they took too much time and effort.
Or they offered too few points.
With that time, he might as well plant more spirit plants.
After looking through them all and finding nothing suitable, he turned and left.
Just as he reached the outside of the palace, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure flashing past.
"Zhao Ziyao?" Xu Changqing's expression immediately darkened as he watched the other man hurry away.
They had agreed that Zhao Ziyao would return the borrowed ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice by the end of spring.
Yet now, upon seeing him, Zhao Ziyao had actually turned around and left.
Clearly, he had no intention of repaying it.
It seemed that bastard's harvest this spring had probably been poor.
Using ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice to see someone's true colors was not exactly a loss.
However, Xu Changqing did not intend to let Zhao Ziyao off so easily.
If he still did not repay it by the end of summer, Xu Changqing would go straight to his door.
Afterward, he headed toward Zhang Su's Spirit Fields.
As he drew closer and closer,
he could clearly sense the Wood Qi growing richer.
Though they were also Grade-Two Spirit Fields,
Zhang Su had a full ten mu.
And all of them were planted with expensive medicinal herbs.
"Junior Brother Xu, I was just about to have someone notify you. It seems we are of one mind." As the saying went, arriving at the right time was better than arriving early, and Zhang Su smiled faintly.
Xu Changqing rather agreed. "Indeed."
Zhang Su warmly draped an arm around his shoulders, then pointed at the Spirit Fields ahead. "Junior Brother Xu, this time will be a little tiring. You'll need to help Senior Brother harvest three mu of Spirit Fields."
"Three mu?" Xu Changqing found it unbelievable.
Before coming here, he would have been delighted with just one mu.
Who would have thought there would be three mu this time?
Zhang Su misunderstood and hurriedly said, "Don't worry. The reward for one mu of Spirit Fields is twenty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, or fourteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
Xu Changqing grinned. "Senior Brother Zhang, don't misunderstand. Even if it were thirty mu, this junior brother would be willing!"
At once, Zhang Su's mood brightened, and he became even more enthusiastic. "You've worked hard. If you get thirsty or hungry, go find Senior Brother's Dao companion, Xi'er. She'll arrange it for you."
"Alright." Xu Changqing nodded.
Then he picked up a sickle and entered the first mu of Spirit Fields.
The medicinal grass planted here this time looked quite peculiar.
Its top was extremely small, with only one grayish-brown leaf.
At a glance, it looked as though a tiny insect were crouching there.
Yet its stalk and the rhizome buried in the Black Soil were astonishingly large.
He circulated the fifth layer of the Evergreen Formula.
Information immediately appeared before his eyes.
[Mature] [Undamaged] [Spirit Qi Sufficient] [High Quality Today] [Supreme Grade the Day After Tomorrow]
"It's still early." Xu Changqing murmured inwardly.
It seemed Zhang Su was completely unable to control the timing of a spirit plant's maturity.
Or perhaps he simply did not care about it at all.
As long as it was mature, he harvested it. Nothing else mattered.
Then, under Zhang Su's direction, Xu Changqing began harvesting close to the roots.
[Harvested 1 "High-Quality Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days] [Harvested 1 "High-Quality Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days] [Harvested 1 "High-Quality Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days]
After finishing one mu of Spirit Fields, Xu Changqing stopped to rest and casually checked his status panel.
[Remaining Lifespan: 55345 days]
If he remembered correctly, after adding the Four-Leaf Clover harvest,
his lifespan had previously been [51761 days].
That meant harvesting one mu of Insect-Ear Grass
had added 3,584 days to his lifespan.
"Junior Brother Xu, you've worked hard. Have a cup of tea." At this moment, Zhang Su's Dao companion, Wu Xi'er, approached.
Xu Changqing came back to his senses and hurriedly accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Sister!"
Though her cultivation realm might be lower than his,
she had Zhang Su, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, as her backer.
Wu Xi'er said with a beaming smile, "Before you came, Brother Su kept talking about you."
Xu Changqing was greatly surprised. "Talking about me?"
Wu Xi'er nodded. "He said you harvest well, understand how to behave, and are worth looking after."
Xu Changqing knew at once that she had made it up on the spot, but he still pretended to be flattered. "I never expected Senior Brother to value me so highly!"
The more respectful the person before her acted, the happier Wu Xi'er became.
Because her comprehension was poor, she had become someone's Dao companion at a young age.
Why had she chosen a fat pig like Zhang Su?
Naturally, because he gave her plenty!
Though she occasionally suffered some torment, it was no great matter.
Now, she had resources when she wanted resources, and status when she wanted status.
Anyone below Zhang Su's realm treated her with utmost respect.
Even people stronger than Zhang Su would not choose to ignore her.
The vanity and sense of superiority she had lacked could always be satisfied to the fullest.
Seeing how happy she was, Xu Changqing immediately asked, "Senior Sister, do you still remember the Four-Leaf Clover seeds I bought from Senior Brother last time?"
Wu Xi'er answered, "Of course I remember."
Xu Changqing took out his Small Storage Bag, then poured out all the Four-Leaf Clover he had harvested. "I only managed to grow some of those seeds, and they're all three-leafed or two-leafed. I wonder if Senior Brother will take them?"
"What?!" Wu Xi'er could hardly believe it. "You actually grew them?"
She looked at the Four-Leaf Clover in Xu Changqing's hand.
Though most had only three or two leaves,
she was still utterly shocked.
After all, from the very beginning, she had believed he would fail.
Xu Changqing handed them over. "Senior Sister, please help me ask!"
Wu Xi'er took a deep breath. After calming down, she accepted them. "Alright."
Very quickly, she placed these "Four-Leaf Clover" into her own storage bag.
Then she turned and walked toward a house on the other side.
Seeing this, Xu Changqing picked up his sickle again and headed toward the second mu of Spirit Fields!
Before you continue