Helping Harvest, Harvest, Harvest—Lifespan Rising, Rising, Rising

A thousand jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice harvested from Grade-Two Spirit Fields had been handed in. Points +250.

Added to the 250 from last winter, he now had 500.

But he was still 1,500 points short of exchanging for the second high-grade cultivation technique.

Xu Changqing had actually done the calculations.

Each year, handing in five thousand jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice would earn 1,250 points.

Therefore, as long as he kept at it for a year, he could exchange for a high-grade cultivation technique.

For others, especially spirit farmers who had just joined the core, that might be somewhat difficult.

But for Xu Changqing, it was as easy as drinking water.

"You completed the task once again. Very good." Flower Elder was deeply 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 made it 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 said with a half-smile, "Looks like your Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art hasn't been successfully cultivated."

Xu Changqing did not answer, merely blinking.

It was not that he did not want to say anything.

But if he said it, he would probably frighten Flower Elder out of his wits.

Flower Elder continued, "You can help others complete their tasks and naturally earn points."

Xu Changqing was astonished. "Does that mean those who accepted my tasks not only received rewards, but also earned points?"

Flower Elder asked as if it were only natural, "What else would they get?"

Xu Changqing was instantly left 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.

After taking the rewards, they took the points too.

Flower Elder chuckled. "Any task requiring help from a disciple with a Wood Spirit Root can be found here. As long as you meet the requirements, you can 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.

It was covered in densely packed tasks.

[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 is somewhat withered. Seeking a Wood Spirit Root disciple to help restore it]

(Points +1)

(Reward +10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones)

[Urgent task. Requires a Wood Spirit Root disciple who has reached the Second Layer of the Evergreen Formula]

(Points +50)

(Reward +1 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone)

"These tasks are all so-so." Xu Changqing found none of them satisfactory.

They either took too much time and effort.

Or the points were too low.

With that time, he might as well plant more spirit plants.

After looking through them for a while and finding nothing suitable, he turned and left.

Just as he stepped outside the palace, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure flashing past.

"Zhao Ziyao?" Xu Changqing watched the other man hurry away, and his expression immediately darkened.

They had agreed that Zhao Ziyao would return the ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice he had borrowed once spring ended.

Yet now, upon seeing him, Zhao Ziyao had actually turned and left.

Clearly, he had no intention of repaying it.

It seemed that fellow's harvest this spring had not been good.

Using ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice to see a person's true face was not a loss.

Still, Xu Changqing had no intention of letting Zhao Ziyao off so easily.

If he still did not repay it after summer ended, 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 spiritual energy growing denser.

Though they were also Grade-Two Spirit Fields,

Zhang Su had a full ten mu.

And what was planted within were all costly medicinal herbs.

"Junior Brother Xu, I was just about to have someone notify you. Looks like our hearts beat as one." As the saying went, better to come at the right time than early; Zhang Su smiled faintly.

Xu Changqing quite 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 hard on you. You'll need to help your senior brother harvest three mu of Spirit Fields."

"Three mu?" Xu Changqing found it unbelievable.

Before coming, he would have been delighted with just one mu.

Who would have thought there would be three this time?

Zhang Su misunderstood and quickly said, "Don't worry. The reward for each mu 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!"

Zhang Su's mood instantly brightened at those words, and he grew even more enthusiastic. "You've worked hard. If you get thirsty or hungry, find your senior brother's Dao companion, Xi'er. She'll arrange it."

"Alright." Xu Changqing nodded.

Then he picked up a sickle and entered the first mu of Spirit Fields.

The medicinal herbs planted there this time looked rather strange.

Their tops were extremely small, with only one grayish-brown leaf.

At first glance, they looked like little insects lying there.

Yet their stalks and rhizomes in the Black Soil were astonishingly large.

He circulated the Fifth Layer of the Evergreen Formula.

Information immediately appeared before his eyes.

[Mature]

[Undamaged]

[Spiritual energy sufficient]

[Excellent today]

[Supreme-grade the day after tomorrow]

"It's still early." Xu Changqing murmured inwardly.

It seemed Zhang Su was completely unable to grasp the exact timing of when spirit plants matured.

Or perhaps he simply did not care at all.

As long as they were mature, he harvested them. Nothing else mattered.

Then, under Zhang Su's direction, Xu Changqing began harvesting close to the roots.

[Harvested 1 "Excellent Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days]

[Harvested 1 "Excellent Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days]

[Harvested 1 "Excellent Insect-Ear Grass," lifespan +4 days]

After finishing one mu of Spirit Fields, Xu Changqing stopped to rest and took the chance to look at his status panel.

[Remaining lifespan: 55,345 days]

If he remembered correctly, including the Four-Leaf Clover harvest,

his previous lifespan had been [51,761 days].

That meant that after harvesting one mu of Insect-Ear Grass,

he had gained 3,584 days of 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!"

Although her cultivation realm might not be as high as his,

she had Zhang Su of the Foundation Establishment Realm as her backer.

Wu Xi'er smiled sweetly. "Before you came, Brother Su kept talking about you."

Xu Changqing was quite surprised. "Talking about me?"

Wu Xi'er nodded. "He said you harvest well, know 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 put on an overwhelmed expression. "I never expected Senior Brother to think so highly of me!"

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 a little torment, it was no great matter.

Now she had resources when she wanted resources and status when she wanted status.

Anyone whose cultivation was below Zhang Su's treated her with utmost respect.

Even those stronger than Zhang Su would not choose to ignore her.

The vanity and sense of superiority she had once 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 a small storage pouch and poured out all the Four-Leaf Clover he had harvested. "I only managed to grow some of those seeds, and they are all three-leaf and two-leaf ones. I wonder whether Senior Brother will buy them?"

"What!" Wu Xi'er could scarcely believe it. "You really grew them?"

She looked at the Four-Leaf Clover in Xu Changqing's hands.

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, could you ask for me?"

Wu Xi'er took a deep breath. After calming herself, she accepted them. "Alright."

Very quickly, she put those "Four-Leaf Clover" into her own storage pouch.

Then she turned and headed toward the house on the other side.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing picked up his sickle again and headed for the second mu of Spirit Fields!