Cultivating the Ironwood Armor Art, Brewing Second-Grade Spirit Wine

Li Lingbi had gone to the Central Region's Black Rust Dynasty to hunt a thousand-year-old demon.

That would take at least a year.

It was even uncertain when he would return.

Xu Changqing did not care about that.

Time meant nothing to him.

A few rounds of farming, and it would pass.

The only thing that puzzled Xu Changqing, even surprised him, was this.

Since Li Lingbi was not lacking in people around him,

why had Li Sancai brought him along?

Why had he even become one of their so-called "own people"?

After all, if Li Lingbi lacked Spirit Rice or any other spirit plant, he only needed to find Lu Yuanyuan.

If that did not work, Li Sancai could spend the time growing it himself.

Xu Changqing, on the other hand, had only joined the Spirit Field Core for barely a year.

He had completed only one transaction involving eight hundred jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice.

Yet he had somehow become a member of Li Lingbi's team. That was simply too absurd.

To put it bluntly,

there were so many official disciples in the Spirit Fields.

There were even plenty of Foundation Establishment Realm spirit farmers.

Why had it fallen to Xu Changqing, whose apparent cultivation was only Middle Qi Refining?

Thus, he grew suspicious of Li Sancai, and even of Li Lingbi.

But asking outright was definitely not an option.

He could only take one step at a time and see where the path led.

"Come on, I'll take you back first," Li Sancai called out.

Xu Changqing had originally planned to look for Bai Ling'er and arrange a time for rain with her.

But it was too late. She was probably already resting.

He could only abandon the idea and leap onto the flying paper crane with Li Sancai.

The two remained silent the entire way, neither saying a word.

Xu Changqing did not dare let down his guard and remained wary inside.

Li Sancai, meanwhile, seemed preoccupied. He kept his head lowered in thought.

Under the night sky, stars glittered without end.

Every so often, they could see a meteor flashing past in the blink of an eye.

Foundry Peak remained as it always had.

Whether day or night, fireballs constantly fell there.

Beast Spirit Valley was much quieter.

Only occasionally did a beast's roar ring out.

At last, the two returned to the Spirit Field Core.

Li Sancai was quite responsible, first seeing Xu Changqing safely home.

Then he controlled the flying paper crane and headed toward his own spirit field.

Watching Li Sancai's figure gradually vanish into the night, Xu Changqing's gaze deepened.

"Why me?"

"Why did he choose me?"

"What exactly is Senior Brother Li trying to do?"

He was not a foolish person.

After seeing how outstanding Li Lingbi truly was, and how many supporters surrounded him,

he finally realized that being able to join Li Lingbi's team

was utterly absurd!

Of course, it certainly had much to do with Li Sancai.

But instead of exciting Xu Changqing, this stroke of fortune only made him more vigilant.

Just as pies did not fall from the sky for no reason,

others would not possibly show such goodwill to an outsider for no reason either.

What he feared was that spirit stones were not so easily taken.

What he feared was that being one of their own was not so easily done.

Several days passed in a flash, yet nothing much happened.

The temperature was visibly climbing higher and higher.

Summer was nearly here.

Thus, Xu Changqing used a Communication Talisman to notify Han Su.

He told him to find time to come over and loosen the soil.

Having learned from the springtime setback,

he decided to focus on increasing production.

Naturally, since there was a small patch beneath Stone Mountain that could be cultivated,

he still needed to grow some additional spirit plants.

But on the surface, he would definitely still be planting Spirit Rice.

"Senior Brother Xu!" Han Su arrived by noon.

Xu Changqing went outside to welcome him. "You came quickly."

Han Su grinned. "As long as Senior Brother calls, this junior brother will never delay."

Compared with the unreliable Lin An and the others,

the person before him was far more appealing.

Though fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice was not much, at least the source was stable enough.

There would not be the awkward situation where he had it this time but not the next.

Xu Changqing did not stand on ceremony and pointed at the spirit field. "Then let's begin."

Yet Han Su waved his hand. "Before we start, let me show Senior Brother something good."

"Oh?" Xu Changqing could not help looking him up and down.

Han Su leaned closer and took something from his small storage pouch. "Didn't Senior Brother need spells? I got this at the Rogue Cultivator Market a few days ago."

Xu Changqing took it. It was a thin booklet.

Several blurred words were written on it.

Ironwood Armor Art

He immediately flipped through it and found that it was actually a high-grade spell.

But when he reached the end, he froze.

It was incomplete—a fragment.

Han Su scratched his head. "There were a few low-grade spells, but I figured Senior Brother would prefer something high-grade."

"Though it's only a fragment, the seller said the first layer alone is very powerful."

Xu Changqing was not angry. He merely nodded. "You've worked hard, Junior Brother."

Having something was good enough.

Han Su had gone to the Rogue Cultivator Market at considerable risk.

There was no need for Xu Changqing to be picky and choosy.

Han Su visibly relaxed, then started rummaging through his small storage pouch again. "After buying this fragment, there were still ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice left..."

But Xu Changqing stopped him. "Keep the rest as payment for your trouble."

"Huh?" Han Su was greatly surprised, even somewhat excited.

Though it was only ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice,

at the current market rate,

whether he sold it or exchanged it for First-Grade Spirit Rice, he would make quite a profit.

Xu Changqing put away the Ironwood Armor Art and smiled. "Now, begin your performance."

Han Su did not waste words and immediately took off his shoes.

With the experience from last time, he had come fully prepared this time.

But strangely, the underground chill was no longer as dense as before.

Though it could still be felt, he could endure it much longer than the first time.

Thus, Han Su loosened the soil in the spirit field while Xu Changqing watched from above.

When he was thirsty, he drank water.

When he was tired, he rested.

Half an hour later, the soil loosening was complete.

Xu Changqing took out a contract spirit talisman. "Same as before. After summer ends, you'll receive fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice as payment."

Han Su hurriedly said, "I trust Senior Brother, so there's no need to sign a spirit talisman contract."

Xu Changqing knew that Han Su wanted to draw closer to him, but he still insisted. "This is for your protection. What if my summer harvest is poor?"

"Then..." Han Su was deeply moved by those words and could only agree. "All right!"

After signing the spirit talisman contract,

Han Su left.

But he did not head out of the spirit fields.

He still had to help others loosen their soil; he had merely come to Xu Changqing first.

In the days that followed,

Xu Changqing continuously cultivated the fragment of the high-grade Ironwood Armor Art that Han Su had brought back from the Rogue Cultivator Market.

Even if he could only cultivate it to the first layer, it would still be worthwhile.

After all, it was a defensive spell.

According to its description,

even reaching only the first layer would cover his body in a layer of ironwood armor.

It could withstand the piercing force of several hundred jin.

It even offered resistance against fire, metal, and more.

But it had to be said that high-grade spells progressed extremely slowly in cultivation.

To complete it as quickly as possible,

it was best paired with Expert Spirit Rice Wine.

Thus, Xu Changqing began brewing wine.

And this time, he used not First-Grade Spirit Rice, but one hundred jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice.

The quality would naturally rise as well.

Very quickly, in only three days,

Spirit Rice Wine had begun to be produced.

Though the amount was not much, this was only the beginning. More would continuously be produced afterward.

Xu Changqing took a small sip and immediately widened his eyes.

[Expert Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine ↑]

(Effect One: Increases spiritual qi absorption speed by 30% for one hour)

(Effect Two: Spiritual power consumption -20% when casting wood-element spells)

(Effect Three: In a lightly intoxicated state, increases low-grade spell comprehension speed by 25%)

(Effect Four: In a lightly intoxicated state, increases high-grade spell comprehension speed by 10%)

(Negative Effect One: Long-term consumption continuously reduces reaction speed)

(Negative Effect Two: Long-term consumption damages the internal organs)

With the negative effects unchanged, every positive effect had been enhanced!!!