[Consume 2,600 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula from the second level to the third?] "Yes." Xu Changqing did not hesitate. At once, a flood of experience and techniques regarding the [Evergreen Formula] surged into his mind. Before long, the upgrade was complete. [Successfully consumed 2,600 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula to the third level] [Remaining lifespan: 1,814 days] [Evergreen Formula (Third Level)] (Effect One: Cultivation speed +30%) (Effect Two: Yield increase +20%) (Effect Three: Can predict and diagnose growth problems in spirit plants)
"Hiss." Xu Changqing drew a sharp breath.
It had only been a few short days.
He had gone from a worthless failure who had repeatedly failed his assessments to a completely different man.
Whether it was his cultivation realm or spell proficiency, he was now comparable to a Formal Disciple.
It all felt like a dream—simply unbelievable.
"Strange, why has the Wood Qi decreased?"
"Wasn't there a lot of it just now?"
"If there were just a little more Wood Qi, I could break through my realm!"
At that moment, discussions broke out all around him.
Some of them wore extremely ugly expressions.
Everyone had wanted to use this seedling stage to improve their strength, but things had gone against their wishes.
Xu Changqing alone had gained the greatest benefit.
Yet rather than acting smug or showing off,
he did everything he could to keep a low profile.
The Shennong System might have defied the heavens, but it was not invincible.
Before he had truly grown strong, keeping his head down was never wrong.
In the days that followed, Xu Changqing was no different from those around him.
He did what he was supposed to do, never standing out in the slightest.
Every day, he rose at sunrise and rested at sunset.
That day, after breakfast, he once again arrived before the Spirit Fields.
Seeing that the Spirit Rice had grown more robust than it had last season, he could not help but smile with satisfaction.
In the first two assessments,
he had missed the first because his comprehension had been too slow.
As for the second, he had lacked experience, and there had also been a problem with the Spirit Fields.
But the third time would be entirely different.
Han Su had replenished the Earth Qi, restoring the nutrients.
With his Middle Qi Refining strength, his perception had also improved.
Combined with the powerful effects of the third-level [Evergreen Formula],
as long as nothing unexpected happened, the yield would definitely reach one thousand jin.
It might even exceed that.
But Xu Changqing wanted to keep it just slightly above one thousand jin.
As long as he met the assessment requirements and became a Formal Disciple, that would be enough.
There was no need to be overly conspicuous, or others might grow suspicious.
Then, he sat cross-legged on the ridge between the fields and began his daily cultivation.
He circulated the third-level [Evergreen Formula].
The Wood Qi released by the Spirit Rice before him was immediately drawn into his body.
Suddenly, the single strand of spiritual power inside him became two.
The two strands of spiritual power flowed back and forth through his body.
As time passed, a small amount of impurities seeped from his pores.
I've grown stronger again. Xu Changqing was delighted.
"Why has Lin An brought someone over again?"
"This time, it isn't an Earth Spirit Root disciple!"
"Judging by her clothes, she's a Water Spirit Root disciple from the Water-Control Pavilion!"
At that moment, a commotion rose nearby.
Xu Changqing could not help stopping his cultivation and looking in the other direction.
Lin An had brought another unfamiliar face with him.
But this time, it was not a man—it was a woman.
Her features were ordinary.
She was rather thin.
She swept her gaze over the people around her.
Seeing how grimy they all were, a trace of disdain flashed through her eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao—I'm counting on you!" Lin An was exceedingly polite.
"Mm." Zhao Xin answered vaguely.
She flicked her delicate hand.
At once, the Water Qi in the surrounding air rapidly gathered.
Before long, an increasingly dense mist of water floated above the rice paddies.
Soon, a series of crackling sounds rang out.
It was raining.
But this was no ordinary rainwater—it was spirit rain containing Water Qi.
After absorbing it, the Spirit Rice below became moist and lustrous.
Even the rice grains became fuller.
"Minor Cloud-Rain Art?" Xu Changqing raised a brow at the sight.
Compared with Earth Spirit Root disciples like Han Su, who could only cooperate with them a few times each season,
these Water Spirit Root disciples were the truly important partners for long-term cooperation.
After all, the Spirit Fields needed irrigation at regular intervals.
Ordinary spring water, stream water, and running water only had basic effects.
But the spirit rain produced by the [Minor Cloud-Rain Art] was different.
Not only could it increase the yield somewhat,
it could also repel pests, heal, and repair damage.
It had to be said that Lin An had truly gone all out to become a Formal Disciple.
Who knew how much of his harvest he would lose this time?
One-tenth?
Or even more?
After all, no one would help him for nothing!
Xu Changqing was somewhat tempted, but after thinking it over, he held himself back.
As long as nothing unexpected happened, he would definitely pass the assessment.
There was no need to make an unnecessary move.
He would be giving away part of his harvest for no reason.
Moreover, Zhao Xin's strained expression made it clear
that she probably had not mastered the [Minor Cloud-Rain Art] very well.
Perhaps she did not even have much spiritual power within her.
She had only just entered the Initiation stage.
That was precisely why she could only seek cooperation with outer sect disciples who managed Spirit Fields.
If it were a Grade-Two Spirit Field instead, she would only exhaust herself for little reward.
Therefore, even if Xu Changqing wanted to find someone,
he would have to wait until he managed a Grade-Two Spirit Field.
Then he could seek out a Formal Disciple who had awakened a Water Spirit Root.
Why was Lin An seeking one?
And why was he so desperate?
Because he too only had one chance remaining.
Besides, he was only in Early Qi Refining.
His Evergreen Formula was still at (Level One).
His control over the Spirit Fields could not be as meticulous and all-encompassing as Xu Changqing's.
That was why he was trying every possible means to raise the yield.
But for that very reason, he would have to pay a price.
Even if he became a Formal Disciple in the future,
Han Su and this female disciple would still take a portion of his harvest.
This could only be called a true reflection of some outer sect disciples.
Unless one had great talent, high comprehension, and succeeded on the first try,
one could only keep compromising and yielding ground.
If Xu Changqing had not possessed a cheat, his final outcome would have been no more than one of three possibilities.
Either he would keep seeking help like Lin An and lose part of his harvest.
Or he would become the tenant farmer of Formal Disciple Zhang Er and lose nearly all of his harvest.
Or he would completely leave the Dongting Immortal Sect and have no harvest at all.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, aren't you going to ask?"
"You only have one chance left. You can't fail again!"
"That's right, that's right! You have to seize this opportunity!"
Although those around him were tempted, they were still watching from the sidelines.
They could also tell that this Water Spirit Root female disciple was not particularly capable.
So they hoped Xu Changqing would test the waters first.
If the price was not too high, they could naturally cooperate.
But if the price was too high, they might as well forget it.
"Fine." Seeing so many people staring at him, Xu Changqing knew he could not refuse.
Although he did not need her help,
he still had to go through the motions.
That way, he would not arouse anyone's suspicions.
As it happened, Zhao Xin had just finished casting the [Minor Cloud-Rain Art] and was recovering her spiritual power.
When Lin An saw Xu Changqing approaching, a trace of resistance appeared in his eyes.
Both of them had only one assessment chance remaining.
So people often compared them in private.
Though they had no direct conflict, each felt somewhat displeased with the other.
Lin An raised his brows and asked, "Does Fellow Daoist Xu need something?"
"I wanted to ask how much it costs for this fellow Daoist to cast the [Minor Cloud-Rain Art] once." Xu Changqing shrugged.
Lin An hesitantly looked at the person beside him. "This..."
Zhao Xin glanced at Xu Changqing before saying, "Forty percent of the proceeds!"
As soon as those words fell, Xu Changqing looked at Lin An in disbelief.
The people around them were even more dumbfounded, all of them immediately backing down.
Earth Spirit Root Han Su only wanted ten percent.
Yet this Water Spirit Root female disciple wanted forty percent.
Did that not mean Lin An was giving away fifty percent of his future harvest to others?
What a ruthless move!!!
Before you continue