The value of a Mutated Spirit Plant could not be underestimated.
But Xu Changqing's first thought was not to sell it.
It was to move it elsewhere.
For instance, to the hidden cave beneath Stone Mountain.
Thus, he decisively released his spiritual power, wrapping the entire Mutated Spirit Rice plant from top to bottom—even its roots within the Black Soil.
Then, with his other hand, he began carefully digging.
Before long, the Mutated Spirit Rice plant had been unearthed.
And it had not suffered the slightest damage.
Xu Changqing quickly transported the Mutated Spirit Rice plant to the foot of Stone Mountain.
He replanted it in the Black Soil.
Then he made several trips back and forth, bringing over spring water.
Throughout the process, his spiritual power never ceased, for fear that something might go wrong.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly in the end.
"If every stalk of my Spirit Rice were this kind of mutant variety, wouldn't the yield reach at least five thousand jin?" Xu Changqing crouched halfway down, his eyes carefully examining the transplanted Mutated Spirit Rice.
Even from a single plant, its future potential was plain to see.
What concerned Xu Changqing most, however, was the [More Children, More Blessings] trait.
Could it be that the more rice ears or seeds there were, the deeper the mutation became?
With that speculation in mind, Xu Changqing left the inner space of Stone Mountain.
The moment he stepped outside, the Communication Spirit Talisman began to vibrate.
He took it from the Small Storage Bag and saw that it was [Li Sancai].
"Senior Brother!"
"Come over tomorrow."
"What is it?"
"Didn't you say you'd help me harvest the Rainbow Orchid?"
"Ah—I completely forgot about that!"
"If you have something to do, you don't have to come."
"No, I'm free. I'll definitely be there tomorrow!"
The communication ended.
Xu Changqing set down the Communication Talisman and raised an eyebrow.
Wasn't this like someone bringing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy?
The lifespan he had consumed needed replenishing anyway.
And he could also ask Li Sancai about Mutated Spirit Plants.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon the next day.
Only after feeding Little Yellow Dog and the Pearl Chickens did Xu Changqing set off.
He took the same route as before, only this time he moved faster.
When he arrived, Li Sancai had already been waiting in the pavilion.
"Senior Brother!" Xu Changqing cupped his hands in salute.
Li Sancai opened the wicker gate, then waved. "Come in."
The two entered one after the other.
Since it was not his first visit, Xu Changqing did not look around elsewhere.
His gaze immediately fell upon the Rainbow Orchids waiting to be harvested.
He discovered that their color had actually deepened.
They looked somewhat richer and denser.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Li Sancai asked, "Do you want to rest first, or harvest them right away?"
Xu Changqing immediately smiled. "This is Spirit Rice Wine I brewed. Senior Brother, why don't you taste it while guiding me through the harvest?"
"Spirit Rice Wine?" Expectation appeared in Li Sancai's eyes.
Even Pei Mo, that drunkard, loved it dearly. It certainly could not be anything ordinary.
Xu Changqing took out a jin of pre-filled Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine from his Small Storage Bag and handed it over, then headed toward the Spirit Fields where the Rainbow Orchids were planted.
After taking it, Li Sancai returned to the pavilion and immediately poured himself a cup.
At once, a rich fragrance of rice and wine spread through the air.
Though he had not tasted it yet.
He could tell from the scent alone that its quality was anything but poor.
Li Sancai could not help glancing at Xu Changqing as he entered the Spirit Fields.
He had not expected someone so young.
To possess such superb brewing skills.
At that moment, Xu Changqing called from the Spirit Fields, "Senior Brother, do these Rainbow Orchids also need to be harvested from the roots?"
"Yes." Li Sancai answered, then lifted the wine cup and took a small sip.
Instantly, it was as though he had been struck by lightning.
The mellow wine slid from his mouth, down his throat, and into his stomach.
In an instant, a warm current spread throughout his body.
Spirit Rice Wine was extremely common. Many Spirit Farmers brewed it.
But Spirit Rice Wine with such quality, such flavor, such refinement.
Li Sancai swore that among all the Spirit Fields, aside from Xu Changqing, no one could brew anything like it.
It was unbelievable that this was the most common, even the most ordinary, Spirit Rice Wine.
Yet its flavor, and the sensation after drinking it, left him utterly intoxicated.
He immediately drained the cup in one gulp, then narrowed his eyes and savored the aftertaste.
On the other side, Xu Changqing saw that Li Sancai was drinking and did not disturb him.
He quietly circulated the Evergreen Formula to sense the Rainbow Orchids' condition.
[Mature] [Undamaged] [Abundant Spiritual Energy] [High Quality Today] [Premium Quality in Three Days]
Seeing this information, Xu Changqing frowned.
He had thought Li Sancai would be better than Zhang Su.
Yet he discovered that the two were six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Neither understood Spirit Plants down to the finest detail.
Neither could grasp the best timing for a quality increase.
Still, he had no intention of reminding them.
His persona was that of a Formal Disciple who had only been initiated for one year.
If he proved more capable than Li Sancai, Zhang Su, and the others instead, it would be easy to offend people.
Thus, Xu Changqing bent down and began harvesting in earnest.
[Harvested 1 "High-Quality Rainbow Orchid," Lifespan +5 Days] [Harvested 1 "High-Quality Rainbow Orchid," Lifespan +5 Days] [Harvested 1 "High-Quality Rainbow Orchid," Lifespan +5 Days] x9 x99 x999
Once he got to work, time flew by.
An hour later, all the Rainbow Orchids had been harvested.
Every single stalk was neatly arranged along the ridge of the field.
Piled together, they stood nearly three meters high, like a colorful wall.
[Remaining Lifespan: 65079 Days]
Harvesting the Rainbow Orchids had added [5565 Days] to his lifespan, roughly equivalent to fifteen years.
"Senior Brother, I'm finished harvesting." Seeing no reaction from the other side for so long, Xu Changqing could not help calling out.
"Hm?" Li Sancai emerged from his tipsy state, his eyes unfocused. "Oh!"
One jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine.
In the span of that hour, he had somehow downed half a jin.
Though he had not yet lost consciousness, he was already floating as if riding the clouds.
As he walked, one foot landed deep and the other shallow, and he looked ready to fall at any moment.
Xu Changqing climbed onto the field ridge and took a look, then froze. "You're drunk?"
Li Sancai asked with a beaming smile, "Junior Brother, where did you learn those brewing skills?"
Xu Changqing shrugged. "It's a family inheritance."
Li Sancai nodded slightly. "As expected, true masters dwell among the common folk. Ordinary Spirit Rice Wine can actually be brewed to such a quality. Incredible."
Xu Changqing smiled at that. "If Senior Brother enjoys it, I'll bring you some more next time."
Li Sancai said regretfully, "It's a pity my younger cousin has already left the Immortal Sect for the Central Region. Otherwise, I would definitely have given him some to taste."
Seeing that Li Sancai was still drunk, Xu Changqing took the opportunity to ask, "Senior Brother, I heard Spirit Plants can mutate?"
Li Sancai was taken aback at first, then nodded. "Yes. Spirit Plants can indeed mutate at certain times, stages, or under certain environmental conditions, but the chances are extremely, extremely low."
After all his years in the Spirit Fields, he had only seen it happen twice.
That alone showed how rare it was.
"What about their value?" Xu Changqing asked with a face full of curiosity.
Mutated Spirit Plants were scarce goods, and many people collected them.
One could either turn them over to the sect and receive at least 1,000 contribution points as a reward.
Or sell them outside, where they would fetch at least a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones." Li Sancai answered.
Xu Changqing was deeply shocked.
A single Mutated Spirit Plant was worth 1,000 contribution points or over a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
Then wouldn't the Mutated Spirit Rice with the [More Children, More Blessings] trait be even more astonishing!!!
Before you continue