The Opportunity for Mutation, the Mundane Daily Life

After bidding farewell to Li Sancai.

Xu Changqing was still pondering the matter of Mutated Spirit Plants.

If there were some way to induce mutations in Spirit Plants.

Wouldn't that mean a never-ending stream of yields and spirit stones?

He thought back carefully.

Before the rain, the Spirit Rice throughout the entire Spirit Fields had not differed much.

The only difference had been the number of rice ears.

When the thunder rang out and the thunderstorm passed.

Only then had that Spirit Plant mutated.

Could it be related to the thunder? Xu Changqing speculated.

But why this particular plant?

Why had none of the other Spirit Rice mutated?

Yet the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

He simply could not figure out the crux of it.

Time came to Grain in Ear.

In the outside world, this signified that crops had ripened and could be harvested.

But in the Immortal Sect, or rather, throughout the entire cultivation world, it was merely an ordinary day.

Even the most common Spirit Rice took three months to mature and was harvested once per season.

After receiving Bai Ling'er's notice, Xu Changqing stood patiently on the ridge between the fields and waited.

But he had to admit that summer was not particularly friendly to those with a Wood Spirit Root.

The sunlight was scorching, and the temperature was extremely high.

After being exposed to it for only a short while, his mouth became dry and his tongue parched.

Fortunately, Bai Ling'er did not make him wait long.

Before long, a Flying Paper Crane slowly approached from the distance.

In such a remote place.

Other than Bai Ling'er.

Only Hu Bugui was willing to come.

Of course, there had once also been Lin An, but that fellow's whereabouts were now unknown.

Once Bai Ling'er jumped down, Xu Changqing immediately stepped forward to welcome her. "Welcome, Fellow Daoist Bai!"

Bai Ling'er was quite surprised to see a Pearl Chicken wandering around. "You're raising chickens now?"

Xu Changqing smiled faintly. "A friend gave it to me."

Bai Ling'er suddenly understood, then blinked. "Do you raise fish?"

"Fish?" Xu Changqing was startled.

Bai Ling'er explained, "Those plump, fat little carp."

Xu Changqing waved his hand. "I do have irrigation channels here, but they're too shallow."

If they were loaches, eels, clams, crayfish, or the like that burrowed into the mud.

He could give it a try.

But as for fish, he would forget about them for now.

Bai Ling'er nodded in understanding, then said, "Then I'll begin."

With a wave of her small hand, spiritual power began to drain away.

At once, a large amount of water spiritual energy began gathering above the Spirit Fields.

In no time, it gradually formed a faintly black mist cloud.

At the same time, a cool breath spread outward.

Xu Changqing had been feeling somewhat overheated, but now he felt incomparably cool and refreshed from head to toe.

Soon, the pattering sound of rain rang out.

The Spirit Plants below immediately became full and lush beneath the nourishment of the spirit rain.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing's heart stirred, and he asked, "Fellow Daoist Bai, can the Minor Cloud-Rain Art eventually turn into a thunderstorm?"

Bai Ling'er shook her head. "The Minor Cloud-Rain Art cannot, but the Grand Cloud-Rain Art can."

"What is the difference?" Xu Changqing continued asking.

Bai Ling'er explained, "The Minor Cloud-Rain Art is a low-tier spell, while the Grand Cloud-Rain Art is a high-tier one.

Casting the Grand Cloud-Rain Art requires an enormous amount of spiritual power to sustain it, so only those in the Foundation Establishment Realm or above can learn it."

Xu Changqing seemed to understand, yet not fully, as he pressed on. "Can it simulate the sound of thunder?"

"Of course." Bai Ling'er gave an affirmative answer.

Xu Changqing narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered.

Perhaps he should find a water Spirit Root disciple in the Foundation Establishment Realm who had learned the Grand Cloud-Rain Art and have them try it.

If it truly could stimulate his Spirit Plants into mutation, then that would prove this method was correct.

The only problem was that to invite a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple.

The Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in his possession might not be enough.

At once, his gaze fell on Bai Ling'er again.

"Why are you looking at me?" Bai Ling'er was utterly puzzled.

"Forgive my presumptuousness."

Xu Changqing continued, "What realm are you currently in, Fellow Daoist Bai? What level is your Minor Cloud-Rain Art at?"

Bai Ling'er looked a little embarrassed upon hearing that. "Well... although my Minor Cloud-Rain Art is already at the second level, my cultivation realm is only Middle Qi Refining."

"Only Middle Qi Refining?" Xu Changqing was dumbfounded.

He had thought that even if she was not in the Foundation Establishment Realm, she would at least be in Late Qi Refining.

After all, her Minor Cloud-Rain Art truly was impressive.

Unexpectedly, he had overestimated her instead.

Bai Ling'er shrugged. "The advantage of us with Water Spirit Roots is that our spiritual power lasts longer. That is also one of the main reasons we follow the talisman path."

Faced with that explanation, Xu Changqing had nothing to say.

By the time Bai Ling'er reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and learned the Grand Cloud-Rain Art.

It would take at least ten or twenty years. That was a little too long.

It seemed the most direct and effective method was to find a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple with a Water Spirit Root.

After that, the two chatted on and off.

Time quickly passed.

Since he had already paid a deposit previously.

There was no need to pay again for Bai Ling'er to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art this time.

After she left atop the Flying Paper Crane, Xu Changqing immediately jumped into the Spirit Fields.

As he circulated the Evergreen Formula to sense every stalk of Spirit Rice.

He carefully observed every single Spirit Plant.

Unfortunately, not a single one had mutated.

Whether it was Spirit Rice, Four-Leaf Clover, watermelons, or Chinese cabbage.

Even after being nourished by the Minor Cloud-Rain Art once, they had merely become more moist and plump.

None had displayed the exact same condition as the Mutated Spirit Rice.

"Whether it is the Minor Cloud-Rain Art or the Grand Cloud-Rain Art, they are ultimately only imitating natural rainfall. They are still just a little short." Xu Changqing felt somewhat regretful.

Then, without stopping for even a moment, he rushed toward Stone Mountain.

He familiarly slipped into the inner space.

Under his careful cultivation, the Mutated Spirit Rice was growing vigorously.

After all, the nutrients in this patch of Black Soil were all being absorbed by that single plant.

[Not Mature]

[Spiritual Energy Abundant]

[More Children, More Blessings]

After examining it carefully, Xu Changqing mused, "Once it matures, I'll keep all the grains and cultivate them separately to see how they differ from normal Spirit Rice."

Seeing that there were no problems, he turned and left.

When he reached the outside, the Pearl Chicken let out a "cluck cluck."

He knew at once that it had laid another egg.

Once every three days, always at this exact time. It was remarkably punctual.

Xu Changqing himself had barely eaten any; he had fed them all to the little yellow dog.

Over the past half year, its size had shot up.

But because it had reached an awkward stage.

It looked rather scruffy.

Its fur in particular had become extremely messy.

Whenever Xu Changqing saw the little yellow dog's monkey-like face, he wanted to laugh.

Sure enough, when he arrived at the Pearl Chicken's nesting spot.

The little fellow had already been waiting respectfully for some time.

Though it was greedy and drooling continuously.

Because Xu Changqing had privately taught it a lesson—by beating it—it did not dare act recklessly.

"Woof woof!" It barked a few times as if urging him on.

"What are you in such a hurry for? They're all yours anyway." Xu Changqing shrugged.

He took out a handful of Second-Grade Spirit Rice from his small storage pouch.

There were roughly a hundred grains.

Then he placed them before the Pearl Chicken.

Only after it pecked them up grain by grain did he pick up the egg from the ground and head toward the kitchen.

Before long, the fragrance of food filled the house.

And days like this were repeated almost every day by one man, one dog, and one chicken!