After bidding Li Sancai farewell.
Xu Changqing was still pondering the matter of Mutated Spirit Plants.
If there were some way to induce a Spirit Plant to mutate...
Wouldn't that mean an endless 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 was merely the number of rice ears.
Only after thunder rumbled and the thunderstorm passed...
Did that Spirit Plant mutate.
Could it be related to the thunder? Xu Changqing speculated inwardly.
But why this particular plant?
Why had none of the other Spirit Rice mutated?
Yet the more he thought about it, the more doubts filled his heart.
He simply could not figure out the crucial point.
Time arrived at 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 matured every three months, with one harvest each 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 very friendly to those with a Wood Spirit Root.
The sunlight was scorching, and the temperature was extraordinarily high.
After being exposed to it for only a short while, he felt parched and dry-mouthed.
Fortunately, Bai Ling'er did not make him wait long.
Before long, a Flying Paper Crane slowly approached from afar.
In a remote place like this...
Other than Bai Ling'er...
Only Hu Bugui was willing to visit.
Of course, Lin An had also come before, but that fellow's whereabouts were now unknown.
After Xu Changqing waited for her to jump down, he immediately stepped forward to greet her. "Welcome, Fellow Daoist Bai!"
Bai Ling'er was rather surprised to see a Pearl Chicken wandering around. "You're raising chickens too?"
Xu Changqing smiled faintly. "A friend gave it to me."
Bai Ling'er understood, then blinked. "Do you raise fish?"
"Fish?" Xu Changqing was startled.
Bai Ling'er explained, "You know, those plump, chubby carp."
Xu Changqing waved his hand. "I have an irrigation channel here, but it's too shallow."
If it were loaches, eels, toads, crayfish, or similar creatures that burrowed into the mud...
He could give it a try.
But as for fish, he had better forget about them for now.
Bai Ling'er nodded in understanding, then said, "Then I'll begin."
With a wave of her small hand, her spiritual power began to drain away.
At once, vast amounts of Water Qi started gathering above the Spirit Fields.
In no time, it gradually formed into a slightly dark mist.
At the same time, a cool breath spread outward.
Xu Changqing had been somewhat overheated, but in an instant, he felt utterly cool and refreshed from head to toe.
Soon, the pattering sound of rain arose.
Nourished by the spiritual rain, the Spirit Plants below immediately became full and lush.
Xu Changqing's heart stirred at the sight. He asked, "Fellow Daoist Bai, will 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 grade spell, while the Grand Cloud-Rain Art is a High Grade one.
Casting the Grand Cloud-Rain Art requires immense spiritual power to sustain it, so only those at the Foundation Establishment Realm and above can learn it."
Xu Changqing half understood, yet still asked, "Can it simulate the sound of thunder?"
"Of course." Bai Ling'er answered with certainty.
Xu Changqing narrowed his eyes and pondered.
Perhaps he should find a Water Spirit Root disciple at the Foundation Establishment Realm who had learned the Grand Cloud-Rain Art and give it a try.
If it truly could stimulate his Spirit Plants into mutating, then that would prove this method was correct.
The only issue was that if he wanted to hire a Foundation Establishment disciple...
The Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in his possession might not be enough.
His gaze immediately fell upon Bai Ling'er again.
"Why are you looking at me?" Bai Ling'er was deeply puzzled.
"Forgive my presumptuousness."
Xu Changqing continued, "What realm is Fellow Daoist Bai currently at? What level has your Minor Cloud-Rain Art reached?"
Bai Ling'er looked a little embarrassed upon hearing this. "Well... although my Minor Cloud-Rain Art has reached 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 at the Foundation Establishment Realm, she would at least be at Late Qi Refining.
After all, her Minor Cloud-Rain Art was indeed quite impressive.
Who would have thought that he had actually overestimated her?
Bai Ling'er shrugged. "The advantage of us Water Spirit Root cultivators is that our spiritual power lasts longer. That's also one of the main reasons we follow the talisman path."
Faced with that explanation, Xu Changqing had no reply.
By the time Bai Ling'er reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and learned the Grand Cloud-Rain Art...
It would take at least another dozen or twenty years. That was far too long.
It seemed the most direct and effective method was to find a Foundation Establishment Water Spirit Root disciple.
After that, the two chatted on and off.
Time passed quickly.
Since he had already paid the deposit before.
He did not need to pay again this time for Bai Ling'er to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.
After she departed atop the Flying Paper Crane, Xu Changqing immediately jumped into the Spirit Fields.
While circulating the Evergreen Formula to sense every stalk of Spirit Rice.
He carefully inspected all the Spirit Plants as well.
Unfortunately, not a single one had mutated.
Whether it was Spirit Rice, Four-Leaf Clover, watermelons, or Chinese cabbage.
Even after being nourished once by the Minor Cloud-Rain Art, they had merely become more hydrated and plump.
None had turned out exactly like 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're still lacking something." Xu Changqing felt somewhat regretful.
Then, without stopping for even a moment, he ran toward Stone Mountain.
He familiarly slipped into the inner space.
Under his meticulous cultivation, the Mutated Spirit Rice was thriving.
After all, the nutrients in this patch of Black Soil were all being absorbed by that single plant.
[Unripe] [Abundant Spiritual Energy] [More Children, More Blessings]
After examining it closely, Xu Changqing pondered, "Once it matures, I'll keep all the rice 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 came outside, the Pearl Chicken let out a series of clucks.
One could tell at once that it had laid another egg.
Once every three days, always at this very time. It was remarkably punctual.
However, Xu Changqing himself had not eaten much of them; he had fed them all to the little yellow dog.
Over the past half year, its size had shot up rapidly.
But because it had reached that awkward stage.
Its appearance had become 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 where the Pearl Chicken had laid its egg.
The little fellow had already been waiting respectfully for some time.
Though it was greedy enough to drool constantly.
Because Xu Changqing had privately disciplined it—by beating it—before, it did not dare act recklessly.
"Woof! Woof!" It barked several times as if urging him on.
"What are you in such a hurry for? It's 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 had pecked them up one grain at a time did he pick up the egg from the ground and head toward the kitchen.
Before long, the fragrance of cooked rice and dishes filled the house.
And such days were repeated almost every day by one man, one dog, and one chicken!
Before you continue