Great Heat was the hottest day of all.
The sun was like a dam with its gates thrown open, pouring forth an intense flood of light.
Flowers, grass, trees—every kind of plant—wilted listlessly.
The Spirit Rice, Four-Leaf Clover, watermelons, and cabbages all dried beneath the blazing sun.
Only the Mutated Spirit Rice beneath Stone Mountain showed no change whatsoever.
It was unclear whether it was stronger in every aspect, or simply shielded from direct sunlight.
Fortunately, Xu Changqing and Bai Ling'er had made an agreement long ago.
On Great Heat, she would come and cast a spiritual rain.
To keep her from forgetting, he had even used a Communication Talisman to remind her that morning.
At this moment, Bai Ling'er was hurrying toward the Spirit Fields.
"Once Great Heat passes, the second quarter enters its final countdown. In just a few days, it'll be time to harvest." Wearing a bamboo hat, Xu Changqing stood on the ridge between the fields and observed the spirit plants.
Normally, he would not have been this attentive even a few days earlier.
But during a solar term, he had to be extra vigilant.
Before long, a paper crane flew over from afar, with someone standing atop it.
There was no need to guess.
In such a remote place, Bai Ling'er was the only one who would come.
"Fellow Daoist Bai." Xu Changqing smiled.
Bai Ling'er looked surprised. "Fellow Daoist Xu, it's so hot, yet you were waiting outside specifically for me?"
Xu Changqing shrugged. "Not just waiting for you. This is my first time experiencing Great Heat, so I don't dare let my guard down. I have to keep watch over the spirit plants at all times and prevent any accidents."
Bai Ling'er nodded lightly in understanding, then jumped down from the Flying Paper Crane. "Then I won't waste words. Once I'm done here, I still need to hurry back."
Then, she directly cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.
However, compared to before, its efficiency was somewhat worse this time.
Water Qi gathered far more slowly than usual.
Especially around the edges, where it was nearly instantly evaporated by the fierce sunlight.
Fortunately, after several adjustments,
she finally gathered a faintly dark cloud.
Soon, the sound of rain pattering down rang out.
The temperature around the Spirit Fields dropped.
A long-missed coolness instantly spread through the air.
Xu Changqing felt as though he had been parched for days before suddenly drinking cold water. He hurried over to Bai Ling'er and made conversation for the sake of it. "You're in such a rush to return. Is something happening at home?"
Bai Ling'er replied, "There's only a little over a year left until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition. Formal disciples who went out on missions from Water-Control Pavilion, Forge Peak, Alchemy Pavilion, the Spirit Fields, the Earth Vein, Spirit Beast Valley, Sorrowwind Cliff, Thunder Forest, and other places are all rushing back.
That's why Father ordered me to draw more spirit talismans, so I can sell them for a good price when the time comes."
"Isn't there still more than a year left?" Xu Changqing was taken aback.
Since he did not intend to participate in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, he could not understand it.
Bai Ling'er chuckled. "Those formal disciples who have been away for so long must have stored large amounts of spirit stones and rare items in their storage bags.
Since they plan to participate in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, they naturally need to improve their strength.
Especially those between Late Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Early Stage—they have an even greater need for resources."
Xu Changqing was no fool. The moment he heard this, he understood what she meant.
But it also reminded him of something.
He happened to have more than two thousand jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice stored away.
And after harvesting another batch from the Spirit Fields, there would be at least two thousand more jin.
If things were truly as Bai Ling'er said, then these people would certainly need it.
Of course, an individual could not compare to a colossal entity like the Farmer's Heart Society.
Nor could he possibly compete for the market.
But even if he could not eat the meat, he could at least drink a mouthful of the soup.
Besides, Xu Changqing still had the trump card of Spirit Rice Wine.
Anyone who had drunk it had nothing but praise for it.
After a while, the Minor Cloud-Rain Art ended.
Bai Ling'er jumped onto the Flying Paper Crane and said, "As agreed, I've completed the third rainfall. If you need more afterward, we'll have to make a new arrangement."
"Right." Xu Changqing nodded.
Bai Ling'er smiled faintly. "Then I'll be heading back first."
Xu Changqing waved. "Goodbye."
Afterward, Bai Ling'er controlled the Flying Paper Crane and headed toward Water-Control Pavilion.
Watching her gradually fading figure, Xu Changqing could not help pondering, "As more formal disciples return, Red Maple Valley Market will definitely open early.
When that happens, even if I don't sell Spirit Rice Grain, Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine alone can earn me a large number of spirit stones, perhaps even let me trade for all kinds of scarce items."
After thinking it over, he turned his attention back to the Spirit Fields.
Sure enough, after the spiritual rain, the spirit plants had become plump once more.
The only pity was that not a single one had mutated.
The sole difference from usual was that the yield would be somewhat greater.
Over the following days,
Xu Changqing brewed Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine while waiting for the harvest.
As for Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue heading to Black Dragon Pool, he tossed the matter to the back of his mind.
After all, it had nothing to do with him anymore.
No matter what the final outcome was, Hu Bugui would bear it alone.
In the blink of an eye, harvest day finally arrived.
Looking at the plump grains of Spirit Rice in the fields,
Xu Changqing inexplicably felt the satisfaction of gaining a son in his old age.
At once, he circulated the Evergreen Formula and sensed the field.
[Mature] [Abundant spiritual energy] [No loss] [Second-Grade Spirit Rice] [Supreme grade today] [Yield: 4000 jin]
"Hiss." Xu Changqing sucked in a breath of cold air.
From 3,500 jin in spring to 4,000 jin in summer,
the increase appeared to be only five hundred jin.
In reality, it meant that the yield of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice had reached its limit.
To increase it further, he would have to add Mutated Spirit Rice,
or expand the Spirit Fields from one mu to two.
Unfortunately, Xu Changqing had not reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Besides, even if he met the requirements, he would not speak of it.
At the very least, he needed to keep a low profile for a few years, until he was on the same level as most people.
In truth, ordinary spirit farmers did not have such worries.
Even upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, the yield from one mu of Spirit Fields was only around two to three thousand jin.
Someone like Xu Changqing, who had reached the limit less than a year after joining, was almost unheard of.
Perhaps this was pain and joy entwined.
Next, Xu Changqing picked up his usual spirit tool, the sickle, and began harvesting.
[Harvested 1 stalk of "Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice," lifespan +6 days] [Harvested 1 stalk of "Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice," lifespan +6 days] [Harvested 1 stalk of "Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice," lifespan +6 days] x9 x99 x999 x1999
After a bout of hard work, the Spirit Rice was finally harvested.
Adding these 4,000 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice,
he now had a total of 6,240 jin in hand.
However, considering that he had to give Hu Bugui 150 jin,
hand over another 1,500 jin,
and use part of it to brew Spirit Rice Wine,
the actual amount of Spirit Rice Grain in his possession was 4,390 jin.
Yet Xu Changqing was in no hurry to check his status panel.
Instead, he harvested the Four-Leaf Clover, watermelons, and cabbages as well.
[Harvested 1 Four-Leaf Clover, lifespan +5 days] [Harvested 1 high-quality grade cabbage, lifespan +3 days] [Harvested 1 high-quality grade watermelon, lifespan +3 days] x999
Evening arrived.
As the sun sank westward, the light grew dimmer and dimmer.
The sweltering heat finally came to an abrupt end.
Xu Changqing had also harvested every spirit plant in the Spirit Fields.
Only then did he look at his long-unseen status panel.
[Xu Changqing] [Male] [19 years old] [Wood Spirit Root] [Late Qi Refining] [Evergreen Formula (Level 5)] [Spirit Rice Wine (Expert) ↑] [Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art (Level 3)] [Ironwood Armor Art (Level 4)] [Remaining lifespan: 69566 days]
If he remembered correctly, it had previously been 59,480 days.
After harvesting the Spirit Rice, Four-Leaf Clover, cabbages, and watermelons,
the total came to exactly 10,086 days.
His overall lifespan had now reached 190 years, once again approaching 200 years!!!
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