Summer Harvest Rush, Four Thousand Jin of Spirit Rice

Great Heat—the hottest day of the year.

The sun was like a dam with its gates thrown open, pouring down a torrent of blazing light.

Flowers, grass, trees—every kind of plant drooped listlessly.

The spirit rice, four-leaf clovers, watermelons, and Chinese cabbages were all drying beneath the sun.

Only the Mutated Spirit Rice beneath Stone Mountain showed no change at all.

Whether because it was stronger in every respect or because it received no direct sunlight, he did not know.

Fortunately, Xu Changqing had made an agreement with Bai Ling'er long ago.

On Great Heat, she would come and bring down a spiritual rain.

To keep her from forgetting, he had even sent her a reminder with a Communication Talisman that morning.

Now, Bai Ling'er was on her way to the Spirit Fields.

"Once Great Heat passes, the second quarter will begin its countdown. In a few days, it'll be time to harvest." Wearing a bamboo hat, Xu Changqing stood on the ridge between the fields, observing 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 careful.

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, only Bai Ling'er would come.

"Fellow Daoist Bai." Xu Changqing smiled.

Bai Ling'er looked surprised. "Fellow Daoist Xu, you're waiting outside for me in such heat?"

Xu Changqing shrugged. "I'm 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 watching the spirit plants to prevent any accidents."

Bai Ling'er nodded lightly in understanding, then leaped down from the Flying Paper Crane. "Then I won't waste words. Once I'm done here, I still have to hurry back."

Then, she directly cast Minor Cloud-Rain Art.

However, compared with before, its efficiency was slightly worse this time.

The water spiritual energy gathered more slowly than usual.

Especially around the edges, where it was almost instantly evaporated by the blazing sunlight.

Fortunately, after several adjustments.

She still managed to gather a faintly dark cloud in the end.

Soon, the sound of rain pattering down rang out.

The temperature around the Spirit Fields fell.

A long-missed coolness spread through the air in an instant.

Xu Changqing felt as refreshed as someone who had thirsted for days before suddenly drinking cold water. He hurried closer to Bai Ling'er and made conversation. "You're in such a rush to return. Is something happening at home?"

Bai Ling'er answered, "There's only a little over a year until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition. Formal disciples who went out on missions from places like Water-Control Pavilion, Forge Peak, Alchemy Pavilion, the Spirit Fields, the Earth Vein, Beast Spirit Valley, Sorrowwind Cliff, and Thunder Forest are all rushing back.

"So Father ordered me to draw more spirit talismans, so I can sell them for a good price when the time comes."

"But there's still more than a year left, isn't there?" Xu Changqing was startled.

Since he had no plans 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 accumulated plenty of spirit stones and rare items in their storage bags.

"Since they intend to join the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, they naturally need to improve their strength.

"Especially those from Late Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Their demand for resources is even greater."

Xu Changqing was no fool. The moment he heard that, 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 he would soon harvest another batch from the Spirit Fields, at least another two thousand jin.

If things were truly as Bai Ling'er said, these people would definitely need it.

Of course, an individual could not compare with a colossal entity like the Farmer's Heart Society.

Nor could he possibly compete for the market.

But if he could not eat the meat, he could at least drink a mouthful of the broth.

Besides, Xu Changqing still had the trump card of Spirit Rice Wine.

Everyone who had tasted 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."

"Yes." Xu Changqing nodded.

Bai Ling'er smiled faintly. "Then I'll head back first."

Xu Changqing waved. "Goodbye."

Afterward, Bai Ling'er guided the Flying Paper Crane toward Water-Control Pavilion.

Watching her gradually fading figure, Xu Changqing could not help pondering, *As more formal disciples return, the Red Maple Valley market will definitely open early.

When that happens, even if I don't sell spirit rice, Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine alone will earn me a large number of spirit stones. I might even 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 again.

The only pity was that not a single one had mutated.

The only difference from usual was that their yield would be somewhat higher.

In the days that followed.

Xu Changqing brewed Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine while waiting for the harvest.

As for Hu Bugui and Zhao Ziyue going to Black Dragon Pool, he cast it to the back of his mind.

After all, it had nothing to do with him anymore.

No matter the final outcome, Hu Bugui alone would bear it.

In the blink of an eye, harvest day finally arrived.

Looking at the plump grains of spirit rice in the Spirit Fields.

Xu Changqing inexplicably felt the satisfaction of having a child in his old age.

At once, he circulated the Evergreen Formula and sensed them.

[Mature]

[Spiritual energy abundant]

[No losses]

[Second-Grade Spirit Rice]

[Supreme grade today]

[Yield: 4,000 jin]

Xu Changqing sucked in a cold breath.

From 3,500 jin in spring to 4,000 jin in summer.

The difference seemed to be only five hundred jin.

But in reality, it meant that the yield of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice had reached its limit.

If he wanted to increase it further, he would have to add Mutated Spirit Rice.

Or expand the Spirit Fields, increasing them from one mu to two.

Unfortunately, Xu Changqing had not reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

What was more, even if he met the requirements, he would not tell anyone.

At the very least, he needed to keep a low profile for a few years, until he was roughly on the same level as most people.

In truth, ordinary spirit farmers did not have such worries.

Even if they reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, the yield from one mu of Spirit Fields would only be around two to three thousand jin.

Someone like Xu Changqing, who had reached the limit in less than a year after joining, was nearly unheard of.

Perhaps this was the bitterness and sweetness of life entwined together.

Next, Xu Changqing picked up his everyday 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.

Including 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.

And hand over another 1,500 jin.

As well as use some to brew Spirit Rice Wine.

The amount of spirit rice he truly had on hand was 4,390 jin.

However, Xu Changqing was in no hurry to check his attribute panel.

Instead, he harvested the four-leaf clovers, large watermelons, and Chinese cabbages as well.

[Harvested 1 four-leaf clover, lifespan +5 days]

[Harvested 1 high-quality Chinese cabbage, lifespan +3 days]

[Harvested 1 high-quality large watermelon, lifespan +3 days]

x999

By then, evening had 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.

Then he looked at the long-unseen attribute 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: 69,566 days]

If he remembered correctly, it had previously been 59,480 days.

After harvesting the spirit rice, four-leaf clovers, Chinese cabbages, and large watermelons.

Together, they had added exactly 10,086 days.

His total lifespan had now reached 190 years, drawing close to 200 years once more!!!