Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the New Year, Lin An visits Xu Changqing to ask for Spirit Rice Grain. Because the five major powers are speculating on resources, Spirit Rice prices have risen sharply, making it difficult for Lin An to fulfill his contracts.
• Lin An’s two former partners have unexpectedly become Formal Disciples, increasing their demands to hundreds of jin of Spirit Rice. Since Lin An did not plant rice during winter, he lacks enough grain to honor their agreements.
• Xu Changqing worries that lending a large quantity would attract suspicion. His sudden access to abundant rice could expose his hidden advantages, especially to hostile or opportunistic figures such as Zhao Ziyao and Zhang Er.
• Nevertheless, because Lin An previously helped introduce him to Zhang Su, Xu lends him twenty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice—half of his remaining supply. Lin An promises to repay him double and leaves to seek the rest elsewhere.
• Later, Han Su arrives under the pretense of offering New Year greetings but admits that he also wants to borrow rice. Xu refuses, claiming he has none.
• Han Su then reveals his real objective: he wants to secure Xu as a client for spring soil loosening. He offers to perform the work for only fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice for one season.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly cautious and politically aware. Although he is willing to help Lin An, he carefully limits the favor to avoid revealing his resources or making himself vulnerable.
• Lin An is shown as desperate but not malicious. His poor planning and unexpected success in becoming a Formal Disciple leave him trapped by contracts and dependent on others’ assistance.
• Han Su is revealed to be opportunistic and persistent. He recognizes the value of Xu’s fields and tries to turn Xu’s shortage of rice into an opportunity to obtain work. His earlier poor judgment of people, particularly Lin An, also becomes a source of frustration.
• Xu’s cautious attitude reflects his growing understanding that even friends may become liabilities when resources are scarce.

Significant Themes

• Scarcity and resource competition: Rising Spirit Rice prices and shortages expose the instability created by powerful factions manipulating resources.
• Trust versus self-protection: Xu wants to help Lin An but knows excessive generosity could provoke suspicion or betrayal.
• The complexity of human motives: Both Lin An and Han Su approach Xu with genuine needs, but each also seeks to advance personal interests.
• Contracts and responsibility: Lin An’s agreements bind him despite his lack of preparation, emphasizing the consequences of commitments in the cultivation world.
• Opportunity amid crisis: Han Su uses the shortage to negotiate future employment, showing how desperate circumstances create new bargains.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Lin An share a relatively friendly relationship, but Xu maintains firm boundaries by lending only twenty jin of rice.
• Lin An expresses deep gratitude and promises repayment, while Xu reminds him that his future now depends on his own efforts.
• Xu and Han Su exchange teasing and guarded remarks. Xu refuses Han Su’s request for rice, while Han Su pivots to negotiating soil-loosening work.
• The chapter ends with Han Su making an aggressive offer, leaving Xu to decide whether the arrangement is worth the rice and whether Han Su is a reliable partner.

Chapter Summary: “Collecting Spring Seedlings, Four-Leaf Clover Recommended”

Key Plot Points and Events

• As winter begins to thaw, Xu Changqing leaves home to collect the year’s spring seedlings. The muddy roads double his journey time, prompting him to consider buying a Flying Paper Crane for easier travel.
• At the Core Administration Office, Flower Elder recognizes Xu Changqing and praises his diligence, especially after his successful cultivation of supreme-grade Spirit Rice during the previous winter.
• Xu Changqing asks whether he can obtain seeds for other spirit plants. Flower Elder explains that disciples’ cultivation realms and Evergreen Formula levels determine which plants they may officially exchange for:
  • Outer disciples are generally restricted to Spirit Rice.
  • Formal Disciples can unlock more common spirit plants as their cultivation and techniques improve.
  • Rare and high-quality plants are reserved for core disciples.
• Although Flower Elder refuses to bend the sect’s formal rules, he implies that private transactions between Spirit Farmers are not prohibited or easily controlled. Xu Changqing realizes he can acquire better seeds through personal connections as long as he fulfills his official yearly obligations.
• After collecting his spring seedlings, Xu Changqing visits Formal Disciple Zhang Su instead of returning home. He politely offers New Year’s greetings, using the visit to establish a relationship and request help obtaining seeds.
• Zhang Su receives him warmly in a luxurious residence and serves him Centennial Flowerwood Tea. Their conversation reflects Zhang Su’s comfortable lifestyle and belief that cultivation should include worldly enjoyment.
• When Xu Changqing explains that he wants to purchase seeds but lacks connections, Zhang Su recommends Four-Leaf Clover. It is somewhat more advanced than Spirit Rice, suitable for Xu Changqing’s apparent cultivation level, and relatively inexpensive.
• Zhang Su offers him an old batch of Four-Leaf Clover seeds for ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, warning that many are shriveled and their poor storage means successful cultivation is uncertain.
• Xu Changqing pretends to deliberate before accepting the deal. Zhang Su adds that he will buy all the Four-Leaf Clover Xu Changqing successfully grows at the current market price.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates diligence, caution, and strategic thinking. He outwardly presents himself as being only near Middle Qi Refining with a third-level Evergreen Formula, concealing that his actual cultivation and technique mastery are much higher. He begins actively building connections to bypass the limitations imposed by the sect’s official system.
• Flower Elder: Develops a favorable impression of Xu Changqing, viewing him as hardworking and potentially admirable despite his supposed mediocre aptitude. He strictly follows sect regulations but subtly reveals that private seed trading is outside his authority.
• Zhang Su: Is portrayed as wealthy, indulgent, and socially perceptive. He is willing to help Xu Changqing because of the younger disciple’s respectful manners, while also making a profitable offer by selling him poorly preserved seeds and securing a potential supply of cultivated Four-Leaf Clover.
• The Water Spirit Root disciple: Acts as Zhang Su’s attendant or household associate, screening visitors and serving tea. Her brief interactions help emphasize Zhang Su’s status and comfortable circumstances.

Significant Themes

• Institutional monopoly and inequality: The Dongting Immortal Sect tightly controls access to valuable spirit plants, using cultivation rank, technique level, and social status to regulate resources.
• Rules versus informal networks: Although official procedures restrict Xu Changqing, personal relationships and private transactions create alternative paths to obtain what the sect withholds.
• Diligence versus innate talent: Flower Elder believes persistent effort can partially compensate for weak aptitude, reinforcing the chapter’s emphasis on labor and perseverance.
• Concealed strength and strategic disguise: Xu Changqing deliberately understates his abilities, allowing others to underestimate him while he quietly pursues better opportunities.
• Cultivation as both work and lifestyle: Zhang Su’s luxurious home and philosophy suggest that cultivation is not only about struggle and advancement but also about comfort, wealth, and enjoyment.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and Flower Elder interact respectfully, with Flower Elder offering practical guidance while unknowingly underestimating Xu Changqing’s true abilities.
• Xu Changqing uses polite New Year’s greetings to approach Zhang Su without appearing openly transactional.
• Zhang Su tests Xu Changqing’s intentions, then responds favorably when he learns the younger disciple wants access to seeds.
• Their discussion over Four-Leaf Clover establishes a mutually beneficial arrangement: Xu Changqing gains a new cultivation opportunity, while Zhang Su gains a reliable potential supplier.

Summary

Xu Changqing’s female disciple comments on how many fellow disciples have begun borrowing spirit stones and spirit rice from him, predicting that such demands will continue until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition in two years.
When spring approaches, Xu meets Han Su to prepare his Grade-Two Spirit Field. Han Su, an Earth Spirit Root cultivator, begins loosening the frozen soil with the Earthdraw Formula. Although he manages to cultivate more than half the field, the process causes an abnormal reaction: his body becomes covered in white patches and he is overwhelmed by intense cold. Xu makes him stop before he harms himself.
Xu realizes that Han Su’s cultivation technique has not yet reached its second layer. Han Su explains that Earth Spirit Root disciples must enter deeper Earth Veins and use Earth Qi to temper their bodies. His goal is eventually to absorb a strand of Yellow Qi, a rare and extremely heavy form of Earth Qi used in artifact crafting. Because his comprehension is poor, Han Su believes he can only pursue the difficult path of body cultivation; his other possible routes are becoming a formation master or winning the fiercely competitive Formal Disciple Grand Competition.
During their conversation, Han Su reveals his tragic past. His family was destroyed after his father offended a powerful petty figure: his father died after being humiliated, his mother committed suicide, and Han Su escaped through a dog hole. He later met an old Daoist in a ruined temple, who recognized his cultivation potential and recommended him to the Dongting Immortal Sect.
Feeling guilty that he cannot finish the fieldwork, Han Su apologizes. Xu reassures him that he has already completed more than half the task and volunteers to finish the rest with his new spirit-artifact hoe. Han Su is deeply moved and begins to sob, realizing that he had mistaken Xu for someone entirely driven by practicality.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xu Changqing shows both pragmatism and compassion. Though he emphasizes yield and initially judges Han Su by his usefulness, he genuinely worries about Han Su’s health and willingly helps him once he becomes injured.
• Han Su is revealed as hardworking, physically limited by his incomplete technique, and burdened by a tragic past. His gratitude toward Xu deepens after Xu supports him without demanding repayment.
• Their relationship shifts from a purely transactional farming arrangement toward genuine trust and brotherly sympathy.
• The little yellow dog provides a lighthearted introduction to Han Su’s visit and contrasts with the chapter’s later emotional revelations.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance despite disadvantage: Han Su continues cultivating despite poor comprehension, a difficult cultivation path, and a painful past.
• The limits of talent and available paths: Earth Spirit Root disciples face narrow routes to advancement, making the Grand Competition especially daunting.
• Compassion beneath practicality: Xu’s concern proves that his focus on efficiency does not prevent him from caring for others.
• Fate and survival: Han Su’s journey from family tragedy and homelessness to the Immortal Sect is framed as an unexpected turn of fate.
• Mutual dependence: The chapter highlights how disciples increasingly rely on one another for resources, labor, and emotional support.

Chapter Summary: Qi Refining Reaches Late Stage, Maximizing Yield

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Su completes loosening the soil in the Grade-Two Spirit Field despite his poor health. Xu Changqing honors their original agreement and refuses to give him extra Spirit Rice Grain.
• Xu prepares for the Beginning of Spring, when the Spiritual Qi Tide will greatly increase the Wood Qi available to spirit plants and Wood Spirit Root cultivators.
• Before dawn, he plants spring seedlings by using Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art, allowing him to control plants within ten zhang and plant them much more efficiently than by hand.
• He leaves part of the field empty to plant Four-Leaf Clover seeds purchased from Zhang Su, hoping to determine whether they can generate significant profit.
• When the Spiritual Qi Tide begins, the spirit plants grow rapidly, and Xu uses the opportunity to cultivate. He drinks the remaining Grade-One Spirit Rice Wine and activates the Evergreen Formula, receiving powerful cultivation boosts.
• His nine strands of spiritual power merge into one dense, crystalline strand, allowing him to break through from Middle Qi Refining to Late Qi Refining.
• The breakthrough increases his lifespan by twenty years, expands his spiritual sensing range from ten to twenty zhang, and greatly strengthens his spellcasting.
• Xu tests his improved Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art by transforming weeds into Black Iron Vines. He can now create dozens of powerful vines while using only part of his spiritual power.
• He spends seven days almost entirely cultivating, supported by the abundant Wood Qi, the fifth layer of the Evergreen Formula, and Expert-Grade Spirit Rice Wine. He strengthens his cultivation with three additional strands of spiritual power before progress slows.
• Hu Bugui arrives with a fresh batch of Spirit Beast dung. Xu reveals that he intends not only to fertilize the field but also to hire a Water Spirit Root disciple to use Minor Cloud-Rain Art, maximizing the Grade-Two Spirit Field’s harvest.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing advances rapidly, reaching Late Qi Refining only half a year after entering the Spirit Field Core Region. His confidence and combat potential increase substantially.
• His Wood Spirit Root and improved spell mastery become far more effective after the breakthrough. He can sense a wider area and summon many more Black Iron Vines with less spiritual expenditure.
• Xu becomes increasingly calculating and profit-oriented. His interest in the Four-Leaf Clover experiment and his plan to combine fertilizer with artificial rainfall show his determination to maximize every possible source of yield.
• Han Su demonstrates persistence by completing his assigned labor despite illness, but Xu treats him according to their agreement rather than offering special leniency.
• Hu Bugui remains friendly and trusting, interpreting Xu’s early arrival as consideration for him. Xu quietly uses the opportunity to secure a more convenient future delivery arrangement.
• Little Yellow Dog remains part of Xu’s daily responsibilities, though Xu otherwise dedicates himself almost entirely to cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation through preparation and optimization: Xu’s breakthrough depends not only on talent but also on timing, spirit wine, cultivation techniques, spirit plants, and the Spiritual Qi Tide.
• Pragmatism and fairness: Xu refuses to alter his agreement with Han Su simply because Han is suffering, emphasizing realistic and transactional relationships.
• Growth and accumulation: The chapter highlights both Xu’s personal advancement and his methodical improvement of his farmland, resources, techniques, and profits.
• The value of specialization: Xu’s Wood Spirit Root gives him exceptional advantages during the Spiritual Qi Tide, while a Water Spirit Root cultivator can provide the rainfall technique he needs.
• Security through strength: Xu’s desire to break through immediately is motivated partly by a stronger sense of safety. Increased cultivation, sensing range, and offensive ability all reduce his vulnerability.
• Resourcefulness and long-term planning: Rather than relying solely on cultivation, Xu combines fertilizer, specialized spells, spirit wine, spirit plants, and hired assistance to maximize agricultural returns.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Han Su’s relationship is defined by a strict labor agreement. Xu acknowledges Han’s effort but does not reward him beyond what was promised.
• Xu and Hu Bugui interact cordially. Hu is touched that Xu seems to be waiting for him and volunteers to visit Xu first in the future; Xu accepts this arrangement for his own convenience.
• Xu’s earlier purchase of Four-Leaf Clover seeds from Zhang Su continues to influence his plans, as he uses the empty section of the field to test their profitability.
• Xu’s future cooperation with a Water Spirit Root Formal Disciple is implied as a practical business arrangement intended to improve the field’s output.

Chapter Summary: “Secrets Galore, Keeping a Low Profile Is the Way to Win”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After delivering Spirit Beast Manure, Hu Bugui proposes investing it in Xu Changqing’s Grade-Two Spirit Field rather than simply selling it.
• Hu offers to provide manure from hundred-year Spirit Beasts in exchange for one-tenth of the Spirit Rice harvest, with the mission quota deducted first. He also claims he can obtain manure from five-hundred- or even thousand-year Spirit Beasts.
• Xu agrees to a trial cooperation during the spring planting season. Hu’s broader strategy is revealed: he is investing in multiple Spirit Farmers and gradually becoming a manure supplier, risking only resources that Spirit Beasts naturally produce.
• Xu fertilizes his entire Spirit Field, then posts a Rainfall mission to find a Formal Disciple capable of using the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.
• He deliberately avoids seeking a dao companion with a Water Spirit Root because his unusually high yields are a secret. Revealing them could attract dangerous attention from the sect’s Immortal Elders.
• Bai Ling’er, a talented female disciple from the Water-Control Pavilion, accepts the mission. She uses an impressive Minor Cloud-Rain Art that produces dense spirit rain over most of Xu’s fields.
• Xu pays her twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and accepts her Communication Talisman for future assistance.
• With the fields loosened, fertilized, and watered, Xu expects the harvest to potentially exceed three thousand catties.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates cautious business judgment, recognizing the value of Hu Bugui’s offer while protecting himself through a trial agreement. He remains highly secretive about his farming ability and deliberately disguises his wealth by paying in Spirit Stones instead of Spirit Rice Grain.
• Hu Bugui: Evolves from a manure seller into a resource investor and supplier. His willingness to work with many Spirit Farmers reveals his shrewd, low-risk business strategy.
• Bai Ling’er: Is introduced as a young but exceptionally capable Water Spirit Root disciple. Her mastery of the Minor Cloud-Rain Art is far superior to what Xu has previously witnessed, suggesting strong aptitude and potential.
• Xu and Bai Ling’er: Their first interaction is mildly awkward and humorous because of their height difference. Xu’s teasing stops once he learns her father is a respected talisman master, prompting him to treat her more cautiously.

Significant Themes

• Keeping a low profile: Xu prioritizes concealment, knowing that extraordinary success can attract envy, exploitation, or scrutiny from powerful figures.
• Strategic cooperation: Both Xu and Hu seek mutually beneficial partnerships while limiting their risks. Their agreement illustrates the value of long-term resource planning.
• Hidden potential: Xu’s fields and Bai Ling’er’s spellcasting both show that apparent status does not always reflect true ability.
• Preparation and opportunity: Xu acts quickly after obtaining fertilizer, arranging rainfall immediately so that every factor contributing to the harvest can be optimized.
• Resource scarcity and rising prices: The approaching Formal Disciple Grand Competition is driving up resource prices, encouraging disciples to seek unconventional investments.

Character Interactions

• Hu Bugui and Xu negotiate a manure-for-harvest investment, with Xu carefully balancing profitability against fairness.
• Xu and Bai Ling’er exchange playful but awkward remarks before Xu becomes more respectful after learning about her family connections.
• Bai Ling’er offers Xu a Communication Talisman, creating the possibility of a more convenient future partnership.
• Xu’s interaction with the little yellow dog provides a brief lighthearted moment while he waits for Bai Ling’er to arrive.

Chapter Summary: The Senior Brother’s Invitation, the Three Grades of Golden Core

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing settles into a repetitive but peaceful routine of cooking, cultivating, walking Little Yellow Dog, and tending his Spirit Fields.
• His cultivation progresses, and the spiritual power within him increases to four strands.
• He notices that the Four-Leaf Clover he planted is growing poorly: most plants have only one leaf, with a few having two, and none developing the expected four leaves.
• Li Sancai, a senior brother who previously helped Xu, returns from his assignment guarding the outer perimeter and visits him in the fields.
• Li gives Xu a Communication Talisman and explains that his earlier failure to meet Xu at Red Maple Valley Market was due to an urgent matter involving his cousin, Li Lingbi.
• Li identifies the problem with the Four-Leaf Clover: it requires abundant water and should be grown beside a dedicated water channel. Xu had mistakenly cultivated it like Spirit Rice.
• Li proposes that Xu join a cooperative team supporting Li Lingbi, who intends to attempt forming an Earth-Grade Golden Core within ten years.
• Li explains the three grades of Golden Core:
  • Human-Grade: The weakest and most common, with inferior mana and spell power.
  • Earth-Grade: Far stronger than Human-Grade, but requiring tremendous resources and the cores of thousand-year demons to strengthen one’s Spiritual Root.
  • Heaven-Grade: Extremely rare and dependent on extraordinary fortune, perhaps appearing only once in a thousand years throughout the Heavenly Origin Realm.
• Xu hesitates because he doubts whether he can contribute, but Li assures him that his successful Spirit Rice cultivation and ability to begin growing Four-Leaf Clover prove his value.
• Li promises that Xu will receive major benefits regardless of whether Li Lingbi succeeds or fails.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates patience and contentment with his isolated farming life. His cultivation is steadily improving, and he shows growing confidence in his agricultural abilities. He also reveals ambition and self-belief, privately thinking that although others may be unable to achieve a Heaven-Grade Golden Core, he might succeed because of his nearly unlimited lifespan.
• Li Sancai: Reestablishes his connection with Xu and shows practical knowledge, generosity, and strategic foresight. He recognizes Xu’s potential as a valuable cultivator and actively recruits him into a larger resource-gathering effort.
• Li Lingbi: Though absent, he becomes more important through the discussion of his goal. His Threefold Mutual-Generating Spiritual Roots make him a rare genius, but achieving an Earth-Grade Golden Core will require enormous resources.

Significant Themes

• Patience and steady growth: Xu’s monotonous farming life gradually produces meaningful results in both cultivation and agricultural skill.
• Resources and talent: Advancement in cultivation depends not only on aptitude but also on access to spiritual materials, demon cores, and other resources.
• Long-term potential: Xu’s seemingly modest abilities may become powerful because his near-infinite lifespan allows him to accumulate strength over time.
• Cooperation and mutual benefit: Li’s proposal shows that relationships in the cultivation world are based on exchanging assistance and resources.
• Ambition versus limitation: Li Lingbi’s pursuit of an Earth-Grade Golden Core reflects the goals of gifted cultivators, while Xu quietly entertains the possibility of surpassing conventional limits.

Character Interactions

• Xu warmly welcomes Li Sancai and expresses gratitude for his previous and current assistance.
• Li explains the proper cultivation method for Four-Leaf Clover and corrects Xu’s misunderstanding without demanding that Xu reveal the full extent of his progress in the Evergreen Formula.
• Their conversation shifts from farming advice to a serious discussion of cultivation realms, Golden Core grades, and Li Lingbi’s ambitions.
• Xu remains cautious rather than immediately accepting the invitation, while Li reassures him that his talents are already sufficient to justify joining the team.

Chapter Summary: “Choosing Cooperation, the First Spring Rain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing agrees to cooperate with Li Lingbi and Li Sancai for ten years. He must provide at least 800 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice every quarter in addition to his existing 1,000-jin task.
• Although the arrangement pays below market price and likely leaves Xu with little or no profit, he accepts because Li Lingbi is a gifted core disciple with Threefold Mutual-Generating Spiritual Roots and the support of a Nascent Soul True Lord. Helping him form an Earth-Grade Golden Core could change Xu’s own fate.
• Li Sancai gives Xu a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone as a nonrefundable deposit, demonstrating the seriousness of the agreement. Xu is impressed by the stone’s dense Spiritual Qi and notices Li Sancai’s exceptional movement technique.
• The first spring thunderstorm arrives. Xu observes that the rain greatly nourishes his Spirit Rice and Four-Leaf Clover. Many clover plants grow additional leaves, becoming healthier and more valuable.
• After the rain, Xu discovers numerous tiny, cicada-like insects emerging from puddles. Concerned they might harm his crops, he contacts Luo Zhao for assistance.
• Luo Zhao is unavailable but arranges for someone else to help. After about an hour, Luo Mumu arrives and introduces herself as Luo Zhao’s biological sister.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates practical judgment and long-term ambition by accepting a financially unfavorable deal for the possibility of gaining powerful support and improving his future. He remains cautious and responsible as a spirit farmer, carefully inspecting his crops and immediately responding to the appearance of pests. His gentle treatment of the frightened little yellow dog also reveals a caring side.
• Li Sancai: Acts as the negotiator for the cooperation and shows confidence in the arrangement. His ability to move rapidly hints that he is a skilled cultivator.
• Li Lingbi: Though absent from the chapter, he is established as a highly talented core disciple whose cultivation prospects make the cooperation worthwhile.
• Little Yellow Dog: Fears thunder and trembles during the storm, but remains closely attached to Xu, who comforts it.
• Luo Mumu: Introduced as an androgynous-looking but physically striking Metal Spiritual Root cultivator. She is timid around dogs and somewhat nervous, but dependable enough to come help with Xu’s pest problem.

Significant Themes

• Investment and delayed rewards: Xu sacrifices short-term profit in exchange for a chance at long-term advancement and security.
• Risk and opportunity: The cooperation could consume most of Xu’s harvest, but Li Lingbi’s potential makes the risk worthwhile.
• Careful cultivation and vigilance: Even beneficial natural events such as spring rain can bring hidden dangers, reinforcing the need for constant attention.
• Harmony between nature and cultivation: The spring rain strengthens the plants by increasing Water and Wood Qi, showing how natural forces directly influence spiritual farming.
• Companionship and kindness: Xu’s care for the frightened dog contrasts with the chapter’s business negotiations and highlights his gentle nature.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Li Sancai negotiate the rice-supply arrangement, with Li Sancai encouraging Xu to view the deal as a chance to change his destiny.
• Li Sancai provides Xu with a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and departs for the Core Administration Office.
• Xu comforts the little yellow dog during the thunderstorm and later leaves it sleeping safely on a chair.
• Xu contacts Luo Zhao through a Communication Talisman to request pest removal. Luo Zhao cannot come but promises to find a substitute.
• Xu meets Luo Mumu, who initially refuses to approach because she fears dogs. After Xu assures her that the puppy is harmless, she enters the spirit field and reveals that she is Luo Zhao’s sister.

Chapter Summary: “Yield of Three Thousand Jin, Lifespan of Fifty Thousand Days”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rice planthoppers infest Xu Changqing’s Grade-Two Spirit Field after the spring rains. Luo Mumu is called to eliminate them using her Sword Pellet.
• Luo Mumu explains that the infestation is a natural seasonal phenomenon. A permanent solution would require a Low-Grade Golden Slaughter Formation, which cost about eleven Mid-Grade Spirit Stones the previous year but has become much more expensive because of market inflation.
• Luo Mumu slowly clears the pests without damaging the Spirit Rice. Xu Changqing rewards her with twenty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, a much more valuable payment than the First-Grade rice previously given to her brother, Luo Zhao.
• At the end of spring, Xu Changqing’s Spirit Rice matures. Thanks to Han Su’s soil preparation, fertilization, Bai Ling’er’s Minor Cloud-Rain Art, spring rain, and Xu’s fifth-layer Evergreen Formula, the field produces a record 3,500 jin of Supreme-Grade, Second-Grade Spirit Rice.
• After accounting for taxes and payments to Li Lingbi, Han Su, and Hu Bugui, Xu retains 1,500 jin from this harvest. Combined with his previous stock, he possesses 2,450 jin, worth roughly ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. He begins considering whether he can eventually afford a pest-control formation.
• Harvesting the Spirit Rice increases Xu Changqing’s lifespan by 7,000 days, bringing his total remaining lifespan to 50,769 days—nearly 140 years.
• Xu then examines the Four-Leaf Clover he purchased from Zhang Su. The plants mature into separate Three-Leaf and Two-Leaf varieties rather than true Four-Leaf Clover.
• Harvesting the clover grants him 510 days of lifespan from the Three-Leaf Clover and 482 days from the Two-Leaf Clover. Although the total is nearly 1,000 days, Xu concludes that Spirit Rice is currently more useful because it provides food and can be sold.
• After waiting for the other Spirit Farmers to reach a similar stage, Xu plans to submit his agricultural task at the Core Administration Office, then visit Zhang Su to ask about harvesting assistance and whether he wants the clover.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes increasingly practical and financially conscious. The high cost of pest-control formations makes him carefully evaluate expenses, harvest yields, and the value of different crops.
• His confidence in his agricultural abilities grows as he recognizes that his efforts have significantly improved the Spirit Rice yield.
• Xu also gains a clearer appreciation of the advantages he lacks from having only a Wood Spirit Root, imagining how Metal, Earth, or Water Spirit Roots would simplify pest control, formations, and irrigation.
• Luo Mumu is shown to be cautious and lacking in confidence compared with her older brother, Luo Zhao. Nevertheless, she is diligent and careful, prioritizing the safety of Xu’s valuable Spirit Rice while eliminating the pests.
• Zhang Su’s credibility remains under evaluation. Xu wonders whether the Four-Leaf Clover is truly valuable or whether Zhang Su sold him a largely useless crop.

Significant Themes

• Agricultural cultivation as an economic enterprise: Xu measures success through yield, market value, labor costs, and future investment.
• The value of specialization and spiritual talent: Xu reflects on how different Spiritual Roots would provide distinct advantages, emphasizing both the usefulness and limitations of his Wood Spirit Root.
• Compounding effort and gradual progress: Better cultivation, soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, and experience steadily produce greater rewards.
• Lifespan as tangible cultivation wealth: Harvesting crops directly extends Xu’s life, making farming both a livelihood and a path toward longevity.
• Market instability and exploitation: Rising prices caused by the major powers’ manipulation make resources and services increasingly difficult to afford.
• Practical value versus theoretical potential: Although Four-Leaf Clover may eventually provide more lifespan than Spirit Rice, its uncertain market value makes it less immediately useful.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and Luo Mumu: Xu asks Luo Mumu about the pests and possible long-term solutions. She explains the seasonal nature of rice planthoppers and the cost of defensive formations. He rewards her generously with Second-Grade Spirit Rice.
• Xu Changqing and Luo Zhao: Luo Zhao is used as a comparison to highlight Luo Mumu’s greater caution and lower confidence. Xu also compares their payments, giving Mumu a more valuable reward despite her lower cultivation.
• Xu Changqing and Han Su/Bai Ling’er/Hu Bugui/Li Lingbi: Their earlier assistance and obligations directly affect Xu’s final harvest profits, showing his growing network of cooperative relationships.
• Xu Changqing and Zhang Su: Xu’s next goal is to consult Zhang Su about the clover’s value and possible harvesting assistance, reflecting his cautious approach to unfamiliar spiritual plants.

Chapter Summary: “Helping Harvest, Lifespan Rising”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing submits another thousand jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice harvested from Grade-Two Spirit Fields, earning 250 contribution points and bringing his total to 500.
• He calculates that consistently submitting five thousand jin annually would earn enough points within a year to exchange for another High Grade cultivation technique.
• Xu asks Flower Elder how to earn points more quickly. Flower Elder explains that he can accept tasks requiring a disciple with a Wood Spirit Root, earning both task rewards and contribution points.
• Xu reviews several available tasks but rejects them because their rewards are too low or the time required would be better spent cultivating his own spirit plants.
• Xu encounters Zhao Ziyao, who avoids him instead of repaying the ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice he borrowed. Xu decides to wait until the end of summer before personally demanding repayment.
• Xu visits Zhang Su’s ten-mu Spirit Fields and is asked to harvest three mu of medicinal plants, far more than he expected. Zhang offers twenty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice or fourteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones per mu.
• Xu begins harvesting Insect-Ear Grass. His Evergreen Formula reveals that the plants are currently High Quality and will become Supreme Grade in two days, but Zhang prioritizes harvesting immediately rather than waiting.
• After harvesting one mu, Xu discovers that the plants have increased his remaining lifespan from 51,761 to 55,345 days—a gain of 3,584 days.
• Zhang’s Dao companion, Wu Xi’er, brings Xu tea and praises Zhang’s favorable opinion of him. Xu then shows her the Three-Leaf and Two-Leaf Clover he successfully cultivated from the Four-Leaf Clover seeds purchased earlier.
• Wu Xi’er is shocked that Xu managed to grow the difficult plants and agrees to ask Zhang whether he will accept them. She takes the clover away while Xu begins harvesting the second mu.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Becomes increasingly confident in his abilities as a Spirit Farmer. He thinks strategically about earning contribution points, refuses inefficient tasks, and recognizes that his cultivation and harvesting talent make difficult agricultural work easy for him. His discovery that Insect-Ear Grass greatly extends his lifespan also reinforces the value of his unique harvesting ability.
• Flower Elder: Continues to guide Xu through the sect’s contribution-point system and recognizes that Xu’s repeated Supreme-Grade harvests demonstrate exceptional natural talent.
• Zhao Ziyao: Reveals himself to be unreliable by avoiding Xu rather than repaying his debt, damaging Xu’s trust in him.
• Zhang Su: Shows increased confidence in Xu’s harvesting ability by assigning him three mu of fields and offering generous compensation. He also appears to regard Xu as someone worth cultivating or supporting.
• Wu Xi’er: Initially believed Xu would fail to grow the Four-Leaf Clover, but becomes impressed when he presents the successful harvest. Her pride and desire for status remain evident, though she is friendly toward those who treat her respectfully.

Significant Themes

• Talent and efficiency: Xu’s extraordinary Wood Spirit Root and harvesting ability allow him to accomplish tasks that would be difficult for ordinary disciples.
• Contribution and advancement: The chapter emphasizes Xu’s careful calculation of points and his determination to obtain better cultivation techniques.
• Trust and character: Zhao Ziyao’s avoidance shows how debt and hardship can expose a person’s true nature.
• Lifespan and cultivation: Harvesting spirit plants not only provides material rewards but also directly increases Xu’s lifespan, making agricultural work central to his cultivation path.
• Social status and relationships: Xu’s respectful behavior earns him goodwill, while Wu Xi’er’s interaction highlights how cultivation status, wealth, and connections shape relationships within the sect.
• Patience versus immediate gain: Xu notices that waiting two days would improve the Insect-Ear Grass to Supreme Grade, but Zhang chooses immediate harvesting, creating a contrast between Xu’s optimization-focused mindset and Zhang’s practical approach.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Flower Elder discuss faster ways to earn contribution points, revealing the hidden benefits available to disciples with Wood Spirit Roots.
• Xu silently judges Zhao Ziyao after the latter avoids repaying his borrowed spirit rice.
• Zhang enthusiastically welcomes Xu, assigns him the harvesting work, and offers food and drink through Wu Xi’er.
• Wu Xi’er flatters Xu by claiming Zhang respects him, while Xu politely plays along to maintain their goodwill.
• Xu uses the opportunity to ask Wu Xi’er to help him sell or return the cultivated clover to Zhang, and her surprise confirms that his successful cultivation exceeded her expectations.

Chapter Summary: “Zhang Er Causes Trouble, Two Hundred Years of Lifespan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Xi’er shows Zhang Su the two- and three-leaf Four-Leaf Clovers cultivated by Xu Changqing. Zhang Su is initially dismissive, but becomes impressed when he realizes Xu succeeded despite Xu’s limited cultivation and inferior technique.
• Xu harvests his second mu of Spirit Fields, collecting Premium Green Grass. Each plant increases his lifespan by four days, giving him 5,972 additional days and raising his lifespan to 61,318 days—about 167 years.
• Zhang Er unexpectedly arrives at Zhang Su’s residence. Xu recognizes him as the disciple who previously tried to seize his Spirit Fields and immediately becomes suspicious and fearful.
• Believing Zhang Er may threaten his access to Zhang Su’s fields, Xu urgently harvests the third mu. The plants are strange, orange-red, flame-like herbs identified as Supreme Fire Ears.
• The Supreme Fire Ears provide nine days of lifespan each. Harvesting the entire field grants Xu an astonishing 16,998 days, pushing his total lifespan to 78,316 days—more than 200 years.
• Inside the residence, Zhang Er reveals that Xu was one of the outer disciples who rejected his recruitment. Zhang Su’s favorable opinion of Xu disappears upon learning this, revealing the family connection and the danger Xu faces.
• Wu Xi’er pays Xu for the harvest: 42 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the three mu of fields, plus 20 additional stones for the Four-Leaf Clover. She then coldly tells him not to return, warning him that Zhang Su and Zhang Er are cousins.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates strong talent in both cultivation and harvesting. He becomes more cautious and decisive when Zhang Er appears, successfully harvesting the valuable Fire Ears before losing access to the fields. His lifespan surpasses two centuries, significantly improving his future prospects.
• Zhang Su: Moves from skepticism to genuine admiration for Xu’s abilities. However, his attitude changes sharply after learning of Xu’s past conflict with Zhang Er, showing that family loyalty may outweigh his appreciation of Xu.
• Wu Xi’er: Initially praises Xu and treats him warmly, but becomes conflicted and distant after Zhang Er’s conversation with Zhang Su. Despite her cold behavior, she indirectly protects Xu by warning him to stay away.
• Zhang Er: Reappears as Xu’s antagonist. He is jealous of Zhang Su’s approval of Xu and uses their family relationship to undermine Xu’s position. His visit effectively ends Xu’s opportunity to work in Zhang Su’s Spirit Fields.

Significant Themes

• Talent overcoming limitations: Xu’s ability to cultivate valuable herbs despite limited resources earns Zhang Su’s respect.
• Power and connections: Zhang Er’s family relationship with Zhang Su gives him influence that threatens Xu, demonstrating how personal networks can outweigh merit.
• Caution and survival: Xu correctly senses danger and acts quickly, turning a potentially disastrous encounter into a major gain.
• The value of opportunity: Access to Zhang Su’s Spirit Fields allows Xu to harvest supreme-quality herbs, but that opportunity is fragile and easily destroyed by interpersonal conflict.
• Accumulation and long-term growth: Xu’s lifespan increase symbolizes his steady advancement and the importance of every harvest.

Character Interactions

• Wu Xi’er and Zhang Su discuss Xu’s Four-Leaf Clovers and agree that he possesses unusual cultivation talent.
• Xu encounters Zhang Er after a long separation, immediately recognizing him as an enemy.
• Zhang Er speaks privately with Zhang Su and reveals Xu’s rejection of his recruitment, provoking Zhang Su’s change in attitude.
• Wu Xi’er delivers Xu’s payment in a noticeably colder manner and ultimately warns him that Zhang Su and Zhang Er are cousins.
• Xu leaves the Spirit Fields safely, but realizes that Zhang Er has cost him a valuable source of supreme-quality herbs.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing returns home after a successful harvest, earning 250 points and 62 low-grade spirit stones. His lifespan has also surpassed 200 years.
• He continues to avoid confronting Zhang Er, deciding to wait until he reaches the Foundation Establishment Realm and acquires better techniques, preferably movement or defensive spells.
• After harvesting the Spirit Rice, Xu Changqing explores the area around his home and discovers a distant group of Spirit Fields whose crops have a longer growth cycle. He deduces that their owner may be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Before he can investigate an abandoned cave near a small stone mountain, Han Su arrives.
• Xu Changqing pays Han Su the promised fifty jin of Grade-Two Spirit Rice for helping loosen the soil. Han Su is astonished to discover that the rice is actually Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, making it extremely valuable.
• Han Su reports that Lin An was taken away by the Punishment Department after failing to fulfill a contract. A Water Spirit Root female disciple reported him after he failed to repay several hundred jin of Spirit Rice.
• Xu Changqing acknowledges that Lin An was at fault and tells Han Su he has the right to demand compensation, despite Xu’s own limited relationship with Lin An.
• The Red Maple Valley Market is discussed. Grade-Two Spirit Rice has stabilized at an exchange rate of 1:1.5, while First-Grade Spirit Rice has risen to 1:8 because many disciples are buying cheaper rice at the outside Rogue Cultivator Market.
• Lin An attempted to purchase cheaper rice there but was arrested at the Teleportation Array before he could leave.
• Xu Changqing gives Han Su another fifty jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice as a deposit and asks him to search the Rogue Cultivator Market for Wood Spirit Root techniques, especially movement and defensive spells.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing remains cautious and pragmatic. He refuses to act against Zhang Er without overwhelming strength and recognizes the importance of improving his defensive and mobility abilities.
• His growing resources are evident: he still possesses 2,400 jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, allowing him to use it strategically to obtain information and cultivation techniques.
• Xu also demonstrates greater awareness of the surrounding region, investigating nearby terrain and identifying signs of stronger cultivators.
• Han Su becomes increasingly dependent on Xu Changqing’s generosity. Receiving Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice strengthens his loyalty and motivates him to perform errands and acquire techniques.
• Lin An’s situation deteriorates sharply. His failure to honor his contract results in arrest, leaving his future uncertain and damaging his standing.
• The unnamed Water Spirit Root disciple is portrayed as assertive rather than malicious: she protects her financial interests by reporting Lin An.

Significant Themes

• Caution and preparation: Xu Changqing prioritizes building strength before taking revenge or confronting enemies.
• Resource management and economic power: Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice functions as both nourishment and valuable currency, enabling Xu to secure labor, loyalty, and access to rare techniques.
• Contracts and accountability: Lin An’s arrest emphasizes that financial obligations carry serious consequences within the sect.
• Information and social connections: Xu uses Han Su as a trusted intermediary to learn about markets and obtain cultivation resources.
• Growing awareness of the wider world: Xu’s exploration reveals that stronger cultivators and more advanced agricultural practices exist beyond his immediate surroundings.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing shares a relaxed domestic moment with Little Yellow Dog, who remains his loyal companion.
• Xu and Han Su maintain a practical but increasingly trusting relationship. Xu rewards Han Su generously, while Han Su offers information and assistance.
• Their discussion of Lin An shows Xu’s emotional distance: he sympathizes with Lin An’s predicament but does not excuse his wrongdoing.
• Xu’s final request turns Han Su into an intermediary for acquiring new spells, deepening their cooperation and expanding Xu’s access to the broader cultivation world.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing watches Han Su leave to search for a Wood Spirit Root cultivation technique at the Rogue Cultivator Market. He looks forward to instantly mastering it with his golden finger.
• He returns to Stone Mountain with the little yellow dog and explores a previously unentered cave.
• The dog’s digging reveals that beneath the ordinary yellow surface soil lies a large layer of sticky black soil. Xu realizes it is likely high-quality Spirit Field soil, possibly second-grade or better.
• Using the third-layer Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art, Xu sends Black Iron Vines through the ground and confirms that the hidden black soil extends throughout the cave.
• He concludes that Stone Mountain may once have been a concealed Spirit Field. He plans to secretly cultivate Spirit Rice and other spirit plants there.
• After rewarding the dog with a lavish meal, Xu contacts Senior Brother Li Sancai to arrange delivery of the promised eight hundred jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice.
• Xu travels to Li Sancai’s residence, which lies beyond three hills and a river. Li’s secluded home includes two mu of Spirit Fields.
• Li shows Xu his Rainbow Orchids, a profitable crop used to produce talisman ink for the Water-Control Pavilion. However, cultivating them requires Late Qi Refining cultivation and connections within the Pavilion.
• Xu delivers eight hundred jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice. Li is surprised and impressed, having expected Xu might struggle to meet the quota.
• Li pays him four Mid-Grade Spirit Stones at a favorable partnership rate. Including a previous payment, Xu now possesses ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing: Demonstrates increasing confidence, resourcefulness, and agricultural expertise. He recognizes the value of the hidden black soil and begins planning for future expansion while keeping the discovery secret. His ability to produce Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice greatly improves his standing with Li Sancai.
• Little Yellow Dog: Though seemingly lazy and ordinary, it accidentally makes a crucial discovery by exposing the black soil. Xu rewards it generously and becomes more appreciative of its usefulness.
• Li Sancai: Reveals himself to be a successful and well-connected spirit farmer. He values Xu’s talent, treats him fairly, and appears pleased that he previously assisted him and introduced him to Li Lingbi’s circle.
• Li Lingbi: Does not appear directly, but his influence is emphasized through his connection to Li Sancai and his status as a young cultivator attempting to form an Earth-Grade Golden Core.
• Han Su: Appears only at the beginning, but her search for a suitable cultivation technique sets up a future development.

Significant Themes

• Hidden opportunities beneath ordinary appearances: Stone Mountain seems worthless, yet conceals valuable black Spirit Field soil.
• The importance of observation and luck: The discovery depends on the dog’s seemingly mundane behavior, showing how unexpected circumstances can lead to major gains.
• Agricultural cultivation as a path to advancement: Xu’s farming abilities provide reliable wealth and attract the attention of stronger cultivators.
• Connections and social networks: Talent alone is insufficient for growing profitable crops like Rainbow Orchids; access to institutions and influential contacts is equally important.
• Secrecy and cautious ambition: Xu intends to develop the hidden Spirit Field privately, recognizing that revealing it could attract unwanted competition.
• Fair cooperation and mutual benefit: Li Sancai rewards Xu honestly, strengthening their partnership rather than exploiting his inexperience.

Character Interactions

• Xu affectionately scolds and then praises the little yellow dog, whose discovery earns it a lavish meal.
• Xu gives the dog practical instructions to hide in the abandoned cave if intruders appear, showing both trust and concern for its safety.
• Through the Communication Talisman, Xu and Li Sancai coordinate the Spirit Rice delivery.
• Li welcomes Xu into his home, explains the value and limitations of Rainbow Orchids, and advises him indirectly about the importance of cultivation level and connections.
• Xu fulfills his agreement with Li by delivering exceptional-quality Spirit Rice, while Li responds with admiration and a favorable payment, deepening their business relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Sancai informs Xu Changqing that his cousin, Li Lingbi, will hold a birthday banquet at Water-Control Pavilion.
• Xu initially offers five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as a gift, but Li Sancai refuses, explaining that Xu’s contribution of eight hundred jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice already serves as a much more valuable present.
• Because Xu has officially joined Li Sancai’s group, he is invited to attend the banquet. Li Sancai promises to contact him through a Communication Talisman and take him there.
• Li Sancai explains that Li Lingbi celebrates at Water-Control Pavilion because his master is the pavilion’s highest administrator and because Li Lingbi specializes in cultivating his Water Spirit Root.
• Li Lingbi is preparing to enter the Southern Radiance Secret Realm, which opens once every fifty years and requires Golden Core cultivation. Although he possesses Threefold Mutual-Generating Spiritual Roots, he focuses mainly on the Water Spirit Root to advance more efficiently.
• Xu asks to help Li Sancai harvest Rainbow Orchids so he can improve his harvesting abilities beyond working with Spirit Rice. Li Sancai agrees to notify him the following month.
• After returning home, Xu reclaims the cave beneath Stone Mountain and begins nurturing it with spring water, making it suitable for growing Spirit Rice or Four-Leaf Clover.
• Several days later, Li Sancai summons Xu to the birthday gathering. Xu prepares carefully, feeds Little Yellow Dog, and travels to Li Sancai’s residence. He waits there with Li Sancai before departing for the banquet.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates restraint and self-respect by accepting Li Sancai’s refusal of his gift rather than continuing to flatter Li Lingbi. He remains polite but does not act like a sycophant.
• Xu becomes more knowledgeable about the Heavenly Origin Realm, its major powers, and the social position of Li Lingbi’s family.
• His ambition and curiosity grow as he seeks opportunities to practice harvesting higher-grade spiritual plants and improve his skills.
• Xu is excited and slightly nervous about attending a gathering of powerful cultivators, revealing both his inexperience in high-level social circles and his eagerness to broaden his connections.
• Li Sancai treats Xu warmly and informally, sharing information, inviting him into his family’s circle, and recognizing his nervousness. He also agrees to help Xu gain practical experience.
• Li Lingbi, though not yet appearing directly, is established as a highly talented core disciple whose Threefold Mutual-Generating Spiritual Roots have greatly elevated the status of the Li Family.

Significant Themes

• Social status and connections: Xu’s invitation shows how valuable his Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice has made him within the Spirit Field Core and among influential cultivators.
• Strategic cultivation: Even gifted cultivators must prioritize one path because cultivating multiple Spiritual Roots requires enormous time and resources.
• Family influence and rising power: Li Lingbi’s talent has significantly strengthened the Li Family’s position, and a successful breakthrough to an Earth-Grade Golden Core could make the family dominant.
• The impermanence of power: Xu reflects that even ancient families and long-standing inheritances eventually decline, contrasting their temporary glory with his aspiration toward true eternity.
• Growth through practice: Xu seeks hands-on experience with Rainbow Orchids and continues improving his reclaimed cave and farming abilities.
• Curiosity and anticipation: The banquet represents Xu’s first meaningful exposure to the upper levels of the cultivation world and may expand his understanding and opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Li Sancai share tea and discuss Li Lingbi’s birthday, cultivation strategy, and the structure of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
• Li Sancai reassures Xu that his Spirit Rice is already an adequate gift and formally welcomes him into the group.
• Xu requests permission to harvest Rainbow Orchids, and Li Sancai agrees.
• Later, Li Sancai contacts Xu through a Communication Spirit Talisman and invites him to the birthday banquet.
• When Xu arrives, Li Sancai notices his nervousness and tells him to rest and simply follow along, reinforcing their friendly senior-junior relationship.

Chapter Summary: Black Tortoise Companion Beast, Hungry Wood Spirit Root

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Sancai escorts Xu Changqing on a yellow Flying Paper Crane toward Water-Control Pavilion.
• They pass several major sect locations:
  • Beast Spirit Valley, identifiable by the roars from its dense forest.
  • Foundry Peak, where discarded artifacts regularly fall from above. Earth Spirit Root disciples collect or use these artifacts for body tempering and resale.
  • A region of increasingly abundant waterways, where streams and tributaries merge into a vast black lake.
• At the lake’s center stands the strange nine-story Water-Control Pavilion, apparently constructed from water.
• As they approach, a massive hundred-zhang-long Soaring Serpent emerges from the lake. It is the companion beast of the Black Tortoise suppressed beneath the pavilion.
• The serpent’s appearance destabilizes the surrounding Water Qi and threatens the many flying cultivators nearby.
• Water-Control Pavilion responds by releasing nine enormous yellow spirit talismans. Their azure spiritual light forms a vast net that subdues and forces the serpent back into the lake.
• After the danger passes, Li Sancai brings Xu Changqing inside the pavilion. The first floor is a huge, square-like space filled with Water Spirit Root disciples.
• Li Sancai explains that the first floor handles missions for official Water Spirit Root disciples, while his cousin’s birthday banquet will take place on the third floor.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing remains observant and curious, making a lighthearted helmet joke about falling artifacts and questioning the astonishing construction of Water-Control Pavilion.
• His awareness of his surroundings grows as he recognizes the differences between the sect’s specialized regions and spiritual environments.
• Xu Changqing’s Wood Spirit Root reacts strongly to the dense Water Qi in the pavilion. He experiences a sensation of bodily growth and realizes that water is nourishing his wood-aligned cultivation foundation.
• Li Sancai acts as Xu Changqing’s guide and protector, explaining the purpose and dangers of each area. He stays composed during the Soaring Serpent’s emergence and reassures Xu Changqing that the pavilion can handle the threat.

Significant Themes

• Specialization of spiritual cultivation: Different locations are shaped by distinct elemental energies, such as Metal Qi around Foundry Peak and Water Qi around Water-Control Pavilion.
• Elemental interaction: The chapter emphasizes the relationship between Wood and Water, showing that Water Qi nourishes and strengthens Xu Changqing’s Wood Spirit Root.
• Order versus uncontrolled power: The Soaring Serpent represents wild, disruptive force, while Water-Control Pavilion’s talismans demonstrate the sect’s ability to contain and regulate it.
• Hidden dangers within familiar places: Even a major sect facility contains unpredictable threats, such as falling artifacts and the serpent’s seasonal rampages.
• World-building and sect structure: The journey introduces specialized valleys, peaks, markets, spirit-root disciples, missions, and magical facilities, expanding the scale and organization of the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Li Sancai provides Xu Changqing with practical explanations throughout the journey, while Xu Changqing responds with questions and occasional humor.
• During the serpent’s attack, Xu Changqing turns to Li Sancai for guidance. Li Sancai calms him and explains the relationship between the Black Tortoise and Soaring Serpent.
• Around Water-Control Pavilion, other cultivators complain about the serpent’s recurring summer appearances, revealing that the event is familiar but still troublesome.
• The chapter ends with Xu Changqing silently experiencing the nourishing effect of the Water Qi, linking his personal cultivation development to the environment he has entered.

Chapter Summary: Seeing Pei Mo Again, Zhang Su’s Shock

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing and Li Sancai attend Li Lingbi’s birthday banquet on the third floor of the Water-Control Pavilion. Although neither has reached Foundation Establishment, Li Lingbi’s status and authority allow them to enter.
• The banquet is attended mostly by impressive Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Lu Yuanyuan and her handsome Dao companion.
• Xu notices Pei Mo, a bald, scarred cultivator with a white crane emblem. Li Sancai explains that Pei Mo possesses conflicting Dual Spiritual Roots, which severely hinder his cultivation, but that his extraordinary comprehension allowed him to reach Foundation Establishment.
• Pei Mo recognizes Xu and approaches him eagerly, asking about the Spirit Rice wine Xu previously promised or supplied him. Xu explains that he did not brew any during spring because he was focused on cultivating Spirit Rice, but promises to make some in summer.
• Li Lingbi arrives with a group of talented Foundation Establishment cultivators. He warmly greets Li Sancai and acknowledges Xu, expressing his expectation that Xu will continue providing Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice.
• Zhang Su arrives with the Rong Family and is stunned to see Xu standing beside Li Lingbi. Zhang had previously dismissed Xu, but now realizes that Xu has formed a close relationship with an important genius and potential backer, while Zhang himself remains on the social margins.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates growing influence despite his ordinary appearance and low cultivation level. His Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice has earned Li Lingbi’s respect and secured him an important alliance.
• Li Sancai continues acting as Xu’s guide and protector, bringing him into elite circles and explaining the backgrounds of influential cultivators.
• Pei Mo is shown as highly talented but disadvantaged by his conflicting Spiritual Roots. His stubborn, rebellious personality is balanced by a strong appreciation for Xu’s wine, creating an unexpected connection between the two.
• Li Lingbi shifts from initially underestimating Xu to treating him seriously because of the exceptional quality of Xu’s Spirit Rice.
• Zhang Su experiences a sharp reversal of expectations. He had looked down on Xu, but now sees Xu enjoying access and recognition that Zhang himself lacks.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus innate limitations: Pei Mo’s powerful comprehension cannot fully overcome the disadvantages of his conflicting Spiritual Roots, emphasizing how fate and aptitude shape cultivators’ prospects.
• The importance of practical skills: Xu’s ability to grow Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice and brew valuable wine allows him to gain respect and connections despite his modest cultivation.
• Social status and alliances: Access to elite gatherings depends heavily on backing and relationships. Li Lingbi’s support elevates Xu, while Zhang’s lack of comparable connections leaves him trailing behind.
• Reversal of judgment: Those who appear ordinary or disadvantaged may possess valuable abilities, while those who seem socially superior can quickly lose their advantage.
• Individuality and stubbornness: Pei Mo’s unconventional choices—shaving his head, switching from sword techniques to saber training, and adapting to repeated setbacks—reflect his refusal to be defined by institutional rejection.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Li Sancai share a relaxed, supportive relationship, with Li warning Xu not to interfere with the Pavilion’s spirit fish and later showing curiosity about his wine.
• Xu and Pei Mo reveal a preexisting relationship based on Xu’s Spirit Rice wine. Their brief conversation hints at mutual trust and continued dealings.
• Li Lingbi greets Li Sancai warmly and immediately treats Xu as a valuable associate, reinforcing Xu’s rising position.
• Zhang Su observes Xu’s interaction with Li Lingbi from the sidelines, creating a stark contrast between Xu’s growing status and Zhang’s diminished position.

Chapter Summary: Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman, Meat-Simmering Blood Pool

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Lingbi’s birthday banquet begins, with Xu Changqing attending as Li Sancai’s companion.
• Lu Yuanyuan presents Li Lingbi with ten thousand jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, shocking the guests with the gift’s value and revealing how strongly she—and likely her backers—wish to curry favor with him.
• The Rong Family gives five thousand jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, while other guests offer rare treasures, including demon-beast materials, a Thousand-Mile Lightning Shuttle, and the Yellow Earth Banner.
• Xu Changqing learns from Li Sancai that these extravagant gifts are not necessarily signs of personal friendship. Many guests are trying to win the favor of Li Lingbi’s powerful master, a Nascent Soul True Lord overseeing the Water-Control Pavilion.
• The banquet’s spiritually rich food, especially the rare fish dishes, significantly benefits Xu Changqing. He advances from four strands of spiritual power to five.
• During the feast, the Water-Control Pavilion’s three great spirit talismans—the Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman—appears through the surrounding water walls.
• The talisman is revealed to be a gift from Mo True Lord, Li Lingbi’s master. Everyone kneels in respect, and Li Lingbi becomes visibly moved.
• After most guests leave, Lu Yuanyuan remains behind and speaks privately with Li Lingbi before departing with her male Dao companion.
• The remaining insiders—Li Lingbi, Li Sancai, Xu Changqing, Pei Mo, and the previously unnoticed Han Xin—learn that Li Lingbi plans to travel to the Central Region, specifically the demon-infested Black Rust Dynasty, to hunt demons and devils.
• Li Lingbi explains that his master gave him the powerful talisman because of the dangers of this mission.
• Pei Mo volunteers to accompany him, motivated by rumors of the Meat-Simmering Blood Pool, a terrifying place said to temper the body. His willingness to enter it makes the others regard him as utterly reckless or insane.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing gains a better understanding of the social and political forces surrounding the Water-Control Pavilion. He realizes that wealth and status attract gifts because of powerful connections, not merely personal merit.
• Xu also benefits directly from the banquet, increasing his spiritual cultivation by one strand.
• Li Lingbi is shown to possess immense influence and social importance. He accepts the guests’ gifts graciously but is especially touched by the talisman from his master. His upcoming journey reveals a willingness to risk himself in pursuit of power and experience.
• Li Sancai acts as Xu Changqing’s guide to the hidden rules of the cultivation world, explaining the distinction between insiders and outsiders and the role of backing and patronage.
• Lu Yuanyuan demonstrates strong admiration for Li Lingbi through her exceptionally valuable gift. Her embarrassment and eagerness to please him suggest romantic interest or at least personal attachment.
• Han Xin is introduced as a quiet, mysterious formation master. Her ability to remain unnoticed and her gift of the Earth Qi Attractor establish her as an enigmatic but capable insider.
• Pei Mo reinforces his reputation as a dangerous eccentric by volunteering to enter the Central Region and investigate the Meat-Simmering Blood Pool despite its obvious risks.
• Zhang Su tries to wait for Xu Changqing so they can speak privately, but leaves after realizing Xu is still inside.

Significant Themes

• Power and social hierarchy: The banquet reveals that gifts are often political investments aimed at powerful backers rather than simple expressions of friendship.
• Human relationships and worldly dealings: Even within the cultivation world, status, influence, and personal connections strongly shape behavior.
• Cultivation through resources: Spiritual food and rare treasures provide tangible advantages, showing how wealth and access accelerate cultivation.
• Dangerous pursuit of strength: Li Lingbi’s journey and Pei Mo’s interest in the Blood Pool emphasize the extreme risks cultivators accept to increase their power.
• Hidden identities and influence: Han Xin’s unnoticed presence and the importance of Li Lingbi’s master suggest that appearances often conceal deeper strength and authority.
• Loyalty and mentorship: The Profound Origin Golden Light Talisman reflects the protective relationship between Li Lingbi and Mo True Lord.

Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing repeatedly consults Li Sancai about whether he should present a gift, highlighting his outsider status and dependence on Li Sancai’s guidance.
• Li Sancai teases Li Lingbi about Lu Yuanyuan’s affection, while Li Lingbi dismisses it as attraction to handsome men.
• Lu Yuanyuan and Li Lingbi share a brief private exchange in which she hopes he appreciates her gift and he promises to visit her family.
• Han Xin lightly mocks Li Lingbi by asking where his gift is, then presents the valuable Earth Qi Attractor formation.
• Li Lingbi confides in the insiders about his mission to the Central Region, changing the gathering from a birthday celebration into a discussion of a dangerous expedition.
• Pei Mo’s offer to accompany Li Lingbi shocks everyone, particularly because his motivation is to test himself in the Meat-Simmering Blood Pool rather than simply support Li Lingbi.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Lingbi leaves for the Black Rust Dynasty in the Central Region to hunt thousand-year-old demons, a mission expected to last at least a year.
• Xu Changqing becomes suspicious about why Li Sancai and Li Lingbi have included him in their inner circle despite his low apparent cultivation and limited dealings with them.
• Li Sancai escorts Xu Changqing home in silence, deepening Xu’s concerns that their goodwill may conceal an ulterior motive.
• As summer approaches, Xu summons Han Su to loosen the soil in his Spirit Fields.
• Han Su brings Xu a fragmentary High Grade defensive spell, the Ironwood Armor Art, purchased from the Rogue Cultivator Market. Although incomplete, its first layer can create ironwood armor capable of resisting substantial force and elemental damage.
• Xu allows Han Su to keep ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice as compensation for obtaining the spell, strengthening their relationship.
• Han Su loosens the soil and signs a contract guaranteeing fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice after the summer harvest.
• Xu begins cultivating the Ironwood Armor Art. Because High Grade spells are difficult to comprehend, he brews wine from one hundred jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice to improve his cultivation and understanding.
• The resulting Expert Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine has stronger beneficial effects than his previous wine, including improved spiritual qi absorption, reduced spiritual power consumption for wood-element spells, and increased comprehension of both Low and High Grade spells.

2. Character Developments

• Xu Changqing becomes more cautious and distrustful after recognizing that his inclusion in Li Lingbi’s group is unusual. He also demonstrates practical judgment by investing in defensive magic and improving his Spirit Rice Wine.
• Li Sancai appears responsible and considerate by escorting Xu home, but his unexplained interest in Xu causes Xu to suspect hidden motives.
• Li Lingbi is established as influential and highly talented, surrounded by many followers, making Xu’s selection into his team seem especially suspicious.
• Han Su proves reliable, hardworking, and eager to build a closer relationship with Xu. His willingness to obtain the spell and accept a formal contract shows both initiative and trust.
• Xu and Han Su’s relationship becomes more mutually beneficial: Xu provides stable work and fair compensation, while Han Su supplies useful resources.

3. Significant Themes

• Suspicion beneath apparent goodwill: Xu recognizes that opportunities and alliances rarely come without a price, especially in the cultivation world.
• Practical preparation and self-protection: Rather than relying solely on others, Xu seeks defensive abilities and stronger cultivation aids.
• Trust and transactional relationships: Xu maintains formal contracts even with Han Su, believing clear agreements protect both parties.
• Resourcefulness and gradual progress: Xu makes use of limited opportunities—a fragmentary spell, spirit farming, and brewing—to steadily strengthen himself.
• Risk and hidden consequences: The improved Spirit Rice Wine offers powerful benefits but retains long-term dangers, foreshadowing potential costs from excessive dependence.

4. Character Interactions

• Xu silently observes Li Sancai during their return journey, while Li Sancai appears preoccupied, creating an atmosphere of mutual uncertainty.
• Xu and Han Su interact warmly and efficiently. Han Su presents the Ironwood Armor Art, and Xu rewards his effort by letting him keep additional Spirit Rice.
• Xu insists on a Spirit Talisman Contract despite Han Su’s trust, emphasizing his cautious nature and concern for fairness.
• Through the wine’s effects, Xu prepares to accelerate his comprehension of the Ironwood Armor Art, linking his farming, brewing, and cultivation efforts into a single strategy.

Chapter Summary: “Bai Ling’er Brings Rain, Hu Bugui Unloads Manure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With summer approaching, Xu Changqing collects his summer Spirit Rice seedlings from the Core Administration Office.
• Having advanced to Middle Qi Refining, he consults Flower Elder about new spirit plants he can cultivate. He chooses:
  • Four-Leaf Clover, suitable as food for small spirit beasts and potentially useful for trade.
  • Watermelon and Chinese cabbage, mainly because he wants more variety in his diet.
• The seeds cost thirty contribution points, leaving him with 470 points.
• After drinking Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine, Xu studies the incomplete High Grade spell Ironwood Armor Art, using the wine’s effects to accelerate his comprehension.
• He plants the summer crops quickly and efficiently using his spiritual energy and third-layer Wood-Spirit Entanglement Art. Spirit Rice occupies most of the field, while the new crops fill the remaining spaces.
• Xu contacts Bai Ling’er and arranges for her to cast spirit rain over his fields. She performs the first rain spell the following day and accepts payment for two additional visits, scheduled for Grain in Ear and Great Heat.
• Hu Bugui arrives with century-old Spirit Beast Manure. Bai Ling’er, repulsed by the smell, immediately flies away before meeting him.
• Xu and Hu Bugui unload enough manure to fertilize the entire Grade-Two Spirit Field.
• Xu gives Hu Bugui a bowl of Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine, which impresses him greatly.
• Xu then fulfills their agreement by giving Hu Bugui one-tenth of his remaining spring Spirit Rice yield: 110 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice. The total amount accumulated in Hu Bugui’s possession reaches 2,290 jin.
• In return, Hu Bugui presents a spirit beast called a Pearl Hen, which lays an egg containing a trace of spiritual energy every three days.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates growing competence and efficiency. His advancement to Middle Qi Refining expands his cultivation options, and his mastery of farming techniques allows him to plant an entire field in minutes.
• He also shows increasing confidence in managing his resources. Although he pays heavily for spirit rain and high-quality manure, his growing wealth makes these expenses manageable.
• Xu’s interests broaden beyond cultivation and profit: he plants watermelons and cabbages simply to satisfy his personal cravings.
• His relationship with Bai Ling’er remains practical and businesslike. He relies on her Water Spirit Root and plans multiple rain appointments in advance.
• Bai Ling’er is portrayed as cheerful, commercially minded, and highly sensitive to unpleasant odors. Her reaction to Hu Bugui provides comic relief.
• Hu Bugui continues to sacrifice dignity for profit by transporting Spirit Beast Manure. Despite his embarrassment, he is cooperative and hardworking. Xu’s wine and fair distribution of rice strengthen their friendship.
• Hu Bugui also shows initiative by offering Xu a Pearl Hen, suggesting their relationship may develop beyond a simple manure-for-rice arrangement.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation through specialization: Xu’s progress allows him to cultivate more valuable and diverse spirit plants, showing how advancement opens new opportunities.
• Practical cooperation and exchange: Xu depends on Bai Ling’er for rain and Hu Bugui for fertilizer, emphasizing that successful cultivation requires relationships and mutual trade.
• Growing prosperity: Xu’s ability to pay for repeated spirit rain, distribute large amounts of Spirit Rice, and produce Second-Grade wine reflects his improving financial position.
• Friendship built through fairness: Xu’s generosity toward Hu Bugui—especially offering wine and honoring their original agreement—deepens their mutual trust.
• Balance between necessity and personal enjoyment: Although Spirit Rice is the main crop because of its profitability, Xu also grows foods he personally wants, preserving a sense of ordinary life amid cultivation.
• Humor in everyday cultivation life: Bai Ling’er’s flight from Hu Bugui’s manure illustrates the chapter’s lighthearted contrast between elegant cultivation practices and unpleasant but essential farm labor.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu Changqing and Flower Elder: Xu respectfully seeks advice about Middle Qi Refining crops, while Flower Elder explains the expanded selection and the greater value of Foundation Establishment-level plants.
• Xu Changqing and Bai Ling’er: They arrange several spirit-rain sessions, with Xu paying her in Spirit Stones. Their interaction is brief but establishes an ongoing professional partnership.
• Bai Ling’er and Hu Bugui: They never properly meet; she smells the manure and immediately departs, creating a humorous misunderstanding.
• Xu Changqing and Hu Bugui: They work together unloading manure, share Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine, and exchange goods according to their agreement. Their conversation confirms that they now regard each other as friends.
• Hu Bugui and the Pearl Hen: Hu Bugui introduces the spirit beast as a valuable gift or trade offering, ending the chapter with a new development for Xu’s farm.

Chapter Summary

• Xu Changqing acquires a gray Pearl Hen with white spots. It lays a spiritually infused egg every three days, though without a rooster the eggs cannot hatch and are only useful as food. The little yellow dog is fascinated by the hen and repeatedly tries to bite it, forcing Xu Changqing to restrain and threaten the dog.
• Summer growth remains slower than during the Spiritual Qi Tide, despite the earlier spiritual rain and fertilizer increasing the fields’ Wood Qi. Xu Changqing accepts that he cannot accelerate the process and remains confident that reaching Foundation Establishment is only a matter of time.
• While cultivating the incomplete Ironwood Armor Art, Xu Changqing discovers that the Shennong System can restore incomplete techniques, not merely level them up. He spends 15,000 days of lifespan—experiencing the restoration as forty-one years of intense comprehension—to reconstruct the technique into the complete High-Grade Ironwood Armor Art.
• He then rapidly raises the art to Level 4 by spending additional lifespan. Its abilities evolve significantly: the armor becomes Silverwood Armor, gains increased defense and resistance to fire and metal, develops sharp thorns that reflect damage, and can automatically absorb Wood Qi to repair itself.
• Xu Changqing tests the armor by embracing a familiar poplar tree. The armor’s thorns pierce the tree and leave its trunk covered in needle-like holes, demonstrating the technique’s considerable offensive potential. He considers testing it on the Pearl Hen or yellow dog, but both animals immediately flee or hide, leaving him amused and mildly annoyed at their lack of loyalty.
• Several days later, a summer thunderstorm nourishes the Spirit Rice and other crops. Xu Changqing remains alert for insects, remembering the Rice Planthoppers that appeared during the spring rains. After the storm, he surveys the fields with spiritual power and discovers an extraordinary Spirit Rice plant.
• The plant has turned golden, contains exceptionally dense Wood Qi, and bears nine rice ears instead of the usual three to five. After examining it with the Evergreen Formula, Xu Changqing identifies it as Mutated Spirit Rice, possessing the remarkable trait “More Children, More Blessings.” The chapter ends with his astonishment and anticipation over the plant’s unknown benefits.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xu Changqing becomes more resourceful and confident after realizing the system can repair incomplete techniques, opening a new path to acquiring powerful abilities.
• His willingness to spend decades of lifespan reflects his confidence in his longevity and his determination to strengthen himself.
• His interactions with the Pearl Hen and yellow dog add humor and reinforce the peaceful, domestic atmosphere of his secluded farming life.
• The chapter emphasizes Xu Changqing’s close relationship with nature: he cultivates, observes, protects, and experiments with his plants while treating the surrounding animals almost like companions.

Significant Themes

• Ingenuity and adaptation: Xu Changqing turns incomplete techniques into valuable assets through the system.
• Steady cultivation and patience: He accepts seasonal limitations rather than wasting energy resisting circumstances beyond his control.
• Growth through cultivation: Both Xu Changqing’s abilities and the spirit crops develop in unexpected ways.
• Harmony between human and nature: The storm, crops, animals, and cultivator briefly form an idyllic, balanced scene.
• Unexpected mutation and opportunity: The transformed Spirit Rice hints at a major future advantage, though the full meaning of “More Children, More Blessings” remains unknown.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Changqing successfully uproots and transplants a Mutated Spirit Rice plant, preserving both its roots and the surrounding Black Soil.
• He relocates it to the hidden cave beneath Stone Mountain and carefully nourishes it with spring water.
• Xu speculates that the plant’s [More Children, More Blessings] trait may cause its mutation to deepen as it produces more rice ears or seeds.
• Li Sancai contacts Xu and asks him to help harvest his Rainbow Orchids. Xu agrees, seeing the opportunity to replenish the lifespan he spent on cultivation and to learn more about Mutated Spirit Plants.
• Before leaving, Xu tends to his Little Yellow Dog and Pearl Chickens.
• At Li Sancai’s residence, Xu offers him a jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine while beginning the harvest.
• Xu’s Evergreen Formula reveals that the Rainbow Orchids are currently high quality but will become premium quality in three days. However, he chooses not to mention this, maintaining his image as an inexperienced junior disciple.
• Xu harvests all the Rainbow Orchids, gaining 5,565 days of lifespan, approximately fifteen years.
• Li Sancai becomes heavily intoxicated from the wine and praises Xu’s brewing ability.
• While Li Sancai is drunk, Xu asks about Mutated Spirit Plants. Li explains that they are extraordinarily rare but highly valuable:
  • At least 1,000 sect contribution points, or
  • More than one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Xu realizes that his mutated Spirit Rice, especially with its unusual reproductive trait, may be worth far more than an ordinary mutated plant.

Character Developments

• Xu Changqing demonstrates careful cultivation skills, successfully transplanting the fragile Mutated Spirit Rice without damage.
• He becomes increasingly analytical about the plant’s special trait and begins considering its long-term value and potential yield.
• Xu remains cautious about revealing his true abilities. Although he knows the optimal harvesting time for the Rainbow Orchids, he deliberately keeps silent to avoid attracting suspicion.
• His brewing talent is further established as exceptional, impressing Li Sancai despite the wine being made from ordinary Spirit Rice.
• Li Sancai is shown to be knowledgeable but not especially perceptive regarding the finest details of Spirit Plant cultivation. He also proves extremely susceptible to Xu’s wine, becoming drunk after consuming half a jin.
• Li develops greater admiration for Xu, praising him as a hidden master and showing personal trust by discussing his family and younger cousin.

Significant Themes

• The value of rare mutations: Mutated Spirit Plants are incredibly scarce and can command enormous rewards, making Xu’s Mutated Spirit Rice potentially priceless.
• Concealment and prudence: Xu intentionally hides his superior cultivation insight to protect himself from jealousy, suspicion, or exploitation.
• Long-term cultivation and investment: Rather than selling the mutated plant immediately, Xu prioritizes preserving and developing it to increase its future yield and value.
• Hidden talent among ordinary people: Li’s praise of Xu’s Spirit Rice Wine reinforces the idea that extraordinary abilities may exist beneath an unremarkable appearance.
• Abundance and reproduction: The [More Children, More Blessings] trait raises the possibility that increased propagation could amplify the rice’s mutation and produce astonishing harvests.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Li Sancai maintain a respectful senior-junior relationship, with Li inviting Xu to help harvest and Xu addressing him politely.
• Xu uses Spirit Rice Wine to build goodwill with Li and create a relaxed atmosphere for questioning him.
• Li is deeply impressed by the wine and promises implicit admiration for Xu’s brewing heritage.
• Xu carefully takes advantage of Li’s drunken state to ask about Mutated Spirit Plants without revealing that he already possesses one.
• The chapter ends with Xu recognizing that his Mutated Spirit Rice may represent a fortune far beyond the ordinary value of mutated plants.