Ways to Earn Spirit Stones

"Chong Ying, I was your senior brother to begin with!"

Yue Shuo had never insisted on being the junior brother. Hearing that, he replied with a grin.

"When it came to studying, I enrolled years before you did!"

At those words, Zou Chongying and Tian Wan both laughed. Teasingly, they began calling him Senior Brother Yue and Little Senior Brother Yue again.

The atmosphere grew harmonious once more.

Afterward, Yue Shuo carefully explained his experiences with Spirit-Drawing Entry.

After all, he had drawn spirit into his body several times already, and had cultivated more than one first-rank method. He had gained quite a knack for drawing inferences from one instance to another.

Zou Chongying and Tian Wan both felt they had gained greatly.

The two were eager to return and cultivate.

After all, adjusting one's state of mind was not something that could be achieved simply by deciding to be calm. It took time, and entering tranquility through calligraphy could not be done in just a few strokes either.

Both of them knew Yue Shuo was certainly better at this than they were.

After all, Yue Shuo's father was a schoolmaster.

"Little Senior Brother Yue, let's gather once every ten days from now on. Don't find us annoying... We'll bring you something tasty next time!"

"Little Senior Brother Yue, let's visit the market together sometime!"

Leaving those words behind, Zou Chongying and Tian Wan hurried away.

Yue Shuo watched the two leave.

He sensed his character panel where he stood.

[Cultivation: 25/500 (+1.8/time)]

[Divine Sense: 3/15]

Unfortunately, he was still three points short in Divine Sense.

Otherwise, he truly wanted to cultivate another first-rank cultivation method immediately.

That would bring his cultivation speed up to +2.

There were still three hours before he could cultivate again. Yue Shuo did not rush to practice calligraphy. After seeing the two off, he went to inspect the Spirit Field.

On his first day here, he had soaked the Gathering Spirit Grass seeds.

On the afternoon of the second day, he had planted them himself.

Under normal circumstances, they would sprout after three days. But he had a Wood Spirit Root, and the Wood Essence Art he cultivated was also beneficial to planting.

Today marked two days since the Gathering Spirit Grass had been planted.

It was afternoon now—exactly two days.

Gu Jiu had no Spiritual Root and could not enter the Spirit Field. He could only observe from outside it, and at noon, he had not reported any sprouts.

But it was already the Shen hour in the afternoon.

While Yue Shuo had been hosting Zou Chongying and Tian Wan, Gu Jiu had been serving tea and water in the courtyard.

When he had entered meditation to draw in spirit and refine Qi for one shichen,

Gu Jiu had not dared leave either.

So, by this count, Gu Jiu had not checked on the Spirit Field for about two shichen and four hours.

Yue Shuo rose and headed toward the Spirit Field with the delighted Gu Jiu.

As they walked, Gu Jiu reminded Yue Shuo.

"Young Master! After drawing in spirit and refining Qi, you can refine spiritual power and begin comprehending and cultivating minor spells!"

"Minor spells?"

Yue Shuo knew a little about them.

But he still wanted to hear what Gu Jiu had to say.

Gu Jiu was now filled with reverence for his young master, who had successfully drawn spirit into his body in just three days. Hearing the question, he racked his brains and shared everything he knew.

It was roughly the same as what Yue Shuo understood.

Things like the Water Condensation Technique, Fire-Starting Technique, and Garment-Cleansing Technique—these foundational talismanic patterns had actually evolved from minor spells.

Of course, the Three Planting Arts were also considered special minor spells.

The Three Planting Arts:

The "Lesser Cloud-Rain Technique," "Lesser Spirit-Nurturing Technique," and "Lesser Rejuvenation Technique" all bore the word "Lesser." In truth, they were three simplified spells.

However,

they could be cultivated all the way into first-rank spells.

He had heard there was even a certain chance for them to transform into second-rank spells.

Whether to cultivate spells first or practice Talisman Crafting first, Yue Shuo had long since made up his mind.

Talisman Crafting required tools and materials.

Moreover, he needed an excuse for learning Talisman Crafting.

At the very least, producing a copy of the Basic Talisman-Making Notes on his own the moment he arrived on Hemu Island was not a good idea.

The matter of visiting the market with Zou Chongying and Tian Wan in ten days

was just right... he could look for an opportunity then.

Of course, if he could comprehend the Lesser Cloud-Rain Technique,

he could also use researching Talisman Crafting and gathering tools and materials in order to draw Lesser Cloud-Rain Talismans as an excuse.

Once the Gathering Spirit Grass sprouted,

there would be plenty of days in its middle and later stages when it needed rainwater infused with spirit energy.

Gathering spirit, gathering spirit—naturally, Gathering Spirit Grass had to absorb more spirit energy to mature faster and reach the point where it could be harvested.

Lost in thought, Yue Shuo arrived at the Spirit Field.

He took out the formation token and entered by himself.

Gu Jiu was a Mortal. Mortals were said to carry a kind of turbid aura that had a certain negative effect on the growth of spirit plants.

In Yue Shuo's view,

it was probably like negative suction.

Mortals had no Spiritual Roots—or rather, they could not store spirit energy, yet instinctively craved and loved it.

Once they came into contact with spirit plants,

they would naturally absorb a little of their spirit energy.

But mortals could not retain that bit of spirit energy themselves, so it was simply wasted.

Of course, this was only Yue Shuo's own speculation. Whether it was true or not, he had no chance to verify it yet.

Once inside the Spirit Field, the atmosphere was incomparably pleasant.

It made him feel as though even every breath carried a light, ethereal sensation.

If he could cultivate here... Yue Shuo was somewhat tempted, but his Divine Sense had not yet recovered. He would have to wait another two or three hours.

Yue Shuo looked at the Gathering Spirit Grass planting area, where small earthen mounds stood every few steps apart.

He could vaguely sense a trace of vitality within them.

It was an instinctive feeling.

When he passed one of them, however, he felt no vitality. Yue Shuo paused and noted the location.

He did not dig out the seed.

He made a round through all one hundred seed plots.

Around sixty-four of them contained vitality. The strength varied slightly as well, but it was difficult for him to distinguish at present.

He only noted the thirty-six plots without vitality.

The seeds had not yet sprouted.

If he knew the Lesser Spirit-Nurturing Technique, he would probably have a chance to make the seeds sprout faster and better.

But there was no rush.

The Lesser Cloud-Rain Technique was the key to planting next.

Yue Shuo left the Spirit Field and returned to the small courtyard. He found the Gathering Spirit Grass seeds, counted out around forty, and soaked them in well water again.

After he finished, his Divine Sense had already reached four points.

"It seems to have recovered a little faster again?"

Yue Shuo realized that his Divine Sense had recovered a point about half an hour earlier than expected. He thought it over.

"Could it be... the Spirit Field?"

Back on Lesser Desolate Island, his Divine Sense had recovered extremely slowly.

Even sleeping during the day took three or four hours to recover a single point. Sleeping away an entire day still would not let him cultivate Tai Chi Fist one more time.

But after arriving at Little Hemmu Island, or once he had reached the sea,

his Divine Sense recovery had noticeably increased.

And after arriving on Hemu Island,

on this island with denser spirit energy, his Divine Sense currently recovered at roughly one point per hour during the day even without sleep.

"So, the key factor affecting Divine Sense recovery is the density of spirit energy in the environment?"

"How can I make the spirit energy around me denser?"

"A Spirit-Gathering Array!"

A Spirit-Gathering Array had been set up inside the Spirit Field.

But that female cultivator who had arranged the formation had specifically reminded him...

"Planting Gathering Spirit Grass for a year consumes ten Spirit Stones. If I use it for cultivation as well, it will affect how long the Spirit Field Formation can last."

"But what if I had Spirit Stones to replenish it?"

"How can I earn Spirit Stones?"

Yue Shuo practiced calligraphy as he pondered. Before he had Spirit Stones prepared, he did not dare cultivate in the Spirit Field lightly.

Having considered several possible ways of earning Spirit Stones,

he asked Gu Jiu about it over dinner.

Gu Jiu thought hard.

Then he answered:

"Young Master can exchange Gathering Spirit Grass grown through planting for Spirit Stones. Also, if Young Master fully comprehends the Three Planting Arts, you can use those three arts to earn Spirit Stones as well!"