Crackle! Crackle! Crackle! ...
The flames blazed, releasing a series of sharp, rapid pops.
Some snakes, insects, rats, and ants fled the flames, but far more burned to death before they could escape, reduced to ash and charcoal.
After controlling the Earth Cicada Warm-Sand Formation for a while, Lin Ke had little Spirit Power left.
Fortunately, the formation cut off the air. After burning for two hours, most of the flames had died out, leaving only a few scattered embers.
The entire mountain was steeped in the thick smell left behind after fire had scorched everything.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Please turn all this plant ash into the soil." Lin Ke cupped his hands toward the farmers behind him.
"Please, there's no need for such courtesy!"
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all."
"You're so kind, Immortal. So kind."
When had these farmers ever received such courtesy from an immortal? Every one of them was overwhelmed by the honor.
And because he treated them this way, they could not help putting even more care and effort into their work.
Before long, Golden Silkworm Peak had been prepared, making it ideal for cultivation.
But Lin Ke was in no hurry to transplant the mulberry trees from the nearby mountains.
After all, transplanting them was not difficult. The challenge lay in deciding how to plant them.
Although Lin Ke had some knowledge, he did not dare make a rash decision. Instead, he questioned the mortals of Green Mulberry Garden carefully, compared their answers, and considered the possibilities before finally settling on a suitable planting plan.
A sensible planting density would help the mulberry trees grow healthily and improve their yield.
Too high a density could restrict their growth, while too low a density would waste Golden Silkworm Peak's excellent land.
Fortunately, the farmers here had experience.
Working people were great, and they were wise.
He would not look down on the working people of this world simply because he came from another great civilization.
And so, combining the knowledge from his previous life with the wisdom of Green Mulberry Garden's workers, he settled on a planting plan.
Broadly speaking, they would alternate wide row spacings of ninety to one hundred and twenty centimeters with narrow spacings of thirty-five to fifty centimeters, leaving thirteen to eighteen centimeters between individual trees.
This would allow them to plant roughly ten thousand mulberry trees across the mountain.
But the question was how to plant them, since every side of the mountain sloped.
Over the next two days, Lin Ke bought more supplies and learned several spells, nearly exhausting his savings in spirit stones before he was ready to transplant the mulberry trees one by one.
At the foot of Golden Silkworm Peak.
"Immortal Lin, we're all ready."
The male foreman and the others carried hoes and back baskets, their faces full of smiles as they looked expectantly at Lin Ke.
Lin Ke turned back and nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at the steps leading to the summit.
This dirt path had been hastily made over the past two days to make climbing the mountain easier.
"Follow me."
He slowly climbed the steps, circulating the Spirit Power within him.
As he channeled his Spirit Power, his robe stirred without any wind, and white light shot a foot from his eyes.
"Mountain-Moving Art!"
The Mountain-Moving Art was one of the five elemental Spell Arts every outer sect disciple had to learn!
Like the Golden Spear Art, Entangling Art, Fireball Technique, and Water Arrow Art, it was a spell they could learn from the sect for free.
Although these five spells were not as powerful as certain rare Spell Arts, their strength lay in their practicality.
The Mountain-Moving Art was one such example.
Under Lin Ke's control, the ground on either side of the steps flattened out from its forty- to fifty-degree slope, forming something like terraced fields.
As Lin Ke climbed the mountain, more and more terraces appeared on either side.
From a distance, the entire mountain looked like a stack of plates, each smaller than the one below.
Terraced fields!
Whenever a ring of terraces formed, the male and female foremen led the farmers forward to dig. A few swings of a hoe were enough to make a hole.
They dug each hole according to the prescribed spacing, then moved on to the next terrace.
But human strength was still only human strength.
Even with Lin Ke stopping midway to replenish his Spirit Power, he still worked faster than the farmers could dig.
Four hours later, Lin Ke had exhausted his spiritual energy three times, but he had also finished reshaping the land.
The farmers had kept digging diligently, wearing themselves out, but several thousand holes were now ready.
"The work is done!" Lin Ke smiled as he surveyed the holes covering the mountain.
"Immortal, we'll transplant all the mulberry trees right away!" Behind Lin Ke, the male foreman wiped away his sweat.
Although it was spring, it was now noon. Together with the effects of the Earth Cicada Warm-Sand Formation, this left every farmer drenched in sweat, their cheeks flushed red.
"Good. Thank you for your hard work," Lin Ke replied out of habit.
He wanted to be more considerate and let everyone rest for a day.
But he wanted the mulberry trees transplanted as soon as possible even more, lest a long night bring too many dreams.
The sooner he turned this place into a greenhouse, the sooner the Blackgold Silkworms in his Niwan Palace could come out to eat mulberry leaves and spin silk.
Who would have thought that those simple words of thanks would instantly invigorate the male foreman?
"It's no trouble!" He pressed his lips together and wiped at his eyes. "Immortal, please carry on. I'll head down!"
Then he walked down the mountain in great excitement, calling for everyone to get to work.
The farmers immediately spread out across the surrounding mountains and began digging. They placed mulberry trees of all sizes into their back baskets, then carried them all the way back to Golden Silkworm Peak.
The larger trees were planted near the foot of the mountain, while the smaller ones were placed nearer the summit to catch the sunlight. They planted from bottom to top in this order, working until dusk before stopping.
By the time all the mulberry trees, large and small, tall and short, had been planted, the farmers of Green Mulberry Garden were utterly exhausted and had collapsed into sitting positions all over the ground.
Standing at the summit, Lin Ke looked at the mulberry trees and the people below, then stirred his Spirit Power once more.
"Sweet Rain Art!"
He had spent a full twenty low-grade spirit stones to learn this spell from the sect's Scripture Repository. It could accelerate plant growth and heal injuries.
Techniques were not taught lightly.
Unless you paid.
Every world was the same.
Spirit artifacts, spells, cultivation pills, formations, talismans, pets... all of these demanded money to learn about.
But in return, once learned, they could also earn money.
Now that Lin Ke knew the Sweet Rain Art, he could even make a living watering other people's spirit fields.
That was why learning the Sweet Rain Art cost as much as the Earth Cicada Warm-Sand Formation.
Of course, he had only bought the formation base for the Earth Cicada Warm-Sand Formation. Learning to set it up himself would certainly cost more.
Still, biting off too much meant being unable to chew it all.
His strengths did not lie in spells, formations, or such things. After all, the original owner of this body had no talent in those areas, or a sect elder would have taken notice of him long ago.
His strength lay in his Niwan Palace...
In beast taming!
Whoosh-
Under Lin Ke's control, pale silver droplets condensed out of thin air above the summit, then pattered down like tiny silver fish.
However, he was not skilled enough to aim the rain at the mulberry trees, so he could only let it fall randomly over a wide area.
"It's raining! It's raining! Run!"
"After working all day, we'll fall seriously ill if we get soaked too!"
"Should we tell the Immortal first and ask to take shelter?"
"Fang Tong! Let Fang Tong ask. He's the foreman."
The people below could not see clearly and merely assumed it was raining, so they all prepared to run for shelter.
"No need to take shelter. This is the Sweet Rain Art. It will benefit your health!"
Lin Ke's voice came down from the summit just in time.
There was only so much sweet rain, and once it fell, people could absorb it just as the mulberry trees could.
Although it would not cure every ailment these farmers had, it could ease some minor aches and injuries.
It could be considered a little benefit for them.
Lin Ke understood that the coming month was crucial. He did not want the farmers letting him down at a critical moment.
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you!"
"It's so cool and refreshing..."
"The Sweet Rain Art! So that's what it is. Huh? Why does it feel like the pain in my old rheumatic legs is gone?"
The farmers were delighted, waving their arms and dancing at the foot of the mountain amid cheerful voices and laughter.
The newly transplanted mulberry trees should have been drooping, but after touching the sweet rain, they recovered considerably and even looked healthier than before.
The sight lifted Lin Ke's spirits as well.
As he cast the spell, he looked up at the night sky, his expression relaxing a little.
Things have been going well these past few days. Hopefully, nothing unexpected will happen next.
Before you continue