That day, he had stepped in to cure the Heart-Clearing Grass of withered spot disease.
It had looked like a folk remedy.
In truth, he had also relied on this talent, secretly using spiritual power to guide the earth veins and disperse the damp toxins.
Naturally, Li Jiangping of the Azure Wood Sect had noticed this method.
That was what had led to their conversation before parting.
Xu Xuan was no ordinary man. Seeing what the other man sought, he had immediately made his intentions clear, expressing his willingness to serve him.
In exchange, he sought a chance to enter the Azure Wood Sect.
Opportunities vanished in the blink of an eye. Xu Xuan had to take the initiative.
Over the following months, he worked even more diligently.
Not only did he keep the spiritual fields under his own care in perfect order, but he also helped several neighboring households resolve numerous problems with their spiritual plants. His advice often struck straight at the heart of the matter and proved effective.
Thus, although Xu Xuan was of a collateral bloodline of the Xu Household in this life, he carried considerable weight among the Xu Household's people in Hundred Fragrance Valley.
His reputation grew so great that it even eclipsed many spiritual plant farmers from the direct lines of the Yuan Household and the Xu Household.
Sure enough, before long, Li Jiangping came to Hundred Fragrance Valley again.
Once again, he had come to collect supplies.
Yuan Hongyi accompanied him, and Xu Xuan, as a spiritual plant cultivator with outstanding skills in the valley, was also summoned to join them.
Li Jiangping clearly still remembered Xu Xuan. At the sight of him, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Brother Wang, how have you been lately? How is the Heart-Clearing Grass in the valley growing?"
Xu Xuan bowed and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Immortal Master. The Heart-Clearing Grass has mostly recovered, and its quality has suffered no serious harm."
"Good, very good."
Li Jiangping nodded, walking and looking around, occasionally asking about details of spiritual field management.
Yuan Hongyi answered cautiously at his side.
Xu Xuan only gave concise answers when asked. His words often struck at the crux of the matter, making Li Jiangping nod repeatedly.
When they reached a spiritual field planted with Jade Marrow Rice, Li Jiangping frowned slightly.
"The spiritual energy of this rice seems somewhat dispersed, not as concentrated as in the plot beside it."
Yuan Hongyi hurriedly explained, "This field's fertility wasn't replenished in time after last year's harvest, so it is a little weaker this year."
Li Jiangping neither agreed nor disagreed. He looked at Xu Xuan. "Brother Wang, what do you think?"
Xu Xuan crouched, picked up a handful of soil, and carefully rubbed it between his fingers. After examining the rice plants' roots and leaf veins, he said thoughtfully:
"Immortal Master, this field is indeed somewhat lacking in fertility, but fertility alone is not the problem."
"There seems to be a hidden earth vein passing underground, carrying away some of the earth energy. The soil is also rather acidic, which affects the Jade Marrow Rice's absorption of spiritual energy."
"If a shallow ditch could be dug along the edge of the field to divert some of the earth vein's hidden flow."
"Then some shell powder scattered to neutralize the acidity, supplemented with Yang-Warming Fertilizer in a specific proportion, it might improve."
As he spoke, he seemingly casually traced a few lines on the ground with his fingertips.
In secret, he used spiritual power to sense the earth vein and confirm his judgment.
A flicker of surprise crossed Li Jiangping's eyes at his words.
As an outer sect disciple, he had some knowledge of spiritual plants.
The problem Xu Xuan had identified was indeed deeper than the lack of fertility Yuan Hongyi had mentioned.
Without an extremely profound understanding of earth veins and soil properties, it would have been almost impossible to spot.
He bent down to examine it himself for a moment.
Sure enough, he detected subtle abnormalities in the soil and the flow of spiritual energy here.
"Excellent!"
Li Jiangping clapped his hands in admiration.
"Brother Wang, you certainly live up to your reputation!"
"Even some of my fellow disciples who specialize in spiritual plants might not possess such a discerning eye."
Seeing Li Jiangping praise him so highly, Yuan Hongyi also felt considerable pride and hurriedly said:
"Wang Tong is indeed a rare talent, a blessing for our Yuan Household and a good fortune for Hundred Fragrance Valley."
Looking at Xu Xuan's calloused hands and plain clothes, Li Jiangping had a thought. He asked in a seemingly casual tone:
"With skills like yours, Brother Wang, have you ever thought of seeing a wider world?"
"For instance, our Azure Wood Sect's herb garden?"
Xu Xuan's heart jolted. He knew the crucial moment had come.
With just the right amount of trepidation and longing on his face, he bowed and said:
"You honor me too much, Immortal Master."
"My host household took me in and allowed me to settle and make a living here. That alone is an immense blessing."
"The sect's herb garden is an important place of the immortals. How could a humble man like me dare dream of it?"
"If I could receive your recommendation, Immortal Master, even working as a servant sweeping the grounds, seeing the grandeur of the immortals and hearing a little of their teachings would be a blessing cultivated over three lifetimes."
Xu Xuan adopted an exceedingly humble posture, his tone sincere.
Seeing how well he understood the situation, Li Jiangping was even more pleased.
Recommending a servant for the herb garden was not difficult for him.
If he could gain a capable helper, his own work in the herb garden would become much easier in the future.
Besides, although Xu Xuan was old, his skills were excellent and his temperament steady. He was far more reliable than those rash young people.
"Heh, Brother Wang, there's no need to be so modest."
"Talent is hard to come by, and our Azure Wood Sect has never confined itself to a single mold. How about this..."
Li Jiangping took a wooden token from inside his robe and handed it to Xu Xuan.
"This is a token of our herb garden."
"On the first day of next month, the sect's herb garden will recruit a batch of servants. Take this token and report there. Find a steward surnamed Zhao, and he will make the arrangements."
"As for whether you can stay, that will depend on your ability and fortune."
Xu Xuan accepted the token with both hands trembling slightly. A few simple cloud patterns were carved into it.
In the center was the character for "herb," giving off a faint, fresh scent of vegetation.
He bowed deeply.
"Immortal Master, Yuan Tong will remember your great kindness until his dying day!"
Yuan Hongyi also thanked him repeatedly from the side, promising to repay Li Jiangping with generous gifts.
After seeing Li Jiangping off, Xu Xuan stood alone on a field ridge, holding the smooth, warm wooden token, and remained silent for a long time.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long across the thriving spiritual fields.
It was done.
Two lifetimes of laying plans.
Though he would only be a servant of the lowest rank, he had finally crossed the threshold of the Azure Wood Sect.
The Earth Spirit of the Eight Directions truly is wondrous, he thought.
Without this talisman bolstering his fortune, he might not have encountered Li Jiangping and happened to display precisely the abilities the man needed.
After returning home, he told his wife, Yuan Zhilan, about it.
Yuan Zhilan was startled at first, then looked worried.
"Husband, the rules within a sect are strict. You're already old. Going there to work as a servant, I fear it will be hard on you..."
Xu Xuan patted her hand and smiled gently.
"It's all right."
"This is an opportunity."
"If I can enter the sect, even if only on its fringes, it will benefit both us and the Yuan Household."
"I'll have to trouble you to shoulder more of the matters at home. Thank you for your effort."
Seeing that his mind was made up, and that his eyes shone with a light she had not seen for many years, Yuan Zhilan knew he must have a deeper purpose. She offered no further persuasion and simply prepared his luggage with care.
The news soon spread through Hundred Fragrance Valley.
Some envied Xu Xuan for gaining an opportunity with the immortals.
Some were jealous that a son-in-law of a collateral branch could actually enter a sect.
Others secretly mocked him for going to work as a servant of the lowest rank when he was already over fifty, bringing hardship upon himself.
Xu Xuan ignored all of it and continued tending the spiritual fields every day, as steady as ever.
Among the herb garden's servants, fish and dragons mingled, and competition was fierce. It was by no means a place of ease.
He had to prepare for every eventuality.
While he waited, he focused even more intently on refining that thread of spiritual power within him.
At the same time, drawing on his familiarity with Hundred Fragrance Valley, he secretly gathered some medicinal herbs that could calm the mind, ward off evil, and treat minor injuries.
After processing them simply, he carried them with him against unforeseen needs.
He also made a special visit to Yuan Hongyi. Using his gratitude for the years of care as his reason, he asked about social dealings on the sect's periphery and matters he should keep in mind.
Seeing that he was about to enter the sect, Yuan Hongyi was happy to forge a favorable connection and told him everything he knew.
At the beginning of the month, before daybreak.
Xu Xuan bade farewell to his wife, Yuan Hongyi, and the others who had come to see him off. Carrying a simple pack, he left Hundred Fragrance Valley, where he had lived for more than fifty years, and walked toward the Azure Wood Sect's mountain gate.
The road to immortality stretched endlessly, beset with obstacles and long.
In this life, his name was Wang Tong, an old farmer who set out from Hundred Fragrance Valley to tread the path of immortality once more.