Innate Realm Farmers

Liu Yi spent a day compiling the knowledge he had learned in his previous life and the results of his own deductions into an Encyclopedia of Daily Life, which he uploaded to the System Store for free.

Afterward, he posted a mission in the Mission Hall:

"To promote the development of the world and improve people's livelihoods, all kinds of innovations and inventions are now being sought.

"Any achievement that has a positive effect on people's livelihoods will be rewarded with 1 million to 100 million Energy Points. The exact amount will be determined based on the actual achievement."

He set the reward so high because he wanted to attract more people to research.

After all, a generous reward would always bring forth brave souls. As long as the benefits were enticing enough, people could unleash astonishing potential.

Sure enough, as soon as the mission was posted, it was like a boulder plunging into a deep pool, stirring up a thousand waves on the forum.

In an instant, the mission seized the top spot in popularity, and the comment section erupted.

"Good heavens! That reward is outrageous! The best part is, there's no restriction on the field. As long as you produce results, you get a reward. Who could resist that?"

"Heaven never seals off every road! If an old craftsman like me can tinker up a new invention, I won't have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of my life!"

"What a coincidence! I've spent half my life farming, and I was just worrying about having no way to earn Energy Points!

"That free Encyclopedia of Daily Life in the store is full of novel ideas. Combined with my experience, maybe I really can come up with something!"

"I never expected the system to post a mission like this. I'm planning to test the waters too. If I succeed, I won't have to worry for the rest of my life! I might even be able to cultivate and become an immortal."

Between the lines of the comments lay barely restrained excitement and the ambition to give it a try.

At that moment, Wen Ziqian, an elder of the Shennong Sect, was traveling the world with his disciples Zhou Yu'an and Shen Zhixia.

When they reached Changling County, the sight before them astonished all three.

Curiosity written all over her face, Shen Zhixia was the first to break the silence. "Master, this Changling County is very strange. Everyone in the streets and alleys seems to know martial arts."

Zhou Yu'an frowned as well, thoroughly puzzled. "I thought something was odd too.

"All along the way, we haven't seen a single beggar, or even encountered any bandits. Everything looks peaceful and tranquil."

"The wealthy, on the other hand, are shouting themselves hoarse, offering high prices for Energy Points. Master, do you know what these Energy Points are?"

He paused, lowering his voice. "And there are so many martial artists here. Quite a few have higher cultivation than I do, and then there's that system..."

Before he could finish, Shen Zhixia eagerly pressed for an answer. "That's right, Master! Everyone in the streets is talking about the system. Do you know what kind of divine artifact it is?"

Wen Ziqian was utterly bewildered, but he could only pretend to be profound. Stroking his beard, he mused, "All things under heaven conceal mysteries. Walk on and seek enlightenment, and the Dao will reveal itself."

Before his words had faded, a sight among the fields made his pupils contract sharply.

Several farmers were swinging their hoes at a furious pace, turning over a vast expanse of land in the blink of an eye and shaking the soil apart so that it scattered across the fields.

Others touched their feet to the ridges between the fields, moving lightly as though treading on waves, their movements a blur as they planted rice seedlings.

Still others planted the seedlings precisely in the fields, like heavenly maidens scattering flowers.

"How is this possible? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? You can farm like that? Our Shennong Sect has studied planting for so long, but we've never seen anything like this!"

Zhou Yu'an and Shen Zhixia stared wide-eyed, their faces full of shock, unable to believe what they were seeing.

As far as they knew, once people in the jianghu learned martial arts, most chose to become guards or escort guards.

After all, those jobs paid far more than farming, and few were willing to settle down and work the land.

Yet now they saw a group of skilled martial artists-even a few experts who had reached the Innate Realm-busy farming in the fields.

The Shennong Sect to which they belonged was already considered unusual in the jianghu, as its members spent most of their time studying how to grow medicinal herbs.

Even so, rough work like turning the soil was left to newly initiated disciples.

Who could have imagined that Innate experts would personally work the fields?

The sight completely shattered their preconceptions.

Wen Ziqian's exclamation brought Zhou Yu'an and Shen Zhixia out of their daze.

The two exchanged looks, their faces full of disbelief.

Shen Zhixia murmured, "Senior Brother, were our eyes playing tricks on us? What we just saw couldn't have been real, could it?"

Zhou Yu'an rubbed his eyes, but the sight before him remained unchanged. Helplessly, he said:

"I wish we'd seen it wrong too, but Master saw it as well. All three of us saw it, so it must be real."

Hearing his disciples, Wen Ziqian realized he had just lost his composure and coughed awkwardly.

"Come on, let's go ask and find out what's going on."

Wen Ziqian walked toward an honest-looking middle-aged man whose presence was restrained and whose cultivation was at the Innate Realm. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked:

"My friend, with such formidable martial arts, why are you still willing to be a farmer here?"

"Huh? Are you talking to me?" The middle-aged man, Wang Tie, looked startled, and the farm tool in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp.

Only when Wen Ziqian nodded did he give an honest smile. "You've misunderstood. I'm not from the jianghu. I'm just a farmer who works the land."

The three of them looked unconvinced.

He clearly had martial arts skills, yet he claimed to be an ordinary farmer?

Wasn't he lying through his teeth?

Wen Ziqian frowned, stepped forward, and gripped the man's shoulder, intending to test him by lifting him up.

But when he exerted himself, he found that Wang Tie did not budge.

He immediately brought his Grandmaster-level cultivation into play and increased his strength.

Feeling the force on his shoulder, Wang Tie thought the other man wanted to compete in strength. He grinned and used a method of exerting force that he had learned from the Martial Canon. His whole body jolted.

A tremendous force erupted from him, sending Wen Ziqian flying backward.

"How is this possible?"

Wen Ziqian steadied himself and stared at Wang Tie in disbelief.

He had just used his Grandmaster-level cultivation, yet not only had he failed to move the man in the slightest, he had been sent flying backward by a tremendous force.

Wang Tie was clearly only at the Innate Realm, a whole major realm below him.

Could it be that he was hiding his cultivation, and was not at the Innate Realm, but a Great Grandmaster or a martial artist at the Celestial Person Realm?

Wang Tie hurried over and asked nervously, "Are you all right? You weren't hurt just now, were you?"

Wen Ziqian came back to his senses and hurriedly pressed him. "You really aren't from the jianghu? Then where did you learn all those martial arts?"

Wang Tie gave an honest smile and scratched his head as he explained, "I really am not from the jianghu. I learned all these martial arts from the system. I've only been cultivating for a few months."

"Ever since I learned these martial arts, farming has become much easier."

"You're from out of town, aren't you?"

Wen Ziqian asked curiously, "What exactly is the system? I've heard people mention it all along the way, but I still can't make sense of it."

Wang Tie said instinctively, "The system is the system."

Only after the words left his mouth did he realize that the three people before him had never encountered the system.

Thinking that he could make a net profit of 300 Energy Points by helping the three of them bind the system, he immediately perked up.

"I have a System Seed here. You'll understand once you bind the system."

"We can have the system too?" Wen Ziqian asked in surprise.

"Of course! As long as you can gain the system's approval."

As he spoke, Wang Tie redeemed a System Seed from the System Store and held it out to Wen Ziqian.