Chapter 60 (continued)

There's nothing shameful about losing to a senior player; he's just unwilling to accept it.

Agriculture is his forte; he's been praised as a genius since he entered the industry. Is he really going to lose like this?

We need to think of a solution.

Shan Heyuan's first thought was to refine the Fertilizer Pill.

The requirements for the ingredients in the Fertilizer Pill are quite high; many of the ingredients need to be fermented in advance. If he wants to refine it, it will take at least ten days.

This method won't work for now.

What other options are there?

Should I use spiritual spring water on the Clear Source Grass?

There was indeed a pool of spiritual spring water of Nascent Soul quality in his Dantian Small World, but he was there to make money, not to lose money for publicity.

This method isn't very effective either.

Or perhaps you could check out "The Spring Transformation Art"?

Since successfully Core Formation, he hasn't paid much attention to the "Spring Transformation Art" and hasn't learned the later moves for a long time.

The later moves are mostly combat moves, which he's busy with and doesn't need much of, so he's become rather lax.

Shan Heyuan mentally reviewed the moves over and over again.

He has now learned four moves: Gentle Breeze, Rising Sun Ascends in the East, Spring Breeze Turns to Rain and Rain, and Returning a Peach for Return a Plum for a Peach. Later, he will learn eight more moves: Pearls Joined and Jades United, High Mountains and Flowing Water and Flowing Water, Flying at Dawn and Rolling Back at Dusk, Rainbow Fades and Rain Clears, Clouds Obscure and Mist Enshrouds, Rain and Clouds Torment, Melting Stone and Liquefying Metal, and Fingers Fall Off and Skin Splits.

There are twelve moves in total, but none of them seem to be very useful.

Shan Heyuan tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

The log cabin was only so big; it couldn't hide it from Shen Duheng next door.

Shen Duheng, wearing a coat, came over to him. "Still worried?"

Shan Heyuan frowned and said, "I was too arrogant. I always thought I was very capable, but I didn't fully realize that world-renowned planters are geniuses among geniuses. Master Shi's strength is even greater than I imagined."

Shen Duheng: "Why don't we try following his path?"

Shan Heyuan shook his head. "Should we also use spirit liquid for flooding? That won't work. I don't have enough Spiritual Power to substitute the materials for the spirit liquid, and I also don't have experience with large-scale flooding. The cost will definitely be higher than Master Shi's, and the effect won't be as good."

"Could it be that you're underestimating yourself?"

"It's not that bad. I still have that much judgment. I'd be doomed if I copied him. If I messed things up, I'd probably have to pay a hefty fine." Shan Heyuan slumped onto the bed in frustration. "To copy him would be like using my weakness to attack his strength."

With one person sitting and the other standing like this, it's not very convenient to have a conversation.

Shan Heyuan hesitated for a moment, then said to Shen Duheng, "It's tiring to talk with my head tilted back, come here?"

Shen Duheng looked at him. "Want to sleep together?"

Shan Heyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed nervously, lowering his eyes as he said, "It's not like we haven't slept together before. Besides, given our current relationship, it's perfectly normal for us to do so."

Upon hearing this, Shen Duheng tossed the clothes draped over his shoulders onto the chair and strode towards the bed.

Shen Duheng always had a faint fragrance, which became more pronounced after being warmed by the heat of his skin.

Even from several steps away, Shan Heyuan could smell the fragrance emanating from him and feel the warmth of his skin.

He usually didn't pay much attention to it, but in the quiet night, Shan Heyuan suddenly felt he couldn't ignore it.

Shan Heyuan sat on the bed, his Adam's apple bobbing again.

He felt inexplicably thirsty, but dared not swallow, for fear that the sound of swallowing would be too loud and Shen Duheng would hear it.

Three steps, two steps, one step. The bed dipped slightly as Shen Duheng sat on it, the two of them no more than half a meter apart.

Shan Heyuan awkwardly tugged at his pants, then quickly pulled the blanket next to him to cover his waist.

Shen Duheng smiled and met his gaze in the darkness.

Shan Heyuan felt his mind go blank, and he hadn't thought of what to say yet.

Shen Duheng suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against the back of his neck, then lowered his head slightly.

Warm, supple lips pressed against Shan Heyuan's lips, and the breath exhaled through her nose sent a tingling sensation through Shan Heyuan.

Shan Heyuan stared wide-eyed the entire time, watching Shen Duheng's handsome face approach and then recede.

Shen Duheng: "Not worried anymore? Go to sleep."

Shan Heyuan's mind was practically exploding with excitement, filled with screams of "They kissed!" "His lips are so soft!" "He's so good at it!" "Was I a little dazed just now?!"

As for that trivial matter of Clear Source Grass--

What is that? Is it more important than his life's most important event?!

Shan Heyuan lay stiffly on the bed, his expression utterly peaceful.

The shock was too great; he's still in shock.

All I could do was wear a strange expression.

Shen Duheng lay down beside him, with a fist's distance between them.

They were closer than they had ever been before.

However, it lacked the intimate feeling that couples share.

Theoretically speaking, the two of them could easily be in close proximity, not to mention standing shoulder to shoulder, or even overlapping vertically.

But in practice, Shan Heyuan was still incredibly rigid.

He didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, for fear that if he did, it would sound like snoring and ruin his perfect image in Shen Duheng's mind.

Although he knew that they had been together for several years, and Shen Duheng had seen everything, both respectable and indecent, that he should and shouldn't have seen.

There's hardly any image to speak of.

Shen Duheng seemed much calmer than him, lying down next to him, his breathing quickly becoming steady.

Looks like it's almost time for her to go to sleep.

While secretly observing Shen Duheng's sleeping face, Shan Heyuan also felt a bit resentful. Shouldn't they both be nervous? Why was he the only one nervous?

At this moment, he was completely unaware that Shen Duheng had used his exceptional abilities as a sword cultivator to firmly control his body's reactions.

The steady breathing, the calm and powerful heartbeat, and the relaxed body are all acted out.

It's just that her acting skills are a hundred times better than Shan Heyuan's.

As dawn broke, the two of them got up, both with faint shadows under their eyes.

Shan Heyuan, wrapped in the blanket, couldn't help but yawn. Seeing Shen Duheng like this, the tension she had felt all night suddenly eased.

Shen Duheng asked with a smile, "Want to sleep a little longer?"

"I'm not going to sleep anymore, I won't be able to sleep anyway. I'll go to the fields and see if there's anything I can do." Shan Heyuan yawned as he got up. "Didn't you sleep all night?"

Shen Duheng denied it. "What?"

Shan Heyuan raised a finger and lightly traced a line under his eye. "Here, you have dark circles."

Shen Duheng calmly replied, "When you're away from home, you don't sleep as well as you would at home."

When he said this, Shan Heyuan almost burst out laughing. Why didn't he say last night that sleeping away from home wasn't as good as sleeping at home?

He's stubborn as a mule.

Despite what happened this morning, Shan Heyuan was in a good mood; even though he hadn't slept all night, it didn't affect his high spirits.

After a quick wash, the two went to the field to check on the Clear Source Grass.

Thanks to yesterday's spiritual rain, the Clear Source Grass is growing much better than before; at least it no longer shows signs of drying out or turning yellow.

Shan Heyuan looked around the field again and again, but couldn't come up with a good solution.

Shen Duheng: "How about we go check on Shi Mian's situation?"

Shan Heyuan hesitated. "We're competitors now, wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to go and see?"

"We haven't completely broken off relations yet, so going to see him won't hurt us," Shen Duheng said. "Shi Mian has a good reputation; he wouldn't lack even this much courtesy."

Shan Heyuan thought about it and felt it made sense.

When he was on Earth, he learned the principle of "learning from the barbarians to control the barbarians." Although his relationship with Shi Mian hadn't deteriorated to that point, it was still worthwhile for him to visit and learn from him.

If he can discern something and learn it, and eventually cultivates Clear Source Grass that surpasses Shi Mian, that will also be due to his skill.

Even if the news gets out, most people can only praise him for how quickly he learned.

Thinking of this, Shan Heyuan said happily, "What you said makes sense, then let's go take a look."