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He has cultivated most of the Spirit Plant in the courtyard to the second or third generation. Not to mention, he has also started to encourage the sprouting of the Core Formation grade Earth Origin Grass.

These high-grade Spirit Plant sprout slowly and grow poorly; without a sufficient supply of Spiritual Power, they may wither.

Even for this one Earth Origin Grass, he still had to burn a new batch of Fertilizer Pill.

Shen Duheng: "Where should we burn it?"

"The suburbs? Any mountain will do. Using Pill Furnace shouldn't be too difficult."

Shan Heyuan looked at the courtyard full of Spirit Plant: "If we hadn't planted so many Spirit Plant this year, we could burn them in the courtyard. It's a pity there are too many Spirit Plant; burning them in the courtyard might affect Spirit Plant growth."

The temperature required to burn the Fertilizer Pill is over a thousand degrees Celsius. Even if only some heat escapes, raising the temperature in the courtyard by two degrees Celsius will have a huge impact on the Spirit Plant.

These Spirit Plant are growing so well, Shan Heyuan certainly wouldn't risk them.

Shen Duheng: "I'll take you there after you get off work tomorrow."

Shan Heyuan: "Why don't you just come and pick me up? We can meet up and then head to the suburbs?"

Shen Duheng agreed.

Shan Heyuan was worried about not having enough time to go to the suburbs to burn Fertilizer Pill, so he specifically asked for leave.

Fortunately, he was just a teaching assistant and didn't participate much in teaching. He only needed to ask for leave and prepare the Spirit Plant that the disciples would need for class in advance.

He got his leave request smoothly.

They found a spot in the suburbs and started burning it in the evening.

Because he was using Pill Furnace, Shan Heyuan had specially prepared a large stack of high-grade Explosive Flame Talisman.

It's a pity he rarely goes out. If he did, he could consider subduing the spirit fire. Then, next time he burns Fertilizer Pill, he wouldn't need to prepare talismans; he could just use the spirit fire directly, which would be more effective and the burning process would be more stable.

The thought only flashed through his mind for a moment, Shan Heyuan quickly adjusted his state and took out the materials needed for burning the Fertilizer Pill in advance.

With his improved cultivation level, his understanding of planting has also deepened. This time, his technique and ingredient preparation for burning Fertilizer Pill have become even more refined.

A total of sixty-eight kinds of spiritual herbs, plus twenty-three kinds of rare materials, were laid out in a row in Pill Furnace.

He sat cross-legged, activated the Conflagration Talisman with his Spiritual Power, and then put the materials into the Pill Furnace in order, before injecting Spiritual Power into them.

His technique for burning Fertilizer Pill has improved considerably, and he can now do it with ease.

He knew exactly when to add which materials, how to infuse Spiritual Power at the firing stage, and how to fire the Fertilizer Pill to improve its structure so that it could slowly release its fertility later.

The Conflagration Talisman beneath the Pill Furnace burned fiercely, and the Fertilizer Pill Furnace took shape inside.

Dense Spiritual Power spread outwards, and just by sensing this Spiritual Power, Shan Heyuan could tell whether the preparation of the Fertilizer Pill was appropriate.

The flames and Spiritual Power generated by burning the Fertilizer Pill traveled far and wide.

People kept approaching this area, but after sensing Shen Duheng's cultivation level, they quickly moved away.

As darkness fell and dawn broke again, and the sun rose, the Spiritual Power within the Pill Furnace gradually became more concentrated.

The Fertilizer Pill belly is cooked; just let it simmer for a little longer.

Fertilizer Pill burned all night, Shan Heyuan sat cross-legged all night; by now, his whole body was almost stiff.

After finally finishing the firing process, he slowly stood up, put his hands on his hips, and began to move around.

He had only completed half a lap of warm-up exercises and hadn't fully relaxed when he suddenly heard a voice call out, "Assistant Instructor Shan, it really is you!"

Shan Heyuan stopped moving and slowly turned his head to look in the direction from which the sound came.

A middle-aged-looking cultivator was waving enthusiastically. "Are you refining pills here?"

Shan Heyuan nodded, remembering who the visitor was. "Fellow Daoist Jin, you've come here—"

"I heard last night that some rare and precious treasure had appeared here, so I came to check it out. I didn't expect it to be you refining pills," the middle-aged cultivator said with a chuckle. "You're refining Fertilizer Pill, aren't you?"

Shan Heyuan wasn't surprised that he could tell, "Yes, it's summer, and the Spirit Plant are growing well. I was worried that the fertilizer wouldn't be enough, so I specially refined some Fertilizer Pill to use."

While they were talking, the Fertilizer Pill in the Pill Furnace had already been cooked.

In a public place like the suburbs, the cultivator hadn't done anything wrong, and they all knew each other, Shan Heyuan couldn't very well kick him out. He could only take out the Fertilizer Pill in front of him.

Shan Heyuan took out a jade box, opened the Pill Furnace, and slowly took out the Fertilizer Pill.

The Fertilizer Pill was round and shiny, with a precious glow on its surface. Even cultivators who didn't know what the Fertilizer Pill was could tell that it must be a good thing, let alone the middle-aged cultivator who was also a planter.

The middle-aged cultivator said, "I've long heard that you're a master at refining Fertilizer Pill, but seeing it with my own eyes today is truly an eye-opener. Your Fertilizer Pill are truly excellent; I was drooling just watching them."

Shan Heyuan: "You can't eat this."

"Haha, I was just joking. If you're going to feed it, feed it to the Spirit Plant." The middle-aged cultivator leaned over. "Fellow Daoist Shan, are you selling your Fertilizer Pill? I'll buy it for 20% more than the market price, how about it?"

Shan Heyuan glanced at him and shook his head.

The middle-aged cultivator persisted. "How about we barter? I see you're really eager to acquire those Fertilizer Pills; it would be good to get a few in return."

Shan Heyuan: "If you really want it, you can exchange it for Core Formation grade Spirit Plant."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator actually took out a jade box from his storage ring. "Are seeds of Core Formation grade Spirit Plant acceptable?"

What kind of seed?

"Pure Lotus." The middle-aged cultivator opened the jade box to show him. "I obtained this seed by chance a long time ago. Although it has been stored for quite some time, the vitality inside the lotus seed is still quite good. Take a look."

Unlike him, Shan Heyuan didn't stand on ceremony and directly reached out to pick it up and look at it.

This lotus seed has indeed been stored for a long time; there are still some signs of insect damage on its outer shell, but the vitality inside is quite good.

The seeds of Spirit Plant, such as the lotus seed and the pine seed, can last for a very long time.

After carefully examining the Fertilizer Pill and estimating its cost, Shan Heyuan said, "This lotus seed is worth about three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone on the market. If we were to exchange it for Fertilizer Pill, I could only give you ten."

The middle-aged cultivator immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Shan eyesight; we'll do as you say."

Shan Heyuan opened the jade box and let the middle-aged cultivator choose ten Fertilizer Pills.

After the middle-aged cultivator left, two more cultivators soon arrived, expressing their desire to exchange Fertilizer Pill with Shan Heyuan.

After examining the Core Formation grade seeds they brought, Shan Heyuan exchanged them for seventeen Fertilizer Pill.

Both monks left happily.

After cleaning up the scene and seeing that no one else was coming, Shan Heyuan went back with Shen Duheng.

Shen Duheng carried him on his sword. "You've already gained some fame for burning Fertilizer Pill."

Shan Heyuan said modestly, "I guess it's because of my position as a teaching assistant at the Sword Reverence Academy; otherwise, I wouldn't be so popular."

Shen Duheng smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

The Fertilizer Pill was ready, Shan Heyuan returned to school after his leave.

He took a day off because he had a lot of things to do. Instead of going to the cafeteria at noon, he took a Grain Avoidance Pill in the Spirit Plant garden.

Unexpectedly, even though he didn't go out, someone came looking for him.

Tong Liangji walked in from outside and immediately noticed the lush green grove on the trellis. He couldn't help but sigh, "For so many years, Sword Reverence Academy hasn't been able to recruit a teaching assistant of your caliber."

Shan Heyuan could even raise his head, he laughed and said, "If word gets out that you, Senior Tong, many people will probably call me arrogant behind my back."

"Haha, not at all." Tong Liangji pinched the leaves of the Spirit Plant and asked with a smile, "Young Friend Shan, I heard you've refined another Fertilizer Pill?"

"Your information network is incredibly efficient!"

"In our line of work, there aren't many people, but our information network is definitely excellent." Tong Liangji walked up to Shan Heyuan. "How's your batch of Fertilizer Pill coming along? Can I take a look?"

Shan Heyuan casually took out a Fertilizer Pill, and said, "Take a look, or give it to a senior."

"Wow, so generous?"

Shan Heyuan laughed, "I certainly wouldn't be generous to others, but you've helped me so much, what's a mere Fertilizer Pill?"