Chapter 34: Fukuda Sei!

Although Lin Donglai had already finished cultivating the Blood Marrow Rice in two tenths of an acre and was nearly done with the Kidney Essence Grass in another two tenths, the assessment standard for a Low-grade First-tier Spirit Planter at the Spirit Plant Hall required learning a spirit planting spell; otherwise, one would only be considered a Spirit Farmer rather than a Spirit Planter.

Therefore, after harvesting the Blood Marrow Rice, Lin Donglai devoted more of his energy to cultivation.

The cycle of the Yang Five Elements had already completed the Earth, Water, and Wood phases.

However, having squeezed a massive amount of essence blood from his body in a short period to refine into Fetal Breath, he had reached his limit.

He could not afford the Yuan-Nurturing Breathing Stewed Chicken. During this period of tending to the spirit fields, Lin Donglai could not leave at all. His only income was the monthly stipend of two spirit stones; currently, he had only four left in hand, which he needed to prepare for planting the remaining types of spiritual herbs.

The Immortal Seedlings who had chosen the "Breeding" craft among the Hundred Arts had already come to Spirit Field Valley to pre-order the stalks of the Blood Marrow Rice. These stalks combined were worth half a spirit stone, and when added to the Spirit Yellow Beans Lin Donglai had planted on the field ridges, which were also worth half a spirit stone, he could sell them for a total of one spirit stone.

It had actually been over a year since he began his journey of cultivation with high expectations, only to end up working the fields as diligently as an old farmer.

Lin Donglai let out a sigh: "Once this spirit stone stipend is paid out and falls into one's pocket, it vanishes in the blink of an eye. Those with talent don't need it."

"Those without talent spend their days busily running errands for the sect, thinking of learning a craft, and hoping to stay within the sect without being banished to the Lower Courtyard."

After removing the husks from the Blood Marrow Rice, Lin Donglai invited Ding Zhen over and boiled a pot of spiritual rice porridge: "Come, taste the first batch of spiritual rice I've grown."

Lately, Ding Zhen had been studying two crafts simultaneously: one was Spirit Chef, and the other was Artifact Refining/Blacksmithing. However, regarding the Way of the Spirit Chef, he had only attended lectures and had no opportunity for hands-on practice.

As for Artifact Refining, he wasn't learning any proper knowledge either. The outer disciples of the Artifact Refining Hall simply forced them to temper ores and hammer iron—turning pig iron into refined iron, and refined iron into spiritual steel.

Taking large gulps of the spiritual porridge, Ding Zhen sighed, "It's been over a year since I came to the Immortal Sect. When will I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel?"

Because blacksmithing required injecting spiritual power into the pig iron, the consumption was immense. Once exhausted, he had to meditate to recover his spiritual power. Consequently, his cultivation actually grew faster than Lin Donglai's; he had reached the second level of Qi Refinement earlier and had begun practicing the Artifact Refining spell, *Spirit Forging Technique*, though he had yet to truly master it.

"Keep practicing, keep learning, and try every possible way to improve your skills. With time, you will surely become an Artifact Refiner."

"The sect clearly doesn't need low-level Artifact Refiners; they just need blacksmithing laborers. Artifact Refining is one of the Four Arts, so those with good spiritual root aptitude will choose to study it as a secondary craft."

Ding Zhen had grown somewhat weary of blacksmithing. The Artifact Refining Hall was not particularly friendly to beginners like them, and he had begun to wallow in self-pity.

"Those outer elders of the Artifact Refining Hall only teach those with good aptitude seriously. Those with poor aptitude are only fit for blacksmithing. Even occasionally glancing at how they refine magical tools results in being scolded!"

"It might be better to farm like you; it's more carefree. I imagine there isn't as much infighting in the Spirit Plant Hall."

"Perhaps the Spirit Plant Hall is similar. Maybe I'm just lucky to have met a kind Senior Sister."

Lin Donglai felt that Ding Zhen perhaps lacked a goal, so he immediately said, "How about this: find a way to learn the refining method for the Earth-Shaking Spirit Hoe and forge one for me."

"Even if you can't get your hands on the materials for refining magical tools, you can start by attempting to repair broken ones. You can't just sit there waiting for death."

"There are eight months left. If you can forge such a spiritual hoe, you will definitely be able to certify as a Low-grade First-tier Artifact Refiner. That is the standard for recruiting outer disciples in the Artifact Refining Hall."

"If you ask me, if you can't learn from the elders, then be sweet-tongued. I'll give you a bag of spiritual rice. Take that rice and go ask the ordinary disciples of the Artifact Refining Hall to give you some guidance."

"There's always a way. Otherwise, after the two-year Immortal Seedling period, if we haven't learned any craft, we truly won't have a way out."

Hearing this, Ding Zhen felt a sudden sense of clarity. He gave Lin Donglai a grand bow and said exaggeratedly, "Thank you, Daoist Brother, for guiding me out of the darkness!"

They then shared a smile, and Ding Zhen began to critique the Blood Marrow Rice porridge: "This rice is delicious, but it seems to nourish the qi and blood. After eating it, my body feels warm, but it doesn't contain much spiritual energy. Even after circulating my cultivation technique, I can't increase my spiritual power by even a wisp in half a day."

Lin Donglai nodded: "You do blacksmithing and I do farming; both are physically demanding. This rice is cheap and can sustain one's spirit."

"Next year, when I become an official Spirit Planter, I'll grow better crops—ones with more spiritual energy. I'll plant more, too. This time I only planted two tenths of an acre and harvested less than eighty catties."

"Deal! Then I'll wait to eat your rice!"

The two continued to chat for a while, further stimulating their fighting spirit for cultivation and their hopes for the future.

They spoke of how Lin Donglai had previously borrowed five spirit stones from Xue Hong, but Xue Hong had already broken through to the third level of Qi Refinement some time ago. Before the Immortal Seedling assessment, he was expected to reach the middle stage of Qi Refinement and had already been designated as a disciple of the Purple Lightning Peak Elder.

When Ding Zhen went to repay the spirit stones, he didn't even see Xue Hong; he only encountered the miscellaneous servant assigned to him by Purple Lightning Peak.

After finishing his meal, Ding Zhen took ten catties of Blood Marrow Rice as a gift, but left behind two spirit stones for Lin Donglai to use for buying seeds.

Lin Donglai sighed as he put the spirit stones away, then finished the remaining spiritual porridge in one gulp and began practicing the *Muscle-Changing Marrow-Washing Stance* after a long absence.

Under the influence of the stance technique, a few more drops of essence blood were squeezed from Lin Donglai's spiritual marrow, which had otherwise become difficult to extract.

Fortunately, the Blood Marrow Rice was specifically designed to nourish the spiritual marrow and essence blood.

A surge of heat began to repair this deficit; though slow, it was better than nothing.

By noon, Lin Donglai began practicing the *Bingwu Yang-Gathering Art*.

This time, although there was again the sensation of burning wood, since he had already practiced the Earth and Water phases, the sensation was much lighter, feeling more like a gentle warmth.

Earth nourishes Wood, and Wood is inexhaustible; it was like the image of a bright, glowing torch.

As wood is consumed, it absorbs water and earth, but the earth generated during combustion refills the earth that was absorbed.

Thus, what is slightly depleted is actually the Water element, much like oil in a lamp.

Fortunately, the Fire-attribute Fetal Breath he needed to practice next only required two portions, and the subsequent Metal-attribute Fetal Breath would only require one. The Blood Marrow Rice would definitely be enough.

In the following days, besides arranging the spirit fields to prepare for the spring harvest of Kidney Essence Grass and planting two other types of spring-only spiritual herbs, Lin Donglai spent his remaining time condensing essence blood and refining essence qi.

In this manner, after only half a month, Lin Donglai had successfully planted two Fire-attribute Fetal Breaths within the heart of his Inner Landscape.

He began the cultivation of the final line of the Five Elements Qi-Gathering Method: the Metal-attribute Qi-Gathering Method.

This would complete the "Metal generating Water" link. Fire-attribute spiritual power consumes Wood, Wood consumes Water and Earth, and Earth is replenished as it is consumed. Only when the Kidney Water and Heart Fire are in balance can the cycle be complete. Although Kidney Water was four portions, it was boiled and evaporated by the two portions of Heart Fire; by replenishing this Lung Metal, the Five Elements would be complete and mutually generating.

The Blessed Field of the Inner Landscape could then be opened today, providing a place for the Spiritual Root Dao Seed to take root.

The essence blood had already been prepared in advance.

At the hour of Shen on this day, Lin Donglai slowly faced west and practiced the *Gengshen Gold-Gathering Art*, surrounded by ordinary iron ore that Ding Zhen had helped him bring from the Artifact Refining Hall.

The Metal-clashing-Wood effect manifested immediately, feeling like a sharp axe striking wood. Lin Donglai felt an itch in his lungs, and in the next moment, he spat out a glob of bloody phlegm.

But immediately following that, the cycle of Earth, Water, Wood, Fire, and Metal of this Five Elements Qi-Gathering Method began to circulate.

The Five Elements were balanced at a total sum of fifteen, representing the phase of Prosperous Wood.

Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood.

Using Wood as the beginning and Earth as the central Mother of the Five Elements.

Vaguely, Lin Donglai observed his Inner Landscape and saw, in a trance, a verdant seed growing upon a precipice of metallic iron. Yet, it was deeply rooted; despite being watered by rain and scorched by the sun, it remained tenacious and unyielding, eventually transforming into a towering, ancient tree.

As the Metal-attribute essence qi merged with the Fetal Breath and was planted into the lungs

The Five Elements Fetal Breaths were all prepared!

The foundation of the Blessed Field was established!

The Spiritual Root Dao Seed, suspended in the mysterious void, gave rise to the thought of "longing."

The transformation of the Inner Landscape had begun!