Chapter 44: The Plan for Seeding

In the Hall of Spiritual Plants, after completing the registration and certification of the first-grade low-rank spiritual planters, the group finally felt a sense of security. With many worries and anxieties eased, they began to relax and become more familiar with one another.

Even Lin Donglai developed an interest in alchemy, particularly the Tree Pill Method, which seemed perfectly suited for him. Unfortunately, only cultivators who had practiced the Qionglin Green Jade Sacred Tree Manual could master this specific pill method.

"My Jianmu Spiritual Root has infinite uses. If I can learn this Tree Pill Method, I wonder if I can make my Jianmu Spiritual Root grow medicinal fruits that can increase my cultivation level."

However, the Tree Pill Method required at least second-grade alchemy skills as a starting point; Qi Refinement cultivators had no way of practicing it. Since its creation, this method was intended for geniuses. They held themselves to extremely high standards; if pill toxins were to obstruct their path, they would rather forgo pills entirely.

Naturally, geniuses at the Qi Refinement stage faced no difficulties in breakthroughs and could completely avoid consuming pills, at most only taking Foundation Establishment spiritual medicines when they reached that stage.

It was only after Foundation Establishment, when the speed of cultivation slowed down, that pills were needed for assistance. Compared to Fire Pills or Water Pills, which both left some residue of pill toxin, the fruit-pills of the Tree Pill Method seemed as if they were nurtured by heaven and earth themselves—a natural creation. Naturally, they were most beloved by geniuses aiming for higher realms.

"Regardless, as the saying goes, 'the one near the water gets the moon first.' Being in Tianquan Village, it's still good to learn Water-method Alchemy. Once the blessed fields expand and the spring eye grows larger, I'll try to forge a medicinal pool as well," Lin Donglai thought to himself.

While farming was stable, he realized it wasn't important enough within the sect. There were always many veterans with high skills who could be replaced, and every five years, new "Immortal Seedlings" entered the sect, bringing a massive influx of low-aptitude disciples into the path of spiritual planting.

The sect would never lack farmers.

But if one became a Water-method Alchemist, they would certainly be respected. Producing a thousand pills in a single session—that would be truly magnificent.

However, despite their excitement, no one suggested going out for a good meal, because they were all broke.

Lin Donglai took the opportunity to visit the Hall of Merit to exchange twenty Xia Sheng Flowers. At two flowers per merit point, he exchanged them for ten merit points, which was equivalent to ten spirit stones.

Fortunately, aside from the cost of the two spirit stone seeds, there were no other mandatory expenses. The spiritual fields in Spirit Field Valley didn't cost money, and the requirements for other fertilizers and spirit stone powder were covered by the surplus from Xiao Yi's commission to grow the Many Wonders Flowers.

Even so, Lin Donglai couldn't help but lament that farming truly didn't make much money. He had been growing these Xia Sheng Flowers for at least half a year, yet he had only harvested eight spirit stones, averaging only one and a half spirit stones per month.

This time, Lin Donglai did not exchange for more seeds, because the Immortal Seedling cultivation period was approaching soon. After harvesting this batch of spiritual grain and spiritual medicine, he would basically be saying goodbye to Spirit Field Valley.

Spirit Field Valley also needed to be closed for three years to wait for the next batch of Immortal Seedling disciples to enter and choose their spiritual planting skills to cultivate and experiment here.

Such a cycle felt like one reincarnation after another.

...

On this day, Lin Donglai rarely returned to his small courtyard at Immortal Seedling Peak to inform Ding Zhen of the news that he had become a first-grade low-rank spiritual planter.

Hearing this, Ding Zhen said enviously, "If I had known, I would have chosen the path of spiritual planting too. I really wanted to join your Spiritual Field Mutual Aid Society, but unfortunately, I don't know how to farm, and my talent for blacksmithing is limited. I've never been able to forge spiritual steel, only things like refined iron."

"It's fine, brother!" Lin Donglai patted his shoulder. "I've already made arrangements with Senior Brother Liu from the Hall of Spiritual Plants. When the time comes to act as a landlord, you can come with me. I'll grow some spiritual vegetables and raise some spiritual chickens, and that will be your time to showcase your skills in the Way of the Spiritual Chef."

"But the Way of Artifact Refining is still worth learning. Did you follow the method I taught you last time—going to give gifts to the Senior Brother?"

"I did, but once that Senior Brother finished eating the spiritual rice, he stopped teaching. He hinted that I should send more before he'd teach me more."

"Then break the problem down. Ask several different Senior Brothers. If each Senior Brother only answers one small question, they'll surely be happy to receive ten catties of spiritual rice."

"This time I planted two and a half acres, and the harvest is coming soon. Your spirit stones were used to buy the seeds in there. I estimate one acre will yield about four hundred catties, so two and a half acres will be a thousand catties. After removing the husks, there should be eight or nine hundred catties left. We'll each keep three hundred catties as rations, which is enough to last until the next round of new spiritual grain. When that time comes, I'll plant mid-grade first-grade spiritual rice so we can eat better!"

"We don't need to exchange the extra spiritual rice for spirit stones; just use it as gifts. Spiritual rice is good—it looks heavy, and people eat it every day. Most importantly, it shows sincerity."

"However, the spiritual rice I grow is still too low-grade. If I were growing high-grade first-grade spiritual rice, the deacons and outer sect elders of the Artifact Refining Hall would be eating it regularly. Then you wouldn't need to bribe those Senior Brothers; you could go directly to the deacons and elders to ask questions and learn."

Moved, Ding Zhen did not refuse but replied earnestly, "I will definitely become an artifact refiner and a spiritual chef. When that time comes, I'll take care of all your spiritual planting tools and all your spiritual meals!"

"Good, good, good!"

"Actually, let me tell you, in artifact refining, you definitely won't be able to compete with those with three or two spiritual roots. You'll have to find another way. It seems Xiao Yi has connections to Qingmu Immortal City. If you can collect broken artifacts from the sect, repair them, and then sell them in Qingmu City, you can definitely earn spirit stones."

"Once you become a first-grade low-rank artifact refiner, I'll introduce you. For one, many tools from the Hall of Spiritual Plants break easily. My Dew Gourd, I don't know if it's because I've used it too much, but it's been acting up lately. It's only been used for over a year, and it can't even squeeze out a single cloud of rain for half a day."

Ding Zhen said, "Artifacts need maintenance too. The runes, restrictions, and spiritual energy circuits inside will wear down if used for a long time or beyond their limits."

"Moreover, first-grade low-rank artifacts are usually crafted by first-grade low-rank refiners, so the craftsmanship itself might not be that great. Give me your Dew Gourd, and I'll take it back to see if I can fix it."

"Actually, it doesn't matter. I plan to learn this spell so I won't have to rely on this artifact anymore."

"When I need to change artifacts, I'll look for a Life-Gathering Jade Bottle."

"My wood-attribute spiritual energy is a perfect match for the Life-Gathering Jade Bottle. By injecting spiritual energy, I can obtain Life-Gathering Spiritual Liquid. This stuff can make spiritual plants grow rapidly, and during the gestation process, it can make the seeds produced by the plants fuller and more full of vitality. I plan to rely on this to try and earn spirit stones through seed gestation in my spare time between spiritual planting tasks."

"Ten catties of low-grade spiritual grain only costs one spirit stone, but one jin of low-grade spiritual seed costs one spirit stone."

"When this grain matures, besides the rations and the portion for your gifts, I've reserved some for seed gestation. I'll ask the Hall of Spiritual Plants later if they buy them back."

Lin Donglai still had some Kidney Essence Grass seeds in his possession, which had been gestated using the Birth-Inducing Technique with his Jianmu Spiritual Root. After being enlightened by the Jianmu Spiritual Root, those seeds had actually transformed from mediocre spiritual herbs into first-grade low-rank ones, making Lin Donglai not dare to let them circulate.

He didn't know if it was just these seeds that had changed, or if all future seeds would change as well.

For this round of gestation, Lin Donglai planned to only use the Birth-Inducing Technique he practiced himself to hone his skills.