Chapter 191: Rewards

Zheng Fa activated the Void-Piercing Spirit Eye and gazed at that patch of wheat seedlings.

Winter wheat generally isn't harvested until late May or early June of the following year; the seedlings have only just sprouted. According to Tian Laoshi, they have only just entered the tillering stage.

Yet the foliage is far more lush than before.

Likely due to the nourishment of Qi, these seedlings are growing well: their stalks stand straight, and their leaves are a vibrant green.

But from the perspective of the Void-Piercing Spirit Eye, no Qi flowed within these seedlings.

He shook his head toward Tian Laoshi and the old man, saying, "Spiritual plants should inherently possess the ability to contain Qi, but these seedlings show no such sign for now."

Tian Laoshi and the old man exchanged a glance, their faces etched with worry: "We don't know if changes will occur later, but we may need to prepare for the worst."

The worst preparation is that these wheat plants are not spiritual plants at all.

A slight stir in Zheng Fa's heart caused a Evergreen Talisman in his hand to drop into the wheat field.

The Evergreen Talisman shattered into golden fragments, scattering among the wheat seedlings like fireworks.

Those wheat plants had been tender and young.

But as soon as the Evergreen Talisman fell, they began to grow wildly: joints elongated, ears emerged, flowers bloomed, grains filled, the kernels slowly hardened, and their color shifted from green to yellow.

"It... it's ripe?"

Tian Laoshi, standing by the wheat field, adjusted her glasses. She looked down at the field ripened by the Evergreen Talisman, then turned back to Zheng Fa, seemingly unable to believe her eyes, before lowering her gaze to the seedlings before her again.

Seeming somewhat doubtful, she directly plucked a cluster of wheat ears, rubbed the grains between her fingertips, and examined them closely before her eyes.

After quite a while, she finally set down the wheat ears in her hand, looked at Zheng Fa, her expression complex.

"Tian Laoshi?"

"It really is ripe. I researched this wheat seed before; the grains aren't this large." Tian Laoshi's eyes held a trace of awe: "This... is this an Immortal Technique?"

Zheng Fa hadn't expected the Evergreen Talisman to be so effective.

Although he had long ago condensed this Yang Yuanfu, he had never used it because the nursing home's agricultural research had never developed.

The range of the Evergreen Talisman isn't large, covering roughly a two-meter by two-meter patch of land.

Yet every single seedling in this field had ripened!

Thinking it over, Zheng Fa began to understand the issue:

After Foundation Establishment, his spiritual sense had advanced further. According to Zhang Shijie, although his spiritual sense had not yet reached the Golden Core Stage, it had already reached the level of late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Now, when applying the Yang Yuanfu from the "Tao of Talismans Foundation Establishment Method," it could even be said to produce the effect of a top-tier mystic-grade talisman.

"... I told you long ago that combining cultivation with agriculture holds great potential!" The old man spoke with considerable pride, as if the ripening of this wheat field were his own achievement.

Tian Laoshi glanced at Zheng Fa, then looked at the wheat ear in her hand. Suddenly, a huge smile bloomed on her face: "I didn't even know if I was truly dead."

"Huh?"

"For me, this place is no different from heaven."

After Tian Laoshi's excitement subsided, Zheng Fa and the others studied the newly ripened wheat.

As expected, although they grew well, they could not be called spiritual plants—there was no Qi within these wheat plants.

"Judging from the current situation, there are two possibilities," Tian Laoshi said.

"First, not every plant can become a spiritual plant; some special varieties are required."

"Very likely."

Zheng Fa thought of the Xuanwei Realm; there were many plant species there as well, but only a small portion could truly be called spiritual plants.

"Varieties are actually easy to solve; just conduct more experiments. The other possibility is more troublesome," Tian Laoshi said instead. "Perhaps the growth of spiritual plants also requires a special environment."

"A special environment?"

"What I mean is, perhaps ordinary Qi environments cannot cultivate spiritual plants." Tian Laoshi frowned and spoke slowly: "Actually, I didn't plant just one type of winter wheat. I planted Jinhan, Changhan, and several other types of winter wheat."

Zheng Fa understood Tian Laoshi's meaning.

The varieties were already numerous.

Yet none showed any sign of becoming spiritual plants.

Of course, it is possible that this batch of wheat varieties is simply unsuitable.

But it is also possible—the current environment cannot produce spiritual plants.

"This is also one of my hypotheses," Tian Laoshi comforted him. "The issue of varieties is actually easy to solve; just buy more plants to grow."

"Yes."

"Since you possess such a ripening method, we can absolutely conduct high-frequency experiments." Tian Laoshi looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes shining: "As for whether the varieties are truly unsuitable, we will know once we try."

"No, he can only use a single talisman three times in a short period."

The old man nearby muttered.

"Is that so?" Tian Laoshi seemed somewhat disappointed, but added, "Three times is fine; we just need to be more precise."

"Not just three times," Zheng Fa explained instead. "Now, with a single talisman... I should be able to use it seventeen or eighteen times."

After Foundation Establishment, the Yang Yuanfu foundation seemed to have stabilized; the problem of the talisman dissipating after three uses no longer existed.

On the other hand, using talismans now consumes the Qi within his body.

He still needed to reserve sufficient Qi to operate the Spirit Mountain Method.

Seventeen or eighteen times was roughly the safe number.

"Hmm?" The old man blinked: "How did it change?"

"I have achieved Foundation Establishment."

Zheng Fa explained.

"Foundation Establishment!" The old man shouted. "Didn't they say cultivation becomes harder and harder? How are you getting faster and faster! I haven't even reached the second layer of Qi Refining, yet you have achieved Foundation Establishment?"

Zheng Fa found it difficult to explain this issue.

Old Bai and his companion's progress was indeed not fast; compared to disciples of the same aptitude in Bijiushan Sect, it was even slow.

On one hand, Old Bai's aptitude was not good, at most matching his initial level.

On the other hand, the spiritual qi of this nursing home relied on Zheng Fa's supply and was truly somewhat thin.

Moreover, the Xuanwei Realm ultimately had spiritual grains to eat.

For instance, Tang Lingwu; she should possess single spiritual root aptitude, yet she has been cultivating for over two months now and has not broken through to the second layer of Qi Refining.

"Fortunately, Lingwu is accompanying me..." Old Bai seemed to think of Tang Lingwu as well, comforting himself.

Zheng Fa's expression suddenly became somewhat strange as he looked toward the house leaning against the mountain wall.

Tang Lingwu had not come out all day today; he had been somewhat puzzled, and now it seemed...

A small vortex of spiritual qi appeared in the sky.

"This is..."

"Hmm, Tang Lingwu probably won't be able to accompany you anymore."

Old Bai watched that vortex, his face gradually turning black.

"Zheng Fa! I've reached the second layer of Qi Refining!"

Tang Lingwu rushed out of the room, speaking to Zheng Fa, immediately reporting her good news to him.

"I saw it," Zheng Fa smiled.

"Then... then may I try the Wind-Riding Technique?"

Tang Lingwu suddenly asked anxiously.

Zheng Fa was stunned; he hadn't expected that the first thing she thought of after breaking through to the second layer of Qi Refining would be this.

Looking at the anxious Tang Lingwu, he sighed softly in his heart—this girl, it seemed due to her past experiences, was particularly curious about spells that could fly.

Probably, these spells held a meaning of freedom in Tang Lingwu's heart.

She had previously begged Zheng Fa to teach her the Wind-Riding Technique.

But Zheng Fa had always refused to let her attempt this spell—mainly because the Spirit Eye Technique consumed little, while the Wind-Riding Technique consumed much, and Tang Lingwu had previously been only at the first layer of Qi Refining.

He hadn't expected that Tang Lingwu had always been thinking about this matter, even appearing as though she had strived to break through just for this spell.

"You can try..."

"Wait! A living person flying into the sky." Old Bai stopped him: "The villagers down the mountain would likely see."

Hearing this, Tang Lingwu obediently nodded: "Wait a couple of days; I'll walk deeper into the mountain forest."

Yet the smile on her face was somewhat dim.

"No need for that either," Zheng Fa said with a smile: "Hiding from people for everything won't work; I have a method."

Tang Lingwu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa's method was, of course, the Mirage Talisman—this spiritual talisman was originally condensed to facilitate their actions.

Now it also served as an experiment.

Zheng Fa had Old Bai and the other two stand outside the nursing home's gate.

The Mirage Talisman in his hand flew into the void; the sunlight in front of the nursing home trembled slightly, as if nothing had changed.

Once the talisman took effect, he nodded toward Tang Lingwu.

Tang Lingwu closed her eyes, as if circulating the Wind-Riding Technique.

Gradually, her body rose like willow catkins carried by the wind; Zheng Fa, on the ground, watched her closely to prevent any accident.

At first, Tang Lingwu seemed somewhat flustered, occasionally letting out exclamations.

Later, those exclamations turned into joyful sighs and the soft laughter of a young girl.

When she landed on the ground, her cheeks were flushed, looking extremely happy.

"No spiritual power left..."

There was still a hint of reluctance in Tang Lingwu's tone.

After a while, Old Bai and the other two returned from outside.

"Finished flying?"

"Hmm?"

"Tsk tsk..." Old Bai's tone held a small admiration: "Truly, nothing was seen at all; we were right at the courtyard gate and didn't even discover anyone inside."

Hearing this, Tang Lingwu became even more excited.

"Then I want to try again tomorrow!"

"Trying is fine," Old Bai's tone was somewhat strange: "But don't wear a skirt next time."

"..."

"You two are doing quite well; some people see nothing, while others see everything." Old Bai looked at Tang Lingwu, who was covering her skirt with a flushed face, then glanced toward Zheng Fa, his tone somewhat contemptuous: "No wonder you sent us out!"

"..."

This old man's sarcastic tone left Zheng Fa at a loss for words.

"Does this mean you don't want to go out?" Tian Laoshi's voice carried a chilling coldness: "Then what do you want to do here?"

"..."

Tang Lingwu was truly becoming obsessed with flying.

She flew a circle every day; hmm, wearing pants.

Two days later, Zheng Fa suddenly saw several large trucks driving into the nursing home.

"What is this?"

"The agricultural laboratory equipment bought by Tang Lingwu, oh, and the seeds too, were dragged in from all over the country." Bai Lao's tone was also strange: "Specially ordered people to buy them everywhere."

"Why buy them suddenly?"

"You served well. The little rich girl has been having fun these past two days and got a bit carried away." Bai Lao pouted: "You can take it as a kind of... um, reward."

"..."