Chapter 23: Longevity: My Farming-Style Cultivation Is Too Steady Chapter 23: A Hundred Fish Compete in the Flowing Water, the Clums

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Xu Zhangqing had just left when the female Water Spirit Root Disciple appeared immediately.

She stood with Zhang Su, watching the receding figure.

"This is the nth person asking you to borrow spirit stones or spirit rice?"

"Junior Brother Xu came to buy seeds from me."

"That's fine; too many people have been coming to borrow things lately!"

"It's only just begun; there are still two years until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition!"

"Oh no—do we have to endure this kind of life for another two years?"

……

The day arrived that he had agreed upon with Han Su.

The frozen snow had already melted.

The temperature gradually rose.

Spring was approaching, and all things were reviving.

"Woof woof!"

The little yellow dog ran wildly across the spirit field ridge.

The chilly wind blew against Xu Zhangqing's face.

Strands of hair swayed back and forth across his forehead.

Yet his gaze remained fixed on the weeds just sprouting beneath his feet.

They say the spring river warms and the ducks know first.

But these weeds are the true "harbingers" who know spring is coming fastest.

"Woof woof!" The little yellow dog barked twice more, sounding quite sharp.

"Huh—Senior Brother Xu, when did you get a dog?" Han Su's voice followed.

Xu Zhangqing raised his head, looked toward the direction of the voice, and smiled: "I got it around New Year's; you just didn't see it."

Han Su scratched his head: "Looking at this little fellow baring its teeth, it won't bite me, will it?"

Xu Zhangqing laughed helplessly: "You're an Earth Spirit Root Disciple with the best defense, and you're afraid of a dog bite?"

"Just kidding." Han Su grinned.

Xu Zhangqing pointed to the Second Grade Spirit Field ahead and said: "The frozen ground is a bit solid; I don't know if you can finish it all at once."

Han Su took off his shoes neatly, then stepped on the frozen black soil, feeling the Yin Cold Qi rising from below, and frowned: "This Second Grade Spirit Field is indeed different from the First Grade Spirit Field."

"How is it?" Xu Zhangqing raised his eyebrows: "If you can't do it, I'll find someone else!"

"Senior Brother Xu is looking down on people; Junior Brother is at least a Formal Disciple." Han Su's expression changed upon hearing this, showing some dissatisfaction.

Xu Zhangqing, however, said seriously: "I only care about yield."

Loosening soil, fertilizing, rainfall, pest control.

Almost every planting follows these steps.

Yet all relate to the final yield, so they must be taken seriously.

If Han Su weren't harvesting only fifty jin of Second Grade Spirit Rice per quarter, he would have been replaced long ago.

"I'll do my best and absolutely not disappoint Senior Brother." Han Su gritted his teeth and promised.

"Fine." Xu Zhangqing didn't waste words.

Han Su took a deep breath, then circulated the Earth Guide Art.

His body was as if a valve had been opened.

Earth Qi surged in instantly.

But this time was different; it was mixed with extreme Yin Cold.

Boom!

Boom boom!

As the ground kept shaking, it was as if an Earth Dragon was burrowing through the soil.

The originally frozen black soil first cracked open.

Then it flipped over violently, revealing the soft part below.

As time passed, more than half of the spirit field had completed soil loosening.

Strangely, Han Su's complexion kept getting worse.

Usually, after circulating the Earth Guide Art for a while, the skin would turn earthy yellow.

But this time it was extremely mottled, with white patches of various sizes appearing.

After realizing this, Xu Zhangqing asked with concern: "Are you alright?"

"I... feel... so cold!" Han Su shivered uncontrollably all over.

Xu Zhangqing quickly waved his hand: "Stop and rest first."

Upon hearing this, Han Su didn't stubbornly persist; he immediately climbed onto the spirit field ridge.

Only after interrupting the Earth Guide Art did his body's condition ease.

Even so, his complexion was still very unpleasant.

A faint chill kept radiating from his body.

"Have you not yet reached the second level of your cultivation art?" Xu Zhangqing guessed.

Han Su froze, then after several seconds asked in shock, "Senior Brother, how did you know?"

Seeing the other's reaction, Xu Zhangqing immediately understood: "Because the art is very important; each level has different, even better effects."

Taking himself as an example.

Different levels of the 【Changqing Jue】 have different effects.

Upon reaching the fifth level, one can absolutely grow top-grade spirit rice.

Since that is so, the art the other cultivates must be the same.

"Almost."

Han Su took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, then said: "As long as I reach Qi Refining Middle Stage, I can once again enter deep into the Spiritual Vein, and with the tempering of Earth Qi, I will surely raise my cultivated 【Earth Guide Art】 to the second level."

This was also the reason he so urgently needed spirit rice.

"Spiritual Vein? Earth Qi?" Xu Zhangqing looked somewhat doubtful.

Han Su explained upon seeing this: "We Earth Spiritual Root disciples must enter deep into the Spiritual Vein again and again to seek deep-layer Earth Qi to temper our bodies."

Xu Zhangqing said in surprise: "Then the body just becomes a vessel."

Han Su revealed a look of envy: "Unlike you Wood Spiritual Root disciples, we Earth Spiritual Root disciples have only two and a half ways to become Core Disciples."

One: those with low comprehension turn to Body Transformation Cultivation, using their bodies to absorb a wisp of Yellow Qi.

Two: those with high comprehension turn to Array Masters, constantly raising their spirit power.

"Then what is the remaining half?" Xu Zhangqing was very curious.

Han Su smiled bitterly: "Participating in the 【Formal Disciple Grand Competition】."

Hearing this, Xu Zhangqing's mouth corner twitched several times.

The entire 【Dongting Immortal Sect】 has over ten thousand disciples.

And the Formal Disciples participating in the 【Formal Disciple Grand Competition】 are like carp crossing the river.

To stand out, how could it be merely difficult?

"My comprehension is low; I can only use the most foolish method." Han Su's face was full of helplessness.

Xu Zhangqing reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him: "You work so hard, you will definitely succeed."

Han Su said dejectedly: "I don't know when I'll be able to absorb a wisp of Yellow Qi."

Xu Zhangqing asked in surprise: "I've only heard of Mysterious Yellow Qi; what is this Yellow Qi?"

Han Su thought for a while, then said as if half-understanding: "It is said to be a higher grade of Earth Qi; it is not invisible, but rather yellow mist drifting in the Spiritual Vein."

A wisp of Yellow Qi weighs ten thousand jin; it is one of the high-grade materials for forging spirit tools and magic tools.

Xu Zhangqing suddenly understood.

Anyway, being idle is being idle, so the two chatted a lot.

Then they learned that Han Su had been miserable since childhood.

Originally his family background was not bad, not extremely wealthy but also somewhat well-off.

But because his father offended a petty person, the whole family was framed.

His father died from humiliation, and his mother hanged herself in grief and indignation.

He escaped through a dog hole to find a path to survival.

From then on he wandered everywhere.

Several years later, while hiding from the rain in a ruined temple, he met an old Taoist.

Seeing that Han Su had the aptitude for immortality, he then recommended him into the sect.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be the legendary 【Dongting Immortal Sect】.

Xu Zhangqing couldn't help but sigh: "This is fate."

Han Su said with a face full of apology: "Senior Brother Xu, this time I dragged you down, sorry."

Xu Zhangqing chuckled: "No, isn't most of it settled already?"

Han Su could still feel the strong chill radiating from his body: "But I can't help for now."

Xu Zhangqing took out the Daily Spirit Tool Hoe from his Small Storage Bag: "You rest first; I happen to want to test how effective this newly bought hoe is."

Han Su's eyes instantly welled up: "Senior Brother Xu, I..."

Before he finished speaking, only sobs remained.

He had once selfishly thought that Senior Brother Xu was a very pragmatic person.

But after this exchange, he discovered.

He had both overestimated himself and underestimated others!!!