Chapter 632

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Days passed one by one.

Early morning, the sky just turning pale, Hongfeng Valley was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

The spirit rice in the spirit fields grew vigorously, heavy ears of rice hung full of dewdrops.

The maple leaves of Hongfeng Valley gradually stained a light red, like clusters of burning flames in the mist.

As time passed, the mist grew thicker and thicker, spreading from the valley entrance, wrapping the entire spirit fields, houses, and corridors inside; from afar only a blurred outline remained.

The air was filled with the fragrance of earth, the fresh scent of vegetation, and faint spiritual energy.

The three little ones were still asleep; Wangwang and Wangzai lay dozing in the corridor, their ears twitching now and then, unknown whether they were asleep or not.

Just then, accompanied by a "creak," the main door of the first floor was pulled open from inside, and then Xu Zhangqing in a green robe stepped out leisurely.

Wangwang had followed the longest; hearing the movement, his eyes still unopened, his tail automatically started wagging, then he slowly climbed up from the ground, first did a downward dog stretch, only then walked to his master's feet with a face full of ingratiating smiles.

Wangzai woke up; his massive body struggled up while wriggling. He did not do a downward dog stretch, merely twisted his body, shaking off all the dewdrops clinging to his fluffy fur.

Then he squatted behind his dog father, waiting in proper hierarchical order for his master's "favor."

The corner of Xu Zhangqing's mouth twitched upward, outlining a faint smile; he first gave Wangwang a full-body massage, making him so comfortable he finally couldn't endure and acted spoiled on the ground.

Seeing this, Wangzai not only did not resist, but looked forward to it incomparably.

Grinning, sticking out his tongue, staring wide-eyed, he appeared eager to try.

Xu Zhangqing looked at his massive build and couldn't help but sigh: "Good thing I'm a cultivator; otherwise my heart would be willing but my strength insufficient."

Afterward, he gave Wangzai a full-body massage as well, with even greater force.

Compared to Wangwang's "fragility," Wangzai not only did not act spoiled, but in the end was still unsatisfied, even using his huge paws to claw at Xu Zhangqing's right hand, his eyes frantically signaling.

"Once is enough; I still have other matters!"

"Woof woof!"

"Annoying; believe it or not I'll whip you?"

Relying on his thick skin and tough flesh, Wangzai simply refused to give up.

Before Xu Zhangqing could move, Wangwang immediately climbed up from the ground, seized the moment, and gave his own pup a slap, baring his teeth while letting out a "whine whine" warning sound.

Logically speaking, Wangzai was taller than his father, his build even more robust, combat ability even more formidable; the result was he stubbornly shrank his neck in fright.

In the end he even looked wronged, sniffled, as if about to cry.

Xu Zhangqing saw it in his eyes, his heart inexplicably stirred: "Counting the time, I'm already thirty-five; Wangwang is also... seventeen?"

Although spirit pets live somewhat longer.

But unless they gain sentience or become yaoguai, they live at most thirty or forty years.

To a cultivator, thirty years is a snap of the fingers, passing very quickly.

But for a spirit pet, especially Wangwang, life has already quietly passed its halfway point.

In this instant, Xu Zhangqing's gaze became complex: "Without realizing it, has it really been this long?"

Starting as an outer perimeter disciple of the spirit fields, then becoming a formal disciple, rising to Spirit Nurturer, finally inheriting the Grain Master position — it seems not much time has passed.

Unexpectedly, it turns out over ten years have already gone by.

After teaching Wangzai a lesson, Wangwang immediately showed an ingratiating smile to his master, as if saying: "Don't blame him; the child is still young and ignorant; I'll teach him slowly!"

The smile on Xu Zhangqing's face faded; he squatted down and vigorously rubbed his head: "Wang... you have to accompany me all the way!"

Wangwang tilted his head, unknown whether he understood or not.

Palm stroking Wangwang's rough fur, Xu Zhangqing made up his mind in his heart.

No matter how many resources or what price, he must find a way to extend his spirit pets' lifespan.

Wangwang, Gege have accompanied him since he was unknown and nameless; they've long been regarded as family; he absolutely cannot watch them hurriedly finish their lives.

Amidst surging thoughts, the horizon showed fish-belly white.

The mist still had not dispersed; faint light penetrated the cloud layers, gilding Hongfeng Valley with a layer of pale gold.

Just then, a clear and slightly comical "cock-a-doodle-doo" suddenly broke the tranquility.

Xu Zhangqing's divine sense swept; he discovered the crower was not a rooster, but another spirit pet, Gege.

Unknown who he learned it from; not properly laying eggs, but insisting on imitating a rooster's crow.

Every day early morning, and punctually on time.

Although the imitation is not quite right, it's deafeningly noisy; therefore it also serves its purpose.

Wangwang and Wangzai wore expressions of helplessness, obviously long accustomed to the daily "ear-splitting demonic sound."

Not long after, "tap tap" footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Eldest Disciple Sun Shangxiang rubbed her eyes and walked out the room door; baby fat still on her cheeks carried sleepiness; seeing Xu Zhangqing she perked up a bit, and called out in a clear voice: "Master!"

Behind her was Second Disciple Lin Feng; his bearing was tall and straight, eyes clear and bright, completely without sleepiness; he gave a proper salute: "Master, good morning."

"Awake?"

Xu Zhangqing stood up and continued: "The spirit rice is ripe; today we harvest."

The two spoke in unison: "Yes!"

Afterward, the three walked together toward the spirit fields.

Xu Zhangqing's spirit field was second-grade; here the spiritual energy was most abundant.

The planted spirit rice, every stalk golden and translucent, each grain plump as a pearl.

He waved his hand casually, and these spirit rice stalks broke off neatly, harvested completely in an instant.

Then he circulated the Jiahe Record, gathering up the lingering Spiritual Energy and Earth Qi, channeling it all into the root systems below.

In this way, there would be no need to transplant seedlings again afterward; the spirit rice could grow in a continuous cycle.

To put it plainly, it was the same principle as cutting chives.

Seeing this scene, Lin Feng's eyes revealed a look of yearning, then he asked in puzzlement: "Master, do you only harvest spirit rice?"

"Mm."

Xu Zhangqing nodded while explaining: "The other spirit plants don't need to be rushed for harvest; they can even be cultivated continuously until needed.

This way, not only will the Spiritual Energy be more abundant, but the effect will also keep improving."

Compared to spirit rice harvested by season, these spirit plants instead go by the year.

As they spoke, the three arrived at the First Grade Spirit Field on the Left Side.

At present there were only Two Mu; the Left Side belonged to the Second Disciple, the Right Side to the Eldest Disciple.

One side was a bountiful Spirit Field.

One side was a bare, bald Spirit Field.

Such a contrast, the difference was truly quite large.

Under Lin Feng's meticulous care, the planted spirit rice all grew very well; the ears were entirely heavy and drooping, a stretch of golden yellow as far as the eye could see.

Although the Spirit Rice was only Quality-grade, to him it already counted as not bad.

As for Eldest Disciple Sun Shangxiang, her Spiritual Root was originally even rarer; logically the results should have been better, only pity her constitution was special — instead not a single stalk survived.

Sun Shangxiang wore a mournful face: "At least let one stalk live!"

Lin Feng hurriedly comforted: "Elder Sister, it's fine; you can help me harvest."

Sun Shangxiang spread her hands, saying rather helplessly: "I don't have a choice either~"

Xu Zhangqing was amused by the two little ones; he thought a moment and said: "Cang Men are all Xiuxian Zhe with long Lifespans; why rush for a moment?"