Chapter 53

Qin Bi was stunned, then reacted with delight: "This field can grow crops now?"

In this fictional cultivation world, Qin Bi had always been obscure in the Hou Fu; suddenly standing out brought indescribable joy, and she still found it hard to believe she was so powerful.

The Shuling Shi was also excited, estimating the area: "This isn't half a fen of land, is it? It looks like a full fen."

The Shuling Shi took brush and ink, writing in the register: "I'll record it as one fen of land for you."

The Shuling Shi knew Qin Bi had reclaimed her first wasteland in less than a day, clearing a full fen; he had remembered her. If she reclaimed more wasteland, perhaps his own rank could advance further.

Qin Bi still found it hard to believe she had cleared a field. She grabbed a handful of moist soil to inspect it. Having seen good soil before, she rubbed it between her fingers and frowned: "This soil still isn't good enough, is it?!"

"It's enough," the Shuling Shi said. "It can be upgraded."

Qin Bi asked, "How do I upgrade it?"

"Rainwater irrigation."

"I'll do it," Qin Bi said. "I can summon light rain."

The Shuling Shi looked at Qin Bi, weighing her ability: "Fine, you do it."

Qin Bi stood still, and the Shuling Shi grew puzzled.

"You should leave," Qin Bi said with an embarrassed smile. "If others watch me, I can't summon."

The Shuling Shi didn't mind; some people couldn't perform well with a crowd watching. He called his attendants and left. It was already mid-afternoon, and many scholars had finished their work, so the Shuling Shi went to record the reclaimed fields.

The scholars had reclaimed a great deal of wasteland in a single day; some had cleared over ten mu in one day.

Once the Shuling Shi left, Rong Yan and the others ran over, looking at Qin Bi's field with curiosity, disbelief, and a touch of envy. They had worked all day, yet the soil quality hadn't changed at all.

The bean sprout's leaves had drooped; it couldn't push through the soil.

Qin Lang and Qin Xun's flowers and grass would likely need to return to their summoned magic treasures to recover. Compared to the Water Element, the Wood Element's plants were far less effective at reclaiming land, but they couldn't summon rainwater.

"Your summoned light rain can clear a field this fast?" Rong Yan grabbed some soil and inspected it immediately: "It really can grow things now. Amazing. You'll earn spirit stones today."

Qin Lang moved toward the field, but Qin Bi said, "Don't compact it."

"No wonder you asked my mother for land before. You're quite skilled at reclaiming wasteland." Qin Lang stood aside, indeed not stepping into the field: "It's all my parents' fault for lacking vision. They thought you couldn't farm and only gave you one mu."

If they had given her more, perhaps Qin Bi would have revealed her abilities long ago.

Qin Xun joined in the joy: "Reclaim a bit more, then we'll head back."

After expressing their envy, everyone returned to continue their work.

Qin Bi stood still, picked up a tea bowl, and skipped the formal summoning. She waved her hand, and light rain began to fall again. Qin Bi squinted as the rain grew heavier. Fortunately, the area was small—just one fen—so she could control it.

She appeared calm, but in truth, her heart was pounding fiercely.

Heavy rain couldn't be seen by others, so she needed to hurry. Qin Bi moved the tea bowl; the wind swept the rain, making it pour like a bucket. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the field was thoroughly soaked.

The Shuling Shi came over, glanced at the field, saw the soaked soil, and stood stunned for a long moment.

"First-class fertile land," the Shuling Shi exclaimed with great joy.

"I want spirit stones," Qin Bi said with a smile.

"Granted," the Shuling Shi agreed. "Here are thirty spirit stones for you."

Now Qin Bi was delighted, and Qin Lang and the others were even more envious.

"My goodness," Rong Yan said. "First-class fertile land, and you cleared a full fen in one day."

Seeing it was getting late, everyone returned to the teleportation array.

At that moment, the scholars were all discussing how many mu they had reclaimed in a day, each showing off and comparing results.

The Shuling Shi gave Qin Bi thirty spirit stones: "Come back tomorrow. I'll give you a looser patch of wasteland. Since you can summon rainwater, it's perfect for reclaiming land. Reclaiming land is far better than training in the small space of the Beast Realm."

Lin Yao approached, overheard part of the conversation, and thought he had misheard.

Seeing the spirit stones Qin Bi received, Lin Yao froze, glanced at her, and asked the Shuling Shi: "You cleared a field that can be planted?"

"First-class fertile land," the Shuling Shi replied.

Lin Yao almost impulsively ran to see Qin Bi's field. How could that be? He had cleared only one plot of medium-grade fertile land all day and earned ten spirit stones. Still, this was good news.

Lin Yao no longer pretended not to know Qin Bi. He offered her advice: Don't come back tomorrow. Go reclaim land on Rong He Shizi's fief. Every extra mu cleared belongs to the young master. First-class and second-class fields are not the same.

Qin Bi pondered: "We'll discuss it after we return."

Mou Meng'er ran over to greet Rong Yan. Seeing Qin Bi had received spirit stones, the young girl looked bewildered. Earlier, when they trained in the small space of the Beast Realm, after their team left, Rong Yan and the others had gained a great deal.

Although Rong Yan, Qin Tang, and the others were not showy, they had sold several beasts.

Qin Bi must have gained a great deal too. If she had known, she wouldn't have left.

Mou Jun saw Qin Bi receive spirit stones, and his eyes flashed. At that moment, the teleportation array was about to activate. Everyone stepped into it and instantly returned to Jingcheng. After exchanging greetings, they each went their separate ways.

Rong Juan brought Rong Yang to pick up Qin Bi. Sitting in the carriage, the child poked his small head out.

Qin Bi smiled and walked over.

Mou Meng'er still couldn't understand. She told Mou Jun: "Brother, Qin Bi is clearly weak and loves to cry. It's fine that they are skilled at killing beasts, but how can she be so good at reclaiming land?"

"Some people have fortune," Mou Jun mused. "Their luck is good too. Once their fortune value and luck value are activated, killing beasts in the small space of the Beast Realm will be effortless."

"I should have made friends with her earlier," Mou Meng'er pouted.

Mou Jun said nothing and took Mou Meng'er away.

Several wealthy young masters walked together, each looking exhausted and drooping. It had been several days, and they still hadn't cleared a single field. Their families wanted them to take the imperial examination, so they would have to study upon returning.

Qin Bi boarded the carriage first and left. Rong Yan and Qin Lang departed together.

Back at the Rong Wang Fu, Lin Yao reported that Qin Bi could summon rainwater. For the water-scarce Great Yan Kingdom, the ability to summon rainwater was absolutely in high demand among cultivators.

"Isn't the young master fond of fertile land?" Lin Yao, a strategist full of schemes, offered his plan: "Instead of reclaiming land in the barbarian wilderness, why not bring rain to our own fief? Every extra mu cleared counts."

Rong Juan paid little attention: "You may leave."

After Lin Yao departed, Qin Bi washed up, held Rong Yang and his mother, and chatted while discussing what to eat. Having earned thirty spirit stones, Qin Bi would naturally treat them to a good meal first, then put the remaining spirit stones into Rong Yang's little treasury.

"Buy spirit rice to eat," the little one said, loving spirit food.

"Good," Qin Bi agreed. Thirty spirit stones could only buy one jin of spirit rice. She had earned too little.

Qin Bi handed the spirit stone to Guard Yan: "Go buy spirit rice."

Guard Yan was surprised; this Princess Consort was impressive—she had earned thirty spirit stones herself, while Qin He received hers as gifts from others.