[Panel]

  [Name: Ji Ning

  Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root

  Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes

  Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity

  Realm: 2nd Stage of Qi Condensation (21/200)

  Cultivation Method: Pure Qi Sutra (1st floor: 87/100)

  Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Minor Accomplishment: 19/200), Shadow Steps (Minor Accomplishment: 11/100)

  Spells: Small Cloud Rain Technique(Minor Accomplishment: 13/200), Soil Refining Technique(Starting: 99/100)]

  Glancing at the panel, Ning nodded in satisfaction.

  It had been four months since he arrived in this world. From the bare-bones stats he started with, the panel was finally beginning to look respectable.

  After two months of steady practice, his Soil Refining Technique was nearing Minor Accomplishment.

  Compared to the Spiritual Rain Technique, it had taken roughly the same amount of time, but the comprehension process was far slower and more delicate. He'd only managed to keep pace thanks to the increase in spiritual qi within his body, allowing him to cast the technique twice as often.

  After all, a spell wasn't just about reciting an incantation. True mastery required five things: precise chanting, accurate hand seals, stable spiritual energy control, a grasp of the underlying principle, and a clear mental visualization.

  The first three could be honed through repetition and effort, but the last two demanded genuine comprehension.

  For Spiritual Rain, Ning had understood it through scientific reasoning from his past life: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Moisture rising from the ground, forming clouds, and falling as nourishing rain. Translating that natural process into spiritual flow had made the technique intuitive for him.

  Old Zhou, however, described the same concept in an entirely different way. To him, the rain technique wasn't about water molecules or cloud formation, but about guiding the water Qi within heaven and earth, drawing it from the Yin essence of clouds and merging it with the Yang energy of the practitioner's own spirit. The balance of Yin and Yang created harmony, and harmony produced rain.

  That, in fact, was the common way of understanding.

  But Soil Refining was a different challenge altogether. It wasn't a cycle; it was a transformation.

  According to Old Zhou, the technique was about "nourishing the earth's veins" and "awakening the latent spirit of the soil."

  Ning, however, viewed it differently. He imagined the earth as a massive sponge of minerals and microbes, capable of retaining nutrients and moisture. The technique's goal, then, was to enrich this system, breaking down stale, inert Qi and replacing it with fertile energy, much like mixing in fertilizer and aerating the soil to let it breathe.

  When he circulated his spiritual energy, Ning visualized it as tilling the land, loosening compacted Qi, restoring balance between Yin and Yang, and infusing fresh vitality.

  Of course, once he grasped the concept, visualization came much more easily. After all, with otherworldly cultural baptism from various films, series, and animes, it was not hard to process such things.

  Finally, after recovering his spiritual energy, Ning cast the Soil Refining Technique again.

  [Soil Refining Technique(Starting: 99/100) -> (Minor Accomplishment(1/200)]

  "Finally, that's two spells at Minor Accomplishment level." Ning beamed.

  He was not only happy because of the increase in proficiency, but also because the Soil Refining Technique was special. With prolonged use, one could upgrade the sub-first-level soil they had been using into first-grade soil.

  First-grade soil was essential for cultivating higher-tier produce. Once one could elevate the soil, the sect would also reward them with a small merit.

  This small merit could then be exchanged for internal resources of the sect.

  Ning took out the spiritual stones he had gathered.

  Glancing at the pure blue stone, he almost couldn't help but let out his inner Gollum: "My precious."

  After all, these things were the most precious resource for cultivating immortality.

  Over the past month, Wei Zhusang's spiritual stones and the ones Ning had earned from farming were already used up.

  Fortunately, with Wei Zhusang's help, he was able to borrow more from Zhang Feng and Lang Rulang. Zhang Feng had given him eighty spirit stones, and, surprisingly, the sharp Lang Rulang had given him a hundred.

  He had every reason to be surprised. Given Lang Rulang's usual character, he hadn't expected much at all, yet he secured the same investment as Wei.

  If it weren't for Lang Rulang's unchanging expression when she handed him the stones, he might have suspected she was greedy for his body. After all, he was very pleasing to the eye for the third person. A veritable pretty boy, one might even say.

  Similarly, the other person he was able to get spirit stone was Old Zhou. In fact, because he was a spiritual farmer himself, he understood Ning's talent even more. Along with the relation Ning had cultivated, this process was surprisingly easy.

  "Now that I can plant one more acre, my earnings from spiritual farming should increase," Ning mumbled. After all, with Soil Refining at Minor Accomplishment, his produce would naturally be of high quality.

  Overall, the future was worth looking forward to.

  ...

  "Junior Brother Ning."

  Ning turned and saw a tall youth in blue robes, his sleeves embroidered with gold lines.

  It was Su Fan.

  "Greetings, Brother Su Fan," Ning said, straightening up from where he had been waging his eternal war against weeds.

  "Hm." Su Fan nodded slightly, his expression placid as his gaze swept over the field before him.

  Silence stretched.

  Ning, sensing the awkwardness, smiled faintly and gestured toward his hut. "If you've got something to say, Brother, why not talk inside?"

  Su Fan inclined his head. "Very well."

  Inside, Ning placed a cup of warm milk tea before him. "Here, Senior Brother."

  Su Fan took the cup, his air of practiced aloofness unchanging, until he took a sip. His eyes widened slightly before he nodded. "Not bad."

  Ning smiled. Talking with someone as arrogant as Su Fan required initiative; otherwise, the conversation would drag endlessly.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "So, what do you want to ask, Senior Brother?" Ning asked, seeing Su Fan enjoying the tea.

  "How is your training as a spiritual farmer going?" Su Fan asked back, not answering the earlier question.

  Ning didn't comment on the rude behavior; instead, he answered truthfully. "Senior Brother, I've reached minor accomplishment in the Small Cloud Rain Technique and the Soil Refining Technique."

  Ever since deciding to appear talented in spells, Ning knew he needed to demonstrate his progress to solidify his reputation. It was a way of showing his value.

  As for whether it was dangerous?

  The chances were quite low. According to Old Zhou, he had seen few people with a similar level of comprehension as his own in his batch, mastering spells much quicker than others. While not many, among the hundreds of disciples getting initiated every five years, there will always be a select few with such talents.

  In fact, Old Zhou personally knew someone similar to Ning. It was also one of the reasons for his investment. Of course, unlike Ning, he possessed only a low-grade spiritual root.

  But by harnessing his talent in spells, Old Zhou's friend was able to acquire a barrier-breaking pill, yet unfortunately failed to reach the late stage of Qi Condensation.

  So, while showing strong talent in spells was quite amazing, compared to those top-grade spiritual roots, his talent didn't appear too striking.

  Su Fan listened, surprised. "It seems Wei Zhusang is a little behind on updates. He only told me you reached minor accomplishment in the Small Cloud Rain Technique."

  Ning hurried to speak for Wei Zhusang, after all, he owed the man a favor. "I only reached that level in Soil Refining a few days ago, Senior Brother Su Fan. So most don't know about it yet."

  "I see." Unlike Wei Zhusang, Su Fan didn't ask for a demonstration. Arrogance, or something else, Ning wasn't sure.

  Instead, Su Fan said, "That's even better. Today, I'm here to discuss a proposition."

  Ning blinked. "A proposition?"

  "Yes." Su Fan looked at him intently. "I am an alchemist's apprentice. The sect provides materials, of course, but quality ingredients are always scarce. A talented spiritual farmer who can cultivate high-grade herbs will naturally be sought after."

  Ning nodded. Alchemy was often called the art of burning money; even in the learning phase, the material consumption was enormous. It made sense that alchemists would want skilled spiritual farmers to partner up with.

  "Senior Brother," Ning asked, "wouldn't it be better to recruit more experienced spiritual farmers?"

  Spiritual farming wasn't particularly rare. The threshold was low, and most low-talent or unconnected disciples were dumped into farming.

  Su Fan nodded. "I've recruited a few experienced ones. But I also need someone who can produce high-tier herbs. Junior Brother, you're young, and your potential is great. You could achieve a Spiritual Farmer Certificate in just a few years."

  Then Su Fan smirked. "Moreover, I don't mind investing resources in someone who shows promise and is quite pleasing to my eyes."

  'Damn! Bro is aura farming against me,' Ning thought, blinded by the aura of wealth.

  Still, he considered what Su Fan said. To obtain the Spiritual Farmer Certificate, one needed to have achieved great accomplishments in at least three spiritual farming techniques, with Small Cloud Rain being compulsory.

  This certificate was especially valuable. Instead of giving a percentage of goods to the sect, the holder would only owe a fixed amount of produce, a major advantage for the skilled.

  Ning thought quickly, and seeing Su Fan's impatient expression, he finally nodded. "Since Senior Brother has explained so much, it would be rude to refuse."

  "Okay. But there's a condition. You must reach great accomplishment in the Small Cloud Rain Technique within two years," Su Fan said. "If you do, I don't mind sharing some of the profits."

  Two years?

  Ning considered it. For him, his comprehension was enough to accomplish that. The major hurdle was accumulating enough spiritual qi; only those at mid-stage could unleash the technique fully.

  Could he reach mid-stage in two years? Calculating his chances, it seemed plausible.

  "Okay." Ning nodded.

  "Here, as a gift and encouragement." Su Fan chuckled, reaching into his sleeve to pull out a small jade bottle no larger than a thumb. It shimmered faintly in the light, releasing a soft herbal fragrance as he tossed it to Ning.

  "Take it."

  Ning opened the lid, inhaling a wisp of the scent. It was a Red Dew Pill, twelve in total, and it smelled slightly different from the ones he had consumed before.

  "Senior Brother, this pill seems different."

  "Yes. These are Star-Marked Red Dew Pills. Pills come in three grades: defective, genuine, and star-marked. Star-marked pills contain almost no impurities and are nearly twice as effective as the other grades," Su Fan said proudly. "I don't need them, so I'm giving them to you."

  Ning wasn't surprised by the distinction; in a cultivation world, power and quality were always tiered for most intuitive face slapping.

  What did surprise him, however, was Su Fan's generosity.

  Was this why, in those novels, arrogant rich guys always had a horde of brainless lackeys? The benefits were insane.

  "Then, I thank you, Brother," Ning said, straightforwardly, without the pretense of refusing.

  Su Fan approved of this straightforward behaviour. "Do your best," he said, leaving with flair.

  Ning watched him go.

  He was somewhat surprised. Su Fan carried an air of arrogance, but it wasn't the reckless, spoiled kind, unlike Xiao Hong, another arrogant disciple.

  "Perhaps arrogance comes from upbringing," Ning murmured.

  Unlike Earth, there was no moral education here. While precepts from Confucianism existed, the world often flattered the strong and trampled the weak. Perhaps unrelenting praise and lack of guidance produced arrogance.

  Of course, Xiao Hong's mindless, arrogant behaviour could also be due to the protagonist's halo.

  As Ning psychoanalyzed Su Fan, he just sighed and shrugged it off. It didn't concern him.

  What did concern him, however, was right in front of him.

  Pills. And loads of them.

  ...

  Thanks for reading~