As the days passed, the winter snow began to melt, yet the temperature seemed to drop even lower.

The little fellow was so cold it didn’t want to leave its nest.

“You stay home and behave. I’m going to collect the spring seedlings,” Jiang Chen said to it, regardless of whether it understood him or not. After speaking, he opened the door and headed in the direction of the Core Management Office.

With spring’s arrival just a few days away, the necessary administrative procedures couldn’t be skipped.

Normally, reaching the Core Management Office took about half an hour. However, due to the thawing ground, the path was difficult to traverse. This time, it took a full hour to arrive.

“If this keeps up, I really should buy a Paper Crane first.” Standing on the steps, Jiang Chen scraped the mud off his soles with a look of disgust before finally stepping into the hall.

Since it was still early, there weren’t many disciples present. Male or female, they were all Wood Spiritual Root disciples.

“Manager!” Jiang Chen stepped forward respectfully to greet the elder in charge.

“You’ve come.” Elder Mu recognized him quickly this time.

Jiang Chen nodded. “I’ve come to collect this year’s spring seedlings.”

Hearing this, Elder Mu said with considerable satisfaction, “It is good to be diligent.”

In his view, if one’s innate talent was lacking and their comprehension average, the only method to shorten the gap with those born with advantages was through acquired diligence.

He greatly appreciated people like Jiang Chen. Last winter, despite knowing it would reduce yields, Jiang Chen had persisted in planting. He had even managed to grow top-quality Spirit Rice. Possessing both talent and exceptional diligence was truly rare and commendable.

Now, before the New Year celebrations were even fully over, here he was, first thing in the morning, to collect seedlings.

Jiang Chen inquired, “May I ask, Manager, if I wanted to plant other spirit plants…”

Elder Mu countered with a question instead. “Have you reached mid-stage Qi Condensation?”

Jiang Chen was taken aback for a moment before replying, “I’m still a few wisps of spiritual power short.”

Elder Mu asked another question. “What layer of the Evergreen Art?”

Jiang Chen frowned slightly. Having grown top-quality Spirit Rice, he certainly couldn’t say the first layer. Therefore, he answered, “The third layer.”

Elder Mu couldn’t help but shake his head. “Although your cultivation art level is acceptable, your cultivation realm is too low. I suggest you continue planting Spirit Rice.”

Anyone who reached mid-stage Qi Condensation could exchange for other spirit plants here with him.

However, Elder Mu did not know that the person before him had not only long since reached mid-stage Qi Condensation but was now only a step away from the late stage. Even his Evergreen Art wasn’t at the third layer, but at the rarely attained fifth layer.

Elder Mu said meaningfully, “Here, I can only operate according to regulations. Whatever realm you achieve determines which spirit plants you can exchange for.”

Jiang Chen blinked. “What if I purchase seeds from other spirit farmers?”

Elder Mu turned his face away. “That I do not manage, nor can I manage.”

Jiang Chen’s eyes immediately lit up.

Clearly, Elder Mu had spoken very plainly. On his end, he could only follow the rules of the Cloud Sea Sect. But he would not stop spirit farmers from trading privately.

In other words, as long as one completed their annual tasks, how one obtained spirit seedlings or seeds was something those above fundamentally didn’t care about.

Elder Mu turned his face back. “Let me give you another reminder. Exchanging for spirit seedlings is free, but switching to other spirit plants costs contribution points.”

The rarer and more precious the plant, the more points consumed.

Most spirit plant seeds on the market could be traded privately, but those of higher quality were almost exclusively controlled by the Cloud Sea Sect, and ordinary disciples weren’t even permitted to plant them.

For example, Outer Peak disciples could only plant Spirit Rice. Formal disciples could plant types other than Spirit Rice as their cultivation realm and cultivation art level increased, gradually unlocking more spirit plants—though these were almost all relatively common varieties. Only by becoming a core disciple could one plant very rare, extremely high-quality spirit plants.

“I understand.” Jiang Chen couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

No wonder the five major powers monopolized resources. It turns out that when the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will be crooked.

From the sect’s management down through the middle and lower levels, each layer monopolized and exploited in turn, grasping the vast majority of cultivation resources firmly in their own hands.

If one wanted to obtain more, one could only improve their cultivation realm, their cultivation art level, and eventually, their class status.

Soon after, Jiang Chen finished collecting this year’s spring seedlings. However, after descending the mountain, he did not head toward his own remote Spirit Farm. Instead, after winding around for a while, he arrived at formal disciple Wang Ze’s door.

Jiang Chen called out, “Is Senior Brother Wang there?”

Not long after, a female disciple with a Water Spiritual Root emerged from the house directly opposite. She looked him over while asking, “What business do you have with Senior Brother Wang?”

Jiang Chen stated his purpose clearly.

The female disciple gave a slight nod. “Wait a moment.”

“Hahaha… Junior Brother Jiang!” After about two or three minutes passed, Wang Ze walked out from inside, laughing heartily.

“Senior Brother Wang!” Jiang Chen hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed.

Wang Ze asked with a smile, “It’s not yet harvest time; why has Junior Brother come looking for me?”

Jiang Chen naturally understood the implication in his words and explained, “A few days ago there were too many people, and I didn’t dare disturb you. I could only come during a less busy time, specifically to pay my New Year respects.”

Hearing this, the smile on Wang Ze’s face grew even brighter. “It’s good that you have this intention. Come in!”

Only then did he open the gate in the fence.

Subsequently, the two entered the house.

After sitting down, Wang Ze called out, “Come—serve tea for my Junior Brother Jiang!”

Jiang Chen looked around curiously, finding the interior rather luxurious. The walls were covered with various expensive calligraphy and paintings. Even the meditation cushion used for cultivation was actually made from Spirit Stones.

Soon, the Water Spiritual Root female disciple who had appeared earlier brought two cups of hot tea.

This tea was also no simple matter. It exuded faint spiritual energy.

Wang Ze asked with a beaming smile, “Junior Brother Jiang, how is this tea?”

“Excellent tea,” Jiang Chen said after taking a small sip. “Sweet aftertaste, lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, and the spiritual energy contained within even stirs my own spiritual power.”

Wang Ze said rather smugly, “Of course it is. This is century-old Flower Wood Tea.”

Jiang Chen said with considerable envy, “Senior Brother really knows how to enjoy life.”

Wang Ze put down his teacup, his portly body leaning back in a lazy posture. “This path of cultivation is no different from being human. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, enjoy when you should enjoy.”

Jiang Chen deeply agreed with this sentiment. “Senior Brother lives with great clarity.”

Wang Ze narrowed his eyes slightly, simply staring at Jiang Chen. After a long silence, he finally asked, “Junior Brother Jiang, you’ve paid your New Year respects. What else is there?”

As they say, one does not visit a temple without cause—especially someone like this formal disciple who had just joined not long ago. He was prepared for a request to borrow rice or perhaps Spirit Stones.

Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment before saying, “This Junior Brother wishes to buy some seeds but has no channels whatsoever. That’s why I had no choice but to trouble Senior Brother.”

Wang Ze looked slightly surprised. “So it’s about buying seeds!”

“Exactly so.” Jiang Chen shrugged as if it were perfectly natural.

“It’s nothing.” Wang Ze waved his hand somewhat awkwardly before asking, “May I ask what type of seeds or spirit seedlings Junior Brother wants?”

Jiang Chen shook his head. “I’m not too sure what seeds or seedlings I should choose either.”

Wang Ze asked another question. “What is Junior Brother’s cultivation realm? What layer has your cultivation art reached?”

“Approaching mid-stage Qi Condensation.” Jiang Chen paused briefly before continuing, “The Evergreen Art is currently at the third layer.”

“The Evergreen Art at three layers?” Wang Ze was quite astonished by this.

After all, once one became a formal disciple, they could learn the more advanced Spirit Growth Art. Very few people still raised their Evergreen Art to such heights. This Junior Brother before him truly had perseverance.

Therefore, Wang Ze thoughtfully stroked his stubbled chin. “Your cultivation realm is a bit lacking. The seeds and seedlings you can choose from aren’t many. Considering it’s spring now, this Senior Brother recommends Spirit Clover.”

“Spirit Clover?” Jiang Chen had never heard of it at all and was therefore quite bewildered.

Wang Ze then explained, “This Spirit Clover is of a slightly higher grade than Spirit Rice, barely matching your current cultivation realm and art level. Of course, the main thing is its price isn’t expensive either.”

“This Senior Brother happens to have a batch here. Just ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.” Wang Ze pulled out a large storage pouch and soon produced the seeds for Spirit Clover.

Jiang Chen looked carefully and saw these seeds were all very tiny, with some even appearing extremely shriveled.

Wang Ze curled up one corner of his mouth. “Let me state clearly beforehand. This batch of Spirit Clover seeds has been stored for many years. How many you can grow depends entirely on your own skill and luck.”

Jiang Chen pretended to ponder seriously.

Wang Ze didn’t hurry him, sipping his tea while waiting patiently.

After quite some time, Jiang Chen finally nodded. “This Junior Brother would like to try!”

“Very good,” Wang Ze said very contentedly. “If you can truly grow them out, this Senior Brother is willing to purchase them all at current market prices.”