(Requires summer planting. After balancing yin and yang, it becomes Yin-Yang Grass. A single plant is worth about 5 Mid-grade Spirit Stones.)

(A single plant can fill an entire Spirit Farm. Its fruit can be used for alchemy. Total value is about 30 Mid-grade Spirit Stones.)

(One leaf is poor quality, two leaves are good, three leaves are excellent, four leaves are supreme. A single supreme-grade plant is worth about 3 Low-grade Spirit Stones.)

After these past few days of reading, he had gained a deeper understanding of Spirit Farms. Although he was still lacking in practical experience, he was no longer a complete novice who knew nothing.

“Woof! Woof!” At that moment, Da Huang barked toward the direction of the field ridge.

Jiang Chen looked up and saw someone approaching. As the person drew nearer, it was a familiar face.

Jiang Chen rose from his chair and went forward to greet him. “You’re still this fast.”

Tie Zhu chuckled and said, “When Senior Brother calls for me, I must come as quickly as possible.”

Jiang Chen pointed at the frozen-hard Spirit Farm and said, “I just learned that turning the soil when the temperature is low can dig out insect eggs and freeze them to death.”

Although there was the low-level array, the Golden Slaughter Array, to kill insects, saving resources where possible was wise. After all, each activation consumed Spirit Stones and metal-attribute spiritual power. Especially since it caused wear and tear on spiritual tools buried in the soil.

Starting now could not only freeze the insect eggs but also loosen the soil in advance.

“Alright.” Tie Zhu didn’t waste words either, decisively taking off his shoes.

The moment his soles touched the frozen earth, he immediately shivered.

Just as Wood-attribute spiritual roots suffer greatly in summer, Earth-attribute spiritual roots dread walking barefoot in winter to absorb earth qi. Because it’s very easy to inhale the yin-cold energy along with it into the body, causing damage.

Last year, because of this very reason, he had to go back and recuperate for several days.

Fortunately, after a year of diligent cultivation—especially from continuously obtaining Tier-2 Spirit Rice from Jiang Chen—his strength had already broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. Even his Earth Pull art had reached the second layer.

Not only had his resistance increased, but his physical constitution had also improved slightly. Now, although he still feared the yin-cold energy, he wasn’t as disheveled as before.

Jiang Chen suddenly remembered something and hurriedly reminded him, “The raised spot in the middle of the Spirit Farm is the eye of a low-level array. Be careful not to damage it.”

Tie Zhu was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously. “Alright, Junior Brother will remember.”

He never would have thought that Senior Brother Jiang had actually installed an array. You must know, many Spirit Farmers who had joined for several years couldn’t manage that. Truly worthy of being the only person he hadn’t misjudged!

Immediately, Tie Zhu activated his second-layer Earth Pull.

As the ground continuously trembled, the frozen black soil cracked open. The yin-cold energy that had accumulated for a long time gushed out. While mobilizing the earth qi, Tie Zhu also inhaled it into his body.

Instantly, his originally normal yellowish face turned pale. An indistinct chill even seemed to emanate from his body.

Jiang Chen watched this and thought to himself, This kid has gotten stronger. Compared to his disheveled state during the first time, this second time was much calmer. Although in the following time Tie Zhu needed to rest occasionally, the frequency was not as high as before.

Half an hour later, it was done.

Jiang Chen offered him a cup of Tier-2 Spirit Wine to warm him up, then said, “Same as before, we’ll sign a spirit contract each quarter.”

The somewhat shivering Tie Zhu felt warmth spread through his body immediately after drinking the Spirit Wine. The yin-cold energy that had been lingering stubbornly inside him actually began to dissipate.

Therefore, when he saw the spirit contract being handed over, he didn’t take it immediately.

Tie Zhu hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Senior Brother, there will be a Formal Disciple Competition in another year. I… I want to give it a try!”

Jiang Chen shrugged. “I know. Didn’t we talk about this last time?”

Tie Zhu shook his head, then asked with a nervous expression, “What I mean is… could I borrow some Spirit Rice and this kind of Spirit Wine?”

Tie Zhu quickly added, “You might not know this, but the exchange rate for Spirit Rice has dropped again.”

During the New Year period, Tier-1 Spirit Rice was at 1:8. As for Tier-2 Spirit Rice, it reached a terrifying 1:1.3.

Jiang Chen paid no attention to outside affairs and didn’t know how crazy things had gotten outside. The Harvest Alliance, Talisman Guild, Pill Alliance, Artifact Hall, Array Guild—these five major forces weren’t even pretending anymore; they were forcing you to buy at high prices.

Jiang Chen asked noncommittally, “So?”

The quality had all reached the highest level—supreme grade. The spiritual energy content was extremely high, greatly beneficial for cultivation.

Jiang Chen looked at Tie Zhu’s cautious yet sincere eyes for a good while before asking, “How much do you want to borrow?”

Tie Zhu’s eyes lit up as he said excitedly, “500 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice and 50 jin of this Spirit Wine!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen frowned again. “You might not be aware. Although I have a quarterly yield of over two thousand jin, my stock isn’t much.”

Jiang Chen asked, “You know Chen Tian, right?”

Tie Zhu nodded subconsciously. “Yes. The triple spiritual root genius from Rain Pavilion.”

Jiang Chen spread his hands helplessly. “I have to supply several hundred jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice to Chen Tian every quarter. So I really can’t spare 500 jin.”

Before this, Tie Zhu had imagined many possibilities. He had anticipated various excuses. But he never dreamed that Senior Brother Jiang would have a connection with a genius like Chen Tian.

That was currently a core disciple of Rain Pavilion. One of the prominent figures in the entire Cloud Sea Sect. Rumored to be on the verge of breaking through to Golden Core.

To be honest, he felt a sliver of disbelief.

Jiang Chen seemed to sense his doubt and immediately said, “There’s no need for me to lie about this!”

Hearing this, Tie Zhu quickly waved his hands. “No, no, no… Junior Brother believes you.”

“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter. I just don’t have 500 jin.” Jiang Chen simply didn’t care.

After struggling internally for a moment, Tie Zhu asked, “How many jin can you spare now?”

Having lived two lives, Jiang Chen deeply understood what “a little help brings great gratitude, but too much help brings resentment” meant. If he lent 500 jin today, the other might ask for 1,000 jin next time. Refusing later could very likely lead to a falling out.

“250 jin would work too.” Tie Zhu was mentally prepared for this.

Jiang Chen immediately said, “These 250 jin aren’t all at once. I’ll give Junior Brother 100 jin first. After spring ends, I’ll give you the remaining 150 jin.”

Although somewhat surprised, Tie Zhu said gratefully with tears in his eyes, “Senior Brother being willing to lend any is already an immense kindness.”

Jiang Chen added, “There isn’t 50 jin of Spirit Wine either. At most 20 jin.”

“No problem.” Tie Zhu was already more than satisfied. Many people outside wanted to borrow but couldn’t get any. They could only grit their teeth and buy expensive Spirit Rice.

Immediately, Jiang Chen lent Tie Zhu 100 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice and 20 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Wine.

But they signed a spirit contract for borrowing 250 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice and 20 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Wine.

Doing this might hurt Tie Zhu’s feelings. But Jiang Chen felt it necessary.

After all, a person must be practical.