Rumble!

A low, rolling thunderclap approached from the distance. It sounded like something heavy grinding within the dark clouds.

Moments later, a fine drizzle, droplets linked together, began to fall from the cloud layer.

Spring rain is quieter, softer. It lacks the fury of summer rain, the bleak chill of autumn rain, and certainly the biting cold of winter rain.

Falling on the roof, it made only a faint sound, not at all noisy. Fine raindrops slid down the eaves, quickly forming a curtain of water.

Jiang Chen lay comfortably on his bed, listening to the pitter-patter outside the window. He couldn’t help but murmur, “Good rain knows its season, coming with spring’s arrival… This spring rain has come at just the right time!”

Once the rain passed, he could spread the news about the [Golden Spirit Rice].

As for whether to give it to Chen Tian or submit it to the Immortal Sect, that would depend on Chen Tian’s sincerity.

Then, Jiang Chen continued reading about [Golden Wine].

For him now, ordinary Spirit Wine was of little use. If he wanted greater effects, he needed to brew a higher-grade spirit wine.

Compared to ordinary Spirit Wine, this Golden Wine was more sought-after and commanded a higher price.

Time passed unknowingly as he read. The steady patter of rain gradually slowed.

At the same time, Jiang Chen, lying on his bed, felt a stir within him.

Effect One: Increases spiritual energy absorption speed by 10% for one hour. Negative Effect One: Long-term consumption significantly reduces reaction speed. Negative Effect Two: Long-term consumption causes severe damage to internal organs.

Jiang Chen pondered. “Two negative effects right from the start?”

[Consume 999 days of Lifespan to raise Golden Wine proficiency to Skilled?]

Soon, experience and techniques related to Golden Wine flooded his mind. Jiang Chen entered a state of enlightenment. He rapidly absorbed all the information.

Effect One: Increases spiritual energy absorption speed by 20% for one hour. Negative Effect One: Long-term consumption slightly reduces reaction speed. Negative Effect Two: Long-term consumption causes moderate damage to internal organs.

Effect One had doubled. And both negative effects were reduced.

This meant that compared to the previous Spirit Wine, although Golden Wine initially caused more severe damage, as its quality improved, that damage would continuously lessen.

[Consume 1088 days of Lifespan to raise Golden Wine proficiency to Proficient?]

“No, raise it to the highest level,” Jiang Chen said decisively.

In an instant, he entered another state of enlightenment. This one lasted even longer.

[Successfully consumed 5566 days of Lifespan to raise Golden Wine proficiency to Masterful]

Effect One: Increases spiritual energy absorption efficiency by 100% for one hour. Effect Two: After drinking, spiritual energy consumption for Wood-element techniques is reduced by 15%. Effect Three: In a tipsy state, comprehension speed for low-tier techniques increases by 50%. Effect Four: In a tipsy state, comprehension speed for high-tier techniques increases by 30%. Special Effect: Immunity to damage from long-term consumption.

“Oh!” Jiang Chen abruptly sat up in bed.

He had thought that raising Golden Wine to its peak would greatly reduce its harmfulness. He never expected it would grant a special effect that immunized against damage entirely.

This meant he could drink it every day without any problems or worries.

A slight smile touched Jiang Chen’s lips. “Suddenly, I’m quite looking forward to seeing what expression Tie Xin, that female drunkard, will make after drinking this Golden Wine. It should be quite entertaining.”

There was Tie Xin, and Pei Mo. That pair of wine-lovers treated alcohol as their lifeblood, drinking every day, with every meal. They practically treated wine as food itself.

Next, Jiang Chen began preparing to brew it. After all, he had everything needed right here.

However, compared to Spirit Wine, which could be ready in a few days, Golden Wine required half a month. But this amount of time was insignificant to him, or indeed to any cultivator.

By afternoon, the continuous drizzle slowed its descent further. The air around the Spirit Farm gradually grew fresh and clear.

Seeing the rain was about to stop, Jiang Chen put on his bamboo hat and headed toward Stone Mountain.

He arrived quickly and skillfully slipped into the cave entrance as usual.

The mutated spirit rice came into view.

Apart from the mutated mother plant itself, what most caught Jiang Chen’s eye was the Golden Spirit Rice plant.

Compared to its surrounding “kin,” its color was noticeably brighter and more vivid. Although its size couldn’t match the mutated mother plant, it was comparable in other aspects. He could even sense a sharp aura contained within each individual golden grain of rice.

Without hesitation, Jiang Chen took out his Greenwood Water-Parting Hoe and began digging carefully around it. He intended to transplant this Golden Spirit Rice plant outside into his main Spirit Farm field.

It had to be said that while the Greenwood Water-Parting Hoe was an everyday spiritual tool, its prefix indicated its quality. Using it felt effortless and precise. Not only did he avoid damaging the mutated plant’s root system, but loosening the soil was actually faster.

Before long, Jiang Chen had successfully dug up the Golden Spirit Rice plant from the soil. He continuously released Wood-attribute spiritual energy, carefully enveloping and protecting it. Then he turned and left without delay.

Soon after, he successfully transplanted this mutated spirit rice into his field outside.

To prevent any accidents, he even placed his companion Green Lotus nearby to guard it constantly. Only after half an hour had passed and he was certain nothing was amiss did Jiang Chen finally take out his communication talisman.

The first person he contacted was none other than Chen Bo, whom he hadn’t seen in quite some time.

“Junior Brother has come across a mutated spirit rice plant here. Could you come take a look?”

If Jiang Chen heard correctly, there came a sound like a porcelain cup shattering from the other end.

After that, Chen Bo didn’t say another word.

The time it takes for one incense stick to burn later, a yellow Paper Crane approached from afar.

Jiang Chen recognized it as Chen Bo’s means of transport and hurried out to greet him.

Chen Bo descended from the Paper Crane, then asked with a strange expression, “Where is this mutated spirit rice?”

Jiang Chen smiled and pointed toward his field. “Right there in the Spirit Farm.”

Following his gesture, Chen Bo indeed saw a single spirit rice plant glowing with golden light amidst others that were greenish-yellow. This one alone shone like translucent gold, radiating dazzling brilliance. Its panicles were numerous too, looking heavy with grain—clearly, this was undoubtedly mutated spirit rice!

At this sight, Chen Bo couldn’t help but exclaim with feeling: “Junior Brother! Your luck truly is extraordinary!”

Others might go years or even over a decade without ever seeing one mutated spiritual plant; yet here was Jiang Chen—having joined less than three years ago—already obtaining one!

If news got out about this discovery… who knew how many other spirit farmers would be driven mad with envy? Probably losing their appetite for food or sleep over it!

After all, nowadays everything was getting more expensive; thus, prices for mutated spiritual plants remained consistently high. Previously, submitting one could earn you 1,000 contribution points within the Immortal Sect… But currently, submitting one would net at least 1,500 points minimum. If sold privately, the price would start around five hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones minimum…

In other words… our own Junior Brother Jiang… was about… TO STRIKE IT RICH!!!