The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

Chapter 26: Senior Brother Extends an Invitation, Golden Core Has Three Grades

In the following days, everything settled into a cyclical rhythm: cooking, cultivating, walking the dog, and tending to the Spirit Farm.

Day after day, it was always the same.

If it were anyone else, they might not have been able to withstand such solitude. But every time Jiang Chen saw how much stronger and healthier the rice seedlings grew, his mood became incomparably content.

And as he kept cultivating, the spiritual energy within him grew into four distinct strands.

Now, standing on the ridge of the field with the slightly larger little yellow dog at his feet, he looked at the silently growing Spirit Clover in the corner and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

Wang Ze had clearly said this was Spirit Clover. But right now, most of the plants only had a single leaf.

This situation obviously wasn’t right.

After all, he had fertilized where needed and called for rain where needed. When planting initially, he had even specially wrapped the seeds with his own spiritual energy. In theory, they should be growing normally.

But the current situation seemed uneven. Most were just a single green leaf. A few had two leaves. But forget four leaves; not even three leaves were present.

Is the growth cycle long? Or was there something he overlooked?

Jiang Chen stated firmly, “Nutrition definitely isn’t the issue.”

Suddenly, the little yellow dog at his feet started barking toward the other side of the field. Hearing the commotion, Jiang Chen glanced sideways.

Someone was approaching from the distance.

But the visitor wasn’t Jin Fugui. Nor was it Lin An or Mo Ziyao.

It was absolutely unexpected. It was actually Chen Bo—the Senior Brother Chen who had helped him multiple times back in the outer Spirit Farm area.

“Senior Brother Chen, what brings you here?” Jiang Chen hurried forward to greet him.

Chen Bo looked around while smiling. “My duty shift guarding the outer area finished, so I’ve returned to the core region.”

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. “Great! Senior Brother, give me your location; next time I’ll visit you.”

Chen Bo took out a communication talisman and handed it over, then explained, “Last time at the Red Leaf Valley market, I wasn’t intentionally ignoring you. My cousin had an urgent matter, so I couldn’t delay.”

“Cousin?” Jiang Chen accepted the talisman and realized, “Chen Tian is actually Senior Brother’s cousin!”

Chen Bo nodded slightly. “You know too that these past two years, the prices of various resources have been soaring. Whether it’s spirit plants or artifacts, even mission rewards are much higher than before.”

Jiang Chen deeply agreed. “Exactly! I just spent twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones hiring rainfall.”

As the two walked along the field ridge, Chen Bo continued, “Precisely because my cousin is a core disciple, his need for resources is increasing.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen pondered. “Could Senior Brother’s return also be a factor in this?”

Chen Bo showed an appreciative look. “I specially came to find you. One, to confirm your location, and two, to discuss cooperation.”

“Cooperation?” Jiang Chen was very surprised, but also extremely delighted.

“Spirit Clover?” Chen Bo, seeing the robust Spirit Rice, couldn’t help but brighten his eyes, but paused when he saw the spirit plants in the other corner.

Chen Bo suddenly showed a playful expression. “That you can grow Spirit Clover surprises this Senior Brother, but did the person who sold you the seeds not say how to plant them?”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shook his head. “No. I thought it was the same method as Spirit Rice.”

Chen Bo couldn’t help but scoff laughingly. “Spirit Clover needs lots of water. Thus, even if you plant it, you must find a watery place; otherwise, it will compete for water with your Spirit Rice.”

Jiang Chen shook his head. “But my planted Spirit Rice shows no problems.”

He sensed them daily. Moreover, when the Evergreen Art reaches the fifth layer, he can perceive all conditions of the spirit plants in advance.

Chen Bo looked knowing. “One, because you have a lot of Spirit Rice. Two, the Spirit Clover seeds were problematic. Three, I think your Evergreen Art has probably improved, right?”

“So that’s how it is.” Jiang Chen neither admitted nor denied it.

Seeing this, Chen Bo didn’t press; instead, he pointed to where the Spirit Clover was planted and said, “Next time, dig a water channel beside them, and it will be fine.”

Jiang Chen sighed with emotion. “I didn’t expect to be helped by Senior Brother again; my debt of gratitude is endless.”

Chen Bo laughed wryly. “It’s nothing much; many things are mutual.”

Although the other didn’t admit whether his Evergreen Art had improved, that wasn’t the main point. After all, over half a year had passed already. Even with the worst aptitude, one would slowly progress. Moreover, judging by the current growth state of the Spirit Rice, the yield definitely wouldn’t be low.

“By the way, what cooperation did Senior Brother want to discuss with me?” Jiang Chen was very curious about this.

Chen Bo’s smile faded, and his expression turned serious. “My cousin Chen Tian plans to attempt forming an Earth Grade Golden Core within ten years, thus he needs massive resources.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but change the topic. “What is an Earth Grade Golden Core?”

Chen Bo explained patiently.

The Human Grade Golden Core belongs to the worst grade of Golden Core. Whether it is spiritual power or spell potency after casting, it is the weakest. Yet, the majority of Golden Core cultivators possess almost exclusively Human Grade Golden Cores.

This involves many reasons. One is aptitude. Another is resources.

An Earth Grade Golden Core can crush a Human Grade Golden Core. But to reach the Earth Grade requires massive resources. Moreover, one must go hunt thousand-year monsters to obtain their core parts and absorb the power within to strengthen one’s spiritual roots.

As for the Heaven Grade Golden Core, it involves even more factors. The entire Azure Realm might only produce one per millennium. Therefore, for many geniuses, the Earth Grade Golden Core is the limit and the ultimate pursuit.

Jiang Chen immediately pressed further, “Is the Heaven Grade Golden Core very difficult to achieve?”

Chen Bo said with a serious expression, “It’s not a question of whether one can achieve it, but that it requires a certain opportunity. Without being a bearer of great fortune, it is almost impossible.”

Jiang Chen thought inwardly, Others cannot do it, but that doesn’t mean I cannot.

Even a genius like Chen Tian, with three mutually generating spiritual roots, must seek a breakthrough within a limited lifespan.

But he was different. He possessed an almost limitless lifespan. Thus, he could accumulate bit by bit.

Chen Bo, seeing the other silent, thought he was discouraged and comforted him, “These things are too distant for you; wait until Foundation Establishment, then we can talk about it.”

Jiang Chen nodded. “Senior Brother is right.”

Chen Bo returned to the main topic. “Junior Brother, as long as you join our team, even though the next ten years will be very busy and the demands high, regardless of whether my cousin ultimately succeeds or fails, we will give you the greatest benefit.”