Once Jin Fugui and Mo Yu departed, Jiang Chen retrieved Chen Bo’s Communication Talisman. He had barely infused a wisp of Wood Spirit Qi when the connection clicked open instantly.

“Aside from you, no one would actively look for me at this hour!”

“Senior Brother, it’s that time again for the Fire Peak accounts.”

“Come over.”

The connection ended, and Jiang Chen stowed the talisman away. He found Fortress and instructed the puppet to guard the Spirit Farm, then summoned his Giant Leaf. With a thought, he shot up from the ground, speeding into the distance.

By the time he arrived at Chen Bo’s farm, his Senior Brother was already waiting inside the pavilion, the fence gate left wide open in anticipation.

In truth, Jiang Chen didn’t need to walk through the gate; flying directly to Chen Bo’s side on the Giant Leaf would have been perfectly acceptable given their close relationship. But Jiang Chen refused to do so. It was a matter of etiquette. Only by respecting others could one command respect in return.

No matter how many times he visited, Jiang Chen would always land the Giant Leaf outside the fence, wipe the mud from his soles, and enter on foot, step by step.

Chen Bo filled the empty cup opposite him with steaming tea and asked, “Junior Brother, why couldn’t you be reached on the evening of the Spirit Farm Gathering?”

Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned before replying, “I have to tend to the Moonlight Grass at night. I was probably sleeping at the time and didn’t notice the summons.”

Chen Bo nodded, his expression weary. “Elder Mu was specifically looking for you.”

He gestured for Jiang Chen to sit. “Elder Mu says you are honest and dutiful, but your biggest problem right now is the lack of a Dao Companion.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh as he took his seat. ” regarding a Dao Companion, I mainly go with the flow. When fate arrives, it will naturally happen. This sort of thing cannot be rushed.”

“You’re not in a hurry, but I am!” Chen Bo complained loudly. “I had to screen several candidates for you!”

On the night of the Spirit Farm Gathering, Chen Bo hadn’t planned to attend. He found such events uninteresting and a waste of time better spent sleeping. However, Elder Mu wanted Jiang Chen there and had ordered Chen Bo to make contact. When Jiang Chen proved unreachable, Chen Bo had to go in person to explain, only to be forced into a blind date session by the Elder.

Screening candidates for himself wasn’t enough; he had to screen for Jiang Chen as well. That night had been exhausting. He hadn’t returned home until five in the morning, only to be woken up by Jiang Chen at six-thirty.

The corners of Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched upward, threatening to break into a grin, but he forcibly suppressed it. He couldn’t hold back the question, “Why didn’t Elder Mu contact me directly?”

Chen Bo sighed helplessly. “Is it possible that Elder Mu also doesn’t have your contact talisman?”

In the entire Spirit Farm district, very few people possessed Jiang Chen’s spiritual frequency. Chen Bo had one. Wang Ze had one. Elder Mu hadn’t just looked for Chen Bo; he had pestered Wang Ze as well.

Jiang Chen cupped his hands respectfully. “You’ve both worked hard, Senior Brothers.”

Chen Bo fished three Communication Talismans from his Storage Bag and slid them across the table with a mischievous grin. “I screened three for you: one Water Spirit Root, one Wood Spirit Root, and one Fire Spirit Root.”

“Ah?” Jiang Chen was instantly dumbfounded.

Chen Bo gloated, “Wang Ze has even more. A full five!”

Jiang Chen wore an expression of utter despair. He opened his mouth to speak, but not a single word came out. He could see it clearly now—whether it was Senior Brother Chen or Senior Brother Wang, both were harboring a desire to drag him down into the muddy waters of romance with them.

Chen Bo waved his hand dismissively. “Anyway, I’ve given you the talismans. Whether you contact them or not has nothing to do with me.”

“Alright.” Jiang Chen accepted them with a sigh and temporarily stored them in his Jade Green Gourd.

Next, he took out the share of the profits. “Seventy-two Mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

It was slightly less than last time. Jiang Chen was just about to explain the market saturation when Chen Bo cut him off.

“I don’t really care about the amount; you don’t need to explain.”

This income was originally an unexpected windfall. Moreover, business fluctuated; it was impossible to always earn peak profits. With the weather turning colder, fewer Cultivators were venturing to Fire Peak.

Jiang Chen nodded. “It’s good that Senior Brother understands.”

The two chatted idly for a while before Chen Bo suddenly brought up the [Formal Disciple Grand Competition].

Jiang Chen was surprised. “Senior Brother also wants to participate?”

Chen Bo took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Ever since I lost to Huo Ling last time, I’ve been holding a grudge. Besides, I have nothing else to do; I might as well give it a try.”

Jiang Chen offered a word of caution. “Then Senior Brother must be careful. Wood Spirit Roots are not suitable for combat in the early stages, especially for us Spirit Farmers who have zero combat experience.”

Encountering an Earth Spirit Root would be fine; Wood restrains Earth, giving him a fighting chance. But if he encountered Metal, Fire, or even Water Spirit Roots, the odds would be grim. The problem was that the Grand Competition used random matching. One could encounter any Spirit Root, including hard counters.

Chen Bo smiled, a hint of confidence in his expression. “I know, of course. During this time, whenever I have a spare moment, I go to Fire Peak to duel with others. I’ve been enriching my combat experience and honing my spells.”

“Impressive.” Jiang Chen gave a thumbs up.

Seeing there was nothing more to discuss, Jiang Chen stood to take his leave, intending to return to his own farm. He felt that in a few more days, he could successfully initiate the [Nine Flames Profound Art]. As a high-level fire attribute technique, its boost to his capabilities would be significant.

However, shortly after leaving Chen Bo’s airspace, his gourd transmitted an image. A Communication Talisman was flashing with spiritual light, vibrating urgently.

It was Wang Ze.

Jiang Chen connected the call. “Senior Brother Wang, are you looking for me?”

“Of course there’s something, and it’s rather urgent. Come quickly!”

“What urgent matter? Just tell me directly.”

“I know what you’re thinking. It’s about the Spirit Farm Gathering matter, isn’t it?”

“Ahem… actually, the person for the blind date is already at my house, just waiting for you to come over!”

Jiang Chen nearly choked. “Already there?”

“This person is very familiar with your Senior Sister Wu,” Wang Ze added hastily. “Consider her one of our own.”

After finishing the conversation, Jiang Chen put away the talisman with a heavy sigh.

If it were just to pick up the other five contact talismans, he wouldn’t have gone. But the blind date candidate was physically present at Wang Ze’s house and was a friend of Wang Ze’s Dao Companion, Wu Xi’er.

If he didn’t go, it would be a slap in the face to his friends. Wang Ze might not mind, but Jiang Chen was terrified that Wu Xi’er would whisper complaints into her husband’s ear during pillow talk.

After thinking it over, he decided he had no choice but to take a look.

Immediately, Jiang Chen changed direction and flew towards Wang Ze’s Spirit Farm.

Below him, the sky was cold and the earth frozen; almost no Cultivators could be seen outdoors. Fortunately, the spirit plants were hardy varieties, still growing robustly despite the frost.

Before long, he approached Wang Ze’s ten-acre farm. The abundance of ordinary crops, rare spirit plants, and medicinal herbs hadn’t decreased at all; if anything, the fields looked richer than before.

However, what caught Jiang Chen’s eye was the vehicle parked outside the fence gate.

It was a carriage, similar to those found in the mortal world, yet vastly different in quality.

The carriage body was crafted entirely from Cold Vein Sandalwood, its surface flowing with dense, glowing green talisman patterns. On both sides of the shafts, perfectly round, lustrous Night Pearls floated in green jade cups, emitting a soft, luxurious halo.

Curtains woven from Ice-silk hung from the four corners of the compartment, embroidered with flowing clouds in golden thread.

And pulling the carriage were not ordinary horses, but a pair of snow-white, majestic Cloud-Patterned Beasts.