The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

Time slipped away unnoticed, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the Nether Spring Medicine Garden’s opening arrived.

The heavy snowfall had finally ceased, leaving the entire world dressed in silver and wrapped in white.

Only the biting wind remained, howling whoosh, whoosh through the valleys like the wailing of a grieving monster.

True to their agreement, Jiang Chen rode his Giant Leaf artifact, arriving precisely on time at Zhu Fuxian’s gate.

A moment later, Zhu Fuxian strolled out, a pot of Spirit Wine dangling from his hand.

It seemed he hadn’t managed to finish the ten jin jug yet.

His drinking style was a stark contrast to Tie Xin, who guzzled wine in great, whale-swallowing gulps.

Zhu Fuxian preferred solitude and refinement, sipping slowly, savoring one small cup at a time.

Jiang Chen cupped his hands in a respectful salute. “Senior Brother Zhu!”

Zhu Fuxian chuckled warmly. “Junior Brother is certainly punctual.”

Jiang Chen offered a pragmatic smile. “Truth be told, I was afraid of angering you.”

Zhu Fuxian paused, taken aback for a split second, before bursting into hearty laughter. “Hahaha!”

Jiang Chen had assumed they would take his Giant Leaf to their destination.

Instead, Zhu Fuxian retrieved his storage tool—the Green Spirit Hidden Void Tube—and tapped its surface gently.

Click.

A rift opened in the air, spitting out a verdant flying shuttle.

The vessel was striking. Its hull was segmented, section by section, designed to look exactly like a stalk of green bamboo.

Jiang Chen observed it quietly, a thought crossing his mind: This Senior Brother Zhu really does have an obsession with bamboo.

Zhu Fuxian patted the hull and joked, “I haven’t used this Jade Green Shuttle in ages. Junior Brother, best be careful—I can’t guarantee we won’t drop out of the sky.”

Jiang Chen blinked innocently. “Senior Brother is too modest.”

Despite his humble demeanor, Jiang Chen was internally evaluating the man in front of him. Although he couldn’t discern Zhu Fuxian’s specific cultivation realm, his instincts screamed danger.

He is at least at the peak of Foundation Establishment… perhaps even a Golden Core eccentric.

The two boarded the shuttle, one after the other.

As the hatch sealed, the ear-splitting howl of the wind vanished instantly.

Silence reigned. Not a trace of the outside world’s chaos could penetrate the hull.

Jiang Chen ran a hand along the interior. The quality of this Jade Green Shuttle is extraordinary. At a minimum, this is a top-tier spirit artifact with five spirit patterns.

The Jade Green Shuttle surged upward, streaking across a thousand meters of sky in the blink of an eye.

It tore towards the Earth Fire Zone with frightening speed.

“Senior Brother,” Jiang Chen asked, breaking the silence. “Why does the Nether Spring Medicine Garden only open to the public for limited times?”

“Because the garden is teeming with highly poisonous ingredients,” Zhu Fuxian replied, swirling his wine.

“Then what is the point of us visiting?”

“Originally, it was just a gathering for obscure alchemists. Over time, Spirit Farmers joined the fold.”

Zhu Fuxian gestured vaguely ahead. “Now, everyone trades rare goods while touring the poisonous herbs. It’s a convenient excuse.”

As they traveled, Jiang Chen voiced his doubts, peeling back the layers of secrecy.

It turned out the ‘Nether Spring Medicine Garden’ was essentially a black market trading post.

It was a closed loop where niche alchemists and cooperative Spirit Farmers bought and sold among themselves.

To put it bluntly, it was a private club. Nothing more.

Because of the shuttle’s speed, their arrival at the Earth Fire Zone was swift.

However, the location of the Nether Spring Medicine Garden wasn’t in the active core of the zone. It was situated in a desolate, forgotten corner.

First, to avoid prying eyes.

Second, to maintain security.

The area was exceptionally remote, and the ambient temperature here was significantly lower than the rest of the volcanic region.

In mid-air, a flock of disturbed Fire Crows emitted piercing, ragged cries.

Between the desolation and the shrieking wildlife, the atmosphere turned abruptly eerie.

Zhu Fuxian pointed to a spot in the distance. “We have arrived.”

Jiang Chen followed his finger and spotted a hidden valley.

The surroundings were barren rock, yet the valley floor was densely packed with vegetation.

But something was wrong with the plants.

Some twisted upwards, resembling bleached human skeletons.

Others were covered in long, glistening poisonous thorns.

There were even vines that seemed to breathe, emitting puffs of gray, necrotic mist.

Zhu Fuxian smirked. “The things you can see are just ordinary poisons. The truly interesting specimens are hidden inside the Formation.”

Jiang Chen realized the game immediately. “So, this display is purely to scare off the faint-hearted?”

Before the Jade Green Shuttle touched down, Zhu Fuxian retrieved two sets of black robes and two white masks.

Jiang Chen frowned. “This is…?”

“Rules set by Nether Spring,” Zhu Fuxian explained, tossing a set to him. “Everyone attending the gathering, whether Alchemist or Spirit Farmer, must disguise their identity.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but retort, “There are only a handful of people who refine poison pills in the sect. Isn’t this a bit redundant?”

Zhu Fuxian’s expression turned amused. “Nether Spring just likes the aesthetic.”

“If others refine beneficial pills, he refines poison. If others cultivate upright techniques, he dabbles in the obscure.”

“To put it simply,” Zhu Fuxian laughed, “he is a contrarian. He enjoys being rebellious.”

They quickly donned the black cloaks and secured the white masks, which revealed nothing but their eyes.

The Jade Green Shuttle touched down, and they walked single file into the valley.

As they ventured deeper, the poisonous flora became denser.

The further they went, the more grotesque the plants appeared—baring fangs and brandishing claws in the dim light.

Soon, their path was blocked by a wall of churning black mist.

If one tried to force their way through, they would not only lose their sense of direction but also succumb to the potent toxins.

The longer one stayed trapped, the more severe the poisoning would become.

Zhu Fuxian produced an entry talisman and called out, “Junior Brother Jiang, stick close to me.”

“Understood,” Jiang Chen replied from beneath his mask.

Zhu Fuxian infused his spiritual power into the talisman.

Hum.

The paper strip released a beam of spiritual light, cutting a safe tunnel through the gloom.

Jiang Chen attempted to extend his Spiritual Sense to probe the mist, but it bounced back instantly. Blocked.

Here, especially inside the poison array, one could only rely on their naked eyes.

The person who designed this Formation is a master, Jiang Chen noted with respect.

Bathed in the talisman’s guiding light, they moved step by step, their pace deliberate and slow.

After about thirty breaths, the oppressive atmosphere vanished.

The view ahead opened up dramatically.

The black mist was gone, replaced by a meticulously maintained garden.

There were flowers, grasses, and towering trees.

But without exception, every single one was a lethal, high-grade poisonous ingredient.

Jiang Chen swept his gaze over the beds. He didn’t recognize the vast majority of them.

Although he had memorized the Spirit Farm Hundred Records, his knowledge of toxicology was still shallow.

Aside from Jiang Chen and Zhu Fuxian, there were already a dozen figures present.

Some stood alone, silently observing a festering medicinal herb.

Others gathered in small clusters, whispering in low, unintelligible tones.

A few stood in the corners like wooden stakes, completely motionless.

The silence was heavy. It seemed that maintaining quiet was another unspoken rule of this place.

The atmosphere only deepened Jiang Chen’s curiosity about this mysterious High-level Alchemist, ‘Nether Spring.’

Zhu Fuxian nudged him, pointing toward a withered tree on the left. “Junior Brother, look. That is a true treasure.”

Jiang Chen looked over. The tree appeared dead, its bark grey and cracking. He shook his head. “I don’t know it. My knowledge of poisons is lacking.”

Zhu Fuxian led him closer to the withered trunk, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“This is called the Death Tree. Its full name is the Life-from-Death Tree.”

Zhu Fuxian’s eyes gleamed behind his mask. “It is the primary ingredient used to refine the Earth-grade medicine—the Rebirth Pill!”