The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

Chapter 220: Recommendation

Feeling the Wood Spiritual Qi surging within his Qi Sea, Jiang Chen made a silent calculation. At this speed, I might break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage before the start of summer.

If he were an ordinary cultivator—or anyone else for that matter—such a leap would require several years of grinding effort.

Jiang Chen knew his aptitude and comprehension were average at best. Logically, cultivating this quickly should have been impossible. But logic didn’t account for wealth. Fueled by Top-grade Pills, Top-quality Spirit Wine, and max-level high-grade techniques, he had stacked enough effects to achieve a cultivation speed that defied the heavens.

If geniuses like the dual Spirit Root Long Ao or the triple Spirit Root Chen Tian had access to these resources, they would likely have shattered the ceiling of the Golden Core stage by now and ascended the immortal peak.

Beside him, Da Huang and the pearl chickens crept closer. As always, they didn’t dare disturb their master’s meditation. They simply lay nearby, basking in the overflow of rich Qi leaking from his body. Even though they hadn’t awakened their spiritual intelligence and couldn’t actively cultivate, bathing in this aura provided them with immense benefits.

Even the Fortress—the wooden automaton usually busy with daily chores—had subconsciously drifted closer to the source of the energy.

This session had been so immersive that Jiang Chen had completely forgotten to eat or sleep. He had sat there from dawn until the sun began to dip below the western horizon.

“Hah!”

Jiang Chen exhaled a long breath of turbid air, feeling a profound sense of comfort wash over him. He stretched his stiff limbs and opened his eyes.

He was stunned to find himself sitting in a circle of lush, emerald-green weeds.

The vibrant growth was contained entirely within a few meters of his body. Beyond that circle, the ground remained bare and barren.

Seeing Da Huang and the chickens lying there with expressions of drunken intoxication, Jiang Chen smiled. Just like last time, he didn’t disturb them. He moved quietly, ghosting toward the stone house.

As he passed the Fortress, his steps faltered.

The wooden puppet had sprouted tender green buds.

Jiang Chen blinked. He knew the puppet was constructed from spirit wood, but for it to actually sprout new growth? That was a first.

He quickly swept it with his spiritual sense. The Wood Spiritual Qi stored inside its core is incredibly dense. Is it possible… is this a growth-type puppet?

“Senior Brother Jiang, you’re done cultivating?”

Lin An walked over to greet him. The young man looked revitalized, his face glowing with health and energy.

“You look like you’re in high spirits,” Jiang Chen laughed. “It seems your cultivation realm has improved.”

Lin An hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed deeply. “It is all thanks to your support, Senior Brother!”

“Don’t be so polite. I’m going to make dinner. Come over and eat when it’s ready.”

A few days later.

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged on the ridge of the field, absorbing the morning Wood Spiritual Qi.

Suddenly, the Fire Crow circling high above let out a sharp caw.

Jiang Chen’s mind stirred, and he instantly switched his vision to the crow’s perspective.

Two Paper Cranes were approaching rapidly from the horizon.

One of the riders was familiar—Senior Brother Jin Fugui.

The other was a complete stranger. However, like Jin Fugui, he wore the white uniform of a formal disciple, embroidered with the green rice seedling emblem on the chest.

Clearly, another Wood Spirit Root Spirit Farmer.

Jiang Chen frowned slightly. Senior Brother Jin rarely visits personally, and he never brings strangers. This isn’t a social call.

Moments later, the Paper Cranes descended.

Jiang Chen stood up, dusting off his robes, and greeted them with a warm smile. “Senior Brother Jin, who is this guest?”

Jin Fugui made the introductions. “Junior Brother, this is Senior Brother Chen Chun. He is also a Wood Spirit Root Spirit Farmer, but he joined the core area over a decade before us. He currently works directly under Elder Mu.”

Jiang Chen’s expression tightened with respect. He cupped his hands. “Senior Brother Chen Chun!”

Li Chun returned the smile, his demeanor gentle but observant. “Junior Brother Jiang, Elder Mu has mentioned you many times.”

“Elder Mu mentions me?” Jiang Chen was genuinely surprised.

Li Chun nodded. “In the entire Spirit Field core area, those who can cultivate Top-grade Spirit Rice are rare. Most are veterans who have been here for decades. For someone as young as you to achieve it… you are a unicorn, Junior Brother.”

Not only did he produce Top-grade rice, but he also completed his quota with absolute stability every year. Such a Spirit Farmer was a treasure.

“So there are others?” Jiang Chen asked, catching the nuance.

“Indeed, there are a few,” Li Chun confirmed. “One of them even joined just last year—a newcomer even fresher than you.”

Jiang Chen was surprised, but not shocked. The world was vast; he never assumed he was the only capable person. He gestured toward the house. “Senior Brothers, please. Let’s talk inside over some tea.”

“After you,” Li Chun agreed.

As they walked, Jin Fugui suddenly stopped in his tracks. He stared at the fields, his eyes widening.

“Junior Brother… how do you have four plots of Spirit Field?”

Jiang Chen waved at Lin An, who was working in the distance. “The new fourth plot originally belonged to my friend. We manage it together now.”

Lin An hurried over, wiping his hands, and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Senior Brothers!”

Despite the explanation, Jin Fugui’s expression remained complicated. He had been in the Spirit Field core area for years, grinding his way to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, yet he only had three plots to his name.

Jiang Chen—a junior who had only been here a few years and was just in the early stage—already controlled four.

Li Chun, however, chuckled. “Ah, I remember now. I personally handled the transfer paperwork for that plot.”

“What a coincidence!” Jiang Chen laughed.

They entered the stone house and took their seats. Lin An naturally retreated to the kitchen to brew the tea.

And not just any tea—Orchid Mist Tea.

Lin An had enough situational awareness to know that guests like Jin Fugui and Li Chun could not be served ordinary leaves.

While the tea steeped, Jiang Chen cut to the chase. “Two Senior Brothers, what brings you here today?”

Li Chun held up two fingers. “Two matters.”

He folded one finger down. “First, I need to know if you plan to participate in this year’s formal disciple Grand Competition. I am compiling the roster.”

Jiang Chen shook his head immediately. “I have no interest in fighting and killing. My heart is set solely on farming. I will not participate.”

Li Chun’s eyes flashed with appreciation. “Very good. A focused mind is a strong mind. Then, let us discuss the second matter.”

Jiang Chen leaned forward slightly, curious.

Li Chun tapped the table. “For the second matter… the Spirit Field periphery is about to recruit a new batch of Outer Peak disciples. We need an inner sect disciple to conduct the assessment. Senior Brother Jin Fugui, Senior Brother Wang Ze, and even Elder Mu have all recommended you for the task.”

Jiang Chen was stunned. “You want me to guard the periphery?”

Jin Fugui coughed lightly, giving him a meaningful look. “Junior Brother Jiang, going to the periphery to temper yourself will only be beneficial.”

Jiang Chen understood the subtext, but he frowned. “If this were the off-season, I would consider it. But the spring seedlings have just gone into the ground… I cannot leave them unattended.”

“Rest assured, Junior Brother,” Li Chun interjected quickly. “We are not asking you to take a long-term station like Senior Brother Jin did. That duty is already assigned. You are only going to serve as the examiner for the intake assessment.”

It would be a short-term gig, similar to what Wang Hu had done in the past, not a year-long exile.

Jiang Chen glanced at Jin Fugui, then at Li Chun. Their expressions were expectant. He realized that with three separate recommendations—including one from an Elder—refusing would be a slap in the face.

He nodded slowly. “In that case… I accept!”