“The third layer of Qi Refining?”

Hua Qi couldn’t hide his astonishment. “Junior Brother Han, you’ve already broken through?”

Before Han Yu could explain, Hua Qi answered his own question. “It makes sense. The sect rewarded you with two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, and you exchanged your contribution points for a piece of Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart. With such an abundance of resources piled up, it would be strange if your progress wasn’t fast!”

Senior Sister Li, having finished her sowing, arrived atop her flying shuttle Magical Artifact. She carried a Storage Bag filled with water she had just collected. Overhearing their conversation, she offered Han Yu a faint smile.

“Well done, Junior Brother Han.”

She added earnestly, “Cultivation requires constant vigilance. Do not slack off; continue to strive.”

“Yes, Senior Sister Li!” Han Yu replied respectfully. “I also wish you early success in your Foundation Establishment!”

Senior Sister Li pursed her slightly thick lips, her smile turning calm but wistful. “Establishing one’s Foundation is hardly simple. Just reaching the ninth layer of Qi Refining will take me another year or two.”

“From the ninth layer of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, it is common to stagnate for ten or twenty years. Even worse, many fail the attempt and never step into that realm their entire lives.”

Hua Qi smiled encouragingly. “But Senior Sister, with your Dual Spirit Roots—a top-tier aptitude—you are sure to succeed without issue.”

Senior Sister Li shook her head gently. “Above Dual Spirit Roots lie Single Spirit Roots, and above those are other special spiritual bodies. Beyond Spirit Roots, there are unique constitutions that grant significant advantages in combat, cultivation, and recovery. Those are the true heaven-sent geniuses.”

“What do my Dual Spirit Roots count for in comparison?” She sighed softly. “It is only because our Southern Domain is a backwater compared to the major realms, and the disciples here are generally mediocre, that I am even labeled a ‘genius.'”

Hua Qi and Han Yu, lacking her worldly experience, were stunned by her words.

So, even Single and Dual Spirit Roots weren’t the pinnacle of cultivation aptitude?

Senior Sister Li frowned slightly as she elaborated. “Take Lu Yun, for instance. Although his actions are always detestable, he does possess a special constitution that allows him to recover extremely quickly.”

“Many Deacons and disciples despise him, but aside from his Three Spirit Roots aptitude, he indeed holds a unique talent others cannot match.”

She then looked at Han Yu, her expression softening into a smile. “Another example is Junior Brother Han. He is singularly gifted in spell cultivation and exceptionally formidable in combat. While we cannot be certain if he possesses a special constitution, his mastery of spells and fighting instinct far outstrips his peers. He leaves them in the dust.”

Han Yu was astonished. “I count as one too?”

“You were a mere second-layer Qi Refining disciple with no backing, yet you took first place in the Grand Competition. Naturally, you surpass your peers,” Senior Sister Li reasoned. “Your cultivation is still low, so it is hard to see clearly, but perhaps in the future, it will be confirmed that you too possess an innate, extraordinary talent.”

After Senior Sister Li finished, Hua Qi also expressed his confidence in Han Yu’s future.

Han Yu silently noted Senior Sister Li’s words. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he and Hua Qi began sowing spirit seeds in the fields.

They worked until late afternoon. As the sky began to darken, they leveraged their Magical Artifacts for flight and the superior stamina of their cultivator bodies to finally finish sowing the ten acres of spirit fields.

Senior Sister Li had already watered her fields, but Han Yu and Hua Qi would have to wait until tomorrow to water theirs.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Hua Qi joked, “Higher cultivation is useful after all—even farming is much faster!”

Han Yu smiled in return.

If cultivating immortality was only for the sake of faster farming, that would be truly dull.

“Caw!”

The large crow flew over. Han Yu extended his arm for it to perch on, and together with Hua Qi, they headed back toward the Steward’s office.

“Is that Zhu San?”

They hadn’t gone far when Hua Qi suddenly stopped, pointing at a figure lingering a few fields away.

Han Yu nodded. “It is.”

“Let’s call him over for a thorough interrogation,” Hua Qi said, his tone sharpening. “The sect forbade him from selling anything, sealed his cultivation, and ordered him to focus solely on farming. What was he doing at the market?”

Hua Qi stepped forward and shouted, “Zhu San! Come here!”

Hearing the summons, Zhu San hurried over, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile. “Reporting to Senior Brother Hua. I harvested my spirit field a few days ago and obtained seventy-five catties of Green Grain Spirit Rice.”

“I went to the Green Grain Market today specifically to exchange them for some food and drink to enjoy.”

“Is that so? You didn’t sell anything harmful to the outside world?” Hua Qi scrutinized Zhu San, his voice cold and pressing.

“No, no!” Zhu San assured repeatedly, bowing his head. “The sect has strict orders; how would I dare disobey?”

Hua Qi looked him over suspiciously. “You said you went to buy food and drink? Where are they?”

Zhu San looked embarrassed. “Reporting to Senior Brother Hua, my cultivation is sealed, and my Storage Bag was confiscated. I only took a few catties of spirit rice to the market’s reed mat district to buy some goods from the mortals.”

“Some mortal food and wine are enough to satisfy my cravings.”

“And for that, you spent the entire day at the market? You ate and drank all day long?” Hua Qi pressed further.

Zhu San’s smile grew even more awkward, as if the words were stuck in his throat.

“What? Can’t speak? Then I’ll have to report you to the sect for punishment!” Hua Qi shouted.

Zhu San glanced around furtively, then lowered his voice. “Senior Brother Hua, Senior Brother Han… this matter involves my personal privacy. Please, for the sake of my humble reputation, do not spread it!”

Seeing him try to lean in closer to speak, Hua Qi took a step back. “Stand right there and speak. I can hear you fine.”

Han Yu remained expressionless, but a Sharp Gold Talisman had already slipped into his palm.

On his shoulder, the large crow’s dark golden pupils locked onto Zhu San, a wind blade brewing in its throat, ready to be spat out at any moment.

After the sect’s recent calamities, everyone in Wanchun Valley—from the leadership down to the disciples—had greatly heightened their vigilance against spies and Demonic Cultivators. They were no longer as naive as before.

Zhu San’s smile turned bitter. “Senior Brother Hua, Senior Brother Han, you shouldn’t suspect me of all people. My cultivation is sealed; I can’t do anything!”

“Say what you have to say directly. No need to come closer,” Han Yu commanded in a low voice, his fingers gripping the Sharp Gold Talisman.

Zhu San sighed and whispered, “This really is a private matter. Speaking of it would only invite ridicule.”

“Two Senior Brothers, you know my situation… I am stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining, my cultivation sealed by the sect. I am condemned to farm these spirit fields with no end in sight. My path to immortality is effectively cut.”

“So I thought, rather than suffer like this, I might as well seek pleasure early. I plan to take a wife and have children, so my descendants can cultivate immortality in my stead. At least that’s a step further than those ordinary mortals. Moreover, the sect has faced difficulties and will surely lack manpower in the future. It will definitely be easier for my descendants to join the sect than it was before.”

Zhu San paused, looking sheepish. “I spent the whole day outside today selecting my wives and concubines.”

Hua Qi and Han Yu were stunned. They truly hadn’t expected Zhu San’s reason for lingering at the market to be this.

“Wives and concubines? You’re looking for… women? Have you found them?”

Zhu San chuckled, extending a hand and splaying all five fingers. “At least two. Preferably five.”

“Today I only found one. I’ll look for more when I have the chance.”

Hua Qi frowned. “Where is the evidence? Where is the woman you found? Do you plan to bring all five women back to the Spirit Field Department?”

Zhu San hurriedly fished a deed of sale from his robes and handed it to Hua Qi. “Senior Brother Hua, please look. This is the one I bought. Her father sold her to me.”

“The women I buy are only for continuing the family line. I would never bring them to the Spirit Field Department. Please rest assured, Senior Brothers!”

Hua Qi glanced at the deed, shook his head dismissively, and tossed it back. “I will inform Senior Sister Li of this. She will go to the market to verify your story.”

“If there is even half a word of falsehood, you are as good as dead!”

“Yes, yes, of course I know. I haven’t hidden anything!” Zhu San bowed repeatedly.

When Han Yu and Hua Qi returned to the Steward’s office, Hua Qi reported Zhu San’s situation to Senior Sister Li.

Senior Sister Li also disapproved of Zhu San’s choice. “If one gives up on cultivating immortality so easily, pinning their hopes on future generations, then their temperament is flawed. It would have been better if they never cultivated from the start.”

After a pause, she grew thoughtful. “Junior Brothers, what do you think? Is Zhu San telling the truth?”

Han Yu replied cautiously, “We only have his word. It cannot be taken as fact.”

“To be safe, we should take him to the market and verify everything against his claims.”

“Agreed. We cannot afford to let spies cause trouble again. Whenever there is suspicion, we must investigate thoroughly—no ambiguity allowed.” Senior Sister Li dared not let her guard down. “It is late today. We will take Zhu San to the market tomorrow to cross-check his story.”

She then instructed, “Tomorrow, Junior Brother Han, you will accompany me. Junior Brother Hua, you keep an eye on the Spirit Field Department. Help Junior Brother Han water his spirit fields while you are at it.”

Hua Qi was taken aback, then smiled wryly. “Alright. It will just take a bit more time.”

Han Yu felt somewhat embarrassed. “That is too much trouble for you, Senior Brother Hua. Watering a day later is fine; I can do it myself.”

“It is a small matter,” Hua Qi insisted. “You have been cultivating for a short time. It is good for you to go to the market with Senior Sister Li and broaden your horizons.”

With a few words between Senior Sister Li and Hua Qi, the matter was settled.