Fire Spiritual Power ignited the origin.

Jiang Chen held a seed the size of a pigeon’s egg in his palm. As he injected two distinct streams of spiritual essence, the pointed ends of the seed immediately flared with color—azure on the left, pulsating with Wood Qi, and crimson on the right, burning with Fire Qi.

Under normal circumstances, the Fire Qi would voraciously devour the Wood Qi, following the immutable law of the Five Elements where Wood generates Fire. However, within the shell of this [Golden Crow Vine] seed, the two opposing energies achieved a perfect, stable equilibrium.

“Truly, the seeds of high-grade spirit plants are in a league of their own,” Jiang Chen murmured, his eyes gleaming with appreciation.

He tossed the seed toward his feet. With a thought, he activated [Vine Bind]. The spell didn’t bind an enemy this time; instead, it gently guided the seed, drilling it deep into the rich black soil.

For the next hour, Jiang Chen fell into a rhythmic trance. He repeated the process for a full hundred seeds, carefully injecting the dual-attribute Qi before burying them along the perimeter of the second-grade Spirit Farm. Spaced precisely, they barely managed to encircle the entire acre.

But his work wasn’t finished. The interior of the field was still barren.

Jiang Chen began sowing [Moonlight Grass]. This time, however, he exercised restraint. Instead of his usual thousand stalks, he planted only five hundred.

Yu Caiqing hasn’t even processed the first batch yet. Flooding the market would only devalue my product, he reasoned. Besides, I need to save the prime central space for the [Variant Mother Rice].

By the time he patted the last mound of earth, the sun hung low in the western sky, casting a dusky, amber glow over the valley. The temperature dropped with the fading light, bringing the crisp chill of late autumn.

Jiang Chen didn’t summon his companion Green Lotus immediately. Instead, he dusted off his hands and headed toward the wooden hut.

I’ll let them settle. After dinner, once the moon rises, I’ll accelerate the Moonlight Grass. The Golden Crow Vines can wait for the sun.

On the narrow field ridge, a blur of feathers darted past. The Pearl Chicken was sprinting for its life, its feet a frantic blur. Close behind, Da Huang chased with a mischievous, almost human grin plastered on his canine face. The dog could have easily overtaken the bird, but he held back, clearly enjoying the thrill of the hunt too much to end it.

It wasn’t until the savory aroma of cooking rice wafted from the hut that the two troublemakers skidded to a halt, turning and scurrying happily indoors.

The next morning.

After completing his daily chores, Jiang Chen returned to the second acre.

Overnight, the five hundred stalks of Moonlight Grass had already sprouted, painting the field in a pale, silvery hue. The Golden Crow Vine seeds, however, remained silent beneath the earth, showing no reaction.

Jiang Chen wasn’t surprised. These were high-grade seeds; they required a push.

He summoned the [Jade Green Gourd], releasing the ethereal Companion Green Lotus. A wave of refreshing, verdant energy rippled outward, the [Green Lotus Domain] instantly enveloping the entire acre.

Time ticked by. One minute. Two minutes.

Suddenly, the Fire Spirit Root within Jiang Chen’s dantian thrummed. He sensed a subtle shift in the environment—the ambient temperature around the field was climbing, slowly but steadily.

He looked down. At his feet, the hard shell of a Golden Crow Vine seed cracked open. A tender, reddish sprout drilled stubbornly out of the black soil, greedily drinking in the sunlight.

Within moments, all one hundred seeds broke the surface.

The temperature continued to rise. Since it was late autumn, bordering on the start of winter, the air was naturally brisk. The rising heat from the vines didn’t make it stifling; instead, it created a cozy, warm microclimate around the field that felt surprisingly comfortable.

Satisfied that there were no issues, Jiang Chen strolled to the edge of the clearing. He found a spot beneath a poplar tree carpeted in fallen leaves.

He didn’t mind the dirt. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he leaned back against the rough bark, uncorked a gourd of Top-grade [Golden Wine], and took a swig. With the warmth spreading through his chest, he pulled out the jade slip for the [Mystic Wood Golden Body Art] and began to study.

Days blended into a peaceful routine.

By day, Jiang Chen tended to the Spirit Rice and Golden Crow Vines; by night, he nurtured the Moonlight Grass. Any spare moment was dedicated to comprehending the body-refining art. His life was full, grounded, and efficient.

The Moonlight Grass had already grown two inches tall, their heavy blades beginning to curve. But the most dramatic change was in the Golden Crow Vines.

As they elongated, roots shot out from their nodes. Jiang Chen had prepared trellises from tree branches, allowing the vines to climb upward. While the vines appeared predominantly green, a closer inspection revealed a thin, crimson vein running from the tip down to the roots buried in the black soil.

During the day, as they absorbed sunlight, they radiated an intense heat. Their growth speed was phenomenal, outpacing even the Spirit Rice.

At this rate, the field will be fully enclosed in twenty days, Jiang Chen estimated. Then I can finally transplant the Variant Mother Rice from the rocky mountain.

Suddenly, a vibration came from the [Jade Green Gourd] at his waist.

Jiang Chen’s mind stirred. With a flip of his hand, a [Communication Talisman] appeared between his fingers. He injected a strand of Wood Qi, and Shen Peng’s eager voice projected from the paper.

“Fellow Daoist Cai! It’s time for another Spirit Rice transaction.”

“The wine shop is also ready to open—we’re just waiting for you!”

“Excellent. I am waiting for your arrival in [Green City]!”

The connection cut off. Jiang Chen stowed the talisman back into the gourd.

He hadn’t forgotten about the trip to the Loose Cultivator market. This venture was crucial for his future income of Spirit Stones. More importantly, he needed to acquire Fire-attribute cultivation techniques and spells.

Low tier, high tier, complete or fragmented—it didn’t matter. With his ability to burn [Lifespan] to master skills instantly, he just needed the raw material.

Jiang Chen had analyzed his combat style clearly. His Wood Spirit Root was excellent for defense, recovery, and farming—a support role. But for killing? For raw, explosive destruction? He needed the violent volatility of the Fire Spirit Root.

After preparing a large meal for Da Huang and the Pearl Chicken—enough to last them a day or two—Jiang Chen summoned his flying tool.

He stepped onto the [Giant Leaf], spiritual energy surging, and shot into the sky, heading toward [Fire Peak] and the city beyond.

As he soared over the sect’s agricultural districts, he saw the harvest in full swing. The golden fields were dotted with busy figures.

Methods varied wildly. Some, like Jiang Chen, preferred the tactile efficiency of a sickle. Others hired disciples with Metal Spirit Roots to scythe through the crops with magic.

But one sight made Jiang Chen pause, his gaze drifting downward.

In a field below, a massive spirit beast was working. It was a [Gold Toad]. With every hop and slash of its tongue, a golden sac on its back would swell and deflate rhythmically.

The scene triggered a flash of nostalgia, transporting Jiang Chen back to the outer sect assessments three years ago. He vaguely remembered a similar toad helping a disciple harvest during the third test.

Luo Tie… that was his name, Jiang Chen recalled. A formal disciple of [Beast Mountain]. Dual Water and Wood Spirit Roots.

He hadn’t expected to spot him again here, in the core region of the sect’s Spirit Farms.

The [Giant Leaf] hovered for a brief second, casting a shadow over the toiling disciple below. Jiang Chen considered descending to say hello, but the thought vanished as quickly as it came. He was in a hurry to reach [Green City], and the gap between their current stations—and the years of silence—made such a reunion unnecessary.

Three years is a lifetime in the cultivation world, Jiang Chen thought, urging the Giant Leaf forward. He has likely forgotten me completely.

Without looking back, he accelerated, transforming into a streak of green light that vanished over the horizon.