Jiang Chen pulled a chair to the doorway and sat down, fanning out three [Communication Talismans] in his hand.

They corresponded to Chen Bo, Wang Ze, and Zhu Fuxian.

Since he had promised Yu Caiqing yesterday that he would help locate the Yang-extreme [Crimson Sun Ginseng] and the Yin-extreme [Profound Yin Lingzhi], he intended to take the matter seriously.

However, in the vast core area of the Spirit Farms, the number of people he truly knew could be counted on one hand. Aside from Zhao Ziyao and Zhao Ying, whom he no longer contacted, and the missing Lin An, these three were the only ones who might have a lead on the herbs.

He prioritized contacting Chen Bo. After all, he was his good brother and Senior Brother; their relationship was the closest.

Jiang Chen decisively channeled Wood Spiritual Power into the talisman.

It took a long time before Chen Bo’s voice, thick with exhaustion, drifted out.

“Looking for me so early in the morning… is something the matter?”

“Do you know where I can buy [Crimson Sun Ginseng] and [Profound Yin Lingzhi]?”

“Generally, Spirit Farmers who cooperate with the Alchemy Hall grow medicinal herbs… yawn… but I don’t know any personally.”

Hearing the heavy fatigue in his voice, Jiang Chen chose to hang up immediately. It was obvious Senior Brother Chen had stayed up all night; better to let him sleep.

Logically, Spirit Farmers were creatures of habit, accustomed to rising with the sun. Was 6:30 AM early? The sun was already up!

Next, he tried Wang Ze. As someone who worked directly with the Alchemy Hall, he should be more knowledgeable.

This connection took even longer to establish, and the voice that answered sounded like it was being dragged from the depths of a coma.

“Junior Brother Jiang… mumble… looking for me so early… matter?”

“Do you know which Spirit Farmer is cultivating [Crimson Sun Ginseng] and [Profound Yin Lingzhi]?”

“Yang-extreme and Yin-extreme… herbs…?”

Suddenly, an ear-splitting snore erupted from the talisman. ZZZZ-HONK!

The vibration was so intense it nearly shook the paper from Jiang Chen’s hand.

Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched. “Is Senior Brother Wang sleeping inside a grinding mill?”

It seemed both his brothers had burned the midnight oil.

With no other options, he placed his hopes on Zhu Fuxian. As an elder who had resided in the core area for many years, his network should be extensive.

Of the three, Zhu Fuxian answered the fastest. The moment the Wood Spiritual Power touched the talisman, the connection snapped open.

Jiang Chen’s inquiry received an immediate, affirmative reply. Although Zhu Fuxian hadn’t grown those specific herbs recently, he had a batch stockpiled in his storage artifact. If Jiang Chen needed them, he could come buy them anytime.

The distance to Zhu Fuxian’s farm was manageable—neither too far nor too near. By [Giant Leaf], it was a straight shot through the sky, taking only about ten minutes.

They agreed to meet at the Si hour, roughly 9:30 AM.

Jiang Chen cut the connection. These talismans didn’t cost Spirit Stones, but they burned through Spiritual Power the longer they were active.

Stowing the talismans away, Jiang Chen rubbed his chin in thought. “For a visit to Senior Brother Zhu’s place, just bringing Spirit Stones feels impersonal. I should bring ten jin of [Top-quality Spirit Wine] as a gift.”

Firstly, to build a relationship. Secondly, to build a relationship. And thirdly… to build a relationship.

Even if Zhu Fuxian had noticed the Fire Crow spying last night, a generous gift would smooth over any potential awkwardness. Besides, using Fire Crows for aerial pest control and surveillance was a common practice among farmers; he could easily claim the bird had wandered off on its own.

For the next hour, Jiang Chen tended to his own two acres. The [Golden Crow Vine], [Moonlight Grass], and Spirit Rice were all thriving. The rare plants were nearing maturity.

He also made a mental note to transplant the [Variant Mother Rice] soon. Leaving such a valuable asset under the stone mountain was a waste of its potential.

Feeling the time was right, Jiang Chen recalled the [Companion Green Lotus], summoned his [Giant Leaf], and took to the skies toward Zhu Fuxian’s territory.

The view from above was starkly beautiful.

Withered yellow leaves carpeted the ground. The river water ran clear and cold, cutting through the frost-hardened earth.

The overwhelming sensation was one of silence.

If autumn was desolate, a time of withering, then winter was cold silence, a time of hiding.

The scene reminded Jiang Chen of a passage from the ancient text, Monthly Ordinances: Seventy-Two Pentads. The current state of the land perfectly matched the description of “Insects Seal Their Burrows.” The temperature had dropped too low for the pests to survive, driving them into hibernation.

All things in the world were entering the stage of “Cang”—storing and hiding.

Ten minutes later, Jiang Chen arrived at the perimeter of Zhu Fuxian’s farm.

As soon as he crossed the invisible boundary, a prickling sensation crawled up his spine. He felt watched.

He scanned the area but found nothing.

‘Impressive,’ he thought. ‘No wonder the Fire Crow panicked last night.’

If he didn’t know the owner was Zhu Fuxian, Jiang Chen would have turned around and fled immediately. The pressure here was palpable.

He called out toward the house.

A response came quickly, and moments later, Zhu Fuxian walked out, a faint smile on his weathered face.

Jiang Chen lowered the [Giant Leaf] to the ground and waited.

Most Spirit Farmers built simple fences around their land. It was a symbolic gesture, a polite “do not enter” sign that offered no real protection.

However, wealthy, high-level farmers would hire Array Masters to install comprehensive defensive formations. On the surface, the land looked open, but intruders would be met with lethal force.

Given Zhu Fuxian’s fifteen acres of second-grade land—generating an annual income of at least three thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones—he could easily afford top-tier arrays and artifacts.

Zhu Fuxian unlatched the simple wooden gate and waved. “Junior Brother Jiang, come in.”

Don’t underestimate this action. The moment the gate opened, the oppressive pressure on Jiang Chen vanished instantly.

He walked in, retrieving a large jar from his storage bag. “Senior Brother Zhu, this is my first formal visit. My preparations were a bit hasty, but please accept this ten jin of Spirit Wine I brewed myself.”

Zhu Fuxian raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Junior Brother knows how to brew wine?”

He popped the stopper and took a sniff. His eyes immediately widened, shooting a look of disbelief at the young man.

“Senior Brother brews as well?” Jiang Chen asked innocently.

Zhu Fuxian nodded slowly, his eyes glued to the jar. “When this old man gets bored living alone, I dabble in brewing, gardening, and researching Spirit Cuisine. But… I never expected Junior Brother, at such a young age, to possess such remarkable skill.”

Although he hadn’t tasted it yet, the nose knew.

There was none of the stinging, yeasty odor typical of inferior wines. Instead, a rich, creamy fragrance of high-grade Spirit Rice blended perfectly with a mellow, intoxicating alcohol scent. It smelled like liquid gold.

Just the aroma made Zhu Fuxian’s Adam’s apple bob. He fought the urge to tilt the jar back and drink it right there on the doorstep.