The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

The odds of finding such a treasure were as abysmal as a Spirit Plant mutating in the first place.

Yet, unexpectedly, a single cabbage had yielded an [Ice Soul Orb].

In other words, he had just pocketed at least three hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Jiang Chen gazed at the Ice Soul Orb, which had been nestled deep within the cabbage’s heart. An idea began to form. “It hasn’t been long since the harvest. If I reattach it now… would it still take?”

Acting on the thought, he reached out and plucked the Ice Soul Orb from the vegetable’s core.

The moment his skin made contact, a sinister, yin-cold chill pierced his palm, attempting to seep into his very bones.

He wasted no time, sweeping the orb into his Jade Green Gourd for safekeeping.

Immediately, Jiang Chen channeled his Wood Spirit Power. Under his control, the peeled layers of the Frost Cabbage began to fold back, closing up one by one until the vegetable looked whole again.

He scooped it up with both hands and bolted out the door, sprinting toward the Spirit Farm.

Moving with maximum speed, he located the exact spot where the Frost Cabbage had grown.

Since he hadn’t performed the slash-and-burn clearing yet, the root system remained undisturbed in the black soil.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. “If my theory holds water… could I farm this cabbage indefinitely? Could I harvest an Ice Soul Orb every season?”

He pressed the severed cabbage back onto its stump and summoned his companion Green Lotus.

He flooded the plant with rich Wood Spirit Power while simultaneously focusing on knitting the severed fibers back together.

Minutes ticked by. Between the cabbage’s innate frost and the freezing winter air, the vegetable quickly froze solid.

At first glance, it resembled an exquisite sculpture carved from ice.

Of course, without the Ice Soul Orb powering it, the radiant cold was significantly weaker.

For now, the method seemed to work. The severance point had fused. Whether it would continue to grow—or miraculously gestate another Ice Soul Orb—remained to be seen.

However, leaving a shimmering, mutated ice cabbage standing alone in a barren field was too conspicuous. It was practically screaming for attention.

Anyone passing by would spot it instantly.

Winter traffic was light, but not non-existent.

Jin Fugui visited at least once a month to settle accounts.

Mo Yu was even more frequent, dropping by to cast the [Minor Rain Spell].

Occasionally, Wang Ze, Chen Bo, or other acquaintances would show up unannounced.

Leaving it so openly in the middle of the Spirit Farm was a security risk.

After some thought, Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward the stone mountain on the far side of his property.

There was plenty of space inside the hidden cave, currently occupied only by the lone Variant Mother Rice.

Why not transplant it there? He could check on the Mother Rice at the same time.

He retrieved his [Green Wood Water-Parting Hoe] and began to dig carefully around the Frost Cabbage, giving the roots a wide berth.

Throughout the process, he never stopped infusing Wood Spirit Power, keeping the Green Lotus Domain active to protect the field’s only mutated specimen.

Once the root ball was free, Jiang Chen hoisted the plant and ran toward the stone mountain without pausing for breath.

His erratic behavior left Da Huang and the guinea fowl dumbfounded.

Da Huang started to trot after him to investigate, but the moment he poked his head out of the nest, a biting gust of wind slammed into him.

He shivered violently and immediately retreated into the warmth, his curiosity instantly extinguished.

Jiang Chen soon arrived at the hidden entrance of the stone mountain.

The area hadn’t changed much, save for a fresh pile of dog droppings near the rocks.

This was normal. Ever since the menacing Fortress puppet had started patrolling, Da Huang refused to relieve himself near the house, preferring to run as far away as possible.

Jiang Chen looked at the frozen pile of waste and smiled. He didn’t find it disgusting; he found it useful.

With such a foul deterrent in place, no one would suspect a hidden entrance lay beneath.

Anyone spotting it would instinctively steer clear.

Jiang Chen shifted the rock concealing the entrance and squeezed inside, clutching the massive Frost Cabbage.

Since his hands were full, he didn’t bother checking the status of the [Concealing Breath Formation].

Moments later, he reached the deepest recess of the cave.

There, standing solitary in the patch of black soil, was the Variant Mother Rice.

It bore nine stalks, each weighed down by exceptionally plump grains.

Jiang Chen swept his spiritual sense over the plant.

[Fortune Variant Mother Rice]

Special Effect: The yield of Spirit Rice within the domain is doubled.

Every time he saw that stat, his heart itched.

If he could use this to cultivate his crops—whether Top-quality or Mutated strains—his yield would skyrocket.

But it was a prisoner. Trapped in this sunless stone mountain, its heaven-defying talent was being completely squandered.

This time, Jiang Chen made a firm resolution. He had to transplant it out.

The hundred vine clippings from the Golden Crow Vine had already grown enough to enclose the second mu of land.

Now, he just needed a visual camouflage formation to hide the crop from the sky. He already had the [Concealing Breath Formation] to mask the scent.

“Just wait a little longer,” Jiang Chen whispered to the Mother Rice. “A few more days.”

He selected a corner of the cave, keeping as much distance as possible from the Mother Rice to prevent resource competition, and replanted the Frost Cabbage.

He watered it and poured in another surge of Wood Spirit Power until it stabilized.

Only then did he relax.

Turning back to the Variant Mother Rice, he harvested the nine heavy ears of grain.

Truthfully, he wasn’t lacking seeds anymore.

Between the harvest from the Mother Rice, the offspring plants, and the hundred grains of [Golden Spirit Rice] stored in his Jade Green Gourd, he had enough to sow a massive area whenever he wished.

Jiang Chen turned to leave. passing the [Concealing Breath Formation], he dug it up for a quick inspection.

Although the Spirit Stone powering it still had some charge left, he decided not to risk it. With the transplant plan imminent, security was paramount. He swapped it out for a brand-new Low-grade Spirit Stone.

As for the used stone, he pocketed it.

Even a sliver of attribute-less Spirit Qi was valuable. Throwing it away would be an act of extravagant waste.

Jiang Chen emerged from the cave. The fire crows remained silent, indicating the coast was clear. He resealed the entrance with the rock.

Dusting off his hands, he strolled back toward the house.

“Master.”

The Fortress, currently on patrol, stopped specifically to greet him.

Jiang Chen chuckled. “The harvest is done. You don’t need to patrol the fields for the next few days. If we’re out of water, fill the tank. If we’re out of firewood, chop some. Otherwise, just rest.”

The Fortress’s emerald eyes flickered. “Yes, Master.”

Obedient as always, it abandoned its patrol route and turned toward the Poplar Tree behind the wooden house.

Perhaps due to their shared Wood attribute, the puppet felt a natural affinity for the tree. Standing beneath its branches seemed to bring the construct a sense of comfort.

Jiang Chen glanced over and paused.

He hadn’t paid attention recently, but the Poplar Tree had undergone a transformation.

It had grown significantly taller.