The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

As Spring neared its end, the first quarterly assessment officially began.

The assessment team consisted of three members.

First was Lin Ya, the formal disciple overseeing the Spirit Farm’s daily operations.

Second was Jiang Chen, responsible for assessing the cultivation techniques and crop quality.

Third was Luo Tie, the representative from Beast Mountain tasked with weighing the yield.

Yes, the formal disciple sent to weigh the Spirit Rice was Luo Tie—again.

It was impossible to deny that this man was pulling strings.

It had been over three years, nearing four, since they first met. Despite possessing a decent Dual Spirit Root, Luo Tie had made negligible progress. His only achievement in all that time was crawling from the early stage of Qi Condensation to the mid-stage.

Currently, the three assessors stood atop the raised earthen ridges of the fields.

Surrounding them was a sea of Outer Peak disciples, their eyes burning with nervous anticipation.

“Senior Brother Jiang worked so hard for us; I absolutely must succeed in becoming a formal disciple!”

“Exactly! We cannot let down Senior Brother Jiang’s trust!”

“This is my third assessment. But with Senior Brother Jiang’s guidance, I will definitely pass this time!”

Hearing the crowd mention “Senior Brother Jiang” in every other breath, Luo Tie raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He had never encountered a situation like this.

In the past, formal disciples were rarely praised by the Outer Peak masses. Usually, they considered themselves lucky if they weren’t secretly cursed by the disciples’ entire ancestral lines.

But today was truly an eye-opener.

However, what shocked Luo Tie even more than the adoration was the state of the crops in the First-Rank Spirit Farm.

An experienced eye could judge the final yield just by looking at the stalks.

In previous years, nine out of ten Outer Peak disciples produced mediocre crops at best.

But now? Looking out across the fields, everything was a brilliant, golden expanse. Every stalk of Spirit Rice was tall, thick, and sturdy. The ears of grain bowed heavy and full, practically bursting with spiritual energy.

The yield would be astronomical.

Luo Tie couldn’t help but mutter, “Don’t tell me the number of promotions this time is going to break the historical record?”

Jiang Chen offered a faint, polite smile. “Fellow Daoist Luo, shall we begin?”

Luo Tie snapped back to reality and nodded. “Right. Let’s start.”

With a casual flick of his sleeve, a beast-taming ring flew out.

It spun in the air with a high-pitched whir—dī liū liū—before a golden shadow shot out from within.

The shadow expanded rapidly as it fell.

Thump.

A massive Gold Toad landed heavily on the ridge. Its skin was a brilliant, lustrous gold, and its back was studded with round, plump warts that looked like solid gold beads.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, examining the creature. “Lord Gold… you’ve gained quite a bit of weight over the years.”

Luo Tie paused, then laughed. “To a certain extent, a Spirit Beast’s potential can determine its final size. He has been eating well.”

Jiang Chen’s heart stirred with a sudden thought. He asked casually, “I’ve raised a few Fire Crows myself. Is there any method to make them evolve faster?”

“Most Spirit Beasts with elemental attributes require heavenly and earthly treasures of the same attribute to activate their potential,” Luo Tie explained, happy to show off his knowledge. “For Fire Crows, you’d need fire-attribute resources…”

The two chatted idly while “Lord Gold” got to work. The toad moved with surprising speed, its tongue lashing out to harvest and weigh the grain automatically.

Lin Ya, on the other hand, was tense. As a formal disciple overseeing her first official assessment, she was terrified of making a mistake.

…

As time passed, the assessment drew to a close.

The results were staggering. The number of Outer Peak disciples promoting to formal status had shattered all previous records.

Luo Tie exclaimed in amazement, “If memory serves, the previous record was only ten people, and that was over a hundred years ago. This time, there are actually thirteen!”

Lin Ya couldn’t help but chime in, “I remember during my assessment, only four people passed. And two of them were on their third attempt!”

Jiang Chen maintained a calm smile on the surface, but internally, he was calculating.

If I didn’t inflate the numbers, how could I fish in troubled waters?

Meanwhile, the scene below took a strange turn.

“Senior Brother Jiang, I have failed your trust!”

“Even the fool made it, yet I’m still short by 100 catties?”

“Next time! Next time I will definitely succeed. I cannot lose face for Senior Brother Jiang!”

The Outer Peak disciples who failed didn’t show the usual resentment or anger toward the unfairness of the world.

Instead, they looked at Jiang Chen with faces full of guilt and apology.

Lin Ya was used to Jiang Chen’s influence, but Luo Tie was dumbfounded. He looked at the cloud-calm Jiang Chen as if he were seeing a ghost.

He finally understood why the Sect had appointed this man to conduct the assessment.

Jiang Chen indeed had some terrifying capabilities.

…

As evening approached, Jiang Chen gathered the twelve newly promoted formal disciples.

He retrieved twelve copies of the Spirit Farm Hundred Records from his Jade Green Gourd and handed them out one by one.

“Inside are the guidelines and knowledge you will need when entering the core area,” Jiang Chen admonished gently. “Read it carefully. The inner sect is different from the outer peak.”

Xu Linshan, Wang Xiezi, and the others held the books like treasures, deeply moved. “Senior Brother Jiang… you have helped us too much!”

Jiang Chen chuckled lightly. “I also started as an Outer Peak disciple. I know how difficult the path is without someone to guide you.”

Becoming a formal disciple wasn’t simply a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate into paradise.

In reality, they would face new, more dangerous troubles.

Insect plagues in the Spirit Farms.

Exploitation by the Harvest Alliance.

Being scammed by “partners.”

Xu Linshan exchanged a glance with the others, his expression turning solemn. “Senior Brother Jiang, we have discussed this. After entering the core area, we will follow your lead. We are your people.”

Wang Xiezi immediately added, “If not for your earnest guidance, many of us would never have passed. This favor will last forever!”

“Yes, Senior Brother Jiang!”

The twelve disciples expressed their genuine feelings, bowing in unison with hands cupped.

Jiang Chen watched them, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He nodded slightly. “Good.”

He took out twelve of his personal Communication Talismans and distributed them.

As for the thirteenth person—the foolish Prince, Mo Yin?

He had already been quietly whisked away by Chen Bo earlier in the day.

…

The next day.

Luo Tie, riding a Spirit Crane, led the twelve new formal disciples toward the flat-topped mountain palace in the Spirit Farm’s core area.

When such a large group surged into the hall at once, even the experienced Elder Mu was startled.

“So many people?”

Luo Tie, following behind, grinned. “Let’s just say you picked the right man for the job. That formal disciple, Jiang Chen… he has skill. He broke the century-old record on his first assessment.”

Luo Tie had a deep impression of Jiang Chen.

In his first year, Jiang Chen had not only chosen to cultivate during the harsh winter but had also completed the task with flying colors.

Key point: The Spirit Rice he submitted back then was Top-Grade.

Over the years, Jiang Chen had been honest, dutiful, and low-key, never causing trouble.

Rumor had it he even found a Dao Companion recently—which explained why he looked so thin lately.

In fact, Elder Mu was already considering inviting Jiang Chen to join the core management layer.

Luo Tie leaned in and whispered, “There were actually thirteen who passed. But one has a… special situation.”

Elder Mu’s expression turned grave. “I know who that is. There are separate arrangements for him.”

Luo Tie breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I… should go?”

“Go on, go on.” Elder Mu waved him off, not wanting to waste time on a Beast Mountain disciple.

Luo Tie departed, leaving behind the twelve Wood Spirit Root disciples.

They stood there, excited, curious, and vibrating with energy.

Facing the group, Elder Mu put on a kind, grandfatherly smile. “Congratulations. You may now choose the location for your Spirit Farms!”

Immediately, the group shouted in unison:

“Wherever Senior Brother Jiang is, that’s where we want to be!”

“But his farm is in a remote corner! There are no empty spots nearby!”

“Then we’ll choose the spot closest to him! As close as possible!”