The Eternal Farmer: I Trade My Harvest for Immortality

Chapter 254: I Am Simply a Genius!

From here, the process settled into a practiced, unhurried rhythm. All that was required was patience and precise temperature control.

Jiang Chen held a Fire Flame Fruit in his left hand, taking a bite every so often. A peculiar, addictive flavor—both sweet and spicy—bloomed across his palate.

He kept his eyes fixed on the Starfall Mystic Gold Cauldron. When the eastern sigil, the Water Leopard of the Ji constellation, began to glow, it was a sign the internal temperature was dropping. Without missing a beat, Jiang Chen would circulate the Green Wood Fire Attraction Art, feeding the flames and raising the heat once more.

He repeated this simple operation, a steady cadence that carried him from the dead of night into the light of day.

Just as the first rays of the sun crested the horizon, a deep, resonant thrum emanated from within the cauldron. One by one, the glowing constellations etched into its surface dimmed and went dark. The Red Yang Pills were nearly complete.

With a flick of his wrist, the heavy lid of the cauldron levitated into the air. A superheated cloud of steam billowed out with a sharp *whoosh*, momentarily obscuring his view.

When the mist finally dissipated, he stepped forward and peered inside. At the bottom of the cauldron lay a single mass of crimson paste. It looked almost like a rich, sweet confection, tempting enough to make one want to scoop it out and take a bite.

Jiang Chen, however, restrained the impulse. He was more interested in the final yield.

He raised a hand and slapped the side of the cauldron, sending a sharp pulse of energy into its body. The crimson paste inside quivered violently, then began to spin, separating as it rotated. In a whir of motion, it coalesced into three crimson pills, each the size of a longan fruit and radiating a gentle warmth.

“Only three, huh,” Jiang Chen murmured, his tone calm and measured.

Just then, his attribute panel flickered to life.

**[Red Yang Pill: Expert]**

*   **Effect 1:** Fire spiritual power condensation speed increased by 20%.

*   **Effect 2:** Fire-attribute technique power increased by 20%.

*   **Auxiliary Effect 1:** Meridian toughness temporarily enhanced by 15%.

*   **Special Effect 1:** After consuming a certain quantity consecutively, there is a 10% probability for the Fire Spirit Root to develop a Red Yang Pattern, permanently increasing fire-attribute affinity by 5%.

*   **Negative Effect:** Excessive consumption will lead to the accumulation of fire poison within the body.

“Huh?” Jiang Chen was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t studied a single pill formula for this. It had been a completely improvised refinement, yet not only had he succeeded on his first attempt, but he had also reached the Expert level.

The special effect, however, was what truly caught his eye. It seemed that with enough pills, he could induce a minor mutation in his Fire Spirit Root. A permanent boost to his fire affinity, even a small one, was far better than nothing.

“I’m supposed to be a Wood Spirit Root cultivator,” he mused with a helpless sigh. “Why does my Fire Spirit Root keep getting stronger? And it’s not like I have anywhere to unleash all this fire energy.”

As if on cue, a system prompt appeared.

**[Consume 5 years of lifespan to elevate Red Yang Pill to Miracle Hands?]**

Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate for a second. “All in!”

The familiar sensation of an epiphany washed over him.

**[Remaining Lifespan: 642 years]**

**[Red Yang Pill: Miracle Hands]**

*   **Effect 1:** Fire spiritual power condensation speed increased by 25%.

*   **Effect 2:** Fire-attribute technique power increased by 25%.

*   **Auxiliary Effect 1:** Meridian toughness temporarily enhanced by 20%.

*   **Special Effect 1:** After consuming seven Red Yang Pills consecutively, there is a 20% probability for the Fire Spirit Root to develop a Red Yang Pattern, permanently increasing fire-attribute affinity by 10%.

*   **Negative Effect:** Consume at most 3 pills per month. Excessive consumption will lead to the accumulation of fire poison within the body.

The Miracle Hands version was a significant upgrade across the board. It even specified the exact conditions for triggering the special effect: seven consecutive pills for a 20% chance.

But there was the catch. The negative effect warned against taking more than three a month, while the special effect required seven in a row. This was clearly not a pill designed for the average cultivator.

Then, a thought struck him, and a slow grin spread across his face. *Wait a minute… don’t I still have the Ice Heart Jade Pot Wine? Its entire purpose is to purge fire poison from the body.*

Eat the pill, generate fire poison.

Drink the wine, remove the fire poison.

A perfect, self-contained cycle. He couldn’t help but laugh. *I’m a goddamn genius!*

His mood instantly lifted. After tidying up the alchemy room, he grabbed the pills and left. Instead of heading to bed, he strode out the main gate and made his way to the five-acre Spirit Farm to begin his daily chores.

***

Several days flew by.

Jiang Chen fell into a new routine. After finishing his farm work, he would dedicate his time to refining Red Yang Pills. His stockpile quickly grew from a mere three to thirty. Based on a seven-pill cycle, that was enough for four consecutive months of consumption—a limit that, for him, didn’t exist.

With his daily tasks complete, he leaned back against the smooth bark of the poplar tree. In his left hand, he held a flask containing a pound of Ice Heart Jade Pot Wine; in his right, he pinched a single Red Yang Pill.

Without a second thought, he tossed the pill into his mouth.

He didn’t even have a chance to chew. The moment it touched his tongue, an intense, charred bitterness flooded his senses. It wasn’t like eating a Miracle Hands-level pill; it was like chewing on a lump of charcoal scraped from the bottom of a burnt-out pyre. The acrid taste intensified as he chewed, coating his entire mouth. Most people would have spat it out instantly.

As he swallowed, a burning sensation seared his throat, accompanied by the sour tang of sulfur. Only when the pill finally settled in his stomach did the vile taste begin to subside.

At first, a gentle warmth spread through his core. But soon, that warmth intensified into a dry, scorching heat. The fire spiritual power in his dantian stirred, practically singing with excitement.

Jiang Chen raised his right index finger and circulated the Nine Flames Mystic Art. A wisp of yellow flame flickered to life at his fingertip. He focused on the sensation. There was no doubt about it—the pressure it emitted was significantly stronger than before.

*Rustle, rustle!*

A faint, scraping sound came from above. Jiang Chen glanced up to see the leaves and branches of the poplar tree trembling. But there was no wind.

A thoughtful look crossed his face. He extinguished the flame on his finger.

Instantly, the poplar tree fell still.

*Fwoosh!*

He summoned the flame again.

*Rustle, rustle!*

The tree resumed its violent shaking.

After several more tests, the conclusion was undeniable. The poplar tree was afraid of the yellow fire generated by his spiritual power. Even without true sentience, it had developed a powerful, primal instinct. He made a mental note of this and turned his attention back to the pills.

He popped the second pill into his mouth. The bitterness was even more potent this time. After he swallowed, the dry heat coursing through him intensified, and his cheeks began to flush and burn. He could still handle it. He took the third pill.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, three pills was the absolute limit. Any more would lead to a dangerous accumulation of fire poison, causing escalating damage to one’s meridians and internal organs. Long Ao was living proof of that.

But Jiang Chen didn’t stop. He took out a fourth Red Yang Pill and threw it into his mouth.

The bitter assault grew stronger, forcing a deep frown onto his face. His body felt like an oven, and he fought the urge to rip off his clothes.

It still wasn’t over. Without hesitation, he grabbed a fifth pill and forced it down his throat, not even bothering to chew.

In that instant, his body felt as if it had been set ablaze. A torrent of molten energy surged through his meridians, threatening to boil him from the inside out.