Last night, the crow flock had feasted on Spirit Insects and Spirit-Stealing Rats throughout the spirit fields. Today, the results were evident: not only were Han Yu’s fields pest-free, but no Laborer Disciple in the entire Spirit Field Department encountered a single problem.

On the surface, Han Yu had officially broken through to the first level of Qi Refining.

During the day, he practiced his spells in the open, putting on a decent show. Passing Laborer Disciples could see that his technique, though green, confirmed he had indeed reached the first level.

When night fell, Han Yu retreated to the privacy of his hut and once again circulated the Spirit Root Refining Art to refine his Fire Spirit Root.

After the circulation was complete, his daily limit for absorbing Spirit Breath increased by a tiny sliver. The cost, however, was immediate and brutal: he felt his body sink into a state of profound weakness.

He immediately activated the Blood Refining Technique to replenish his vitality. Even so, he knew he would need to burn more Blood Essence and cultivate for two full days to completely repair the damage to his foundation.

As he finished his session, Han Yu sensed a faint, unusual movement outside his window.

He focused his gaze and saw a dark, silent mass gathered on the sill and the ground beyond. It was the crows.

Han Yu stood and walked to the window. The large crow fluttered its wings happily and landed on his shoulder, radiating pride like a child showing off a masterpiece to a parent.

Sensing the bird’s emotions, Han Yu reached up to smooth its feathers, smiling. “Well done.”

“Did your flock gain some spiritual nature after eating all those Spirit Insects and Spirit-Stealing Rats? Can you do more now?”

“Caw,” the large crow responded affirmatively.

“Good. That is very good,” Han Yu said softly. “Lead your flock well. There will be times when I need you all in the future.”

The large crow hopped happily twice, gently pecking Han Yu’s cheek in a show of affection, before launching itself into the night sky.

Behind it, the small crow followed closely, trailed by the rest of the flock—birds larger than ordinary crows, ink-black and silent, gradually awakening to a new, spiritual existence.

Han Yu watched them disappear into the dark, his mood light.

Over the next two days, the pests did not return in force. Only a few scattered insects appeared, causing no significant harm.

Having used the Blood Refining Technique to mend the damage from the Spirit Root Refining Art, Han Yu threw himself back into his routine cultivation.

Wei Kunyi and Liu Lan continued their daily habit of squatting in Old Daoist Li’s spirit field to leech his spiritual energy.

It wasn’t until three days before the harvest that Old Daoist Li seemed to have a sudden epiphany. He finally began meditating within his own field. Only then did Wei Kunyi and Liu Lan stop coming over to steal his benefits.

On the evening before the Green Grain Spirit Rice harvest, Sun Kang arrived at Han Yu’s stone hut carrying a small sack.

“Junior Brother Han, I see your Green Grain Spirit Rice is about to be harvested. Your yield looks to be hovering right around fifty catties per mu.”

He patted the sack. “I’ve brought ten catties of spirit rice to lend you. If your yield falls short of the fifty-catty quota, wait until the Steward isn’t looking and use this to make up the difference.”

“According to the rules, anything over the quota is yours, plus one-tenth of the harvest. You should be able to keep about twenty-five catties. After repaying my ten, you’d still have fifteen left for yourself.”

“If you don’t do this, and you fall short… you might end up like Junior Sister Liu, surrendering everything and left with nothing!”

Han Yu hurriedly thanked Sun Kang for his kindness but hesitated. “Senior Brother Sun, if the Steward finds out about this, won’t there be trouble?”

Sun Kang thought for a moment. “Unless Steward Wang catches you red-handed, he generally won’t make a special case out of it. It’s an unspoken practice.”

Hearing this, Han Yu felt a faint unease.

Steward Wang wasn’t exactly a man of noble character. He and Old Daoist Li had only entered the sect half a year ago, and the memory of Steward Wang’s harsh deductions was still fresh.

If he got caught cheating the quota, the consequences would be severe. Moreover, Han Yu’s cultivation didn’t actually rely on spirit rice. A dozen catties of low-grade rice meant little to him.

After some consideration, Han Yu pushed the sack back to Sun Kang.

“Senior Brother Sun, I am new here, and this is my first harvest. I would rather accept no gain than risk a grave error. Your kindness is engraved in my heart, but this time, I want to see how things play out naturally.”

Sun Kang understood. He nodded. “Thinking that way isn’t wrong. I was just worried you might end up heartbroken like Junior Sister Liu.”

Han Yu thanked him sincerely again and watched him leave.

Unexpectedly, an hour later, there was another knock on his door.

Han Yu called out and was surprised to hear Wei Kunyi’s voice. He frowned. It’s late. Why isn’t this woman keeping Steward Wang company? Why is she visiting a junior disciple like me?

He opened the door. Wei Kunyi sashayed in with a bright smile. “Junior Brother Han, do you know why I have come?”

“I do not,” Han Yu replied simply.

Wei Kunyi laughed. “I have come to solve your problems.”

“This is your first time cultivating a spirit field. Even if you guard it daily, carry water for irrigation, and drive away pests, you might not achieve the required yield of fifty catties per mu. If you fail, not only will you miss out on the sect’s Minor Merit reward, but you will also have to surrender your entire crop.”

“Junior Brother Han, you wouldn’t want to continue struggling day by day without spirit rice to aid your cultivation, would you?”

Han Yu was genuinely surprised. Could it be that Wei Kunyi actually has a conscience? She came all this way to help?

Her next words, however, clarified the situation immediately.

“Your Senior Sister has fifteen catties of spirit rice right here. And, as you know, I am quite familiar with Steward Wang. That is enough to ensure that if your harvest tomorrow is slightly short, you can make up the deficiency without anyone noticing.”

“With my help, you will secure the five Minor Merits and keep over twenty-five catties of rice. With those resources, your cultivation will soar. Isn’t that wonderful?”

She leaned in closer, her smile tightening. “All you need to do is repay me twenty-five catties of spirit rice after the next season’s harvest, and this help is yours!”

Borrow fifteen now, repay twenty-five in six months?

Han Yu looked at Wei Kunyi in astonishment. “Senior Sister Wei, that is… quite a lot. I fear I won’t be able to repay it!”

“You can, you absolutely can!” Wei Kunyi laughed heartily, waving a hand dismissively. “With me helping you—and since we are both from the Nanli Kingdom—I would never push you too hard! I will make sure you can repay it!”

Han Yu didn’t believe a word of it. If there really was an unexpected shortfall next season, she would likely strip the skin off his back.

Besides, he truly didn’t need the rice.

“Senior Sister Wei, let’s forget it. I am new here—”

“How can we forget it? I am doing this out of the kindness of my heart! Seeing you so young, almost like my own little brother… that is why I am willing to help…”

“No, Senior Sister. I feel uneasy about deceiving the sect. What if Steward Wang finds out?”

“Junior Brother Han, you are quite amusing,” she giggled. “Given how close I am with Steward Wang, even if he found out, he would turn a blind eye…”

Wei Kunyi continued to persuade him, her tone growing more insistent, but Han Yu simply shook his head.

Seeing that he truly wouldn’t take the bait, the warmth vanished from Wei Kunyi’s face. Her expression turned icy.

“Junior Brother Han, I hope you think this over carefully. If you refuse this kindness, not only will I lose face, but I’m afraid Steward Wang won’t go easy on you tomorrow, either!”

With a cold snort, she turned on her heel and marched out of Han Yu’s stone hut, heading straight for Old Daoist Li’s door.