“Twelve years old, Four Spirit Roots, and already at the first level of Qi Refining?”

Steward Wang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his massive belly thrust proudly forward as he questioned the boy.

“Yes, Steward Wang,” Han Yu replied.

To be precise, the passing of winter meant Han Yu was now thirteen. However, facing Steward Wang, he had no desire to offer unnecessary corrections.

He had just witnessed how Steward Wang used the Wind Blade Technique to oppress the Old Daoist. He felt only vigilance and caution toward this man.

“Not bad. By the time you are in your twenties, you should be able to enter the Outer Sect and become a Junior Brother,” Steward Wang remarked.

Han Yu thought for a moment before replying, “By that time, surely Steward Wang will have already entered the Inner Sect…”

Steward Wang paused, then burst into hearty laughter. “The Inner Sect? I barely dare to dream of it, yet you dare to dream it for me! Still, I enjoy hearing such words!”

He looked at Han Yu again. “Have you practiced the Wind Control Technique or the Water Control Technique? Demonstrate one for me.”

Han Yu nodded in acquiescence.

Wei Kunyi happened to walk over at that moment, a smile plastered on her face. “Junior Brother Han is going to cast a spell? May I widen my horizons as well?”

Han Yu did not answer. He pressed his fingers together to form a seal, channeled his Spirit Breath, and released a deliberately suppressed Wind Control Technique.

Steward Wang looked surprised. “Successful within three breaths?”

“You have only just broken through, yet you have cultivated the technique to this level? You have quite the talent for spellcasting!”

Han Yu was equally stunned. He hadn’t expected that even his suppressed Wind Control Technique would be considered excellent. If a three-breath cast was considered good, then what of his true speed—casting twice within a single breath?

Was the long-term consumption of the Mystic Heart Fruit, which cleared the mind and aided focus, truly so miraculous in the eyes of others?

Seeing his astonishment, Steward Wang laughed. “It seems Junior Brother Han is unaware of the standards regarding techniques among disciples. It is no wonder; Laborer Disciples rarely know these things. Such comparisons usually only matter once one becomes an Outer Disciple.”

“If you can successfully release a technique within ten breaths, you are considered to have learned it. If you can succeed on the first try within five breaths, the technique is considered combat-ready. And if you can succeed on the first try within three breaths… that is sufficient for actual sparring and battle.”

“Junior Brother Han, your talent is not bad at all!”

“Is that so? How does he compare to me?” Wei Kunyi asked teasingly, seeing Steward Wang chatting so amiably with Han Yu.

Steward Wang shot her a look of disdain, not bothering to comment.

How could a sycophant like her compare to a future Outer Disciple?

Wei Kunyi, sensing that Steward Wang valued Han Yu while dismissing her, felt a surge of displeasure. She reminded him, “Steward Wang, how should we calculate the spirit rice harvest today?”

Isn’t it time to squeeze this kid?

Steward Wang nodded. His fleshy hand patted Han Yu’s shoulder. “Junior Brother Han, seeing that you have a promising future, this Senior Brother will not haggle over every catty. We will handle this fairly, according to sect rules. If your harvest yield exceeds fifty catties per acre, I will leave you twenty percent. How does that sound?”

“What?” Wei Kunyi turned pale with shock. “Steward Wang, this—”

Why wasn’t he forcing him to borrow spirit rice? Why no Snowballing Interest? Instead of taking ninety percent, he was taking only eighty percent—actually yielding profit?

Steward Wang glared at her.

“Did I give you permission to speak?”

Wei Kunyi hurriedly shut her mouth, vaguely understanding Steward Wang’s reasoning.

Han Yu was young, his cultivation speed was decent, and his talent for techniques was high. Entering the Outer Sect was a certainty for him, and he might even become a formidable figure in the future.

Steward Wang had decided to build a good relationship rather than offend him.

Han Yu understood as well. He marveled inwardly—he had only revealed a fraction of his cultivation and skill, yet the villain beside him had transformed into a benevolent, kind-hearted senior.

On the path of cultivation, it seemed one could truly rely on no one. Only one’s own cultivation base was the ultimate truth.

Compared to Han Yu, the Old Daoist—who appeared to have no potential and nothing to offer—was treated like dirt. The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.

Although he knew Steward Wang’s true nature, Han Yu did not offend him. He thanked him repeatedly.

Steward Wang proceeded to weigh Han Yu’s spirit rice. Because Han Yu had never slackened in his care for the spirit fields—promptly clearing pests and Spirit-Stealing Rats, and never stealing the Qi from the Green Grain Spirit Rice for himself—his yield exceeded fifty catties per acre, coming in at exactly fifty-one catties.

Steward Wang recorded five Minor Merits for Han Yu and left him twenty percent of the harvest from the five acres: fifty-one catties of spirit rice.

“Junior Brother Han, after planting one more season, you will have accumulated ten Minor Merits. You can then go to the sect’s Technique Transmission Pavilion to learn a new technique, or go to the Deacon’s Office to exchange them for items. As for the spirit rice, I suggest you do not rush to the Green Grain Market to trade it. Focus on using it for your own cultivation.”

“Our Wanchun Valley has always been peaceful. Before entering the Outer Sect, combat ability is not particularly necessary. Improving your cultivation to reach the Outer Sect is the only priority. Use Minor Merits for techniques or items.”

Han Yu memorized Steward Wang’s advice, thanking him verbally while feeling the absurdity of the situation.

Steward Wang—a man known for his harshness and inhuman greed—was so easy to talk to once he saw Han Yu’s potential. Even Wei Kunyi looked uncomfortable standing next to this new version of him.

Afterward, Steward Wang led Wei Kunyi toward Lu Yun’s spirit field.

“You bastard! Relying on your Three Spirit Roots to slack off like this?”

“You’re getting punished again this time!”

After a burst of shouting and cursing, Steward Wang stormed away from Lu Yun’s field.

Han Yu and Sun Kang, who had come over to offer congratulations, looked at each other and smiled.

“Junior Brother Lu is really… He clearly has Three Spirit Roots, so why is he so obsessed with that sort of thing?” Sun Kang sighed with emotion, then offered Han Yu a sincere congratulation. “Steward Wang usually looks down on Laborer Disciples. But Junior Brother Han, your cultivation is fast and you farm well. To think he would make an exception and leave you twenty percent… that is truly a great thing!”

“From now on, no one in the Spirit Field Department will dare to bully you.”

“Senior Sister Liu Lan’s harvest last time was forty-eight catties per acre. Why didn’t Steward Wang and Senior Sister Wei intervene then?” Han Yu asked. “Isn’t Senior Sister Liu Lan also a Three Spirit Roots talent, destined for the Outer Sect?”

Sun Kang explained, “At that time, everyone was watching. They couldn’t publicly falsify the weight to make up the difference. Besides, Zhang Shan used Spirit-Stealing Rats to sabotage Senior Sister Liu’s yield beforehand. She didn’t expect such a shortfall herself.”

“Furthermore, borrowing spirit rice from Senior Sister Wei is never a benefit.”

Han Yu nodded in understanding.

As the two conversed, Wei Kunyi arrived at the Old Daoist’s door carrying a bag of spirit rice. “Junior Brother Li, I have brought you the rice…”

She stopped, looking down at the tightly shut door. A piece of yellow paper was pasted on it: Out on business. Come back tonight.

Wei Kunyi scoffed coldly. She turned around with the spirit rice, saw Sun Kang and Han Yu, forced a smile to greet them, and then swayed her hips as she walked away.

Han Yu felt puzzled. The Old Daoist wasn’t in his stone hut? When did he leave?

Sun Kang was also surprised. “I saw Junior Brother Li leaving with a few other disciples earlier… What could they be doing? Are they going to the market this late in the day?”