Time flew by, and soon it was the day to collect the summer seedlings.

After instructing the little yellow dog to guard the house well, Jiang Chen arrived at the Core Management Office early in the morning.

Many Spirit Farmers were already queuing up.

Before long, Jiang Chen received his rice seedlings for summer planting. But he didn’t leave. Instead, he walked toward Elder Mu.

“You’re here.” After several interactions, Elder Mu was quite familiar with this young man. Spirit Farmers with such talent were rare in the entire core Spirit Farm area.

Jiang Chen respectfully cupped his hands and bowed. “Manager.”

Jiang Chen smiled slightly. “This disciple has reached the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. I wanted to ask you what new Spirit Plants I can choose.”

“I see.” Elder Mu nodded in understanding upon hearing this.

He arrived last winter and reached mid-stage Qi Condensation this summer. The speed wasn’t fast; it was considered average.

At the early stage of Qi Condensation, there was only one type of Spirit Plant one could choose: Spirit Rice. Upon reaching mid-stage Qi Condensation, the choices increased to over a dozen—much more diverse.

Soon, under Elder Mu’s introduction, Jiang Chen finally learned about the Spirit Plants available at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. Broadly speaking, they were divided into four major categories:

Food: Spirit Rice, Spirit Wheat, Spirit Corn, etc.

Vegetables: Spirit Cabbage, Spirit Eggplant, Spirit Cucumber, etc.

Fruits: Spirit Watermelon, Spirit Apple, Spirit Pear, etc.

Fodder: Spirit Clover, Spirit Grass, Spirit Grain, etc.

Apart from the most common Spirit Rice, the choices were indeed more varied now. However, few were suitable for Jiang Chen. After all, different Spirit Plants required different growing environments.

Elder Mu reminded him, “Spirit Plants at the Qi Condensation stage are mostly related to food. Only upon reaching Foundation Establishment will there be higher quality, more valuable Spirit Plants.”

Jiang Chen thought it over carefully and finally made a decision. He chose: Spirit Clover, Spirit Watermelon, and Spirit Cabbage.

Choosing Spirit Clover was mainly due to familiarity and some experience. Moreover, this stuff was food for some small Spirit Beasts—perfect for selling to Jin Fugui.

As for watermelon and Chinese cabbage, it was simply because he craved them. Spirit Rice was good, but one couldn’t eat only that, right?

The seeds for these three types of Spirit Plants cost a total of thirty contribution points combined.

Returning home, it was still early. Jiang Chen wasn’t in a hurry to plant just yet.

First, he had a cup of Tier-2 Spirit Wine to get slightly tipsy. Then he took out the incomplete high-level spell Ironwood Armor and began studying it in depth.

Now, with the boost from Tier-2 Spirit Wine, he could master it completely within a month at most.

By noon, the tipsiness gradually faded, and Jiang Chen finally stopped.

Then he cooked, washed dishes, and fed the dog. After handling everything, he finally began planting.

But the whole process was very simple and quick.

First, he wrapped the Spirit Rice seeds with his internal spiritual energy and casually tossed them out. Then he used Vine Bind (Level 3) to control the seeds as they drilled into the soil. It was all done in minutes, not time-consuming or laborious at all.

This time was actually similar to spring. The majority was still Spirit Rice, as yield was the priority. Spirit Clover was planted by the pre-dug irrigation ditch. Watermelon and Chinese cabbage were placed more randomly. If there was space, they were planted; if not, it didn’t matter.

After all, there was still space by the stone mountain on the other side.

Everything was settled in just the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Jiang Chen took out Lin Yu’s communication talisman from his small storage pouch and infused a wisp of spiritual energy into it.

“It’s that particularly remote place with no one around.”

“Ah! Now that you mention it, I remember! It’s you!”

“I’d like to schedule something with you. Do you have time?”

“Tomorrow noon.”

“Alright.”

The communication ended.

Jiang Chen put away the communication talisman.

He planned to have Lin Yu come several times because summer temperatures were high. Moreover, this time he wasn’t just planting Spirit Rice. There was also Spirit Clover, watermelon, and Chinese cabbage. To ensure yield, several applications of spirit rain were necessary.

Now that the seeds were in the ground, only Jin Fugui’s manure and Lin Yu’s spirit rain remained.

Next, Jiang Chen immersed himself in his studies again.

Time came to the next day. At noon, Lin Yu indeed arrived.

Since she was a child, they didn’t engage in much conversation. Lin Yu performed the Minor Rain Spell.

Jiang Chen immediately took out twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones and handed them over.

Lin Yu took them and then asked with a smile, “How many more times do you want to schedule?”

Jiang Chen had already thought about it. He held up two fingers on his right hand. “At least two more times.”

Lin Yu blinked. “You need to pay a deposit first before we set the times.”

Once summer arrived, Water Spiritual Root disciples became very busy because Spirit Farmers had high demand; rain was needed everywhere. Without scheduling times in advance, conflicts with others were easy.

Jiang Chen thought carefully. “Come once during Grain in Ear and once during Great Heat.”

Then Jiang Chen took out another forty Low-grade Spirit Stones and handed them over.

In the past, this would have pained him greatly. Now it wasn’t so bad. After all, five Mid-grade Spirit Stones were equivalent to five hundred Low-grade ones. At the Qi Condensation stage, this could be considered a small fortune.

Lin Yu held them with both hands, her eyes practically glowing. “So many!”

Ding-ding-ding!

Just then came the sound of camel bells from not far away. Without even looking, Jiang Chen knew it must be Jin Fugui arriving. After all, only he was willing to come to such a remote place.

“So smelly!” Lin Yu sniffed the air and immediately made a face of disgust.

“You can go back.” Seeing this, Jiang Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Before Jin Fugui could get close, Lin Yu stepped onto her Paper Crane and turned to flee, not giving him any time to pollute her airspace.

“Who’s that?” Jin Fugui watched the hurriedly departing figure. “Flying so fast.”

Jiang Chen shrugged. “A Water Spiritual Root girl who helps me with rain. You stank her away.”

“Cough…” Jin Fugui gave an awkward dry cough, subconsciously sniffing himself. “Do I really smell that bad?”

But well… such things were commonplace for him now. Therefore, although feeling slightly uncomfortable inside, he didn’t mind much anymore. From the moment he chose to sell spirit beast manure, his dignity had long been discarded.

Jiang Chen called out, “Don’t just stand there, unload your manure.”

Jin Fugui said grumpily, “I came all this way; can’t I rest a bit?”

Jiang Chen smiled. “Then I’ll do it myself.”

Jin Fugui paused, then shook his head. “Let’s do it together.”

Soon they unloaded part of the century-old spirit beast manure from the camels. This amount was enough for Jiang Chen to cover the entire Tier-2 Spirit Farm.

After finishing, Jin Fugui finally sat down to rest.

Jiang Chen brought out a bowl of brewed Tier-2 Spirit Wine from the house and handed it to the other, saying, “Try some.”

“So fragrant!” Jin Fugui exclaimed upon taking the bowl.

Just a small sip made his eyes widen.

He knew the other could brew wine. But he didn’t expect the skill to be so good, the quality so high.

Immediately, he downed the entire bowl of Tier-2 Spirit Wine in one gulp. Then he squinted his eyes, looking utterly blissful.

Sitting down, Jiang Chen said, “If you like it, take a jin when you leave.”

“Really?” Jin Fugui immediately opened his eyes, showing an extremely eager look.

Jiang Chen nodded. “Why lie? We’re friends.”

Jin Fugui brightened up. “Right, we’re friends.”

Jiang Chen then took out his small storage pouch while taking out Spirit Rice and said, “According to our last agreement, you can take one-tenth of my spring total yield. One-tenth is 110 jin of Tier-2 Spirit Rice.”

This giving of wine plus fulfilling the agreement—especially with the Spirit Rice reaching top-quality, far exceeding expectations—made Jin Fugui deeply moved.

After putting the top-quality Spirit Rice into his storage pouch, he decisively took out a spirit beast collar and introduced it:

“Inside is a spirit beast called a Spirit Hen. It lays an egg containing a trace of spiritual energy every three days!”