Five Spirit Stones. Two or three catties of Spirit Rice. Three Jade Slips.

These items lay quietly within the Storage Bag.

Han Yu organized his gains from the day: the Common Spirit Plants Jade Slip, ten Spirit Stones, the unsold Spirit Blood Vine, and fifty catties of Spirit Rice. He also stored the Mystic Heart Fruit and Spirit Blood Vine he had set aside for replication purposes.

Alongside these, he packed away the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method he had received upon joining the sect and the Common Sect Knowledge gifted by Senior Brother Jin Qi.

In an instant, all cultivation-related items around him were swept clean.

Han Yu felt a sudden, profound sense of security.

Carrying all his possessions on his person felt right. Even if there were future searches or inspections, it would be difficult for anyone to find anything incriminating within his stone hut.

With his surroundings secured, Han Yu took out the three new Jade Slips and began to examine them closely.

He pressed the first Jade Slip to his forehead: Viscera Blood Technique.

The method involved extracting a human’s internal organs, mixing them with a small amount of one’s own Essence Blood, and refining the mixture. In battle, the cultivator could manipulate these refined organs to attack, defeating enemies with minimal consumption of their own Qi.

Han Yu frowned as he finished reading. He tossed the Jade Slip aside immediately.

He would never cultivate such a heinous, disgusting, and filthy spell.

He moved to the second Jade Slip. After sensing its contents, a wave of joy rose in his heart.

This was a universal cultivation spell: the Flame Technique.

It allowed the caster to release a stream of searing fire directly at an enemy, burning them to death. It was similar in principle to the Wind Blade Technique.

Demonic Cultivators could use it. Orthodox cultivators could use it.

This was Han Yu’s first true offensive spell.

The Wind Control Technique and Water Control Technique were far too weak for combat. They consumed Spirit Breath but offered minimal damage.

The Wind Control Technique was best suited for travel, while the Water Control Technique was convenient for watering the fields. At most, the latter could drive away pests in the spirit fields, but it lacked the lethality to even kill a Spirit-Stealing Rat.

He picked up the third Jade Slip. Its contents detailed the Tracking Technique.

This was the very spell the Demonic Cultivator had used—by merely brushing against Han Yu, he had been able to track his location.

It sounded like a useful utility spell.

However, Han Yu had no immediate use for it. He decided he might practice it later, whenever he had spare time.

He swept all three Jade Slips back into his Storage Bag and took out the Common Spirit Plants Illustrated Guide to begin his study.

“Caw…”

A soft cry interrupted him. The large crow hopped onto his shoulder.

Han Yu paused, realization dawning on him. “I was so focused on counting the harvest, I forgot your contribution.”

He took out a portion of Spirit Blood Vine and handed it to the large crow. “Share this between you.”

The large crow took the vine, tossed it to the smaller crow, and then gently pecked Han Yu.

At first, Han Yu was puzzled, but then he understood.

“Oh, the reward isn’t important. You want to be praised, don’t you?”

Han Yu reached out and smoothed its feathers, offering a few words of compliment. The large crow closed its dark golden eyes in satisfaction, letting out a soft, contented croak.

A moment later, it spread its wings happily and soared into the night sky.

Seeing it fly away, the little crow clutched the Spirit Blood Vine and hopped in front of Han Yu. It made no attempt to hide its desire for praise as well.

Han Yu knew that whenever the large crow was present, this little one didn’t dare to overstep. Now that the boss was gone, it seized the chance to get close.

He stroked its feathers a few times, telling it that it was also very formidable. The little crow chirped in delight and took flight, following its leader.

Once they were gone, Han Yu returned his attention to the Common Spirit Plants Illustrated Guide, memorizing the appearances and basic uses of various herbs.

The knowledge wasn’t particularly profound, but it was vital for him.

With this common sense, even if the crows couldn’t find specific wild spirit plants, he could replicate items to exchange at the market for the Spirit Fruits or medicines he needed. He wouldn’t need much—just a single portion would be enough to last him a long time.

He read late into the night before finally releasing the Jade Slip. The day’s harvest was clear in his mind, and he took a moment to review his current capabilities.

He needed to measure his true strength and establish his rules of conduct for the future.

Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method: Qi Refining Level 2. He was still four or five months away from Level 3.

Usable Spells: Wind Control Technique, Water Control Technique, Breath Concealment Technique. He now had two new spells pending study: Tracking Technique and Flame Technique.

There was also the minor technique for Sound Transmission taught by the Old Daoist Li, derived from the mundane martial world.

These abilities had no connection to Demonic Cultivators and could be used openly in the future.

Blood Refining Technique: He possessed twelve drops of Essence Blood. He had not yet re-condensed the Blood Talisman in his Danzhong acupoint; it remained a mere thought away. However, with Demonic Cultivators and spies frequently appearing near Wanchun Valley and the occasional strict inspection, it was not a suitable time to condense the Blood Talisman.

Mastered Demonic Arts: Blood Droplet, Spirit Nurturing Technique, Bloodlust Technique.

These were strictly related to the Demonic path and could never be exposed.

Beyond his personal power, he had the two crows capable of spitting Wind Blades, and the large crow’s command over a flock of slightly spiritual subordinates. This was a significant aid.

If measured against the Laborer Disciples of the Spirit Field Department, Han Yu felt that even three Level 3 Qi Refining Laborer Disciples would not be his match.

But against the Rogue Cultivators, Demonic Cultivators, or spies from the Green Grain Market? Han Yu didn’t know their foundations or trump cards. It was hard to say.

With enemies constantly emerging, the Green Grain Market was not a place he should visit often.

Han Yu made a decision: he would first reach Qi Refining Level 3 and master the Flame Technique.

If the medicinal efficacy of the Mystic Heart Fruit dropped further, only then would he consider going to the Green Grain Market to exchange for new spirit plants or pills.

Having set a clear path that night, Han Yu stopped venturing out.

He only occasionally spent time with Sun Kang and Liu Lan, chatting and sharing a meal. The rest of his time was dedicated to cultivation and practicing spells within his hut.

Unknowingly, two months passed.

No new news of Demonic Cultivators or spies arrived, and Wanchun Valley gradually returned to a peaceful rhythm.

Han Yu operated the Spirit Root Refining Art every few days. By now, his Fire Spirit Root was eighty percent refined.

As his aptitude improved, the Spirit Breath he gained from daily cultivation increased. The original estimate of four or five months to reach Qi Refining Level 3 had shortened drastically. After just two months, he only needed one more month to break through.

Under the mind-clearing effects of the Mystic Heart Fruit, he had mastered both the Flame Technique and the Tracking Technique.

Han Yu could now release a Flame Technique within a single breath. His total Spirit Breath reserves were enough to cast it five times.

Although it couldn’t compare to the low cost of the Wind Control or Water Control techniques, the Flame Technique was a high-tier offensive spell. Achieving this level of proficiency was already remarkable.

To his knowledge, Outer Disciples typically took two or three breaths to cast such a spell, which was considered sufficient for actual combat.

One morning, Han Yu stepped out of his stone hut and sensed the spiritual energy gathering at the spirit fields.

Sun Kang and Liu Lan were already there, sitting cross-legged in their fields, cultivating.

Their spirit rice was ready for harvest.

Because of the gathering Qi, pests and rodents had begun to arrive. The management at the Spirit Field Department had relaxed to the standards of a year ago—which is to say, they were lax.

Taking advantage of the night, the large and small crows led their flock to feast on the high-quality, Qi-rich pests.

The crows benefited greatly. Their spirituality increased, and their claws and feathers became tougher. Two new crows capable of spitting Wind Blades had even emerged within the flock.

The large crow had specially brought these two new elites to meet Han Yu, showing off its capable subordinates.

Han Yu praised it, sending the bird away in high spirits.

A few days later, Sun Kang and Liu Lan completed their harvest.

Both yielded over fifty catties, earning five Minor Merits for the sect and keeping over fifty catties of Spirit Rice for themselves.

Flush with cultivation resources, the two were in a great mood and sought out Han Yu to celebrate. Afterward, the three of them planted new Green Grain Spirit Rice, aligning their schedule with the other Laborer Disciples.

After the planting was done, the atmosphere in the Spirit Field Department was buzzing.

Many Laborer Disciples were gathering, excitedly exchanging news.

The Inner and Outer Disciple Combat Competition had finally ended!