At dusk, the group of menials, panting heavily, finally reached the mountain gate.
The disciples who rode the white cranes had arrived long ago, already chosen by outer sect deacons and elders. By the time Li An and the others arrived, Wang Dazhu and the rest were nowhere to be seen.
“Next, we’ll assign your roles,” the immortal leading them up the mountain announced. “Zhang Susu, Wang Zilin, you have Wood Attribute Mixed Spirit Roots, so you’ll tend to spirit plants. Lu Yishan, Guo Mang, you have Fire Attribute Mixed Spirit Roots, so you’ll handle blacksmithing…”
After reading the list, he paused, his gaze landing on Li An. “Li An, Attributeless Spirit Root…”
“You, where do you want to go?”
Among the menials, Li An’s spirit root was the most unique.
Too lazy to decide for him, the immortal gave Li An the rare chance to choose.
Li An’s heart stirred. “This disciple wishes to tend spirit plants!”
Being a spirit plant farmer was perfect for cultivating his Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality.
“Fine, as you wish. Deacons, take your people.”
With that, the immortal stepped aside, and seven or eight other immortals stepped forward, leading their assigned groups away.
“Zhang Susu, Wang Zilin, and Li An, right? You three, follow me!”
A middle-aged man spoke. He was Fan Jie, the deacon of Spirit Plant Mountain, also a registered disciple!
Fan Jie was burly with a big belly. His eyes swept over the three, lingering a bit longer on Zhang Susu.
Though Zhang Susu had only a Mixed Spirit Root, she came from a wealthy mortal family in Sky Sun County. She was strikingly beautiful, with a fine figure, second only to Mu Qingwan.
He nodded, satisfied.
…
The Clear Sun Sect, one of the seven great cultivation sects of the Grand Dawn Dynasty, spanned dozens of miles of mountains.
Spirit Plant Mountain lay in the remote northern hills, where gentle slopes and abundant spiritual qi nurtured over a hundred acres of spirit fields!
“It’s so beautiful here!” Zhang Susu couldn’t help but exclaim, captivated by Spirit Plant Mountain’s scenic beauty.
“Such strong spiritual qi!” Wang Zilin, from humble roots, was equally thrilled.
Living in such rich spiritual qi would greatly aid their cultivation.
Only Li An groaned inwardly.
Done for… so much land…
Am I really going to toil like an ox?
Fan Jie led them up Spirit Plant Mountain, where a few dwellings housed the menials.
Below the mountainside were spirit fields growing spirit rice, spirit beans, and other crops. Above, the steep slopes were left unplanted.
“Here are some techniques, including Breathing Technique and Cloud and Rain Technique. The Breathing Technique, paired with spirit stones, will help you quickly reach the Qi Refining stage. The Cloud and Rain Technique is for tending crops.”
Fan Jie stopped at the foot of the mountain, handing each of them two bamboo scrolls, half a spirit stone, a small bag of spirit rice, and said, “Practice hard. This batch of spirit plants is nearly mature. You have one month to learn. Understood?”
All three showed excitement, nodding eagerly like pecking chicks.
“Get lost. The foot of the mountain has empty huts. Pick your own place to live. There are menial uniforms in the rooms—wear them starting tomorrow!”
“Without my permission, don’t take a single step up the mountain. If you disobey, I’ll break your legs. Remember that!”
With that, Fan Jie headed up to the mountainside.
He lived at the peak!
After he left, the three began choosing their dwellings.
“Miss Susu, this hut is the largest, with a small garden. It’s perfect for you. What do you think?” Wang Zilin offered the best hut to Zhang Susu without consulting Li An.
Zhang Susu, clearly pleased with it, nodded. “Thank you, Brother Zilin!”
Wang Zilin smiled. “If we live close, it’ll be easier to discuss cultivation later…”
He picked the hut right next to hers, then suggested, “Susu, Brother Li, shall we study the Breathing Technique and Cloud and Rain Technique together?”
Though he said “Brother Li,” his eyes barely glanced at Li An, focusing on Zhang Susu.
“That’s a good idea. Studying together will help us improve faster!” Zhang Susu nodded, looking expectantly at Li An.
Li An’s Attributeless Spirit Root was slightly better than theirs. Practicing with him could bring some benefits.
“Sorry, I’m a bit tired. I want to rest first.”
Li An spoke calmly, then found a quiet hut for himself.
Zhang Susu and Wang Zilin were left a bit awkward.
“Hmph, just an Attributeless Spirit Root. What’s he so proud of? Isn’t he still the same as us now?” Wang Zilin muttered.
…
The menials’ living conditions were basic, but pots, bowls, and utensils were provided, covering daily needs.
Li An tossed the Breathing Technique and Cloud and Rain Technique aside, pulling out the small bag of spirit rice.
Unlike spirit stones, spirit rice was mainly for hunger, with a faint trace of spiritual qi. The small bag, about a pound, could feed a mortal for a year.
Spirit rice was vital for beginner and low-tier cultivators, who couldn’t yet fast.
It also helped them adapt to techniques with its spiritual qi, so they could use spirit stones to break through later without wasting them.
The room had all the cookware needed. Li An washed the pot, rinsed the rice, lit a fire, and cooked, his movements a bit clumsy.
Steam lifted the pot lid, carrying the unique fragrance of spirit rice.
The rice was done—a huge potful.
If others saw, they’d think it absurd. This much could feed dozens!
At this early stage, unfamiliar with techniques, eating too much would waste spiritual qi, as it couldn’t be fully absorbed.
So, most ate sparingly, no more than twenty grains per meal.
Li An’s pot used half a pound of rice.
He dared eat so much because his past life’s cultivation experience ensured he wouldn’t waste spiritual qi.
He scooped a big bowl of spirit rice and ate slowly.
As he swallowed, the fragrant rice filled his stomach, and in his mind, the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality began to work.
His vitality stirred, extracting faint wisps of spiritual mist from the rice.
Li An guided them several times, but the mist was too sparse, dispersing easily.
Unhurried, he kept eating slowly, steadily running the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality.
The pot gradually emptied, the mist in his body building up until it reached a usable amount. Li An guided it into his dantian.
“Set—”
Li An whispered, condensing the mist together, letting his dantian absorb it.
Still, there was little change.
He glanced at the bag, wincing. Half the spirit rice was already gone!
Undeterred, he cooked the rest too.
After eating it all, a green sprout finally emerged in his dantian.
With the sprout, a vibrant green vitality seemed to fill his dantian. Li An felt his whole body relax, the injuries from the thunder spirit qi slowly being nourished.
“Life Seed… success!”
Li An was thrilled.
In his past life, he’d studied this technique countless times after obtaining it.
Now, in this life, he finally had the chance to practice it.
Everything fell into place.
“The Life Seed… is the core of cultivating the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality!”
“Tied to my life, the stronger the seed, the greater my vitality and lifespan!”
“Moreover, the unique strength of this art is that the seed roots in the dantian, growing over time to nourish the body and gradually improve my spirit root!”
Li An murmured.
This was why he chose the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality.
With patience and steady growth, relying on an extended lifespan and a slowly improving spirit root… he had a slim hope of reaching Nascent Soul, or even higher realms.
Cultivators’ lifespans were limited. For example, Qi Refining stage cultivators lived up to 200 years. Without reaching Foundation Establishment, they’d die of old age.
But Li An estimated that, with proper cultivation of this art, he could live around 300 years!
A direct increase of 100 years.
Then, he frowned.
With only a pound of spirit rice a month, when would his Life Seed grow its first leaf?
The seed was his hope for repairing his spirit root. Until it was fixed, he couldn’t enter the Qi Refining stage.
Yet, in a month, he’d need to use the Cloud and Rain Technique for labor. If he hadn’t broken through by then, Fan Jie would surely scold or target him.
He still had a small piece of spirit stone, but it was precious, with purer and richer spiritual qi than spirit rice. He needed to save it for officially entering the First Layer of Qi Refining.
He pondered. The spirit rice in the fields outside was nearing maturity…
But protective arrays and restrictions guarded them. Outside of work hours, no one could enter.
“The arrays and restrictions here should be low-level, not fully covering everything…”
Li An muttered. In his past life, he’d reached Core Formation, dabbling in arrays, crafting, and alchemy.
He stood, boiled water, and took a hot bath in a wooden tub, washing away the day’s sweat and fatigue.
He changed into the sect’s menial uniform—a well-fitted, light gray outfit made of fine hemp, far more comfortable than the old cloth clothes he wore upon arrival.
Then he slept.
…
Seven days passed in a blink.
During this time, Li An occasionally strolled outside, enjoying the scenery and mapping the terrain.
“I’ve finally entered the Qi Refining stage!”
Wang Zilin’s excited shout echoed outside.
As dusk fell, Li An went for a walk. He saw Wang Zilin and Zhang Susu celebrating together.
“Brother Li, you’ve probably broken through too, right?” Zhang Susu’s bright eyes turned to Li An.
“Not yet.” Li An looked embarrassed. “My body’s still recovering from the thunder spirit qi damage…”
Hearing this, Zhang Susu’s eyes flickered. “Brother Li, no rush. I have some extra spirit rice I can share with you…”
Though not a healing pill, spirit rice could nourish the body.
Coming from a wealthy mortal family, she knew how to build connections.
Li An might be injured now, but with his Attributeless Spirit Root, he could still rise in the future.
Li An thought for a moment. “Thank you, Miss Susu.”
He accepted the small handful of spirit rice she offered, then wandered a bit before returning to his hut.
Zhang Susu smiled faintly.
“Susu, this guy doesn’t appreciate kindness. Why bother being so polite to him?” Wang Zilin grumbled nearby.
…
In his room, Li An was calm.
Zhang Susu’s spirit rice wasn’t much use to him, but he had to accept it.
He didn’t want her to think poorly of him.
Spirit Plant Mountain had only one female cultivator—Zhang Susu, stunningly beautiful.
On the day Fan Jie brought them here, his gaze lingered on her. Li An could read the intent.
Whether willingly or not, Zhang Susu would likely end up on Fan Jie’s bed!
Owing her a small favor could smooth things later.
As for Wang Zilin… Li An didn’t care about him.
Wang Zilin’s closeness to Zhang Susu was practically a death wish. Fan Jie would deal with him.
Li An had only one goal.
Live steadily, improve his spirit root!
He wanted no complications or risks.
With no cultivation and no means of self-defense, he was far too vulnerable.
…
Late at night, Li An slipped out of his room.
Following the route he’d scouted over the past few days, he reached a corner where the spirit fields met the mountain. The terrain was jagged, leaving gaps in the restrictions!
Thanks to his past life’s experience, he spotted this flaw—something even Fan Jie, a registered disciple, would miss.
He crept between the field ridges, rolled up his pant legs, removed his shoes, and waded through the irrigation ditch into a fertile spirit field.
Moving through the ditch left no footprints!
Plus, mosquitoes bred in the ditches, and the rows of spirit rice near them were often eaten by bugs. A slightly lower yield wouldn’t raise suspicion.
Li An carefully rubbed a few grains of not-yet-fully-ripe spirit rice from a stalk…
…
(Chapter End)