As the sky began to turn pale, Ji An opened his eyes. The first thing he did was to introspect on the Stone Turtle in his Qi Sea Acupoint.
[Master: Ji An]
[Dao Rhyme: 0]
[Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 0.4, Kun Spirit 1.2, Xun Spirit 0.6]
[Magic Technique: Small Cloud Rain Technique (Entry 66%)]
The bamboo lodge was only two miles away from Jade Water Lake in a straight line. Perhaps that was why the increase in Kan Spirit was the fastest.
Even though he had only obtained the Stone Turtle a few days ago, Ji An had already summarized some useful information.
The Stone Turtle could freely absorb the Spiritual Mechanism contained in nature's spiritual energy, and this absorption efficiency had nothing to do with him personally.
He practiced the Qingyuan Scripture for two double hours last night, but the acquisition of the Spiritual Mechanism had not increased compared to the previous days.
The good news was that being in the sect allowed him to acquire the Spiritual Mechanism at twice the speed of being outside the mountain gate, indicating that the Stone Turtle's acquisition of the Spiritual Mechanism was related to the concentration of spiritual energy.
The more abundant the spiritual energy in a place, the easier it should be for the Stone Turtle to acquire the Spiritual Mechanism.
Yesterday, he overheard two senior brothers mentioning that the sect was established over two Tier Two spiritual veins, each branching into multiple Tier One spiritual veins, resembling the main and tributary streams of a river.
The two Tier Two spiritual veins were like two intertwining dragons hidden among lofty mountains and great lakes.
Important halls within the sect and the grotto mansions of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage or above were established at various nodes of the spiritual veins.
Most Qi Refining disciples could only live at the outskirts of the spiritual vein's radiation range, relying on the dissipated spiritual energy for cultivation.
If he ever got the chance to enter a spirit vein node, Ji An could verify whether his hypothesis was true.
The Kan Spirit increased again, and without hesitation, he converted 'economics' into strength.
[Magic Technique: Small Cloud Rain Technique (Entry 66% → 89%)]
The Jade Slip mentioned that advancing the first layer of the Small Cloud Rain Technique was very simple and could reach mastery level within three to five days. With a few months, one could advance to minor achievement at the second tier, but this speed was definitely not achievable for someone at First-Layer Qi Refining.
Given the total amount of magical power at First-Layer Qi Refining, even if one did nothing all day and practiced diligently, the magical power acquired might only allow practicing the technique ten times.
Without advancing the realm, it might take several years for someone at First-Layer Qi Refining to advance their magic technique to minor success level.
Planting techniques not only include the water attribute Small Cloud Rain Technique but also the earth attribute Thick Earth Technique, wood attribute Life and Death Technique, fire attribute Flame Fire Spell, and gold attribute Sharp Gold Technique.
To achieve anything in the path of the Spirit Farmer, one needs to dabble in Five Elements Magic and master at least two to three varieties.
Ji An let out a sigh. No wonder people say being a Spirit Farmer is the worst job; the newbie stage is particularly difficult.
Moreover, Spirit Farmers' yields are just raw materials, similar to farmers in his previous life, barely earning enough for the hard work, with the real profit going to the alchemists.
Even high-tier Spirit Farmers don't earn as many Spirit Stones as alchemists a grade below them.
He opened the door to see thin mountain mists flowing with the wind, like layers of light gauze, sometimes dense, sometimes thin, enveloping the bamboo lodge in a gentle dreamscape.
Ji An inhaled the fresh air for a while and returned indoors to grab his pudun and started practicing the Qingyuan Scripture in the courtyard.
Diligence refines skill, idleness leads to waste. He currently didn't have the resources to consume Spirit Rice Elixir for rapid advancement, so he had to seize every possible second.
The morning light, like fine golden threads, outlined the contours of the valley.
Ji An emerged from practice, his expression solemn.
For some reason, towards the end of his practice, he felt a hint of burning sensation in his Immortal Vein, and his body wasn't as comfortable as when he practiced the night before.
Where could the problem be? He fell into thought.
...
By Jade Water Lake, Old Huang retracted his magic technique, watching as a faint bluish hue shimmered in the white Jade Bottle in his hand, grinning widely.
Two double hours of refining resulted in dozens of strands of Water Element Essence, another Spirit Crystal earned.
He hummed a tune, his steps light as he left, just happened to pass by Ji An's courtyard.
"Little An, what are you daydreaming about?
We can't compare to Junior Brother Liu, hurry up and have breakfast. This morning I'll teach you how to plant Spirit Grain."
Ji An snapped back to reality and bowed with a smile:
"My cultivation encountered some issues, I was pondering where the problem lay, and didn't notice Senior Brother arriving. Please forgive me.
I'll go make breakfast now. Where shall we meet later?"
He hadn't expected this senior brother to genuinely be so helpful, and a warmth couldn't help but bloom in his heart.
Old Huang glanced at him a few times, then chuckled:
"I could see what your problem is at a glance.
Qingyuan Scripture is upright and peaceful; it's impossible to encounter issues in cultivation with it. It's your cultivation at the wrong time.
When the sun rises, the fire element spiritual energy in nature's spiritual energy becomes active. At the Early-stage Qi Refining, you can't withstand this bit of fiery heat from Fire Spiritual Power.
It's not just the daytime when you need to be cautious, you can't practice too late into the night either.
When the dew is heavy at night, the Power of Taiyin is abundant, and that kind of cold, yin chill is also unbearable for you."
With so many twists and turns, no wonder cultivation requires Dharma, companions, wealth, and land. Without a mentor's guidance, figuring things out by oneself requires a long and winding path.
Ji An cupped his hands, earnestly saying:
"Thank you for enlightening me, Senior Brother."
"It's just common knowledge. In a few days, the Foundation Establishment Stage uncles of the sect will preach to the new disciples. You must attend."
Old Huang contemplated for a moment before adding:
"The lectures for new disciples are usually held at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. You'll be notified of the specific timing in advance."
Ji An thanked him once again, but sighed lightly in his heart.
If these common-sense matters were written into the Jade Slip, new disciples wouldn't make mistakes.
The sect's move seems to establish authority, raising considerable prestige among people from backgrounds like his.
The original didn't formally cultivate due to not opening the Immortal Vein, and his father hadn't informed him of these common-sense matters.
...
Ji An looked at the shovel, hoe, and rake in his hands, then at the Spirit Field overgrown with weeds, and found his grand image of cultivation shattered.
He coughed softly and said disappointingly:
"Senior Brother Huang, are we really relying on these tools to plant in the Spirit Field?
Also, didn't you say the Spirit Grain in this field was harvested only five or six days ago? Yet the weeds have already grown knee-high."
Earlier, Old Huang explained that he should first pull out the weeds in the Spirit Field, then use the shovel to turn the soil, and use the hoe and rake to level the land, and finally sow the seeds.
These three farming tools were actually Magical Artifacts and required the input of Spiritual Power to be used.
The productivity of the xianxia world couldn't even keep up with the Earth home. He was speechless; what's the point of cultivating immortality?
He knew that Immortal Cultivators could create puppets, akin to intelligent robots, so why not make puppets for the rough work?!
"Don't get it, do you, Little An.
The Spirit Field, long nourished by Spirit Rain, is full of spiritual energy.
As long as weed seeds take root, they can grow this tall in just a few days, that's quite normal!"
Old Huang pointed to the farming tools and continued slowly:
"Cultivating Spirit Fields doesn't require the clumsy method I taught you. You're only at First-Layer Qi Refining, and your magic techniques aren't yet at the entry-level, so you can't afford to be picky.
These low-level Magical Artifacts are just a transition. Once your magic technique level gradually improves, you won't have to work like those mundane farmers."
Old Huang then pointed to a nearby plot:
"That piece of ten-acre Spirit Field over there is mine to cultivate. Come, let's broaden your horizons and see how I currently manage the Spirit Field."