The discovery of Emerald Bud Essence undoubtedly opened the door to a whole new world for Li Ye.
It allowed him to obtain a steady, measurable amount of cultivation resources directly from his spirit field saving him from having to spend spirit stones on purchasing spirit rice.
As long as he diligently tended his field, he could steadily increase his cultivation and even ensure the healing of his injuries.
With this, even if he simply stayed put within the sect's spirit fields, quietly farming until the end of time, his cultivation progress wouldn't fall far behind those disciples out there risking life and limb.
Hmm...
Okay, that was pretty incredible!
Just by farming...
He could gain experience to improve his skills, acquire Herbal Essence to boost his cultivation, and then finally reap a full harvest of spirit rice...
It was a win-win-win kind of deal who could resist that?
If it weren't for the fact that harvest season hadn't arrived yet and that acting so obsessed would seem too suspicious Li Ye honestly wanted to just move into his field and tend to those 5,000 spirit seedlings day and night!
Not to mention, he also saw even greater potential in the applications of Herbal Essence…
What held him back now was simple: he didn't have enough experience to improve his alchemical skill, nor did he have the capital to buy even the most basic materials for alchemy!
"Senior Brother Zhang…"
"Besides being assigned five plots of spirit field to grow spirit rice through mission tasks, is there any way for disciples like us to take charge of a larger area or even tend to rarer spirit herbs?"
Amid their usual casual conversation, Li Ye suddenly posed the question thoughtfully to Zhang Liangfu.
At this point, five plots of land were no longer enough for him.
Over the past two days, he had gathered two more Emerald Bud Essences. After refining them, the signs of his cultivation slipping had completely halted.
Just a bit more cultivation, and he'd fully regain control over his spiritual power returning to the fourth level of Qi Refining.
His condition was improving steadily!
Those 5,000 stalks of Emerald Bud Rice had already brought him such a return…
If he could plant even more spirit crops, he could quickly gain the experience needed to officially begin alchemy!
The possible effects of different Herbal Essence from other spirit plants also filled him with anticipation...
He needed a bigger spirit field!
"Of course there is."
Zhang Liangfu was momentarily stunned, but then quickly nodded with a wide grin.
"Junior Brother, with your talent for tending spirit plants, there's no way you'd be satisfied staying here forever. I've been waiting for you to ask me that!"
"…Please enlighten me, Senior Brother!"
Li Ye cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
Zhang Liangfu sidestepped and waved it off.
"No need to be so formal, Junior Brother. This isn't a secret. Anyone who's completed even one spirit planting task would know about it to some extent…"
No wonder his predecessor knew nothing about this.
That guy had joined the Purple Profound Sect and immediately turned his nose up at anything related to fieldwork.
Li Ye gave a knowing look and took another moment to mentally roast his useless predecessor.
Seeing the expression on Li Ye's face, Zhang Liangfu let out a hearty laugh and motioned for him to sit down on the ridge between the fields.
"You should already know this isn't the only spirit field in the sect."
"Even putting aside the spirit fields located at various market outposts beyond the mountain gates, the ones we're tending now are all just low-grade zones meant for growing basic spirit rice…"
"The higher-tier fields aren't assigned to Qi Refining disciples like us. But there are top-tier Tier-1 fields rich in spiritual energy and covered by formation arrays specifically used to cultivate precious Tier-1 herbs for the sect's needs."
Li Ye nodded, signaling that he understood.
"The spirit farming missions issued by the Internal Affairs Hall are a form of screening…"
As Zhang Liangfu spoke, he glanced cautiously toward a pavilion at the edge of the distant field.
Seeing no movement, he subtly pointed in that direction and lowered his voice, saying to Li Ye:
"When harvest time comes, Senior Brother Xiao over there will evaluate each person based on their spirit rice yield."
"Those who meet the required amount will be tested further… and if they pass, they'll earn the right to work in the Spirit Herb Garden!"
"Although we're not allowed to take even a single herb grown there, the techniques we'd learn for tending to spirit herbs and the generous contribution rewards are more than enough to make it worthwhile…"
"Just spending time each day in such a richly spiritual environment would be incredibly beneficial for low-level disciples like us!"
Zhang Liangfu spoke passionately, his eyes full of longing. Li Ye, too, was stirred with excitement.
Wasn't this exactly what he needed?
Whether or not he got to keep the herbs didn't matter. Earning sect contributions was already a solid deal and with Herbal Essence filling in the gaps, he'd still come out ahead.
No matter how he looked at it, this was a win.
Li Ye immediately made up his mind he had to secure a place in the Spirit Herb Garden!
Seeing Li Ye's shifting expression, the rugged, honest-faced man gave a small sigh.
"It's taken me three or four years to develop a bit of skill with spirit plants. I feel like this year might finally be my shot…"
"But you, Junior Brother Li… even if you've got some experience to build on, this is still your first time planting in the sect and you've already managed your spirit field so well. I'd say your chances are very strong…"
"Who knows, maybe one day I'll be asking you for advice!"
Zhang Liangfu chuckled, but his gaze held a touch of sincerity.
Though he hadn't known Li Ye for long, the talent Li Ye showed for spirit farming was simply remarkable.
And in their interactions, he had proven himself to be honest and reliable.
With that in mind, Zhang Liangfu couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect.
Lowering himself just a bit now could pay off a thousandfold if Li Ye truly rose higher in the future!
Li Ye's expression turned serious at those words.
"You flatter me, Senior Brother. Whether or not we're chosen in the end, I hope we'll continue to support each other in the sect."
Though Li Ye held some criticism of his predecessor's decision to join that clique led by Cai and Tang…
He didn't entirely reject the logic behind it.
The cultivation world was full of hidden dangers and deceit. Even within a sect, things were far from harmonious. Those who stood alone wouldn't just struggle to get ahead they'd be lucky to survive at all.
So yes, Li Ye's decision to befriend Zhang Liangfu and other spirit farming disciples was partially driven by a desire for solidarity and mutual protection.
They were all struggling bottom-tier disciples, and Zhang Liangfu's cultivation was just barely at the early stage of Qi Refining Level 3.
Still, even without expecting much else, just having a social circle to exchange information with was already valuable to Li Ye.
Zhang Liangfu was moved.
"Good! Brother Li, then let us move forward together…"
"So you are here!"
Before the stocky man could finish, a sharp voice suddenly rang out.
Three figures descended from the sky, riding flying artifacts. They didn't even land just hovered in midair above the fields.
Unwilling to let the muddy ground dirty their clothes.
"Don't you know the sect's spirit fields are off-limits without permission?"
Their interruption and condescending tone caused Zhang Liangfu's blood to boil.
Among the three, a sharp-faced cultivator frowned but didn't even spare him a glance.
He and a round-faced, chubby cultivator merely released a bit of their spiritual pressure.
Both were mid-stage Qi Refining Level 4!
Under that pressure, Zhang Liangfu faltered. His words caught in his throat, and his momentum vanished instantly he couldn't get another word out.
Around them, the other spirit-farming disciples looked over in silence, their expressions uncertain.
Li Ye took it all in calmly, his expression unchanged.
He ignored the two showy cultivators entirely and instead looked directly at the graceful woman whose robes fluttered in the wind.
"What are you here for?" he asked coolly.