Chapter 130: Changes in the Spirit Plants-Immortality: Unlocking New Abilities Through Farming(An old man with silver hair engages in lively conversation, laughter flowing effortlessly from his lips.)

Time flies.

More than two years have passed.

Regardless of how the outside world changed, Qin Ming lived a life of seclusion on the island, tending to his crops. The spiritual plants on Moon-Gazing Island had begun to flourish.

Inside the spiritual water pond beneath the main peak, a vast patch of Jade Glory Spirit Lotuses grew lush and verdant. Nourished by the spring water and the constant irrigation from Qin Ming’s daily practice of the Great Five Elements Technique, green lotus buds had already begun to emerge.

Three golden entries caught Qin Ming’s eye:

[Name]: Jade Glory Spirit Lotus [Entry]: Blood Qi Crystal x5 (Maturity: 52%)
[Name]: Jade Glory Spirit Lotus [Entry]: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity: 54%)
[Name]: Jade Glory Spirit Lotus [Entry]: Potent Adaptation x5 (Maturity: 56%)

[Potent Adaptation]: Upon use, it allows the spiritual plant to significantly reduce its environmental requirements, enabling it to adapt to various types of spiritual veins.

"This is a great entry!" Qin Ming beamed. With this, even if he were to find higher-tier spiritual plants in the future, he could grow them on Moon-Gazing Island. For instance, the second-tier peak-grade Dragon Blood Divine Tree could thrive in the island’s second-tier mid-grade spiritual vein environment with this entry. Qin Ming had long coveted the legendary Dragon Blood Divine Fruit, said to ignite a cultivator's potential and vastly enhance blood qi and physical strength—a rare, holy treasure for body-refining Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Beyond that, Qin Ming had used two [Quality Enhancement] entries on the three acres of newly planted Spirit-Roost Rice, elevating them to the peak-grade level. He eagerly awaited the results of this harvest. As in previous years, he had also raised Spirit-Rice Fish in the paddies. Having tasted the benefits, he had raised more this time—over eighty of them.

The Spirit-Roost Rice fields also refreshed two entries:
[Name]: Spirit-Roost Rice [Entry]: Mana Crystal x5 (Maturity: 93%)
[Name]: Spirit-Roost Rice [Entry]: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity: 95%)

Additionally, on the rotting logs planted with Mist Illusion Mushrooms behind the main peak, white spots were beginning to sprout. A faint pink mist drifted among the fungi. Qin Ming had tested it before; even with his formidable spiritual sense, touching the pink mist would plunge him into a brief illusion. These were merely juvenile mushrooms; once fully mature, the hallucinogenic mist they released could likely incapacitate even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Legend had it that if enough mist accumulated, it could form an illusion as potent as a third-tier illusion array, causing even Golden Core ancestors to give it a wide berth.

The Mist Illusion Mushrooms also refreshed three golden entries:
[Name]: Mist Illusion Mushroom [Entry]: Soul Power Crystal x5 (Maturity: 43%)
[Name]: Mist Illusion Mushroom [Entry]: Space-Time Leaf x5 (Maturity: 45%)
[Name]: Mist Illusion Mushroom [Entry]: Spiritual Plant Symbiosis x5 (Maturity: 41%)

[Spiritual Plant Symbiosis]: Upon use, it grants the ability to manifest the powers of the spiritual plant, limited to the plant that generated this entry.

Qin Ming was astonished by this new entry. If he could command the eerie mist released by these mushrooms, it would be a major trump card.

After patrolling the fields, Qin Ming cast the Great Five Elements Technique over every patch. The rapid and healthy growth of his plants was entirely due to his regular application of the technique. During this period, the planting proceeded methodically. Whenever pests or diseases appeared, Qin Ming had his swarm of bees handle them, or dealt with them personally if they proved too stubborn.

One day, Qin Ming was outside his cave dwelling, tinkering with over a dozen jars. He was attempting to brew Spirit Fire Wine, commonly known as "Foundation Establishment Wine," following the recipe and techniques from the "Divine Wine Master's Formula." He had failed twice before for unknown reasons, but, unwilling to give up, he had gathered a new batch of ingredients to try again. Once finished, he buried the jars beneath the purple-gold bamboo forest outside his dwelling.

Just then, his protective array flickered. A quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed who was approaching, and a smile touched his lips. He stepped out and waved his hand to deactivate the barrier.

Two young children, each wearing their hair in two topknots, stood before him. They were the boy and girl, Wu Wangyue and Wu Wangfeng—the twin children of Wu Jiang, both possessed of exceptional talent for cultivation.

Time had flown; they were already four years old. Fortunately, they inherited their mother Mu Ruyin’s features rather than their father’s, making them sweet and adorable.

Wu Wangfeng’s personality leaned toward his father’s—mischievous, eccentric, and difficult to manage, not unlike the legendary Nezha. Even Wu Jiang couldn't control him. Yet, whenever the boy was in front of Qin Ming, he became a different person: well-behaved, obedient, and never daring to act out. Wu Wangyue, conversely, inherited her mother’s reserved, gentle, and quiet nature.

At that moment, Wu Wangfeng held his sister’s hand with his left and carried an exquisite lunchbox in his right. Seeing Qin Ming, he grinned, "Hehe! Uncle Qin, Mother asked me to bring you some freshly made dishes to taste!"

"Haha, wonderful!" Qin Ming took the lunchbox and patted their heads. He reached into his storage bag and produced two low-tier spirit fruits, giving one to each. These were fruits he grew in his spare time; they had a unique flavor and only grew in the specific environment of the Spirit-Roost Islands, capable of slightly boosting the mana of Qi Refining cultivators.

The twins' eyes lit up as if they had received priceless treasures. They accepted the fruits joyfully and bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Uncle Qin!" They then scampered off, likely to find some hidden corner to enjoy their treat.

Qin Ming watched them leave with a slight smile. Wu Jiang and his wife had long expressed the desire for Qin Ming to take these gifted children as his disciples. Given his status and cultivation level, he was more than qualified. However, Qin Ming had declined; he did not wish to be burdened by worldly affairs on his path to the Great Dao. With their innate talent, should word get out, major sects and powers in the Wei Kingdom would fight over them, treating them as core disciples with priority access to resources. He need not worry about their future.

However, the peaceful days lasted only a short while. Qin Ming soon received a message sent by Aunt Long on behalf of Gu Qingzhao:

"Fellow Daoist Qin, the Loose Cultivator Alliance is set to launch a war against the Zhao family within the next two days."

"Moon-Gazing Island is remote and should be spared from the conflict, but I still hope Fellow Daoist Qin will take every precaution."