Chapter Three: The Yield of Spiritual Rice
Back inside his room.
Qin Ming set up a soundproofing array; from now on, no matter what chaos erupted next door, it would no longer disturb him.
“Ah—how comfortable. The whole world is finally quiet.”
From that moment, all of Qin Ming’s attention was focused on his five acres of spirit farmland.
His future depended directly on them.
Ten days passed.
Within the spirit field, the spirit rice had already sprouted, lush and verdant. Qin Ming rushed to check his fields at the first opportunity.
What he cared about most was: what kind of attributes would manifest within these five acres?
At a glance, he saw four attribute leaves glittering among the green shoots.
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Faint Spiritual Power (10% maturity)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Faint Spiritual Power (15% maturity)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Beast-Repelling Technique x5 (12% maturity)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Progenitor Seed: Beastfang Rice (10% maturity)
“There are new attributes appearing.”
Qin Ming’s eyes lit up. Besides ‘Faint Spiritual Power,’ two new attributes had emerged.
“It’s a pity there’s no ‘Accelerated Maturation’ attribute,” he lamented.
The Beast-Repelling Technique was familiar to him—a spiritual plant technique. When used with a specially crafted bell-type spiritual tool, it could swiftly drive away all manner of fiendish beasts, protecting the crops.
However, this technique was even more challenging to master than the Spirit Rain Technique; few could wield it.
The number after the attribute probably indicated it could be used five times.
Qin Ming’s attention then turned to the final attribute.
“Hm? Beastfang Rice... That sounds familiar, as if I’ve seen it somewhere before...”
He furrowed his brows, searching his memory.
Suddenly, inspiration struck him.
He slapped his storage pouch and produced a booklet. It was the spirit plant compendium the Feathered Spirit Sect had issued to all spiritual farmers.
Qin Ming quickly flipped to the last few pages.
Beastfang Rice, a first-tier low-grade spiritual plant: grains as white as snow, shaped like fangs. Consuming it marginally increases vitality, strengthens muscles and bones, harmonizes the organs, and its spiritual energy content is five times that of Golden Spirit Rice!
Golden Spirit Rice was merely a common spiritual grain, unranked.
Beastfang Rice, however, was classified as a low-grade spiritual plant, relatively rare.
It was highly coveted by body-refining cultivators—whenever it appeared in the market, it was immediately snatched up.
Yet, cultivating Beastfang Rice was demanding: it required the ‘Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique’ to channel spiritual vein energy and maintain irrigation over a long period.
Its maturation cycle was also lengthy—at best, it ripened once every two years, with low yields.
Its price was ten times that of Golden Spirit Rice; even its seeds were exorbitantly expensive.
The Feathered Spirit Sect’s compendium even included a special note: [Any spiritual farmer who successfully cultivates Beastfang Rice shall have their spiritual grain tax halved.]
To cultivate a first-tier low-grade spirit plant signified eligibility to advance as a first-tier spiritual cultivator—a considerable elevation above ordinary low-level spiritual farmers.
“It’s actually a Beastfang Rice seed! This is a windfall!” Qin Ming was overjoyed.
Now, he had to take even better care of his five acres of land.
In a little over three months, it would be time to pay the spiritual rice tax—a true test of his abilities.
His very livelihood depended on it.
These days, Qin Ming was constantly on edge. Nothing could be allowed to happen to his fields.
He meticulously weeded the plot, then expended the last use of his ‘Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique.’
...
Time flowed day by day.
Qin Ming rose early and returned late, working diligently with utmost devotion.
He longed for the spirit rice to mature quickly.
Aside from tending his fields, he devoted himself to cultivating ‘Evergreen Art’ and the Spirit Rain Technique.
After fully experiencing the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique five times, his mastery of the spell advanced greatly, especially with his persistent practice and experimentation.
At last, he found the right feeling.
One month later.
Beneath the cloud of spiritual energy enveloping his five acres, Qin Ming’s face broke into a smile. “I’ve mastered the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique!”
From now on, even without the attribute’s help, he could cast the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique on his own.
However, with only second-level Qi Refining cultivation, his spiritual power was indeed worrisome.
Even so, Qin Ming pushed himself for the sake of increased yield.
Every time he cast the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique, he drained himself to the last drop of spiritual power.
To ensure two or three spiritual rains fell each week.
By the time he left the fields for home, his face was always pale and haggard, clinging to the wall for support as he walked.
“Who would’ve thought, Friend Qin?”
“Honestly, have you been secretly helping out your neighbor Li Yanli with her business?”
“Young man, you must know restraint!”
“Even an iron waist and steel kidneys can’t take that kind of daily abuse.”
His neighbors all assumed he’d been indulging in wild pleasures.
‘Ah, my cultivation is too low. Every time I cast the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique, my spiritual power is barely enough,’ Qin Ming sighed to himself. Facing their suspicions, he only forced a sheepish smile, offering no explanation.
Focusing on farming was the true path.
Watching the spirit rice grow stronger every day, Qin Ming felt a sense of gratification.
“At last, my efforts have not been wasted.”
After more than two months.
The spirit rice ripened.
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Faint Spiritual Power (100% maturity, ready for harvest)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Faint Spiritual Power (100% maturity, ready for harvest)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Beast-Repelling Technique x5 (100% maturity, ready for harvest)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Progenitor Seed: Beastfang Rice (100% maturity, ready for harvest)
Qin Ming harvested the four spirit rice plants. Four white attribute leaves instantly manifested within his spiritual sea.
Soon, under the supervision of Overseer Du Haifu, the spiritual farmers began to harvest their crops.
When it was Qin Ming’s turn, Du Haifu gazed at the scene before him, a trace of surprise flickering across his face.
From a glance, he saw Qin Ming’s field was filled with golden spirit rice, each panicle full and plump, so heavy that the stalks bent low.
“You’ve mastered the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique?”
Du Haifu looked Qin Ming up and down for a moment, rare approval showing in his eyes.
“I was lucky enough to achieve it recently.”
“Very well, not bad at all. Go ahead and collect your rice.”
Qin Ming set to work swiftly, harvesting the spirit rice.
After a full day’s labor, he amassed eight large sacks of spiritual rice.
Du Haifu began weighing the harvest.
“Eight stone and twenty jin of spirit rice harvested...”
“The tax is seventy percent, totaling five hundred seventy-four jin.”
No sooner had he spoken than a gigantic spirit vessel streaked across the sky, coming to rest in midair above the hillside.
At the bow stood an elder in blue robes, hands clasped behind his back, solemn and stern. Behind him, seven or eight outer disciples of the Feathered Spirit Sect stood in neat, deferential lines.
Du Haifu hastened to bow deeply. “Greetings, Steward Gu. As per your instructions, the spiritual rice tax for this season has been fully collected. Please review it.”
With care, he presented a jade slip.
Qin Ming also hurried to bow his head.
In the presence of Steward Gu, Du Haifu’s usual sternness with spiritual farmers vanished, replaced with obsequiousness.
Although Steward Gu was only an outer steward of the Feathered Spirit Sect, he was still Du Haifu’s direct superior, not someone to be crossed.
After reviewing the jade slip, Steward Gu ordered his disciples to assemble all the spiritual farmers.
Over three hundred people gathered.
Old Cai squeezed through the crowd to Qin Ming’s side, winking. “Brother Qin, how did your harvest turn out today?”
Qin Ming laughed lightly, masking his true thoughts. “Not bad. But Old Cai, you really kept things quiet last season. A bountiful harvest and you said nothing—getting rich in silence, eh?”
“Heh heh, well, it all went to the tribute anyway.” Old Cai’s eyes darted evasively, betraying his guilt.
Just then, Steward Gu surveyed the crowd coldly and declared, “The spiritual rice tax for all three seasons this year has now been fully collected.”
“According to sect orders, I hereby announce: the ten cultivators with the lowest annual spiritual rice yield will be conscripted to the front-line war camps for reinforcements. Defiance will not be tolerated.”
His tone brooked no argument, his words like thunderclaps echoing through the hearts of the spiritual farmers.
“What? The war camps?”
“No... it can’t be?”
“I... I shouldn’t be among the last, right?”
“Why weren’t we told in advance about this?”
...
Panic swept through the crowd.
“Hmph!” Steward Gu let out a cold snort. A wave of pressure from a peak Qi Refining cultivator swept over the assembly.
Instantly, silence fell.
“These three seasons’ yields and all rankings are here for your inspection,” he said.
A disciple stepped forward and activated a jade slip with a spell.
In an instant, a massive light screen appeared above the crowd, densely packed with names and data—ranked from highest to lowest, with the yields for each season clearly displayed.
Qin Ming looked up and quickly found his name: one hundred and fifty-sixth place!
“Whew—”
He let out a long breath.
Safely in the middle.
His nerves finally relaxed.
“How is that possible? Eight stone and twenty jin?” Old Cai gasped in astonishment.
A dramatic scene unfolded.
On the light screen: one hundred fifty-seventh place, Cai Jiuwu...
Old Cai’s ranking was just below Qin Ming’s.
Yet in the previous two seasons, his yield had far exceeded Qin Ming’s.
But Qin Ming’s third-season harvest was extraordinary, far surpassing his own!
If only the third season’s yield were considered, Qin Ming would have broken into the top fifty.
The highest ranks were occupied by veteran spiritual farmers with mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation.
“I trust you all see your standings?”
“The last ten, board the ship and come with me.”
“Tian Youcai, Zhao Shan, Lin Chengdong...”
The ten named spiritual farmers turned deathly pale, their hearts sinking into despair.
What awaited them was the brutal hardship of the front-line wilderness.
Yet none dared defy Steward Gu’s order.
The selected individuals were escorted onto the spirit vessel by the sect disciples.
“May you all continue to strive and work hard this coming year, contributing to the sect. New quotas have been set for next year. Next time, the bottom thirty spiritual farmers will be conscripted to the war camps.”
Steward Gu’s implacable words echoed in everyone’s ears.
Qin Ming pondered in silence.
This time, the Feathered Spirit Sect had not warned them in advance.
As a result, most spiritual farmers had no idea conscription loomed.
Had Du Haifu not given him a hint, he too would have been caught unawares.
After this incident, an intense competition would surely break out among the farmers next year.
No one wished to become cannon fodder at the front.
...
Qin Ming gazed at the four attribute leaves within his spiritual sea.
A surge of emotion welled up in his heart.
In the past, he could not have imagined mastering the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique in such a short time.
But now, it had taken less than half a year.
His experience with spirit rice cultivation had grown tremendously as well. After paying the spirit rice tax, he still had over two hundred and fifty jin of Golden Spirit Rice left.
He could never consume so much on his own; once sold, it would bring in a small cache of spirit stones.
With spirit stones in hand, survival in this environment would be that much easier.
“But at this rate, my cultivation will soon lag behind.”
“Constantly overtaxing my spiritual power will eventually harm my meridians irreversibly.”
Moreover, he now possessed the Beastfang Rice spirit seed.
Cultivating Beastfang Rice must become his priority.
To maintain the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique over extended periods, third-level Qi Refining was the bare minimum.
“I wonder if those two ‘Faint Spiritual Power’ attributes will let me break through to the third level of Qi Refining.”
“No, I must work even harder at farming, and make sure to get that ‘Accelerated Maturation’ attribute next time!”