2: Chapter 2 Cultivating Golden Entries

After finishing his meal, Qin Changsheng, carrying his hoe as usual, arrived within his spirit field.

Many Utility Disciples were already toiling inside the spirit field.

They were all just like Qin Changsheng had been the day before, worried about the upcoming submission task.

"We have to submit the spirit rice in just over a month!"

"I'm afraid we won't be able to gather the full two hundred jin this year!"

"Why has the yield from our spirit fields dropped so much all of a sudden?"

"Who knows?"

"Maybe we should just give all our spirit sand to Overseer Hu Yuanfu!"

"The Yao Beasts in the Qingyun Mountain Range are extremely fierce. We might easily die there!"

"If we're sent back to the mortal world, there will be no more chance for immortal Cultivation!"

"After Brother Wang gave his Spirit Stones to Overseer Hu, he could produce over two hundred jin every year!"

Listening to their discussions, Qin Changsheng's ears buzzed, the words "Hu Yuanfu," "spirit field yield reduction," and "Spirit Stones" echoing repeatedly in his mind.

"So all of this is related to Hu Yuanfu!"

Qin Changsheng understood instantly.

Two years ago, Hu Yuanfu had come to Qin Changsheng's spirit field for the first time.

It was also after Hu Yuanfu's visit that his spirit rice yield had begun to decline.

No matter how Qin Changsheng cared for it, the harvest over these past two years had never reached two hundred jin.

Qin Changsheng could also guess Hu Yuanfu's intention: it was nothing more than wanting to seize Qin Changsheng's future spirit sand.

As long as Qin Changsheng handed over the spirit sand to Hu Yuanfu.

Then Qin Changsheng's spirit field would have no problems and could harvest over two hundred jin of spirit rice every year.

"Changsheng? What are you daydreaming about here?" Hu Yuanfu's voice came from not far away.

Qin Changsheng turned his head sharply to see Hu Yuanfu standing nearby.

Qin Changsheng quickly suppressed the anger in his eyes, forcing a look of confusion onto his face as he shook his head. "It's nothing, just a bit tired."

"Overseer Hu, what brings you here?" he deliberately feigned ignorance.

Hu Yuanfu sneered. "What else? Just asking how you're considering the matter?"

"If you can't submit the full quota of spirit rice this year, you'll be sent back!"

"Overseer Hu, I'd still like to give it a try!" Qin Changsheng said with a smile.

"Think it over again. Come find me if you change your mind!" Hu Yuanfu shook his head and walked towards a nearby spirit field.

The Disciple in that spirit field saw Hu Yuanfu and greeted him very warmly, quickly ushering him inside.

Not long after, Hu Yuanfu walked out with a hearty laugh.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

During this month, Qin Changsheng worked in the spirit field all day, watering, fertilizing, weeding, and loosening the soil.

At night, Qin Changsheng diligently Cultivated.

Previously, his absorption of Spiritual Qi had been like a trickling stream. Now, with the fivefold benefit boost, the surrounding Spiritual Qi was drawn in as if by an invisible vortex, rapidly surging into his body through his Meridians.

He could clearly feel the Spiritual Qi within his body becoming increasingly abundant. His originally sluggish Meridians were nourished and widened, and his Cultivation level visibly rose, drawing closer and closer to the first level of Qi Refining.

[Name: Qin Changsheng]

[Lifespan: 20/91]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining First Layer (707/1000)]

[Cultivation Technique: Qi Gathering Art (Novice 675/1000)]

[Spells: None]

[Spiritual Root: Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root]

[Trait: Cultivation]

Working day and night like this, in just one month, his spirit field had been completely transformed.

The spirit rice planted in the spirit field had already fully matured.

Qin Changsheng began harvesting the spirit rice.

With a soft *swish*, the half-foot-long rice stalks fell neatly to the ground.

Qin Changsheng reached out to gather them. The moment his hand touched the golden rice ear, a sudden change occurred.

A faint light flashed in his palm. The single spirit rice plant, upon touching his palm, visibly multiplied, producing four identical rice ears along with their stalks and roots, all gathered completely in the crook of his arm.

Five spirit rice plants, identical in form, their heavy weight causing his wrist to sink slightly.

Qin Changsheng's pupils contracted sharply. He froze, staring down in a daze at the spirit rice in his arm.

At this moment, the annotation for the [Cultivation] trait flashed through his mind—"One part Cultivation, five parts harvest."

Previously, he had only thought it referred to a fivefold increase in Spiritual Qi absorption and rice growth.

But looking at the multiplied spirit rice in his hand, he suddenly had an Epiphany:

The wondrous effect of this trait wasn't limited to nourishment and increased Speed. It also hid the profound secret of "harvest multiplication."

Every time he performed the labor of harvesting, he could reap five times the fruit. This was the true meaning of "five parts harvest."

Qin Changsheng took a deep breath and quickly began thinking of a plan.

Currently, his single spirit field contained at least over two hundred jin of spirit rice.

If Qin Changsheng harvested it all, he would reap at least over a thousand jin of spirit rice.

If this matter got out, it would definitely cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.

It might even bring about a fatal disaster.

"Find someone to help with the harvest." Qin Changsheng immediately made a decision.

His gaze also turned towards a spirit field to the west.

Since becoming a Utility Disciple at the Heavenly Sword Sect, Qin Changsheng had only gotten to know a few people.

One was Hu Yuanfu, who wanted to scheme against him.

Another was Chen Erniu, who worked the western spirit field.

There were also a few fellow villagers who had joined the Heavenly Sword Sect together.

However, most of those fellow villagers had already joined the Outer Sect.

Apart from meeting them at the year-end gatherings, Qin Changsheng never saw them at other times.

Chen Erniu was around the same age as Qin Changsheng and also possessed Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root.

But Chen Erniu's luck was better than Qin Changsheng's; he had managed to complete the submission tasks these past few years.

Moreover, Chen Erniu was honest and simple, though usually not very talkative.

Thinking of this, Qin Changsheng put down his sickle and quickly walked towards Chen Erniu's spirit field.

Chen Erniu's spirit rice was growing ordinarily; the ears were yellow but not plump enough. Seeing Qin Changsheng approach, he stopped his work and asked, "Changsheng, why are you coming over here instead of harvesting your own rice?"

Qin Changsheng spoke up, "Erniu, I hurt my hand. Could you help with the harvest? After it's done, I'll give you two grains of spirit sand."

Chen Erniu's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "Alright, I'll come over in a bit."

Qin Changsheng smiled and added, "My spirit rice grew very densely. When you harvest, take your time. Use the usual method, be careful, don't damage the ears."

Not long after, Chen Erniu finished tidying his own field, shouldered his sickle, and followed Qin Changsheng to his spirit field.

Looking at the field full of radiant, golden spirit rice, he couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. "Changsheng, your spirit rice is growing incredibly well. It's even better than the fields of Outer Sect Disciples!"

Amazed as he was, he didn't ask for reasons. He simply picked up his sickle, crouched down, and began harvesting carefully, following Qin Changsheng's instructions.

Qin Changsheng stood to the side, his gaze fixed intently on Chen Erniu's movements.

He saw Chen Erniu swing his sickle and cut down a single spirit rice plant. The rice showed no sign of multiplication; it remained a solitary stalk.