4: The essence of mutated spirit rice

Under the setting sun, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes, a green glow swirling within them.

The Spirit Rice stalks were as translucent as jade, reflecting the pale green Qi vortex swirling around him.

After half a day of catalyzing, the grains on this rice stalk had become even plumper.

Looking at its panel again, the information showed a pleasing change:

spirit plant Name: Spirit Rice

growth progress: 73/100

mutation progress: 5%

Growth Status: None

...

"The growth progress hasn't changed, but the mutation progress has increased by 4%!"

Lin Yan was overjoyed.

At this rate, in at most 20 more days, he would be able to make this Spirit Rice fully complete its mutation.

The position of Outer Sect Disciple and fixed spirit field assets were within reach!

The experience of his predecessors was indeed correct: catalyzing could enhance the vitality of a spirit plant, and spirit plant vitality could increase the probability of mutation.

"No, that's not right. To be precise, catalyzing doesn't increase the probability of mutation, but rather the mutation progress!"

Lin Yan felt he had vaguely grasped the key to spirit plant mutation.

He quickly reasoned in his mind:

"The Spirit Rice I'm growing generally has a growth progress of around 70 points."

"But this particular Spirit Rice has a growth progress of 68, which isn't outstanding, even slightly inferior to most Spirit Rice."

"This means that the probability of mutation occurring is not affected by catalyzing or the intensity of vitality."

"Perhaps, for a spirit plant, whether it mutates depends on itself, unrelated to the external environment."

"What the external environment can influence is whether it can complete its mutation and become a true Mutated spirit plant!"

"So that's how it is..."

Having understood this point, Lin Yan felt a clarity in his mind and an indescribable sense of pleasure.

"After Transmigration, I seem to have become smarter, or rather, my Comprehension Ability has improved?"

Although he didn't know why this change occurred, it was a good thing, so Lin Yan didn't dwell on it.

He touched the back of his head; the bleeding from the wound had stopped after applying Golden Sore Medicine. After an afternoon of Cultivation, the wound had scabbed over and was initially healing.

Wood-attribute Qi was inherently superior to other attributes in healing.

Lin Yan estimated that this minor wound would fully recover within three days.

"Before it gets dark, I should quickly collect the experience from the other Spirit Rice."

Having not eaten all day, a famished Lin Yan busied himself in the fields once more.

Qi Refining Cultivators had not yet reached the stage of辟谷 (abstaining from grains), so they needed to eat to replenish energy.

Moreover, Cultivators were not machines; catalyzing Spirit Rice for Cultivation was mentally taxing.

For an入門修士 (entry-level Cultivator) like Lin Yan, half a day of catalyzing was almost his limit.

If he continuously switched Spirit Rice to catalyze, it would consume even more mental energy, and he could only catalyze for two hours a day.

"Eh, there's another mutating Spirit Rice."

Lin Yan was surprised to find that in his small spirit field, there was another Spirit Rice undergoing mutation.

spirit plant Name: Spirit Rice

growth progress: 70/100

mutation progress: 2%

Growth Status: Absorbing sunlight and dew, experience +1;

Ingesting a small amount of spirit fertilizer, experience +2;

Absorbing a trace amount of Spiritual Qi, experience +2.

...

This Spirit Rice's mutation progress was slightly faster than the first one.

"There are actually two Mutated Spirit Rice in such a small one-mu spirit field." Lin Yan couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"No, wait, there's still about a fifth of the Spirit Rice whose experience hasn't been collected. Maybe there are more Mutated Spirit Rice later!" Lin Yan guessed.

Next, he spent more than ten minutes maxing out the experience of the remaining Spirit Rice.

"This is truly a troublesome task." Lin Yan remarked with some emotion.

One mu of spirit field likely contained about ten thousand Spirit Rice stalks.

With his seventeen years of single-handed speed, he could click on two Spirit Rice stalks per second.

Even so, it took nearly an hour to finish clicking on this mu of Spirit Rice, and his hand was sore.

Among the remaining two thousand or so Spirit Rice stalks, Lin Yan discovered another Spirit Rice undergoing mutation.

spirit plant Name: Spirit Rice

growth progress: 74/100

mutation progress: 1%

Growth Status: None

...

As far as Lin Yan knew, a veteran Utility Disciple who had farmed for most of his life could, on average, Cultivate only one Mutated Spirit Rice per year in a one-mu spirit field.

That is to say, among approximately ten thousand Spirit Rice stalks, one Mutated Spirit Rice could be cultivated.

Yet, he had now discovered a total of three Mutated Spirit Rice.

This further corroborated his previous conjecture.

Whether Spirit Rice mutates depends on itself.

Perhaps the probability of Spirit Rice mutating is not low; it's just that too few Spirit Rice can complete the mutation.

"Being able to see the mutation status of Spirit Rice, this System function might be even more important than adding experience!"

One must know that the value of Mutated Spirit Rice far exceeded that of ordinary Spirit Rice!

Unlike ordinary rice, Spirit Rice absorbs Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and its mutations generally transform in a positive direction.

After mutation, the Spiritual Qi concentration of Spirit Rice would often greatly increase!

Not just Spirit Rice, spirit plants generally follow this rule.

Many ordinary spirit plants, after mutation, would even develop various miraculous effects.

Historically, there were Spirit-Plant Cultivators who, relying on the Mutated spirit plants they cultivated, advanced rapidly on their path of Immortal Cultivation, soaring to great heights.

This was the greatest charm of Spirit-Plant Cultivators!

Although such examples were rare, it was a deeply held wish of every Spirit-Plant Cultivator.

Lin Yan understood that this spirit plant System would fill his life with infinite possibilities.

"Great ambitions!"

...

By this time, night had completely fallen.

The pure white moonlight sprinkled upon the earth as Lin Yan walked alone along the field path back to his small wooden cabin.

The messy small wooden cabin was still a mess.

Just as he was thinking of cooking some porridge to appease his hunger, Lin Yan noticed a large bowl of thick porridge next to the stove.

"It must have been Little Fatty Xu Shuangyuan who brought it." Lin Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

As for whether Zhao Qiyang would try to poison him, he thought it unlikely.

This area was the Outer Sect Disciple assessment grounds. During the assessment period, ordinary people couldn't come here; usually, only the farming quartet was present.

Zhao Qiyang was overbearing and hot-tempered, but not insidious.

More importantly, if he died, this assessment would be ruined.

Although Zhao Qiyang was a member of the Zhao family, he wasn't a core direct descendant, and his talent was average, so this assessment was particularly important to him.

"This Little Fatty is a good person. When I become successful in the future, I mustn't forget him."

Although it was just a bowl of thick porridge, Xu Shuangyuan did this at the risk of being scolded and beaten by Zhao Qiyang.

It was truly not easy.

Picking up the white rice porridge and a pair of bamboo chopsticks, Lin Yan slurped it down.

He didn't know when the porridge was delivered, but it was already cool, just right for his thirsty mouth.

Though it was just porridge made from common rice, Lin Yan found it exceptionally sweet.

No other reason, he was simply too hungry.

After finishing the porridge, Lin Yan fell into a deep sleep.

He slept until dawn.

Having rested fully, Lin Yan felt refreshed and full of vitality.

He drew some mountain spring water for a cold shower and tidied up the small wooden cabin.

For breakfast, he simply cooked some plain noodles. Hoisting his hoe, Lin Yan happily walked towards his spirit field.

"Another day full of hope!"

Lin Yan looked at the lush green Spirit Rice before him. On each small panel, information was sporadically refreshed.

spirit plant Name: Spirit Rice

growth progress: 74/100

Growth Status: Absorbing sunlight and dew, experience +1