Chapter 446: Spring Has Arrived |
Jiang Chen touched down, his expression unreadable. “Were you waiting for me?”
Ji Mingxuan turned around, his face lighting up with delight. “You’ve finally returned.”
Jiang Chen let out a soft “oh,” feigning a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Ji Mingxuan took a step forward. “It’s like this. Didn’t I mention some news about a secret realm to you before?”
Jiang Chen’s brow furrowed with slight impatience. “And I told you, I have absolutely no interest.”
Ji Mingxuan nodded in understanding. “Right. I’m not here to invite you again. I merely wanted to ask about the current situation in the Canglan Sea.”
Jiang Chen gave him a strange look. “How would I know?”
Ji Mingxuan asked thoughtfully, “What about Qin Hao, Chen Tian, and Long Ao?”
Jiang Chen’s eyes narrowed. “You’re asking the wrong person. I know nothing of the outside world.”
Jiang Chen remained expressionless, his posture radiating absolute indifference.
Seeing this, Ji Mingxuan did not linger. He cupped his hands in a polite salute, then turned and strode away, disappearing from sight in moments.
Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze and his Divine Sense, his figure blurring as he vanished into Red Leaf Valley.
…
Time flowed like water, and spring arrived.
The lingering frost of late winter finally broke. Meltwater seeped deep into the rich earth, and tender green shoots pierced the dark soil across the valley.
Because Jiang Chen’s public cultivation base was at the mid Foundation Establishment realm, he had been allocated six mu of second-grade Spirit Farms.
One mu was situated in the West Garden, where he had even constructed a rustic shed. This plot was primarily dedicated to cultivating mundane vegetables and fruits, alongside a fenced enclosure for his flock of pearl chickens.
That left five mu of second-grade Spirit Farms on the other side of his property.
A new year brought new beginnings, especially after settling into a new home.
Jiang Chen was prepared to make a few changes. Beyond his usual spirit rice, he intended to cultivate other spirit plants, specifically the rarer varieties.
As the sole Spirit Envoy of these fields, and with his Master serving as the Director of Cultivation, failing to produce something extraordinary felt unworthy of his station.
To put it bluntly, appearances mattered.
Jiang Chen picked up a weathered Storage Bag; inside rested a gift from his Eldest Senior Sister.
Upon his return, he had inspected the contents and discovered a batch of seeds known as Spring Tide Rice.
In essence, an aquatic strain of spirit rice.
Other spirit farmers would need to painstakingly germinate the seeds and raise the fragile seedlings.
But for Jiang Chen, who had mastered the Four Seasons Sutra, it required nothing more than injecting a minuscule thread of his own True Essence.
Instantly, the Spring Tide Rice seeds transformed at a visible rate.
The tiny grains swelled with vitality, growing more robust by the breath, until they unfurled into vibrant emerald seedlings.
Prepared like this, they could be planted at a moment’s notice—a profound convenience.
Of his five mu of Spirit Farms, two were dedicated to standard spirit rice, and one to the Spring Tide Rice. The remaining two mu required a new purpose.
After all, the Return to Ruins Secret Realm had closed, and its next opening would not occur for another hundred years.
Therefore, Yang-attribute medicinal herbs like Red Sun Ginseng and Golden Crow Vine were no longer an immediate necessity.
Gazing out over the dark, fertile soil of his Spirit Farms, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but ponder. “In the near future, only the Thousand Sects Dharma Assembly is worth anticipating.”
As for the Canglan Sea, he estimated that no one would dare set foot there anytime soon.
Since that was the case, he might as well cultivate medicinal herbs meant for enhancing strength or breaking through realms. Even if they didn’t yield a massive profit, securing a steady stream of Spirit Stones would be effortless.
With only two mu of Spirit Farms remaining, he could plant at most two varieties of medicinal herbs.
Naturally, he needed to lean toward the rarer ingredients used in Earth Spirit Root and Metal Spirit Root Foundation Pills. Only then could he maximize his harvest’s value.
Making his decision, he drew a Message Talisman from his robes.
“Senior Brother Jiang?”
“Lin An, I need you to purchase some seeds for me.”
“Alright, what do you need?”
“Sharp Gold Grass and Mountain Root.”
“Understood. I’ll head to the Flower Sea right away.”
The connection severed.
In the past, Jiang Chen would have had to trudge down to the market himself to procure such items.
Now, with Lin An acting in his stead, he was spared the tedious errands.
While waiting for the seeds, Jiang Chen decisively flicked his sleeves, sending the standard spirit rice and Spring Tide Rice seedlings soaring. Guided by his precise Spiritual Sense, they rooted themselves perfectly across the first three mu of the Spirit Farms.
The Spring Tide Rice, however, required a flooded paddy to thrive.
Jiang Chen focused his intent, drawing a sliver of True Essence from his Golden Core, and raised a hand toward the heavens.
In the next breath, the Major Rain Spell activated.
Water Spirit Qi rapidly condensed, swirling into a dense, ink-black cloud above the fields.
Faint rumbles of thunder echoed from within, carrying a heavy, oppressive weight.
To an ordinary observer, this was merely a high-tier spell.
But in truth, Jiang Chen’s mastery over the Flood Dragon Transformation granted him an almost instinctual, terrifying dominion over water.
Before long, accompanied by the flicker of lightning and the low growl of thunder, bean-sized drops of spirit rain plummeted from the sky.
The rhythmic drumming against the earth rang out continuously, a deeply soothing melody of life.
Under Jiang Chen’s meticulous control, the volume of rainfall varied perfectly across the different plots.
The two mu of standard spirit rice on the far left required nourishment, but not a deluge, so the rain fell in a gentle mist.
The third mu, planted with the Spring Tide Rice, demanded a heavy downpour to maintain a standing water level of exactly four Cun.
Naturally, the rain there fell in thick, unbroken sheets.
By the time Lin An returned with the seeds, the storm clouds had already dispersed.
The rain on the left had merely moistened the black soil and spirit plants.
On the right, the water level had been maintained at exactly four Cun—not a drop more, not a drop less.
Lin An handed over a small Storage Bag. “Senior Brother Jiang, the seeds you requested are inside. But they were quite expensive.”
“Moreover, if I hadn’t invoked your name, the merchants wouldn’t have even considered selling them to me.”
Jiang Chen nodded slightly. “These two medicinal herbs are core ingredients for refining Earth and Metal Spirit Root-specific Foundation Pills. It is only natural they fetch a high price.”
Lin An’s eyes lit up with understanding, followed by a wistful sigh. “It has been several years since I last tilled the earth, and here you are, already cultivating rare spirit plants.”
Jiang Chen offered a faint smile. “Isn’t your current life quite comfortable? You have a Dao companion, a steady income, and the freedom to do as you please.”
At the mention of his companion, Lin An’s face flushed slightly. “Speaking of which, tomorrow I must travel to the Rogue Cultivator Market in Green City again. I won’t return for at least seven days.”
Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively. “As long as it doesn’t delay my affairs, you may return whenever you wish.”
Lin An suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added, “Oh, right. The Shen Clan’s Sun Shangxiang is almost a year old. Should I prepare a gift on your behalf?”
Jiang Chen paused, searching his memory before it finally clicked. “Just prepare a red packet and place a few Spirit Stones inside.”
Truth be told, if Lin An hadn’t reminded him, he would have completely forgotten about the child.
Come to think of it, he was the one who had bestowed that name upon her.
Lin An nodded. “Alright, leave it to me.”
At that moment, Jiang Chen opened the Storage Bag and flicked his wrist, sending the seeds floating into the air. With a mere thought, his True Essence surged.
Under the powerful enhancement of the Four Seasons Sutra, they rapidly sprouted.
Witnessing this scene, Lin An’s eyes filled with nothing but intense envy!
