Spirit Plant Entry: Immortality Begins with Farming

Three days later, Chen Yuan carried the bag of carefully selected spirit rice on his back.

This rice was different from usual; he used three precious entry opportunities to temporarily imbue some of the rice grains with a faint glow of "minor yield increase".

It's not for sale to Old Hu.

This batch of rice needs to be taken to Baicaotang – Manager Liao knows its value and can afford to pay a price. More importantly, we can see how much this “upgraded” rice is actually worth in a proper store.

He weighed the bag in his hand; it weighed less than fifty pounds, but it felt heavier than usual. He wasn't going to exchange for food rations; he was going to scout the way.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall, Manager Liao's eyes narrowed as soon as he started working.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, this batch of rice... is quite interesting."

He grabbed a handful of rice, smelled it, and then picked up a few grains and pinched them open with his fingernails. A very faint glimmer of light flashed and disappeared from the core of the rice.

"Was last month's harvest good?" Manager Liao asked.

"I was lucky," Chen Yuan said briefly.

Manager Liao fiddled with his abacus: "Ordinary yellow sprout rice, the market price is half a spirit stone for one jin. Your batch is of superior quality, so I'll give you a 60% discount. A total of forty-two jin, twenty-five and two-tenths yuan, I'll give you twenty-six yuan."

Chen Yuan nodded.

There were twenty-six more low-grade spirit stones in the money bag, adding to the original thirty, for a total of fifty-six.

When I left Baicaotang, the afternoon sun was blazing.

Chen Yuan weighed the money bag in his hand; it was heavy, but he felt no joy—fifty-six spirit stones weren't even enough to buy a decent magic artifact in the market.

He turned into East Street, wanting to see how much the "Introduction to Body Refinement" that Old Wu from the blacksmith shop wanted to charge.

As we passed the alleyway where Liu San Niang's house was located, the courtyard gate suddenly opened.

"Yo, Fellow Daoist Chen."

Liu San Niang leaned against the door frame, wearing a light red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a low neckline that revealed a small patch of snow-white skin.

Standing beside her was a scarred, burly man, eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back, his right hand wrapped in a dark red cloth strip—that was "Blood Claw" Li Xiong, a vicious man known to everyone in the shantytown.

Chen Yuan paused in his steps: "Fellow Daoist Liu."

"Just call me Third Sister." Liu Third Sister walked over with a smile, her perfume mingling with a sweet scent. "Fellow Daoist Chen, are you back from the market? Looks like... you had a good haul?"

Her gaze fell on the money pouch in Chen Yuan's arms, then moved away, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Li Xiong didn't speak, he just stared at Chen Yuan.

Those eyes were like two blunt knives, scraping across Chen Yuan's body, finally settling on the cuff of his faded blue cloth shirt—where the edges were frayed and the threads were loose.

Chen Yuan felt a sense of pressure.

It's not spiritual pressure, but something more primal, like a wild beast scrutinizing its prey before it sets its sights on it.

"I sold some rice," he said briefly, turning to leave.

"What's the rush?" Liu Sanniang gestured to stop him. "Brother Li has also been buying spirit rice recently, and the price is 10% higher than in the market. If Fellow Daoist Chen still has any, why not sell it directly to Brother Li and save yourself the trouble of running around?"

Li Xiong finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "Take as many as you have."

Chen Yuan shook his head: "That's all, that's all."

"Oh—" Liu Sanniang drawled, then suddenly leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Fellow Daoist Chen, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. In this world, it's hard to fight alone. Finding a backer will make your life easier."

She gestured towards Li Xiong with her chin: "Brother Li has connections in the Eastern Wilderness, he has ways of getting things done. If you're willing..."

"Thank you for your kindness." Chen Yuan took a half step back. "I'm used to working alone."

Liu San Niang's smile faded slightly, but she didn't react. She just gave him a meaningful look: "Alright, then I won't force you. Come find me anytime you've figured it out."

Chen Yuan nodded and quickly left.

Even after walking a dozen paces, he could still hear Liu San Niang's sweet laughter behind him: "Brother Li, look, she doesn't appreciate it..."

Li Xiong's response was inaudible, but his gaze was like a nail driven into Chen Yuan's back, only disappearing when Chen Yuan turned the corner.

Back in his own yard, Chen Yuan had just closed the door when someone knocked again.

Chen Yuan opened the door, and the old miner Han Shi slipped in.

The old man wore a faded brown suit, carried a mining pick on his back, and had deep wrinkles on his face, as if etched by the passage of time.

"Old Han?" Chen Yuan stepped aside.

Han Shi waved his hand, not entering the house, but lowered his voice and said, "Young Chen, there's an opportunity, are you going?"

"What opportunity?"

"A new alchemist has moved to the market, named Su Wanqing. I heard her skills are quite good." Han Shi wiped his sweat. "Old Wu mentioned her to me, saying you're looking for a path to body refinement? Alchemists always have connections. I'll take you there to show your face and make an impression."

Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat: "Now?"

"Now, while she's just arrived and there aren't many visitors yet."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, then went back into the house, counted out five spirit stones from his money bag, wrapped them in cloth, and put them in his pocket—too many would be conspicuous, too few would be stingy, five was just right.

Su Wanqing's residence was on the edge of the outer district, a detached courtyard with white walls and gray tiles, much more impressive than the dilapidated wooden houses in the shantytown.

The courtyard gate was ajar, with a wooden plaque hanging on it bearing the three characters "Lengxiangju" in slender, delicate handwriting.

Han Shi stepped forward and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened a crack. A young boy in blue robes, about twelve or thirteen years old, opened the door, his expression indifferent: "Who are you looking for?"

"We have troubled you to inform you that we, Han Shi and Chen Yuan, are here to pay our respects to Master Sultan." Han Shi bowed, adopting a very humble posture.

The boy glanced at the two of them and said, "Wait."

The door closed again.

After a full cup of tea's time, the door finally reopened. The young boy stepped aside and said, "Master wants you to come in."

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy.

Several clumps of pale purple flowers and plants grew in the corner of the wall. Chen Yuan looked at them intently, and the entry showed: [Heart-Clearing Grass, a first-tier spiritual plant, can calm the mind].

The door to the main room was open, and a faint scent of medicine wafted out.

The two entered the main room.

Su Wanqing sat at a small table by the window, sorting medicinal herbs. She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a moon-white Taoist robe, her hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, her face without makeup, and her eyes and brows cool and aloof.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and her gaze swept over Han Shi and Chen Yuan.

"Master Su." Han Shi bowed respectfully. "This is Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan, who cultivates spiritual fields nearby. He has long admired your name, Master Su, and has come to pay his respects."

Chen Yuan followed suit and bowed.

Su Wanqing nodded as a greeting, then lowered her head to continue sorting the medicinal herbs.

Dozens of herbs were laid out on the table. Her fingers moved nimbly, categorizing them one by one, her movements as fluid as if she had practiced them a thousand times.

The room quieted down, with only the rustling of the medicinal herbs.

Han Shi felt a little embarrassed and coughed, "Master Su is new here. If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know. We old neighbors are known for being quite diligent in running errands, to say the least."

Su Wanqing finally spoke, her voice calm: "No need."

The two words, like pebbles thrown into a well, made a thud and then disappeared without a trace.

Before Han Shi could say anything more, there was a knock on the door, followed by a clear, youthful voice: "Is Fellow Daoist Su here? This is Lu Feng from the Flying Feather Sect, here to pay a visit."

Upon hearing the name "Lu Feng," Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat—it was the same person he had met at Baicaotang.

The sect disciple wearing the [Ning Shen · Fake] jade pendant at his waist.

Su Wanqing paused, looked up at the child, and said, "Please come in."

The boy responded and went out.

Before long, a young man in brocade robes was led in.

It was Lu Feng.

Today he wore a royal blue brocade robe, with a white jade belt around his waist, and the emerald green jade pendant still hanging at his side. He entered with a leisurely pace, a smile on his face that was just right, neither overly warm nor distant.

"Fellow Daoist Su," Lu Feng said, bowing slightly. "Having heard that you have moved here, I have come to offer my congratulations. This is just a small gift, nothing more."

He took out a brocade box from his bosom, opened it, and inside was a jade hairpin. The hairpin was translucent and carved with simple cloud patterns.

Su Wanqing stood up and returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist Lu, you are too kind."

"Of course," Lu Feng said with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Su's alchemy skills are superb. It's a blessing for us rogue cultivators to have you come to Qingyang Market. If you need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Han Shi and Chen Yuan inside the room.

His gaze paused for a moment on Han Shi, then nodded slightly. When it reached Chen Yuan, his gaze swept over him like a piece of furniture, without pausing or focusing, and naturally moved away, returning to Su Wanqing's face.

Chen Yuan stood there, suddenly feeling that his blue cloth shirt was particularly conspicuous, the frayed edges of the cuffs were particularly loose, and the mud spots on his feet were particularly noticeable.

Su Wanqing invited Lu Feng to sit down, and a servant boy served him tea.

The tea is "Yunwu Qing," but when served in a delicate white porcelain cup, the tea leaves unfurl in the hot water, and the aroma is much richer than that of Zuixianlou.

Lu Feng took a sip and praised, "Excellent tea. Fellow Daoist Su's 'Cold Fragrance Abode' lives up to its name; it is quiet and elegant, perfect for studying alchemy."

"It's just barely enough to stay here," Su Wanqing said calmly, though her tone was gentler than before.

The two began to talk. Lu Feng talked about the Flying Feather Sect's recent demand for pills, the impact of the turmoil in the Eastern Wilderness Demonic Path on the price of medicinal materials, and the rare spiritual herbs that might appear in a certain secret realm.

Su Wanqing responded occasionally, saying little, but every word hit the nail on the head.

Han Shi and Chen Yuan stood to the side, like two superfluous decorations.

Chen Yuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the jade pendant at Lu Feng's waist.

It was a translucent, emerald green, with exquisite carving—it was still that replica. Yet Lu Feng wore it with such naturalness and composure.

Su Wanqing's gaze swept over the jade pendant, but she didn't show anything unusual.

Everyone assumed it was genuine because the person wearing it was Lu Feng, an outer disciple of the Flying Feather Sect, and a "Jin Fu Lang".

appearance.

It's all just appearances.

Chen Yuan suddenly remembered the scent of perfume on Liu San Niang's body, Li Xiong's right hand wrapped with dark red cloth, Su Wan Qing's cold and scrutinizing eyes, and the distance in Lu Feng's gentle smile.

He also thought of the five spirit stones in his arms, the faded blue cloth shirt, and the frayed edges on the cuffs.

In the world of cultivation, social stratification isn't based on your actual abilities, but on how well you can act.

"Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Han Shi's voice pulled him back to reality.

Lu Feng and Su Wanqing's conversation was nearing its end. Lu Feng got up to say goodbye, and Su Wanqing saw him to the door.

As Lu Feng passed by Chen Yuan, he finally glanced at him again, his eyes filled with just the right amount of doubt, as if trying to recall who this person was.

Then he nodded slightly, as if greeting a passerby, and turned to leave.

After seeing her guests off, Su Wanqing returned to the room and glanced at Han Shi and Chen Yuan, who were still standing there. She said calmly, "Is there anything else, you two?"

Han Shi quickly replied, "No, no, I'm sorry to have bothered you, Master Su."

The two left the courtyard, and the door closed gently behind them.

---

On the way back to the shantytown, Han Shi sighed, "These alchemists and sect disciples are all so arrogant. Don't take it to heart, Chen kid."

Chen Yuan shook his head: "No."

He genuinely doesn't know how. It's not about being lenient; it's about understanding the situation.

Back in his own yard, Chen Yuan closed the door and stood with his back against it for a long time.