Spirit Plant Entry: Immortality Begins with Farming

At the edge of plot number seventy-three, Zhou Ming squatted on the ridge, holding half a steamed bun in his hand, his eyes fixed on the ghost flower.

The fruit at the top of the flower stalk has lost its green color and turned a deep purplish-black, with fine silver veins faintly showing through its skin, like a star map in the night sky.

"These fruits look pretty good..." he mumbled, taking a bite of his steamed bun.

"They should be ready to be picked in three to five days." Chen Yuan straightened up, patted the dirt off his hands, and asked, "Has Professor Su been here?"

"He came by yesterday evening, stood there for half a cup of tea, and then left." Zhou Ming stuffed the last bite of his steamed bun into his mouth, clapped his hands, and said, "He didn't say anything, just stared at the fruit. When he left, his expression..."

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Not good?" Chen Yuan asked.

"It's not that it's bad," Zhou Ming scratched his head, "it's just... like having something stuck in your throat that you can't say."

Chen Yuan didn't reply. He walked to the Yin Soul Flower and squatted down, his fingertips hovering three inches above the surface of the fruit, sensing the slowly flowing Yin energy within.

The desolate and bleak feeling from three months ago has long since disappeared.

"Is the bet settled?" Zhou Ming leaned closer.

"It's settled." Chen Yuan withdrew his hand. "Master Su has won."

"Wouldn't Zhang Jun be furious?"

"I don't know if he'll be furious or not." Chen Yuan stood up and looked towards the entrance of the Medicine Valley. "But he has to come over and set up the formation."

Zhou Ming's expression froze for a moment.

"He's here to set up the formation?" he asked in a low voice. "That bastard was..."

"I know," Chen Yuan interrupted him.

Neither of them spoke again. The morning mist in Medicine Valley had not yet dissipated, and in the distance, disciples were already busy in the spirit fields, the muffled thuds of hoes hitting stones echoing intermittently.

"How about..." Zhou Ming licked his lips, "we talk to Uncle Su and ask him to change the array master?"

"The bet states that 'the Array Court will provide personnel to set up the array,'" Chen Yuan shook his head. "It doesn't name names, but Zhang Jun is currently the Array Court's resident deacon in Medicine Valley, so this task won't fall to anyone else."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a whooshing sound came from the direction of the entrance to the Medicine Valley.

Three streaks of light descended, and the first figure, dressed in a gray robe and wearing a jade crown, was none other than Zhang Jun. Behind him followed two young disciples of the Array Academy, both wearing standard blue robes and each carrying a heavy bronze array plate box.

"Junior Brother Chen." Zhang Jun walked over with a smile and light steps. His gaze swept over the Yin Soul Flower fruit before landing on Chen Yuan's face. "Congratulations, you've really grown this Yin Soul Flower very well."

"Senior Brother Zhang," Chen Yuan said, bowing respectfully.

Zhou Ming also bowed, his movements a little stiff.

"This is..." Zhang Jun looked at Zhou Ming.

"Zhou Ming, a handyman disciple of Medicine Valley," Chen Yuan introduced, stepping aside. "He's been looking after the spirit fields for me for the past three months."

"Oh, Junior Brother Zhou." Zhang Jun nodded, his smile unchanged, but his gaze didn't linger for even a moment longer before turning back to Chen Yuan. "Master Su should have told you, right? I lost the bet, and according to the agreement, I have to set up a Spirit Gathering and Yuan Strengthening Array for you on this plot of land number seventy-three."

"Thank you for your trouble, senior brother," Chen Yuan said.

"Not really." Zhang Jun waved his hand, turned to his two disciples behind him, and gestured, "Let's begin. First, measure the direction of the earth's veins, and clearly mark the locations of the Yin Sha nodes."

Two disciples responded, opened the array box, and took out a compass, a measuring ruler, and a stack of inscribed jade talismans. Their movements were swift and efficient, clearly indicating they were experienced in this kind of work.

Zhang Jun didn't make a move; he paced along the edge of the ground with his hands behind his back, as if admiring the scenery.

"Junior Brother Chen, these past three months have truly broadened my horizons." He suddenly spoke, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone present to hear, "The Yin Soul Flower, a second-grade Yin-attribute spiritual plant, is something that's remarkable enough to survive in a place like Medicine Valley, where Yang energy is abundant, let alone bloom and bear fruit. You actually managed to do it."

Chen Yuan didn't respond to that question, but instead asked, "How large should the formation be?"

"Cover this plot of land number seventy-three, plus a three-zhang buffer zone around it." Zhang Jun pointed to the boundary with his foot. "The array's core will be set up next to the Yin Soul Flower—don't worry, we'll create an isolation zone when setting up the array, so it won't harm the spiritual plant."

He paused, then asked casually, "By the way, what method did you use to grow these flowers? I heard you consulted quite a few books in the library before?"

"Just some random thoughts," Chen Yuan said. "The 'Handbook for the Care of Yin-type Spiritual Plants' given by Master Su was a huge help."

"Is that so?" Zhang Jun smiled. "But I heard that you later created your own Yin-attracting talisman array? The arrangement of that array doesn't resemble the conventional method recorded in the 'Handbook'."

Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

On the night Zhao Kui launched the attack, he did indeed modify the Yin-attracting talisman array he had hastily set up—in order to forcibly transform the dead Yin of the earth veins in conjunction with the power of the five-colored stars.

"These are all folk remedies." He said calmly. "The ghost flower withered once, and in desperation, I tried them out haphazardly, but I didn't expect to succeed by accident."

"By sheer luck." Zhang Jun repeated, his smile deepening. "Junior Brother Chen's luck is truly enviable."

He stopped asking questions and turned to walk towards the disciples who were setting up the formation.

Zhou Ming leaned closer to Chen Yuan and whispered, "Something's wrong with him."

"I know." Chen Yuan stared at Zhang Jun's back.

The two disciples of the Array Academy acted swiftly. They used a compass for positioning, drove in jade talismans to create stakes, buried the bronze array plate in the pre-dug pit, covered it with soil, and tamped it down.

The whole process was smooth and efficient; in less than an hour, the basic formation was complete.

Zhang Jun stood by and watched, occasionally offering a few words of advice.

"Move the 'Gen Mountain Talisman' in the northeast corner three inches to the left."

"The array plate is buried too deep. Raise it and measure it again."

His voice was gentle, like that of a patient senior student.

The final step was to inscribe the array patterns. A disciple took out a specially made spirit-carving brush, dipped it in silvery-white array ink, and squatted down to begin drawing the intricate patterns. The brush tip traced the earth, leaving behind faintly glowing marks.

Chen Yuan stared at the patterns.

He didn't have a deep understanding of formations, but after studying the Yin-attracting Talisman Formation every day for three months, he could discern some of its intricacies. He recognized the basic patterns of the Spirit Gathering and Yuan-Strengthening Formation—but the patterns carved by Zhang Jun's disciple contained some other elements.

Some extremely fine, capillary-like branching auxiliary striae.

Those patterns extended out from the main array pattern, some pointing to the Yin Soul Flower, and more... pointing to the spot where he usually meditated and cultivated.

"Senior Brother Zhang," Chen Yuan suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Zhang Jun turned his head.

"After the formation is activated, will it affect the daily care of the spirit plants?" Chen Yuan asked. "For example, are there any taboos regarding watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil?"

"It won't affect anything," Zhang Jun replied quickly. "The Spirit Gathering and Stabilizing Array only gathers spiritual energy and stabilizes the earth's veins; its daily operation remains the same. However—"

He then changed the subject.

"Once the formation is activated, the flow of spiritual energy within it will form a fixed cycle. If you want to cultivate within the formation, it's best to choose a spot near the formation's core, which is next to the Yin Soul Flower. The spiritual energy there is the densest, which will benefit your cultivation."

That makes perfect sense.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother." Chen Yuan nodded.

The disciple who was engraving the patterns put down his brush. On the ground, a circular array about five zhang in diameter had taken shape, its silvery-white patterns gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"Let's give it a try," Zhang Jun instructed.

A disciple walked to the edge of the array and pressed a low-grade spirit stone into the pre-reserved groove.

hum-

A deep rumble came from underground. The array patterns lit up one by one, their silver light flowing and quickly forming a light curtain that enveloped the entire area of ​​plot number seventy-three. The spiritual energy in the air began to slowly converge into the array, forming a pale white vortex visible to the naked eye.

Chen Yuan took a deep breath.

The spiritual energy inside the array was indeed at least 30% denser than outside. But at the same time, he felt an extremely subtle sensation, similar to divine sense sweeping across, seeping out from the array's patterns and spreading out silently like a spider web.

The touch was so light that he might not have noticed it at all if the power of the five-colored stars within his body hadn't spontaneously contracted slightly.

"It's done." Zhang Jun clapped his hands, beaming. "Junior Brother Chen, this formation can absorb and circulate spiritual energy from heaven and earth on its own, requiring no additional maintenance. Just check the spirit stones on the formation plate every three months."

He took two steps closer and lowered his voice.

"The spiritual energy is strongest at the core of the formation, so try to sit there when you cultivate. It will benefit your 'Long Breath Technique'."

"I've got it. Thank you, Teacher Zhang," Chen Yuan said.

Zhang Jun glanced at him again, then turned and told his two disciples to pack up their tools. The three of them came quickly and left quickly; when their escape light disappeared on the horizon, the sun had not yet reached its zenith.

Zhou Ming only breathed a sigh of relief after they had completely disappeared from sight.

"I was really afraid he would turn on me on the spot." He wiped his forehead and realized he was covered in a cold sweat.

"Why did he turn on me?" Chen Yuan squatted down, his finger lightly pressing on a formation pattern. "He's now a senior member of the 'Contract Fulfillment Assistance' formation court, and his attitude is great."

"But this time..."

"It's a good formation," Chen Yuan interrupted him. "The spirit-gathering effect is undeniable."

"But is there something else inside?"

Chen Yuan did not answer directly.

He closed his eyes and extended a wisp of extremely fine five-colored starlight from his fingertips, gently touching the array patterns.

The moment they made contact, the subtle branching patterns deep within the array suddenly came to life—like leeches attracted by blood, they all surged toward his stellar power, attempting to entangle and absorb it.

Chen Yuan immediately severed that strand of power.

He opened his eyes.

"What is it?" Zhou Ming asked nervously.

"Some tricks." Chen Yuan stood up, patted the dirt off his hands, "The array patterns are mixed with 'Spirit-Observing Patterns,' which can monitor the type, intensity, and operating rules of spiritual energy fluctuations within the array. If I cultivate within the array, my every move will be recorded."

Zhou Ming's expression changed.

"Then why don't you—"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Chen Yuan walked to the Yin Soul Flower, sat down cross-legged, right at the center of the formation. "If he wants to see, let him see."

"But your cultivation technique..."

"The Long Breath Technique." Chen Yuan closed his eyes. "It's a basic cultivation technique that every outer disciple of the Flying Feather Sect has a copy of. You could practice it until you died and still not get anything out of it."

Zhou Ming was stunned for a few moments, then suddenly understood.

"You're going to...fake it?"

"It's not fake." Chen Yuan's lips curled slightly. "It's to help Senior Brother Zhang see what he wants to see."

He adjusted his breathing and began to circulate the Long Breath Technique. The spiritual energy of the green wood flowed slowly through his meridians, circulating throughout his body, as calm as a stagnant pool.

But deep within his dantian, a tiny wisp of the five-colored star power quietly separated and traveled along the meridians to the palm of his right hand—where the faint gray marks of the previous erosion by the earth's yin energy still remained.

The power of the stars seeped into the mark, like water droplets seeping into a sponge.

Then, Chen Yuan began to "modify" the spiritual energy emanating from his body.

The method is very simple: use the power of the five-colored stars as a brush, and the residual Yin energy in the palm vein imprint as ink, and gently "brush" a very thin layer of disguise on the outer layer of the green wood spiritual energy generated by the operation of the "Long Breath Technique".

It made the spiritual energy seem slightly sluggish—like an old wound that hadn't healed.

The rhythm of operation may occasionally experience slight pauses—like a sense of unease.

The aura contained a barely perceptible chill—like someone who had been in contact with the Yin Soul Flower for a long time and whose foundation had been corrupted by the Yin energy.

All these alterations were extremely subtle, so subtle that unless a cultivator at the Golden Core stage or above scanned his meridians inch by inch with their divine sense, they would be completely undetectable. However, after being magnified and recorded by the "Spirit-Seeking Patterns" within the formation, the data transmitted to Zhang Jun would depict the following image:

A lucky person who completed the bet by chance and trickery, but whose foundation was damaged and whose future in spiritual practice was bleak.

Chen Yuan maintained this state for a full three cycles.

Then finish the exercise and open your eyes.

"How is it?" Zhou Ming squatted down in front of him, his eyes wide open.

"The array pattern has already 'remembered' my aura characteristics." Chen Yuan stood up and flexed his wrists. "From now on, whenever I cultivate in the array, it will automatically record it according to this template."

Would Zhang Jun believe it?

"Why doesn't he believe me?" Chen Yuan countered. "In his eyes, I was just a poor kid from the shantytown who got lucky. Now that the bet is over, he's relaxed, and the hidden dangers he was putting on a brave face before have been exposed—which is perfectly reasonable."

Zhou Ming opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"Oh, right." Chen Yuan suddenly remembered something, "You need to do me a favor these next few days."

"you say."

"Go to the market and buy twenty catties of the cheapest 'gray iron stone.' It must be unprocessed raw stone, the rougher the better."

"Grey iron stone?" Zhou Ming frowned. "What else can that thing be used for besides weighing down pickle jars?"

"Set up the formation," Chen Yuan said. "Build a low stone wall around the perimeter of plot number seventy-three."

"what?"

"Didn't Senior Brother Zhang set up a Spirit Gathering and Qi Strengthening Array?" Chen Yuan smiled, looking at the flowing silver-white array patterns on the ground. "I added a little something to it. Gray iron stone can slightly interfere with the spiritual energy field of low-level arrays. Although the effect is negligible, but..."

He paused.

"But there is enough data that the 'spirit-seeking patterns' send back occasionally contains a little 'noise error within a reasonable range'."

Zhou Ming stared at him for several breaths.

"Chen Yuan," he said slowly, "have you noticed that lately... you're becoming more and more like those old foxes?"

Chen Yuan didn't answer. He bent down, picked up a clod of dirt, weighed it in his hand, and then threw it away forcefully.

The clod of earth traced an arc in the air before crashing down onto the edge of the array.

The silvery-white array pattern rippled slightly, like ripples on the surface of water.

Calmness soon returned.

"Let's go." Chen Yuan patted the dirt off his hands. "Going to eat. We still need to go to the shantytown this afternoon to check on Widow Li's golden thread grass."

He turned and walked steadily out of the medicine valley.

Zhou Ming glanced at the glowing array diagram again and quickly followed.

The two figures disappeared at the end of the field ridge.

The formation was still in operation. The silvery-white patterns flowed quietly in the sunlight, like a net waiting for its prey.

At the center of the net, on the surface of the purplish-black fruit of the Yin Soul Flower, a faint five-colored light flashed and disappeared.