Cultivation begins with harvest.

"Senior Brother Jiang naturally has his reasons," Cao Fang said through gritted teeth.

Before Jiang Zuoyun left, neither Chen Guang nor Lu Daxian noticed that Jiang Zuoyun had given them some hints. They knew that while Qingheng Sect could not do things by force, it did not mean that there was no room for maneuver.

Jiang Zuoyun has long coveted Cao Fang's sword-controlling skills, but has yet to achieve his goal.

As soon as Cao Fang arrived, he knew what Cao Fang was up to. The fact that she deliberately didn't mention the limit on the number of transactions was Cao Fang's opportunity. If Cao Fang succeeded, he would have a chance—yes, just a chance. This order of events only increased Jiang Zuoyun's chances of obtaining the sword control technique. If he had discussed it with Cao Fang first and it had been exposed, when the Ziling Peak Punishment Hall came knocking, Jiang Zuoyun would have been unable to defend himself, because it would have been a forced sale.

A hint can give you room to maneuver.

Now, even if the incident has occurred, it is still considered a dereliction of duty, which is a crime that can be redeemed because there was no coercion involved in the process; it was only slightly deceptive.

Even if Cao Fang could still refuse Jiang Zuoyun, an opportunity is an opportunity, and it is a gesture of goodwill. The rules of Qingheng Sect are just the bottom line; if you cross them, you will be punished. Above the bottom line, there is plenty of room for maneuver.

Cao Fang felt very awkward. She had just finished listening to Jiang Zuoyun's grand talk about how great the Qingheng Sect was, but in some corners, there were still some problems. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many social niceties. In fact, in the short time it took to turn her head, Jiang Zuoyun demonstrated what it meant to be hypocritical.

Isn't this contradictory and self-contradictory?

Therefore, Cao Fang couldn't say for sure and could only be vague.

Chen Guang looked at Cao Fang's face thoughtfully. It seemed that Qingheng Sect was also "too clear to have fish," but at least it was clear enough. There were bound to be some scheming and petty thoughts in the corners, but at least it seemed that the higher-ups were acting uprightly, otherwise there wouldn't be so many Xingfeng Hall disciples who still acted so neatly on the surface.

Chen Guangzhi, confident in his abilities, said kindly, "Senior Sister, if you really want it, then you'll have to bring something that interests me. Ideally, it would be some seeds of top-grade first-tier spiritual plants, or something else that interests me."

"You really don't want the sword control technique?" Cao Fang pressed.

"Why do you insist on body-refining techniques?" Chen Guang countered.

Cao Fang sighed: "Junior brother, why do you ask such a question when you already know the answer? Farming is hard work, and body-refining techniques have unique advantages in this regard. Moreover, in the long run, achieving the Foundation Establishment stage requires a high level of skill, and body-refining techniques can help those of us with mediocre talent to get closer to that level."

"I'm not afraid of my junior brother laughing at me. I have such ambitions, but if I wait until the seventh level of the Scripture Pavilion opens before I start practicing, I'm afraid it will be too late. A slow bird should fly first."

Cao Fang's words were so sincere that Chen Guang was deeply moved. Who doesn't have such a dream in their heart? Who doesn't have such a wish?

The arduous and distant journey simply kept most people silent.

"I understand, Senior Sister, I understand everything," Chen Guang wished he could grab Cao Fang's hand and let her know that he also had a heart yearning for the Dao, "but the sword control technique, I really don't need it much right now, if only I could add something else..."

Add some points?

Cao Fang doubted she had heard correctly and glared at Chen Guang resentfully: "I see that Junior Brother is engrossed in planting. How about I trade you some top-grade first-level spiritual plant seeds? Besides top-grade first-level seeds, what else do you need? I'll do my best to provide it, but the first cultivation method selected on the seventh floor of the Scripture Pavilion only costs 1500 catties of spiritual rice. I hope Junior Brother won't ask for too much."

"Senior sister really understands me. As long as it's a first-grade top-quality seed, that's fine. If I have to settle for second best, I'd prefer a tea tree seedling," Chen Guang said.

"Even the lowest grade tea trees are top-grade first-level tea trees—" Cao Fang muttered. Similarly, based on a single plant, the price of a tea tree seedling is expensive, costing over 700 catties of spirit rice. Moreover, they are much more difficult to cultivate. They are spiritual plants that are even more difficult to grow than Jade Heart Grass. Jade Heart Grass is just delicate and requires some care, but tea tree seedlings are truly difficult. Nine out of ten tea growers will never touch them again, and the remaining one is the kind who hasn't had enough of the losses.

"I'll come again tomorrow. By then you'll know what's going on, so don't make me run into a wall again."

Cao Fang left quickly.

As dusk fell, only Chen Guang remained in the courtyard.

After closing the courtyard gate, on the side of Yue Nishang, although it was still just a seedling, it already shone with a dazzling brilliance under the moonlight. Chen Guang did nothing, just sat there quietly, and began to reflect on his experiences today, how he dealt with them, and the words of wisdom he had received from others.

After slowly reflecting on the experience, it took him more than half an hour to slowly stand up, and he already had an idea in mind.

First, Qinghengzong is trustworthy, and his actions have long won over Chen Guang's heart.

Secondly, while sects can be trusted, this is a broad concept. People within a sect are not necessarily trustworthy. Will they abide by the rules and regulations of the sect and give up their own pursuit of interests?

Everyone has their own interests and demands.

Lu Da was at least honest.

Jiang Zuoyun spoke the truth, but that didn't stop him from almost harming Chen Guang's interests. Although he didn't know the exact extent of the sect's restrictions on the dissemination of cultivation techniques, since they were limited, his interests must have been somewhat damaged without his knowledge.

Cao Fang had to hint at some of the truth because she needed his help.

Therefore, the third point is that you should reveal what you should reveal and hide what you should hide.

"No matter what, I still lack a storage artifact. If only the Thousand Water Gourd could store things." Chen Guang complained inwardly. Once he understood everything, it was time to reap the rewards.

After closing the courtyard gate, Chen Guang untied a ball of light, and a wisp of [pure spiritual energy] appeared out of thin air, almost invisible to the naked eye. The moment it appeared, Chen Guang enveloped it with his magic power and absorbed it into his body.

"I wouldn't mind how much of this pure and spiritual energy comes," Chen Guang thought to himself with delight.

The pure spirit and the mundane spirit are like sworn enemies. When they come into contact, they cancel each other out and annihilate each other. It's a life-or-death struggle, with each side canceling the other out in a one-to-one ratio.

Spirit rice, spiritual plants and vegetables, and demon beast meat have a similar effect to pure spiritual energy, so they can be free from worldly impurities and will not increase worldly impurities. However, the task of eliminating worldly impurities still falls on the cultivators themselves.

Chen Guang cultivated for five hours, three of which were spent eliminating the mundane elements that had seeped into his bone marrow and internal organs. Having lived in the mortal world for over twenty years, these elements had long been ingrained in his bones. It was like throwing a piece of coal into water; the water would turn a little darker. These three hours of cultivation were essentially about constantly changing the water, putting the coal back in so that it wouldn't temporarily blacken the water source.

Then, the remaining two hours are for truly absorbing spiritual energy and refining magical power.

In reality, this process alternates. It's not about clearing three hours first and then cultivating for two hours. Instead, it's about an average of three hours and two hours in total, spanning approximately five hours. Moreover, Ling Nong can only cultivate for less than ten hours a day, and can only do so during his free time.

As the morning sun rises in the east, a single cup of tea's time is equivalent to three hours of pure cultivation; it is so precious.

Even mundane things can absorb spiritual energy and grow stronger. If they are not cleared away first, one will only stagnate the more one cultivates. Therefore, the work of clearing away these things must be done. Progress is made little by little. Cultivation is a slow and painstaking process. The tedium of cultivation lies in gradually eliminating the mundane things in one's bones.

Although the cultivation level is much shallower in the early stages of Qi Refining, the Qingheng Sect still gave them a full three-year time limit. This was not out of pure leniency from the higher-ups, but because the disciples were born as mortals. It is a fact that the cultivation of these three levels in the early stages of Qi Refining is very slow.

It is common knowledge that pure spiritual energy can eradicate worldly impurities.

However, pure spiritual energy can only be born in places that are absolutely natural, pure, and rich in spiritual energy. It is also one of the materials required for the Purification Pill. If pure spiritual energy is present in the body, it can eliminate any trace of mundane energy that escapes from the depths of the body, allowing one to cultivate in peace. This is the essence of the Purification Pill.

Since pure spiritual energy is hard to find, Chen Guang was naturally delighted to obtain it in this way.

The pure and spiritual energy enters the body and travels through the meridians. Wherever it goes, all worldly energy dissipates, and the pure and spiritual energy is also quickly consumed. It is already exhausted before it has even completed one cycle.

"Like swallowtail grass, spirit rice is a very common spiritual plant. The reward orbs are much smaller and the rewards are also more limited. So as long as I plant spirit rice, I will not lack pure spiritual energy. I can't afford to take the Cleansing Pill, but the Cleansing Pill is a medicine. How can it be as pure and harmless as my pure spiritual energy?"

"Pure spiritual energy, come again!"

Chen Guang launched another reward group.

Today, we harvested one mu of spirit rice. In the mortal realm, this mu would have tens of thousands of plants, but this is spirit land. The ears of spirit rice on each plant weigh about three liang. You should know that in the mortal realm, if the grains of rice on a plant weigh six zhu, it is considered a high yield. One zhu is only twenty-fourth of a liang.

The difference between the two is considerable.

Therefore, Chen Guang harvested 711 plants of Lingmi rice today, including 313 plants of ordinary quality, 348 plants of excellent quality, and no more and no less than 50 plants of superior quality.

Double the reward for outstanding quality.

Excellent quality will be rewarded sixfold.

In other words, Chen Guang can obtain 1309 portions of pure spiritual energy from one mu of spiritual rice.

So mundane and vulgar—

I really want to ask, how long can you hold on?