The following day, in the morning
Li Mu sowed the Wind Spirit Grass seeds in the Spirit Field.
Li Mu stood at the edge of the Spirit Field, forming a magic formula with both hands, releasing the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill.
A burst of spiritual power shot out, and a clear breeze appeared out of nowhere above the Spirit Field, followed by drizzling Spirit Rain that lasted for more than thirty breaths.
Li Mu couldn't help but smile slightly, as the duration of the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill had finally been extended, and the rainfall increased quite significantly. This was partly due to Old Man Zhang's technique insights and partly because of continually using the skill over time, accumulating proficiency, leading to the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill being upgraded by one level.
Once the Spirit Rain summoned by the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill stopped, Li Mu released it once more, continuing to water the Wind Spirit Grass seeds with the Spirit Rain.
To make the Wind Spirit Grass seeds germinate and grow lushly requires not only the fertile soil of the Spirit Field but also abundant moisture.
Morning, noon, and night, it needs to be watered with Spirit Rain three times a day to maintain the humidity of the Spirit Field. Then no other work is needed, as the strong vitality of Wind Spirit Grass will compete with other weeds for survival space, and it's almost pest-free.
After watering the Wind Spirit Grass, Li Mu went to another Spirit Field and began turning the soil and fertilizing it, preparing for planting the Cui Ling Fruit. Unlike the resilient Wind Spirit Grass, the Cui Ling Fruit has underdeveloped roots and requires good soil quality and fertility in the Spirit Field.
"Brother Zhao! Starting to sow now!" Somehow, Old Man Zhang stood by the field, carrying large bags and smiling while watching Li Mu turn the soil.
"Elder Zhang, are you leaving?" Li Mu stopped his work.
"Yes! Leaving, whether sooner or later, I have to go! I've tidied up the yard for you, take time to tidy up yourself, and in the future, build a fence around the up-and-down mountain road, this hill is all yours now!" Old Man Zhang smiled and bid farewell to Li Mu.
"Elder Zhang, let me see you off!" Li Mu quickly stood up.
"No need, no need, you continue with your work! Do well, and find a Dao companion to build a cultivation clan with you sooner." Old Man Zhang waved his hand, smiling and blessing Li Mu, then bent his back and left alone in a mess.
After half a lifetime as a Spirit Plant Cultivator, Old Man Zhang had long understood the hardships of cultivation life.
Now, Li Mu resembled him when he had just entered the Qing Xuan Sect, laboriously tending to fields, hoping for a chance to turn his life around. Yet, for servant disciples like them, with no talent or background, their fate was to sell their labor for the cultivation sect, with no opportunity to rise.
Every year, newcomers constantly enter the 'Qing Xuan Sect,' and once they have exhausted their strength and youth, they have to leave when they become old and weak, as if it's a destined cycle of reincarnation that cannot be escaped.
Watching Old Man Zhang's difficult and alone departing back, Li Mu was reminded of those migrant workers from the original world who struggled in big cities but couldn't make a life there, forced to return to their villages with no support.
Li Mu chuckled self-deprecatingly, without the proficiency panel, with his Five Elements Mixed Spirit Roots talent, he would likely end up like Old Man Zhang in his later years.
Before nightfall, Li Mu completed turning the soil of an acre of Spirit Field, sowed the Spirit Seeds of the Cui Ling Fruit, and released two instances of the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill, thus concluding a day's labor.
Li Mu returned to the yard and began cooking Spirit Rice at the stove.
Soon, a pot of fragrant Spirit Rice was ready, and after Li Mu enjoyed it thoroughly, instead of practicing the Cyan Wood Technique, he closed his eyes and started cultivating the Quenching God Technique.
His cultivation can be upgraded through the Innate Divine Techniques - Plant Spirit Absorption, so Li Mu didn't bother practicing his cultivation technique, instead focusing on cultivating the Quenching God Technique.
Approximately an hour later, Li Mu opened his eyes, having completed the cultivation of the Quenching God Technique.
Li Mu looked at the virtual panel's character log.
[You have successfully practiced the 'Quenching God Technique,' Quenching God Technique proficiency +1.]
Seeing this single point of proficiency, Li Mu felt a little frustrated. One proficiency point only raised by one point, taking three months to upgrade the Quenching God Technique from entry level to level one, to benefit the Divine Sense. This cultivation technique is too difficult to practice.
I wonder if the Plant Spirit Absorption from the Cui Ling Fruit and Wind Spirit Grass could yield any attributes. If only cultivation points could be exchanged for proficiency, then farming would be enough, no need to laboriously practice these cultivation techniques.
Everything still needs time to verify. Li Mu halted his daydreams, sat at the desk made specifically for Talisman Making, picked up the Wolf Talisman Brush, and began drawing the Exorcism Talisman.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month and a half passed.
The Spirit Field planted with Wind Spirit Grass looked great, with thick roots and leaves, lush and green, swaying in the wind.
Li Mu formed a magic formula and released a Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill over the Spirit Field to summon a shower of Spirit Rain as big as rice grains, completing the midday watering.
Then, Li Mu walked towards another Spirit Field to check on the growth of the Cui Ling Fruit.
During this period, he released the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill eight to nine times every day without fail, and simultaneously, Li Mu also practiced the Profound Water Technique to the entry level, integrating it into the character panel.
With the Spiritual Power enhancement from the fifth level cultivation, the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill's rainfall amount significantly increased.
Initially, Li Mu didn't want to practice the Profound Water Technique, since it was, like the Cyan Wood Technique, a Yellow-level Lower Grade cultivation technique, and Li Mu thought it was too low-end.
However, in Old Man Zhang's recorded insights, the Profound Water Technique was the key to increasing the amount of Spirit Rain, and Li Mu happened to be able to practice it with his Five Elements Mixed Spirit Roots, so he reluctantly practiced the Profound Water Technique to the entry level.
Li Mu can now gain cultivation points through Plant Spirit Absorption, saving time spent on bitter cultivation to improve his cultivation level, practicing one more technique won't cost him much time.
Soon, Li Mu arrived at the Spirit Field where the Cui Ling Fruit was planted, checking the status of its seedlings, his brows furrowed.
Majority of the Cui Ling Fruit seedlings were in good condition, but some had yellow leaves, having wilted overnight despite being fine yesterday.
Li Mu gazed at the diseased Cui Ling Fruit and immediately understood the cause.
"Affected by impure Evil Spirit's power, roots obstructed, causing infectious disease in the plant."
After checking the status attributes of several diseased Cui Ling Fruit, Li Mu's head ached.
"Is this disease contagious?"
Li Mu quickly became anxious, ran back into the house, and began rummaging through the boxes for Spirit Plant cultivation books to find a remedy.
Li Mu couldn't find a treatment recipe for the Cui Ling Fruit in the Spirit Plant Book left by the original owner, but he did find a cure in the 'Spirit Plant Healing Insights' given by Old Man Zhang.
First, use the Evil Exorcism Technique to eliminate the diseased plants and the impure evil power near the Spirit Field, then prepare Spirit Nurturing Water for irrigation to cure the diseased Cui Ling Fruit.
Li Mu couldn't use the Evil Exorcism Technique, nor did he have any Spirit Nurturing Water in stock, so he had to rush to Qing'an Town.
Li Mu took his Spirit Stone Bag, locked the yard door, and hurried to Qing'an Town.
On the way, a few cultivators on the sixth and seventh layer of Qi Refining flew by overhead riding Flying Swords, causing Li Mu to envy.
During this period, Li Mu had diligently practiced Sword Control Technique daily, and now, Sword Control Technique had leveled up to level two; unfortunately, his cultivation was still lacking, unable to achieve Sword Flight.
Yet, the improvement in the fifth level Qi Refining remained apparent.
Li Mu's pace quickened considerably, as what originally took over ten minutes to walk now was covered in half the time, reaching Qing'an Town.
Paying a Broken Spirit as an entrance fee, Li Mu headed straight to the town's only Cultivation Technique Store.