Going forward, Tian Ruifeng would no longer plant Purple Corn, only his Purple Crystal Rice.
He had already applied to the sect about this, and they had allocated him more Tier One, Lower Grade Spirit Fields.
The sect rarely refused requests from a Spirit Plant Master, especially not from someone like Tian Ruifeng, whose large-scale cultivation of Purple Crystal Rice was, in the end, a contribution to the sect.
As a strain of Spirit Rice that had mutated from Purple Corn, Purple Crystal Rice was also ranked as Tier One, Lower Grade.
Grains of Purple Crystal Rice were slightly larger than Purple Corn. For plants of the same quality, the number of grains was about the same, meaning a spirit field could produce a greater weight of Purple Crystal Rice.
However, this advantage alone wasn't enough to offset the cost of the fertilizer required to grow Purple Crystal Rice.
In terms of taste, Purple Crystal Rice was more delicious.
Because of this, many Inner Sect Disciples were more willing to purchase Purple Crystal Rice as their staple food.
Cultivation was a way of life. While most Cultivators pursued greater longevity, they also hoped to live more comfortably. Of course, there were a few Ascetic Practitioners who were content with just a small portion of Clear Water Rice each day, indifferent to worldly pleasures like food.
Since the beginning of the year, Fang Yun had stopped eating Clear Water Rice. His daily portion of Spirit Rice was now always Purple Corn.
He then applied to the sect to exchange his monthly stipend of ten pounds of Clear Water Rice for one Lower Grade Spirit Stone. This way, he would receive two Lower Grade Spirit Stones per month.
Now that Fang Yun had broken through from the peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, his monthly benefits would change again.
After taking care of the Purple Corn, he planned to go to the sect's Main Peak, Cloud Summit, to register.
「Cloud Summit, at the foot of the mountain.」
Here stood a magnificent building.
Celestial Cloud Pavilion!
If the Celestial Cloud Sect were a company, the Celestial Cloud Pavilion would be its human resources department—though of course, the reality was quite different.
Fang Yun had been to the Celestial Cloud Pavilion once before. This was his second visit.
"Steward, I am Fang Yun. I've reached the middle stage of Qi Refining and have come to update my registration."
The Steward sensed Fang Yun's current aura and noted that he had only just entered the Qi Refining Fourth Layer a short time ago.
"Good. Give me your Token."
"Yes." Fang Yun took the Token from his waist, placed it on the desk, and pushed it toward the Steward.
Outer Sect Disciples of the Celestial Cloud Sect at the middle stage of Qi Refining received monthly benefits of two Lower Grade Spirit Stones plus ten pounds of Clear Water Rice.
This was one more Lower Grade Spirit Stone than the benefits for the early stage of Qi Refining, amounting to an extra twelve Lower Grade Spirit Stones per year.
Back when Fang Yun was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer, he ate the bare minimum and lived rent-free, yet he still managed to save less than one Lower Grade Spirit Stone a month.
Since he had already requested to exchange his Clear Water Rice, starting next month, he would be able to collect three Lower Grade Spirit Stones each month.
Fang Yun lived in the Outer Sect's C Zone. He could collect his monthly disciple benefits anytime during the month from Room C-0.
"Here you go. You're all registered."
"Thank you, Steward."
Hanging the Token back on his waist, Fang Yun left the Celestial Cloud Pavilion and headed for Dan Cloud Peak.
Next, it was time for him to refine Qi Nourishing Pills.
Even after breaking through to the middle stage of Qi Refining, his life would, for the most part, continue its monotonous routine between three points.
His residence in the Outer Sect's C Zone, his three-mu Spirit Field, and the Alchemy Room on Dan Cloud Peak.
On the way to Dan Cloud Peak, Fang Yun's gaze was drawn to a figure.
He stopped in his tracks and immediately called out a greeting.
"Senior Sister Song, what a coincidence!"
This was the fifth time he had seen Song Qiaoqiao. Of the previous four times, two were on the road and two were in the Dan Cloud Pavilion.
The most recent time had been more than forty days ago, in the Dan Cloud Pavilion.
"It is, isn't it?" Song Qiaoqiao also stopped, and they moved to the side of the road to talk. "Are you on your way to Dan Cloud Peak, Junior Brother Fang?"
"That's right. I'm going to Dan Cloud Peak to do some alchemy."
At that moment, Song Qiaoqiao noticed that Fang Yun's aura was a bit different than before.
'Junior Brother Fang broke through to a new realm, just like me!'
"The Qi Refining Fourth Layer! Congratulations on reaching the middle stage, Junior Brother Fang." As she congratulated him, Song Qiaoqiao revealed her own aura. "I also broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer."
This was the first time Fang Yun had learned of Song Qiaoqiao's realm.
When meeting an Inner Sect senior sister, he wouldn't typically get curious about her cultivation, since it had nothing to do with him.
"Congratulations on reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, Senior Sister!" Fang Yun immediately replied.
On that topic, Fang Yun grew a little curious about Song Qiaoqiao's age.
'It wasn't for any particular reason; he was just curious. Given Senior Sister Song's personality, she probably wouldn't mind him asking.'
"I'll be eighteen in a little over a month. How old are you, Senior Sister?"
He was born on the fourth day of the fifth month, and it would be the start of the fourth month in just a few days.
"Me? I'm two months older than you, Junior Brother."
"Two months... so that means you just turned eighteen, Senior Sister. Reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Layer at eighteen is incredible! At this rate, I'll have to start calling you Elder before you're even twenty-five," Fang Yun added teasingly.
'Eighteen years old and already at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. That's an average of one layer per year. Of course, it doesn't really work like that; cultivation gets progressively harder the higher you go.'
"I've only been able to cultivate this fast because my great-grandfather gave me a lot of help. For you to reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer before eighteen with Five Spirit Roots... now *that's* what I call amazing, Junior Brother!"
"Are you trying to comfort me, Senior Sister?"
"Not at all." Song Qiaoqiao shook her head, afraid Fang Yun might think she was just pitying him. "I'm being completely honest!"
"I'm just kidding, Senior Sister. I didn't misunderstand." Fang Yun felt very relaxed and cheerful talking with Song Qiaoqiao. "Besides, I was only able to break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer thanks to your help."
'One hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones... they really gave me a head start.'
"Just remember, Junior Brother, that you need to pay back those one hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones this December," Song Qiaoqiao added emphatically.
"Of course. I'll be sure to pay it back on time."
Fang Yun recalled that Song Qiaoqiao had made a point of emphasizing the repayment during a previous meeting as well.
'Knowing her personality, there must be a reason she keeps bringing it up.'
"Senior Sister, hypothetically speaking... what would happen if I didn't pay you back within the one-year deadline?" Fang Yun asked, curious.
"If you don't pay it back on time... it would affect your reputation, Junior Brother. Yes, that's it." Song Qiaoqiao's gaze darted about. "I think your reputation is very important!"
Looking at Song Qiaoqiao's expression, Fang Yun could easily tell it was a lie.
Just as Fang Yun was about to call her out on it, Song Qiaoqiao gave him no chance.
"Junior Brother, I have business at Cloud Summit, so I have to go. See you later!"
In the blink of an eye, Song Qiaoqiao disappeared from Fang Yun's sight.
Fang Yun didn't even have time to say goodbye. By the time he turned, all he could see was her figure rapidly disappearing into the distance.
She was moving incredibly fast.
'If I were that fast, my commute time would be cut down significantly.'
'This… could it have something to do with her great-grandfather?'