By the time I left the house, the morning had already passed its earliest hour.
When I arrived at the chief's residence, a short line had already formed outside his office.
Villagers stood patiently, some chatting quietly among themselves, others simply waiting in silence.
I recognized most of them, fellow farmers from surrounding fields.
I joined the back of the line and waited in silence, listening to fragments of conversation.
Complaints about the increased tax rate were common.
When it was finally my turn, I stepped forward and ready to take out the required amount of grains from my spirit pouch.
The chief looked at me directly and carried out his duty.
"Standard yield," he said flatly. "Three hundred pounds per mu."
He paused briefly, then continued in a noticeably heavier tone.
"Tax rate is forty-five percent."
I frowned slightly but said nothing yet, waiting for explanation.
"The sect envoy has raised it," he explained, seeing my expression.
"The clashes with yao beasts are intensifying in the outer regions. Supplies are being redirected to the front lines to support our cultivators. This increase may remain for some time, possibly years."
His tone suggested he wasn't happy about it either.
"I understand," I replied calmly, keeping my voice neutral.
And I handed over two hundred and seventy pounds of Jade Spirit Rice without complaint or argument.
He weighed them carefully and inspected the grains with practiced efficiency.
Satisfied with what he saw, he nodded and began recording the numbers in his ledger.
As the chief finished recording the numbers, I spoke again.
"Chief, I have plans to expand my fields."
He looked up sharply, surprise flickering across his weathered face. His fingers paused for the briefest moment above the ledger, as if reconsidering something.
After a short silence,
"Go to the side room," he said. "Wait there. I'll come shortly after settling things here."
I cupped my fists respectfully and followed his instruction.
The waiting room was simple, just a wooden table, a few chairs, and a clay pot filled with water.
A single window let in natural light.
I sat quietly in one of the chairs, pouring myself some water while I waited.
After some time, during which I could hear the chief finishing with the remaining farmers outside, he entered the side room.
His steps were slower now, and he moved like someone carrying a heavy burden.
He sat down heavily in the chair across from me and let out a long, weary breath.
I poured him a cup of water and handed it over without being asked.
He accepted it without ceremony, drank deeply, and sighed again before setting the cup down.
"Do you really intend to expand your fields?" he asked directly, his eyes studying me carefully.
"Yes," I said sincerely, meeting his gaze steadily.
He studied me for a long moment before speaking again.
"Extra land is not free fortune, boy. If you fail to cultivate it properly, debts and pressure will follow you. The village expects results when we allocate land. Think carefully before you act on this desire."
"I've thought it through," I replied. "I won't take more than I can manage."
He nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with my answer.
"Which land are you interested in?"
"The vacant fields near mine," I answered promptly. "The ones that were abandoned."
"And what do you plan to plant there?"
"I have some thoughts," I said evenly, "but for now, I will focus on cultivating more Jade Spirit Rice. It's what I know best."
"I need to balance cultivation and farming carefully. Once my cultivation stabilizes at a higher level, I intend to accept missions from the Sun Moon Spirit Sect's Farming Hall to earn additional resources."
The chief's expression softened at this practical answer.
He patted my shoulder lightly, his weathered hand heavy but kind.
"Good. Steady progress is better than reckless ambition. Too many young people want everything immediately. Still, remember this, taxes may rise again if the beast situation worsens. Your surplus will shrink accordingly."
I didn't argue.
Instead, I took out several rice bags from my spirit pouch, weighing more than three hundred jin in total, and placed them on the ground beside the table.
The chief's eyebrows rose at the amount.
He opened them one by one, inspecting the grains batch by batch with experienced hands, and nodded approvingly.
"Long, full, rich in spirit energy. You've definitely improved your Spirit Rain Technique considerably. This quality is better than many farmers with twice your experience."
"Only slightly improved," I said modestly. "Perhaps I have some talent in farming. Or perhaps luck has favoured me."
He chuckled softly.
"Keep it inside. Don't show off to the other farmers. Jealousy breeds problems."
I took the bags back into the spirit pouch, the grain disappeared with a thought.
After that, he took out a worn map and spread it across the table.
"You have three mu directly in front of your fields," he said, tracing the area with his finger. "And five mu farther to the side, a bit removed. Both were abandoned last year, when their previous cultivators gave up or moved away. Which do you want?"
I considered it briefly, weighing the advantages.
The three mu in front would be easier to manage, closer to my current field.
"The three mu in front," I decided.
"Very well."
He stamped the map with his official seal, then took out a jade token from a locked drawer.
With a practiced flick of spiritual energy, my name was inscribed onto the token's surface, the characters glowing briefly before settling.
He handed the token to me across the table.
"Keep this authority token safe. The land is officially yours to cultivate. Don't lose it, or you'll have problems."
I accepted it carefully and bowed lightly with genuine gratitude.
"Thank you, Chief. I won't disappoint your trust."
Then I left his office, stepping back out into the bright sunlight.
---
On the way home, my thoughts turned restless and began to wander toward future plans.
Surplus grains could be traded. Beast-repelling powder is necessary.
An array formation plate is also needed for future development, especially for concealing the Vermilion Blood Rice.
Should I also start learning formations?
With the system's memory assistance, knowledge accumulation was no longer a problem.
Only resources and opportunity were.
Perhaps the trading hall in town was worth checking.
As I walked along the dirt path, a familiar figure came into view ahead.
Old Han.
His back was slightly hunched, sleeves rolled up, boots caked with dried mud.
His breathing was heavier than usual, and there were faint dark circles beneath his eyes.
Clear signs of long hours spent in the fields.
"Uncle Han," I greeted.
He looked up, surprise flashing across his weathered face before it softened into a smile.
"Ah, XiaoYuan. Finished your work already?"
"Just wrapped things up," I said, falling into step beside him.
"How are things on your side? Your harvest going well?"
He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and chuckled dryly, the sound carrying decades of experience.
"These old bones don't listen anymore. The land never gets easier, does it? Only harder as the years pass."
"Only people do," I replied lightly.
He laughed, then glanced sideways at me.
"So? How's your farming going lately?" His tone lowered slightly. "Any luck with those.... experiments of yours?" The array formation, did it help?"
I shook my head. "No major changes. Same as before."
Old Han sighed, neither disappointed nor surprised by my answer.
"That's how it is. If spirit arrays were so easy, everyone would be a master."
He paused, then said, "A few of us are heading to the market in two days. Thought I'd ask if you were coming along."
"Not this time," I replied after a brief pause. "Maybe the next batch. I've got some things to settle here first."
He nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."
We walked in silence for a few more steps, our boots crunching on the dirt path.
When the time came for us to go our separate ways, our paths diverging, I stopped.
I reached into my spirit pouch, pulling out a cloth sack that I'd prepared earlier.
I placed it in front of him on the ground.
He stiffened slightly. "What's this, boy?"
"Spirit grains," I said simply. "About fifty jin."
His eyes widened. "That's far too much! I can't accept this!"
"Consider it rent," I cut in gently before he could refuse outright. "For lending me the array plate to experiment with. It's only fair compensation."
He frowned. "But you said the experiment didn't work."
"It didn't fail either," I replied calmly. "The yield improved. That's worth something. Besides, you let me borrow your valuable equipment."
Old Han looked down at the sack, fingers tightening around the fabric.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
Finally, he let out a slow breath.
He hesitated once more, pride and necessity warring on his face, before finally nodding.
"Then I won't refuse your kindness," he said, his voice low but sincere. "Thank you, XiaoYuan. This will help considerably."
We exchanged a final nod.
"Take care on the road," he said.
"You too," I replied.
We parted ways, him toward the outer fields, me toward home, both carrying a little less weight than before.
When I returned home, Mo Ling cheerfully welcomed me at the door.
"Big Browther Shen is back!" she announced loudly to the whole house.
Grandfather was sitting near the table in his usual spot, slowly sipping hot water from a ceramic cup.
He looked up as I entered, his sharp eyes immediately searching my expression.
"It's done," I said before he could ask. "The tax grains have been submitted."
His shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly. "Good. Any trouble?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," I replied honestly. "The rate's higher than before, but it was expected given the circumstances."
I explained briefly about the increased yao beast activity and the sect's need for supplies.
He nodded slowly, processing this information. "These times... stability is becoming a luxury. We must adapt."
I went into the kitchen to cook some food.
Then we ate lunch together.
The children laughed over small things, who ate faster, who stole whose meat, whose bowl was fuller.
By the time they were done, both of them leaned back, rubbing their bellies with exaggerated satisfaction.
Laughter filling the room.
Grandfather watched them with a rare, gentle smile.
After the table was cleared, I turned to him.
"I'm going to cultivate for a while. If it's not urgent, please don't disturb me."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I'll keep an eye on the house."
"I'll prepare dinner first," I added.
I moved back into the kitchen, working quickly and efficiently.
The food was simple but nourishing, enough for all of them.
Once everything was ready, I arranged it neatly and left clear instructions.
"Just heat it up," I said. "Don't wait for me if I'm late."
"I know," Grandfather replied. "Focus on your cultivation."
With that settled, I returned to my room with purpose.
Closing the door behind me, the noise of the house faded into a quiet stillness that wrapped around me like a protective blanket.
Only then did I sit down properly and let my breathing slow deliberately, preparing my mind for the critical next step.
The breakthrough to late stage Qi Refining required absolute focus and perfect mental clarity.
I sat cross-legged on the bed, exhaled slowly and completely, and opened the system panel with a thought.
My gaze drifted immediately to the rewards section, where the familiar rewards waited.
Verdant Dew (White) ×7
Five rewards from today's harvest.
Combined with the two remaining from before, I had seven total Verdant Dew rewards available.
More than enough for what I needed to accomplish tonight.
The breakthrough itself would require significant energy, probably three or four rewards consumed simultaneously.
But I had planned for this moment carefully over the past weeks.
Every calculation had been made.
Every variable considered.
Now it was simply time to execute the plan.
I closed the system panel temporarily and began my pre-cultivation routine.
First, I circulated my qi slowly through my meridians, checking for any blockages or irregularities.
Everything flowed smoothly, as expected.
My cultivation base was solid, my foundation stable.
The sixteenth meter of my dantian was completely filled with refined spiritual energy.
Next, I examined my physical condition carefully.
The skin tempering from the past ten days had strengthened my body considerably.
My meridians were wider and more durable than before, able to handle greater energy flow.
My flesh carried a faint resilience that hadn't existed previously, a subtle toughness.
All good signs.
Finally, I checked my mental state using spirit sense.
My soul floated calmly in my mindspace, the single soul sword revolving protectively around it in steady orbit.
No instability, no damage, no foreign influences detected.
Perfect.
Everything was in optimal condition.
I opened my eyes and took one final deep breath, filling my lungs completely.
Everything was ready.
The time had finally come.