Three years later.
In the courtyard, Lu Xuanji was practicing the Li Fire Wood Technique, his body like a magnetic field, absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi. Streams of Spiritual Qi entered his body through acupoints, circulating endlessly within, nurturing his body and strengthening his physique.
Some of the Spiritual Qi was refined, tempering the meridians, and entering the Dantian, merging into the vortex.
In the Dantian, the first vortex formed, which is the first layer of Qi Refining.
Nine vortices make up the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Moments later, Lu Xuanji restrained his aura, and the aura on his body calmed down.
He opened his eyes and got off the bed.
Due to the refining of Spiritual Qi, his body had matured early, and although he was only nine years old, he was 1.6 meters tall, appearing like a small adult.
Lu Xuanji tried his strength, finding it immense, easily lifting three hundred catties.
In his past life, such strength would make him a weightlifting champion, but in the Cultivation Realm, he was merely a novice.
"There is still some way to go before reaching the second layer of Qi Refining... The three years of obligatory education have ended. I don't know if I can enter the Dan Yang Sect."
Lu Xuanji had a flash of doubt.
Dan Yang Sect was a major sect in Qing State, presided over by three Golden Core Ancestors.
It was a vast and powerful entity, far beyond what the Lu Family could compare to.
Many cultivators in Qing State desired to join Dan Yang as disciples, even if only as servant disciples, for the treatment and benefits were top-notch.
To join Dan Yang Sect, having Three Spirit Roots was the minimum requirement, and it also required a quota.
Qingfeng Commandery had only ten quotas each year.
Just then, his mother, Ye Xinlan, approached with some regret and said, "Xuanji, your quota to go to Dan Yang Sect is gone."
"Gone, what happened?"
Lu Xuanji asked, somewhat anxious.
"Qingfeng Commandery is in a remote area, and in past years, the quotas were never filled. But this year, there are many geniuses, and you didn't make it," his mother Ye Xinlan said, feeling a bit sorry for her son.
"Mother, not going to Dan Yang Sect, staying at home is also good."
Lu Xuanji comforted his mother, "As they say, better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Dan Yang Sect is very large, and with my Three Spirit Roots talent, joining Dan Yang Sect, I could at most become an Outer Disciple, not necessarily receiving attention. But in the Lu Family, Three Spirit Roots are rare, and everyone has high expectations for me, hoping I will establish a foundation and bring honor to the family, and I am paid much attention."
"Silly child, how can the Lu Family compare to Dan Yang Sect? Even the treatment of a mere servant disciple is better than that of some elite disciples in our family," his mother Ye Xinlan lamented for her son.
Who would want to stay in a family if they could join a major sect?
The family's resources are ultimately not as abundant as Dan Yang Sect's.
Just the channel to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills is more abundant than the Lu Family's.
Not joining Dan Yang Sect, Lu Xuanji felt a bit lost.
After the disappointment, he calmed down again.
Being in the family is actually not bad either.
The family has over fifteen hundred cultivators, with more than twelve hundred being Five Spirit Roots, over two hundred being Four Spirit Roots, and over fifty being Three Spirit Root cultivators, but there isn't a single Dual Spirit Root cultivator.
As a Three Spirit Root cultivator, Lu Xuanji is among the best talents and is bound to receive the family's focused training, which is a blessing in misfortune.
...
The next day, in the main hall, Lu Xuanji met the family's clan leader, the Purple Mansion Ancestor.
"Greetings, Ancestor."
Lu Xuanji greeted respectfully.
The Purple Mansion Ancestor smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad, you are very good, with Wood and Fire Dual Attributes suitable to be an Alchemist. As an Alchemist, you must be familiar with the properties and attributes of various medicines. Here, take this Alchemy Book and go through it often."
"Thank you, Ancestor."
Lu Xuanji received the Alchemy Book, standing respectfully.
"Cultivation is not easy. Make cultivation your priority, and step into the late stages of Qi Refining as soon as possible… Only when you reach the late stages of Qi Refining can you go out to perform various tasks. As for now, go to the foot of Purple Sun Mountain to farm. This is your area."
"Your task is to cultivate one thousand acres of spirit fields. Your Cave Mansion is at number thirty-eight."
The Purple Mansion Ancestor arranged.
"Thank you, Ancestor."
Receiving the key, Lu Xuanji respectfully retreated.
Holding the key, he arrived at Cave Mansion number thirty-eight.
The Cave Mansion was very small, less than ten square meters, but it was a place for cultivation.
There was a spiritual acupoint here, with dense Spiritual Qi leaking out. Cultivating near the acupoint would greatly accelerate cultivation speed.
The Cave Mansion was not just a residence but also a right to distribute Spiritual Qi.
Leaving from here, he descended Purple Sun Mountain.
Within a hundred miles around Purple Sun Mountain, various Spirit Rice and Spirit Medicine fields were planted.
Some fertilized, some used Spirit Rain, some weeded, and some cleared pests. The crops in the spirit fields were thriving.
Reaching a certain location, Lu Xuanji looked around at the spirit fields, the area neatly arranged.
Using a hoe, he started weeding, clearing out weeds, and began sowing Spirit Rice in the spirit fields. After planting the Spirit Rice, he performed the "Small Spirit Rain Skill" with the Seal Technique, and the surrounding Spiritual Qi transformed from gas to liquid, starting to pour down as rain.
The Spirit Rain drenched the spirit fields, nourishing the land.
He controlled the rainfall; the Spirit Rain couldn't be too much or too little.
And thus, he began his life as a farmer, starting his farming journey.
The illusory reality of cultivating immortality with Sword Flight, flying swords slaying demons, fasting for freedom, and transforming for eternal life.
The true reality of cultivating immortality requires striving for three meals a day, fighting to make money — if not farming as a peasant, then working as a miner, or becoming a shop assistant, enduring the tough nine-nine-six, nine-nine-seven lifestyle.
Cultivation places utmost importance on resources, and where do resources come from? From cultivating Spirit Medicine, Spirit Rice, or managing businesses.
The Spirit Rice cultivated by the Lu Family mainly consisted of White Sun Rice.
White Sun Rice is the food for cultivators, capable of enhancing cultivators' Qi and Blood, and nourishing the body.
White Sun Rice is also the primary material for refining White Sun Pills.
White Sun Pills are Supporting Elixirs for Qi Refining cultivators, fetching high prices on the market.
In the family's medicine garden, some Spirit Medicine is used for family Alchemists to refine Elixirs, while some are sold on the market for money.
Cultivating Spirit Rice and Spirit Medicine accounted for more than sixty percent of the family's income.
If not farming, how long could everyone sustain themselves through fighting and plundering?
Even if engaging in combat, who would they beat?
The neighboring Cultivation Clans all paid taxes to the Dan Yang Sect and wouldn't easily initiate wars.
In battles between cultivators or families, avoiding fights is best.
Isn't peacefully farming more delightful?
If defeated, the whole family could be wiped out.
If victorious, compensation has to be given.
Of course, one could refuse compensation, but who would risk their lives next time?
If compensation is withheld and someone stabs you when it counts, you're in big trouble.
The Lu Family's goal is to farm steadily, then sell White Sun Pills, White Sun Rice, or other Spirit Medicines, Spirit Pills, etc., to accumulate Spirit Stones, and nurture a second Purple Mansion Ancestor; more importantly, to develop several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As for warfare, it's best avoided.