After five hours of training, Shen Xingyan felt tired but also clearly sensed his improved physical condition. The pleasant feeling of his efforts paying off had returned. Although checking his star card didn't show any increase in his stats, he was sure that over time, his hard work would definitely be reflected in them.
Seeing that the time to enter the Star Source world was approaching, Shen Xingyan quickly prepared dinner for himself and his sister. After eating and recovering some energy, he left a note for his sister so she wouldn't worry.
Returning to his room, Shen Xingyan decided not to waste any time. He took out the materials on various professions he had received at school and began to carefully study the section on farmers. Although he had been introduced to all professions at school, the depth of study varied.
Dreaming of fighting Catastrophes outside the base, Shen Xingyan was much more knowledgeable about combat specialties. He knew how to combine different professions, which combat skills were most effective at which stages, and from what distance it was best to attack. But about lifestyle professions, especially the common Farmer profession, he only knew the general outline.
Now that he had awakened the Farmer profession with a very powerful skill, he needed to thoroughly study all the information to prepare for future development. While reviewing the materials, Shen Xingyan discovered that his professional skill seemed to be unique—there was no mention of anything similar in the documents.
Most farmers had a skill that increased plant growth speed, just as he had initially. The effect's duration was usually 24 hours, so the skill couldn't be stacked; one had to maintain the 10% acceleration with daily use. Rare farmers awakened temporary skills to increase land cultivation efficiency or stamina, but a "cheat-like" ability like Shen Xingyan's had never been seen. This discovery strengthened his resolve to hide his abilities and develop cautiously and steadily.
After studying a little more basic agricultural knowledge, Shen Xingyan saw that the cooldown for entering the Star Source world had expired. He hurried to lie down on his bed, carefully placed the star card on his forehead, and mentally activated the connection. His vision went dark, and he was once again in the Star Source world.
This time, unlike his first visit, Shen Xingyan didn't appear on the massive platform but was immediately in his professional space. This was a normal occurrence—when returning, you appear where you last exited to the real world.
Shen Xingyan's second visit to the Star Source felt much more comfortable than the first. Perhaps it was due to psychological preparation or the experience from the previous time, but he no longer felt the dizziness he had before.
Feeling good, Shen Xingyan looked with satisfaction at the wheat field, which had changed noticeably. Looking at the wheat's growth and recalling the information he had just studied, he was sure the harvest would be excellent.
However, Shen Xingyan was surprised that there was only one weeding task icon hanging above the field, not several as he had expected. From the farmer profession materials, he knew that crop instability was often related to "task stagnation"—when daily field maintenance tasks weren't completed on time, which negatively affected crop growth.
Weeds steal nutrients, lack of watering slows down plant development—all this reduces the yield. Usually, farmers could avoid these problems by diligently completing all tasks. But due to the limited time spent in the Star Source world and human fatigue, they couldn't always do everything on time, which led to a reduced harvest. All they could do was hope for the leniency of the Star Source and fewer tasks.
But the situation Shen Xingyan was observing was extremely unusual. In a full twelve hours, which was a twentieth of the normal wheat growth cycle, only one task icon had appeared. While this would be great news for most farmers, meaning no "task stagnation," Shen Xingyan felt that something was wrong. He remembered how the tasks had been pouring in one after another before he left, without any mercy. Had the Star Source suddenly become kinder after he left? That seemed too implausible.
Finding no explanation, Shen Xingyan decided to chalk everything up to luck and the benevolence of the Star Source. After all, this was where his professional skill had mutated—perhaps this place really was his lucky charm, understanding his aspirations.
Putting his thoughts aside and deciding to summon the skeleton to work together, Shen Xingyan suddenly noticed some movement in the wheat. Frightened by the unusual rustling, he took two steps back, remembering rumors of monsters appearing in the professional spaces of high-level players. Was it his honor, as a novice, to have such a thing happen?
Shen Xingyan slowly retreated, his eyes fixed on the approaching source of the movement. When it reached the edge of the field, he grabbed the hoe with its +1 attack, ready to strike. But it turned out it wasn't a monster; it was the same little skeleton that had helped him all of yesterday.
Shen Xingyan stared at the skeleton in amazement: "How are you still here?"