Mo Cliff Mountain.
Inside a private room of a tavern, Chen Moxuan was all smiles as he said cheerfully:
"Junior Brother Tian should be back shortly. By my estimate, this last outing brought in at least a hundred spirit stones.
In just over half a month, that's thirty or forty stones each, something we could only dream of in the past."
"Captain, you only counted what we gained. What about what we spent?
The pills we consumed, the cost of repairing damaged artifacts, don't those take spirit stones too?!"
Jiang Qiuyue wrinkled her delicate nose before adding,
"Luckily, Junior Brother Chu and Senior Brother Zhang are close. Otherwise, repairs to our artifacts would take much longer, and we wouldn't be able to go out so frequently."
Chen Moxuan nodded.
"True. Junior Brother, when should we invite Senior Brother Zhang out for a drink, so the whole team can show our thanks?"
Chu He chuckled heartily. After two years of working together, he had built an easy rapport with his teammates.
"Not anytime soon, I'm afraid. Aside from repairing artifacts, Senior Brother Zhang has other matters to handle."
He paused, swept his gaze across the table, then spoke slowly:
"When I went to deliver my artifact for repairs just now, I received a letter.
My junior from Green Pine Academy, Ji An, who entered the sect the same year as me, wishes to join our squad for some training.
I think this could be an opportunity with one more person; we might finally have the strength to take down that herd of Fire-Horn Rhinos."
Chen Moxuan frowned in thought.
"A four-person team is already well-balanced, each with their role.
Unless we're tackling particularly tough prey, adding another member just splits the profits."
"Exactly. For a temporary outing, sure, but not as a permanent member."
"No need to worry about that," Chu He reassured.
"Junior Brother Ji is still a spirit farmer and a talisman maker. He won't have time to follow us year-round.
Besides, he has the personal regard of Senior Brother Zhang.
He's currently purchasing artifacts, and should be ready to meet us here at Mo Cliff Mountain in about half a year."
Chen Moxuan thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Since both you and Senior Brother Zhang are recommending him, we can give him a trial.
But let's be clear upfront, if after a time it turns out he drags the team down."
"In that case," Chu He cut in firmly, "you won't need to say a word. I'll speak with him myself."
Chu He nodded. Many times, monster hunting was a gamble with one's life; no one wanted to bring along a dead weight.
Compared to Yellow Sprout Rice, Jadegrain Rice grew longer, with a lustrous green jade sheen, each kernel clear and glistening.
When the final spirit field was harvested, joy of abundance flickered in Ji An's eyes.
To him, cultivation was just like farming; only through effort and harvest could one walk further along the path.
If a farmer sows but reaps poorly, it's hard to keep going.
Likewise, if a cultivator trains diligently but sees no progress, they too will slowly slacken, even give up.
Having positive feedback was crucial.
Ji An felt fortunate. His start in this world had been low, and his opening steps far from smooth, yet everything he had set out to accomplish, he had managed to achieve.
Exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be a major hurdle, but he had confidence he could cross it.
With exquisite spellcraft and spiritual sense far beyond his peers, and with steady income from farming and talisman-making, his rate of accumulating spirit stones placed him firmly among the top tier of Qi Refining disciples.
The sect's newly seized outposts in the Ten-Thousand Mountains were like undeveloped frontiers. With luck, one could reap great harvests while hunting beasts there.
Otherwise, competition for Foundation Establishment Pills wouldn't be so fierce.
"Senior Brother, let me help you carry the spirit rice back."
From afar came Huang Feihu's honest, booming laughter.
"Just what I needed was about to look for someone to lend a hand.
Haha, not bad, Feihu. Your qi is smooth and full, looks like with some polishing you'll soon break into late-stage Qi Refining.
Your grandfather will be overjoyed when he hears the news."
Ji An silently marveled at his good fortune in having a grandfather willing to support him wholeheartedly.
The first steps were always the hardest. At low cultivation, earning spirit stones was difficult, and even practicing spells was limited by a lack of spiritual power.
But now, even without Old Huang's support, Feihu could still carve a good path for himself.
Huang Feihu jogged over, scratching his head:
"I just broke through a few days ago, all thanks to Grandpa's help. With a steady supply of Jade Spirit Pills, my progress was quick.
But I've already used up much of the spirit stones he saved. Now that I've reached late-stage Qi Refining, I'll need to cultivate more fields myself, to sustain my training with my own strength."
Before leaving, Old Huang had laid out a plan: for the first three years, Feihu was to pour all his effort into raising his cultivation and practicing spells.
Currently, he farms only two mu of fields, spending his days cultivating and practicing Minor Rain Technique and Thick Earth Formula. Both spells had already reached Minor Achievement.
With Ji An's frequent guidance, he continued to improve steadily.
Ji An shook his head lightly.
"If you ask me, there's no need to hold back.
Spirit stones sitting idle are useless spent; they gain value.
Keep some aside for emergencies, but the rest should go into your cultivation. With higher cultivation, you'll be able to manage more fields anyway."
Feihu nodded, thoughtful.
After several trips back and forth, the two carried all the Jadegrain Rice into storage, then rested inside the bamboo lodge.
The spirit-seeking rat squeaked and scurried around its master, occasionally baring its teeth at the stranger with a fierce glint.
If not for the pressure of Feihu's aura keeping it subdued, it might have leapt to attack.
Feihu laughed, placing a few walnuts on the ground and nudging them forward.
The rat bared its teeth at first, defensive, then crouched down to sniff. At last, it grabbed one walnut in its mouth, clutching another in each paw, and hopped kangaroo-like back to its nest.
"Your beast has remarkable spirit. Many people's beasts only show ferocity in their eyes, but lack wit."
"This is a Spirit-Seeking Rat. If it were dumb, it'd be worthless."
Ji An grinned with some pride, then asked:
"How's your training lately? Any difficulties with spells?"
"Just what I was hoping to ask you about."
Feihu bowed, listing his troubles one by one. Ji An answered patiently, pointing out the right direction and things to watch for.
An hour later, Feihu rose and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. My rapid progress owes much to being able to hear your teachings often."
"When I explain things to you, I also gain deeper insights into my own arts and techniques. We both improve together."
Ji An helped him back up, then, after a pause, said solemnly:
"Let me give you some advice. When you reach late-stage Qi Refining, don't buy pills to break through bottlenecks. Grind through them slowly; it will benefit your Foundation Establishment later."
This wasn't exactly a secret, but sharing it forged goodwill.
Really? Feihu's eyes widened, then he nodded firmly.
"Thank you for the guidance. If ever you need anything, I, Feihu, will give my utmost to assist."
With his cultivation advancing quickly, he too harbored ambitions of Foundation Establishment. Besides the pill itself, what he lacked most were secret methods and tricks to improve his chances.
A simple word like this might make all the difference.
"Actually, there is something I need help with."
Ji An explained his plan to join a monster-hunting expedition in half a year.
"For the one or two months I'm away from the sect, I'll need someone to watch over my fields, just cast rain when needed."
"Leave it to me."
Feihu pounded his chest in promise. He resolved to devote extra time to practicing until then, at least pushing both of his farming spells to Great Achievement so he could be worthy of the trust.
Having spent so much time with Ji An, he understood his Senior Brother's nature well; those who did good work under him never lost out.
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