Chapter 1

Spring plowing is imminent.

Outside the town of Wangxian, by the Liusu River.

A large number of spirit farmers gathered in front of the vast spirit fields, queuing up to pay their tribute!

"Zhao Si, you have five acres of first-grade lower-class spirit fields. You need to contribute one hundred pounds of spirit grain per acre, totaling five hundred pounds, or you can pay with five hundred lower-grade spirit stones!"

A plump and somewhat charming middle-aged female cultivator, sitting behind a rosewood desk, glanced at the land deed jade token in her hand and said indifferently.

"I'll pay with spirit stones!"

The middle-aged spirit farmer named Zhao Si, who was dark and lean, nodded and bowed.

As he finished speaking,

He hurriedly took out five hundred lower-grade spirit stones from his storage bag and respectfully handed them to the plump and charming female cultivator in front of him.

For this plump immortal lady from the Ethereal Sect,

He, like most spirit farmers, was filled with awe and respect.

The Ethereal Sect is the only sect within a thousand miles, overseeing three major immortal cities and nine immortal towns, including Wangxian Town, with unparalleled strength.

It is precisely because of the protection of the Ethereal Sect that they, these low-level spirit farmers, can plant their fields in peace without worrying about the troubles of open robbery, murder, and treasure theft.

Of course, as a price, these low-level spirit farmers must pay the Ethereal Sect the required tribute every year based on the grade and quantity of their spirit fields to have the right to continue planting.

In return, the Ethereal Sect, besides the basic protection, has made a solemn promise.

In the future, if their descendants have excellent spirit root qualities, they can be given priority to join the Ethereal Sect, pursuing the true path to immortality, bringing blessings to their clans.

The powerful cultivation families in Wangxian Town basically have outstanding clan members as disciples in the Ethereal Sect.

"Next!"

The plump immortal lady lightly tapped the rosewood desk and looked at the crowd.

At this moment,

A young man in simple green robes walked up to the plump immortal lady.

This green-robed youth looked to be about fifteen years old, with a slender and sickly pale face, appearing very weak.

"This is my land deed jade token."

The green-robed youth took out a blue land deed jade token from his storage ring and handed it to the plump immortal lady.

"Lin Yi, you have no spirit fields under your name, but you are renting three acres of first-grade lower-class spirit fields."

The plump immortal lady took the land deed jade token, found the record about Lin Yi in the ledger, and couldn't help but look at Lin Yi with a surprised expression.

Most spirit farmers have their own spirit fields.

They only need to pay some tribute to the Ethereal Sect to plant in peace.

Renting fields, on the other hand, requires paying a rent several times more expensive.

Generally, only spirit farmers with very good planting skills, after planting their own spirit fields and having some spare capacity, would rent a few more acres from the Ethereal Sect to earn some extra income.

Completely relying on renting fields for a living, if the planting skills are not good and the harvest is poor, it would be very difficult to make ends meet after paying the high rent.

Moreover, there is the risk of rent increases.

There is no guarantee of a stable livelihood.

"That's correct."

"I don't have any spirit fields, I am renting three acres of first-grade lower-class spirit fields."

Lin Yi nodded and said truthfully.

He had no parents since childhood.

It was Uncle Fu from Yanyu Alley who found him as an abandoned infant on the roadside and raised him.

Two years ago, Uncle Fu passed away due to old age.

Apart from leaving him a dilapidated small courtyard and a meager savings, he left nothing else.

He could only rely on renting spirit fields to make a living.

Fortunately,

He has excellent talent and potential in planting.

Due to having all five elemental spirit roots, all of which are of high quality, he chose to cultivate all five elements.

He can learn various basic planting techniques.

With his good comprehension, he has learned common basic planting techniques such as the Rain Spell for watering the spirit fields and the Soil Turning Spell for tilling the spirit fields, and he has mastered them well.

Now, he can skillfully use over ten basic planting techniques.

With the help of these basic planting techniques, his spirit field yields far exceed those of ordinary spirit farmers.

If it weren't for his chronic illness, his life would be much more comfortable.

Unfortunately,

He was born with a strange illness.

He is naturally weak!

This strange illness, which many medical cultivators cannot diagnose or cure,

Can only be managed with constant medication and nourishment.

A significant portion of the first-grade Red Sun Grass planted in his spirit fields is consumed by himself.

Despite the good yields from his spirit fields, due to the burden of his chronic illness, he cannot save any spirit stones.

This might be the reason why he was abandoned by his parents.

One illness ruins everything.

Born at the bottom, alone and suffering from a chronic illness, it is extremely difficult to turn things around.

But he still grits his teeth and fights against fate, refusing to give up or wallow in self-pity.

Over the past two years,

Although he hasn't saved much spirit stones, his cultivation has steadily improved, and he has now reached the peak of the Spirit Gathering Realm Second Level!

If he can advance further to the Spirit Gathering Realm Third Level, he will be able to close his eyes and visualize his internal organs and limbs.

Many illnesses that medical cultivators cannot diagnose can often be discovered through self-visualization.

Not only can he identify the root cause of the illness, but he might even find a cure.

Now, he is getting closer to the Spirit Gathering Realm Third Level, and the opportunity to understand the true cause of his chronic illness is approaching!

"Three acres of first-grade lower-class spirit fields, the rent for each acre is four hundred pounds of spirit grain, so three acres would be one thousand two hundred pounds, or one thousand two hundred lower-grade spirit stones!"

The plump immortal lady looked at Lin Yi and said seriously.

"So expensive!"

Many spirit farmers exclaimed in surprise, their tongues wagging.

The rent for spirit fields is four times more expensive than the tribute!

If the planting skills are average, after deducting the planting costs and the high rent, it would be impossible to survive.

"Immortal Lady, did you make a mistake?"

"The rent for my first-grade lower-class spirit fields was originally three hundred pounds of spirit grain per acre, why has it suddenly increased to four hundred pounds?"

Lin Yi frowned and quickly asked.

His spirit field yields are good, and after nourishing his body, he has managed to save nine hundred and sixty lower-grade spirit stones.

According to the original price, after paying nine hundred lower-grade spirit stones for rent, he would still have sixty lower-grade spirit stones left.

Now, it's not enough.

"The rent has increased this year!"

"This is the rule of the Ethereal Sect!"

The plump immortal lady said bluntly.

The Ethereal Sect suffered a heavy loss in the Eight Sects Competition and needs to collect more tribute and rent to cover the deficit.

"Rent increase?"

Lin Yi's face twitched slightly.

This sudden rent increase caught him completely off guard.

He was unprepared.

"I don't have that many spirit stones at the moment."

"Can I pay on credit?"

Lin Yi reacted quickly and immediately negotiated with the plump immortal lady.

All his plans have been disrupted.

"No!"

"The Ethereal Sect does not offer credit!"

The plump immortal lady shook her head coldly.

This is a fixed rule with no room for negotiation.

"Can I rent two acres of spirit fields?"

Lin Yi tried to negotiate, settling for a lesser option.

His body is weak, and he needs to nourish it with first-grade Red Sun Grass.

Renting two acres of spirit fields would at least allow him to nourish his body and stay alive.

"No!"

"Starting this year, you must rent at least three acres of spirit fields. Any less, and we will not rent!"

"Since you don't have the spirit stones, you cannot rent!"

"I will reclaim the land deed jade token!"

The plump immortal lady looked at Lin Yi and said indifferently.

She always follows the rules to avoid trouble.

"Reclaim?"

Lin Yi's face froze.

He relies on these three acres of spirit fields to survive.

He needs to plant first-grade Red Sun Grass to nourish his body and combat his chronic illness.

If the plump immortal lady reclaims these three acres of spirit fields,

Without any income or first-grade Red Sun Grass to nourish his body, how will he survive?

"You can borrow some spirit stones from others first!"

"Pay them back later!"

The plump immortal lady reminded Lin Yi.

As she spoke,

The spirit farmers standing beside Lin Yi immediately turned away.

Helping in emergencies, not in poverty.

Spirit grains, spirit grass, and spirit medicines take several months to mature.

Lending spirit stones to Lin Yi would definitely require waiting several months for repayment.

They can't afford to wait.

"I can't borrow any."

Lin Yi looked at the crowd and shook his head.

His parents abandoned him.

Now, he is alone and a constant user of medicine, and everyone avoids him like the plague, fearing bad luck.

They won't even give him a normal look, let alone lend him spirit stones.

The warmth and cold of human relationships, only he knows.

"Then there's nothing I can do!"

"Please leave!"

The plump immortal lady looked at the crowd and said indifferently, "Next!"

She has seen too many heartaches of low-level spirit farmers.

Everyone has their own fate.

It's not something she can control.

The only one who can save oneself is oneself.

"I..."

Lin Yi looked at the plump immortal lady, opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to beg.

He is used to being self-reliant and has always relied on himself, gritting his teeth to get through.

Even if he asks for help, others won't assist, and it would only invite disgust and rejection.

Given the strict rules of the Ethereal Sect and the plump immortal lady's indifferent nature, even if he begs, she won't make an exception for him.

When one is down, even drinking cold water can cause trouble.

When the roof leaks, it rains all night; when the boat is delayed, it meets a headwind.

Misfortune always targets the unfortunate.

Without his own spirit fields, it is difficult to stand on his own.

Any small unexpected event or any slight adversity, he cannot withstand.

At this moment,

Lin Yi suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, struggling to breathe.

Then,

A strong and familiar feeling of weakness suddenly hit him.

Lin Yi's body swayed, and he could hardly stand.

"Damn!"

"Of all times, it has to happen now!"

Lin Yi's face turned pale, looking extremely weak. He stumbled and fell to the ground hard.

His whole body felt as if it was about to fall apart.

"This is too weak!"

"Can't even stand!"

"Young man, don't be too indulgent!"

The spirit farmers behind him burst into laughter.

"Ugh..."

Lin Yi struggled to get up, staggering towards the Liusu River.

His chronic illness has flared up again.

Each time it flares up, it feels as if something inside him is absorbing his vital energy, spirit power, and consciousness, draining him completely, making him extremely weak.

He must immediately take first-grade Red Sun Grass, sit in meditation, and restore his vital energy.

"Only three left!"

Struggling to the riverside under a weeping willow, Lin Yi sat down, took out a high-quality first-grade Red Sun Grass from his storage ring, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed it.

Then,

He formed hand seals and cast a colorful spirit force shield around himself.

Immediately,

The distant noise disappeared.

The cultivators outside couldn't see what he was doing inside the spirit force shield.

Lin Yi struggled to assume the Five Hearts to Heaven posture, following the rhythm of three long and two short, nine shallow and one deep breaths, to activate the First-Grade Five Elements Heart Method, and worked hard to absorb and refine the effects of the first-grade Red Sun Grass.

After about a quarter of an hour,

A hint of red appeared on his pale face.

The symptoms of weakness were significantly reduced.

Lin Yi continued to activate the First-Grade Five Elements Heart Method, absorbing and refining the surrounding spiritual energy, entering a state of cultivation, and using spirit power to nourish his body.

As the cycles of cultivation passed, his body gradually recovered under the nourishment of spirit power.

At the same time, his cultivation level slowly increased.

After half an hour,

Lin Yi suddenly opened his eyes.

"Actually broke through!"

Lin Yi's eyes shone with joy.

This impromptu cultivation session allowed his cultivation to smoothly advance from the peak of the Spirit Gathering Realm Second Level to the Spirit Gathering Realm Third Level!

At the Spirit Gathering Realm Third Level, his spirit power foundation is deeper, and the effects of various planting techniques are better, significantly increasing the yield of spirit fields!

Unfortunately, he cannot rent spirit fields.

No matter how high his planting skills are, they are useless without a field to apply them.

"My divine sense has also become much stronger!"

Lin Yi felt the changes in himself, full of anticipation, "Now I can close my eyes and visualize!"

He is in this miserable state entirely due to his chronic illness.

Now that he can close his eyes and visualize, he might be able to see the root cause of the illness.

"If I find the cause, there might be a way to cure it!"

Lin Yi couldn't wait and immediately followed the method described in the First-Grade Five Elements Heart Method, activating his divine sense and closing his eyes to visualize.

Soon,

Under the guidance of his divine sense, he clearly saw his internal organs, meridians, blood, and bones, every detail.

These areas had no abnormalities or problems.

Finally,

His divine sense entered his dantian.

In the dantian, there was a cluster of misty five-element spirit power.

"Why is there this thing in my dantian?"

Lin Yi was shocked.

In the middle of the cluster of misty five-element spirit power, he saw something he shouldn't have seen!

——

New book release, still a cultivation and farming story. With the experience of a two-million-word old book, this one will be even more exciting, focusing on cultivation and growth, steady and solid. Brothers and sisters, feel free to collect, the quality is guaranteed!