The next day, in the morning, Li Mu sowed the Wind Spirit Grass seeds in the spiritual field.
Li Mu stood by the spiritual field, forming hand seals with both hands, releasing the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique.
A surge of spiritual power was released, and a gentle breeze appeared out of nowhere above the spiritual field, bringing a trickle of spiritual rain that lasted for over thirty breaths.
Li Mu couldn't help but reveal a slight smile; he had finally increased the duration of the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique. The amount of rain had also increased significantly. This was partly due to Zhang Laotou's insights into the technique and also due to continuous practice during this period, accumulating proficiency, which led to the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique leveling up.
After the spiritual rain summoned by the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique stopped, Li Mu released it once more, continuing to water the Wind Spirit Grass seeds with spiritual rain.
To make the Wind Spirit Grass seeds sprout and grow luxuriantly, in addition to the fertile soil of the spiritual field, they also needed abundant water.
Morning, noon, and evening, three waterings with spiritual rain were required to maintain the spiritual field's humidity. No other work was needed, as the strong vitality of the Wind Spirit Grass would compete with other weeds for survival space, and pest infestations were almost nonexistent.
After watering the Wind Spirit Grass, Li Mu went to another spiritual field and began tilling and fertilizing the soil in preparation for sowing the Emerald Spirit Fruit. Unlike the resilience of the Wind Spirit Grass, the Emerald Spirit Fruit had underdeveloped roots and required higher quality soil and spiritual field fertility.
"Zhao Xiaoge! You're already starting to sow!" Zhang Laotou, carrying large and small bags, appeared beside the field at some point, smiling as he watched Li Mu till the soil.
"Zhang Lao, are you leaving?" Li Mu stopped his work.
"Yes! I'm leaving. Whether I leave early or late, I'm leaving! I've tidied up the courtyard for you. You can tidy it up again when you have time. In the future, build a fence along the path up and down the mountain, and this whole mountain will be yours!" Zhang Laotou smiled as he bid farewell to Li Mu.
"Zhang Lao, I'll see you off!" Li Mu quickly stood up.
"No need, no need, you continue working! Work hard, do well, find a Dao Companion early, and build a Cultivation Family with her." Zhang Laotou waved his hand, smiling as he blessed Li Mu, and then, with a bent back, he left alone in a disheveled manner.
Having been a spirit rice farmer for half his life, Zhang Laotou had long experienced the hardships of immortal Cultivation life.
Li Mu now was like him when he first entered the Qingxuan Sect, toiling hard in the fields, hoping for a day when he could turn his fortunes around. However, Utility Disciples like them, without Aptitude or background, were destined to spend their lives selling their labor, contributing to the Cultivation Sect, with little chance of rising.
Every year, new people continuously entered the 'Qingxuan Sect.' When their physical strength and youth were exhausted, and they became old and frail, they were forced to leave, just like an inescapable cycle of Reincarnation.
Watching Zhang Laotou's lonely figure struggling to carry his luggage and depart, Li Mu somehow thought of those old migrant workers from his original world who struggled in big cities but ultimately couldn't live there and were forced to return to their villages, helpless and alone.
Li Mu gave a self-deprecating smile. If he didn't have the proficiency panel, with his Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root Aptitude, he would probably end up like Zhang Laotou in his later years!
Before nightfall, Li Mu quickly finished tilling one mu of spiritual field, sowed the Emerald Spirit Fruit spiritual seeds, and released two Qingfeng Huanyu Techniques before finally completing a day's labor.
Li Mu returned to his courtyard and began cooking spiritual rice in front of the stove.
A short while later, a pot of fragrant spiritual rice was ready. After Li Mu enjoyed his meal, he did not Cultivate the Qingmu Spell. Instead, he closed his eyes and began practicing the Quenching Spirit Art.
Cultivation could be improved through Heavenly Talent - Plant Spirit Extraction, so Li Mu was too lazy to Cultivate Cultivation Techniques and instead focused on the Cultivation of the Quenching Spirit Art.
About an hour passed, and Li Mu opened his eyes, having completed the Cultivation of the Quenching Spirit Art.
Li Mu looked at the character log on the virtual screen.
【You have successfully practiced the «Quenching Spirit Art», Quenching Spirit Art proficiency +1.】
Seeing this single point of proficiency, Li Mu felt a bit depressed. Only one point of proficiency increased, and it would take three months to raise the Quenching Spirit Art from beginner to Level 1 before it would benefit his Divine Sense. This Cultivation Technique was too difficult to Cultivate.
He wondered what attributes he would gain from Plant Spirit Absorption of Emerald Spirit Fruit and Wind Spirit Grass. If Cultivation points could be converted into proficiency, then farming would be enough in the future, and he wouldn't have to painstakingly Cultivate these Cultivation Techniques.
Everything still needed the test of time. Li Mu stopped fantasizing and sat down at the workbench specially made for talisman crafting. He picked up the wolf hair talisman brush and began drawing Exorcism Talismans.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month and a half passed.
The Wind Spirit Grass in the spiritual field where it was planted was growing exceptionally well, with thick roots, strong leaves, and a lush green color, swaying in the wind.
Li Mu formed hand seals and released a Qingfeng Huanyu Technique above the spiritual field, summoning a shower of spiritual rain the size of rice grains, completing the midday watering.
Then, Li Mu walked towards another spiritual field, preparing to check the growth of the Emerald Spirit Fruit.
During this period, Li Mu performed the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique eight or nine times a day, without fail. At the same time, Li Mu also Cultivated the Mystic Water Art to introductory level and recorded it on his character panel.
With the blessing of his fifth-level Cultivation spiritual power, the amount of rain summoned by the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique had significantly increased.
Initially, Li Mu did not want to Cultivate the Mystic Water Art because it was a Low Grade Yellow-tier Cultivation Technique, similar to the Qingmu Spell, and Li Mu disliked it for being too low-end.
However, in Zhang Laotou's recorded insights, the Mystic Water Art was key to increasing the amount of spiritual rain, and Li Mu happened to have a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root that allowed him to Cultivate it, so he reluctantly Cultivated the Mystic Water Art to introductory level.
Li Mu could now gain Cultivation points through Plant Spirit Absorption, saving him the time of arduous Cultivation to improve his Cultivation. Cultivating one more Cultivation Technique wouldn't delay him much.
Not long after, Li Mu arrived at the spiritual field where the Emerald Spirit Fruit was planted and checked the state of the Emerald Spirit Fruit seedlings, his brows furrowing tightly.
Most of the Emerald Spirit Fruit seedlings were still in good condition, but some seedlings had yellow leaves and had withered overnight, despite being fine yesterday.
Li Mu gazed at the diseased Emerald Spirit Fruit, and immediately understood the cause of their illness.
"Affected by impure spiritual power, partial blockage of the root system, and infectious disease in the plant."
After checking the status attributes of several diseased Emerald Spirit Fruit, Li Mu immediately felt a headache coming on.
"This disease is contagious?"
Li Mu immediately became anxious, rushed back into the house, and began rummaging through boxes and cabinets, searching for spiritual plant cultivation books to find a cure.
Li Mu did not find a cure for the Emerald Spirit Fruit in the spiritual plant books left by the original owner. However, in the «Spiritual Plant Disease Treatment Insights» book given to him by Zhang Laotou, he found a method to cure the diseased Emerald Spirit Fruit seedlings.
First, use an exorcism spell to remove the evil and impure spiritual power from the diseased plants and the vicinity of the spiritual field, then prepare and water them with spiritual cultivation water to heal the diseased Emerald Spirit Fruit plants.
Li Mu didn't know how to perform an exorcism spell, and he had no spiritual cultivation water in stock, so he could only make another trip to Qing'an Town.
Li Mu took his Spirit Stone bag, locked the courtyard gate, and hurried towards Qing'an Town.
On the way, several Cultivators at Qi Refining Level Six or Seven flew over Li Mu's head on Flying Swords, filling Li Mu with envy.
During this time, Li Mu diligently practiced the Sword Control Technique every day. Now, his Sword Control Technique had already advanced to Level 2. Unfortunately, his Cultivation was still a bit lacking, and he couldn't yet fly with a sword.
However, the improvement at Qi Refining Level Five was still very noticeable.
Li Mu's pace quickened significantly, and he reached Qing'an Town in half the time it would normally take him over ten minutes to walk.
After paying one broken Spirit Stone as an entry fee to the town, Li Mu headed straight for the only Cultivation Technique shop in the town.