Wei Kunyi's suggestion was indeed sowhat novel, yet upon closer consideration, it made perfect sense. Since Old Man Li showed no concern for these ten precious days of cultivation ti that were invaluable to nial disciples, letting them go to waste would be truly regrettable.
Wei Kunyi and Liu Lan arrived at Old Man Li's stone hut and knocked on the door. The straw-hatted elder erged. "What brings you two senior sisters here?" he asked.
Wei Kunyi smiled brightly as she explained their purpose. After so thought, Old Man Li replied, "I've been busy at the market district these days and indeed haven't had ti to tend the spirit fields. You may cultivate there for the next few days while helping deal with pests and rodents. I'll resu watching over the fields myself afterward."
Delighted, Wei Kunyi nodded firmly. "It's settled then!" She imdiately pulled Liu Lan into Old Man Li's spirit fields to begin cultivating. The old man watched them go with a deep, swallowing glance before retreating into his hut.
Witnessing this, Sun Kang frowned slightly as if wanting to speak. Han Yu noticed and asked, prompting Sun Kang to explain quietly, "Junior Brother Li has grown distant from us. Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't. There are things I can only say to you."
"During this cultivation period before the Green Sprout Spirit Rice matures, your individual use won't harm the crops. But with Senior Sister Wei and Junior Sister Liu absorbing spiritual energy simultaneously, the rice yield will definitely suffer—likely dropping below fifty pounds per acre."
"When harvest cos with nothing to show, all will be handed over, leaving no cultivation resources. They'll waste another year or two in stagnation—what a pity!"
Han Yu suddenly understood. Observing Wei Kunyi and Liu Lan, he thought: They know this perfectly well yet said nothing to Old Man Li, still entering the fields together... On the cultivation path, one truly can't rely on others' conscience. Soone like Senior Brother Sun Kang might not appear once in a thousand.
The next morning, Han Yu told Sun Kang about his breakthrough to Qi Refining First Layer, deliberately suppressing his Wind Riding technique to perform it clumsily like a beginner. Sun Kang offered enthusiastic congratulations. Hearing this, Wei Kunyi and Liu Lan erged from Old Man Li's spirit fields to offer smiling congratulations as well, their attitudes noticeably warr.
"From today onward, Junior Brother Han has shed his mortal coil and truly embarked on the cultivation path—what cause for celebration!"
"Indeed, now you're truly our junior brother!" Their words carried an unspoken implication: without reaching Qi Refining, one wasn't truly considered a fellow disciple—only now did he qualify.
Noting their changed attitudes, Han Yu responded politely without considering them true friends.
That morning, a pest infestation arrived—spirit insects first descended on Han Yu's field. He used Wind Riding to gently repel the spiritual pests with controlled breezes, sending them airborne toward Old Man Li's field.
Wei Kunyi glanced up but remained indifferent, continuing her cross-legged cultivation in Old Man Li's field. Despite her earlier promise to handle pests, she'd clearly forgotten, solely focused on absorbing spiritual energy.
Liu Lan paused briefly, seeming conflicted before finally rising to disperse the insects with Wind Riding. The swarm flew off to another distant field, provoking laughter.
"Lu Yun! Stop amusing yourself! Co tend your field—pests are here!" soone shouted.
Yet Lu Yun still didn't erge as before. Many nial disciples chuckled, speculating he was again occupied with vulgar activities indoors. The normally tedious fields gained so fleeting entertainnt because of him.
By afternoon, Wei Kunyi reached her absorption limit first, followed by Liu Lan. The two departed together without waiting for Old Man Li's return or helping guard his fields.
Shortly after they left, a Spirit-Stealing Mouse appeared in Old Man Li's field, noisily gnawing at the Green Sprout Spirit Rice stalks and heads. Passing by, Sun Kang sighed to Han Yu, "Junior Brother Li is too old with poor spiritual roots—I fear he's given up on himself."
When Old Man Li returned later to find the pest ravaging his field, his face darkened montarily before breaking into a smile as he retreated to his hut. Sun Kang took this as further evidence of resignation and left after greeting Han Yu.
But Han Yu understood the real reason for that smile—the mouse served Old Man Li's cultivation better than the rice itself.
That night after practicing the Green Sprout Qi Cultivation Technique and refining the Mystic Heart Fruit's energy, Han Yu replicated and consud Spirit Blood Vine to specifically enhance his Blood Refinent Technique. His cultivation progress brought him closer to Qi Refining Third Layer while advancing Blood Refinent First Layer—his vital essence now totaled eighteen drops.
Tomorrow he could practice the Spirit Refining Technique again to improve his aptitude. Han Yu's cultivation progressed steadily through daily field work, showing little interest in the nial disciples' scheming interactions. Yet he remained wary of conflicts like those between the Demon Blood Sect and Southern Five Sects.
"Caw!" The large and small crows flew through his window. Stroking their iron-hard feathers, Han Yu smiled. "There are spirit insects and Spirit-Stealing Mice in the fields these days—go feast. It might strengthen you."
The crows' eyes brightened at this, cawing excitedly before taking flight. Soon, a rustling of wings sounded as Han Yu looked out to see a murder of crows descending upon the fields under his two crows' leadership.
The commotion drew shouts from so nial disciples, but the crows didn't linger—after catching pests and mice, they vanished into the night. Han Yu marveled at their organized flocking and that many could now catch spirit insects, though only his two crows hunted mice—the rest were clearly transcending ordinary crows.
From initially raising two crows with Spirit Nurturing to now commanding an entire useful murder? As Han Yu prepared to rest, Old Man Li's angry shout ca next door: "Damnable creatures!"
Realization struck—the large crow must have taken the mouse Old Man Li needed for blood extraction, provoking his outburst. When the crow returned, Han Yu specifically instructed it to keep the flock from competing with Old Man Li for prey.
Next morning, Han Yu encountered the departing elder. Their eyes t, Old Man Li's expression dark with unspoken curses before he stord off in silence. Han Yu knew instantly—the elder had seen the large crow last night, realizing Han Yu held another card, hence this reaction.
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