Chapter 192: Harvesting

"Junior Brother Chen, have you ever studied the legacy of a Spirit Planter?""No, I've just been interested in farming since I was a child."

Beside a spiritual field in Giant Tree Ridge, Chen Mobai was conversing with two disciples from the Divine Wood Sect's Spirit Cultivation Department. In front of them were three acres of fully matured Jade Bud Spirit Rice.

The air was filled with a refreshing aroma of rice. As far as the eye could see, there was a golden-yellow sea of rice. Full, heavy rice ears hung down naturally like grains of gold, forming perfect arcs. They swayed continuously with the gentle forest breeze, creating an undulating wave of gold.

This scene of abundant harvest greatly pleased the two Spirit Cultivation Department disciples from the Divine Wood Sect who had come to inspect the spiritual field's yield.

One of the disciples plucked an ear of rice, feeling the plump grains within the husks in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.

"Senior Brother Chen, would you be willing to join our Spirit Cultivation Department?""Well, I enjoy farming, and there are still seven acres of Jade Bud Spirit Rice here that are about to mature. I can't leave because of potential pest infestations."Chen Mobai's sole purpose for joining the Divine Wood Sect was the Foundation Establishment Pill, and he was unwilling to waste time elsewhere.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother Chen. Our Spirit Cultivation Department doesn't have strict attendance rules; it's quite free once you join. Moreover, any disciple of our Spirit Cultivation Department can access the legacy of a Spirit Planter from the Scripture Pavilion for free. There's also an annual stipend of one hundred spirit stones, which can be combined with other sect benefits."

Hearing the words of Senior Brother Lu Jun, Chen Mobai was somewhat moved. He wasn't interested in the Spirit Planter's legacy, as the Immortal Sect offered superior alternatives. The key was the additional income of one hundred spirit stones annually. Although he was currently quite wealthy with over a thousand spirit stones, no one would ever complain about having more.

"Senior Brother Lu, besides the benefits, are there any other tasks in the Spirit Cultivation Department?"Chen Mobai decided it was better to clarify first, as there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Occasionally, if there are problems with spiritual fields or medicinal fields within the sect, our Spirit Cultivation Department disciples are needed to resolve them. Junior Brother, I dare say your farming skills are unmatched in the entire Spirit Cultivation Department."

Lu Jun's words were very clear: he was impressed by Chen Mobai's farming skills and wanted him to guide other farming disciples within the sect to see if yields could be improved.

"This... I'm at a critical point in my cultivation and might not be able to afford distractions."If it were just guiding one or two people, Chen Mobai could accept it, but if he had to travel throughout the entire Divine Wood Sect, he would respectfully decline.

"Junior Brother Chen, please give it some more thought."Lu Jun had only mentioned it casually, and since Chen Mobai didn't seem very interested, he didn't press the issue further.

"Junior Brother Teng, let's harvest these three acres of Jade Bud Spirit Rice."Lu Jun and the other junior brother from the Spirit Cultivation Department summoned two sickles and began to control their magic tools to harvest the three acres of ripe spiritual field.

Divine Wood Sect disciples could claim spiritual fields for cultivation and receive rice seeds and formations, but at harvest time, personnel from the Spirit Cultivation Department were required to perform the harvesting. At that time, the Spirit Cultivation Department would settle the sect contribution points on the spot based on the harvested yield.

Lu Jun and his companion seemed to do this frequently; they were quick and finished in just two hours. However, Chen Mobai still muttered inwardly that it was too slow. If he could use a harvester from Earth, one person could finish harvesting these three acres in half an hour.

"A total of 458 jin, with a yield of 150 jin per acre – this has already broken the sect record for spirit rice!"After weighing, the other Spirit Cultivation Department disciple, Teng Jie, looked utterly astonished.

The market price for Jade Bud Spirit Rice was one low-grade spirit stone for 10 jin. This meant that the three acres harvested here, plus the seven acres of spiritual fields about to mature, represented a crop worth 150 spirit stones. What had the Divine Wood Sect paid for this? Only some inexpensive rice seeds and a set of low-grade, first-tier Azure Light Formation. The Azure Light Formation was indeed worth 50 spirit stones, but its ownership still belonged to the Spirit Cultivation Department, and they could reclaim it at any time. This meant their cost was essentially only a few spirit stones for the rice seeds.

This person was naturally suited for their Spirit Cultivation Department. The two exchanged glances. Lu Jun, who had initially extended the invitation to Chen Mobai to join the Spirit Cultivation Department quite casually, now felt that his attitude might not have been sincere enough.

"Junior Brother, did you cultivate these seven acres of spiritual fields yourself?"Since the claim documents only listed three acres, theoretically, the crops in the remaining seven acres belonged entirely to Chen Mobai. Lu Jun remembered this clearly because he had been the one to harvest the three acres here when they last matured, and the yield had been very ordinary, only 80 jin per acre.

"Exactly. Farming is only busy during planting; otherwise, it's just using spirit needle techniques to kill insects and water the plants. In my spare time from cultivation, I'd pick up a hoe and cultivate some nearby wasteland, considering it a way to supplement my cultivation."Chen Mobai answered truthfully.

The Divine Wood Sect's Spirit Cultivation Department managed thousands of acres of medicinal fields in Giant Tree Ridge, so why would they pay attention to his small seven acres of spiritual fields? However, he didn't realize that while the Spirit Cultivation Department focused most of its energy on spiritual herbs in their thousands of acres of medicinal fields, hundreds of acres of spiritual fields had been left neglected due to a lack of manpower.

If these desolate spiritual fields could all be managed by Junior Brother Chen, even if he only planted the most basic Jade Bud Spirit Rice, they could yield thousands of spirit stones annually. After deducting what was submitted to the sect's three great halls, their Spirit Cultivation Department could still receive half. Even after layers of exploitation, at least dozens of spirit stones would reach the hands of disciples like them.

This farming genius must be in their Spirit Cultivation Department.

"Junior Brother Chen, we've been harvesting for half the day and are a bit thirsty. Would it be possible to get some water?"Just as Chen Mobai was wondering why the two hadn't left yet, Lu Jun suddenly touched his forehead, feigning sweat, and asked for water.

"Please."Chen Mobai immediately scooped two large bowls from the big water vat by the door and offered them.

"Junior Brother Chen, I'll be frank with you. Someone with your talent absolutely must join our Spirit Cultivation Department. Otherwise, if the Sect Master found out, he would surely blame our department head for letting a capable person go to waste. Whatever requests you have, feel free to tell me. I'll fulfill whatever I can promise. For anything I can't promise, I can apply to the department head."

Hearing Lu Jun's sincere words, Chen Mobai found it a little strange. Was he really so popular just because he was good at farming? However, since they had already said so much, he might as well just make a casual request.

"I want a Foundation Establishment Pill."Upon hearing this, Lu Jun nearly choked. This request was something he couldn't grant, and it was likely beyond the power of even the three Foundation Establishment elders of the Spirit Cultivation Department.

"Junior Brother Chen, if you want a Foundation Establishment Pill, then all the more reason you should join our Spirit Cultivation Department."Just as Lu Jun shook his head and was about to leave, Teng Jie, who had been standing by, suddenly spoke up.