Chapter 145: Chapter 145 New Rice
In the dense forest, a streak of radiance flashed by in an instant.

Like a fish returning to the ocean or a bird soaring through the blue sky, it sped agilely through the towering trees, occasionally sweeping up to the branches, then immediately diving down precipitously.

So nimble, it seemed to possess a true life!

Chit~

A large grasshopper hiding in the bushes was startled by the passing light and leapt into the air, frantically spreading its wings to flee from this terrifying danger zone.

However, just as it had covered about a dozen steps, the light abruptly returned and silently sliced the grasshopper in half without a sound!

The next moment, the silvery radiance suddenly accelerated and appeared before a white-robed cultivator like a bolt of lightning.

The light converged to reveal a two-foot-seven-inch-long flying sword in its true form.

It hovered in midair, blade vibrating with a minimal amplitude, emitting a crisp and pleasant ringing.

Wang Chen smiled slightly and reached out to grasp the flying sword.

A sense of connection, as if of blood and flesh, arose spontaneously, followed by an indescribable joy in his heart.

[Sword Control Technique・Experience +1]

[Sword Control Technique (Minor Achievement): 207/300]

Wang Chen took a deep breath.

As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. Despite the high difficulty of practicing the Sword Control Technique, with persistent efforts, he had brought the skill to more than half its Minor Achievement stage.

Stab, slash, shave, wrap, point, collapse, intercept, press, return—the nine basic movements of the flying sword.

Wang Chen had already mastered all their essential tips.

With the sword he had just completed, he had consecutively applied the techniques of stabbing, shaving, wrapping, intercepting, and returning.

A strike over thirty zhang in distance, executed in one breath!

All the moves of the flying sword’s swordsmanship are derived from these nine basic movements.

No matter what kind of sword force or sword intent is added, the principle remains the same.

Therefore, Wang Chen could now be considered half a sword cultivator!

Only, the consumption of mana was too great. Despite his reluctance, Wang Chen had to sheathe his sword.

Ending today’s practice.

And then he made his way back to the manor along the stream bank.

At this moment, a fluffy white ball jumped down from a tree and landed precisely on his shoulder: “Meep meep.”

Wang Chen reached out to pet the little one.

Yuanyuan had grown.

Its body size had increased a full circle compared to two months ago, its fur color even more beautiful, especially the golden line on its back which was particularly eye-catching, but its cuteness was undiminished!

Moreover, it had become even more alert than before, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, often playing hide and seek with Wang Chen.

Appearing suddenly and then vanishing.

Many times, Wang Chen could only rely on the induction of his Divine Soul to confirm its existence.

Accompanied by this increasingly mischievous little fellow, Wang Chen passed through the orchard and arrived at the edge of the Spirit Fields.

The view opened up suddenly.

A golden wave of rice entered his sight.

The fifty mu of Spirit Fields he had cultivated were almost ready to be harvested!

Since Zhao Huaian had left, Wang Chen’s life had returned to tranquility, without any further twists and turns.

Every day, he took care of the rice fields, practiced his Cultivation Technique and swordsmanship, ignoring the right and wrong within the sect.

His days were mundane yet fulfilling.

Now, the season of harvest had finally arrived!

The next day, Wang Chen requested the help of two professional Valley Guests from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to help harvest his Spiritual Rice.

He didn’t have to lift a finger, as the two Valley Guests managed to harvest and mill all the rice from the fifty mu of Yellow Millet Rice and Black Sesame Rice into Spirit Rice within a single day.

Their efficiency was breathtaking!

Wang Chen had been in the Inner Sect for only a few months and it was his first time planting mid-grade Spiritual Rice.

With the delay in clearing the fields affecting the planting season and not having spent too much time in the Spirit Fields usually, the yield wasn’t high this season.

From the fifty mu of Spirit Fields, he harvested just over ten thousand and five hundred jin of rice.

After de-husking, he ended up with a little more than eight thousand jin of rice.

As for the payment for the two Valley Guests, it was settled directly with the rice bran, and the rest of the rice bran was all exchanged for Spiritual Fertilizer.

This bran, ground into powder to make feed, could be used to feed Monster Beasts like the Flower-spotted Pig.

Although the harvest was not very high, Wang Chen did not need to pay any Spirit Rice as rent for his fields.

Therefore, the eight thousand jin of Yellow Millet Rice and Black Sesame Rice were entirely at his disposal.

Wang Chen did the math.

Subtracting the costs of buying rice seeds and Spiritual Fertilizer, the net profit from selling all the Spirit Rice was at least around four hundred Spirit Stones.

With two harvests a year and a bit more effort, the income from these fifty mu of mid-grade Spirit Fields could fully reach over a thousand Spirit Stones!

Of course, after deducting his own consumption, it wouldn’t be as much.

But compared to when he was in the Outer Sect, it was a world of difference!

That night, Wang Chen steamed a pot of yellow millet and black sesame rice with the newly harvested rice!

Both yellow millet and black sesame rice were medium-grade Spiritual Rice, each with its unique effects when consumed.

But both were suitable for steaming.

Wang Chen laid fine muslin cloth in the steamer, and then placed two jin of yellow millet and black sesame rice soaked in stream water.

He steamed them on high heat for half a two-hour period, and the fragrance of the Spiritual Rice filled the entire mansion.

When the rice was finally cooked and taken out of the pot, Yuanyuan, who always loved only dried monster beast meat, was almost drooling with longing!

It lay on Wang Chen’s shoulder, making bright-eyed “meowing” sounds.

It wanted to eat, wanted it so much!

Wang Chen was so doting on the little creature, of course, he would satisfy it.

He rolled the hot steaming rice into small balls, and then rolled them in a jar of white sugar.

Yuanyuan gobbled down more than half of them in one go!

After steaming, the yellow millet was yellow and clear, each grain looked as if it were carved out of jade, sparkling and transparent, very beautiful.

Its texture was soft and glutinous, with an inherent sweet flavor that made it irresistible.

Black sesame rice, on the other hand, was chewier, and it warmed the stomach when eaten, not only filling but also strengthening Qi-Blood!

Having tasted both types of rice, Yuanyuan clearly preferred the yellow millet.

Wang Chen gave all the yellow millet rice to it, eating only a few bites himself.

After filling its belly, the little one called out to him again.

“I know,”

Wang Chen smiled and tapped its head, “I’ll steam some more.”

It wasn’t that Yuanyuan was gluttonous and wanted to eat more, but it wanted to share some of the yellow millet rice with Old Turtle.

The little one and Old Turtle, it could be said, had become acquainted through conflict.

Since then, Yuanyuan and Old Turtle seemed to have established a bond similar to that of a grandfather and his granddaughter.

It often sneaked off to visit Old Turtle.

At first, Wang Chen was quite worried.

After all, Sunset Peak was far from the entrance of the sect, and he feared some accidents might befall it on the way.

But when he found out Yuanyuan always traveled underground, he let it be.

Speaking of which, the Vermilion Fruit given by Old Turtle was really a treasure. It not only improved Wang Chen’s Root Bone but also caused Yuanyuan to undergo some sort of transformation!

Whether as a person or a mouse, one must know to be grateful.

So Wang Chen steamed a full large basket of yellow millet rice, which he intended to let Yuanyuan deliver later.

He sat in front of the stove, mindful of the fire while cultivating and circulating Qi.

Digesting the black sesame rice he had eaten just before.

This medium-grade Spiritual Rice’s efficacy was several times better than that of the lower-grade White Jade Rice, making it perfect for someone like Wang Chen who was at a high tier of Qi Cultivation and additionally practiced the Vajra Right Method.

He estimated that eating these two kinds of Spiritual Rice every day would further accelerate his cultivation speed.

Breaking through to the eighth tier of Qi Cultivation was just within reach!

…

Since all the Spiritual Rice had been harvested, the next phase was “winter storage”, where there was no more work in the fields.

Therefore, Wang Chen could spare more time to dedicate to cultivating his technique.

The weather was getting colder and colder.

When the first snow of winter began to fall, Wang Chen’s Five Elements Skill reached the pinnacle of the seventh tier!

[Five Elements Skill (7th Tier): 699 / 700]

Inside the quiet room, Wang Chen glanced at the Cultivation Technique column display on the Immortal Cultivation panel, then closed it.

Just 1 point away, the breakthrough was imminent!

This time, Wang Chen was also full of confidence in his advancement.

Unlike previous breakthroughs, he didn’t rent a Cave Mansion, but instead, switched his home’s Spirit Gathering Array to its strongest setting.

Though the consumption of Spirit Stones increased dramatically, the concentration of Spiritual Energy gathered surpassed that of the high-tier Qi Cultivation Cave Mansions in Cloud Mountain City, more than enough to support his upcoming advancement.

The most important source of Wang Chen’s confidence was his Root Bone which had increased to 5 points!

A Root Bone of 5 points should be considered medium-grade.

Not to mention advancing from the seventh to the eighth tier, even going from the eighth to the ninth, and achieving Great Perfection wouldn’t pose a significant obstacle.

In fact, Wang Chen’s Root Bone had already surpassed that of most low-level cultivators!

If he didn’t even have this bit of confidence, he might as well buy a block of tofu and smash his head on it.

Closing his eyes, Wang Chen expelled all distractions from his mind, soon entering a deeply focused meditative state.

Pure Mana flowed into his organs and limbs, circulating ceaselessly in the Eight Extra Meridians.

He gathered his power again and again, launching assaults toward a higher realm!

——–

First update delivered.