Bai Zichen leaned against a large, shaded boulder, feigning sleep with his eyes closed.

’I never thought something as simple as farming could have so many subtleties... The path of a Spirit Plant Master is no simple matter.’

Among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, Alchemy was the most sought-after by ordinary Cultivators, while Array Masters were the most vital to any major power.

The skills of a Spirit Plant Master were looked down upon by most because they couldn’t be directly converted into combat strength.

But Bai Zichen had found inspiration in Elder Tong’s earlier words. Perhaps the conventional path for Spirit Plant Masters was wrong.

Currently, Spirit Plant Masters all focused on cultivating High-Tier Spirit Plants. Topics like how to shorten the growth cycle of Thousand-Year-Old Spirit Medicine or how to reintroduce extinct Ancient Spirit Plants by adapting them to the current environment were the most popular subjects among High-Tier Spirit Plant Masters.

’But what if one took a different approach and specialized in Low-Tier Spirit Plants? For instance, what if someone could find a way to multiply the yield of Tier One Spirit Rice several times over?’

’A Tier One Spirit Rice like Blood Ginseng Rice has little effect if only eaten for a meal or two. It must be consumed consistently over many years to greatly benefit a Cultivator’s physical fortitude.’

But even for a powerhouse like the Qingfeng Sect, the hegemon of Black Mountain County, the annual Spirit Rice harvest was barely enough to support its core members.

The supply was even rationed for Inner Sect Disciples, let alone making it available to everyone.

’If there were a breakthrough in the yield of Low-Tier Spirit Rice, benefiting the rank-and-file disciples, the Qingfeng Sect’s power would surely leap to a new level within a century.’

’If a breakthrough in quality was impossible, then the answer had to lie in quantity.’

As Bai Zichen’s thoughts drifted, contemplating the possible future of Spirit Plant Masters, he kept his Divine Sense alert.

When he sensed the two Divine Sense markers he had left behind finally appear, his mind snapped to attention.

"Damn it! We’re both on the waiting list... Brother, I say we forget about being servant disciples. Isn’t it better to be free?"

The younger Que brother spat resentfully.

The Que brothers hadn’t passed the servant disciple assessment outright and were on the list of candidates awaiting a final decision.

"We could just hunt a couple of Demon Beasts, spread some rumors, and lure those brainless rookies into the mountains. One good score and we’re set for half a year. Why should we go to the Qingfeng Sect and take their crap!"

"That line of work is getting harder and harder. We almost got burned last time, remember?"

The older Que brother touched the scar on his forehead, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes, and patiently explained to his sibling.

"And now, with all these powerful outsiders around, if we pick the wrong target and run into someone tough, it’s all over for us!"

"Once we become Qingfeng Sect disciples, even as servant disciples, we’ll at least be able to sleep soundly at night."

"Besides, I slipped that Steward five Spirit Stones before I left to get the inside scoop. We were only put on the waiting list because our backgrounds are vague and there’s no one to vouch for our supposed line of work."

"But the backstory we came up with is ninety percent true and ten percent false; the Qingfeng Sect will never find anything wrong with it. In a few days, we’ll shed our old skins and get a taste of life as Sect Disciples!"

The younger Que brother knew his older brother had long felt that life as a Tribulation Cultivator wasn’t a sustainable path. Unable to change his mind, he could only nod in resignation. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I’ll listen to you, Brother. It’s just a shame that once we’re Qingfeng Sect disciples, that extra income stream will dry up."

"Who says we won’t have any windfalls in the future?"

The older Que brother’s expression turned vicious, and the scar on his face seemed to squirm like an earthworm.

"Sect Disciples are much wealthier than those Loose Cultivators out there... Who’s there? Show yourself!"

A pebble clattered, bouncing twice in front of the Que brothers before coming to a stop.

"You’re about to join the Qingfeng Sect and you’re already planning to continue your careers as Tribulation Cultivators... I should really commend your dedication. You truly love your work, don’t you?"

Bai Zichen said calmly, standing atop the massive boulder.

"I wonder what the Qingfeng Sect would do if I reported that two Tribulation Cultivators were trying to infiltrate their ranks?"

"It’s you, you little punk!"

The younger Que brother recognized him instantly. He was one of the Loose Cultivators from the tea stall a couple of days ago, the one who had pissed him off.

"Don’t waste your breath on him. Kill the kid and let’s get out of here. We’re too close to the Qingfeng Sect; someone could come by at any moment!"

The older Que brother froze for a second. It was unnerving to run into someone in the middle of nowhere. But the kid was clearly just at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Even with a powerful Magical Artifact, he stood no chance of overcoming the Que Family’s Twin Wolves.

The Que brothers were seasoned Tribulation Cultivators and worked in perfect concert.

The older brother slapped his waist and produced a palm-sized Gourd. A cloud of poisonous smoke billowed out, enveloping Bai Zichen in the blink of an eye.

The younger brother, meanwhile, summoned a heavy shield the size of a door, clutched two Talismans in his hand, and charged forward.

Fireball Technique, Ice Cone Skill, Golden Needle Technique...

He unleashed a series of offensive Talismans, their trajectories subtly varied to ensure Bai Zichen would be hit no matter which way he dodged.

The Que brothers had been through countless battles—not the formal Combat of an arena, but true life-and-death struggles. They had even worked together to ambush and kill a master at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit.

This was the simplest lesson their years as Tribulation Cultivators had taught them.

Therefore, even against a lone rookie at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, the Que Family’s Twin Wolves attacked with everything they had, with no intention of toying with their prey.

’Nice coordination. A truly airtight assault.’

Bai Zichen appeared relaxed, but he had already extended his Divine Sense, taking in the Que brothers’ every move.

With a point of his finger, the Flying Sword shot from his sleeve. It transformed into a streak of inky-jade light, drawing a circle in the air and annihilating all of the incoming Magic.

Then, with another twist, it moved like a flash of lightning, appearing beside the younger Que brother.

With a single strike, the heavy shield let out a mournful cry as its protective Spirit Light shattered.

With the second strike, the shield exploded into fragments. The inky-jade light, its momentum unchecked, wrapped around the younger Que brother.

The Sword Light’s astonishing power traced a thin, red line across his waist. The next moment, his body split in two and fell to the ground with a wet THUD.

"Second Brother!"

The older Que brother cried out. It had all happened too fast. One moment, they were executing the same practiced maneuvers they always used to kill weak Loose Cultivators; the next, his brother was dead before his very eyes.

His scalp went numb, and an icy chill shot up from the depths of his heart. As fast as he could, he fumbled for a Bone Whistle inside his robes, raising it to his lips.

BOOM!

Before he could make another move, a sharp pain blossomed in the older Que brother’s chest. He looked down to see a gaping hole where his torso should have been. The inky-jade light had already passed through him.

’So fast...’

The older Que brother’s hands went limp. The Bone Whistle and Gourd Magical Artifact tumbled to the ground. His body collapsed, and his blood instantly stained the grass red.

Bai Zichen commanded the Sword Light to sweep up the Que brothers’ storage bags and the Magical Artifacts on the ground. Without a second glance, he recalled the Sword Light, slapped a Divine Movement Talisman on himself, and vanished into the forest with a few quick leaps.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a Flying Ship descended onto the mountaintop, and several Qingfeng Sect disciples jumped out.

Seeing the gruesome scene, one of them quickly pulled the pin on a signal flare, releasing a warning.

The lead disciple remained calm. He approached the two corpses and observed them closely for a long while, even prodding at the mangled flesh with his hand.

’Incredible killing power... and what terrifying speed... They were killed almost simultaneously. Could this be the work of a Tribulation Cultivator at the Qi Refining Great Perfection stage?’