The next morning arrived with brilliant golden sunlight streaming warmly through my window, gently waking me.
I felt remarkably refreshed despite the previous night's exertions.
The very first thing I did after waking, washing, and dressing was to go speak directly to the village chief about an important matter that needed to be addressed.
I went quite early in the morning, when the mist still lingered low over the fields like a thick white blanket and most villagers were only just beginning to stir and start their daily routines.
The chief was already fully awake, as always, never one to sleep late.
He sat outside his modest house, sorting methodically through a tall, impressive stack of bamboo administrative records.
When he noticed me approaching along the path, he looked up and nodded in friendly greeting.
"You're here quite early this morning, Shen Yuan," he observed mildly, setting aside his current record.
I bowed slightly and respectfully, showing proper deference to his position.
"Chief, I wanted to inform you of something important. It concerns my fields."
His practiced movements paused immediately, his weathered hands stilling on the bamboo records.
He gestured politely for me to sit on the wooden bench positioned beside him.
I sat down and did not waste time beating around the bush or engaging in excessive pleasantries.
Direct and honest was always best with the chief.
"I've begun cultivating properly and seriously now," I stated clearly and firmly.
"I've made significant progress recently. From this point forward, I will no longer need any assistance from the Spirit Rain Practitioners for maintaining my fields. I can handle all the watering and care myself."
The experienced chief studied me very carefully, his sharp eyes searching my face and posture for any signs of deception or overconfidence.
This was absolutely not the first time ambitious cultivators had spoken grand, lofty words in front of him, making bold claims about their abilities.
Nor was it remotely the first time such confident promises had ultimately failed to materialize into actual results, ending in embarrassment.
But he had known me personally since I was a very small child.
He knew beyond doubt that I absolutely did not speak carelessly or frivolously, and I certainly never made empty, meaningless boasts.
"How confident are you in this decision?" he asked seriously, his tone making clear this was not a casual question.
"Are you certain you can maintain the fields alone without assistance?"
I met his penetrating gaze directly and calmly, my expression completely steady and unwavering.
"Completely confident, Chief. Enough that I am certain I won't waste anyone's valuable time or limited resources."
A long, heavy silence followed as he carefully considered my words and demeanor, weighing the implications.
Then the village chief finally nodded once, decisively.
"Very well, Shen Yuan," he said with finality.
"I'll personally inform the spirit rain practitioners of this change immediately. If anything unexpected changes or you encounter difficulties, report to me without delay."
"I will, Chief. Thank you for understanding," I promised sincerely.
That was all that needed to be said between us.
No excessive suspicion or doubt.
No unnecessary probing questions or demands for proof.
Just quiet, mutual trust built over many years of knowing each other.
The practical effects of that simple decision rippled outward through the village much faster than I had initially expected.
With absolutely no need to regularly assist me anymore, the Spirit Rain Practitioners gradually and naturally reduced their visits to my field over the following days and weeks.
Additionally, the sect envoy Elder Mu, who had originally come to investigate the unusual atmospheric disturbance and recruit promising disciples, had already accomplished her primary purpose and departed the village.
The various disciples and spies from other competing powers, along with the wandering rogue cultivators who had arrived hoping to uncover something valuable or exploit some hidden opportunity in this backwater place, they soon discovered absolutely nothing worth their continued presence or attention.
One by one, they steadily departed.
Elegant flying boats rose gracefully into the sky and disappeared toward distant horizons.
Temporary camps and surveillance posts were systematically dismantled, leaving only bare, empty earth behind.
Suspicious, watchful gazes finally disappeared completely from the village streets and fields.
Within a single month of steady exodus, the entire village had completely returned to exactly what it had always fundamentally been.
Peaceful and quiet.
Ordinary and unremarkable.
Almost boring in its utter normalcy and predictable routine.
And that was exactly, precisely, perfectly how I desperately wanted and needed it to be.
Perfect. Back to normal. No more prying eyes.
My daily routine settled into a steady, comfortable, sustainable rhythm after that watershed moment.
Every single morning, just after dawn broke and painted the sky in gentle colors, I would head out to the fields with purpose.
The children eagerly came along with me as usual, having grown to love these morning excursions.
Mo Fan dutifully carried a small wooden bucket, trying his absolute best to look serious and helpful and adult.
Mo Ling walked happily at the very front of our small group, occasionally stopping suddenly to chase after colourful butterflies and insects or to pick pretty wildflowers growing along the well-worn path.
Her delighted laughter rang out frequently like pleasant bells in the morning air.
They came with me virtually every single morning these days, playing energetically in the nearby creek when I worked, attempting to catch quick fish with their small, clumsy hands or simply splashing joyfully in the clear, cold water.
From the outside perspective, to any casual observer who might happen to pass by, it looked like absolutely nothing more unusual or noteworthy than a simple, humble farmer peacefully tending his modest land with a small group of energetic children cheerfully in tow.
Completely ordinary.
Completely innocent and wholesome.
Utterly unremarkable.
No one watching suspected anything unusual whatsoever about our daily routine.
When we finally reached the fields each morning, I would always first carefully inspect all the crops with meticulous attention to detail.
The regular Jade Spirit Rice swayed gently and gracefully in the morning breeze, its leaves glossy and vibrantly full of healthy life.
The precious Vermilion Blood Rice, planted much deeper within the carefully concealed and protected back section, stood noticeably taller and considerably sturdier than the surrounding jade rice.
Its distinctive stalks were faintly tinted with that characteristic muted crimson hue, but the color was expertly and carefully hidden by the surrounding protective growth of taller jade rice.
I remained absolutely meticulous in every aspect of my care and attention.
Every single small detail mattered critically.
Every tiny sign had to be carefully noted and considered.
I would raise my hands ceremoniously and perform the Spirit Rain Technique with practiced ease, carefully and precisely controlling the exact intensity and coverage area.
Fine droplets of spiritually enriched water descended evenly and gently from seemingly thin air, thoroughly nourishing the thirsty soil without drawing any excessive or suspicious attention from any potential observers who might be watching.
To absolutely anyone watching casually from any distance, the technique looked precisely identical to what any other competent spiritual farmer throughout the region could easily accomplish.
Standard, unremarkable technique application.
Standard, expected results.
Nothing special or unusual.
But beneath the visible surface, where absolutely no casual eyes could possibly see or detect, the specially prepared section soil absorbed far more concentrated spiritual energy than it should have been naturally capable of holding or processing.
The hidden formation did its work silently and efficiently.
After thoroughly watering each carefully designated section, I walked slowly and deliberately between the neat rows of crops, my eyes half-closed in concentration, extending my significantly expanded spiritual sense perception outward carefully like countless invisible, searching fingers probing gently.
Whenever I sensed even the slightest thing amiss, any small problem developing, an insect burrowing dangerously too deep toward the vulnerable roots, a destructive pest attempting to gnaw hungrily at the young, tender stalks, I would immediately act without hesitation.
A single focused thought.
A subtle gesture completely hidden by my long sleeve.
A precisely controlled thread of Sword Qi, completely invisible to any normal vision.
The refined technique I had diligently practiced until it became second nature.
Invisible blades of perfectly compressed and shaped qi swept efficiently through the air with surgical precision and perfect control, instantly erasing troublesome pests without disturbing even a single delicate leaf or precious developing grain.
Clean and efficient.
Perfectly controlled.
Absolutely undetectable.
Eventually, after many weeks of dedicated daily practice and refinement, my spell mastery level had increased significantly from mere basic competence to genuine proficient skill stage.
This welcome advancement allowed me to control the sword qi far more efficiently than before, with dramatically less wasted energy and significantly improved precision.
The children playing nearby never once noticed anything unusual or remarkable about my work.
To their innocent eyes and limited perception, Big Brother Shen simply walked calmly through the fields doing normal farming work, and somehow the plants always remained remarkably healthy and strong and free from pests.
Sometimes young Mo Fan would glance at me with distinct faint awe clearly visible in his bright eyes.
As if somehow vaguely sensing something profound he couldn't quite consciously understand or properly put into words.
Some instinct telling him I was somehow special.
I always carefully pretended not to notice his admiring stares, maintaining my facade.
Time flowed quietly and peacefully onward like a gentle, steady river.
Individual days gradually became full weeks without much fanfare or drama.
Those weeks steadily accumulated into full months almost imperceptibly.
Another complete month passed by in what felt like merely the blink of an eye.
During that entire productive time period, my personal cultivation advanced steadily and reliably, though admittedly not explosively fast or dramatically.
With my truly enormous eighteen-meter dantian, actual cultivation progress was naturally and inevitably slower than ordinary cultivators who possessed normal-sized, standard dantians.
But critically, it was also far more fundamentally stable and absolutely solid.
Every single drop of precious spiritual energy was meticulously refined thoroughly and completely before being carefully absorbed and integrated, leaving absolutely no impurities or flaws behind whatsoever.
My foundation was like perfectly tempered steel compared to the fragile clay foundations of others.
Unshakeable.
Eternal.
And then, one particularly crisp and clear morning as I stood quietly at the edge of my field checking the formation's function, I suddenly felt it.
A distinct, subtle change in the ambient energy flow.
Something significant had shifted.
The land at the back, the specially prepared section where the precious Vermilion Blood Rice grew hidden from prying eyes.
The spiritual energy concentration there was incredibly, remarkably thick.
Far, far denser than it should have been capable of becoming naturally, even with the formation's assistance.
The Vermilion Blood Rice had finally, completely finished its growth cycle and reached full maturity.
It had stopped actively consuming and absorbing the spiritual energy from the formation.
Finally! After two full months of careful cultivation and constant vigilance!
It's ready for harvest!
I deliberately did not bring the children along with me the very next day.
Instead, I gently told them to please stay home and help Grandfather with various small chores and tasks around the house.
They did not question my instructions or seem suspicious, farming schedules came and went somewhat irregularly, and it was definitely not particularly unusual for me to occasionally work alone when needed.
Before dawn had even begun to break, while the entire world was still wrapped in deep darkness and peaceful slumber, I walked alone to the fields.
Moving quietly and carefully.
The world remained completely asleep around me.
Thick mist clung low to the ground like a living blanket, effectively muffling all sound and severely obscuring normal sight.
Even the earliest rising birds had not yet begun their cheerful morning calls.
Perfect conditions for secret work.
Ideal for what I needed to do.
I stepped carefully into the concealed back section, my heart beating faster with anticipation.
The mature Vermilion Blood Rice stood impressively over two full meters tall now, each stalk dense and practically heavy with accumulated life force and vital energy.
Up close, at this intimate distance, the dramatic difference from normal rice was completely unmistakable and impossible to miss.
Each individual stalk radiated pure, concentrated vitality that I could actually feel tingling against my skin.
The distinctive faint crimson veins running along the leaves pulsed softly and visibly, almost hypnotically, like actual living blood vessels actively carrying precious life blood.
It was hauntingly beautiful in a strangely primal way.
I reached out slowly and reverently, brushing my fingers gently against one stalk with deep respect.
Warm to the touch.
Definitely alive with power.
Thrumming with barely contained energy.
I exhaled slowly and deliberately, my breath misting visibly in the cool pre-dawn air.
"So this is it..." I whispered quietly to myself in wonder.
"The culmination of two full months of meticulous planning, constant vigilance, careful concealment from countless prying eyes, burning through expensive spirit stones, and endless patience."
"Finally ready."
I carefully took out the special farmer's sickle provided by the mysterious system from my inventory storage.
Its perfectly maintained blade gleamed faintly even in the darkness, sharp and ready for its purpose.
Without any hesitation or second thoughts, I stepped deeper into the hidden field.
The harvesting work that followed was methodical and focused.
Calm and deliberate.
Almost meditative in its practiced rhythm.
I swung the razor-sharp sickle with perfectly controlled, practiced movements, cutting cleanly through the thick stalks one by careful one.
As each mature plant fell with a soft rustling sound, the system immediately responded with its characteristic efficiency.
Translucent reward cards materialized seemingly at random in the air directly before me, floating gently and glowing softly.
By the time I had completely finished harvesting the entire Vermilion Blood Rice section, I had successfully received two distinct types of valuable reward cards.
Two Blood Energy white cards.
One Vitality Drop green card.
Detailed information about their specific effects, proper usage methods, and important limitations flowed directly into my waiting mind automatically through the system's convenient interface.
I felt my heartbeat quicken noticeably with building excitement and satisfaction.
This! This incredible reward alone made absolutely everything worth it!
Every risk taken! Every spirit stone spent! Every sleepless night!
All of it justified!
After completely finishing the precious Vermilion Blood Rice section's harvest, I moved on efficiently to harvest the regular Jade Spirit Rice remaining in the surrounding protective areas.
This time, I deliberately employed my Spiritual Qi Control technique more extensively, confidently guiding the sharp sickle with multiple invisible threads of precisely controlled energy simultaneously.
The resulting cuts were impossibly clean and precise, remarkably efficient, almost completely effortless compared to purely manual labor.
More reward cards appeared steadily as I worked through the remaining rice.
Three Verdant Dew white cards.
One Rapid Growth green card.
Excellent results!
I paused briefly in my rapid work and looked around very carefully, extending my enhanced spiritual sense to its new maximum range of fifteen meters.
Searching thoroughly for any signs of observers.
The fields remained completely empty in all directions.
Absolutely no one approached or watched.
Perfect.
Good.
Without any delay or hesitation, not wanting to waste this perfect opportunity, I immediately activated one of my precious Rapid Growth cards.
Focusing its powerful effect on the remaining one full mu section of Jade Spirit Rice that still theoretically needed another complete month to properly mature naturally.
The effect was immediate and dramatic and absolutely impossible to miss.
Concentrated spiritual energy surged visibly and powerfully into the targeted plants like a raging flood.
The rice stalks shuddered violently as if struck by gale-force winds, then began growing rapidly right before my amazed eyes.
Leaves unfurled dramatically like flags snapping in strong wind.
Developing grains filled out and ripened completely.
What should have required weeks of patient, careful waiting happened in mere breathtaking moments.
Compressed time.
Accelerated growth.
Miraculous transformation.
I moved quickly and efficiently, harvesting frantically before anyone could possibly arrive and witness the impossible.
More valuable reward cards followed steadily as I worked.
Five Verdant Dew white cards.
Two Rapid Growth green card.
Incredible fortune!
By the time the sun finally rose slowly above the distant horizon, painting the entire sky in brilliant, beautiful oranges and golds, the entire field stood completely empty and fully harvested.
Every single stalk cut.
Every grain collected.
Harvest successfully completed!
After gathering all the cut rice stalks into organized, manageable piles, I began the traditionally laborious process of separating the precious grains from the rice stalks by threshing them.
I worked diligently with my own hands for the main bulk portion, maintaining the appearance of normal work.
But I also cleverly used two separate strands of invisible spiritual energy to simultaneously thresh two more bundles of stalks floating suspended in the air nearby.
Efficient multitasking through cultivation.
Hidden assistance.
Despite the truly enormous total amount of rice requiring processing, I managed to complete the entire intensive threshing process in just one focused hour of concentrated work.
Remarkable speed.
As I finally gathered all the separated grains carefully, separating the two distinct valuable types, I could not possibly suppress my mounting excitement and deep satisfaction.
670 pounds of high-quality Jade Spirit Rice!
105 pounds of rare Vermilion Blood Rice!
An absolutely incredible harvest by any measure!
I couldn't wait to finally taste these precious Tier 2 grains, to directly feel their powerful effects on my body.
Or to try out those valuable new cultivation reward cards the system had generously given me, especially the rare green-grade cards with their enhanced effects.
Even with my special Dust-Free Immortal Body physique providing significant advantages, successfully reaching the peak of the 6th Qi Refining Layer in just two months was absolutely no small feat whatsoever.
The enormous eighteen-meter dantian made steady cultivation progress naturally slower, yes, requiring more energy to fill.
This life, I realized profoundly as I stood there surrounded by heavy bags of grain, the fruits of my labor.
This simple life of peaceful farming, enjoyable cooking, dedicated cultivating, and proper resting with my small found family.
It strengthens my determination and resolve far more effectively than any amount of bitter, harsh training alone ever could have.
Something worth fighting for.
Holding a generous handful of the precious Vermilion Blood Rice carefully in my hands, feeling its characteristic warmth seep gradually into my palms like gentle living fire, I smiled faintly with deep satisfaction.
"Now I can take the next step" I said quietly to the empty field, to myself, to the future.
With these abundant resources and the incredibly powerful rewards from the mysterious system, breaking through decisively to the late stage of Qi Refining realm.
And finally properly starting my long-delayed Body Cultivation was absolutely no longer merely a hopeful question of uncertain if.
It was only a definite question of when.
And that when was very, very soon.