CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 336: SPIRIT RICE VALLEY

"Is this the ’good job’ you spoke of?"

A hint of strangeness on his face, Qi Xiu looked out over the scene.

The vast expanse of farmland stretched out like a green ribbon from the earth, winding towards the horizon.

Within the rice fields, where waves of green shimmered, flowed ethereal waters as crystal clear as the finest liqueurs, nourishing every inch of the land. Above the water’s surface, wisps of mist rose, adding a layer of mystery and vitality to the fields.

Among the paddies, the rice plants stood tall and robust, each leaf radiant with a blend of green and yellow, faintly etched with countless ancient and mystical patterns. Each grain of rice, haloed with light and emitting a strong fragrance, was as large as a fist.

In this field filled with marvels, numerous pint-sized figures scurried about. They wore deep black robes and were round and endearing in build, each holding a variety of strangely shaped Magic Artifacts in their hands—some resembling Ruyi scepters, others like water ladles. These artifacts glittered with curious light under the sun.

The little figures bustled through the rice, either gently waving their Magic Artifacts to drive away pests and treat diseases or scooping up spiritual water to moisten the roots, each movement filled with reverence and care for nature.

"Do you know what this is?"

Standing with his hands behind his back in front of the vast farmland, Daoist Yunxiong turned and asked.

"This is..."

As a flash of purple light crossed his eyes and he deployed the Observing Qi Skill, Qi Xiu looked toward the immense fields again, and his expression suddenly shifted slightly.

He saw that above the rice fields, the surging vitality morphed into a vast sea of undulating light, where the essence of life was almost tangible.

Just a sliver of it was enough to resurrect the dead or mend bones, more effective than even the finest of elixirs.

"Spirit Rice?"

With a slight shift in his gaze, Qi Xiu recalled the relevant knowledge from his vast and complex memory.

"Hehehe, somewhat observant. You haven’t read those books in vain. Indeed, this is the Spirit Rice Valley Fields of our Shenxiao Sect. I’ve spoken with the sect, and soon you’ll be the Agriculture Official of this Spirit Rice Valley."

"Huh? Agriculture Official?"

His face showing surprise, Qi Xiu turned to look at the Spirit Rice before him.

Spirit Rice.

A Divine Marvel grain.

Ordinary people eat grains daily, but cultivators, with physiques far superior to mortals and who breathe in spiritual energy, no longer need to eat.

But Spirit Rice is different.

This Divine Marvel grain embodies the Way of Nature, containing the purest vitality without any side effects.

For cultivators, it is an excellent supplement.

Eating it regularly not only improves one’s constitution and enhances Cultivation—more crucially... this thing prolongs life!

In the vast world, aside from the Primordial Spirit Bosses at the very top, even Dao Experts have only three thousand years of life. Those in the Blood-Stained Realm have no more than eight hundred years.

When one’s lifespan is up, not even the highest Cultivation could prolong life for a moment.

And thus, the life-extending Spirit Rice naturally became a rare Divine Object!

Who would complain about having too long a life?

"Indeed, Spirit Rice is delicious and extends life, but for that very reason, it attracts the covetous gaze of anomalies who steal it again and again. The Agriculture Official’s duty is to guard this Spirit Rice Valley."

As he spoke, Daoist Yunxiong raised his hand and pointed to the little figures working busily in the fields. "Additionally, you must protect these little creatures. Without their daily care and nurturing, the Spirit Rice wouldn’t grow so well."

After explaining everything, Daoist Yunxiong saw that Qi Xiu still looked confused, so he shook his head, stealthily nudged him with his foot, and secretly transmitted his voice, "This Spirit Rice Valley is vast. The harvest varies each year—it’s not a fixed amount. As long as it’s not too far off the mark, not many people care. Understand?"

Hearing this, Qi Xiu instantly grasped his master’s meaning. He’s subtly giving me an advantage, allowing me to benefit from my position!

"Embezzling while on duty still doesn’t seem very appropriate,"

Despite getting his master’s point, Qi Xiu hesitated. After all, such an act didn’t seem very honorable.

"What are you thinking? Do you really think anyone can just come and do this job? I’ll tell you the truth: it’s only the very best of our sect’s Blood-Stained Realm disciples that have the chance to take turns being Agriculture Officials. Your predecessor is about to finish his term. I spent a lot to get you in early; otherwise, you would have had to wait at least another eighty or a hundred years. In a way, the Spirit Rice is the reward for being an Agriculture Official. After all, guarding the Spirit Rice is not an easy task."

Visibly annoyed, Daoist Yunxiong nudged Qi Xiu with his foot again and jingled his purse. The implication was clear: this position as Agriculture Official had cost his master a significant sum.

"I see, then I truly appreciate you going to the expense, Master. Hm? Wait a minute... that’s not right. Isn’t most of your money from the soul-enhancing elixirs made with my Wonderful Medicine Pot..."

Just as he was about to thank his master, Qi Xiu suddenly realized that a good seventy or eighty percent of Daoist Yunxiong’s wealth came from the soul-enhancing elixirs concocted using the Wonderful Medicine Pot.

"Cough cough, we are master and disciple, no need for such formalities," Daoist Yunxiong said, waving his hand and laughing off the subject as he saw Qi Xiu catching on.

"Master, I have another question."

With a smile, Qi Xiu didn’t press the matter further and instead asked about something else, "If the goal of becoming an Agriculture Official is just for the Spirit Rice here, then why not simply buy it with money? Why take such a big detour?"

"That’s what you don’t understand. Although this Spirit Rice Valley looks vast, the Spirit Rice only matures once every thirty years, and each harvest yields only about one million catties. Of that, thirty percent is sent to Supreme Peak for the Supreme Elders whose lifespans are nearing their end, thirty percent is distributed among the Peak Masters of the various peaks, and of the remaining forty percent, half goes to Wanbao Hall, and the other half is stored in the treasury for emergencies. Those two hundred thousand catties of Spirit Rice in Wanbao Hall are as good as gone the moment they’re put up for sale, and even if you’re willing to spend a lot of money, you can’t buy much. Moreover, from the very first day the Spirit Rice matures, the vitality contained within it is the richest, and it gradually fades thereafter. Whoever becomes the Agriculture Official gets to eat the very first and freshest batch of Spirit Rice. This is something no amount of money can buy."

Daoist Yunxiong explained the real benefits of being an Agriculture Official, and Qi Xiu nodded in enlightenment.

"Alright, go back to the peak for now. I have some matters to attend to."

With a wave of his hand, Daoist Yunxiong dispatched Qi Xiu and then turned into a streak of Lei Mang, leaping down into the midst of the Spirit Rice Valley Fields.

It wasn’t long before he found a simple thatched hut located in the middle of the fields, perched on a high mound of earth that resembled a meditation cushion.

"Daoist Uncle Yunxiong? How come you’re here?"

In the vegetable garden cleared in front of the hut was a young man dressed in plain hemp clothes, with sleeves rolled up and hoe in hand, working up a sweat. He put down his work with pleasant surprise upon seeing Daoist Yunxiong’s arrival.

"I happened to be around and came to check on you. The Sect Master said that you attempted to transcend the Dao Body tribulation recently?" Daoist Yunxiong asked with satisfaction in his eyes, smiling. "When you were initiated, the Sect Master said that you had the aptitude for the Dao Body. It seems that his words are about to come true."

"Daoist Uncle is making fun of me. I haven’t really transcended the tribulation; I just tried to step over the threshold, and even that almost destroyed my physical body. I lay in the Hua Sheng Thunder Pond for over a year before recovering."

With a modest smile, the young man changed into clean clothes and invited Daoist Yunxiong into the thatched house. "You have come here for the Agriculture Official matter, haven’t you, Daoist Uncle? My junior brother didn’t accompany you. I wanted to thank him."

"Thank him? Thank him for what?" Daoist Yunxiong asked, sitting comfortably on a wooden stool and accepting the cup of tea the young man handed to him.

"Daoist Uncle may not know, but during the incident at Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, our master intended for me to go. But looking at it now, had I gone, I probably would have died at the hands of those Outer Realm Evil Gods. My junior brother blocked this calamity for me; of course, I have to thank him."

"It turns out there was this connection. Well then, when this junior brother of yours comes to take over your duties, the two of you can have a good chat. Daoist Uncle came to you today because there is actually another matter."

Putting down his teacup, Daoist Yunxiong waved his hands, and countless Divine Lights surged forth, suddenly enveloping the entire thatched house to prevent eavesdropping.

Seeing Daoist Yunxiong act so cautiously, the young man also sat up straight and turned serious. "Please speak, Daoist Uncle."

Daoist Yunxiong’s wrinkled forehead slightly furrowed. Just as he was about to speak, he hesitated several times before slowly saying, "The Sect Master... does he really...?"

The last few words were almost whispered. Upon hearing them, the young man’s pupils trembled slightly as he looked contemplatively at his Daoist Uncle.

"Where did you hear about this?"

"Never mind where I heard it from. Is it true?" Daoist Yunxiong pressed on, his eyes filled with seriousness, seemingly eager to know the answer.

After a long silence, the young man exhaled deeply.

"It’s true."

After returning from the Spirit Rice Valley Fields, Qi Xiu went back to his own residence. After such a long and arduous journey, he was finally greeted by a rare quiet day.

He had been so depleted previously that, upon returning to Yunti Peak, he fell asleep for two whole months. He had no chance to do anything at all.

Now he could finally rest properly.

Lying in his rocking chair that he hadn’t seen in years and looking at the courtyard full of flowers and trees, Qi Xiu slowly closed his eyes, indulging in the tranquility.

「Much time passed.」

He returned to his previous simple yet unhurried leisurely days; his routine consisting of practicing skills, writing, alchemy, and painting.

While other cultivators spent every day wracking their brains on how to improve their Cultivation, Qi Xiu appeared very laid-back.

Having achieved the Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Body, each of his three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan Apertures possessed a hint of Spirit Essence.

Once a Dharma Gate was refined into an aperture, it would self-cultivate, and proficiency would increase on its own.

He just needed to focus on a few Mysterious Abilities.

In such a safe, comfortable, and relaxed lifestyle, Qi Xiu hardly noticed the passage of time. In what felt like the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

As an official appointment letter was delivered to Yunti Peak, Qi Xiu, who was just teaching Qingyi how to write, first curled the corner of his mouth and then sighed silently.

The good days were over.

He couldn’t neglect the efforts of his master, Daoist Yunxiong, so Qi Xiu took up the appointment letter and followed his previous route to the Spirit Rice Valley Fields.

He assumed his post: the Agriculture Official.