What could be done with thirty or so spirit stones?
Six Thick Earth Talismans could be bought.
Three hundred catties of spirit rice.
Sixty catties of low-grade beast meat.
And that's it!
If he spent his spirit stones on such things, he would immediately find himself unable to afford even basic meals.
To avoid being kicked out and to stave off hunger, learning a skill that could earn money had become He Song's top priority.
Relying on his predecessor's memories, He Song rummaged through his belongings once more.
By the time he returned to the room's only table, a few items had been added to his meager inventory.
Two crumpled Thick Earth Talismans.
A book titled "Spirit Plant Cultivation Techniques."
A cultivation manual titled "Thick Earth Technique" that could be cultivated up to the Ninth Level of the Qi Refinement Realm.
And the thirty or so spirit stones already on the table.
These items were now He Song's entire fortune.
"After all that effort in my past life to leave the countryside and settle in a big city, am I destined to go back to farming now that I've transmigrated?"
Looking at the "Spirit Plant Cultivation Techniques" book, He Song's expression briefly showed a flash of existential doubt.
Farming wasn't unfamiliar to him. In his previous life, he'd been a rural child, and through osmosis, he'd picked up quite a few farming skills.
But who would have thought that after transmigrating into the body of a cultivator, he'd still need to rely on those same skills?
In the world of cultivation, those who grew spirit rice or other spirit plants for a living were collectively known as Spirit Planters.
While Spirit Planters didn't earn much, their income was relatively stable.
By carefully tending to their spirit plants, they could earn a decent yearly income.
For low-level cultivators, it was a fairly reliable path.
The "Spirit Plant Cultivation Techniques" book had come into his possession because his predecessor had intended to pursue a career as a Spirit Planter.
After a moment of thought, He Song picked up the book and began to study its contents.
The book described the cultivation methods for two spirit plants and the learning techniques for two spells.
"Spirit Rice Cultivation Method"
"Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method"
"Spirit Rain Technique"
"Spirit Arrow Technique"
Spirit rice, once mature, could yield spirit grains, a staple food for cultivators.
Golden bamboo, a specialty of the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, was as tough as iron and used in crafting tools, though it had an extremely long growth period.
The Spirit Rain Technique was a spell for watering spirit plants with spiritual energy.
The Spirit Arrow Technique was a spell used to eliminate pests in spirit farms.
The book also stated that once one mastered the Spirit Rain Technique and the Spirit Arrow Technique and became familiar with the book's contents, they could apply to become an official Spirit Planter with the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
The market would then allocate five acres of spirit farmland and provide the necessary seeds free of charge.
However, upon becoming a Spirit Planter for Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, all cultivated spirit plants would be purchased by the market at 30% of the market price.
For example, spirit rice valued at ten spirit stones per 100 catties would be bought by the market at three spirit stones per 100 catties.
Even with spirit rice yielding a high output of 1,000 catties per acre, a Spirit Planter with five acres could earn, at most, 150 spirit stones per year.
With 120 spirit stones going toward annual rent for living in the market, a year's hard work would leave a balance of just 30 spirit stones.
It was a classic case of "the market pays you, the market takes it back, and you're left with barely anything to show for it."
Yet despite this meager return, many still clamored to become Spirit Planters to stay in the market.
Why?
First, because the market was guarded by Foundation Establishment cultivators, making it exceptionally safe.
Second, because the market's spiritual energy concentration was significantly higher than the outside world, allowing for faster cultivation.
"Forget it. Surviving comes first. Low earnings are fine—after all, I have unlimited lifespan. Qi Refinement cultivators only need to absorb spiritual energy to grow stronger. Since the market offers safety and faster cultivation, I'll stay here for now."
After reading through the "Spirit Plant Cultivation Techniques" book thoroughly, He Song made his decision.
Setting his thoughts aside, he immersed himself in the knowledge the book offered.
The cultivation method for Spirit Rice.
The cultivation method for Golden Bamboo.
Spirit Rain Technique
As his eyes scanned over the descriptions of the Spirit Rain Technique and Spirit Arrow Technique, a flood of insights surged into He Song's mind like a spring bursting forth.
Thanks to his past-life experience with rice farming, he quickly grasped the cultivation method for Spirit Rice.
At its core, Spirit Rice was simply rice infused with spiritual energy. Compared to ordinary rice, they had more similarities than differences.
However, Spirit Rice required cultivation in spirit fields and the irrigation provided by the Spirit Rain Technique.
After fully internalizing the Spirit Rice cultivation method, He Song shifted his focus to practicing the Spirit Rain Technique and the Spirit Arrow Technique.
While the cultivation methods for Spirit Rice and Golden Bamboo needed only an understanding, the two spells were the true keys to becoming a Spirit Planter.
Without these techniques, no amount of study could yield high-quality Spirit Rice or Golden Bamboo.
Spell training, however, required significant time and effort.
Although He Song had immersed himself in the learning process, his low cultivation level meant he still needed to eat.
As evening fell and hunger gnawed at him, He Song was jolted back to reality.
Glancing out the window, he was slightly surprised.
Unknowingly, he had spent an entire day immersed in spell practice.
If not for his hunger pulling him back, he might have continued practicing well into the night.
"So this is what the spells of the cultivation world are like? Channeling spiritual energy and forming hand seals can produce such incredible effects."
The casting method for the Spirit Rain Technique surfaced in his mind. As he marveled, He Song instinctively channeled the spiritual energy within his body and began forming the seals.
This was a subconscious action.
Much like a child who had just received a new toy, he couldn't resist trying it out for himself.
For most cultivators, mastering a spell in just half a day was almost impossible.
Even though the Spirit Rain Technique was considered simple, it typically took a First Level Qi Refinement cultivator at least ten days to half a month to perform it correctly.
However, in the next moment—
Buzz!
A tingling sensation shot through He Song's scalp.
When he looked up, he was stunned.
Overhead, a small cloud resembling a misty wisp hovered silently.
As He Song focused on it, faint tendrils of water vapor began to spread from the cloud.
Plop!
The first drop of Spirit Rain fell from the cloud and landed on his face, snapping He Song back to his senses.
This was... the Spirit Rain Technique!
Although the cloud was small and delicate, its spiritual essence was genuine.
Due to this being his first time casting the spell, his lack of skill resulted in a very small cloud formation.
But a success was a success. The mere fact that he had cast the Spirit Rain Technique meant he had officially begun mastering the spell.
With continued practice, it wouldn't take long for him to produce clouds capable of covering several acres of spirit fields.
The cloud overhead quickly dissipated, but He Song's heart burned with excitement.
This was just the beginning.