Song He's chosen cave was actually located in a valley, and the sole entrance to it was represented by the seemingly tranquil but extremely deep river at the front of the valley.
The inside of the valley held spirit fields that hadn't been "enlightened" and basic cave facilities. Overall, it was considerably spacious, but what the Spiritual Leaf Sect didn't lack was land.
Expansive land was actually of no use.
Whether there were spots where spirit Qi gathered to make up the spirit fields, that was what truly mattered.
Without spirit fields, one couldn't plant most Spirit Plants, and without a harvest, one couldn't keep up with the rent. No matter how vast, the land would just be for show.
This place was a distance from the nearest neighboring cave of another, requiring a little walk to reach. Secluded and tranquil, it was a perfect spot for quietly tending the fields.
Especially for cultivators like Song He who had carefully selected a variety of unique spirit seeds, such a place was very suitable for him.
Song He, under the guidance of Senior Brother Jiang, toured inside his own cave and was quite pleased.
A hundred Spirit Stones for a month's rent for such a large area of land.
He felt it was a steal.
It wasn't like buying a cave, more like claiming a piece of land and becoming a king of the mountain.
But the one thing that he was slightly dissatisfied with was—
The cave he was to live in.
Calling it a cave, it indeed was just a few holes dug into the cliffside. Damp and cold inside, completely bare, without even a straw mat; it was a true "cave" indeed.
It had a type of desolate beauty.
Standing in the cave, Senior Brother Jiang pointed around and asked,
"Junior brother, do you find this cave too rudimentary?"
"Yes," Song He recognized he hadn't reached a phase where he could relinquish the enjoyment of material desires. After all, wasn't the purpose of cultivation to achieve freedom and ease?
Why make life difficult and torment oneself?
"This cave is just for rent, and given its mediocre status, the living quarters are nothing more than a formality. Other brothers who rent caves all build their own dwelling places.
There are plenty of people in the Deacon Hall who take these kinds of commissions. Even if junior brother wants to build a palace of gold, it would only cost a few dozen Spirit Stones," Senior Brother Jiang said.
"...Let's not, palaces aren't exactly pleasant places to be in, but building a few houses is still necessary," Song He retorted.
Song He didn't ask for Senior Brother Jiang's help with this minor matter; he could just go and see for himself later. He couldn't keep asking for help for every little thing.
Senior Brother Jiang smiled faintly and said no more.
He then took his leave,
"Since junior brother still has things to do, I'll take my leave. If there's anything needed, just come to the Deacon Hall to find me."
"Thank you, elder brother. Once I settle down here, I'll invite you over for a meal," Song He replied.
Considering that Senior Brother Jiang's family owned a restaurant, he might enjoy various delicacies. Moreover, there was no more appropriate and natural gesture than inviting someone to a meal.
With no money in his pocket to buy exotic Spiritual Tea or Spiritual Wine, there was no need to put on airs.
The occasion of moving in was also a good excuse.
So better to simply invite him for a meal.
"Okay," agreed Senior Brother Jiang, nodding as he already started walking away. After all, this was akin to leaving his post unattended; if someone came, it would surely lead to some disputes.
Song He watched him leave, then activated the array to conceal the place, and went straight to the spirit fields.
Firstly, he checked out those two mu of Class II spirit fields.
They were placed within a creek that encircled them. The two patches of land looked bare in stark contrast with the surrounding lush vegetation.
But a slight sensing revealed the copious spirit Qi within.
The ground showed faint markings of arrays.
"Locking Spirit Array, sigh, cultivating these two fields won't be easy either," Song He mused.
Honestly sitting cross-legged in front of the spirit fields, the spirit Qi within him stretched slowly into them. The invisible restraints inside the fields broke effortlessly under the infusion of his spirit Qi.
Subsequently, his spirit Qi slowly permeated the interior of the spirit fields.
The land, originally hard, began to soften, starting from the edges, it was as if it shed a layer of grey membrane, turning vibrant and full of life.
This was the result of the Locking Spirit Array symbols in the spirit vein being broken, and the spirit fields being imbued with his unique spirit Qi.
The speed of the transformation was quite slow.
By Song He's estimation, the process would take at least half a day.
It was a time-consuming project, but Song He did not dare to slack off, pouring all of his spirit Qi into the spirit field.
He meticulously sensed every bit and thread of it.
The spirit field is the most precious possession for every spirit planter.
Without exception.
Besides the Class I spirit fields open to all disciples of the sect, the Class II spirit fields require the spirit planters themselves to "enlight" them with their own spirit Qi.
In this way, the Spirit Plants growing within the spirit field would become familiar with the spirit planter's fluctuations of spirit Qi, and the spirit planter himself would also enhance his control over the spirit field.
Later on, whether it was casting spells to assist the Spirit Plants in growing or seeking out pests hidden within, it would all be a bit easier.
Incidentally, it is also because of this enlightening ceremony for the spirit field that the attributes of the spirit field tend to differ based on the Cultivation Techniques of the spirit planters.
Even the unique spirit Qi of the spirit planters could affect the final quality and growth speed of the Spirit Plants.
Simply put, the higher and more special the Class of the Cultivation Technique, the purer the cultivated spirit Qi, and the greater the impact on the Spirit Plants.
Of course, what Song He cultivated was the Grass Flower Magic, the most widely spread Cultivation Technique within the sect, so naturally, it would not have any effect on increasing quality and growth speed.
The breeze blew by, and as the sun hung high and then gradually sank westward, half a day passed by in the blink of an eye.
Song He sat cross-legged, and the land before him was now gleaming with spiritual radiance.
Faint spirit Qi like the quality of jade streamed and rose through the black soil, covering it with a thin film. Some sprouts' phantom images were even emerging from the soil, quietly germinating.
The emergence of sprouts symbolized that the locking Spirit Talisman formation inside had been broken, and the enlightening was successful.
The highest grade spirit field according to legend is called the "jade field and immortal soil," and this was precisely where the name originated.
After spending half a day, he had barely managed to enlighten a Class II spirit field. His inner spirit Qi was completely drained, yet the total amount of spirit Qi circulating through his meridians and Dantian increased slightly.
The reason was that during the enlightening process, he inevitably absorbed some spirit Qi from the Spirit Vein of the earth, which was one of the benefits of enlightening a spirit field.
If it weren't for the fact that a spirit planter himself had to enlighten spirit fields of Class II and above, and that the gains from enlightening Class I spirit fields were minimal, probably many would volunteer to enlighten fields instead.
"Phew, I'll plant this Wood Gourd first, then go back and move all the other Spirit Plants over here."
Song He took out a Wood Gourd seed that he had always carried close to him.
After looking at it for a good while,
after much hesitation, he finally decided to apply the "Atavism" tag to the seed.
Keeping the tag without using it was a bit tantalizing for him, and at the moment, this seemed the most suitable option.
The seed was already Class III, and if it could trigger the tag, it would probably be exaggerated.
By the time it truly grew enough to trigger the tag, he guessed he would have already gained enough resources through the panel.
He didn't think he was lucky enough to trigger it immediately, as that would require an extraordinary amount of luck.
As for the Spirit Enhancing Lotus...
Though it was also good, it was ultimately a matter of chance, and if the precious tag were wasted, it would be too disappointing.
After adding it, the "Atavism" tag that had been stored on his panel disappeared.
It seems it was indeed a one-time use.
Then he used his spirit Qi to crack open the ground. First, he placed several Wood spirit stones inside, then covered them with a layer of fine soil, and finally planted the Wood Gourd seed.
Then he controlled the ground to close up again.
After completing all these steps, he cast a spell to summon a trickle of Spirit Spring Water, squeezing out the last bit of his spirit Qi and sprinkling a few fine droplets around the Wood Gourd seed.
By then, Song He had used up all his spirit Qi.
He began to feel swelling pain in his meridians and a headache starting to form, and he felt groggy overall.
These were symptoms of excessive spirit Qi consumption.
Thinking of his own well-being, he hurried over to the Spiritual Spring, clutching a Spirit Stone in one hand and entering a deep state of meditation.
What he did not know was that after he left, a glow emerged on the surface of the buried Wood Gourd seed; the spirit Qi from the spirit stones beneath it was rapidly absorbed.
In just a short while, the spirit Qi in the stones was drained, turning them into gray-white waste rocks.
A tender sprout was slowly growing.
Waiting to break through the soil.