This wasn't Su Xing's first time entering a dungeon, but never had a dungeon left him so stunned.
At this moment, Su Xing stood on a mountaintop of indeterminate height, surrounded by a sea of clouds, as if enveloped in Immortal Qi.
On the mountain, a few acres of fields were planted with lush, green Spirit Grains and various unnamed herbs.
About a hundred meters away from Su Xing stood a thatched hut, with a well outside it.
Su Xing took a deep breath, feeling the Spiritual Energy drifting through the air and involuntarily started circulating his cultivation technique, allowing the energy to continuously nourish his body.
"This truly is an Immortal's paradise!"
Su Xing sighed slightly, unable to contain his excitement.
Jin Congxue seemed equally puzzled, saying,
"I've never encountered a dungeon like this. There might be some hidden monsters around... Let's proceed with caution!"
With that, Jin Congxue started to survey the surroundings, and Su Xing did not stop her.
After a while, Su Xing pointed towards the thatched hut ahead and said,
"Why don't we go check out that hut?"
Jin Congxue initially wanted to refuse, but after hesitating for a moment, she nodded in agreement.
Su Xing approached the thatched hut, knocked a few times on the door, and then waited quietly.
Soon, an old man wearing a Daoist robe, with an ethereal and serene demeanor and hair as white as snow, opened the door, looking surprised.
"How did the two of you find this secluded place of mine?"
Su Xing and Jin Congxue exchanged glances and explained that they had stumbled upon the place by chance.
The old man nodded slightly and said,
"It seems the two of you are people of deep fortune and are fated to meet me."
"Since we are fated to meet, I'd like to offer you an opportunity. How does that sound?"
Su Xing and Jin Congxue nodded in agreement.
"What kind of opportunity are you referring to?" Su Xing asked, feigning ignorance.
Glancing at Su Xing, the old man appeared surprised but then regained his composure and said slowly,
"The fields on this mountain have not been tended for several months. How about the two of you help me take care of them first?"
Su Xing and Jin Congxue were then taken to a field.
The old man pointed to a smaller field and said,
"Young lady, how about you take care of this field?"
Although Jin Congxue was confused, she nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Daoist Master!"
The old man then turned to Su Xing and said,
"Young friend, how about you take care of the larger field?"
Su Xing looked at the field and then raised an eyebrow.
At a glance, this field was much larger than an acre, probably two or three acres.
This wasn't like the simulated field size... what could have changed?
Su Xing's mind raced, realizing that the greatest change was indeed his cultivation level!
Being given a larger field might be a bigger test?
Su Xing cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Daoist Master!"
The two then received farming tools and started tending to the fields.
Having grown up in the countryside, Su Xing had done a lot of farming as a child and had also crammed a lot of farming knowledge this past month, so he took to it quickly.
However, Jin Congxue was different. While she wasn't completely clueless about grains, she couldn't tell the weeds from the Spirit Grains.
As such, Su Xing finished his work first and then patiently guided Jin Congxue, teaching her how to weed and irrigate.
Fortunately, Spirit Grains didn't need fertilizing, or else Su Xing would have had to teach her how to spread manure... which would have been quite awkward!
After reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, Su Xing's Changchun Technique also broke through to the second layer, making the wood-attributed Spiritual Energy in his body even more abundant.
Even while tending two or three acres simultaneously, Su Xing didn't feel fatigued and even had time to help infuse Spiritual Energy into Jin Congxue's Spirit Grains.
The process of infusing Spiritual Energy involved absorbing the Spiritual Energy from the air and then channeling it into the Spirit Grains.
Throughout this process, Su Xing became more adept at controlling both Spiritual Energy and mana.
"This water from the well is incredibly sweet~"
After finishing the farm work, Su Xing sat by the well and drank a gulp of cool, clear water.
This well water also contained a lot of Spiritual Energy and could be considered a Spirit Well.
"Su Xing... What benefits do you think we get from farming like this?"
Exhausted from a day's work, Jin Congxue pounded her tired shoulders and complained.
Having grown up in the city, she had initially found it somewhat interesting, but after a day's work, she was tired and dirty and naturally felt a bit weary.
Su Xing shook his head slightly and said,
"I don't know what the rewards will be either... but this dungeon has beautiful scenery and is filled with Spiritual Energy, so farming can also cultivate one's character."
Jin Congxue rolled her eyes flirtatiously and said,
"Give me a break! The harder the task, the better the rewards... but a dungeon task of farming? What good rewards could there be?"
Despite her words, Jin Congxue had no intention of leaving the dungeon.
Seven days passed in a flash, and the Spirit Grains on Su Xing's two or three acres were growing excellently, with all weeds removed.
Thanks to Su Xing's help, the field under Jin Congxue's care also prospered.
On the evening of the seventh day, the old man called Su Xing and Jin Congxue into the thatched hut.
The old man first took out a bag of Spirit Rice and a small bag of Spirit Stones and handed them to Jin Congxue, saying,
"Your field is looking good; here are fifty pounds of Spirit Rice and fifty Spirit Stones as your reward."
Jin Congxue accepted the reward, feeling somewhat ashamed as she looked at Su Xing.
She hardly knew how to farm, and Su Xing was at least sixty percent responsible for the good growth of her field!
"Thank you, Daoist Master!"
After Jin Congxue expressed her gratitude, the old man waved his hand and sent her out of the dungeon.
The old man then examined Su Xing and took out a transparent stone from his sleeve, saying,
"Young friend, how about placing your hand on this?"
Su Xing's heart pounded. Although he had simulated this scenario several times, he couldn't help feeling nervous.
As he slowly placed his hand on the stone, it flashed red and green.
The old man nodded in satisfaction and said,
"Not bad, a dual-attribute wood and fire Spiritual Root. While not as valuable as a single supreme Spiritual Root, it can still set you on the path of cultivation..."
The old man gave a word of praise and then asked,
"I see you already have some cultivation; do you have a master?"
Su Xing's heart raced. Could this be the moment when he would take him as a student?
Shaking his head, Su Xing said,
"I have no master; I just stumbled upon a cultivation technique by chance, which led me to begin cultivating..."
The old man nodded slightly and said,
"To have reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm on your own shows your remarkable talent and fortune! Moreover, you farmed diligently without complaint, demonstrating your excellent character."
"To encounter me in the vast Three Thousand Worlds must mean that you and I are fated..."
The old man paused for a moment, then continued,
"I see that you practice the Changchun Technique of the Changchun Sect. While this technique has its limits, it greatly benefits those who are new to the path of cultivation!"
"Additionally, the wood-attribute technique, which absorbs the lifeforce of all things, can also return to nature... It's very suitable for learning the way of nurturing spiritual plants!"
At this point, the old man showed a hint of hesitation on his face but eventually sighed lightly and said,
"Very well, meeting is fate~"
"I am Qing Yunzi, an old farmer of the Qingyun Sect. Young friend, would you like to be my apprentice?"
"I am willing to accept you as an honorary disciple..."