Translator: Cinder Translations
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After a brief contemplation, Ji Yin pulled out a small booklet from his robe and tossed it to Song Wen.
"This is a summary of my own experience in cultivating spiritual herbs. Take it back and read it carefully. Starting today, you'll be in charge of the eastern spiritual field. If you can manage it well, in half a month, the entire field will be entrusted to you, and at that time, I will grant you a great opportunity."
In the western spiritual field, Red Arrow and Yuanjuan were planted, auxiliary herbs for refining Qi and Blood Pills, easily found in the deep mountains of Yancheng, not considered rare.
Handing over the trial to Song Wen, Ji Yin was also relieved.
As for the promised opportunity by Ji Yin, it was just a form of persuasion. In his view, allowing Song Wen to live two more years was already a great favor.
"Thank you, Master. Disciple will do his utmost to cultivate and not disappoint Master's expectations."
Song Wen respectfully replied, accepting the booklet.
Leaving the second floor with two books, he took charge of the spiritual herb cultivation. For a moment, he couldn't decide if it was an opportunity or not.
"Let's work hard to cultivate the spiritual herbs. Perhaps this will delay the time for my own trials."
Song Wen silently resolved in his heart.
Back in his room, Song Wen first read Ji Yin's notes on planting experiences. Ji Yin had only cultivated eight types of spiritual herbs, all needed for refining Qi and Blood Pills.
Then, he flipped through "Detailed Explanation of Low-Level Spiritual Herb Cultivation," identified all eight types of herbs Ji Yin had planted, and silently pondered the methods of cultivating spiritual herbs.
With a certain theoretical foundation in mind, Song Wen went to the eastern medicinal field.
This field wasn't large, about half an acre.
Ji Yin had taken good care of the spiritual field, with neat rows and sparsely planted thirty plants each of Red Arrow and Yuanjuan.
Song Wen carefully inspected the field, pulling out some weeds along the way.
He examined each spiritual herb, numbered them, recorded their growth and watering conditions in detail.
Ten days later, Ji Yin, who had been observing all this, entrusted the entire medicinal field to Song Wen.
Ji Yin himself went into seclusion once again to refine Qi and Blood Pills.
After repeatedly instructing Song Wen to take care of the Red Blood Vine, Ji Yin entered the pill refining cave and closed the stone door.
Red Blood Vine was the main ingredient for refining Qi and Blood Pills and the hardest to find spiritual herb. Initially, he had used the power of the Tian Sha Gang to search through most of Qian Country, just to find this ten-year-old Red Blood Vine. Each time he refined medicine, he dared only take a few branches, fearing it would affect the growth of the Red Blood Vine.
From Er Niu's mouth, Song Wen learned that every time Ji Yin went into seclusion for pill refining, it took more than ten days. Song Wen's heart became excited, feeling that the opportunity to escape was imminent.
Calmly, Song Wen walked into a small wooden house in the medicinal field. Here were the tools needed for planting spiritual herbs.
Song Wen searched through the wooden house, looking for some tools that could help him escape. After searching around, besides the usual tools, Song Wen found nothing useful.
However, he did find a twenty-centimeter-long dagger.
The dagger had a leather scabbard. Removing the scabbard, the dagger appeared jet black, the blade emitting a sharp cold light, intimidating.
"A sharp blade!"
Song Wen silently exclaimed. He gripped the hilt tightly and slashed at a piece of wood in the house.
Instantly, the thick stick snapped.
Song Wen's eyes gleamed brightly. This dagger was definitely a high-quality weapon, a perfect self-defense tool for escaping danger.
Song Wen sheathed the dagger, placing it in his boot.
After another quick search through the wooden house, finding nothing else, Song Wen walked out with a hoe.
While working in the spiritual field, Song Wen occasionally glanced at the alchemy cave and the cliffs to the west.
The lowest point of the cliff was five zhang tall, with some areas exceeding ten zhang. It was bare, devoid of any trees or weeds, but moist moss grew in abundance.
However, the excessive moss made climbing difficult.
Song Wen considered using tools to climb the mountain, but he couldn't find any suitable ropes in the entire courtyard. If he were to chop wood and build a ladder, it would be challenging to avoid the attention of guards and Er Niu's group.
"Should I cooperate with Er Niu and Zhang Cheng? But I'm not sure what they're thinking. Given their respect for Ji Yin, I'm afraid it'll be difficult to persuade them. It might even expose myself."
After waiting so long for Ji Yin to go into seclusion, finally having the chance to escape, Song Wen was now trapped by the terrain, unable to flee. His inner turmoil grew impatient.
The hoe in his hand slipped, failing to dig out the weeds and nearly damaging a spiritual herb.
Song Wen woke up, realizing his actions today were a bit reckless.
Those who accomplish great things must have enough patience.
After calming his mind, Song Wen began to seriously tend to the spiritual field.
That night.
Song Wen tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
He got up quietly, opened the door, and stepped outside.
The moon and stars were sparse, with silence all around.
Song Wen stared at the cliffs in contemplation. Unexpectedly, this five zhang high cliff had become his barrier to escape.
In a daze, Song Wen saw flickering lights on the mountaintop.
"Are there people on the mountain?"
Song Wen was suspicious, squinting to see that indeed, there were intermittent lights on the mountaintop.
"Could there be Tian Sha Gang guards stationed on the mountaintop?"
Song Wen seemed to have discovered another piece of unfavorable information.
Upon closer thought, there should logically be Tian Sha Gang guards on the mountaintop.
Tian Sha Gang had fortified the entire area, even constructing a rudimentary version of city walls around the perimeter and stationed heavy guards. There was no reason for them not to be vigilant over this mountain.
Setting up a lookout post on the mountaintop also facilitated monitoring of movements in Yancheng. In case a large army besieged Tian Sha Gang, it would provide timely information and serve as an escape route for Tian Sha Gang.
Thinking of this, Song Wen completely dismissed his plan to escape from the rear mountain. With his current strength just slightly above normal, it was absolutely impossible for him to break through the blockade of the well-trained gang members of Tian Sha Gang, not to mention the many martial arts experts among them.
Feeling somewhat disheartened, Song Wen returned to his room. He no longer tried to sleep but began to cultivate.
Only by accumulating enough strength would he have a chance to escape from Tian Sha Gang.
In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.
With Song Wen's relentless efforts day and night, his cultivation quietly reached the middle stage of the first layer of Qi cultivation.
On this day, while Song Wen was laboring in the medicinal field, he suddenly saw the stone door of the alchemy cave open, and Ji Yin walked out triumphantly.
Song Wen's face changed slightly, filled with unease.
"It seems a new round of testing is about to begin. I just don't know who will be selected this time, or if I will be summoned for the pill testing."
(End of the Chapter)