Cultivation begins with harvest.

Early the next morning, Jiang Zuoyun, accompanied by two outer disciples from the branch building, knocked on Chen Guang's courtyard gate.

"Senior brothers, why are you here so early?" Chen Guang opened the courtyard gate, curiously examining the magical tools carried by Jiang Zuoyun and the others, before suddenly realizing, "Is it time to harvest the Jade Heart Grass?"

"Yes, it's about this time of year. We need to do a survey on the planting of Jade Heart Grass and Red Peony in the various spirit fields, and also inform you about this year's offerings," Jiang Zuoyun said.

Chen Guang quickly gestured for them to proceed: "Then I won't delay your work, please come this way."

This happens every year.

Chen Guang never forgot the annual salary and the three-year minor examination. According to the regulations, he had to pay thirty Jade Heart Grass plants without stem or leaf damage, seventy percent of the total harvest of Red Peony, and seventy catties of Spirit Rice per mu of Spirit Field. He knew these rules by heart.

Upon arriving at the spirit field, the cultivators from the branch immediately set about working on the two acres of spirit fields planted with Jade Heart Grass and Red Peony.

Chen Guang watched from the side, waiting for them to confirm.

Jiang Zuoyun quickly finished the statistics and showed a surprised expression: "Junior brother is truly a man of few words, but once he becomes a cultivator, he gives me such a big surprise."

"You planted 76 plants this year, 48 of which are qualified. Among them, 2 have five leaves and 46 have four leaves. Except for the 30 plants with four leaves, which you are obligated to pay, you can dispose of the remaining intact Jade Heart Grass. Since you have taken such good care of it, we can also buy back the seeds at a high price."

Chen Guang was overjoyed: "It's all thanks to the spiritual energy array. I wonder what price Senior Brother Jiang is willing to offer for the acquisition?"

Every year, the branch will distribute a large number of Jade Heart Grass seeds, with the intention of allowing the spirit farmers to promptly remove any substandard Jade Heart Grass and replant it. If even thirty seedlings cannot be delivered in a given year, the Jade Heart Grass seeds will be forcibly reclaimed. If the seedlings are of good quality, they will be used as a reward, and the branch will buy back the excess seeds at a high price.

Every time substandard Jade Heart Grass is removed, the branch building must be notified and a record made so that it is clear how many seeds each Spirit Farmer has.

Jiang Zuoyun smiled: "You're not the only cultivator with spiritual energy arrays, but you're the first I've seen who's done this well in their first year. Alright, the market price for a four-leaf jade heart grass is 18 catties of spirit rice per plant, so let's say it's 20 catties of spirit rice for a 10% higher price. A five-leaf grass is 22 catties of spirit rice per plant. As for the seeds, the actual price is 560 catties of spirit rice per mu, and I'll offer 700 per mu for each floor. For the remaining seeds, let's round it up and say it's 256 catties of spirit rice, how about that?"

"No problem, as long as the branch wants it, I'm willing to sell it to the branch." Chen Guang said. As for the incomplete ones, they can only be sold to the shops and vendors outside. The price will be a little lower than the actual price of the complete Jade Heart Grass, but it's still better than being stuck with them.

"Okay, what about the red peonies? Your quality is alright, a total of 156 plants. According to the agreement of 2%, you need to pay 110 plants, and we are willing to pay 5 jin of spirit rice per plant for the rest. We will not take back the seeds. What do you think?" Jiang Zuoyun asked.

"I'm only willing to pay 70% of the amount," Chen Guangdao said.

The highest bidder for Jade Heart Grass is actually Xingfeng Hall. Selling to Xingfeng Hall is the most cost-effective. However, for things like Red Peony, other shops might offer higher prices, at least about one pound of spirit rice more per plant. Even if there are more Red Peonies this year, the profits will still be considerable because the demand for this product has surged due to the development of Xuefeng, which is a well-known fact. Although the quality of our Red Peony is not outstanding, it is not defective either, so it won't be subject to price gouging when sold to other shops.

Since the seeds were all provided by Xingfengtang, it meant that as long as the offerings were accepted, everything else was pure profit.

As for time and energy?

In Lingnon's eyes, this was hardly a cost.

"Alright, and this year you need to pay 350 catties of spirit rice. Will it be deducted from the Jade Heart Grass, or will you pay it separately?" Jiang Zuoyun took out a scroll and wrote in a few strokes. "Also, this year is the third-year minor examination. After you have explained all of this, you can go to the Xingfeng Hall to test your cultivation level. Someone will also come to measure your use of the spirit field to see if you have stolen any purple spirit soil."

Chen Guang said, "No way. I didn't steal the Purple Spirit Soil even though I had a hard time for the past two years. There's no need for me to do it this year. However, there is an ice mist array on that acre of spirit field, which will cause trouble when we need to measure it."

Jiang Zuoyun disagreed: "This year is different. Yantang has made new achievements and created new spiritual tools. You can test them yourself and hand them in. These things can't be faked. Just measure them honestly and sign the document. Jade Heart Grass will be collected in three days and Red Peony in five days. Just make sure there are no mistakes during this period. Whatever is left in the field is yours."

Chen Guang checked the contents of the book and decisively signed his name.

Jiang Zuoyun and his group were in a hurry. After completing the confirmation, they should have immediately rushed to the next house. However, they saw that one mu of land was extremely conspicuous, with cold mist rolling and flowing around it, which could attract attention from miles away.

The very word "array" is enough to impress other cultivators.

In another sacred field, two even more ethereal Dingzhen tea trees swayed in the wind, their roots covered in oily, cloud-like soil, making them even more eye-catching.

Floating Oil Cloud Soil is far superior to other spiritual soils such as Black Thistle Soil, Red Sand Soil, Rotten Poison Soil, and Blue Flower Soil. It is even rarer in Xingfeng Market and is comparable to Linquan Pumpkin. As soon as it appears, it is snapped up by spiritual farmers who grow Dingzhen Tea Trees. Ordinary cultivators cannot obtain it.

With the presence of floating oil and cloud soil, as long as it is continuously supplied, it is a certainty that the Dingzhen tea tree will produce spiritual tea leaves; as for the quality and quantity, that is another matter.

Seeing this scene, Wan Longjing revealed a hint of suppressed elation, but he still couldn't stop smiling.

Although I didn't get to talk to Chen Guang much today, I've always treated him very well. I haven't offered him any major help, but I've always been very considerate of him. I'm thinking about the possibility of getting Dingzhen tea from Chen Guang in the future.

Those who aspire to build a foundation inevitably need to strengthen their spirit and soul. Dingzhen tea tree has the effect of eliminating restlessness and calming the spirit and soul, so it is naturally a good choice for such people.

Jiang Zuoyun frowned, a sense of restlessness rising within him, and he felt quite helpless.

"If I had followed the rules before—"

But then Jiang Zuoyun called everyone to continue to the next Lingnong family. The Dingzhen tea tree in front of them would take at least three or four years to produce leaves. There was still plenty of time and many opportunities.

……

Chen Guang watched the cultivators from the branch building walk away before slowly arriving at the Dingzhen Tea Tree.

The two dark clouds were completely dissipated last night. The soil is now so clean that water can be squeezed out with just a little effort. I checked the two Dingzhen tea trees using the Earth-Wood Interaction Technique, and their condition is improving.

"It's a pity that first-tier cloud soil can't detach from the earth's energy; it needs the earth's energy to nourish its spiritual energy. Second-tier cloud soil, on the other hand, can truly float in mid-air without touching the ground; otherwise, the Dingzhen tea tree could be planted right in the courtyard."

Sometimes it's better to keep some of your wealth hidden.

Unfortunately, the courtyard was paved with stone slabs, so it was not easy to disturb the earth. For Chen Guang, this courtyard was just a place where he would be a passerby for at most twenty or thirty years. Planting some flowers and plants was fine, but digging up the ground and changing the house was beyond his authority.

Chen Guang circled around again, resisting the urge to immediately absorb the reward orbs. It would take three days for the Jade Heart Grass to fully mature, and the Red Peony would take five days. For now, Chen Guang simply put away the ten reward orbs of different spiritual plants, returned to the courtyard, and prepared to enjoy himself first.