The Path to Immortality: Starting with the Growth of Bubble Fruits from the Ground

Two nights later, Zhou Mu went out and headed towards the spirit field.

Zhou Mu spent two days refining all three white and two green fruits, five magic power fruits, and nine white qi and blood fruits.

Not only did he accumulate 75% of the mana needed to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, but he also cultivated the Ancient Wood True Body of the second level by 30%.

Zhou Mu is now going to the Spirit Field to see what fruits have been produced this season.

When Zhou Mu arrived at the edge of the spirit fields numbered '9500' and '9501', six green fruits came into view.

[Polygonatum rice: ripened twice, maturity level 6%]

[Polygonatum Rice: Abundant Magic Power x2, Maturity 6%]

[Polygonatum Rice: 1x Advanced Wood Armor Technique, 6% Maturity]

【Polygonatum sibiricum rice: 1 mature Tinospora sinensis, 6% maturity】

"Huh? It actually refreshed and got a spell fruit, and it's even one of the two spells I just learned."

Zhou Mu looked at the two magical fruits with surprise and doubt, and thought to himself: "I think I understand now. The birth of the fruits is based on the characteristics of the spiritual plants and my own situation."

For the past few months, Zhou Mu has been focusing on cultivating his Qi and body. He only practiced the two spells and sword techniques he bought a few times occasionally, and then put them aside after mastering them.

Now, Lingtian has created a corresponding bubble fruit based on his own situation, which not only saves Zhou Mu time in cultivating spells, but also gives Zhou Mu more ideas for his future cultivation plans.

For example, alchemy and talisman making were professions that Zhou Mu had never even dared to dream of before.

The initial investment was too large, the time too long, and with such a high cost, there was a high probability that it would all be for nothing. Zhou Mu couldn't afford to gamble, much less lose.

However, whether one is an alchemist or a talisman maker, once they achieve even a minor level of mastery, the resulting benefits are absolutely considerable.

In addition, the green, artificially ripened fruit also gave Zhou Mu a pleasant surprise.

"Don't rush to confirm, let's go to those two spirit fields and see what fruits they have."

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Zhou Mu jogged toward the other two spirit fields.

Soon, Zhou Mu stood by the spirit field. After he saw the bubble fruit that had been born there, his mouth was stretched to the back of his ears. If it weren't for the fact that it was the middle of the night, Zhou Mu would definitely have laughed out loud.

[Polygonatum Rice: Abundant Magic Power x2, Maturity 6%]

[Polygonatum Rice: Lesser Mastery of Green Leaf Sword Technique x1, Maturity 6%]

[Blood Rice: 4 with slightly weakened Qi and Blood, 6% maturity]

[Blood Rice: 2-packed ripening agents, 6% maturity]

[Blood Fang Rice: 1 Small Mature Vine Technique, 6% Maturity]

One of ten bubble fruits, three green and seven white.

"As expected, I guessed right. It really will produce a corresponding fruit based on my own abilities, but it is still limited by its grade, and it is impossible to reach the top in one step."

Both spells are of the lowest tier of the first order, while the Azure Leaf Sword Technique is of the middle tier of the first order.

Therefore, medium-grade Huangjing rice can produce high-level spells, but sword techniques can only produce low-level ones.

Inferior Bloodfang Rice can only produce minor-level spells.

"This is fine too..."

Although he didn't achieve his dream of instant success, Zhou Mu wasn't too disappointed. He never worried about gains or losses, nor was he affected by the bubble fruit.

After calming himself down, Zhou Mu used the last two ripening fruits and then returned to his residence with two "abundant magical powers".

----------

"Knock knock knock..."

The next morning, Zhou Mu knocked on Old Wang's courtyard gate.

The two sat in the courtyard, and Zhou Mu spoke directly, "Old Wang, I need your help with something."

"If I'm not mistaken, you want me to help you sell the spirit rice, right?"

Old Wang smiled and said confidently.

"Yes, I want to give you the spirit rice from last season. Please exchange it for pills and bring them back for me. I'll pay..."

"No need for the errand fee," Old Wang slapped the table, interrupting Zhou Mu, and continued, "What, you're afraid to go to the market this time because you're worried the family alliance will make a move again?"

Zhou Mu nodded and said, "Yes, their target is me, the traitor, but as long as I'm not around, you'll be safe."

"That's true. Killing us would cost them far more, and no one would do such a losing deal."

The Wan Dao Sect might not care if one or two Spirit Farmers were robbed or killed, but if hundreds of them were to be killed at the same time, it would be a different story. It would affect the sect's harvest for the next season, and the sect would never stand idly by.

Many years ago, a group of cultivators massacred and plundered the spirit farmers' teams. Afterwards, they faced the swift and decisive actions of the Myriad Paths Sect.

The family alliance would not take action against the Lingnong team, as that would be tantamount to handing over their own weaknesses to the master-disciple faction and the main lineage, making their lives within the sect difficult.

"Fine, give me the stuff. It's just a small favor anyway."

"Thank you very much. Please replace all these things with Qi-Nourishing Pills."

As he spoke, Zhou Mu handed over 500 catties of Polygonatum Rice, 300 catties of Blood Tooth Rice, and all the Spirit Charm Grass and Blood Silk Vine to Old Wang.

After packing his things, Old Wang asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Mu said, "My cultivation is still a little short of breaking through. After you come back, I plan to advance to the first-level intermediate spirit plant master. At that time, I will be an outer disciple, and I think the family alliance will restrain itself."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Wang shook his head and said, "You're wrong. If you want the family alliance to give up on dealing with you, your status as an outer disciple alone is not enough. In fact, this status will become a weapon for them to use against you."

"How could this be? Is there some secret?" Zhou Mu frowned and asked quickly.

"Let me put it this way, we menial disciples are like servants to the sect. Not only do we not receive a monthly salary, but we also have to hand over 70% of our hard-earned money to the sect."

"But outer disciples are different. They have inheritances, monthly stipends, and the protection of the sect. However, they also need to perform tasks for the sect, which is mandatory, three times a year."

Old Wang dipped his finger in tea and drew three circles of different sizes on the table.

"The family alliance is deeply entrenched within the sect, and they also have people in the mission hall. It would be very easy for them to arrange some death-defying missions for you."

"So that's how it is..." Zhou Mu suddenly realized.

"Otherwise, why don't we Spirit Farmers who have met the requirements advance to the next level? The consequences of failing to complete the mission are, at the very least, expulsion from the sect, or even death."

Old Wang leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "It's better to stay in the lower-class area and cultivate a few more acres of land. Although it's tiring, it's more stable."

"What about the inner disciples?" Zhou Mu asked curiously, pointing to the smallest circle.

"Inner disciples are different," Old Wang said enviously. "They are the sect's own people. They don't need to contribute to the sect and they even receive resources. They can just focus on their cultivation."

"To put it bluntly, it's just about having tens of thousands of servants and thousands of outer disciples work together to support those few hundred people."

"The sect's approach is actually the same as that of the family alliance, only it's less strict, more relaxed, and more free."

Old Wang looked at Zhou Mu seriously and said, "If you want to break free from the family alliance, you either need to rise to the top in one step and become an inner disciple, or you need to have a powerful enough background that makes them wary."

"There are only these two paths. Think it over carefully."

Actually, there's another path that Lao Wang didn't mention, which is that Zhou Mu could become powerful enough, but in Lao Wang's opinion, that's very unrealistic.

Zhou Mu didn't speak, he just nodded.

---------

Two nights later.

Zhou Mu stood inside the courtyard gate. Only after the Lingnong team in the distance gradually disappeared from sight did he close the gate and turn back into the house.

There were still 25 days until the Zhou family's ancestral worship ceremony.