After binding with a genius, I became an immortal by exploiting loopholes.

Lu Qingchen suddenly understood and nodded.

This rule is strict, but reasonable—not just anyone can be a spiritual plant grower. If you can't grow anything, what use are you?

"However," the round-faced youth changed the subject, his tone softening, "the Spirit Plant Hall will provide some conveniences for those who are interested in joining."

"For example, seeds can be discounted—ordinary disciples have to pay the original price for seeds, while new disciples can get a 20% discount."

Lu Qingchen's heart stirred, remembering something: "This disciple possesses the Azure Wood Spirit Body, though incomplete... I wonder if it will be of any help in the assessment?"

The round-faced youth's eyes lit up: "You have the Green Wood Spirit Body?"

His gaze as he looked Lu Qingchen up and down changed instantly. He was no longer looking at an ordinary five-elemental-root waste, but at someone with some value.

"Incomplete ones are fine too!"

He became more enthusiastic, "In the profession of spirit plant cultivator, spiritual root talent isn't that important. As long as you have a wood spiritual root, that's enough. Your kind of spiritual body is actually more important!"

"You have a natural affinity for spiritual plants, and the things you grow are much better than those grown by ordinary people. With this foundation, your chances of passing the test are at least two points higher."

He turned around and pulled a booklet from the counter, flipped to a certain page, and pointed to the items on it for Lu Qingchen to see: "This is the seed price list. Jade Spirit Rice seeds, one spirit stone per packet, can plant one acre; Azure Origin Spirit Grass seeds, two spirit stones per packet."

"Other low-grade spiritual herb seeds have varying prices; new disciples receive a 20% discount."

Lu Qingchen looked at the price list and his heart sank.

He touched his sleeve pocket—it was empty.

After passing the assessment, the monthly stipend of those two spirit stones has not yet been collected.

He's now penniless.

"Disciple...I'll go collect my monthly salary first, then I'll come back to buy seeds."

He said somewhat awkwardly.

The round-faced youth waved his hand: "No rush. The assessment period is three months. Take your time. Go collect your monthly salary first, buy the seeds, and then come back to me to register the plot."

......

Lu Qingchen left the Spirit Plant Hall to find Li Si and Wang Ming.

They hadn't gone far when they encountered two people at the intersection.

They emerged from their respective places, their faces not looking too good.

"What's wrong?" Lu Qingchen asked.

Wang Ming said with a bitter face, "The Pill Hall said that if you want to learn alchemy, you have to pass an examination first. You don't need to buy your own alchemy furnace for the examination; the hall will lend one. But you have to pay for the medicinal herbs yourself."

"The most basic Qi Condensation Powder costs twenty spirit stones per dose. If I include the initial investment in training... where am I going to get so many spirit stones?"

He paused, then added, "However, the senior brother on duty said that we can do odd jobs in the hall first, such as washing medicinal herbs and tending the fire, and observe the process. We can take the test after we have accumulated enough spirit stones, but it will take more time."

Li Si sighed, "It's the same with the Array Dao Hall. You don't need to buy array plates for the assessment; the hall provides the materials for you to set them up yourself. But you have to buy all the materials for practice yourself."

"The materials for a basic array formation cost thirty spirit pearls, and it's not guaranteed to be successful on the first try... The senior sister on duty said I can learn from her first, and she'll help grind spirit ink and organize array diagrams. I can take the exam once I've laid a solid foundation."

Lu Qingchen comforted him, "It's all the same. The Spirit Plant Hall also has assessments, and we have to buy seeds and plant our own crops. Let's go collect our monthly stipends first, and then we'll talk about it when we have spirit stones."

"Yes, let's go collect our monthly salary first!"

Wang Ming's eyes lit up. "Two spirit stones! That's enough for me to buy several doses of medicinal herbs!"

Li Si poured cold water on the idea: "It's not even certain if your first batch will be successful, so be careful with your money."

Wang Ming: "...Can you please stop being such a spoilsport?"

The two bickered as they walked toward the warehouse where monthly salaries were distributed.

A long line formed in front of the warehouse; all the new disciples had passed the test that day.

When it was the turn of the three people, each of them received two low-grade spirit stones.

Wang Ming clutched the spirit stones, his eyes gleaming: "Two spirit stones... I've secured my alchemy ingredients!"

Li Si ignored him and turned to Lu Qingchen, asking, "Do you have enough? Want me to lend you one?"

"No need." Lu Qingchen shook his head. "The Spirit Plant Hall offers a 20% discount on seeds, so two spirit stones are enough."

"Alright, let's all get back to what we're doing." Li Si patted him on the shoulder. "Come find me if you need anything."

The three then parted ways.

......

Lu Qingchen returned to the Spirit Plant Hall with the two spirit stones.

The round-faced young man was still fiddling with the drooping pot of spirit herbs by the door. Seeing him return, he stood up and asked, "Did you receive your monthly salary?"

"Received it."

Lu Qingchen placed two spirit stones on the counter. "Senior brother, I'd like to buy some seeds. What do you think I should get?"

The round-faced youth put down the spiritual herbs in his hand, walked behind the counter, took out the booklet from the drawer, and flipped through it.

"As a beginner, the soil quality of the land you can plant is generally not very good, and the fertility is not enough. Don't be greedy when planting for the first time."

"Jade Spirit Rice is the most robust, easy to grow, and not prone to problems. Green Spirit Grass is more delicate and has requirements for soil quality and water. Beginners are likely to lose money if they grow it."

He closed the booklet and looked at Lu Qingchen: "I suggest you buy the Jade Spirit Rice seeds first, plant this season's rice well, pass the test, and then think about planting other kinds next year."

Lu Qingchen nodded, finding it reasonable: "Then let's buy two packets of Jade Spirit Rice seeds."

The round-faced youth deftly packed up the seeds and handed them over: "One packet of Jade Spirit Rice Seeds costs one spirit stone, two packets cost two spirit stones. During the assessment period, there is a 20% discount, so it's one spirit stone and sixty spirit pearls in total."

Lu Qingchen handed over two spirit stones, and the round-faced youth returned with forty spirit pearls.

He took the seed and the spirit pearl and carefully put them into his sleeve pocket.

Two spirit stones were used up, more than half of which were spent. Forty spirit pearls were left, only enough to buy some odds and ends.

Lu Qingchen then asked, "Where should this disciple go to farm? Are there any good spiritual sites nearby that you would recommend?"

The round-faced youth shook his head and said helplessly, "The good land has long been taken. The spirit fields around Mingfa Peak are all owned by people—either by formal disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall or by the elders. As newcomers, you can only go to the wasteland at the foot of the mountain to reclaim the land."

He pointed to a desolate area at the foot of the mountain in the distance: "Over there, the spiritual energy is thin, the soil is poor, the grass is taller than a person, and there are stones everywhere. Whether the harvest is good or not depends entirely on your own ability."

Lu Qingchen frowned: "Will the crops grown on those lands pass the assessment?"

"I can do it, it'll just be hard work."

The round-faced youth said, "In previous years, some new disciples have also grown from wasteland, but there are few. Most people have to go through two or three trials to pass the test. You have the Green Wood Spirit Body, so you should be stronger than them."

Lu Qingchen nodded, but his heart felt heavy.

Carrying the seeds and the wooden plaque, he left the Spirit Plant Hall and followed the directions given by the round-faced youth towards the foot of Mingfa Peak.

At the foot of Mingfa Peak, there was a desolate area overgrown with weeds and littered with stones.

Lu Qingchen searched for a long time before finally finding a piece of land that was barely suitable for planting next to a pile of rocks. It was called a piece of land, but it was actually just a slightly flatter open space. The soil was so compacted that it felt as hard as a rock when you tried to dig it out.

The spiritual energy was so thin that it was almost imperceptible, and it couldn't compare to Yuxin Peak.