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

Lu Qingchen walked over, his footsteps startling the other party.

The woman straightened up and turned her head.

Her features were exquisite, her skin as smooth as jade, and her eyes were crystal clear, like mountain spring water.

Her body and feet were covered in mud, but her face was clean, creating a strange contrast with the mud on her body.

She looked to be in her early twenties, a few years older than Lu Qingchen. She was wearing a light blue spiritual plant-themed short jacket and had a spiritual plant hall identity token hanging from her waist.

"Are you... the owner of this field?"

The woman spoke first, her voice clear and crisp, tinged with curiosity.

"Yes." Lu Qingchen nodded. "Disciple Lu Qingchen has only recently entered the sect and is preparing for the Spirit Plant Hall's assessment. May I ask who Senior Sister is...?"

Shen Yao's heart stirred slightly.

Just started learning? Then these few spirit rice plants…

Her gaze swept over the few special spirit rice plants before returning to Lu Qingchen.

How could a newcomer who isn't even a spiritual plant grower be able to produce spiritual rice of this quality?

She worked at the Spirit Plant Hall for five years and had seen many talented newcomers, but those who could cultivate Jade Spirit Rice with spiritual light could be counted on one hand.

"My name is Shen Yao, the Spirit Plant Master of the Spirit Plant Palace."

She suppressed her surprise and smiled slightly, "I was passing by when I saw some unusually growing spirit rice plants in your field, so I couldn't help but stop and take a look for a while. I apologize for the intrusion."

Lu Qingchen's gaze swept over the token at her waist; it was indeed from the Spirit Plant Hall.

He said politely, "Senior sister, you're too kind. It's a blessing for these rice plants to catch your eye."

Shen Yao's gaze returned to the field, her tone tinged with inquiry: "Did you grow these spirit rice plants?"

"Yes."

"How did it grow like this? I've been farming for five years and I've never seen such a uniquely growing Jade Spirit Rice."

She squatted down, picked up a leaf from a stalk of spirit rice, and examined it from all angles.

"The leaves are glossy, the stems are thick and strong, the ears of rice are full, and there is a faint glow flowing through them... This kind of Jade Spirit Rice is extremely rare and of very high quality."

Lu Qingchen remained calm: "This disciple is not quite sure either. It was probably just good luck. The seeds were bought from the Spirit Plant Hall, and the fertilizer was given by Elder Sun. Perhaps it was his spiritual fertilizer that had an effect."

"Old Sun?"

Shen Yao raised her head, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the direction of Panlong Peak. "That one on Panlong Peak?"

"Yes." Lu Qingchen nodded.

Shen Yao suddenly realized and nodded: "No wonder, Elder Sun's spiritual fertilizer is indeed not something that can be bought outside."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Lu Qingchen for a moment, "However, you can't grow this quality just by using spiritual fertilizer. You must have some talent in this area."

Lu Qingchen smiled but did not reply.

Shen Yao stood up, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "May I examine these spirit rice plants? Just take a look, I won't touch them."

Lu Qingchen thought about it for a moment and decided it wasn't a big deal, so he nodded and said, "Please go ahead, Senior Sister."

"Thank you, junior brother."

Shen Yao smiled, her eyebrows curving upwards, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

She squatted down by the field, took out a small bronze mirror and a jade ruler from her sleeve, and began to carefully measure the length of the leaves, the thickness of the stems, and the size of the ears of rice of those few spirit rice plants. She also used a knife to scrape off some powder from the surface of the leaves and placed it on the bronze mirror to observe.

Lu Qingchen stood aside, watching her busy in the field, without disturbing her, and began watering and weeding on his own.

The two were busy with their own things, and when their eyes occasionally met, they would just nod and not say anything more.

As evening fell and the sun set, Shen Yao finally put away the bronze mirror and jade ruler, stood up, and stretched her somewhat stiff wrists.

"Senior sister, have you finished your research?" Lu Qingchen asked.

"Um."

Shen Yao smiled and said, "Thank you, Junior Brother Lu. These spirit rice plants are very interesting. I've memorized quite a few things. I'll study them carefully when I get back."

"You're too kind, Senior Sister." Lu Qingchen waved her hand. "It's nothing."

Shen Yao glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Can I still come tomorrow?"

"You can come anytime," Lu Qingchen said.

Shen Yao's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly: "Then thank you very much, Junior Brother!"

She turned and took a few steps, then turned back. "By the way, your spirit rice stalks are almost ready for harvest, right? Could you save a few seeds for me?"

"There shouldn't be any problem," Lu Qingchen replied.

Shen Yao smiled sweetly, turned around and left.

Lu Qingchen stood by the field, watching her figure disappear into the twilight, shook his head, and continued to tidy up his farm tools.

......

The next morning, Lu Qingchen went to the fields as usual.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and dewdrops clung to the blades of grass.

However, when he reached the edge of the field, he suddenly froze.

Those dozen or so spirit rice plants that had been blessed with spiritual energy—have vanished!

All that remained in the field were fresh pits; the rice had been dug up by the roots, and its leaves were scattered all over the ground.

What's even worse is that a large area of ​​ordinary rice around it was trampled down, lying crookedly in the mud, as if it had been deliberately ruined.

Lu Qingchen hurriedly stepped forward to check and confirmed that not a single stalk of the spirit rice that had been imbued with spiritual energy remained; they had all been dug up!

Staring at the pit, countless thoughts flashed through Lu Qingchen's mind, eventually turning into a cold anger.

But he didn't show it on his face; he just stood quietly by the field, looking at the few empty pits.

Who did it?

His first thought was of Shen Yao.

She spent the whole day here yesterday, studying those spirit rice plants and asking about the harvest time...

It's obvious that she's the prime suspect!

But then I thought about it again and realized that wasn't right.

If it really was Shen Yaoqian's doing, why would she have swaggered in front of him yesterday and squatted by the field studying it for so long?

Why not just secretly note down the location and dig it up at night? Why bother making yourself a suspect?

Moreover, Shen Yao didn't seem like that kind of person to him—her eyes were clear, she spoke frankly, and when she asked him for seeds, she was very open and honest, without the slightest bit of guilt.

A cultivator who has been planting spiritual plants for five years wouldn't stoop to such a despicable act for a few plants of spiritual rice.

Not her.

Who is that?

Lu Qingchen was completely clueless.

Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.

Shen Yao's voice rang out: "Junior Brother Lu, good morning, I'm here again today..."

Her voice stopped abruptly.

Lu Qingchen turned around and saw Shen Yao standing on the edge of the field. His smile froze.

She stared wide-eyed at the ravaged spirit field, her mouth slightly agape, as if frozen in place.

"What... what's going on?"

She hurried over, squatted down, looked at the craters, then at the trampled spirit rice, her voice filled with disbelief, "Where's the spirit rice? Where are those special spirit rice plants?"

"It's been stolen."

Lu Qingchen's voice was calm, so calm that even he was surprised. "It must have happened last night."