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

Zhou Yuandao remained silent for a while, then picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, seemingly pondering something.

"Senior brother, why do you insist on giving this kid to me?" he asked. "Why don't you just accept him yourself?"

Old Sun shook his head, took a drag of his cigarette, and let the smoke slowly escape from the corner of his mouth: "I'm over two hundred years old this year, and my lifespan is running out. My energy can't keep up either. If I take on an apprentice, I can only teach him for a few years before I have to pass away, which would be a waste of his time."

He paused, glanced at Lu Qingchen, and said, "This kid is a bit special. You won't lose out by taking him in. If I weren't so old, I would have taken him in long ago. You wouldn't have a chance."

Zhou Yuandao fell silent again, his gaze lingering on Lu Qingchen for a few moments.

Lu Qingchen stood with his hands at his sides, his expression calm, but he was a little nervous inside.

He knew that the person in front of him would determine the path he would take from here on out.

Finally, Zhou Yuandao sighed and said, "Alright, I'll take you on as a nominal disciple first, and we'll talk about it after I'm done with this."

Elder Sun nodded, stood up, and patted Lu Qingchen on the shoulder: "This is Zhou Yuandao, the deputy hall master of the Spirit Plant Hall, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. From today onwards, he will be your master."

Lu Qingchen quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "Disciple Lu Qingchen greets Master."

Zhou Yuandao grunted in agreement and waved his hand, signaling him to get up.

Old Sun didn't say anything more and turned to walk out.

As she reached the door, she glanced back at Zhou Yuandao and said, "You talk to him first and find out what's going on. I'm leaving."

The door closed, leaving only Lu Qingchen and Zhou Yuandao in the quiet room.

......

Zhou Yuandao leaned back in his chair, looked Lu Qingchen up and down, and remained silent for a while before speaking: "Although I agreed to Elder Sun's request to take you as my disciple, there is one thing I must make clear in advance—before I acknowledge you, you cannot tell anyone that you are my disciple."

Lu Qingchen had no objection and nodded: "This disciple understands."

"Please sit down."

Seeing that he agreed, Zhou Yuandao then pointed to the chair next to him.

Lu Qingchen sat down as instructed, keeping his back straight and his hands on his knees.

Although Zhou Yuandao said he had no intention of taking on disciples, he wouldn't really ignore it now that he had promised Elder Sun.

"He said you're quite skilled at farming."

Zhou Yuandao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Tell me, what kind of spiritual root do you have?"

Lu Qingchen answered truthfully, "This disciple has five low-grade spiritual roots."

Zhou Yuandao paused in his teacup, almost spitting out a mouthful of spiritual tea.

Low-grade Five Spiritual Roots?

Who is this person that Old Master Sun sent to him?

With such poor spiritual roots, is it trying to harm him?

His face darkened, and he almost couldn't hold back.

Upon seeing this, Lu Qingchen quickly added, "This disciple still possesses a fragmented Azure Wood Spirit Body."

Zhou Yuandao was taken aback for a moment, then his expression softened slightly.

The incomplete Aoki spirit body, that's barely acceptable.

Although it's still pretty bad, it's at least better than a low-grade one with only five spiritual roots.

In the farming business, having a weak spiritual root isn't unacceptable; having a spiritual body is better than having nothing at all.

"continue."

He said this in a calmer tone than before.

Lu Qingchen explained his situation in detail—he cultivated the "Azure Wood Spiritual Essence Technique," using the vitality of plants to condense pure energy. Last season, he planted two acres of jade spirit rice, harvesting 524 catties. The leaves of more than a dozen spirit rice plants even condensed spiritual light.

He didn't exaggerate or hide anything; he simply told the whole story.

After hearing this, Zhou Yuandao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

A spiritual light emanated from the leaves?

He glanced at Lu Qingchen, the indifference in his eyes fading slightly.

"A flash of inspiration?" he asked. "What kind of flash of inspiration?"

"A faint glow, with a layer of fluorescence on the leaves."

Lu Qingchen said, "It should be the result of the combined effect of the spiritual fertilizer and the cultivation technique."

Zhou Yuandao pondered for a moment, then nodded.

He knew about Old Sun's Lingfei; there was indeed some trick to it.

Furthermore, with the "Azure Wood Spiritual Essence Technique" combined with the Azure Wood Spiritual Body, it is possible to grow spiritual rice with spiritual light. Although rare, it is not impossible.

"How long have you been learning?" he asked.

"More than six months."

When did you pass the 100-day assessment?

Three months ago.

Zhou Yuandao remained silent for a while, put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times.

"I've learned everything I need to know. Now, tell me your own thoughts—what are your plans for the future?"

Lu Qingchen respectfully replied, "This disciple will follow Master's arrangements."

Zhou Yuandao nodded, his tone indifferent: "There are two paths. The first is to stay in the sect and follow the steps of farming, cultivating, and collecting contributions. This path is stable and worry-free, but it will be slower to advance in the future."

He paused, then held up his second finger: "The second option is to send them out to work on farms under the sect's jurisdiction."

"But you need to understand, this isn't to make you the manager, it's to assist in management—the farm manager is someone else, you're going there to help out, to put it bluntly, you're going to be someone's assistant."

"Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages."

Zhou Yuandao said, "The first option is stable but slow. The second option is a good opportunity to enhance your skills—if you can manage the farm well, it will show that you have real skills in the field of spiritual plants. When you are transferred back to the sect in the future, your development will be better."

"But this path is competitive, requires elections, and requires real ability. If it is not managed well, it will become a stain."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Lu Qingchen: "You choose."

Lu Qingchen did not answer immediately, but pondered for a while.

"Master, I have a few questions to ask."

Zhou Yuandao raised his chin: "Speak."

"What is the spiritual energy environment like on the farm? Is it suitable for cultivation?"

Zhou Yuandao nodded: "Although the farm is remote, the concentration of spiritual energy in the area where the spirit fields are located is no worse than that of the sect. The sect wouldn't set up its spirit fields in a place with sparse spiritual energy, otherwise what would they grow?"

"How are the spiritual fields at the farm? What about the soil and water?"

"Above average, but not as good as the best plots of land in the core area of ​​the Spirit Plant Palace."

Lu Qingchen thought for a moment and then asked, "How long do you usually stay at an overseas farm?"

"It could take one or two years, or there could be no time limit."

Zhou Yuandao said, "It depends on you. If you do well, you can be transferred back early; of course, if you don't do well, you are more likely to be sent back directly."

Lu Qingchen remained silent for a moment, having already made up his mind.

Staying in the sect and following the established order is certainly safe, but it restricts one's freedom of action.

With the Dao Stele on his person, he needs more space—he can manage his spiritual fields and cultivate his spiritual plants on his own, without constantly worrying about being discovered astonished.

The farm he was assigned to, though remote, suited his needs perfectly.

Others do it for prestige, but he doesn't.

If possible, he even hoped to stay on the farm for a long time, to farm, cultivate, and accumulate cultivation power in peace.

"The disciple chooses the second option."

Lu Qingchen said.

Zhou Yuandao glanced at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He had thought this kid with five spiritual roots would choose the first option and live a peaceful, uneventful life, but he hadn't expected him to have some guts.