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

"Have you thought it through?"

Zhou Yuandao asked.

"I've made up my mind."

"it is good."

Zhou Yuandao nodded, his tone more approving, "Since that's the case, I won't stop you. Prepare well for the future."

Lu Qingchen was overjoyed and quickly asked, "When can I go, disciple?"

Zhou Yuandao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, a laugh that made Lu Qingchen feel a little uneasy.

"You don't think you can go now, do you?"

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "According to the sect's rules, one needs to have been a formal spirit plant grower for three years before being eligible to apply for a posting to an off-site farm."

"You just passed the assessment, it hasn't even been a month, what's the rush?"

Lu Qingchen's smile froze.

Three years? We have to wait that long!

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, a feeling of indescribable disappointment welling up inside him.

Zhou Yuandao had been observing his expression. Seeing a hint of disappointment flash in his eyes, he put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.

"What, you really want to go?"

Lu Qingchen nodded honestly: "This disciple really wants to go."

"Do you think you have that ability?" Zhou Yuandao asked.

Lu Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "Although I haven't tried it before, I believe that with my abilities, I should be able to adapt quickly."

Zhou Yuandao remained silent for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times.

Lu Qingchen held his breath, not daring to make a sound.

"Do you really want to go?" Zhou Yuandao asked, looking at Lu Qingchen.

Lu Qingchen replied without hesitation, "This disciple really wants to go."

Zhou Yuandao stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly trying to determine if he was acting on impulse.

Lu Qingchen met his gaze without flinching.

"That's enough."

Zhou Yuandao finally spoke, "Since you have this idea, as your master, I can give you a chance to skip those three years."

Lu Qingchen was overjoyed and quickly stood up to bow, saying, "Thank you, Master!"

Don't thank me too soon.

Zhou Yuandao waved his hand, "It's just a chance."

"There are five farms with vacant positions for Spirit Planting Masters this time: Qingmu Farm, Cuiping Farm, Lingquan Farm, Baiguo Farm, and Fenglin Farm."

"There are quite a few people who signed up, but only those who are ranked at the top will be sent out."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The assessment consists of two parts: a written test and a farming test. The written test will test your knowledge of farming, and the farming test will test your practical skills. The assessment will begin in two weeks, so prepare well."

"Disciple understands."

Lu Qingchen straightened his back. "This disciple will do his best."

Zhou Yuandao waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Lu Qingchen bowed again and left the quiet room.

The moment the door closed, he let out a long breath, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

The three-year limit was circumvented by a single sentence from his cheap master.

Although it's just "giving you a chance," once you seize an opportunity, it's yours.

He clenched his fist and strode out.

......

For the next two weeks, Lu Qingchen was busy.

Although he possessed the Daoist stele, he never believed that he could solve everything simply by relying on his golden touch.

The art of cultivating spiritual plants emphasizes the right timing, the right location, and the right people. No matter how good the seeds or how wonderful the spiritual fertilizer, if you don't understand the proper way to grow them, you still won't be able to grow anything good.

Moreover, this time his opponent had more than a dozen spirit plant farmers, each of whom had been farming for several years and had far more experience than him.

Underestimating your opponent is tantamount to courting death.

He first went to Zhou Yuandao's quiet room, hoping to learn the techniques of cultivating spirit rice from this cheap master.

Zhou Yuandao was engrossed in reading a thick booklet when he heard him explain his purpose. He looked up at him and said indifferently, "You can handle the selection yourself. I don't have much to teach you. Farming is about skill, not just talk. Just do your best."

Lu Qingchen was met with a rebuff, but he was not annoyed. He bowed and withdrew.

He then went to Panlong Peak to seek advice from Elder Sun.

Old Sun was much more patient than Zhou Yuandao. He explained in detail how to judge soil fertility, how to control water volume, and how to prevent pests and diseases. At the end, he said, "Farming is seven parts skill and three parts luck. If you do the seven parts well, the rest depends on luck."

"As for the written test, you'll have to memorize it yourself."

Lu Qingchen kept every word of Old Sun's words in mind.

He also went to the library of the Spirit Plant Hall, flipped through several books on planting, and memorized the key points.

When he returned to his room that evening, he didn't rush to practice. Instead, he organized the key points he had noted down during the day, wrote them down on paper, and stuck them on his bedside table.

Before going to sleep, he looked inward at his dantian, where the pure energy slowly rotated, and his essence and blood were also slowly absorbing spiritual power.

Everything is proceeding as planned.

A few days before the assessment, Zhou Ping went to the Spirit Plant Hall to register and saw Lu Qingchen's name on the list.

He thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes, but the name was still there.

He asked the elder, "Elder, is there a mistake in the name of Lu Qingchen? He's only been a spirit plant grower for less than a month, how can he be qualified to apply?"

The elder flipped through the records without looking up: "That's right, these are the spots recommended by Elder Sun."

Zhou Ping was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

Old Master Sun has been in the Lingzhi Hall for decades, so he is qualified to recommend a newcomer for the assessment.

A feeling of envy welled up in his heart—Old Sun was truly good to Lu Qingchen.

Soon, Zhou Ping found Lu Qingchen and got straight to the point: "You want to participate in the overseas assignment assessment?"

"Yes."

Zhou Ping sighed: "Old Sun is really good to you. I wanted to participate in the overseas assignment assessment back then, and it took me three years to qualify. But you have someone speaking up for you."

Lu Qingchen smiled but didn't explain—in fact, Zhou Yuandao was also behind it, but that couldn't be said.

Are you confident?

Zhou Ping asked, "The competitors are all seasoned farmers who have been farming for several years. The written test is not too difficult, but the farming part is not easy."

"How will you know if you don't try?" Lu Qingchen said.

Zhou Ping recalled the few spirit rice plants with spiritual light that Lu Qingchen had grown on Panlong Peak and nodded: "That's true. I've seen your farming skills. If you work hard, you might actually have a chance!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother Zhou," Lu Qingchen said.

Zhou Ping waved his hand: "Don't thank me too soon. I also need to participate in the assessment. Don't be angry if I take your spot."

Lu Qingchen smiled and said, "How could that be? It's all about skill and fair competition."

Zhou Ping patted him on the shoulder: "That's good."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about the assessment. Zhou Ping turned to leave, but Lu Qingchen suddenly remembered something and called him back.

"Senior Brother Zhou, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Senior Brother Zhou, you and Vice Hall Master Zhou Yuandao share the same surname, Zhou. Is there some kind of relationship between you?"

Zhou Ping paused for a moment, then smiled wryly: "I wish I could. Let alone me, which plant grower in the entire Spirit Plant Hall wouldn't want to establish a connection with the Vice Hall Master?"

"It's a pity we don't have him. That's the deputy hall master of the Spirit Plant Hall, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. We're lucky if we can even catch a glimpse of him from afar."

Lu Qingchen nodded and didn't say anything more.

......