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

After the meeting, Zhou Yuandao called Lu Qingchen to a quiet room.

"Well done."

Zhou Yuandao leaned back in his chair, his tone gentler than when they last met, "Being able to win out of twenty candidates shows that you do have some ability."

"There are five spots available this time, and you're going to Aoki-sou."

"Qingmu Manor is located south of the sect, managing several hundred acres of spirit fields. It mainly produces Jade Spirit Rice and Azure Origin Spirit Grass. The original spirit planter has been transferred, so you will take his place."

"Thank you, Master," Lu Qingchen said respectfully.

Don't thank me too soon.

Zhou Yuandao waved his hand, "Go there and do a good job, don't embarrass me."

"The owner of Qingmu Manor is surnamed Zhao and named Zhao Demao. He has been working at Qingmu Manor for many years and is a well-known figure in the Spirit Plant Hall."

"Once you arrive, follow his instructions. Do whatever he tells you to do, and don't act on your own."

He took a letter from the drawer and handed it to him: "This is your appointment document. Take it to the manor lord, and he will arrange your job."

Lu Qingchen took the document with both hands and carefully put it into his sleeve pocket.

"Remember, you're going there to assist in management, not to be in charge."

"Disciple understands."

"Furthermore," Zhou Yuandao continued, "Although Qingmu Village is remote, its spiritual energy is not bad, and it has many spiritual fields. After you go there, do your job well, strive to make contributions, and be transferred back to the sect as soon as possible."

"Disciple understands."

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

Lu Qingchen bowed and left the quiet room.

......

After leaving the Spirit Plant Hall, Lu Qingchen did not rush back to pack his luggage, but went to Panlong Peak first.

Old Sun was watering the rock-stemmed vines in the herb garden. When he saw him coming, he didn't even look up: "The results are out?"

"They're out."

Lu Qingchen walked over and said, "Disciple has passed the test and will go to Qingmu Manor in a couple of days."

Old Sun grunted in agreement and continued watering.

He scooped up a ladle of water and sprinkled it evenly on the roots of the rock vine, his movements neither hurried nor slow.

Lu Qingchen stood to the side and waited for a while. Seeing that Elder Sun did not intend to speak, he said, "Elder Sun, I don't know when I will be able to return after this journey. Please take care."

Old Sun put down the water ladle and turned to look at him.

A rare hint of gentleness appeared in those cloudy eyes.

"Go there and do your job well, don't overthink it."

He said, "The spirit fields over at Qingmu Village are better than the ones at the foot of Panlong Peak. You should cultivate them well, and when you come back in the future, try to raise the rank of your spirit planter."

"This disciple has remembered." Lu Qingchen bowed solemnly.

Old Sun waved his hand, turned around, and continued watering.

Lu Qingchen stood at the entrance of the herb garden, looked around for a few seconds, then turned and went down the mountain.

......

The evening after the selection results were announced, Lu Qingchen met Li Si and Wang Ming, whom he hadn't seen for over a month, in the cafeteria.

Seeing him approach, Wang Ming spoke first: "Qingchen, I heard you went to participate in that selection process? How did it go?"

"That's enough." Lu Qingchen sat down and ladled himself a bowl of soup. "I'll go to Qingmu Manor in a few days."

Li Si put down his chopsticks and looked at him: "Qingmu Manor? Where is it?"

"To the south of the sect, there are hundreds or even thousands of acres of spirit fields, which mainly produce jade spirit rice and green spirit grass."

Wang Ming was taken aback: "Does that mean I have to leave the sect?"

"Yes, being sent abroad can last anywhere from one or two years to three or five years, or even six or seven years."

The two were silent for a moment.

Wang Ming opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Li Si was silent for a while, then picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and put it down, his voice a little hoarse: "Then it won't be easy for us to meet again in the future."

"How could that be? The distance between Qingmu Manor and the sect isn't that far; it's quite easy to come back."

Lu Qingchen smiled.

As they were talking, Zhao Ming and Qian Wanliang walked over carrying bowls of rice. Hearing their conversation, Qian Wanliang spoke first: "What are you talking about? What overseas assignment?"

"Qingchen is going to Qingmu Manor," Wang Ming said.

Zhao Ming was stunned for a moment, and Qian Wanliang was also stunned for a second, then sighed: "You're good, you were sent abroad as soon as you became a spirit plant cultivator, much better than us."

"I'm still drawing those crooked talismans in the Talisman Hall; not a single one is usable yet."

Zhao Ming sat down with his rice bowl in his hand and smiled, a rare occurrence for him: "I'm quite lucky. I just passed the Spirit Plant Hall's assessment yesterday, and now I'm an official Spirit Plant Master."

"Really?" Wang Ming's eyes lit up. "Great job, Zhao Ming!"

Zhao Ming scratched his head. "Although the quality of the spirit rice we grew was only average, it at least met the standards."

After exchanging a few words of congratulations, the atmosphere became less heavy.

Wang Ming took out two spirit stones from his sleeve pocket, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards him: "These are the ones I borrowed last time, here they are back."

Lu Qingchen glanced at it and pushed the spirit stone back: "No need to return it."

"How can that be?" Wang Ming said anxiously.

"Why not?" Lu Qingchen smiled. "You've helped me before, what's a few spirit stones?"

"Besides, all your crafting, array drawing, and talisman drawing costs money. Save it for materials."

Wang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Li Si stopped him.

Li Si glanced at Lu Qingchen, nodded, and put the spirit stones he had already taken out back: "Alright, then we won't stand on ceremony with you. We'll keep them for now and return them when we have the chance."

Lu Qingchen waved his hand: "Don't say you won't pay me back, you're being too polite."

Qian Wanliang, standing to the side, touched his nose and joked, "I didn't borrow it from you, so you don't need to pay it back."

Zhao Ming nodded in agreement.

Lu Qingchen smiled, took out a small cloth bag from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhao Ming: "These are seeds I saved from the last season's spirit rice. They're of good quality."

"Take it back and plant it; you might get a good harvest. Consider it a congratulation on becoming a spirit plant grower."

Zhao Ming took the cloth bag, opened it and looked inside. The rice grains were plump and round, with a subtle sheen.

He paused for a moment, then looked up at Lu Qingchen: "This...isn't it too valuable?"

"It's nothing valuable."

Lu Qingchen waved his hand, "Take it. You've just become a spirit plant master, good seeds will save you a lot of trouble."

Zhao Ming gripped the cloth bag tightly, nodded, and did not refuse again.

Qian Wanliang watched longingly from the side, saying, "He's the only one who has it? What about us?"

"You don't know how to farm, it would be a waste to give it to you," Lu Qingchen said.

Qian Wanliang snorted, but didn't really care.

Wang Ming sniffed and patted Lu Qingchen on the shoulder: "Do a good job over there, don't embarrass our group."

Li Si nodded: "Come back and visit when you have time. Although we're not very capable, we can still get together for a meal."

Zhao Ming said in a low voice, "By the time you come back, I should be able to grow something decent."

Qian Wanliang patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, your land is all rocks, it would be a miracle if anything grew on it."

Zhao Ming glared at him: "I'm a spirit plant grower now. The sect will allocate me new spirit fields. Who would still cultivate that broken-down land?"

The group paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Wang Ming slammed his fist on the table: "Well done, Zhao Ming! You're already acting all high and mighty after just passing the assessment!"

Zhao Ming scratched his head and laughed along.

......