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

The person in charge of the carriage and horse yard was an old disciple in the Qi Refining stage. He had gray hair and his cultivation level was not high. He had been in the sect for many years but had not made a name for himself, so he was assigned to guard the carriages and horses.

He was dozing off in his chair, a dandruff trickling from the corner of his mouth, his snores even.

Hearing footsteps, he was jolted awake. Opening his eyes, he saw it was Deacon Liu and quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face: "Deacon Liu, you've arrived? How many carriages do you need?"

Deacon Liu ignored him, walked straight to a hearse, lifted the curtain, and waved to the five people: "Get in."

The five people filed in.

The carriage was much more spacious than it looked from the outside, and it was lined with soft cushions, enough to seat seven or eight people.

Deacon Liu was the last to board the car, sitting on the outermost side. He took out a list from his sleeve, glanced at it, and then closed his eyes to rest.

The wheels rolled, the nimble horse pulled the carriage, and it moved quickly and steadily.

The hearse traveled for several hours before gradually slowing down.

Steward Liu opened his eyes, lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, and said calmly, "We've arrived at Cuiping Manor."

As the carriage came to a stop, Steward Liu took out a document from his sleeve and read aloud: "Zhou Ping, Cuiping Manor."

Zhou Ping took the document, cupped his hands in greeting to the other four, and said, "Until we meet again, everyone."

Zhou Ping jumped out of the car and waved to them from the roadside.

The curtain was lowered, and the hearse continued on its way.

After another hour's journey, Steward Liu lifted the carriage curtain again: "We've arrived at Baiguo Manor."

"Wang De, Baiguozhuang."

Wang De took the document, nodded, said nothing, jumped out of the car, and left.

Soon, the rest of the passengers got off the train one after another, leaving only Lu Qingchen in the carriage.

"Aoki Village is still ahead."

Deacon Liu glanced at him and, unusually, added, "The road over there is difficult to travel; the carriage can't go in. We'll have to walk for a while."

Lu Qingchen nodded.

The hearse traveled for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before stopping in front of a gentle slope.

Deacon Liu lifted the carriage curtain and pointed ahead: "Follow this road, go over that slope, and you'll arrive."

Lu Qingchen jumped out of the car, took the last document, and bowed to express his gratitude.

Deacon Liu nodded, the curtain was lowered, and the hearse turned and drove away.

......

Aoki Village is situated on a gentle slope, with vast stretches of spiritual fields visible in the distance.

The morning light spills over from the eastern mountains, sprinkling across the vast rice paddies, where dewdrops on the rice leaves shimmer with light.

"The spiritual fields here are not much worse than those on Panlong Peak."

He took a deep breath; the air was filled with the scent of earth and grass, and a faint, almost imperceptible, spiritual energy.

He walked along the bluestone road into the village. On both sides of the road were vast fields of jade-green rice, growing vigorously. The rice ears had already sprouted, drooping heavily.

The tenant farmers were busy in the fields, some weeding, some fertilizing. Occasionally someone would look up at him, then lower their head and continue working.

At the center of Zhuangzi was a small square, with several old locust trees planted around it, and a few old men smoking pipes under the trees.

Across from the square is a small courtyard made of blue bricks, with a wooden plaque hanging above the gate that reads "Qingmu Manor".

Lu Qingchen straightened his clothes and went to knock on the door.

The man who opened the door had a square face, thick eyebrows, and wore a faded blue cloth robe with a spirit plant master token hanging from his waist.

He looked Lu Qingchen up and down, his gaze lingering on his young face.

"Who should I look for?"

"Disciple Lu Qingchen, a newly dispatched spirit plant cultivator from Spirit Plant Peak, has come to pay respects to Master Zhao."

The man grunted in acknowledgment and stepped aside, saying, "Come in, the master is in the main room."

The courtyard was small but kept very clean, with several clumps of medicinal herbs growing lushly in the corner.

Sitting in the main room was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a square face and a shrewd look between his brows, holding a teacup and reading a booklet.

Lu Qingchen entered and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Lu Qingchen greets Master Zhao."

Zhao Demao put down his teacup, took the appointment document handed to him, glanced at it, and then looked up at him.

"Did Lingzhi Peak send you?"

His tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Yes."

"How long have you been a plant grower?"

"Less than three months."

Zhao Demao's expression suddenly froze.

"Less than three months?"

He looked up at Lu Qingchen, his gaze scrutinizing her even more intently than before. "You mean, you've been a spirit plant cultivator for less than three months?"

"Yes," Lu Qingchen said.

Zhao Demao remained silent for a moment.

"And what about your overseas assignment slot...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—how could someone who had only been a spiritual plant grower for less than three months get an overseas assignment?

The sect's rule is that one must have been a spirit plant grower for three years before being eligible to apply.

"I was recommended by Elder Sun and participated in the Spirit Plant Hall's external assessment, which I passed by luck," Lu Qingchen explained.

Zhao Demao stared at Lu Qingchen for a long time, as if trying to confirm whether the young man was exaggerating.

He knew that the participants in the overseas assessment were mostly experienced farmers who had been farming for several years. How could a newcomer who had been a spiritual plant grower for less than three months stand out?

But Lu Qingchen stood before him, neither humble nor arrogant, with clear eyes, not like he was lying.

Zhao Demao picked up the document again, unfolded it, and read it through from beginning to end once more.

The paper bears the vermilion seal of the Spirit Plant Hall in the lower right corner, along with the signature of Vice Hall Master Zhou Yuandao; it cannot be faked.

He put down the documents, leaned back in his chair, and remained silent for a long time.

He then put the documents away, looked Lu Qingchen up and down, and slowly said, "Qingmu Manor is not like a sect, the conditions are simple, please bear with me."

He paused, then added, "It's rare to see young people willing to come to a place like this."

The words "young people" were pronounced neither too loudly nor too softly, as if to say, "It's good that you're young and energetic." But when paired with that barely audible sigh, the meaning changed.

Lu Qingchen understood that Zhao Demao was saying: You are too young and inexperienced. Why did Lingzhi Peak send such a greenhorn?

However, he showed no sign of it on his face, and simply said respectfully, "You flatter me, Master. I will do my utmost."

Zhao Demao nodded, said nothing more, and called out to the door, "Old Sun, come here for a second."

Footsteps approached from afar, and a lean man walked in.

He was wearing a drab gray short-sleeved shirt, his trousers rolled up to his knees, and his feet were covered in mud; he looked like he had just come from the fields.

"Master, you wanted to see me?"

"Go and call Lao Zhou and Lao Liu over for a meeting in the main room," Zhao Demao said.

Sun Zhiyuan glanced at Lu Qingchen, didn't ask why, and turned to leave.

Only Zhao Demao and Lu Qingchen remained in the main room.

Zhao Demao spoke slowly and deliberately: "Before they arrive, let me tell you about the rules of the manor."

Lu Qingchen sat up straight.

"The village is not like a sect. You are a new spiritual plant grower, and there are corresponding assessment tasks every year."