Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Withered Glory Technique
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Working in the fields at noon, sweat dripping onto the soil below the rice plants, who knows that every single grain on the plate comes from hard work!
Wang Chen rolled up his sleeves, his gaze fixed on the wild grasses growing wantonly in the Spirit Fields, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
You grasses, my nemeses!
In the estate that now belonged to him, a total of fifty mu of medium-grade Spirit Fields had been reclaimed.
According to the requirements of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Wang Chen can currently only utilize these Spirit Fields to grow Yellow Millet Rice and Black Sesame Rice.
Both Yellow Millet Rice and Black Sesame Rice are medium-grade grains, the former high in Spiritual Energy, often eaten for its effect of condensing one’s spirit and calming one’s Qi.
Black Sesame Rice, on the other hand, could strengthen one’s Physique and invigorate the Qi-Blood, its content of Spiritual Energy slightly less than that of Yellow Millet Rice.
The prices of the two kinds of Spirit Rice were roughly the same.
Wang Chen, because it was his first time tilling medium-grade Spirit Fields.
So, he bought both types of rice seeds and planned to plant twenty-five mu of each, adjusting later based on the yield.
Now that he had the seeds and the Spiritual Fertilizer, and had mastered the basics of Fertilizing and Germination Techniques,
All was prepared except the right opportunity; all that remained was to clear the weeds before sowing the seeds.
Just in time to catch the last bus of autumn plowing!
But this was not an easy task.
The fifty mu of Spirit Fields were a full five times the acreage that Wang Chen used to till in the Outer Sect.
Most importantly, these medium-grade Spirit Fields had been neglected for some time, with various wild grasses having grown taller than a person.
Their roots ran deep into the earth, intertwined and dense.
Plowing and weeding would require a great deal of effort!
And time.
Yet as a towering Qi Cultivation seventh-tier Cultivator, of course, Wang Chen could not simply keep his head down and toil like an ordinary farmer.
He was determined to make it clear to these grasses before him that he was not one to be trifled with!
A wind from the mountains blew by, rustling the large clumps of wild grasses with a “swish-swish” sound.
Intimidated by Wang Chen’s murderous aura, some were trembling, others were crying and begging for mercy.
Obviously aware that their end was near.
Yet there were others that were exceptionally defiant, displaying neither awe nor fear but instead sending provocative thoughts towards Wang Chen.
Come on, who’s afraid!
Grass!
Wang Chen was instantly enraged, his eyes igniting into raging flames.
The next moment, he formed a spell with his hands and spread his arms, his Dantian’s Mana continuously converging into his palms.
With the flames rising, Fire Crows lifelike as ever stretched their wings, quickly breaking away from Wang Chen’s hands and speeding towards the Spirit Fields in front.
Wang Chen conjured six Fire Crows in one breath!
These Mana-embodied Fire Crows grew against the wind, instantly becoming the size of hawks, their wingspan exceeding seven feet as they swooped towards the wild grass with scorching flames.
The weeds that invaded the Spirit Fields, although tougher and stronger than ordinary grasses, instantly turned to ash upon contact with the flames, utterly powerless to resist.
And more weeds were ignited by the sweeping heat.
Fanned by the mountain winds, the fire spread in all directions!
Wang Chen laughed viciously as he steadily pushed forward.
The six Fire Crows circled and dove around him, destroying even more wild grass.
It was now a blazing inferno!
Relying on the formidable control of Grandmaster-level Fire Crow Technique, Wang Chen was like a terrifying Great Demon entering Novice Village, wielding a scythe of death, ruthlessly harvesting the level 1 flora.
The surviving wildflowers and grasses cried helplessly as they clung tightly together, attempting to use their frail forms to resist the rampaging flames.
However, it was all in vain, for those unable to escape were doomed to become ash fertilizing the field!
In fact, countless insects hidden in the underbrush and soil also suffered when the fire swept over; by the time they thought to flee, it was already too late, and they perished alongside the grass.
A drizzle began to fall.
The raindrops extinguished the remaining embers in the Spirit Fields and also cooled the high temperatures caused by the fire.
The water also turned the thick ash into a black sludge.
All of it excellent Spiritual Fertilizer.
Acting all high and mighty now!
Having just executed the Cloud Rain Jue to extinguish the fire, Wang Chen looked out over the vast expanse of burnt Spirit Fields with satisfaction.
All the weeds had been completely eradicated by him.
It had taken just a quarter of an hour from start to finish!
Wang Chen felt that he could indeed add the honorary title of “Weed Annihilator” to his name.
But he was well aware.
As a Spiritual Plant Farmer, his war against the weeds was just beginning.
Although the surface weeds were gone, reduced to ash, their roots still lay hidden deep within the soil, ready to sprout anew with just a bit of rain and dew.
The fire can’t burn them all, the clouds and rain prompt their return!
The very weeds that dared to challenge him were relying on such resilience.
As long as a single one of their of their robust roots remained unscathed, they could be reborn!
Was there no thorough way to eradicate these weeds?
Wang Chen believed there was but knew the cost would surely be high and utterly unwarranted.
Too bad he couldn’t concoct the Immortal Realm’s version of a potent herbicide!
After a moment’s thought, Wang Chen reached out and plucked a small grass growing beside the field ridge.
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This little grass had luckily escaped the disaster of being burned by raging flames, only to be caught in the hands of the Great Demon King.
It shivered and bent over, conveying a sense of eagerness to please Wang Chen.
An interesting little thing.
In fact, when he first crossed over into this world and started to take on the role of the original Spiritual Plant Farmer, Wang Chen discovered that he could acutely perceive the emotions of plants, especially those of Spiritual Rice.
The saying that plants are heartless was clearly not applicable in this world.
But Wang Chen felt.
Such an ability was probably his own hidden talent!
You’ll be a person in your next life.
With that thought in mind, Wang Chen lightly twisted his fingertips, activating the Withered Glory Technique.
This small grass covered in soil grew at an astonishing speed in an instant.
Its stem climbed upward in sections, while its leaves spread out to the sides.
The new thin roots constantly branching out from the base entwined Wang Chen’s fingers like the tentacles of an octopus, clinging tightly.
They even attempted to burrow into his skin!
However, in the instant of its peak vitality, which lasted only a few breaths, the wild grass lost all its vitality.
It withered away to dust, which drifted down silently.
[Withered Glory Technique Experience +1]
Wang Chen had always found the Withered Glory Technique to be a very fascinating spell.
Although its level was quite low and both ordinary Spiritual Plant Farmers and Cultivators could master it.
When Wang Chen first learned this spell, it cost him only five Spirit Stones.
Yet the Withered Glory Technique was very special.
It could greatly accelerate the growth speed of flowers and plants, and also condense the lifetime of a small grass into a few breaths.
Life and death, thriving and withering, all in one thought!
Although this spell couldn’t be used to cultivate Spiritual Rice, Spiritual Medicine, or Spiritual Materials.
The essence and rhyme it contained transcended the level of the spell itself.
Wang Chen opened the Immortal Cultivation panel to check his skill list.
[Withered Glory Technique (Proficient): 25/200]
The proficiency of this skill had been casually raised by him in the past.
For example, when tilling the fields, if he saw a weed that bothered him, he would cast the Withered Glory Technique on it, and it would turn into ash.
The weed-killing effect was quite impressive.
But it was meaningless.
Because casting the Withered Glory Technique not only affected his daily cultivation, but also consumed a considerable amount of Mana.
The Spirit Fields were fraught with weeds.
Add to that the mountain winds and birds and beasts that brought new seeds.
Hence, no Spiritual Plant Farmer would use the Withered Glory Technique to deal with weeds.
That would be like using a cannon to kill mosquitoes!
But Wang Chen wanted to give it a try.
Now that the Spirit Fields had not been plowed and the seeds had not been sown, it was undoubtedly the best time to do so.
The prerequisite was to improve the Withered Glory Technique to a level that could solve the problem.
Great Achievement? Grandmaster? Great Perfection?
At the moment, Wang Chen’s Human Virtue points were just enough for three times the required points addition!
He sat down beside the field ridge and pulled up one weed after another.
[Withered Glory Technique Experience +1]
[Withered Glory Technique Experience +1]
…
Once he focused on it, the skill’s proficiency immediately began to soar!
And just as the Mana in Wang Chen’s Dantian was about to run out, he immediately drew Spiritual Power from the Demon-Slaying Net wrapped around his arm.
Converting it into pure Mana.
“Ying ying!”
Wang Chen was enjoying the flow of his work when Yuanyuan came dashing along the field ridge and jumped onto him.
After settling down in their new home, Wang Chen had let the little creature roam freely.
He let it frolic around the manor at will.
The Inner Mountain Gate was indeed much safer than the Outer Mountain Gate.
There were no wild demons or Evil Wraiths here, let alone the possibility of a thieves’ invasion.
Patting the little one, Wang Chen said, “Play by yourself, daddy is very busy right now.”
Yuanyuan obediently nodded and then hopped down to the ground.
In the blink of an eye, it burrowed into the soil and disappeared from sight.
Wang Chen was not worried at all.
Between Wang Chen and Yuanyuan, there was a connection of their Divine Souls. As long as the little creature didn’t run too far, he could always sense its condition or call it back at any time.
He pulled up another grass and continued brushing up his Withered Glory Technique.
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The first update is here.
