Chapter Sixteen: Life, at Last, Began to Improve

According to what Senior Chen Yushu said, these three are spirit rice seeds. For someone like him to value them so highly, these so-called spirit rice seeds are certainly anything but ordinary.

Zhou Changwang examined the three seeds carefully. He was well aware that not all spirit rice was created equal. For instance, the spirit grain he cultivated was considered the most common type. Normally, a single spirit stone could buy ten catties; although the price had dropped lately, it still wasn’t affordable for everyone.

Beyond the spirit grain, there was crescent rice—five catties for a low-grade spirit stone; blood-red rice—two catties for a low-grade spirit stone; and spirit fruit rice—just one catty for a low-grade spirit stone.

Naturally, the more expensive, the better the taste, and the more effective it was for absorption during cultivation. Even the same type of spirit rice could vary in quality. For example, spirit grain, when carefully bred and selected over generations by a skilled spirit cultivator, could break through its grade limit and reach middle-grade status.

Middle-grade spirit rice was not only tastier but also richer in spiritual energy, allowing cultivators to progress faster in their training. It was said that true cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage ate only middle-grade spirit rice cultivated by special experts.

Unfortunately, these three spirit rice seeds showed no signs of life—they were utterly dead and devoid of any vitality. Even Senior Chen Yushu had been unable to revive them, and Zhou Changwang’s own abilities fell far short.

He sighed and glanced at his attribute panel. Upon inspection, the only technique that might affect these seeds was the Germination Spell.

The Germination Spell was an essential technique for spirit cultivators, primarily used to infuse spiritual energy into plants to aid growth. Master cultivators could accelerate a seed’s entire life cycle—sprouting, flowering, fruiting, and withering—all in a single day.

Given the seeds’ utter lifelessness, they were likely beyond hope. But since he had promised Chen Yushu to give it a try, Zhou Changwang wasn’t about to give up without an attempt. After all, what if something miraculous happened?

He was genuinely curious about these spirit rice seeds. If he succeeded, not only would Chen Yushu owe him a favor, but the seeds themselves would be immensely valuable. Perhaps others had failed simply because their mastery of the Germination Spell was too shallow. What if someone with true expertise—proficiency, mastery, or perfection—tried?

Could the impossible become reality?

If nothing else, he could treat it as spell practice.

With that thought, Zhou Changwang focused, controlling his spiritual power, gathering runes, and casting the Germination Spell.

One breath, two, three…

After five breaths, the spell was complete.

Germination Spell +1

With a flick of his finger, motes of spiritual light scattered, sinking swiftly into the three seeds.

One breath, two, three…

But it was like water vanishing into the sea—the three seeds remained utterly still.

Zhou Changwang wasn’t surprised. His Germination Spell was only at the entry level; reviving these seeds was impossible.

He didn’t pause, instead casting the spell again and again.

One, two, three times…

He had always made a habit of practicing spells at night. He used to practice the Gengjin Finger, but after reaching proficiency, the spell had become a bit too destructive—his room now sported a patch riddled with holes and churned earth.

Switching to the Germination Spell was much easier. He didn’t have to worry about making noise or attracting unwanted attention.

Germination Spell +1

Suddenly, Zhou Changwang’s hand froze. In that instant, countless insights about the Germination Spell flooded his mind, as if he’d practiced it thousands of times. A myriad of understandings blossomed within him.

The Germination Spell had advanced. He had reached the proficiency stage.

Zhou Changwang understood at once and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Compared to the Gengjin Finger, the Germination Spell consumed much less spiritual power. Thanks to ‘cultivation mode’, he had enough energy to practice over thirty times. That was how he had managed to advance the spell from Entry (69/100) to Proficiency (1/200) in one go.

He couldn’t help but check his attribute panel:

Name: Zhou Changwang
Lifespan: 17/75
Cultivation: Qi Refining, Level 2 (37/100)
Technique: Five Elements Formula (Proficiency 17/200)
Skills: Spirit Rain (Proficiency 198/200), Cleansing Spell (Entry 62/100), Germination Spell (Proficiency 1/200), Gengjin Finger (Proficiency 124/200)

“Germination Spell at proficiency, Spirit Rain is about to break through to the next realm, and judging by today’s progress, Gengjin Finger will only take two more days…”

Zhou Changwang was buoyed with hope.

As for his cultivation, progress was slow but steady—a little improvement each day. He planned to eat spirit rice for all three meals and practice with spirit worms; this would surely speed up his cultivation even more.

The five low-grade spirit stones he still possessed gave him a sense of security. Compared to the destitution of a few days ago, life was looking up.

Only one problem remained.

“Father has been gone for over twenty days without word.”

A trace of worry appeared on Zhou Changwang’s face.

With all the original’s memories merged into him, he knew his father’s hardships—risking his life to hunt monsters with cultivators in the mountains, all for his sake.

No matter the reason, he had to shoulder this responsibility. Deep down, he genuinely cared for his father’s safety.

“Perhaps they’ve just gone deeper into the mountains and will return in a few days.”

Zhou Changwang frowned, trying to reassure himself.

But knowing how dangerous the world of cultivation was… For him, a humble farming rogue cultivator, things were simple—just tending his small plot, with spirit cultivators from the Spirit Value Hall patrolling occasionally. He rarely faced real danger.

But his father had joined monster-hunting cultivators. Not only did he have to guard against fierce beasts, but also any passing cultivators—and even his own teammates, who might turn on him for profit.

In this world, such betrayals were all too common. Every year, many monster hunters lost their lives for various reasons.

Especially since his father had no spiritual roots and was not a cultivator…

Suppressing his worry and resolving to ask around for news tomorrow, Zhou Changwang returned to his senses. Glancing at the three seeds in his hand, he abandoned the idea of further attempts—his spiritual power was nearly depleted anyway—so he sealed them away, sat cross-legged on his bed, and started circulating the Five Elements Formula to restore his energy and cultivate.

The next morning, after a bowl of spirit rice porridge, Zhou Changwang felt a rare sense of satisfaction in both body and mind. Checking the time, he hurried out the door.

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