The morning sun had barely risen beyond the misty hills when Lin Yuanfeng stepped out of the small wooden house. A faint breeze carried the scent of damp earth and grass, but the sight before him shattered any sense of peace.
The family's spirit farming fields… ruined.
The faintly glowing jade-green rice stalks were dull and lifeless. Many were broken, scattered, trampled by beast claws. The once lively two-acre field now looked like a battlefield—shredded plants, uneven soil, and splatters of dried blood from injured spirit beasts.
About seventy percent of it… destroyed.
His fists tightened unconsciously. His eyes showed a hint of bitterness, but more than that—determination.
'Just when I finally have some hope… this happens.'
He walked slowly through the damaged field, touching a withered stalk. A faint whisper escaped his lips.
'Spirit Jade Rice… ruined. But not hopeless.'
Some stalks still pulsed weakly with spiritual energy—those untouched by beast venom. He spent the next few hours carefully harvesting the remaining healthy rice. The work was slow, patient, and careful.
Eventually, he gathered around 600 kilograms of usable Spirit Jade Rice.
It was not ideal. It was barely enough to recover losses. But it was something.
He loaded them into rough cloth sacks and tied them carefully. He took out an ordinary storage pouch—a simple one he got in the cave, not the higher-grade sect pouche he had accidentally picked up before.
He muttered to himself, 'If I use the sect pouch, people will start asking questions. Better not invite trouble. So let's sell it'
Then he thought of system inventory space and tried to put the rice into the system's inventory space using his will.
Silence. Nothing happened.
A gentle, emotionless voice echoed in his mind—neither cold nor warm, but distant.
"System inventory function will be available only after host reaches Foundation Establishment."
'No storage space until I break through?'
He sighed softly, the weariness buried deep in his eyes.
He stored all the grains inside the ordinary storage pouch and kept both storage pouches hidden beneath his inner robe.
---
Inside the small house, his parents were slowly recovering. They sat on the bed, half-reclined, smiling weakly as they saw him enter.
Lin Changsheng's deep but tired voice spoke softly, "Feng'er… already busy this early?"
Lin Yuanfeng forced a light smile, his expression softening. "Dad, there's not much good harvest left. Better take what's still good before beasts come again."
Yue Lingxin frowned, her worried eyes lingering on the pouches in his hand. "Are you… going alone to the city?"
He nodded slightly.
"Fenger," she said softly, holding his sleeve, her voice trembling, "We can live simply. You don't have to take risks for us."
He paused, then gently patted her hand.
'In my previous life, I was alone. Nobody waited for me. Nobody worried for me. But here… I have parents.'
He didn't speak his thoughts. Instead, he just smiled, quietly, warmly.
"I will be careful."
After discussing basic household things and reminding them to rest, he placed some cooked food in bowls, handed them over, and then stepped out.
---
On the dirt road leading to Clearwater Town, he walked silently, carrying both pouches hidden inside his robe.
His steps were light, but his thoughts were heavy.
This world… strength speaks louder than anything else. Even cultivators are not safe. But I… I need a plan. Survival comes first.
He reached the outer city gate about an hour later. A cluster of people were whispering animatedly.
"Did you hear? Those bandits from Black Dog Ridge are wiped out!"
"What? How?"
"They were arrogant enough to assault the Jin Family's young master—he had just returned home from the sect during a sect mission! "
"Tsk, some people don't treasure their lives. How could they provoke a direct descendant of Jin family…"
Lin Yuanfeng walked past them quietly.
'So, those bandits who troubled me before… and now, someone else troubled them.Hmm.. fate has a strange way of balancing things.'
His lips curved slightly, neither mocking nor happy just feeling relief.
---
He stepped deeper into the Inner City.
Bustling streets, neatly arranged shops, spiritual aromas drifting from alchemy stores, rows of cultivation gear on display—this was an entirely different world from the muddy farming regions.
He pretended to buy and browsing through the shops, but in truth, he was observing and calculating.
He visited medicine shops, talisman shops, spirit farming material stores, even pawn shops. He asked about the prices, inns, farming tools, land leases, nearby sects, their rankings, entry requirements—everything.
He also saw some stalls opened by the loose cultivators along the road selling some common herbs, weapons and some odd things who knows where the got them from
His expression was calm, polite, almost indifferent.
But inside, his mind was weaving a map.
Knowledge is more valuable than brute strength.
After making several rounds, he reached a shop.
A large plaque hung above the door:
Jin Shang Trading Hall
The largest grain, herb, spirit plant and artifacts trading company in the city.
---
He approached the entrance, where a neatly dressed maid stood, her bearing elegant and calm demeanour.
Moist eyes, soft smile, respectful posture.
"Esteemed guest, welcome to Jin Shang Trading Hall."
He cupped his hands slightly. "I want to sell Spirit Jade Rice. May I know where to proceed?"
Her expression remained professional, but her eyes briefly showed a hint of surprise at his humble clothing.
"Please follow me, guest."
She guided him through quiet corridors to a private room. A tea set was already prepared, and a gentle fragrance filled the air.
She turned back, smiling softly. "May I know how many kilograms of Jade Spirit rice? If it is good quality, we offer ten spirit sands per kilogram."
He nodded lightly without showing much emotion. Ten sands per kilo… acceptable.
He gently placed the ordinary storage pouch on the table. The maid performed a swift hand seal, and the pouch opened. A faint green shimmer illuminated the room—proof of genuine Spirit Jade Rice.
She nodded in admiration. "Purity is good. No beast poison traces. Estimated six hundred kilograms. That would be six thousand spirit sands — equivalent to sixty low-grade spirit stones."
Lin Yuanfeng calmly nodded.
But when he placed the second pouch the sect- storage pouch he got on the table, her expression froze.
"Do you accept these things"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
She looked at him.
"Guest… may I know where you obtained this?"
Lin Yuanfeng's expression turned slightly uncomfortable. He hesitated, and then said with a calm, controlled voice.
"I found it near the Outer Forest. It was just lying there."
Her expression changed slightly—then softened.
She spoke gently.
"Please don't misunderstand. Today morning, a disciple from Spirit Sword Sect left a commission here. Whoever returns this item will receive a reward of two hundred low spirit stones."
She smiled faintly.
"I believe the guest don't want unnecessary trouble, thinking about selling this in the black market might be risky. So, I advise you to hand it over to us."
He paused.
200 low spirit stones…
He silently weighed the options.
Keep the pouch? Trouble.
Sell it secretly? Risk.
Return it officially? Reward, safety, connections.
He finally nodded.
"I'll take the reward."
She smiled gently and clasped her hands.
"Wise decision."
She counted everything in front of him and handed him a bag. The clear spiritual fluctuations confirmed it was genuine currency.
And just like that—
He earned 260 low spirit stones. (60 from rice, 200 from the sect commission)
Before leaving, he paused and asked—
"Do you know if there are any farming lands… preferably with a courtyard? Inner City. Safe."
She thought for a moment.
"Yes, we have properties available. Please follow me."
---
After viewing several places, he finally chose one:
📍 4 mu of land
— 3 mu with Medium-Grade Tier 1 Spirit Vein (suitable for spirit farming)
— 1 mu house with courtyard
— A basic protective mist barrier, and alerting formation
Rent: 25 low spirit stones per month
He agreed.
Even though it was expensive, it offered stability, security, and cultivation support.
She summoned an attendant.
"Guest, please follow him to inspect the field. If there are any issues, we will arrange repairs."
The attendant respectfully bowed with clasped fists.
"Please, this way."
They travelled to the north of the inner city, arriving at an abandoned yet elegant old mansion.
He stepped in. The courtyard is tranquil. The air is rich with spiritual energy. The land was untouched filled with weeds, potential brimming beneath the earth.
He touched the door, covered in gentle spiritual mist.
After a pause
He turned to the attendant.
"Help me clean the house. Clear the weeds in the fields. Check the formations working condition. We will move in by tomorrow afternoon."
He handed over a 2 spirit stones to the attendant.
"Yes, Young Master."
Then hired a carriage to return home.
This carriage comes with a protection barrier formation.
So he relaxed and looks outside the carriage and thinks what he should plant in this new field.
'Lets pay a visit to the Jin Shang trading hall and see if there are any tier 1 seeds.'
After sometime he closed his eyes waiting for the carriage to reach its destination.