Thousand Machines Market.
The core area of the market is situated atop a Tier Two Spiritual Vein.
The surrounding outermost area is flat, with large tracts of spirit fields cultivated, planted with abundant spirit rice.
Beside the endless golden rice fields.
A handsome young man forms a spell with his hands.
"Cloud Rain Technique, hasten!"
In the young man's dantian, mana quickly dissipates, transforming into strands of mist, gradually rising and gathering into a dark cloud over a zhang in size.
Rain drops softly from it.
Nourishing the earth, irrigating the spirit rice.
The young man then guides the cloud across the sky, watering a large area completely.
This is no ordinary rain.
The cloud rain summoned by the young man contains a trace of spiritual power, greatly benefiting the growth of the spirit rice.
It is the season for the rice to form grains, affecting the harvest, and negligence is not permitted, so the young man comes every three days.
Besides, as a spirit farmer, he must also remove insects and weeds at the appropriate time!
The pests and weeds in the spirit fields are unlike those in the mundane world, giving rise to two methods—Geng Metal Finger and Ice Crystal Technique.
The former accurately exterminates pests, while the latter seeks out the roots of weeds, freezing and withering them.
Obviously, this work has its thresholds, and ordinary people simply can't do it.
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Sheng feels his mana completely depleted, yet one-third of the land he rents remains unwatered. He'll have to return later!
He sighs softly in his heart:
"Qi Cultivation Second Layer, my cultivation is still too low!"
...
Half a month ago.
Chen Sheng finally broke the mystery of his womb and awakened his past life memories.
In this world, his name is Tang Yun, fourteen years old, orphaned, with a Lower Grade Spiritual Root, Qi Cultivation Second Layer, relying on the Thousand Machines Market as a spirit farmer.
Strangely enough, though supposedly Chen Sheng's bloodline, he doesn't bear the surname Chen, and neither did his parents. What happened in the previous generation is unknown to his predecessor.
"I don't even know how long it's been since my previous life?"
"I thought I would wake up as a disciple of a cultivation family, but ended up as a loose cultivator."
Chen Sheng expected to be a core disciple of the Chen Clan in this life, still thinking longingly of his family's Fake Pill Realm ancestor.
Unfortunately…
Chen Sheng shook his head, walked into a nearby thatched hut, sat cross-legged, and began restoring his mana; the spiritual qi in the spirit field is much richer than at his residence, so he often comes here to absorb spiritual qi for cultivation.
At this point, he is quite experienced.
Another half hour later, Chen Sheng finished replenishing his mana, slowly stood up, and cast the spell again…
By the time he completed the remaining work, the sun was already high in the sky. With a sun hat on and feeling a bit hungry, he headed towards his home.
After walking for seven or eight minutes, a cluster of neatly arranged bluestone buildings came into view, resembling countryside villas on Earth, standalone with their own courtyards, quite livable.
This area is where the spirit farmers reside.
On the western side, a small courtyard is his home.
Halfway there.
"Tang Yun!"
A dark-skinned young man approached head-on.
Ji Feng, his neighbor, Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
"Ji Feng, where are you going?"
Seeing the other heading out at this time, Chen Sheng casually asked.
Ji Feng lowered his voice:
"You still don't know?"
Chen Sheng was at a loss, turning his head to inquire:
"Know what?"
Ji Feng's eyes were glowing as he spoke:
"Hehe, something big has happened, a small secret realm has appeared near Cloud Dragon Mountain!"
"Secret realm?"
"Yes, it's said someone brought out a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object from inside; it's a rare opportunity. Want to join me for an adventure?"
Chen Sheng heard this and showed a contemplative look, though inwardly, he was quite speechless!
To compete for Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, one must at least be late-stage Qi Refining experts. You're only Qi Cultivation Third Layer, yet you dare to get involved?
This is seeking death!
And you want to drag me into it too?
Seeing Chen Sheng's pondering appearance, Ji Feng thought he was moved and quickly urged him:
"The secret realm is full of spiritual objects; don't worry, the risk isn't too high. We'll just go to the outermost area, grab something, and run."
"It's mainly that the opportunity is rare. I heard from Old Deng that the last secret realm appeared more than forty years ago."
"Back then, a friend of his went in and made a fortune, now he's a late-stage Qi Refining expert."
"Old Deng, being timid, didn't go and regretted it for a lifetime, and now he's only Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."
Hearing this, Chen Sheng couldn't deny there might be some success possibilities.
However, he wasn't tempted; instead, he was on full alert. God doesn't drop pies in your lap, and a Qi Cultivation Third Layer inviting a Qi Cultivation Second Layer for an adventure?
Going to the outskirts to take a slice? More likely to take a slice of me!
If Chen Sheng were Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, he might invite someone to join for an adventure himself, only to….
Out of the market and… quite different!
Chen Sheng showed a timid look:
"Forget it, I better farm honestly; it's too dangerous."
Ji Feng looked at him with disappointment:
"Earning those few spirit stones from farming won't suffice for cultivation, you know? You'll end up like Old Deng, regretting your whole life."
Since Old Deng was brought up again, Chen Sheng grew curious:
"How about Old Deng? Is he going?"
Ji Feng nodded matter-of-factly:
"He's still hesitating, but he regretted not going last time, so he will definitely go this time. If you're not going, I'll head out with Old Deng, just don't envy us later."
Upon hearing this, images of Old Deng's friendly, smiling eyes appeared in Chen Sheng's mind.
However, knowing a face doesn't mean knowing a heart; the man's mid-stage Qi Cultivation wasn't fake, leaving Chen Sheng unsure of Ji Feng's real intentions; he offered a sheepish smile:
"No, no, I wish you luck in finding spiritual objects, and may the Immortal Dao remain evergreen."
Ji Feng laughed heartily at that:
"Don't worry, when I return, I'll treat you to a drink."
Chen Sheng smiled, bid him farewell, and after a few more steps, finally reached his home.
He pushed open the outer gate, revealing a small courtyard of about two hundred square meters, neatly divided into several plots, with a few fruit trees and green vegetables planted.
Though not a spirit field, it absorbed a bit of spiritual qi.
Under Chen Sheng's careful care, these plants thrived well. He plucked a bunch of chives, walked into the kitchen, and started cooking.
All ingredients were worldly materials, very cheap.
As a spirit farmer, Chen Sheng tended ten acres of spirit fields, earning around twenty spirit stones annually.
For cultivation, these spirit stones are certainly minuscule—a Realm-Breaking Pill or a Lower Grade Magical Artifact would be hard to afford.
But for a comfortable life with fine dining, drinking, and keeping a few beautiful maidservants to manage daily affairs, it's more than enough.
After all, the cultivation realm never lacks mortals; you might have a spiritual root in this generation, but the next might not. Hence, the cultivation realm has a large base of mortals.
Near the market are many small towns where cultivators and mortals mix.
The prices there are higher than in the worldly realm, but still mainly in gold and silver; cultivators like Chen Sheng gain "spirit stones."
Exchanging one spirit stone for a hundred taels of gold is possible but rarely pursued by cultivators; in his past life, Chen Sheng found no related channels.
Living lavishly and keeping beautiful maidservants is entirely feasible, affordable.
So, those spirit farmers can live comfortably if they wish, like many of Chen Sheng's neighbors.
However, Chen Sheng thinks differently; farming has no future. Though the job has thresholds, they aren't high; he wants to learn a real craft.
Pill Artifact Rune Array!
Thus, he's been frugal over the past two years, counting the spirit stones he's saved.
"Thirty-seven pieces."
He furrowed his brow slightly:
"Even among the lowest trades, apprenticeship requires fifty spirit stones, let alone the Pill Artifact Rune Array."
"Should I save for another two years?"
Chen Sheng shook his head; had his memories not awakened, he might have done so due to shyness.
Now, he refuses to waste two prime years, although there's nothing valuable in the house upon inspection.
"I still need to borrow; but from whom? Who will lend me?"
Quickly organizing his memories, an image of a scarred man emerged, sparking an idea.