17: Chapter 17 Obtaining Moonflower Grass Seeds and First Trial of Space Farming

With the Pseudo-Fireball Technique and Triangular Spirit Shield at his side, Ye Qing felt three parts more confident.

His daily life as a "sweeping monk" and "Herb Garden farmer" was becoming increasingly composed.

However, the rumors from the outside world seemed to be tightening.

During his visits to the Herb Garden, Uncle-Master Zhao Ming was almost never there, only leaving the Spirit Stones in their usual spot.

At the edge of the Herb Garden, he could occasionally see traces of hasty repairs, as well as scattered, coarse, hard fur that was different from that of ordinary beasts.

Over at Pine Wind Pavilion, the discussions among the Outer Sect Disciples had become a bit heavier, with less of the usual ease.

"Have you heard? An affiliated Family of the Iron Sword Sect to the north was ambushed by a group of Yao Beasts the night before last and was almost completely wiped out. Only a few Disciples who were away managed to escape by luck..."

"Hiss—the Iron Sword Sect is a medium-sized Sect with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator holding the fort, and their affiliated Family should also have a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator, right? Even that couldn't stop them?"

"It is said they were caught off guard by several peak first-rank Yao Beasts leading a large number of low-rank Yao Beasts, and the clan-protecting formation didn't even have time to fully activate..."

"The Sect has already issued an order for all Disciples to minimize going out recently, and procurement tasks must be done in groups and reported..."

"The Contribution Hall has released new long-term tasks, purchasing Yao Beast Materials, healing Medicinal Pills, and defensive Talismans at high prices. The prices have increased by at least thirty percent..."

"Sigh, these days..."

Ye Qing passed by silently, keeping these fragmented pieces of information in his heart.

The situation was deteriorating, and not slowly.

"It seems I need to speed up my pace and prepare for possible changes."

Ye Qing pondered.

As for Spirit Stones, he had a steady income of five per month. After deducting the most basic living expenses, he could save about three.

But these savings, in the face of a real storm, were nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

He had the rudiments of offensive and defensive means, but they lacked sustainability, and their power needed to be improved.

Cultivation was the foundation, but going from Qi Refining Level 4 to Level 5 would require a considerable amount of patient, grinding effort.

"Perhaps... I can try to use the space to make some more 'proactive' preparations?"

This thought had been lingering in his heart for a long time.

The space was now six zhang in radius, with the black soil in the center being two and a half zhang square, filled with dense Spiritual Qi, and the soil was so fertile it seemed as if one could squeeze oil out of it.

In such an environment, not planting something would simply be a waste of resources.

Previously, he had no seeds, didn't dare to try easily, and was afraid of wasting them if they didn't grow.

But now, he worked in the Herb Garden and had access to ready-made first-rank Spirit Medicine.

Perhaps... there was a chance to get some "unnoticed" seeds, or parts that had naturally fallen off and still held vitality?

The opportunity came quickly.

That day, Ye Qing was removing pests from the moonlight flowers in the Herb Garden.

This type of Spirit Medicine absorbed moonlight at night, and its leaves would take on a silvery luster during the day; it was an auxiliary ingredient for refining several types of low-rank calming and restorative Medicinal Pills.

One of the moonlight flowers, due to a slightly severe pest infestation a few days ago, had an old leaf on the edge that had turned withered and yellow, hanging precariously.

Ye Qing carefully plucked that withered leaf, preparing to put it into the "trash" bag.

When his fingertips touched the base of the leaf, he suddenly felt a tiny, extremely faint hard object.

He remained composed and gathered the withered leaf into his sleeve.

Returning to his "workstation," he turned his back to any possible directions of observation and quickly and stealthily inspected the withered leaf.

At the junction of the leaf and the stem, there remained a few fine seeds, smaller than sesame seeds, grayish-white in color, and completely inconspicuous.

They were seeds that had scattered after the moonlight flower had naturally matured!

Because of the pest infestation or natural aging, this leaf had withered and fallen off prematurely, and these few seeds, which had not yet fully matured, had adhered to it.

Under normal circumstances, such immature seeds were almost impossible to germinate and were worthless.

But Ye Qing had the space inside him.

The fertile black soil in the space, which contained vitality, as well as its inherent potential characteristics of promoting "growth" and "creation," gave rise to a glimmer of hope in his heart.

"Give it a try, it's not a loss anyway. If it succeeds, it's a zero-cost source of Spirit Medicine. If it fails, it's just a few useless seeds."

He suppressed the excitement in his heart, carefully peeled off the few grayish-white fine seeds, and hid them in his bosom.

That day, he finished his work, took the "trash" away, and returned to the Servant Quarters.

Late at night, confirming that everyone in the same room was fast asleep, Ye Qing's consciousness sank into the space within him.

The six-zhang space was quiet, and the black soil in the center was filled with dense Spiritual Qi.

He "walked" to the center of the black soil and moved his mind slightly.

As if possessing life, the black soil automatically separated to form a tiny pit, the depth of a little finger, just enough to hold one seed.

Ye Qing carefully placed one moonlight flower seed into it.

The soil automatically closed and gently covered it.

Then, he attempted to use the cultivation method of the Spirit Nurturing Technique to mobilize the energy of the space itself and slowly inject it into that planting spot.

The space sent back a pleasant fluctuation, and the black soil heated up slightly. An energy, far more pure, gentle, and full of vitality than Ye Qing's own Spiritual Qi, spontaneously gathered around the seed, gently wrapping it.

He could even vaguely "feel" that the grayish-white, shriveled seed, under the nourishment of the space's energy, seemed to wake from a deep sleep, and the faint vitality within it was carefully nurtured, stimulated, and strengthened.

"There's a chance!"

Ye Qing's spirit was lifted.

He did not get greedy and only planted one seed.

He carefully put away the remaining seeds for future use.

Withdrawing from the space, Ye Qing's heart was filled with anticipation.

This was not just a planting attempt.

It was also verifying the possibility of the space's "planting" function, as well as his own deeper level of control over the space.

If it could succeed, the significance would be extraordinary.

This meant that he might be able to break free from his complete reliance on the Sect or external resources, and possess a private, secret, and sustainable source of Spirit Medicine (even if it was only the lowest rank)!

For him, who was following a "steady development" and "self-sufficiency" path, this was undoubtedly a revolutionary step.

Over the next few days, Ye Qing would take time every day to "look inside" the space and pay attention to the changes in the seed.

Under the continuous nourishment of the space's energy, on the third day, the grayish-white hard shell on the surface of the seed quietly cracked open a tiny, imperceptible gap, and a tiny, extremely weak, pale white sprout timidly poked its head out.

It sprouted!

And, the speed seemed to be much faster than normal planting in the outside world!

Ye Qing was overjoyed, but even more cautious.

He strictly controlled the input of the space's energy, maintaining only the most basic nourishment, for fear of forcing the growth.

The sprout grew at a slow but steady pace, pulling out two tiny, silvery-white cotyledons.

Although still tender, it was full of vitality and formed a perfect harmony with the black soil of the space.

"Success! The space can indeed be used for planting! And, it seems it can accelerate growth and improve quality?"

Looking at the two silvery-white cotyledons slightly stretching in the Spiritual Qi mist, Ye Qing seemed to see a vision of the future where Spirit Medicine was everywhere in the space.

Of course, it was currently only a moonlight flower seedling, and it was still far from being "everywhere."

Moreover, the moonlight flower was only a first-rank Spirit Medicine, and its value was limited.

But this undoubtedly started things off on a good note.

"Next, I need to pay attention to collecting more varieties and higher-rank Spirit Medicine seeds or seedlings. Especially those varieties that have harsh requirements for their growth environment and are difficult to cultivate in the outside world... The black soil and environment of the space might be able to provide better conditions."

"I also have to study the specific acceleration ratio of the space on the growth of Spirit Plants, as well as the optimal ratio of Spiritual Qi and 'Spirit Nurturing' energy input..."

New topics emerged in his mind one after another, but Ye Qing did not find it troublesome; instead, he was filled with the joy of exploration.

This was the correct way to open the "farming" genre.

Hiding in the Sect, sweeping the floor, farming the fields, reading books, and practicing techniques.

By the way, observing the increasingly exciting changes in the outside world.

Occasionally hearing news from fellow Disciples like "some place was attacked by beasts again," "some Family's Old Ancestor was seriously injured," or "the price of Yao Beast Materials has risen again," Ye Qing would just silently note it down and evaluate it in his heart.

The broom in his hand was held more firmly, the Spiritual Qi in his body circulated more diligently, and the moonlight flower seedling in the space also unfurled more silvery-white day by day.

Developing steadily, seeking progress while maintaining stability.

With grain in hand, one does not panic in the heart.

Although this "grain" was currently only a seedling, the future was promising.

Ye Qing swept away the last bit of dust, closed the "Preliminary Guide to Handling Yao Beast Materials in the Southern Wilderness" that he had finished reading today, and looked at the deepening twilight outside the window.

The corner of his mouth curled into a very faint arc that only he could understand.

The wind had risen.

But his own "small vegetable garden" seemed to be just right to start sowing.