You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 660: Hong Qinghai's Foundation Establishment

“From what is recorded in the formula, a Heart Ape Fruit should suffice to brew quite a bit of Ape Demon Wine, which would be enough for me to use for a while,” Lu Xuan thought silently, deciding to study the formula and, after collecting the other necessary materials, to brew the Heart Ape Fruit into Ape Demon Wine.

He carefully examined each Spirit Plant and made his way to the Spirit Field Area where the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree was located.

After the Confucian Cultivator Hong Qinghai arrived at the cave abode, he isolated the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree from the other Spirit Plants. Firstly, to prevent Hong Qinghai from discovering the high-rank Spirit Plants inside the abode, and secondly, to provide it with an isolated and conducive environment for cultivation.

Fortunately, Hong Qinghai’s behavior had always been quite satisfactory. He either spent his days cultivating in his room or reading poetry and Confucian scriptures in front of the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree, allowing the tree to be nourished by ample scholarly energy.

Passing through a thick white fog, Lu Xuan glimpsed the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree in the center of the Spirit Field.

After a period of diligent cultivation, the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree had grown slightly and now stood about half a person tall. Its branches were lush, and its trunk was a deep black, as though countless stretched ink characters had intertwined to form it. The veins on the leaves were twisted as if they were nurturing embryonic characters.

Amid the clear sound of reading, the branches and leaves of the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree trembled faintly, as if listening intently, accompanied by the spirited and uplifting scholarly articles, a subtle and invisible scholarly aura slowly formed around it, making the branches and leaves of the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree even more vibrant.

When Hong Qinghai’s recitation ceased, Lu Xuan emerged from the white fog.

“Senior Lu!”

“Not bad.”

Lu Xuan nodded slightly in approval.

Then he approached the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree, focused his mind on it, perceived the very favorable growth condition of the Spirit Plant, and, feeling relieved, started cultivating the Spirit Plant using basic techniques such as the Spirit Rain Technique.

During this process, Hong Qinghai’s role was akin to that of a utility person, providing enough scholarly energy for the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree. The actual cultivation would still need to be done by Lu Xuan himself.

Although it might affect the rewards from the light cluster later on, to ensure the smooth maturation of the Spirit Plant, Lu Xuan could not concern himself with such minor details.

“You have done well during this period; I have observed everything. Here is a bottle of Second Grade Spirit Gathering Pills, which can slightly boost the spiritual power within your body.”

After nurturing the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree, Lu Xuan approached the ever-respectful Hong Qinghai and presented a white jade small bottle to him.

“Thank you, Senior, for bestowing the pills!”

Hong Qinghai immediately expressed his gratitude.

“I see that the energy within your body is close to the tipping point for advancing to Foundation Establishment. Are you prepared?”

“I have prepared quite a bit, always keeping in mind the teachings you provided earlier. I continuously adjusted my spiritual power, flesh body, and spiritual sense, striving for a perfect balance among them.”

“That’s good. In the coming period, you should focus on attempting the Foundation Establishment, and you can set aside the task of nurturing the tree with scholarly energy.”

Lu Xuan said gently with a smile.

“Senior, rest assured, I will not impede the growth of the tree. I shall let the advancement to Foundation Establishment occur naturally,” Hong Qinghai responded with sincerity, immediately making his stance clear. He had been in the Qi Practicing Stage for many years and was on the verge of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, filled naturally with anticipation. However, he also understood priorities and knew that everything he currently had was for the purpose of nurturing the tree for Lu Xuan, fearing any slight impact on the Spirit Plant.

“Haha, no need for such worry. The tree is of a high rank, and maturing it is not an overnight matter. Your advancement to Foundation Establishment will actually be more beneficial for the growth of the Spirit Plant.”

Lu Xuan casually said.

His words were not wrong—the effect on nurturing treasure trees significantly varied between a Qi Practicing Tool Person and a Foundation Establishment Tool Person.

The higher the realm, the more abundant the spiritual power, and naturally, the longer one could nurture the treasure trees. Therefore, Hong Qinghai’s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was all beneficial and harmless to him.

“When you decide to make the breakthrough, you can tell me, and I’ll come to protect you,”

he promised Hong Qinghai.

“Thank you, Senior!”

With a thud, Hong Qinghai knelt on one knee.

“Senior’s great kindness and virtue will be forever engraved in my heart. After reaching Foundation Establishment, I will continue to prioritize nurturing the treasure tree!”

His expression was filled with deep gratitude towards Lu Xuan.

He came from humble beginnings and, relying on a bit of talent, had studied hard for many years. He had entered the School Underneath Jilin in the Great Xia Realm but unintentionally offended the son of a great Confucian in the school, fled to the Liyang Region, and thought he would just muddle through life. Unexpectedly, Lu Xuan’s arrival completely changed his life.

He provided himself with a cultivation environment rich in pure spiritual energy, without the fear of enemies knocking at his door or risking his life for minor cultivation resources by exploring secret lands. Occasionally, he was even rewarded with some rare treasures, a stark contrast to his previous cultivation life.

Half a month later, inside a stone house equipped with a Spirit Gathering Array, Hong Qinghai sat cross-legged, his inner spiritual energy surging like an undercurrent, constantly accumulating power for the explosive moment about to come.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, extending a thread of his spiritual sense onto Hong Qinghai.

Advancing to Foundation Establishment was mostly safe, but just in case, Major Sect disciples often had fixed places and Sect elders to protect them during breakthroughs. Now, standing by Hong Qinghai’s side, he added another layer of safety for him.

In the stone house, Hong Qinghai adjusted his state to its best and calmly took out a Foundation Establishment Pill, swallowing it in one gulp.

No sooner had the pill entered his stomach than the surging medicine power burst forth, flowing through his limbs and bones, cleansing every muscle and sinew in his body.

Suddenly, a spiritual energy whirlpool quietly formed, gathering massive amounts of pure spiritual energy at a rapid pace into the whirlpool.

In a trance, a spiritual sense shot up to the sky, and strong spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from Hong Qinghai.

“Congratulations to Hong Daoist for advancing to Foundation Establishment!”

Lu Xuan’s figure flashed, coming in front of the young man with a rich scholarly aura and smiling in congratulations.

“It was fortunate, very fortunate. It was thanks to the high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill you gifted me that I succeeded on the first try.”

Hong Qinghai, feeling the powerful aura within him, couldn’t hide the smile on his face as he expressed his profound gratitude to Lu Xuan.

After absorbing a large number of Pill Formula Experience Packages, Lu Xuan’s level in refining Foundation Establishment Pills had reached the Grandmaster Realm. Naturally, the quality of the Foundation Establishment Pills he produced was significantly higher than those available on the market, slightly increasing the success rate.

“This Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method is something I obtained by chance. Its quality is quite decent, so I’ll send it as a gift to congratulate you, my Daoist friend, on your ascension. May your path in cultivation be smooth and unimpeded.”

Lu Xuan took out a Jade Slip from his storage bag and handed it to Hong Qinghai.

The “The Great Five Elements” he had learned at the Sky Sword Sect wasn’t convenient to pass on casually. The cultivation methods inside the light cluster were either too high in rank or aimed towards a body refinement path, none of which suited Hong Qinghai.

The Jade Slip in his hand was from the storage bag of a “Cultivator” he had previously killed. Although the spiritual power after cultivation was ordinary, its balanced and broad applicability made it very suitable for Hong Qinghai, who had a Confucian cultivator identity.