Reclaiming the Spirit Field (1)

Looking up at the sky, the sun was still far from setting. It felt like a waste to just head back to the eastern dorms and cultivate. I left Spirit Field 79 and made my way toward the heart of Qingling Peak. Even as I walked, my mind was fully occupied with the field I'd just seen. I let out a small sigh.

"I can save it."

With my current level of cultivation, simply ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠infusing it with spirit energy wouldn't be enough. I knew that on instinct. First, I needed to rework the soil to some extent. Water could be handled with talismans or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spells once I learned them. And looking ahead, I'd have to deal with bugs and weeds too. As those thoughts took shape, the tasks ahead started lining up in my mind.

First, spells. The Scripture Pavilion might have what I needed. I mentally ticked them off one by one. Spirit Rain Technique at minimum. Exorcism Technique would be great too.

Nothing was planted yet, but bugs were inevitable once I started growing spirit herbs. Even back in the village tending medicinal herbs, that had been common. And this wasn't some mundane herb patch—it was a spirit field for spirit herbs, so the pests might not even be ordinary ones.

That line of thinking naturally led to the next issue. And seeds. Obviously, fixing up the field was just the start. I'd need spirit herbs to plant in it. Spirit herb seeds, cultivation spells... and if possible, some supplemental resources to restore soil vitality or spirit energy.

A memory from my past life surfaced. Alternate history novels always brought up crop rotation—beans, turnips, clover to restore the soil. Sure, this was a xianxia world.

But wouldn't planting something like spirit beans help here too?

Pushing those thoughts aside, I muttered softly. "So much to buy, and no spirit stones to speak of."

Saying it out loud made me chuckle. I had a few mid-grade spirit stones and twenty low-grade ones, but it didn't feel abundant. Renting one spirit field had already burned through a mid-grade stone, tightening my finances right from the start. Still, no helping it. I had to buy what I needed. Things wouldn't change by sitting idle.

As I neared the center of Qingling Peak, more disciples came into view. Passing them, I mentally finalized my plan. Alright. Scripture Pavilion first for spells.

With that settled, the tip of the Scripture Pavilion's roof came into sight not far off. I headed straight there without slowing down.

The Scripture Pavilion was hushed. The faint scent of incense mingled with aged paper, and neat rows of bookshelves lined the interior. A few disciples examined jade slips at the shelves, but no one spoke loudly. Behind the long central table at the front sat a white-haired elder, straight-backed. He looked like just an old man at a glance, but the aura radiating from him was anything but ordinary.

I straightened up instinctively. He's strong. At least Foundation Establishment steward level—no, probably higher. I couldn't even guess at his exact realm with my current senses.

I cupped my fists at once. "Disciple Ryu Yeon-hwa pays respects to the elder."

His gaze swept over my face, then he spoke calmly after a moment. "What brings you here?" His voice was low and steady.

"I heard new initiates can receive one spell from the Scripture Pavilion."

The white-haired cultivator regarded me briefly, then nodded slightly. With one hand, he pointed to the right-hand shelves. "Basic spells for Qi Condensation disciples are over there. You only get one for free, so choose carefully."

"Thank you."

I headed straight there. More jade slips lined the shelves than I'd expected—combat ones mixed with auxiliaries. Scanning the names, I paused at one.

I reached out naturally and picked up the jade slip, infusing it with spirit energy. Moments later, the explanation flowed into my mind.

I nodded inwardly. This is it.

Not great for combat, but I didn't need flashy attacks right now. Especially not in this ten-year-old body. Tending a spirit field alone called for practical auxiliaries like this. And beans... memories from my past life resurfaced. Medieval alternate histories always harped on crop rotation—wheat and barley one year, then beans, turnips, clover to restore soil. Xianxia world or not...

Spirit beans here should work even better, right? It wasn't ironclad certainty, but my traits suggested as much.

I took the Bean Soldier Technique jade slip back to the table. "I'll take this one."

The white-haired cultivator checked it, his eyebrow twitching ever so slightly. "Bean Soldier Technique? It's tricky."

"It's fine. I'm confident."

He nodded slowly. "Present your disciple token."

I pulled it out and offered it with both hands. He placed a finger on it, channeling a brief pulse of spirit energy. A faint light glowed on the surface before fading. "Recorded."

He handed back the jade slip. "One free basic spell per new disciple. No changes allowed—choose wisely."

I carefully stowed the jade slip in my storage pouch, then hesitated before speaking again. "Elder, are there spells for cultivation I could acquire separately?"

He jerked his chin toward the rear shelves without expression. "Those are back there. But you buy them with spirit stones."

"Understood."

I went to the inner shelves, where jade slips for farming and spirit field management were neatly arrayed. Spirit Rain Technique.Loosening Earth Technique.Exorcism Technique.Nourishing Technique.

I picked up the Spirit Rain Technique and Exorcism Technique slips.

I returned to the table with the two jade slips. "These two, please."

He inspected them and said flatly, "Twenty low-grade spirit stones."

I silently retrieved the spirit stone pouch from my storage pouch. This wiped out my entire monthly stipend for the month. Memories flashed of paychecks vanishing into bills and card payments. Hoo...

I sighed inwardly and placed the stones on the table. He swept them up and slid the jade slips over. I stowed them and cupped my fists. "Thank you, Elder."

The white-haired cultivator had already closed his eyes, interest withdrawn. I backed away quietly and exited the pavilion.

Halfway down the pavilion steps, a female disciple in a blue robe ascending paused upon seeing me. Long black hair. Gentle eyes. Han Seol-a.

She smiled warmly. "Junior Sister?"

I stopped and cupped my fists. Her gaze naturally drifted to my storage pouch. "From the Scripture Pavilion?"

"Yeah. Picked up some spells I needed."

Her eyes widened a bit. "Already?"

I smirked. "Figured I'd start cultivating sooner than later."

She nodded in quick understanding. Curiosity struck me, so I asked, "By the way, do you know where to buy spirit herb seeds?"

"Seeds?" Han Seol-a thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Head down from the pavilion—there's the Seed Pavilion. Basic spirit herb seeds and seedlings for Qingling Peak disciples are there."

I relaxed instantly. "Wasn't sure who to ask. Lucky I ran into you."

"I'm heading that way too. Want me to show you?"

"If you don't mind."

We descended the steps side by side. After a bit, she spoke up. "Oh, right, Junior Sister."

"Yeah?"

"There's an intramural tournament in about a month."

I turned to her. "Tournament?"

"Yeah. Qingyun Sect holds them periodically for inner and outer disciples to spar."

That piqued my interest. A staple event in every xianxia novel from my past life. Not that I planned to enter at my level. Han Seol-a continued, reading my reaction. "Prizes include pills, manuals, even spirit stones. Top ranks get noticed by the elders, so everyone preps hard. You thinking of joining?"

I smiled faintly. "Probably not."

She nodded. "At least come watch. You'll learn a ton from seeing others' spells and styles."

"That does sound interesting."

As we chatted, a cluster of small pavilions appeared below the steps. She pointed to one. "That's the Seed Pavilion. I'll head off then. See you around, Junior Sister."

I cupped my fists lightly. "Thanks for the guide."

Han Seol-a smiled softly and turned down another path. I watched her go briefly, then headed to the Seed Pavilion.

The Seed Pavilion was plainer than expected. But stepping inside, the air shifted dramatically. I inhaled deeply on reflex. Nice.

No mundane herbs in sight—just spirit herbs suitable for cultivators, neatly arrayed on shelves. I browsed slowly. No aiming for expensive ones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first. I needed hardy varieties that wouldn't die on a beginner. Killing pricey seeds through inexperience would be a disaster.

I lingered at a shelf, then approached the steward seated inside—a lean middle-aged cultivator. I cupped my fists politely. "Senior, may I ask ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something?"

"What is it?"

"First time growing spirit herbs. Want to start with easy ones—any recommendations?"

He shook out his sleeve, producing two small pouches. "This is Red Spirit Rice."

The first pouch held reddish grains. "Spirit rice is a staple in any field. Short growth cycle too."

I nodded inwardly. "And this is Clear Heart Bean."

Bean-like seeds tumbled inside, pale cyan-green—matching the image from the Bean Soldier Technique perfectly. My traits stirred faintly. I knew instinctively these helped restore soil vitality.

He asked again, "How much?"

"Two pouches of Red Spirit Rice and one of Clear Heart Bean."

The steward nodded and opened his ledger. "Two Red Spirit Rice: ten low-grade spirit stones. One Clear Heart Bean: ten low-grade. Twenty total."

I pulled a mid-grade spirit stone from my pouch and handed it over. It stung more than I'd like. He verified it, then offered the seed pouches and change in low-grade stones. I stowed them carefully.

"Don't overdo it your first plant. Divide into small plots. That way, you spot problems early."

I bowed at once. "Appreciate the advice."

He flipped his ledger again, nonchalant. "Seen plenty of disciples overplant, kill everything, then come back crying. Don't be one."

I smiled. "Got it."

Probably sort one small plot in the field tomorrow. Stroking my storage pouch, I headed east with lighter steps.