Bean Soldiers and the Call to Tournament

The parched earth of Spirit Field 79, which had looked so lifeless just yesterday, now shimmered with an especially vivid green hue in one corner.

"Sprouts already?"

I leaned in close to inspect the new shoots. It had only been a single day. Through the splitting seed leaves of the Qingxin beans, tiny leaflets were already emerging. I stared at the soil for a long moment. Life was unmistakably stirring in what had been a dying patch.

But now... can I even call in the workers?

That was the problem. While using spirit stones for field maintenance was fine, hiring disciples made things easier. But too many people knew I'd just cleared this land yesterday. Sprouts in a single day would raise eyebrows.

In the end, it all circles back to cultivation first.

At my current level, even keeping one Bean Soldier active for a full hour was a stretch. In this state, I couldn't expand the field or replace manual labor. But raise my realm, and things would change. Not only would my spell sustainability improve, but I could probably handle two or three Bean Soldiers at once.

I thought of the remaining Gathering Spirit Pills in my storage pouch. Nine left—more than enough to push my cultivation up another step or two.

Good.

The decision was swift. No more rushing to expand the field. I'd maintain the spirit field at a minimum: check the Qingxin beans every morning, use Spirit Rain Technique only where the soil was too dry, confirm everything was fine, then head straight back to the eastern quarters. The rest of my time went entirely to training.

Swallowing a Gathering Spirit Pill. Absorbing its medicinal energy. Circulating spiritual energy into my dantian according to the method's incantations.

In the novels from my past life's memories, breakthroughs were always depicted with dazzling flair. Shattering barriers in an explosive instant. Heavenly spiritual energy swirling around the body. Realms skyrocketing like a blast.

But I was far from that level. Mine was tediously repetitive. Gather a little qi. If it scattered, reorganize it. Stack a bit more. Progressing oh-so-slowly, nail-clipping by nail-clipping. Boring.

Yet I was advancing.

At some point, I began sensing the wall between Qi Condensation 3rd star and 4th star. An invisible but undeniably real thin membrane. It felt like one more push would do it, but that final step refused to yield.

I lost track of time. Swallowing another Gathering Spirit Pill, I began circulating my qi again.

And then, it happened.

Pop.

The sensation of that razor-thin barrier tearing. In the same instant, the qi pool that had felt like a small puddle expanded into a pond.

I slowly raised my hand, clenching and unclenching my fist.

"Qi Condensation 4th star."

Finally, a step up. Six Gathering Spirit Pills remained.

Four weeks passed.

Bean Soldiers had begun appearing in the spirit field. They resembled the terracotta warriors of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb, but crafted from tree bark rather than clay.

Expending all my Gathering Spirit Pills and remaining mid-grade spirit stones, I'd reached Qi Condensation 5th star. Regardless of my drained wallet, the training results were solid. I could now command three Bean Soldiers, which had been impossible before.

I stood at the field's edge, watching them for a moment. Compared to when I first arrived, the scene felt like a different place entirely. Back then, the soil was bone-dry, choked with weeds and rocks. Now? Rows of Qingxin beans thrived, with three Bean Soldiers silently working among them.

One wielded a small hoe-like tool, tilling the earth. Another cleared mud clumps from the irrigation channels. The last patrolled the uneven borders, pulling weeds.

Slower than disciples using spells to clear land, sure.

"Still, this is impressive enough."

I let my lips curve slightly. Qi consumption had tripled with three soldiers, but with growing proficiency, I could maintain them for about three hours unless they overexerted. Best of all, no wages to outer disciples. And here, fewer prying eyes—though I still couldn't get careless.

I pointed at one Bean Soldier.

"That row stops there. Two more to the left."

It dipped in a nod-like bow, then moved precisely. Clumsy when I first learned the technique, they now moved with credible poise.

I circled the field once more, checking the Qingxin beans. They exceeded expectations. The soil's vitality was recovering palpably.

Time to consider planting Crimson Spirit Rice soon.

As I returned from field management to the eastern quarters, a sound transmission slip hovered before the protective formation.

"...From Master?"

I hurried over and grasped it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Upon contact, a faint blue glow rippled across the paper. Infusing qi, the light shimmered, and a familiar voice emerged.

I glanced at the slip in my hand, then turned and headed out.

The doors to Qingling Hall stood open when I arrived. I entered at once and cupped my fists in salute.

"Your disciple Ryu Yeon-hwa pays respects to Master."

Cheong Nan-seo sat atop the raised dais at the hall's far end. Her aura remained overwhelmingly oppressive. She glanced at me and spoke curtly.

"Sit."

As I settled, I felt a scan sweep over me, like an invisible gaze.

"Qi Condensation 5th star. Swift progress."

"The Gathering Spirit Pills helped greatly."

"It's due to your talent."

Not overt praise, but a faint smile touched her lips.

"How fares your method cultivation?"

"No blockages yet."

Cheong Nan-seo tapped the dais lightly with a fingertip, silent for a moment.

"Good. Your comprehension is solid."

Short words.

"Which spell did you choose?"

"Bean Soldier Technique."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Can you demonstrate here?"

I didn't hesitate, retrieving three Qingxin beans from my storage pouch. Placing them on the floor, I steadied my breath, formed hand seals, and intoned.

"Rise."

The Qingxin beans quivered, then took form. One. Two. Three. Bark-armored soldiers lined up before me.

"Better refined than expected."

Cheong Nan-seo eyed them silently, as if peering not just at their exteriors but the qi flows within.

"Stabilizing their forms is commendable. Maintaining three at your level is no small feat."

But she continued.

"However, they're not true Bean Soldiers yet."

"First, their qi flow is rough. They appear stable, but your infusion lacks consistency."

She explained calmly.

"Bean Soldier Technique isn't mere activation of spirit beans. You must weave qi evenly, like threads. You're forcing it in with brute power."

With that, she tapped one lightly. I sensed its internal qi unravel and reorder like straightened thread.

Realization dawned. I'd been brute-forcing form maintenance. Fixing that would cut qi drain.

"Second, poor medium."

"Medium... you mean?"

"Yes. You're using Qingxin beans."

"Correct."

She nodded faintly.

"Qingxin beans are low-grade. Not ideal mediums."

"Your issues: immature qi control and low-grade beans."

She flicked her sleeve. A small jade box floated from her storage pouch to land before me.

"Open it."

I lifted the lid cautiously. Inside lay three deep purple spirit beans, etched with faint runes. In my palm, their condensed energy pulsed clearly.

"This is..."

"Purple Soldier Beans."

Cheong Nan-seo stated flatly.

"Even the same technique varies by medium. Qingxin beans near your limit."

"Try with a Purple Soldier Bean."

I took one, infusing qi not crudely, but like spinning thread. Hand seals formed.

"Rise."

Moments later, a Bean Soldier appeared. I narrowed my eyes.

"...Oh."

Size similar, but where the Qingxin version was a mere grunt, this felt like a battlefield general.

My lips curved involuntarily.

"With this..."

But before I finished, my breath caught. My dantian hollowed abruptly.

"...Huh?"

Qi drained at alarming speed. The soldier collapsed back to a bean.

Cheong Nan-seo scanned me, then tossed a small jade vial.

I caught it hastily with both hands.

"What's this?"

"Hui Ling Pill. Circulate now."

I uncorked it. Three pale cyan-green pills inside, wafting a subtle herbal scent. Popping one, cool energy slid down my throat.

I assumed lotus position, guiding it via Qing Mu Zhen Jue.

How much time passed? My qi recovered somewhat. Cheong Nan-seo watched from the dais, her gaze calmly softened.

"Thank you, Master."

She'd known the drain from first use. Still, she made me try—to feel it firsthand.

She nodded lightly.

"Next week's the martial tournament. Participate."

She tapped the dais.

"Even with advancing cultivation and spells, without real combat, flaws emerge. You need battle experience."

"Understood. I'll join, Master."

"Good."

She waved dismissively.

"Go."

"Thank you for your teachings, Master."

Cheong Nan-seo said no more, eyes closing as if interest waned.

The path to the Affairs Hall was quieter than expected. Then—

"Senior Sister?"

A familiar voice halted me. Turning, I saw Han Seol-a in her blue robe, waving cheerfully.

"Junior ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sister Seol-a."

She approached.

"Where to at this hour?"

"Signing up for the martial tournament."

Her eyes widened.

"Knew it."

"Me?"

"You're Elder Cheong Nan-seo's direct disciple. All the peak elders' students are joining."

She grinned.

"Anyway, perfect. I was heading to the Affairs Hall too. Let's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠go together."

I nodded.

The Affairs Hall buzzed with tournament sign-ups. I headed straight to an inner desk.

The middle-aged steward looked up impassively.

"What is it?"

"Martial tournament registration."

He asked basic details, then handed over a small wooden token.

"Your participation token. They'll check it at the arena entrance on the day. Don't lose it."

Han Seol-a, watching, smiled.

"I'll cheer for you, Senior Sister."

I smiled back.

"I'll do my best not to disappoint."