The stove fire was still burning.

The clean fragrance of rice wine filled the air.

Chu Xiaolian cradled the cup in his hands, but there was no longer any of his earlier contempt.

“Senior Brother, are these the high-yield rice?”

Li Hanguang showed a faint smile.

“This is the finished third-generation product, the yield is about five times that of ordinary rice. I’ve already had people plant it in several nearby mortal cities, if it continues to grow steadily for a few years, then we can consider large-scale promotion.”

With the Proud Sword Immortal Sect and the Ten-Thousand-Li Chamber of Commerce at his back, whatever Li Hanguang wanted to do was extremely convenient.

Over the past three years, he used the sect and the chamber’s channels to gather a large quantity of excellent rice strains and carry out all kinds of crossbreeding experiments.

And with the guidance and help of the little bronze seal.

Researching high-yield rice hadn’t been completely smooth sailing, but it had finally begun to show results.

Chu Xiaolian looked excited.

“Five times the yield? That means, land that could originally only support one household, if it plants this new type of rice, it can support five households?”

Li Hanguang nodded.

“In theory, yes. But the new rice’s pest resistance, flood resistance, growth stability and various other attributes still need continued observation and research.”

“Truly heart-shaking, incredible!”

Chu Xiaolian picked up the rice ear on the table and gently rubbed it between his fingers.

He murmured to himself, “If this rice is officially promoted, humankind may rise to great prosperity because of it!”

Li Hanguang said calmly, “Since ancient times, the people take food as Heaven and the grain industry reaches far too broadly. If high-yield rice is promoted, it will inevitably draw the covetous eyes of many forces, when the time comes, I fear we won’t have few enemies.”

Chu Xiaolian said firmly, “I’m willing to use my life to protect Senior Brother!”

The boy’s voice was sonorous and forceful.

Looking at Chu Xiaolian, burning with hot blood, Li Hanguang revealed a smile.

He patted Chu Xiaolian on the shoulder.

“Junior Brother Chu, you hold all living beings under Heaven in your heart, I’m very gratified. But you still need tempering and to become stronger. Counting the days, seven days from now will be the entry trial assembly for new disciples of our Proud Sword Immortal Sect, held in the Gloomy Forest. The disciple who takes first place in the trial assembly will receive a mid-grade spirit artifact as the sect’s reward. I hope Junior Brother Chu can take that mid-grade spirit artifact into his own hands, proving to the entire sect that I didn’t misjudge you.”

Chu Xiaolian was someone Li Hanguang had brought into the sect amid pressure and doubt.

From the moment he accepted the true transmission token, his honor and disgrace were already tied to Li Hanguang.

One prospers together and one is shamed together.

Chu Xiaolian’s gaze burned.

“Please rest assured, Senior Brother, I will definitely give it my all and absolutely won’t disappoint you!”

Li Hanguang laughed.

“If that’s truly the case, then today’s meeting won’t have been in vain. Chengying, take Junior Brother back, I still need to keep harvesting rice.”

‘Senior Brother was still going to keep living as a mortal?’

Chu Xiaolian looked at the golden rice and, for no reason, the thought of stepping into the field to harvest rose in his heart.

This might be a wonderful experience.

He looked at Li Hanguang and said seriously, “Senior Brother, can I stay and help you harvest rice?”

Li Hanguang paused for a moment.

‘What the hell, this kid wants to stay and harvest rice? How could that work?’

At the end of the day, Li here was still only a little weakling at Qi Refining Third Layer, the longer they stayed together, the easier it would be to give himself away.

After all, there was still that realm-sky-high old grandpa on this kid.

If he noticed something, wouldn’t that be completely screwed?

Li Hanguang wore a deep, unfathomable smile.

“Bowing to the soil and farming is also a form of cultivation. Your Dao hasn’t reached this step yet, staying would be of no benefit, you should go back and cultivate diligently and strive to form a Golden Core as soon as possible!”

‘As expected, I’m still too weak, I’m not even qualified to stay and harvest rice.’

A look of disappointment appeared on Chu Xiaolian’s face.

But very soon, blazing fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

‘Even if I’m weak right now, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! With Senior Brother leading the way, Teacher guiding me and my own talent as well. As long as I work hard enough, one day Chu will definitely become a top powerhouse of the cultivation world. Mm, let me set a small goal first, shatter my core to form a Nascent Soul early, gain Senior Brother’s recognition and go down into the fields to research rice.’

Thinking of this, Chu Xiaolian’s mind suddenly cleared.

Powerful sword intent radiated from his body, the long sword on his back ringing out sharply.

Faintly, razor-sharp sword qi spilled from around him, making the air feel several degrees colder.

“Senior Brother, I’ll work hard to catch up to you!”

Looking at the high-spirited Chu Xiaolian, Li Hanguang nodded with satisfaction.

‘To be honest, this junior brother’s strength was rising a bit too fast.’

Last time they met, the two of them were still “crouching dragon and fledgling phoenix,” both at Qi Refining Third Layer, impossible to tell who was stronger.

In just a single month, this kid actually made Li Hanguang feel pressure.

Mm, truly worthy of a youth with the protagonist template.

* * *

Chu Xiaolian left.

Before he left, he kept turning back every three steps.

His gaze locked straight onto the rice field, his face full of reluctance.

As soon as he returned to the disciples’ dorms, Chu Xiaolian couldn’t help calling out.

<Teacher, I want to become stronger!>

The ancient ring released red light and Yan Lao’s figure appeared.

He wore a smile.

“What, breaking through four realms in a month still can’t satisfy you?”

Chu Xiaolian shook his head.

<I’m too weak! You said that Senior Brother’s cultivation has already reached the Nascent Soul stage and the path he walks is living as a mortal. The current me has no qualification at all to follow and protect Senior Brother!>

Yan Chixiao thought for a moment.

“Fair.”

Chu Xiaolian said seriously, <Teacher, is there a way to let me increase my strength faster? I want to become stronger, at any cost!>

Yan Chixiao glanced at Chu Xiaolian, smiling but not quite smiling.

“Really, any cost is fine?”

Chu Xiaolian nodded.

Yan Chixiao said, “I have an ancient-era sword Dao cultivation method, its name is the Sunflower Sword Scripture. This sword scripture cultivates dozens of times faster than ordinary methods and its power is extremely strong, same-realm cultivators will find it hard to meet an enemy.”

Chu Xiaolian’s eyes burned.

Yan Chixiao said with playful meaning, “But to cultivate this method, you need to give up some things.”

Chu Xiaolian said firmly, <This disciple is willing to give them up, I beg Teacher to pass on the scripture!>

Yan Chixiao lightly flicked his sleeve and at once a transmission jade slip flew out from the ancient ring in Chu Xiaolian’s hand, hovering before Chu Xiaolian.

“Drip blood on this jade slip and you can receive the inheritance of this sword scripture.”

‘…An ancient-era sword Dao ultimate art.’

Chu Xiaolian’s eyes burned with heat as he pierced his fingertip and dripped blood onto the jade slip.

At once, that jade slip released dazzling divine radiance, like clusters of flame, giving off boundless heat.

Red light condensed into scene after scene of sword moves and matching sword formulas, each move and each stance profound beyond measure, seeming to contain the highest mysteries of sword Dao.

‘Wonderful, truly wonderful!’

Chu Xiaolian’s gaze blazed.

‘These sword moves are like antlers hanging without a trace, strange and hard to fathom, they’re simply too incisive!’

He turned his eyes toward the opening of the scripture, preparing to begin earnest comprehension from the start.

The next second, the smile on Chu Xiaolian’s face froze.

Because at the opening of the scripture, there were eight glaring red characters.

To practice this divine art, you must first castrate yourself!