"Ah, one more thing! These are the rules of Vulture Mountain, along with some farming techniques—all compiled into this manual. You can review them at your leisure."
Chen Jinshu took the booklet, intrigued. It was a clever idea, combining guidelines and cultivation methods into one reference. While studying the techniques, she'd inevitably come across the rules, saving her future trouble.
But her satisfaction was short-lived. Chen Huaiyang's next words deepened her distaste for the family's ways.
"Also… while these three mu of spirit fields are the family's compensation to you, ownership is all you receive. The use of the spiritual vein, the rental of the cave abode, and the defensive formations—all are provided by the family. Therefore, you must surrender ten percent of your annual harvest. These are the clan's regulations. I have no say in the matter."
Chen Huaiyang hesitated, his expression caught between helplessness and awkwardness under their gazes, but he pressed on, bound by duty.
"That's only fair," Mdam Chen Wu replied, unsurprised.
Most clan cultivators leasing spirit fields had to yield thirty percent as rent. Ten percent was already a rare concession.
"Good. Now that Jinshu's affairs are settled, I'll take my leave. If you have any questions, you may seek me out." With a relieved nod, Chen Huaiyang tactfully excused himself.
"Elder, take care!"
"Brother Huaiyang, safe travels!"
"Third Uncle, farewell!"
…
By midday, Madam Chen Wu and Chen Wentan had helped Jinshu thoroughly cleanse the residence with a simple cleaning spell—removing weeds, dust, and worn-out remnants.
The estate had stood vacant for years, accumulating layers of neglect. Only after their efforts did it become habitable again. Jinshu gazed at the now-tidy courtyard, her spirits lifting.
"Thank you, Mother, Second Uncle, for your help!"
"Don't mention it, child! This is the least I can do. The rest of your path… you must walk it yourself." Chen Wentan chuckled warmly, though his voice carried a note of melancholy.
"Are you both leaving so soon?"
Jinshu caught the hint of farewell in his words, and an unexpected pang of sadness struck her. Though she had awakened memories of a past life, over a decade of familial bonds couldn't be dismissed.
Yes, she had once been blinded by resentment over her birthmark, but even then, her parents had never withheld their love.
"Your mother and I both hold duties within the family. Escorting you here already required taking leave for several days. We must return now, lest the clan raises objections."
"I understand. May your journey back be smooth and safe!"
Madam Chen Wu smiled faintly at her daughter's matured demeanor. Taking Jinshu's hand, she pressed into it a round folding fan adorned with plum blossoms.
"Jinshu, this is a magic weapon I used in my youth—the Plum Rain Fan. Refine it, and it shall serve as your protective instrument. Its secrets will reveal themselves once you've attuned to it."
"Thank you, Mother! I love it."
Jinshu admired the fan, her eyes lingering on the delicate plum blossoms painted across its surface—a perfect match for the twin plum trees in the courtyard.
"Then your Second Uncle shall also gift you a treasure." Chen Wentan produced a white, chrysanthemum-like disc. "The White Feather Disc, a flight artifact forged from the plumes of a Snow Crane."
Jinshu accepted it, though a flicker of amusement crossed her mind—since when did her rugged uncle favor such elegant items?
Noticing her expression, he coughed. "Ahem. Your future aunt entrusted me to pass this to you."
A faint blush crept up his cheeks. Jinshu's eyes sparkled with sudden interest. Her uncle, a bachelor for thirty years—was love finally blooming?
"Second Uncle, when will the wedding banquet be held?" Chen Jinshu teased lightly.
"Still a long way off."
…
Half an hour later, Madam Chen Wu and Chen Wentan departed, leaving Jinshu with a bundle of protective talismans. She had wanted to escort them to the mountain's base, but they gently refused. Left with no choice, she stood beneath the plum trees, watching until their figures vanished from sight.
Only then did she turn away.
"Time to inspect the spirit fields."
With daylight still abundant, she decided to survey the land before planning her crops. Retrieving the field's formation token from her storage pouch, she channeled a thread of spiritual energy. The jade-green token pulsed with light, its tip pointing unerringly toward her destination.
Following its guidance, she trekked roughly four kilometers before the token resonated with a barrier-enclosed plot—three mu of spirit fields, now hers.
Her land bordered a small mountain, where a spring bubbled at the peak—unfortunately, its waters didn't flow toward her fields. Dispersing the formation, she was greeted by a rush of spiritual mist, dense with accumulated energy.
As the haze cleared, the fields came into view: deep brown soil laced with faint, shimmering veins, rich and fragrant. Kneeling, she sifted a handful—fine, soft, and perfect for cultivation.
No wonder the family had claimed this area.
A circuit of the fields revealed a surprise—scattered stalks of Golden Blossom Rice, their grains plump and golden, nearly ready for harvest.
Unlike the common Wood Spirit Rice she had purchased, this variant was richer in spiritual energy, often used for high-grade Fasting Pills.
She had initially considered buying its seeds, but their exorbitant price—double that of Wood Spirit Rice—had deterred her.
Yet here they were, likely sprouted from stray grains left behind by previous harvests.
"A fortunate windfall."
After careful inspection, she gathered over fifty stalks, enough to yield ample seeds.
Her original plan had been to dedicate one mu to Wood Spirit Rice, but now, she could split it—half for each variety.
Returning to Plum Blossom Courtyard, she set the rice stalks aside and delved into the farming manual, determined to refine her approach before sowing.
…
Three days later, Jinshu returned to the fields with tools and seeds in hand. The remaining Golden Blossom Rice roots had already begun regenerating, new shoots peeking through the soil.
"The quality of this land is exceptional!"
Following the manual's instructions, she tilled the earth, uprooted weeds, and loosened the soil until it breathed readiness.
Next, she cast Spiritual Rain Technique, summoning a drizzle infused with spiritual energy. Dark clouds gathered overhead, releasing a shimmering golden rain that soaked the fields, saturating them with vitality.
By the time she finished planting—half a mu each of Wood Spirit Rice and Golden Blossom Rice, one mu of Golden Vine Flowers, and another of Jade Orchids—three hours had passed.
The vines and orchids held higher market value, while the rice would sustain her and serve for pill refinement. Another round of Spiritual Rain Technique drained much of her spiritual energy.
"Just two spells, and my reserves are nearly spent."
The physical labor hadn't helped, but it underscored her current weakness—her cultivation was still far too low.