The next morning, Li Xuan and Qing'er stood at the edge of the overgrown sect grounds, their newly crafted tools in hand. The hoe felt surprisingly sturdy, its rusted iron head glinting dully in the morning sun, while the shovel, though small, felt balanced. Qing'er clutched the crude rake, her green eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
"Alright, Qing'er," Li Xuan said, his voice firm, "we need to find a good spot. Somewhere with sunlight, and maybe close to a water source."
He remembered the Basic Farming & Gathering Manual's advice on choosing land. Good drainage, ample sun, and proximity to water were crucial. He scanned the landscape. The sect was situated on a gentle slope, and further down, past the main structures, he could hear the faint gurgle of running water. A stream, perhaps.
"Follow me," he instructed, leading the way. His own Qi Condensation was still in its early stages. He was diligently practicing the Lesser Qi Gathering Manual, feeling the subtle warmth in his Dantian, but a breakthrough to Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2) felt a long way off. He estimated he was still firmly in Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1), though perhaps at its midpoint. Qing'er, however, seemed to be progressing faster, her innate talent surprising even him. He could occasionally see a faint, jade-green shimmer around her as she unconsciously drew in Qi. She was likely already approaching Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2).
They walked for about ten minutes, pushing through thick brambles and tall, dry grass, until they reached a small, relatively flat clearing near the gurgling stream. The soil looked rich and dark, and the sunlight poured directly onto the patch.
"This is it," Li Xuan declared, feeling a sense of triumph. "This is where we start the Falling Leaf Farm."
He handed Qing'er the rake. "Your arm still needs to heal, so focus on gathering the loose leaves and smaller debris. I'll handle the digging."
He dug the hoe into the tough, compacted earth. The first strike was jarring, sending a jolt up his arms. The soil resisted, packed hard by years of neglect. He gritted his teeth, grunting with effort. This was much harder than he anticipated. His gamer muscles were definitely not built for this kind of sustained physical labor.
"System," he thought, desperate for a cheat code, "any strength buffs for manual labor?" The system remained silent on that front, clearly preferring him to earn his progress.
He swung the hoe again, breaking off a small chunk of earth. Again. And again. Sweat soon streamed down his face, mixing with the dust. His back protested, and his hands, already calloused from cleaning the courtyard, began to ache and blister. He was moving perhaps an inch at a time. It was painfully slow.
Qing'er, meanwhile, was surprisingly efficient with the rake. Her small size allowed her to maneuver between the larger obstacles, and she meticulously gathered piles of dry leaves and small stones, creating neat mounds at the edge of their designated plot. The Verdant Qi Pill had definitely aided her recovery, and her constant, unconscious Qi circulation seemed to lend her a surprising resilience.
Hours passed. The sun climbed high, beating down on them mercilessly. Li Xuan kept swinging the hoe, his movements becoming more mechanical, driven by sheer stubbornness. He focused on the future: a thriving farm, food for his sect, growth, and eventually, power. He focused on the Basic Farming & Gathering Manual's tips for breaking up stubborn soil, trying to apply them. It felt less like cultivation and more like a punishment.
By midday, they had cleared a patch roughly five by five meters – a mere fraction of the 'acre' he envisioned, but it felt like a monumental achievement. The earth was uneven, lumpy with upturned clumps of soil, but it was clear.
"We need a break," Li Xuan gasped, collapsing onto a relatively clear spot. He pulled out a bottle of water and a slice of bread from his Sect Inventory, handing some to Qing'er who gratefully accepted.
As they rested, munching on their bread, a faint rustling sound caught Li Xuan's attention. He looked up, peering into the dense forest. He saw nothing, but the hairs on his neck pricked up. His gamer instincts, honed by countless hours of virtual ambushes, warned him.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered to Qing'er.
She paused, her ears twitching slightly. "Something moved," she confirmed, her voice low. Her green eyes, sharp despite her young age, scanned the tree line.
Suddenly, a flash of brown fur darted out from the undergrowth, followed by another. It wasn't the scrawny rodent from yesterday. These were larger, healthier, and seemed to be moving with an unusual agility. Two sleek, badger-like creatures, with sharp claws and gleaming eyes, emerged from the trees. They looked territorial, their heads bobbing, sniffing the air. One of them let out a low, guttural growl.
Li Xuan's eyes widened. They were much bigger than he anticipated, almost the size of small dogs. And they looked angry. His heart began to pound. He was in the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1), but he certainly wasn't strong enough to fight two potentially aggressive wild beasts. Qing'er was only just entering Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1).
He looked at his tools: a rusty hoe and a small shovel. Not exactly battle axes. He quickly recalled his Falling Leaf Spirit Sword in his Sect Inventory. It was Spirit Grade, but the System said he needed to be in the Qi Condensation Realm to truly utilize its spiritual properties. He was still in the Body Tempering Realm. It would be a sharp piece of metal, but without Qi, he was just a clumsy swordsman.
"Qing'er," Li Xuan whispered, reaching for her hand. "Get behind me. Slowly."
The two badger-like creatures advanced cautiously, their growls deepening. They seemed particularly interested in the cleared patch of earth, their territory likely encroached upon. This was their first real encounter with the dangers of this world. It wasn't a bandit, or a rival cultivator, but nature itself, unforgiving and fierce.
Li Xuan grabbed his hoe, holding it defensively. He might not be a fighter, but he wasn't going to let his first disciple, or his first farm, be threatened. He stood his ground, trying to project an air of confidence he didn't feel. This wasn't a game where he could just reload a save. This was real.