A month had passed, and early spring arrived. Vulture Mountain had warmed slightly, and the Chen family's spirit farmers were busy with harvests and planting.
Inside Chen Jinshu's Spirit Plant Space, all the magnolia flowers had matured—a full month earlier than the three-acre spirit fields outside.
"Two hundred and ninety plants in total!"
She carefully counted them—not a single one was damaged. Each plant was robust, thriving even better than those on Vulture Mountain.
"As expected of a Spirit Plant Space. The herbs receive the best nurturing."
After half an hour of work, she harvested all the magnolia spirit herbs.
Freshly harvested fields needed several days to recover before replanting. To speed up the process, one could use spirit fertilizer—but the prices had deterred her last time.
A single bag cost thirty spirit stones, and that was just the basic type for medicinal herbs. There were even more expensive variants, infused with soil-loosening spirit insects that gradually enriched the land, priced at eighty to ninety stones per bag.
After buying spirit seeds and pills, she hadn't had enough stones left.
"But the Spirit Plant Space is efficient enough. A few days of waiting, or some extra Spirit Rain Techniques, will do the trick."
She cast a light rain over the field, then turned her thoughts to alchemy.
"Time to refine Lingyuan dan."
She planned to sell half the magnolias and use the rest for pill-making. Though magnolias were the primary ingredient, six supplementary herbs were needed. She'd bought as many as she could afford—enough for eighty batches.
"In a month, when the Purple Stamen Flowers mature, Third Uncle will visit the market again. I'll sell some then."
Just as she finished organizing the space and returned to her room, a booming voice echoed through Plum Blossom Courtyard:
"All spirit farmers at Qi Refining Fourth Layer or above—assemble at the management hall immediately for a beast hunt!"
The voice carried the oppressive aura of Layer 9 Qi Refinement.
"Third Uncle's voice? A hunt this early?"
Normally, Vulture Mountain organized hunts in early summer. Why now?
"Did something happen?"
Abandoning her alchemy plans, she called the Shadowpeak Finch—currently scolding the spirit chickens—and hurried out.
Outside, she nearly collided with Chen Yong'an and several other farmers.
"Uncle Yong'an! What's going on?"
"Jinshu, stay back. This isn't for your level," he said sternly, waving her off.
"I'm not joining—just tell me what's happening."
He nodded, urging the others ahead. "A pack of wolf demons rushed up from the foothills. A few are at the late-stage, even demon kings. The elders can't handle them alone, so they're calling for help."
"Squeak!"
The sparrow on her shoulder suddenly chirped urgently, then darted toward the spirit fields.
"Wolf demons? Uncle, you should go!"
"Right!"
Puzzled, she chased after the sparrow.
"Why lead me here? Did the fields get attacked too?"
Minutes later, the sparrow circled frantically above her three-acre plot.
"Xiao Yin! What's wrong?"
She'd tended the fields three days ago—no need for watering yet. But then she saw it:
A black cloud descended from the northern peaks, blotting out the sky.
"What—?!"
The buzzing grew deafening as the swarm—spirit locusts—plummeted toward the fields.
"No! A locust swarm!"
Near her barrier, a few locusts lay twitching—each the size of half a fist, with razor-sharp mandibles and crimson, frenzied eyes.
"A diversion! They're trying to ruin the harvest!"
Her pulse raced as she yanked out a messaging talisman and poured in spiritual energy:
"Third Uncle! A massive locust swarm from the north is attacking the fields! Recall the farmers and activate the barriers!"
She sent it off, praying for a swift response.
"If they devour the crops, these farmers will be ruined."
Most were low-talent family members who relied entirely on their plots. Few could afford to keep barriers active constantly—except her, after the last insect scare.
As the locusts descended, a strange pattern emerged:
"Why are they dropping dead near my barrier?"
Her eyes snapped to the sparrow, whose faint chirps seemed to repel the swarm. Any locust within three zhang of her fields convulsed and fell.
"You… little genius!" A smile broke across her face.
The sparrow had always been peculiar—dominating spirit chickens five times its size, inexplicably attracting prey during hunts. Now, it had a pest-repelling ability?
"No wonder those farmers struggled. Without you, even I'd be helpless."