Chapter 19: Welcoming All Guests

In the spiritual fields where the morning mist had yet to disperse, Shen Qinghe walked slowly, her steps dampened by the dew. From a distance, she could already see disciples laboring among the crops. As she drew nearer, some of them noticed her and greeted her across the ridges.

"Good morning, Sister Shen!"

"Sister Shen, you look radiant today!"

Shen Qinghe responded with a gentle smile and a nod. She observed that although their eyes brimmed with anticipation, none mentioned the matter of the planting technique—a tacit understanding, perhaps, that such a refined method needed time to be organized. Since they did not ask, she would not speak of it directly. She still had her own spiritual field to tend; once she had finished, she would naturally offer guidance.

"Sister Shen, you look well today!" Wei Rong, bending to weed his field, straightened up upon seeing her pass by and called out a greeting. When he sensed the surge of spiritual energy around Shen Qinghe—much stronger than before—his eyes widened in astonishment. "Sister Shen, have you broken through in your cultivation?"

"It was only a stroke of luck," Shen Qinghe replied with a modest smile. Turning to look at the verdant rice in Wei Rong’s field, surprise flickered across her face. "Your Azure Spirit Rice is thriving, Senior Brother Wei!"

The rice he had planted just yesterday already stood over a foot tall. The leaves shimmered with fresh dew, sparkling in the morning sun. At this rate, it would soon bloom and be ready for harvest in a day or two.

"So this is what Azure Spirit Rice grown with masterful skill looks like," Shen Qinghe marveled inwardly.

"It’s all thanks to your guidance!" Wei Rong laughed heartily, his rough fingers brushing the sturdy rice stalks beside him. "Were it not for your teachings, how could this old man break through in the art of cultivation?"

Watching his calloused hands move with such care, Shen Qinghe smiled, "It is your attentive care, Senior Brother, that has allowed these spirit grains to flourish."

After exchanging a few words, Shen Qinghe took her leave and headed to her own field. Bathed in morning light, her spiritual field brimmed with vitality.

Rows of Azure Spirit Rice stood over three feet tall, each stalk gleaming like jade, straight and strong, suffused with a faint azure glow that shimmered in the gentle breeze. Shen Qinghe knelt to examine them closely, noting a few stalks already crowned with delicate blossoms. The pale blue petals, thin as cicada wings, quivered in the dawn, releasing a subtle fragrance.

She stood and surveyed the field, noticing that weeds had begun to sprout among the crops. Efficiently, she rolled up her sleeves, took a bamboo-handled hoe, and began to clear them with precise care. The blade sliced through the soil, uprooting the weeds without harming the rice roots. When the last weed was gone, Shen Qinghe straightened, feeling a slight dampness on her brow.

This was clearly the result of her improved cultivation—her body had grown stronger along with her spiritual power. She wiped away the fine sweat, summoned her ancient book with a thought, and inspected each rice stalk, ensuring all were thriving before turning toward Wei Rong’s plot.

"Senior Brother Wei," she called softly from the ridge.

Wei Rong looked up from his work, confusion on his weathered face. "Is there something you need, Sister Shen?"

"I do have a request, Senior Brother," Shen Qinghe replied, bowing slightly as she explained her intention.

Wei Rong’s expression brightened into a smile. "Such a small matter—leave it to me!" He brushed the soil from his hands, about to gather the disciples, but paused abruptly, his gaze full of surprise. "Sister Shen, you’ve already organized the planting plans for everyone?"

"Yes," Shen Qinghe answered with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Wei Rong clapped his hands in admiration. "Your talent in spiritual cultivation is truly remarkable!"

With that, he strode into the fields, his booming voice ringing out: "Everyone, gather around!"

His call echoed across the spiritual fields, prompting the busy disciples to lift their heads and look over. When they heard that "Sister Shen has finished the planting plans," those who had paid with spirit stones broke into smiles and hurried to assemble, dropping their tasks.

The commotion drew the attention of the other disciples as well. Though word had spread about yesterday’s events, most had not witnessed Shen Qinghe guide Wei Rong.

Now, they gathered in small groups on their own ridges, watching with skepticism.

"Could it be mere rumor?"

"Perhaps the circulation of spiritual energy in Senior Brother Wei’s field is his own achievement..."

Whispers spread across the fields. Despite the evident change in Wei Rong’s plot, many stubbornly believed it was due to his own advancement and had nothing to do with Shen Qinghe’s guidance.

"Sister Shen, have you truly prepared the planting plans for us?" someone among the gathered disciples asked eagerly.

Shen Qinghe smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, everything is ready."

At her affirmation, the disciples’ faces lit up with joy, and they began to announce their needs excitedly:

"Sister, I’m planting Gathering Spirit Grass!"

"I have Cloudy Fruit!"

"And my Violet Cloud Ginseng..."

Their voices overlapped, as if afraid to miss their turn.

"Everyone, please don’t rush," Shen Qinghe said, retrieving a stack of jade slips from her storage pouch and distributing them to each disciple.

Those who received the slips immediately examined them with anticipation.

"If there’s anything unclear, you are welcome to ask," she added once all were handed out.

"Sister Shen, my field is ready, but I’m still confused about the method described in your jade slip. Would you mind guiding me directly?"

Shen Qinghe nodded. "Of course."

She then moved to several prepared fields, watching as the disciples began their work, offering guidance whenever mistakes were made.

During this, Shen Qinghe summoned her ancient book, watching as the proficiency levels for each spiritual plant shifted:

Gathering Spirit Grass... Planting: Unskilled (3/50)... Cloudy Fruit... Planting: Unskilled (7/30)... Violet Cloud Ginseng... Planting: Skilled (98/100)...

Satisfied to see improvement in every skill, she closed the book.

Suddenly, strange sights appeared over several fields. Threads of spiritual energy, like mist and smoke, flowed gently through the plots, tracing mysterious cycles as the spiritual plants took root.

"This... this..." The disciples watching from afar stared, some rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

"The rumors from yesterday are true!" one exclaimed, slapping his leg in astonishment.

The cry thundered across the fields, awakening the crowd. They surged toward Shen Qinghe, anxious not to miss their opportunity.

Some didn’t even put down their hoes; others stumbled over the ridges in their haste. Shen Qinghe welcomed them all, standing calmly at the center, smiling as she responded: "No need to rush, everyone. Come one at a time."

On a distant ridge, Li Mubai’s gaze swept over the crowd surrounding Shen Qinghe, her jealousy almost palpable.

"Senior Sister Li, are we just going to stand here and watch?" Wang Gang clenched his teeth, stabbing his spirit shovel into the earth. "If this continues, those fools will lift her to the heavens!"

Li Mubai sneered. "Why hurry?"

She narrowed her eyes, gazing at the fields where the strange phenomena had occurred.

"Soon... she will learn what it means for joy to turn to sorrow."