After processing the python’s carcass, the three of them resumed their task of harvesting Zhi grass. The python’s skin would likely fetch a good amount of spirit stones. Although a Rank 2 demonic beast did not possess an inner core, they collected the meat as well, unsure of its value.
They spent two more days harvesting, gathering nearly three hundred catties in total, yet it was still far from enough. They had to persevere. Unknowingly, they drifted back toward the area where they had fought the python. They had originally intended to bypass this spot, as most of the Zhi grass there had been destroyed during the struggle.
Li Xue sat cross-legged beside the grass to recover her spirit power. This method of harvesting grass using spiritual energy was indeed exhausting; she needed to meditate and recover roughly every two hours. Li Xue thought back to her previous life. Her family had originally been from the countryside, and whenever the rice was ripe, they had to go out and harvest it. Back then, the weather was sweltering, and her parents worked incredibly hard. Later, after graduating from university, she had stayed in the city as a white-collar worker and brought her parents to live with her, leasing their farmland to others.
Reflecting on it, she hadn't done farm work in over a decade. She found it rather humorous that even after becoming a cultivator, she still had to perform manual labor. However, she felt no resentment. As long as she put in the effort, there would be a harvest; after all, nothing in this world came for free. Once she finished her meditation, she felt refreshed. In truth, this was a decent way to cultivate, though the spiritual energy here was too thin. If they had the concentration of spiritual energy found in the marketplace, her cultivation would surely have progressed even further after such cycles of depletion and recovery.
Li Xue stood up to continue harvesting when she suddenly noticed a faint green light flickering in the distance. As dusk was beginning to settle, the shimmering green was easy to spot. She activated her Spirit Eye Technique and detected fluctuations of spiritual energy nearby. Backing away a short distance, she called out to Li Lin and Ji Rufeng, "Something’s happening. Fall back!"
Li Lin and Ji Rufeng quickly retreated to her side. Li Xue pointed toward the distance. Li Lin activated his own Spirit Eye Technique and let out a soft "Eh?" as he walked toward the light. "Mother, Uncle Ji, I think it’s spirit herbs!"
"It’s Greenlight Grass! And there are several of them!" Ji Rufeng cried out in excitement. Among the missions they had accepted, one shop was specifically looking for Greenlight Grass, offering thirty low-grade spirit stones per stalk. Greenlight Grass was a primary ingredient for refining Green Pills, which were a favorite snack for spirit beasts. No wonder a Rank 2 demonic beast had been lurking here; it had been guarding this cluster of Greenlight Grass.
They had struck it rich. The three of them were ecstatic as they carefully dug up the Greenlight Grass, roots and soil included. There were five stalks in total, all of which were placed into a special jade box Ji Rufeng had prepared. This box was a Ji family heirloom used for storing precious medicinal ingredients. While it wasn't as effective as the jade boxes used in the cultivation world for preserving spiritual energy, it could still slow the dissipation to some extent. Having secured the Greenlight Grass, they didn't linger. They packed up the Zhi grass and began their journey back under the cover of night.
On their way, as they passed through a certain valley, they were drawn to a shimmering silver light that filled the basin. Ji Rufeng looked up at the sky and said with sudden excitement, "Moonlight Grass! It’s Moonlight Grass! It only glows during the night of a full moon; otherwise, it looks just like ordinary grass." He looked at the field of Moonlight Grass with disbelief. "A single stalk of Moonlight Grass is enough to cause a massive stir in the Jianghu, yet there is so much of it here!"
"What is Moonlight Grass used for?" Li Lin asked, puzzled.
"In the Jianghu, it’s one of the primary ingredients for making Life-Preserving Pills. I suppose it’s because it contains spiritual energy that it can be used to extend one's life," Ji Rufeng said thoughtfully.
"Then stop standing around and start digging!" Li Xue rolled her eyes at the two men and immediately began to harvest.
Ji Rufeng shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of stray thoughts, and joined her. Li Lin followed suit. The three of them dug away with joy; to them, these weren't just herbs, they were spirit stones. It felt as though they were simply picking up wealth from the ground, and they were so happy they hardly knew where they were.
As Li Xue dug, she wondered if she had finally activated some kind of "transmigrated protagonist mode." To find such a vast field of spirit herbs with no one else around to snatch them—it was pure dumb luck. Soon, they had harvested more than half the field. Ji Rufeng glanced at the moon and said, "Once the moon sets, the Moonlight Grass will stop glowing, and we won't be able to recognize it. We need to hurry!" Li Xue and Li Lin quickened their pace. Before long, the moon dipped below the horizon, and the valley returned to darkness. A small portion remained unharvested, but the three of them weren't upset. They had gathered enough; one must know when to be content. In this regard, all three of them were quite sensible.
Two days later, they emerged from the Mangyun Mountains and returned to the Ji family shop in the Tang Kingdom. After tidying themselves up, they headed to the marketplace. First, they sold the Zhi grass and the black sable skins, earning thirty spirit stones. When they arrived at the shop purchasing Greenlight Grass, the owner’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the five stalks. He couldn't help but ask where they had found them. Ji Rufeng didn't keep it a secret and told him directly, leaving the owner sighing in amazement. The five stalks of Greenlight Grass were exchanged for one hundred and fifty spirit stones. Next, they sold twenty stalks of Moonlight Grass for another hundred spirit stones. They had discussed this beforehand; since they had gathered fifty or sixty stalks, they couldn't sell them all in one place for fear of attracting trouble. Twenty stalks was the safest amount to sell without drawing too much attention. Finally, they went to a materials shop to sell the black python skin, which fetched another thirty spirit stones. Their total wealth had reached three hundred and ten spirit stones.
Li Xue clutched the storage bag containing the spirit stones tightly. The way she looked at the people around her had changed; she felt as if everyone was a thief out to steal her stones. Seeing Li Xue’s shifty, hyper-vigilant expression, the corner of Ji Rufeng’s mouth twitched. He turned his head away to look at the street scenery. Li Lin simply looked away as well, pretending he hadn't seen a thing.
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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芝草 | Zhi Grass | A common, reed-like spirit plant mentioned in the text.
绿光草 | Greenlight Grass | A spirit herb used for refining beast pills; glows green.
月光草 | Moonlight Grass | A spirit herb that glows silver only under a full moon; used for life-saving pills.
绿丹 | Green Pill | A type of medicinal pill that is a favorite food for spirit beasts.
保命丸 | Life-Preserving Pill | A medicinal pill used in the martial world (Jianghu) to extend life or save someone from death.
唐国 | Tang Kingdom | The name of the secular country where the Ji family is located.
储物袋 | Storage Bag | A common magical item used by cultivators to store goods in a pocket dimension.
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Ascended Without Me: Cultivating with a Genius Son | Chapter 19 | A Bountiful Harvest | Novela.app | Novela.app
