Chapter 332

Chapter 332: Down to Earth

A gentle breeze swept through the lush green wheat fields, bringing with it a steady fine rain.

The water droplets falling on the wheat leaves were not clear and pure; instead, they appeared in a translucent dark green.

This special rainwater silently seeped into the soil, nourishing the hundred acres of spirit fields.

After a moment, the clouds parted and the mist cleared, allowing the scorching sunlight to shine down on the earth.

The stalks of spiritual wheat stood tall, displaying vibrant life.

Standing by the field’s edge, Wang Chen withdrew his magic.

What he had just performed was a spiritual plant farmer’s exclusive magic—Spring Breeze and Rain Fertilization Technique.

In simple terms, this spell was used to fertilize the spirit fields, and when combined with the Autumn Sunlight Growth Technique, it could greatly accelerate the growth rate of crops and, to some extent, improve the quality of rice and wheat.

Of course, the fertilizer was not created out of thin air; it needed to be purchased using spirit stones.

Thus, the cost was quite high, and the difficulty of spellcasting was not low, which is why small farmers rarely used such spells. Otherwise, they wouldn’t earn many spirit stones in the end.

However, Wang Chen personally cultivated these spirit fields not for profit.

He had realized long ago that farming the spirit fields was also a form of cultivation.

It was a form of practice that suited him well.

Wang Chen could weed and eliminate pests while practicing the Five Element Technique, all while improving his skill proficiency.

He could even resonate splendidly with the crops, sharpening his Spiritual Power and enhancing his perception.

Yet, the villagers of Datian Village watched as Wang Chen chose to work hard in the spirit fields instead of enjoying a comfortable life in the village chief’s residence. They felt that this village chief was thinking differently from others.

Rumors about him being kicked in the head by his large blue donkey quietly circulated in the village.

These stories even spread to other places.

Wang Chen, of course, was unaware of these rumors.

Even if he found out, he would simply smile and not take it to heart.

After finishing the fertilizing, Wang Chen sat on a stone bench by the field’s edge.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of hooves clopping, and a shiny-coated large blue donkey came galloping down the country road.

On the donkey’s back sat a young girl with a charming face.

“Neigh~”

The large blue donkey shook its head as it came to a stop in front of Wang Chen, and Little He leaped off its back. “Esteemed one.”

She set up the table she had brought in front of Wang Chen and opened a refined food box, displaying the exquisite delicacies inside one by one. Finally, she respectfully presented a pair of jade chopsticks.

“Esteemed one, please enjoy your meal.”

“Mm.”

Wang Chen accepted the chopsticks and began to enjoy his lunch.

While Wang Chen ate, Little He brought a fan to cool him down.

After swallowing a piece of sauced meat, Wang Chen said, “Thank you, today’s braised pork is delicious.”

Wang Chen was growing increasingly pleased with Little He.

Though her cultivation level was quite low and she had yet to strengthen her skills, her performance as a maid was impeccable, particularly in her cooking skills; the spirit dishes she crafted were truly delightful.

After tasting her cooking just once, Wang Chen entrusted her with the kitchen of the village chief’s residence.

When Wang Chen complimented her, Little He shyly responded, “This is merely my duty as a maid. I’m glad it pleases you.”

Like the other villagers, she couldn’t fathom why Wang Chen insisted on farming himself rather than leaving it to tenants and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Yet this did nothing to diminish her admiration for him.

She had initially offered to assist him in the fields, but Wang Chen had declined.

Determined to prove her worth as a capable maid, she poured her efforts into perfecting her cooking skills.

Seeing Wang Chen savor her meals filled her heart with quiet pride.

After lunch, Wang Chen instructed Little He to clean up and return home.

He strode across the field ridge and into the spirit fields, where, under the scorching sun, he extended his divine sense.

In an instant, every movement within a hundred steps became vividly clear to him.

The stalks of spiritual wheat seemed to “spring to life,” eagerly relaying messages to Wang Chen.

This innate ability had been his since his days as a young Qi Training cultivator.

Now, with his heightened soul attributes, his divine sense had grown far more potent, enabling him to detect even the faintest stirrings of a tiny insect ten feet underground.

His connection to the crops had also deepened, becoming more intricate.

In that moment, Wang Chen detected twenty-three leaf-eating bugs.

These pests, unique to wheat fields, clung to stalks and drained their juices, much like land rhinoceroses.

Their appearance, however, closely resembled green wheat leaves, and they could alter their color and texture to blend seamlessly with the growing spiritual wheat, rendering them nearly invisible to the untrained eye.

Even experienced spiritual plant farmers struggled to spot them amidst the dense fields.

Yet under Wang Chen’s powerful divine sense and his profound resonance with the spiritual wheat, these masters of disguise were laid bare.

Without hesitation, he extended his finger, unleashing a sharp Metal Finger Technique.

The nearest leaf-eating bug was instantly severed in two, falling to the ground with a soft thud.

The technique did not dissipate; instead, it curved gracefully around the stalks of spiritual wheat, striking down one bug after another.

In just ten breaths, every leaf-eating bug within a hundred steps of Wang Chen had been eradicated.

Wang Chen retracted his finger.

Though his Metal Finger Technique had long reached perfect mastery, leaving no room for further refinement, this did not render the low-level Qi Training spell obsolete.

With his current cultivation level, Wang Chen could wield the technique with doubled potency and explore countless variations.

What he had just demonstrated was but a modest display of his skill.

With the pests cleared from the hundred acres of spirit fields, his work for the day was complete.

Wang Chen made his way back to the village chief’s residence.

Along the path, he nodded politely to the villagers he passed, maintaining a balance between aloofness and familiarity.

Compared to his initial arrival, the villagers now regarded him with slightly less awe, though they still treated him with respect, careful not to show any disrespect.

This had become a common sight in Datian Village.

The villagers had grown accustomed to his presence, and their initial wariness and suspicion of Wang Chen had gradually faded.

While some villagers were convinced that this Purple Palace master had lost his wits, many others found him refreshingly down-to-earth compared to previous village chiefs, who had been exploitative or overbearing.

Wang Chen’s refusal to exploit the villagers or flaunt his status had earned him their goodwill.

This growing sense of goodwill, though slow to build, would eventually allow Wang Chen to integrate fully into Datian Village and earn the villagers’ genuine acceptance—though he had no need for it.

Wang Chen found the current balance of distance and familiarity ideal for his cultivation.

Yet there were those who watched him, unsettled by his ease and contentment.

It seemed they could not fathom the depths of Wang Chen’s abilities.

And so, they sought to stir up trouble for him.