Spirit Cleansing Apple_2

[Congratulations! You have obtained a fruit seed.]

[Hidden Quest Completed!]

- Reward: One plot of land that supports the growth of trees.

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Tailor-made, huh?"

Not that he was complaining.

He stepped into the system once more, his body vanishing from reality as he entered the virtual farmland.

His original four plots of land were still occupied with Moonstone Flowers—his ongoing gold-credit cycle of planting, harvesting, and reselling. But now, there was something new: a fresh plot of land, standing out with its slightly deeper soil and richer vitality.

The designated tree-growing plot.

Without hesitation, Ace willed the Spirit Apple Seed into the soil. Instantly, a small notification appeared above it.

[Growth Time: 10:00 hours.]

He let out a low whistle. "Still way better than waiting years."

Satisfied, he exited the system, reappearing in the real world.

Now that his farming plans were on track, Ace had to face a different reality—the world he was stuck in.

Wealth was power, but only if you had the strength to protect it.

If you were rich but weak? Best case scenario, you'd just (get scammed) pay an exorbitant fee as protection fees. Worst case? You'd get robbed, beaten, or worse.

So Ace had no intention of putting a target on his back.

That's why, for now, I wouldn't be selling the Moonstone Flowers to the Market.

Not yet, at least.

After harvesting the latest batch of Moonstone Flowers, Ace finally let himself crash onto his bed.

It had been days since he last had a proper nap, and with his first lesson for the two troublemakers starting tomorrow, he figured he deserved at least a few hours of decent sleep.

— The Next Day —

Morning arrived faster than expected.

Ace wasted no time heading into the system to check on his long-awaited prize.

[Harvested: 17 Spirit Cleansing Apples (Level 1), 3 Spirit Cleansing Apples (Level 2)]

Not bad. He had no idea what made those three apples a higher level, but he wasn't about to complain.

After replanting the Moonstone Seeds in their usual plots, he placed another Spirit Cleansing Apple Seed in the tree-growing land. It was best to keep the farm running while he focused on other things.

Now, with farming out of the way, he turned his attention to the next big event of the day—teaching.

Ace took out the freshly harvested apples from the system, gave them a proper wash, and then started cleaning himself up as well. His appearance had been an afterthought ever since he started working non-stop, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to look somewhat presentable for his students.

More importantly, he spent the remaining time recalling everything he could about martial arts and cultivation.

Shan Yifeng had made it clear he wanted to learn, and while Ace wasn't exactly a cultivation master, he wasn't about to show up unprepared either.

Just as he finished up, a familiar sound echoed through the air—

Laughter. Shouting. Footsteps.

The unmistakable noise of two excited kids racing toward his house.

Ace let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

"Here we go."

....

....

"Must we really eat this apple?"

Shan Yifeng was the one to protest, eyeing the fruit in his hands like it was some kind of trap.

Meanwhile, Liu Mei had already bitten into hers, happily chewing as if it were the best thing she'd ever tasted.

Ace, seeing Shan Yifeng's grumpy expression, smirked. "You know, an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Liu Mei, now on her second apple, looked up with wide, curious eyes. "Is that true, Teacher? Can I give one to my mother then?"

Ace nearly choked. Innocent… oh my, how innocent.

What was wrong with Xiao Zhi's head before? Was he blind to how pure these kids were?

With a chuckle, he patted Liu Mei's head. "Sure, sure. I'll pack you some apples."

Then, he turned his attention back to the sulking Shan Yifeng. "Yifeng, learn something from Liu Mei."

Indignant, Shan Yifeng shot back, "But she's stupid! Straight-up stupi—"

Thwack.

A heavy hand landed on Shan Yifeng's head, cutting him off before he could finish.

Then, before he could protest, Ace stuffed a slice of apple into his mouth.

"Chew," Ace ordered, before turning back to Liu Mei.

"Don't be sad about what he said."

Liu Mei, now halfway through her third apple, blinked up at him. "What did he say?"

Ace sighed.

Truly, a blessing and a menace sat before him.

When Liu Mei reached out for a fourth apple, Ace instinctively stopped her hand.

"Can't I have one more, Teacher? It's tasty," she pleaded, eyes wide with expectation.

Ace sighed. "Mei'er, you'll get an upset stomach if you eat any more."

It was a complete lie.

If these were regular apples, sure, but these were Spirit Cleansing Apples. He had no idea how rare they were in the cultivation world, but he knew for certain that this apple seems to be rare considering how it has a 0.001% talent increasement when consumed. You would never be getting an upset stomach from this apples.

Still, he wasn't stopping her because he was worried about losing apples. If anything, he was happy she was eating them—if they worked as the system says, she'd be healthier because of it.

Currently, in the basket lay thirteen Level 1 apples. The three Level 2 apples, he had already set aside for later.

"Let's begin class," he said, shifting topics. "I'll let you eat more during break time."

"Okay, Teacher!" Liu Mei beamed, her smile so bright that it nearly melted Ace's heart.

Suppressing the sudden urge to pinch her cheeks, he turned to Shan Yifeng, who had also finished his apple—though he looked like he had eaten it under duress.

Ace smirked. "Shan Yifeng, what do you know about cultivation?"

The moment he heard the word cultivation, Shan Yifeng perked up. He shot to his feet as if standing in a formal classroom.

"The cultivation world starts from Warrior Grade to Silver Grade, Gold Grade, Dark-Gold Grade, and finally , the Legendary Grade!" he recited with enthusiasm. "And each grade is divided into four stages: Early, Mid, High, and Peak!"

Ace raised a brow. "Oh? You know quite a bit. Where did you learn this?"

Shan Yifeng puffed out his chest. "I read it in a book!"

Ace smirked. "And do you actually understand what any of that means?"

Shan Yifeng's confident expression faltered.

"…No."

Liu Mei, who had been munching on her apple despite earlier protests, blinked.

"Then why did you say it?"

Shan Yifeng crossed his arms. "Because it sounds cool."

Ace chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's start with the basics, then."