Chapter 33: Champion of Yield

Chapter 33: Champion of Yield

As Gu Mo leisurely rode his crane toward the Spiritual Plant Hall, a streak of sword light shot out from the direction of the hall, speeding past him. However, the sword light suddenly made a sharp turn and halted right in front of him. Gu Mo quickly recognized the rider—it was Mai Yunfa, the very person who had brought him to the Spiritual Plant Hall in the first place.

"Junior Brother Gu Mo, come with me quickly!" Mai Yunfa wasted no time pulling Gu Mo onto his flying sword and rushed back toward the Spiritual Plant Hall.

"Senior Brother Mai, what's going on?" Seeing Mai Yunfa in such a hurry, Gu Mo quickly assessed his situation. As far as he knew, he hadn't revealed anything he shouldn't have.

"Steward Zhao is looking for you—it's good news." Mai Yunfa glanced at Gu Mo with a look of amazement. He had just left the Spiritual Plant Hall and still vividly remembered the stunned expression on Steward Zhao's face.

Half an hour earlier.

The steward in charge of storing the spiritual rice harvest reported this year's yield to Zhao Qiancheng. This was the most crucial matter for the Spiritual Plant Hall.

"The yield has dropped again this year?" Upon learning that the growth rate was still negative, Zhao Qiancheng's expression darkened.

Although the decline was minimal, it was still a decline. Worse yet, it had been happening for several consecutive years. This was a serious issue.

The sect would see this as his failure as a steward. The main function of the Spiritual Plant Hall was to provide the sect with spiritual rice, and the production yield directly affected the hall's welfare and benefits for the coming year, as well as Zhao Qiancheng's own future.

He had been focusing on increasing production for years, but the valley's spiritual fields had already reached their limit. There was no more room for improvement, and even maintaining the current yield was a challenge. A slight disturbance could cause another dip in production.

The only viable way to increase yield was to cultivate the scattered spiritual fields outside the valley. However, due to a shortage of manpower, these fields had not yet been fully utilized.

Wait—someone was already farming the fields outside the valley.

"What about Gu Mo's yield this year?" As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhao Qiancheng had an excellent memory and quickly recalled Gu Mo's situation.

"Steward Zhao, I was just about to report that." Hearing Zhao Qiancheng mention Gu Mo, the steward in charge of storage smiled. This was the surprise he had prepared.

For years, every time he had reported the harvest, it had been bad news. But this time, he finally had good news. Naturally, he wanted to present it properly.

The steward immediately reported Gu Mo's harvest for both planting seasons this year.

When Zhao Qiancheng heard that Gu Mo's first season had yielded 500 jin of spiritual rice, he was visibly surprised. A first-time planter achieving such a yield was already impressive.

But when he learned that Gu Mo's second season had skyrocketed to 800 jin, Zhao Qiancheng was utterly shocked.

800 jin per mu! This yield could compete for this year's highest output.

"Steward Zhao, the highest yield of Spirit Jade Rice this year is exactly 800 jin per mu," the steward added, confirming that Gu Mo had won the yield championship.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhao Qiancheng took a deep breath and repeated the word three times. It had been his idea to rent out the valley's outer spiritual fields to willing labor disciples. Gu Mo was the first beneficiary of this policy, and the more outstanding Gu Mo's performance was, the more it proved Zhao Qiancheng's foresight.

Back in the present.

Upon realizing that the steward was summoning him for his exceptional yield, Gu Mo was overjoyed. Winning the yield championship came with excellent rewards. While the exact prize varied each year and depended on Steward Zhao's discretion, anything given by a Foundation Establishment steward would undoubtedly be valuable to a mere Qi Refining cultivator like Gu Mo.

Riding the flying sword, Mai Yunfa glanced at Gu Mo, who was visibly excited, and couldn't help but feel envious. In previous years, the yield champion's rewards weren't particularly impressive, but this time was different. He was certain that Gu Mo's reward would far exceed those of past champions.

The reason was simple: Gu Mo had brought great honor to Steward Zhao.

With Mai Yunfa pushing the sword to full speed, they quickly arrived at the Spiritual Plant Hall's main hall. Gu Mo followed Mai Yunfa inside, where he saw Steward Zhao.

"Greetings, Steward Zhao!"

Gu Mo and Mai Yunfa bowed in unison.

"Not bad," Zhao Qiancheng remarked as he looked at Gu Mo. Though Gu Mo's cultivation had hardly improved, his achievements spoke for themselves. A simple compliment of "not bad" was well deserved.

"You should have mastered a second spiritual farming technique by now, correct?" Zhao Qiancheng stated with confidence. Given Gu Mo's exceptional talent and his astonishing 800-jin yield, Zhao had no doubt.

After all, mastering two spiritual farming techniques within a year of joining the hall was rare. If Gu Mo continued progressing, he could become the fourth cultivator in the hall's history to master all five spiritual farming techniques.

It was a pity that his spiritual root aptitude was too poor. Otherwise, with such comprehension skills, he might have even qualified as an inner disciple.

"Yes!"

Gu Mo responded respectfully. Now was definitely not the time to reveal that he had already mastered all five spiritual farming techniques. That would be too shocking and attract unwanted attention.

Claiming to have mastered two techniques aligned with the talent he had previously shown and fit within Steward Zhao's expectations. Making things unfold exactly as Zhao Qiancheng predicted was the safest strategy.

If he suddenly claimed to have mastered three techniques, it would surely amaze Zhao Qiancheng but would also draw excessive scrutiny—something Gu Mo wanted to avoid at all costs.

"This year, you have won the Spirit Jade Rice yield championship. As usual, the Spiritual Plant Hall will reward you." Zhao Qiancheng studied Gu Mo, considering his options.

Although Gu Mo's spiritual root talent was poor, his comprehension ability was exceptional. Compared to other labor disciples who lacked both, he was certainly worth cultivating.

"Have you heard of Spiritual Cultivators?"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Qiancheng spoke.

Upon hearing these words, Mai Yunfa's face showed shock. He immediately guessed what kind of reward Zhao was planning to give Gu Mo. It was a reward usually reserved for outer disciples—and never before granted to a labor disciple.

"I am unfamiliar with the term, Steward," Gu Mo replied, shaking his head. From the name alone, he could infer that it had something to do with plant cultivation, but beyond that, he had no idea.

"A Spiritual Cultivator is an advanced profession for spiritual farmers, equivalent in status to Alchemists, Talisman Masters, Formation Masters, and Blacksmiths. The seeds you receive are enhanced by Spiritual Cultivators, which is why they yield so much."

Zhao Qiancheng began his explanation.