Chapter 1 The Golden Finger Isn't Given at the Start
The blazing sun scorched the sky, and the cicadas' relentless chirring offered no respite.
"Song Ping, one stone of Immortal Valley Grain, grade B+, priced at ten taels of silver."
"Zhao Yang, two stones of Spirit Rice, grade A-, priced at two hundred taels of silver."
"..."
Under the shade of a cool pavilion, an elderly man dressed in dark clothing and wearing a Jade Crown sat, calling out prices resoundingly while recording everyone who came up to sell their grain.
If Jiang Tang were still in his previous life where he could enjoy air conditioning, he would have definitely sat under the cool breeze eating an ice pop, remarking on the pleasant weather and the glorious sun.
But now, he could only wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield himself from the sun, his two arms bare under the fierce sunlight, as he strenuously pushed his wooden cart, constantly looking ahead.
Jiang Tang wiped the sweat from his brow.
To hell with glorious sun; it was hot enough to kill a person.
He was originally a modern college student from a different time and space until he woke up to find himself transmigrated into this fictional world where cultivation was possible.
Every transmigrated individual probably had some innate advantages—upon arrival in this world of cultivation, they would receive a 'Golden Finger' from the start, allowing them to smite gods or subdue buddhas with ease, climbing to life's peak.
But Jiang Tang was an exception.
Embracing the conceited attitude of a chosen one from a transmigration, he had proudly gone to the Immortal Sect to participate in the test for Spiritual Roots.
The dream was beautiful, the reality, brutal.
A harsh reality struck him squarely in the face.
He had the lowest of Mixed Spiritual Roots and couldn't even complete the basic cultivation task of Qi Introduction, let alone achieve Ascension—those were things for others, not for him.
Thus, Jiang Tang was gloriously assigned to the role of a Servant Disciple in the Immortal Sect, becoming a farmer.
The farmers of the Immortal Sect planted Immortal grains bestowed from the heavens above as well as various types of Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass. This year, the Sect was experiencing a shortage of grain, which was why Jiang Tang's cart was piled high with unhusked Immortal Valley Grain.
"Hey there, young friend, I'm talking to you; hurry it up, there's a line forming behind you." Just as Jiang Tang was reflecting, a voice suddenly pulled him back to reality.
Seeing that the man in dark clothing was addressing him, Jiang Tang quickly composed himself and bowed, bringing his cart over for inspection.
"Jiang Tang, one stone of Immortal Valley Grain, grade A-, priced at five hundred taels of gold!" After a careful examination, the elder in dark clothing revealed a satisfied smile, nodded appreciatively, and then made a note of it.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang's face immediately lit up with joy.
After three long years of earnest farming, Jiang Tang had resigned himself to a lifetime at the bottom of the societal ladder as a farmer.
Then one day, he suddenly found that the piece of jade he wore around his neck was actually a Spirit Field Space. Because he had nurtured the jade, he became connected to it, forming a contract and becoming the master of this space.
Once Jiang Tang entered the space, he found himself surrounded by dense fog that obscured his vision, allowing only a glimpse of a single acre of land beneath his feet, a few scattered seeds, and several ancient texts.
Delving into the ancient texts, Jiang Tang learned that the Spirit Field Space was a mysterious treasure granted to those predestined to possess it.
Whatever was planted within it would grow infused with Spiritual Energy, and each would be a treasure on its own.
The boundaries of the Spirit Field were vast, even greater than the Nine States Continent. The reason he could only see an acre of land underneath his feet was entirely due to his insufficient cultivation.
As long as he increased his cultivation, he could plough new Spirit Fields.
According to the ancient texts, cultivated Spirit Fields would gift countless, unexpected treasures.
Treasures!
Thus, guided by the ancient texts, Jiang Tang planted the seeds found in the space and tended to them with great care.
After they matured, Jiang Tang followed an ancient prescription to concoct pills, consuming them to reshape his Spiritual Root, thereby allowing him to introduce Qi into his body and begin cultivation.
This batch of Immortal Valley Grain was indeed the first crop he had planted in the Spirit Field.
He had sown them with a try-and-see attitude.
To his surprise, this batch of seeds, which were only average in quality, had actually grown into superior grains rich in Spiritual Energy!
Jiang Tang was completely excited.
The Golden Finger had arrived a bit late, but it was still better than aimlessly waiting for death.
"Young friend, of all the crops this year, yours are the most outstanding. Work hard at your farming, do not slack off," the old man said as he handed Jiang Tang a written plaque, speaking words of encouragement.
"Disciple will keep it in mind," Jiang Tang replied with a bow, taking the plaque and hurriedly went to find the Outer Sect Steward to exchange it for money, leaving behind the envious gazes of the other Servant Disciples.
"Jiang, you have been diligent for three years. Why not report to the Sect and apply to join the Spirit Farmer Association?" the Steward, handing Jiang Tang a Qiankun Bag filled with money, kindly reminded him.
"Steward's words are most astute, but as a disciple with humble skills, I dare not wield an axe at the door of the Immortal's class. It's better to just honestly continue farming," Jiang Tang replied, scratching his head.
The Spirit Farmer Association was specially organized by the Immortal Sect. Those who could join it were bound to become influential figures—of course, not in cultivation, but in the recognition they received from Immortals for their farming prowess.
It was only his first attempt at planting in the Spirit Field; joining hastily could lead to disaster if things went south later.
After three years of farming, Jiang Tang had learned a lesson.
Be honest and steady, and do your best to survive.
Furthermore, though he was on the path of cultivation, at his core, he remained human.
People live for money.
His goal was not limited to the Spirit Farmer Association—he wanted to earn a great fortune while cultivating, allowing himself to become wealthy.
After all, money is not omnipotent, but without it, one is truly powerless.
Even in the world of cultivation, the Major Sects of the Mortal Realm needed to eat and maintain their disciples of mortal flesh—they, too, needed to earn money.
Jiang Tang had thought his dream of sudden wealth was hopeless, until a space from the heavens descended.
After his first harvest, Jiang Tang, reinvigorated by the thought of getting rich, planted seeds of the Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass he had secretly hidden in an acre of land.
Now, all he needed to do was to water and weed the plants, then cultivate and wait for the Spirit Grass to mature.
Lost in these delightful thoughts, Jiang Tang headed towards the Practice Room.
He was completely unaware that the gold he had harvested today had already attracted the greedy eyes of some.
At the entrance to the Practice Room, Jiang Tang paid the on-duty Servant Disciple the silver fee and was about to enter when a hand suddenly stopped him.
"Younger Brother Jiang, I have reserved this room," said the man with a grin, showing a hint of a smile before turning to enter.
Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow.
He might lie low but that did not mean he would tolerate bullying.
"Brother Du, I arrived at this Practice Room first, and I have already paid the fee," Jiang Tang said, grabbing the man's sleeve and speaking softly.
As the latest disciple to enter this generation, and because of his inadequate strength, every Servant Disciple here was his senior brother.
This chap was Du Long, the infamous Little Overlord among the Servant Disciples.
He took advantage of his backing in the Outer Sect to bully the other Servant Disciples and was rumored to have even secured a chance to participate in the Outer Sect's entrance examination.