Crow Immortal
Chapter 18: Harvest Day

Forget it. There was never any possibility of reconciliation with that rat-keeper anyway. Offending more people didn't matter now.

Having reached this conclusion, Han Yu didn't hesitate further and spoke to the two crows, one large and one small. 

"Take these Spirit-Stealing Mice and eat them."

The two crows immediately began hopping excitedly in the cramped, crude stone house. 

The large crow grabbed a mouse and flew out, followed closely by the smaller one, both disappearing into the night sky. 

Han Yu smiled faintly, thinking that from now on he only needed to occasionally use essence blood and Spirit Nurturing to strengthen his bond with the crows. No longer would he need to constantly expend his blood energy. The crows hunting Spirit-Stealing Mice and spirit-energy-rich insects would actually be more beneficial for their growth. 

These two crows might prove even more useful in the future.

The next morning, Han Yu saw Old Man Li who appeared to have returned to normal, yesterday's disheveled state after returning from Green Sprout Market seeming like just an illusion. 

The essence blood from the Spirit-Stealing Mice had clearly been very effective, making up for Old Man Li's blood energy loss and temporarily satisfying the bloodthirsty cravings induced by the Blood Refinement Technique. 

As they inspected the spirit fields and found no new Spirit-Stealing Mice, their moods improved considerably. The crops in these fields represented their harvest, directly related to the cultivation resources they'd have available. 

"Junior brothers, our Green Sprout Spirit Rice is ripening recently. Have you had any pest or rodent problems in your fields?" 

Senior Sister Wei walked over with a smile and asked this question. 

Han Yu and Old Man Li both stiffened internally: Could she be the one raising the Spirit-Stealing Mice? 

Why else would she come asking like this? 

As they hesitated over how to respond, Senior Sister Wei continued: "You junior brothers may not know this, but whenever Green Sprout Spirit Rice matures, it naturally gathers spiritual energy which makes the rice plump and spiritually enriched. This always attracts pests and rodents, and immature fields inevitably suffer damage." 

"You've been lucky this time - the other junior brothers have thoroughly driven away the pests and rodents. I see your fields have none either." 

"But next time, your luck may not hold!" 

What did that mean? A threat? 

Old Man Li and Han Yu both wondered. 

Unexpectedly, Senior Sister Wei changed tack, smiling as she said: "So next time when planting spirit fields, you should plant together with us. It'll be more convenient with everyone looking out for each other." 

"I know a very experienced worker disciple who can help you catch pests and rodents then. It'll only cost some spirit rice - very affordable!" 

Han Yu and Old Man Li nodded in agreement. After Senior Sister Wei left, Old Man Li transmitted a hoarse whisper to Han Yu's ear: "Seems it might not be her after all?" 

Han Yu nodded without speaking. 

Then he asked Old Man Li: "Elder Li, how did you transmit your voice just now? Is that a spell too?" 

"Just a minor trick from my wandering days," Old Man Li replied. "I can teach you when we have time." 

As they prepared to leave, Zhang Shan approached with a frown. 

"Junior brothers Han and Li, have you seen any Spirit-Stealing Mice in your fields recently? These past two days I haven't spotted any at all." 

Han Yu and Old Man Li both froze momentarily. 

Zhang Shan? Why was he asking about the mice too? 

They both shook their heads, claiming ignorance. Zhang Shan clearly hadn't expected them to know anything anyway, having asked casually before frowning and hurrying off again. 

After he left, Old Man Li again whispered: "I think Brother Zhang is suspicious too... Now that I think about it, that spirit stone he gave Liu Lan was unusually generous." 

Worker disciples clung desperately to every cultivation resource they could get - why would Zhang Shan willingly give away a spirit stone equivalent to four or five pounds of spirit rice? 

Han Yu suddenly understood and grew more vigilant internally. 

While Wangu Valley represented the proper path of immortal cultivation, that didn't mean there was no conflict here. 

If even this always warm and polite senior brother Zhang Shan harbored ulterior motives, how many among these seemingly peaceful worker disciples who weren't allowed to fight privately could truly be trusted? 

Returning to his stone house, Han Yu refined the remaining medicinal power of the Mystic Heart Fruit. The spiritual seed in his dantian grew again, reaching today's absorption limit. 

Next he practiced spells, becoming increasingly proficient until he showed signs of true mastery. 

Finally, he replicated more essence blood to increase his blood energy and self-defense capabilities - while the Blood Refinement Technique wasn't the proper cultivation path, its ability to release blood droplets as sharp attacks gave him better self-defense than ordinary first or second layer Qi Refining worker disciples in Wangu Valley. 

Of course, without his ability to replicate his own essence blood, the bloodthirsty impulses and need for blood nourishment from the Blood Refinement Technique would have made it too dangerous to continue practicing. Only his unique circumstances allowed him to keep cultivating this way. 

After another day of cultivation, Han Yu began replicating again. 

Heat surged in his right hand as angular outlines faintly appeared. 

Following his will, a Mystic Heart Fruit materialized in his embrace. 

Han Yu took out the fruit, feeling even more excited: This time during replication, he could clearly sense some special treasure stored in his right hand, and distinctly feel he could arrange replicated items anywhere around his body for concealment. 

More excitingly, Han Yu realized his replication ability could produce one Mystic Heart Fruit per day - confirming his earlier speculation that different items had varying replication difficulties. As his strength increased, so would his ability to use the treasure in his right hand, allowing him to replicate more. It definitely wouldn't remain limited to just a clump of spirit rice or a drop of essence blood. 

Having verified his theories, Han Yu happily consumed another Mystic Heart Fruit and continued cultivating. 

With ample Mystic Heart Fruits, he was confident he could master the Wind Riding and Water Control spells beyond most worker disciples in the spirit fields within a month. He also believed he could push his cultivation speed to the limit of his four spiritual roots' potential, quickly reaching Qi Refining second layer. 

Two days later, Steward Wang arrived with two other outer sect disciples to oversee Zhang Shan, Sun Kang, Liu Lan, Senior Sister Wei and others harvesting the Green Sprout Spirit Rice. 

Under the supervision of these three spirit field managers, the workers harvested their rice within a day and submitted it. 

Based on their harvests, Steward Wang made assignments and publicly announced: 

"Zhang Shan - fifty-two pounds of Green Sprout Spirit Rice per acre. Eighty percent collected, twenty percent retained. You keep fifty-two pounds! Five minor merits recorded!" 

Zhang Shan remained frowning, showing little joy. 

"Sun Kang - fifty-one pounds per acre. Eighty percent collected, twenty percent retained. You keep fifty-one pounds! Five minor merits recorded!" 

Sun Kang beamed with pleasure - clearly with this rice, he stood better chances of breaking through to Qi Refining third layer. 

"Liu Lan - forty-seven pounds per acre. Fully submitted, none retained. Two minor merits recorded." 

Liu Lan's face immediately fell, tears welling up as she nearly cried on the spot. 

"Wei Kunyi - sixty pounds per acre. Eighty percent collected, twenty percent retained. Five minor merits recorded. You keep sixty pounds!" 

Senior Sister Wei stepped forward smiling, giving a slight bow as she said sweetly: "Many thanks for Steward Wang's care and support! Without your hard work and effort, how could we enjoy such good fortune?" 

Steward Wang stared at her and smiled inexplicably: "Junior Sister Wei, well done." 

Then his face hardened again as he loudly announced the other worker disciples' harvests. 

This time, those with better harvests received over fifty pounds of spirit rice while poorer ones below fifty pounds per acre got two minor merits without punishment. No one harvested below thirty pounds to warrant penalties. 

After finishing the announcements, Steward Wang clasped his hands behind his back and said: 

"There are some other matters I'll take this opportunity to announce. Listen carefully and remember them well!"