Crow Immortal
Chapter 36: Such Talent

"Twelve years old, four spiritual roots, already at the first level of Qi Refining?" Steward Wang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his large belly protruding prominently as he asked.

"Yes, Steward Wang."

To be precise, Han Yu had already turned thirteen after winter passed, but he saw no need to share this detail with Steward Wang. He had just witnessed how Steward Wang had bullied Old Li by releasing wind blades, leaving him wary and cautious.

"Not bad at all. By your twenties, you should just make it into the outer sect as a junior disciple," Steward Wang continued.

Han Yu thought for a moment before replying, "By then, Steward Wang will likely have entered the inner sect..."

Steward Wang froze momentarily before bursting into laughter. "The inner sect? I don't even dare dream of that, yet you dare dream for me! But I like hearing that!"

He then asked Han Yu, "Have you practiced Wind Riding and Water Control? Show me."

Han Yu nodded in agreement.

Wei Kunyi happened to arrive at that moment, smiling as she said, "Junior Brother Han is demonstrating spells? May I watch too?"

Without responding, Han Yu formed hand seals, channeled his spiritual energy, and deliberately restrained himself as he released a Wind Riding spell.

Steward Wang looked surprised. "Successful casting within three breaths right after breaking through? With your spell talent like this, you're quite gifted in the art of magic!"

Han Yu was equally astonished. He hadn't realized that even his restrained version of Wind Riding would be considered excellent. If casting successfully within three breaths was considered good, then what did that make his ability to release two Wind Riding spells within a single breath?

Could it be that the long-term consumption of Mystic Heart Fruits, which cleared the mind and aided spell cultivation, appeared so remarkable in others' eyes?

Seeing his surprise, Steward Wang laughed heartily. "It seems Junior Brother Han doesn't understand the standards for disciples' spellcasting. No wonder—these aren't things menial disciples would know. Only outer sect disciples need to compare spell proficiency."

"Successfully casting a spell within ten breaths means you've learned it. Within five breaths means it's usable. Within three breaths means it's combat-ready."

"Junior Brother Han, your talent isn't bad at all!"

"How does it compare to mine?" Wei Kunyi interjected playfully, noticing Steward Wang's friendly banter with Han Yu.

Steward Wang shot her a disdainful glance, couldn't be bothered to respond. No matter how much Wei Kunyi curried favor, how could she compare to a future outer sect disciple?

Seeing Steward Wang value Han Yu while dismissing her, Wei Kunyi grew displeased and reminded him, "Steward Wang, how should we account for this season's spirit rice harvest?"

Wasn't it time to squeeze this kid Han Yu dry?

Steward Wang nodded, his plump hand patting Han Yu's shoulder. "Junior Brother Han, seeing your promising future, this senior brother won't nitpick. Let's follow sect rules fairly. If your harvest exceeds fifty jin per mu this time, I'll let you keep twenty percent. How's that?"

"What?" Wei Kunyi exclaimed in shock. "Steward Wang, this—"

Why wasn't he being pressured into borrowing spirit rice with compounding interest? Instead of taking ninety percent, he was only taking eighty? Was he giving concessions?

Steward Wang glared at her. "Since when do you have a say?"

Wei Kunyi immediately shut her mouth, beginning to understand Steward Wang's reasoning.

Han Yu was young, cultivated at a decent pace, possessed good spell talent—his entry into the outer sect was practically guaranteed, and he might even become quite formidable. Steward Wang had decided to befriend rather than antagonize him.

Han Yu also realized this, inwardly marveling—just by revealing a portion of his cultivation and spell ability, the villain before him had transformed into a kind-hearted benefactor!

On the path of cultivation, it truly seemed one could rely on no one but oneself. Personal strength was the most convincing argument.

Compared to Old Li, who appeared to have no potential or redeeming qualities, the difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.

Though fully aware of Steward Wang's true nature, Han Yu didn't antagonize him and repeatedly expressed gratitude.

Steward Wang then weighed Han Yu's spirit rice. Because Han Yu had diligently tended the Spirit Fields, promptly eliminating pests and rodents without excessively absorbing the Green Sprout Spirit Rice's spiritual energy, his yield surpassed fifty jin per mu, just reaching fifty-one jin.

Steward Wang credited Han Yu with five minor sect merits and let him keep twenty percent of the harvest from five mu—fifty-one jin of spirit rice.

"Junior Brother Han, after one more planting season when you've accumulated ten minor merits, you can visit the sect's Transmission Pavilion to learn new spells or exchange for items at the Stewards' Office. As for the spirit rice, I suggest you don't rush to exchange it at Green Sprout Market. Focus on your cultivation."

"Our Wangu Valley has always been peaceful. Before entering the outer sect, combat ability isn't crucial. Advancing your cultivation to enter the outer sect is the only priority. You can exchange minor merits for spells or other items."

Han Yu memorized Steward Wang's advice, thanking him outwardly while finding the situation absurd. This same Steward Wang—normally harsh, unreasonable, and inhumane—had become so accommodating upon recognizing Han Yu's potential that even Wei Kunyi by his side looked uncomfortable with the change.

Steward Wang then led Wei Kunyi to Lu Yun's Spirit Fields.

"You worthless wretch! Just because you have three spiritual roots, you think you can slack off like this?"

"You're being punished again this time!"

After a round of shouting, Steward Wang stormed away from Lu Yun's fields.

Han Yu and Sun Kang, who had come to congratulate him, exchanged amused glances upon hearing this.

"Junior Brother Lu really... despite having three spiritual roots, why is he so obsessed with that particular habit?" Sun Kang sighed before sincerely congratulating Han Yu. "Steward Wang rarely thinks much of menial disciples. With your decent cultivation pace and well-tended fields, he actually made an exception to let you keep twenty percent—this is truly wonderful!"

"From now on, no one at the Spirit Fields should dare bully you."

"Last time Senior Sister Liu Lan harvested forty-eight jin per mu, why didn't Steward Wang and Senior Sister Wei interfere?" Han Yu asked. "Isn't Senior Sister Liu Lan also a three-spiritual-root cultivator destined for the outer sect?"

Sun Kang explained, "There were too many witnesses then—they couldn't publicly falsify the yield numbers. Besides, Zhang Shan had already used Spirit-Stealing Mice to reduce Senior Sister Liu's output beforehand, and she hadn't anticipated such a shortfall."

"Moreover, borrowing spirit rice from Senior Sister Wei brings no real benefits."

Han Yu understood now.

As they spoke, Wei Kunyi arrived at Old Li's door carrying spirit rice. "Junior Brother Li, I've brought you spirit rice..."

Looking down, she found the door shut with a yellow paper note: "Come back at night—out on business."

Wei Kunyi snorted coldly, turned with the rice, spotted Sun Kang and Han Yu smiling nearby, gave a stiff greeting, then swayed away.

Han Yu wondered: Old Li wasn't in his stone house? When had he left?

Sun Kang also seemed puzzled. "Earlier I saw Junior Brother Li leaving with several fellow disciples... Where could they be going? Maybe to the market district in the evening?"