Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Xiao Zhi wiped the sweat from his brow as the morning sun bore down on him. The neglected backyard stretched out before him, a stark reminder of how much work lay ahead. His first strike with the hoe had unearthed more than just hard soil—it had revealed faint lines of glowing energy running through the earth.

Intrigued, he knelt to inspect the faint light, running his fingers over the glowing lines. A soft hum vibrated beneath his touch, as though the soil itself carried a pulse.

The farming system chimed again:

[Congratulations, Host! The land has been awakened. This plot is now classified as Tier-1 Spirit Soil. Crops grown here will flourish with spiritual energy.]

Xiao Zhi's eyebrows shot up. Spirit Soil? This system wasn't as mundane as it seemed.

He opened the pouch of starter seeds and poured them into his palm. The seeds shimmered faintly, each one emitting a soft golden hue.

Without hesitation, he planted the first seed into the freshly tilled soil. As he covered it with dirt and gave it a light pat, another chime rang.

[Quest Complete: Plant your first crop!] Reward: Beginner's Hoe (Unbreakable) + Starter Seed Pack

A surge of energy pulsed through his hand, and the hoe glowed briefly before settling back to normal. At the same time, a faint sprout emerged from the soil, its leaves glowing with vitality.

Xiao Zhi stepped back, watching in disbelief as the sprout grew taller with each passing second. Within moments, it stood as a full-grown plant, its leaves vibrant and its stalk brimming with what looked like translucent fruits.

[New Crop Identified: Spirit Tomatoes.]

[Properties: Increases vitality and minor spiritual energy recovery when consumed. Highly sought after in the market.]

He stared at the plant, realization dawning on him. This wasn't just farming—it was cultivation. The crops weren't ordinary; they were treasures in their own right.

Xiao Zhi returned to his room, grabbing a stack of books he had collected over the years. As a teacher, he had always been diligent in keeping reference materials, and now they served a different purpose—confirming the claims of the mysterious farming system.

He spread the books across the table and began flipping through pages, searching for any mention of Spirit Tomatoes or similar spiritual crops. The faint rustle of paper filled the room as he worked, his brow furrowing with concentration.

The descriptions matched. Spirit Tomatoes were indeed a prized resource, valued not only for their restorative properties but also for their use in alchemical concoctions and cultivation-enhancing diets. Their market value was high, especially in towns with sect-affiliated auction houses.

While he pored over the books, his mother entered the room quietly, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. She stood by the doorway, watching him intently but saying nothing.

Oblivious to her presence, Xiao Zhi flipped through another book, noting the best locations to sell rare spiritual crops. His mind raced with possibilities—this farming system could be a game-changer, not just for him but potentially for the Xiao family.

"Xiao Zhi," his mother called softly, her voice warm but tinged with curiosity.

He didn't respond, too engrossed in his research. She called again, louder this time, but still, he didn't look up.

On her third attempt, another voice interrupted. "Auntie, let me handle this."

Before he could react, a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind in a sudden hug. Startled, Xiao Zhi froze, then turned his head to look at the intruder. His eyes widened as he recognized her.

"The girl from the brothel!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and confusion.

The young woman pulled back, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "I'm your cousin, Xiao Yun," she corrected, her tone firm. "And that wasn't a brothel—it was my house. I thought you'd figured that out by now."

Embarrassment flushed his face as her words sank in. "I... I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings this morning," he admitted sheepishly.

Xiao Yun shook her head, crossing her arms. "Clearly. And here I thought you were supposed to be smart. Anyway, I came by to check on you, not to get mistaken for someone from a brothel."

His mother, who had been quietly observing the interaction, chuckled softly. "Well, at least now you know, Zhi'er. And Xiao Yun, try not to tease him too much. He's been through a lot lately."

Xiao Yun smirked but said nothing more, leaving Xiao Zhi to process both his embarrassment and the growing realization of how much he had yet to adapt to this new life.

As Xiao Zhi sat back down, still processing the whirlwind of events, a sudden, urgent chime rang in his mind like a relentless bell:

Deng-deng deng-deng deng-deng deng-deng deng-deng deng-deng deng-deng!

A golden notification flared in his vision:

[Alert: Your crop is ripe for harvest!]

His eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" he muttered, standing up abruptly. "It's not even thirty minutes yet!"

Xiao Yun and his mother exchanged puzzled looks as Xiao Zhi bolted out of the room. "What's going on now?" Xiao Yun asked, following him.

"I have to see this," his mother murmured, trailing behind.

In the backyard, Xiao Zhi skidded to a halt in front of the Spirit Tomatoes. The fruits gleamed under the sun, their translucent skins practically glowing with spiritual energy.

He bent down, reaching for the nearest tomato, but just as his fingers brushed the stem, a hand shot out to stop him.

"That's not how you harvest tomatoes," his mother said firmly, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Xiao Zhi looked up at her, startled. "Huh?"

"You'll bruise them if you're careless," she explained, kneeling beside him. She showed him the proper technique, carefully cradling the fruit in her palm and gently twisting it off the vine.

The tomato came free effortlessly, leaving the plant undisturbed.

"Like this," she said, handing the glowing fruit to him.

He stared at the tomato in his hands, the faint warmth of its energy pulsing against his palm. "I... didn't know harvesting could be this precise," he admitted, feeling a bit foolish.

His mother gave him a curious look. "When did you start planting, Zhi'er?"

Xiao Zhi froze, the question catching him off guard. "A... a few months ago?" he lied, his voice unconvincing.