Chapter 128: Advanced Farming Secrets and the True Value of Yi Stones

I finally figured out what Li Si meant in the ‘Greenlight Cultivation Guide’ when he wrote, ‘Use advanced techniques to keep the air circulating and protect crops from the Xiang element.’ So this is how it’s done!

The so-called ‘advanced technique’ is actually just placing a Yi Stone next to the plants. Sure, it’s advanced all right, but what does this have to do with technique?

Luo Pei was speechless.

After all the explanations, Xia Qing’s first thought was about the farming use of the Yi Stone. Classic lord—her head is filled with nothing but crops.

Xia Qing quickly asked, “Luo Ge, has the surface of this Yi Stone in my hand been broken?”

Luo Pei shook his head. “No, you can see the lines inside, but it’s still coated in a transparent layer.”

Great, that means the stone hasn’t started releasing the Yi element yet. It’s still usable.

Xia Qing pressed on, “Can you tell how wide this Yi Stone can protect, and how long it’ll last?”

“To know for sure, you’d need to test the Yi element content,” Luo Pei explained. “A true Yi Stone features a black-and-white spiral pattern. The more balanced and clear those spirals, the higher the Yi element content. Judging by the lines you can see, yours looks to be mid-grade, so it should release Yi element for about one to two months. As for coverage…”

He paused to think. “Because Yi Stones are so rare, they’re usually cut into pieces for use. The high-grade stone I wear as a three-gram pendant protects a two-meter radius. Yours is thirty grams—even if it’s mid-grade, I’d estimate it covers at least fifteen meters across.”

So her pigeon-egg-sized Yi Stone could shield a fifteen-meter-wide area from the effects of the Xiang element.

And she had four stones like this…

Swish, swish, swish!

Xia Qing immediately mapped out the uses for all four. With these “advanced techniques,” her Greenlight crops stood a much better chance of surviving the third wave of Xiang Rain!

She humbly continued, “Luo Ge, is there any way to re-seal the surface after the stone’s been opened, to stop the Yi element from leaking and only use it when needed? That might make the stone last longer.”

“If you grind the original outer layer into powder and combine it with metal, you can make a protective shell,” Luo Pei replied. “When Yi Stones are found, people also bring back the surrounding stones and soil to fashion these cases. My pendant’s outer layer is a Yi Stone protective shell. I only open it during Xiang Rain or when entering dangerous Evolver Forests, to let the stone do its job.”

Xia Qing pushed further. “Do you know how to make those protective shells, Luo Ge?”

He nodded. “I can get the instructions.”

Xia Qing took another Yi Stone from her drawer and, along with the one Luo Pei had just returned, handed both to him. “Luo Ge, you, Third Brother, and I rescued those two wolves together. The pack brought four grasses and four Yi Stones. Third Brother took the grasses; why don’t you and I split the stones—two each? Please, don’t decline! If you feel bad, maybe share the protective shell method with me? I’ve worked as a blacksmith before, so I could probably make them myself with the instructions.”

Luo Pei stared seriously at the stones in her hand. “Xia Qing, do you realize how valuable each of these Yi Stones is? If you traded just one in the Safe Zone, you’d get at least 400,000 points.”

Four hundred thousand?

Xia Qing had known Yi Stones were expensive, but she didn’t expect two little stones could fetch that much. “No wonder the wolves only brought four. Just one would pay for two wolves’ surgeries. Take it, Luo Ge. No matter what it’s worth, you deserve your share.”

She wasn’t just being polite—if Luo Pei hadn’t rushed over with two medics last night, she really wouldn’t have known how to save those wolves.

Seeing Xia Qing’s sincerity, Luo Pei only took one. “One is enough. Thank you. Xia Qing, whatever you do, don’t let word get out about your Yi Stones. Best not to mention it even to Third Brother.”

Xia Qing nodded right away. “Got it. Third Brother’s surgery is already set to be paid with the next batch of Greenlight spinach seeds, so I won’t tell anyone else but you.”

Luo Pei nodded, still marveling at Xia Qing’s luck. “If that wolf with the injured spine recovers, you might even be able to trade with the wolf pack for more Yi Stones down the road.”

Xia Qing grinned, showing off a row of perfectly white teeth. “Definitely! If you ever need to trade for Yi Stones, come to me, Luo Ge!”

Is a mountain expensive?

Is 800,000 a lot?

No, no, no! When you can solve your problems with just four pigeon-egg-sized stones, is that really a big deal?

After seeing Luo Pei off, Xia Qing gave the wolves in the sheep shed another look. Even the one that bared its teeth at her seemed brave and fierce, almost endearing.

Drive them out?

Not a chance! These two are her lucky wolves. She needs to treat them like VIPs.

Xia Qing spoke softly to the wolf with the broken leg. “Your brother’s just had spinal surgery so he can’t eat yet, but you can. Want some spring water and meat?”

The wolf with the broken leg blocked the injured one, fixing Xia Qing with a menacing glare.

“Thirsty, huh? Alright.”

Cheerful as ever, Xia Qing grabbed the water bowl they’d used yesterday, gave it a good scrub, filled it with spring water, and added two drops of anti-inflammatories from Plot Seven. She set it at the sheep shed door. Then she grabbed a five- or six-pound Yellowlight Snake from the snake crate, chopped off its head, and placed it by the bowl. “Eat and drink well, you two. If you need anything, Boss Sheep is in charge while I’m busy.”

Xia Qing washed the dishes back inside and tucked the Yi Stones close—something that precious needed to stay on her person. Stepping out, she spotted Boss Sheep lounging in the sheep shed, chewing his cud beside the wolves.

The sight was just too much for her. Xia Qing couldn’t handle another second. “Boss, look after your friends. I’m off to the fields.”

After leaving the clinic, Xia Qing didn’t see a trace of the three Evolved Wolves and thought nothing of it. First, she thanked Hu Zifeng and sent him home. Then she fed the chickens and went to check the pumpkins.

It was the third day since the Yellowlight pumpkin vines had been cut. More than twenty flower buds had already sprouted, and one had blossomed into a brilliant gold bloom. The Greenlight pumpkin, pruned just a day ago, hadn’t formed any buds yet, but it probably would tomorrow.

Passing by the potato vines, Xia Qing remembered she’d forgotten to discuss putting the potatoes in Plot One with Luo Pei. Maybe that was for the best—now she’d changed her mind and planned to build a cold storage room in her own Territory for fresh food.

Expensive? If it could be solved with points, it wasn’t a problem for her. She just needed to heal the two wolves first.

Still humming to herself, Xia Qing went to check on her two fish ponds. Hu Zifeng had already fed the fish, so the ponds were quiet—as you’d expect when a two-acre pond holds only a handful of fish.

Three days after planting her second batch of crops, none had sprouted yet. The rice was growing strong. The Greenlight peanuts were full and satisfied. The Green-glow alfalfa and perilla had blossomed, though their scent was sharp—even a bit foul. After spraying deodorizer, Xia Qing got to weeding and bug catching.

She worked straight through until noon, then harvested some vegetables, hauled a big bucket of spring water down the mountain, and filled a massive Water Tank with river water at the reservoir before carrying it home. What could she do? With two VIP guests, water use skyrocketed. And her ‘laborer’ Boss Sheep was busy entertaining guests, so the heavy lifting was up to her.