Qin Guiheng probably knew Liu Qingchan's background long ago.
"Just a little test."
He spoke evasively, handing over a Jade Slip, "This is the list of seeds I need."
Qin Guiheng took the Jade Slip, swept it with his Divine Sense, and raised his eyebrows slightly:
"Ten different Low Grade first and second-tier Spirit Medicine? And they're all short-cycle varieties..."
He glanced at Liu Qingchan thoughtfully, "Eighth Brother, are you perhaps teaching your Dao Companion the art of Spirit Plants?"
Qin Guiya was noncommittal.
The Spirit Medicine on the list was precisely for planting experiments in the Ancient Tree Space, and choosing short-cycle varieties was to verify the effects as quickly as possible.
"The women of the Liu Family do indeed possess a talent for Spirit Plants."
Qin Guiheng said meaningfully, then turned to retrieve the seeds, "Sister Qingchan, how is your mother?"
Liu Qingchan's body visibly stiffened for a moment:
"Twelfth Brother, my mother... passed away many years ago."
Qin Guiya keenly noticed a flicker of something unusual in Qin Guiheng's eyes, but he quickly concealed it, merely sighing:
"What a pity... Your mother's 'Azure Spirit Hand' was renowned in the Liu Family back then."
Azure Spirit Hand?
Qin Guiya's heart stirred.
He seemed to have heard that name somewhere... After getting the seeds, Qin Guiya politely declined Qin Guiheng's invitation for tea and left in a hurry with Liu Qingchan.
Far from the Spirit Plant Hall, Liu Qingchan's fingers unconsciously tugged at the corner of her clothes.
"Your mother...?"
Qin Guiya asked tentatively.
Liu Qingchan gently shook her head: "I do not know.
Growing up in the Spirit Medicine Garden, I only heard the garden master say that my mother was once the Family's best Spirit Planter..."
Her voice grew softer and softer, "Later, there were rumors in the Family that my mother violated Family rules and had her Cultivation crippled... She passed away not long after I was born..."
Qin Guiya's heart was shaken.
Could it be that Liu Qingchan's incredible talent was inherited from her mother?
And that name, "Azure Spirit Hand," he suddenly remembered—
A hundred years ago, the Liu Family did produce a Spirit Plant Genius who could detect the root of a Spirit Medicine's illness by touch, but for some unknown reason, she later disappeared without a trace.
Returning to his Immortal Cave, Qin Guiya was eager to test the newly acquired seeds, but he saw Liu Qingchan standing by the Spirit Field, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
"Husband..."
Liu Qingchan mustered her courage, "Could I look at those seeds first?"
Qin Guiya pondered for a moment, then took out the seed packets and handed them to her.
Liu Qingchan carefully opened them, spread the ten types of seeds across her palm, and closed her eyes to sense them.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and pointed to a light blue seed:
"This Ice Heart Grass seed... lacks vitality; it might not germinate."
Qin Guiya frowned.
Ice Heart Grass was one of the ten Spirit Medicine.
"Are you sure?"
Liu Qingchan nodded, then shook her head:
"I just feel it's 'sleeping' too deeply..."
Qin Guiya pondered for a moment, then suddenly took her hand: "Come with me."
Entering the quiet room, he set up a Isolation Formation, and under Liu Qingchan's surprised gaze, he took out a grain of Jade Marrow Rice: "Look closely."
Liu Qingchan's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape:
"This Spirit Rice is of excellent quality; very few in the Family can achieve it. Is Husband also a Spirit Planter?"
Qin Guiya did not reply, saying in a deep voice:
"Now, I need you to help me look after the Spirit Medicine behind the Immortal Cave."
He did not reveal the existence of the Ancient Tree Space.
Liu Qingchan was first shocked, then an unconcealable joy appeared in her eyes.
Her Husband was willing to let her take care of them; this meant he had accepted her!
This realization made her cheeks flush crimson, and she nodded heavily:
"I will certainly do my best!"
Looking at her sparkling eyes, something in Qin Guiya's heart quietly softened.
He reached out and caressed Liu Qingchan's cheek, feeling the warmth from his fingertips.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the leaves of the ancient tree gently swayed again, as if cheering.
At this moment, Qin Guiya suddenly understood that no matter what his initial motives were, this woman had quietly entered his heart.
And the growth of the ancient tree, perhaps, not only required physical intimacy but also the closeness of two hearts... In the Ancient Tree Space, the purplish-black soil slipped through his fingertips as Qin Guiya carefully planted the last stalk of Ice Heart Grass into the Spirit Field.
The ten types of Spirit Medicine were arranged in a circular pattern, ten stalks of each, perfectly filling this one-mu Spirit Field.
"Fourth-tier Low Grade Spiritual Qi..."
Qin Guiya took a deep breath, feeling the Spiritual Qi, several times denser than the outside world, surge into his lungs.
This concentration of Spiritual Qi was only available in the Immortal Caves of Nascent Soul Cultivators in the Qin Family, yet now he possessed a whole mu of it!
His Divine Sense swept over the newly planted Spirit Medicine; those tender green sprouts had visibly stretched a bit.
At this rate, the first batch of Spirit Medicine would mature in at most half a year.
Qin Guiya's lips curved slightly as he exited the space.
Behind the Immortal Cave, Liu Qingchan was bending over, busy in the Spirit Field.
The two newly cultivated mu of Spirit Soil were meticulously managed by her, with ten types of Spirit Medicine, identical to those in the space, planted in separate areas, only twice the quantity.
Qin Guiya stood under the corridor, quietly observing.
Liu Qingchan's technique was so skilled it didn't seem like a novice's.
When loosening the soil, her five fingers were slightly curved.
When sowing, her fingertips lightly tapped, each seed precisely falling into the optimal position.
When casting the Small Cloud Rain technique, her wrist gently flicked, and the water lines fell evenly like rain.
"Husband?"
Liu Qingchan suddenly looked up, noticed Qin Guiya's figure, and hurriedly wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.
"How is the progress?"
Qin Guiya approached, pretending not to notice the mud on her cheeks.
Liu Qingchan's eyes lit up:
"Just finished sowing! Although it's a bit slower than normal, the vitality is very strong."
She pointed to the Spirit Field, "I used the method Husband taught me, first soaking them in warm water, then..."
She suddenly stopped, as if realizing she had talked too much.
This cautious demeanor pricked Qin Guiya's heart.
When did this woman start needing to gauge others' reactions just to express her own opinions?
"You're doing very well."
Qin Guiya said softly, reaching out to brush away the mud from her face, "Let's add a Spirit Bamboo Shoot Soup tonight; I remember Second Uncle sent fresh Jade Spirit Bamboo Shoots."
Liu Qingchan froze, a hint of moisture appearing in her eyes.
She quickly lowered her head to hide it:
"I, I will go prepare it now."
Watching her hurried departure, Qin Guiya was thoughtful.
Over these ten days, he had slept in the same bed with Liu Qingchan every night, and the leaves on that side branch in his Sea of Consciousness had turned from tender green to deep emerald.
What surprised him even more was that with the increase in intimacy, the timidity in Liu Qingchan's eyes gradually faded, occasionally even revealing her lively nature.
Just like her bright eyes when discussing Spirit Plants moments ago.
Shaking his head, Qin Guiya returned to the quiet room.
The most pressing matter was to continue verifying the ancient tree's abilities.
He sat cross-legged, his Divine Sense sinking into his Sea of Consciousness—
"Eh?"
That leaf was gone!
Only a tiny scar remained at the tip of the side branch.
Qin Guiya's heart tightened, and he quickly checked inside the space, finally discovering the fallen leaf at the edge of the Spirit Field.
The emerald green leaf now displayed a translucent, jade-like luster, its veins clearly visible like golden threads.
Qin Guiya tried to touch it with his Divine Sense, and the leaf suddenly transformed into a stream of light, merging into his Divine Soul.
In an instant, his spiritual platform became perfectly clear.
This feeling was indescribable.
Previously vague Cultivation memories became incredibly clear, and problems that had once puzzled him were now suddenly illuminated.