Cultivation is just so scientific!

Li Shiming used his consciousness to harvest the Spirit Rice and recorded the data.

Currently, there are no conditions to optimize the Spirit Rice, but that doesn't mean it can't be done in the future. Each seasonal harvest of Spirit Rice takes one month; recording data one more time is equivalent to saving one month's time.

The average number of tillers per plant is 60, and the comprehensive yield for a single-layer cultivation rack is 0.65KG per square meter.

After this season's planting, he obtained a total of 364 jin of Spirit Rice, almost two and a half shi.

Looking at the Spirit Rice, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

His consciousness enveloped the Spirit Rice, picking out the most plump and vigorous grains.

These grains would become the seeds for the next season, continuing to produce more Spirit Rice for him.

He was even happier that such a yield, even if not improved, was enough for his own consumption, with a good surplus remaining.

Though there was an excess of Spirit Rice, it was not suitable for ordinary people to eat.

The Spiritual Energy contained in the Spirit Rice is considered mild for Qi Refining cultivators, but for ordinary people, it's a highly toxic substance.

Eating Spirit Rice would cause an ordinary person's body to burst, so he had no plans to share it with others.

To avoid the aroma of Spirit Rice spreading everywhere, even cooking with it was done within the confines of the machine room space.

He used one jin of Spirit Rice along with the spirit rainwater created by the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill to make a pot of spirit rice.

As soon as Li Shiming took the spirit rice out of the machine room space, an indescribable rice fragrance hit him, and the gentle Spiritual Energy dispersed with the steam.

He hastily ate his fill, fearing that the Spiritual Energy in the spirit rice would dissipate too much over time.

Although he hadn't had his fill for nearly a month, he could only eat one-fourth of the spirit rice before he couldn't eat any more.

He had overestimated his capacity; one jin of Spirit Rice with water made a large pot of spirit rice. Along with the immediate fullness it produced after eating, he realized the amount of Spirit Rice needed for each cooking.

His monthly need for Spirit Rice wouldn't exceed seven and a half jin, and that estimate was based on his appetite after nearly a month of hunger; he believed the actual amount would be even less.

In this way, he would have over 350 jin of Spirit Rice left every month.

"I'll save it for now, and see when I can sell some!" Li Shiming thought for a while but didn't stop planting Spirit Rice.

Spirit Rice was the only thing of value he could offer in trade with other cultivators.

Although he had no trading partners yet, it was necessary to prepare in advance.

The second season of Spirit Rice planting didn't require as much effort as the first, with complete planting data, he just needed to check on it regularly.

His consciousness entered the machine room space and opened a wooden box set aside in a small reserved space.

Inside the wooden box, two rows of fist-sized iron objects were cushioned with soft fabric, with five in each row.

These were the self-defense weapons Li Shiming had prepared. The first row contained white phosphorus grenades, which are highly destructive; when they come into contact with an object, they burn continuously until extinguished, so upon contacting a person's body, the flesh would be penetrated, then they'd reach the bone.

The second row contained thermite grenades, which had formidable power. An exploding thermite grenade does more than produce high temperatures and new substances.

A specially treated thermite grenade can release temperatures up to 3000℃, and its blinding light is enough to blind anyone unprepared.

At the same time, steel targets attacked by thermite grenades usually melted rapidly.

It was not difficult to understand, after all, a simple thermite reaction could melt pure iron, let alone thermite grenades.

These two types of bombs had immense power, and they were the strongest life-saving weapons he could make with the materials at hand.

After studying the defensive power of the White Robe Magic Artifact, he lost interest in making firearms.

Ordinary firearms could not breach the defenses of White Robe Magic Artifacts, and more powerful firearms were not something he could produce in a short time.

They were far less practical than white phosphorus grenades and thermite grenades, at least these bombs were the most likely to harm cultivators.

As for that small wooden sword, it wasn't something he could use at all; he had tried once and almost completely drained his body's Spiritual Energy.

The problem was that even if he drained all the Spiritual Energy in his body, he couldn't activate the wooden sword.

The wooden sword's demand for Spiritual Energy was like a bottomless pit, and it was not something he, at the Qi Refining Second Level, could control.

So even though he knew the wooden sword was stronger, it was less practical for him than a Longsword Magic Artifact.

Li Shiming sensed the Spiritual Energy conditions of the engine room space again, thought for a moment, and began operating the "Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique", drawing Spiritual Energy from the space of the engine room.

Threads of Spiritual Energy were absorbed into his body and circulated within; the impurities accumulated over the near month were expelled through his pores.

When one cycle of the "Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique" was completed, he once again felt the lightness and clarity of his body.

The impurities expelled through the pores were actually not significant, less than a month had passed, and he had controlled his food intake.

Therefore, there was no unbearable stench on him, but he still had Si Qin prepare a bath so he could wash thoroughly.

The White Robe Magic Artifact was good indeed; it had not been stained at all and did not need to be changed.

"Shiming, the official ship docks at the port tomorrow, I will not see you off!" Li WenYuan said in a deep voice from his study as he looked at Li Shiming.

All the necessary preparations had been made long ago, and the necessary goodbyes had been said. It was time for the fledgling to leave the nest.

"Father, I have left some tea leaves in the storehouse; after I leave, please take care of yourself!" Li Shiming said with his head bowed.

He had a feeling that once he left Nanling Prefecture, he did not know when he would be able to return.

He said this time he was leaving to take part in the Imperial Examination, but in reality, he was preparing to search for the path to immortality. This was something he was not certain about, so he did not speak of it now; if he truly found the path in the future, he would inform Li WenYuan through a letter.

Thus, even though Spiritual Energy was scarce, he still used the "Spring Breeze and Rain Skill" multiple times to produce tea leaves containing a faint trace of Spiritual Energy.

"Shiming, you've grown up, you have your own secrets, and I won't ask you. But remember, you must always be careful, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall!" Li WenYuan hesitated briefly but did not ask anything further, instead, he admonished.

He had drunk the tea leaves fried by Li Shiming and was keenly aware of their distinctiveness.

Looking at his own body now, he felt as if he had regained the youth of ten years ago.

Each time he drank the tea, he could feel the beneficial changes in his body. Of course, as he drank the tea more often, this feeling became less and less apparent.

This extraordinary tea, combined with the fact that Li Shiming had acquired second place in the Imperial Examination, were events far beyond his expectations, indicating to him there must be some reason behind it all.

But no matter what happened, Li Shiming was his son, and he would not probe into his son's secrets.