"Mmmph~"
Waking up the next day, Jia Yuanchun let out a happy sigh as she looked at Yang Hong by the bedside.
For the first time, she hadn't fainted after serving Yang Hong and had managed to reach her peak while still conscious.
However, it was a shame that she still couldn't help Yang Hong reach his peak.
Even though her physical condition was extremely robust now, she still couldn't bear Yang Hong.
Yang Hong, however, also reaped his rewards.
While performing his daily morning ritual of infusing energy into the plants, Yang Hong noticed that the Zhen Qi returned by the system was even more refined than the previous day.
While not very significant, Yang Hong could clearly sense it.
For the next few days, Yang Hong would try his best to deplete his Zhen Qi and carefully observe it during his plant infusions the following day.
His Zhen Qi was indeed becoming more refined.
This made him look forward to Song Yuzhi and the others' return. With more people to deplete his Zhen Qi, it should bring him considerable benefits.
The daily plant infusion couldn't stop, nor could the care for the crops.
He already had over sixty people in his Zhiranwu Ge, yet Yang Hong insisted on working in the fields himself.
This was not only for plant infusion but also to better understand the growth conditions of the crops in his farmland.
Whether it was timely harvesting, fertilization, irrigation, or seed and seedling cultivation.
These all required personal understanding to arrange promptly.
Moreover, he needed to observe these farmlands frequently to select plants suitable for future cultivation.
Although he was currently fully focused on infusing energy into the lotuses in the Baolian Pond, once he broke through his cultivation again, he could definitely increase the number of infusions.
By then, he would start cultivating other plants.
"Ding~ You have infused 120 days of Zhen Qi into a Pure Water Lotus, receiving a ten-thousandfold cultivation return, yielding 1.2 million days of Zhen Qi cultivation."
"Ding~ The Pure Water Lotus has accumulated enough energy and successfully advanced to a Grade 3 Low-Rank Spiritual Plant."
Upon hearing this notification, Yang Hong did not feel happy but instead furrowed his brow.
The two Pure Heart Lotuses had already reached Grade 3 High-Rank, and Yang Hong had a feeling that within half a year at most, the Pure Heart Lotuses would advance again.
However, among the Pure Water Lotuses, only one had advanced to Grade 3.
The lotus seedpod of this Pure Water Lotus emitted a faint fragrance, clearly a sign of maturity.
All the Pure Water Lotuses began to form seedpods when they advanced to Grade 2 High-Rank.
Even without further infusion, they would mature after a period of time.
"It seems the potential of the Pure Water Lotus is indeed not that great."
He muttered dismissively, but Yang Hong still casually plucked the lotus seedpod.
"This lotus seedpod is quite fragrant. I wonder what it tastes like?"
The Pure Water Lotus seedpod was about the size of an adult's fist, not small, but not large either.
Considering that each Pure Water Lotus flower was as large as a washbasin.
"Huh~"
Just as Yang Hong was about to eat a lotus seed, he suddenly noticed that the lotus from which the seedpod was plucked was visibly wilting and withering.
In just over thirty breaths, a pure and elegant lotus flower was reduced to a withered stalk.
If not for the three emerald green lotus leaves on the water's surface, like guards protecting the withered stalk, Yang Hong would have thought this Pure Water Lotus had died.
He reassured himself by sensing the vitality of the Pure Water Lotus with his divine sense.
Comparing it to other Pure Water Lotuses, the vitality of this Grade 3 Low-Rank Pure Water Lotus was only one-tenth of that of other Grade 2 High-Rank Pure Water Lotuses.
However, it was still quite vigorous.
"It truly poured all its nutrients into the lotus seedpod. It must taste very good."
Thinking this, Yang Hong's eyes brightened. He directly peeled open the lotus seedpod by the Baolian Pond.
Revealing the crystal-clear lotus seeds within, resembling clear crystal.
Taking one out and holding it up to the sunlight, observing the lotus seed that reflected a faint white radiance, Yang Hong felt a bit reluctant to eat it.
"This isn't a lotus seed; it's practically an exquisite gemstone, a work of art from nature."
"Mmm~ It's delicious."
Yang Hong was only a little reluctant, not truly unwilling.
He popped a lotus seed into his mouth. There was no need to chew; a coolness spread from his tongue.
When he lightly bit down with his teeth, a refreshing sensation instantly erupted.
The feeling was incredible.
Following that, a gentle spiritual energy flowed from his mouth, through his throat, into his stomach, and then began to spread, permeating his internal organs and all his limbs.
The feeling was more comfortable than soaking in a hot spring.
"Mmm~ So refreshing!"
"Especially this spiritual energy. A single lotus seed, the size of a little finger, is almost equivalent to ten jin of semi-finished Tiger Blood Wine."
This was already exaggerated, especially considering that Yang Hong's Tiger Blood Wine was brewed with the blood of an eighth-tier Tribulation Transcending Tiger Demon.
He still dared not let Yang Zixuan drink it.
Even the batch Jia Yuanchun and the others took out this time was diluted tenfold.
"It's just that there are so few lotus seeds, only 18 grains. Not enough to eat."
"And~~~"
Yang Hong's brows furrowed again.
The spiritual energy within the lotus seeds in the pod was rapidly dissipating.
It was directly vanishing into the air.
According to Yang Hong's estimation, in just three months, the spiritual energy of these lotus seedpods would completely disappear.
"Alas~ This world indeed has a problem."
Yang Hong sighed and quickly stored the lotus seedpod into his storage embroidery pouch, feeling helpless.
Although he could continuously cultivate spiritual plants, the preservation of their fruits and seeds had always been a major issue.
Now he could store them in his storage embroidery pouch, but the pouch had limited capacity. It would be full before long. By then, when the spiritual plants began to mature on a large scale,
a significant amount of their spiritual energy would be lost.
That would truly be a waste of heavenly resources.
"That's enough with the Pure Water Lotus. Cultivating it to Grade 3 Low-Rank is sufficient. Next, I'll see the potential of the Jade Green Grapes and the Moonlight White Tea Tree."
Yang Hong quickly made a decision.
The cultivation of the Pure Water Lotus would temporarily come to a halt.
After another nineteen days, Yang Hong managed to advance all 15 Pure Water Lotuses to Grade 3 Low-Rank, harvesting another 14 lotus seedpods.
Each seedpod contained 18 lotus seeds.
Yang Hong planned to give these lotus seeds to Song Yuzhi and Li Xuefeng after they returned.
He believed that with the lotus seeds, Yang Hong's Zhen Qi, and dual cultivation, they would definitely be able to lay the foundation quickly.
Only after laying the foundation could dual cultivation refine his Zhen Qi.
After the last Pure Water Lotus advanced, the first Grade 3 Low-Rank Pure Water Lotus to advance had completely recovered. Its vitality was about ten times that of its Grade 2 High-Rank state.
Perhaps, the lotus seeds would be even better the next time it bloomed and bore fruit.
However, this would require a long period of experimentation.
After observation, Yang Hong conducted several more infusions and discovered that it would take no less than three years for the Pure Water Lotus to bloom and bear fruit again.
This further diminished Yang Hong's desire to continue cultivating the Pure Water Lotus.
He decided to cultivate the Jade Green Grapes next door.
The Jade Green Grapes had bloomed and borne fruit again this year, and their taste was even better, a sweet and sour flavor that Yang Hong preferred.
Of course, the Pure Water Lotus also had its advantages. After its advancement, the water in the Baolian Pond became sweeter and clearer.
Perhaps the special ability of the Pure Water Lotus was water purification, just like its name suggested.
However, this special ability was not something Yang Hong could use for the time being.
Therefore, he decided to ensure that 2 Pure Heart Lotuses, 1 Jade Green Grape, and 1 Moonlight White Tea Tree received daily infusions. The remaining two infusions would be used to search for new high-grade spiritual plants.
Soon, Li Xuefeng and the others would also begin to return.