At this moment, it was just dawn, with a hint of light appearing on the horizon, surrounded by a hazy purple glow. The cold air still lingered outside as Lin Qinghen, just like usual, woke up early. As he pushed the door open, he inhaled a sharp breath of cold air.

“It’s a bit chilly,” he muttered quietly, thinking for a moment before seriously deciding on breakfast, “Let’s make some porridge this morning.”

As he spoke to himself, he stretched and loosened up his muscles, feeling that today was a bit different. After taking a deep breath and stretching his body, he felt a lot more refreshed.

Lin Qinghen habitually put on his leather mask as he stepped outside, covering his entire face. Then, he walked along the small path next to the yard at a leisurely pace. Before long, he could see the familiar gate through layers of milky white mist.

Ahead lay the Lin family’s planting garden.

He noticed that the thick, dark green vines formed a curved gate, which seemed to shimmer with light from afar. Upon closer inspection, he could see that it was because the vines were embedded with pieces of Spirit Stones.

In the early morning, Bee Crystals danced around the Spirit Stones in the vines, and as they flew by, they sprinkled tiny particles of digested Spirit Qi into the air, resembling falling stars. Even the bluestone tiles underfoot contained crushed Spirit Stone fragments, filling the air with Spirit Qi, illuminating the ground beneath him.

The Lin family was indeed a renowned aristocratic family in the Spirit World, a household that enjoyed wealth and prestige. Even this small corner of their planting garden exuded an air of grandeur and luxury.

Even after eleven years of crossing over, Lin Qinghen felt a surge of surreal wonder at this scene. It was a far cry from the fields he remembered.

His original name was Lin Qingheng, and before he crossed over, he had been a researcher living in the twenty-first century.

He still remembered a question he saw online during a break at work: “If you could cross over, what could your specialty do?”

After graduating, he entered the Agricultural Research Institute, and with full confidence, Lin Qingheng had answered: “Thanks for the invite! As an agricultural person, I’m devoted to farming, mastering core techniques, and once I cross over, I plan to benefit the people. I bet even the emperor would have to honor me!”

Although it was a joke, he wasn’t just blowing hot air.

Lin Qingheng came from a well-educated family, with his parents being somewhat famous in their field. He excelled in both academics and character, and while at the research institute, he volunteered for poverty alleviation projects. For ten years, he worked at the grassroots level to improve local specialty agricultural products and their large-scale cultivation, achieving fruitful results and gaining valuable experience, with a promising future ahead.

At that time, he had just received an award certificate for advanced individuals from the province, and while at a celebratory banquet, he got a call from a village reporting some issues with their fields. Worried about his own crops, Lin Qingheng hurried back, but then his little tricycle flipped on the road. The next thing he knew, he had opened his eyes here, looking down at the much smaller hands and feet of a six-year-old body.

The original owner of this body was just six years old, thin and frail, and had sustained injuries. He probably couldn’t hold on any longer and died, then his soul was replaced by that of the unfortunate agricultural researcher Lin Qingheng.

The two names were quite similar; the original owner was called Lin Qinghen. The name sounded a bit odd and not very auspicious. When Lin Qingheng looked in the mirror, he quickly understood the reason behind this name.

This child had a large birthmark on his face.

It covered almost half of his face, a deep blue mark starting from the center of his forehead down to his chin, leaving only a small area around his left eye with normal skin. With such a prominent mark, it was hard to discern his facial features.

Upon seeing himself for the first time, even Lin Qinghen was startled, let alone others.

However, for modern people, crossing over wasn’t that hard to accept. It was already a stroke of luck to be alive again, and looks weren’t the main concern.

As a young man, Lin Qinghen had read a few crossover novels, and generally speaking, he thought that as a rare cross-over individual with some farming skills, he might just be the chosen one in this world!

Perhaps this was the fortune that came with being an unattractive person!

With full confidence and ready to make a great effort, Lin Qinghen was quickly brought back to reality.

The small yard he lived in looked dilapidated and cramped, and while it had a bit of an antique charm upon closer inspection, stepping outside revealed something was off.

Just the sight of the three “suns” hanging in the sky of varying brightness and size was enough to give the reincarnated Lin Qinghen another shock.

This was a fantastical world beyond his imagination, not the ordinary ancient times he had envisioned.

This place was known as the “Spirit World.”

The Spirit World covered an extensive area; Lin Qinghen had seen the map of the entire continent, and a rough estimate based on the scale suggested that this world was more than ten times larger than the Eurasian continent. It was roughly divided into five states: east, west, south, north, and central.

Not only was the land vast, but the people here were also quite different.

Everyone was born with Spirit Qi within them. Some gradually trained and became powerful Spirit Qi users, known as Spirit Masters. The strength of a Spirit Master was classified hierarchically from top to bottom, clearly defined into grades.

There were four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow, each further divided into nine stars. Powerful Spirit Masters possessed terrifying abilities and held high status.

The Lin family he lived in was a renowned top-tier Spirit Master family.

Moreover, the original owner of this frail six-year-old body had an unusual identity in the Lin family—he was the biological son of the current family head, Lin Zhongtian.

A few days after crossing over, as the original owner’s memories gradually became clearer, Lin Qinghen recalled some things.

His mother had been a favored concubine, nearly on par with the main wife during her prime. However, she had died when he was very young, and her past misdeeds had come to light, incurring Lin Zhongtian’s wrath, leading to a rather disgraceful death.

But if it were just his birth mother and the birthmark on his face, Lin Qinghen wouldn’t have ended up in such a dire situation, dying unnoticed in a shabby yard at such a young age.

Though calamity did not extend to offspring, the Lin family was large and influential. According to the original owner’s memories, although Lin Zhongtian disliked him, he had lived decently until the age of three.

Three years old was when children had their talents tested. After that, everything changed for Lin Qinghen.

Here, children’s potential was tested using a special stone called the Soul Testing Stone. About the size of a fist, the stone had layers stacked upon one another, totaling ten layers, and it would emit light when held in hand.

As the layers of the stone lit up, the more layers that glowed, the greater the talent it indicated.

If all ten layers lit up, it meant exceptional talent, a rare find among the masses.

With a bit of guidance, one could learn the basic operation and cultivation methods of Spirit Qi and become a Yellow Level One Star Spirit Master in just one day. This process was known as “pointing Spirit,” and such children would naturally cultivate faster than others.

Those who didn’t reach ten layers would need time to train and build a foundation, starting a step behind on the starting line.

The Lin family was a top Spirit Master family in the Spirit World, occupying one of the most prosperous cities on the continent, Tongtian Mansion. Besides the direct Lin family connections, there were over several hundred thousand followers and disciples, making the annual tests highly anticipated.

Generally speaking, the Lin family produced one or two children with full ten-layer talents each year, who would be prioritized for training. The year Lin Qinghen was tested, two incidents caused a stir in the city.

His eldest sister, Lin Qingshuang, was born just a few hours before him, and they both had their Soul Testing that same day.

As soon as Lin Qingshuang’s fingertip touched the stone, ten layers of silver light lit up consecutively, the brilliance almost blinding.

After Lin Qingshuang pointed Spirit, her starting point was Yellow Level Two Stars, and just ten days later, she successfully broke through to Three Stars. In the current world, she was merely a step behind the unmatched genius, Yin Jiu Xiao from the Yin family, who was a Three Star Spirit Master.

Lin Qinghen was the complete opposite.

As soon as he approached the testing stone, the people below looked at the birthmark on his face, and the sounds of discussion and ridicule flooded into the ears of the three-year-old child.

To make matters worse, he held the Soul Testing Stone for quite a while, but it seemed to malfunction; it emitted a faint glow, barely visible unless looked at closely, and in the end, it struggled to light up half a layer, not even a full layer.

The crowd below erupted in an uproar.

This was Lin Zhongtian’s child, yet his talent was even worse than that of the lowest-ranked children!

Having ten layers of full talent was rare in the world, but being unable to light up even a single layer was even less common!

More importantly, the projection of the Soul Testing Stone on the ground was empty, indicating that Lin Qinghen had no “marrow.”

In this world, everyone had Spirit Qi and could cultivate, but only about thirty percent of the people possessed the crucial and more valuable “marrow.”

Simply put, “marrow” was the power that endowed Spirit Qi with attributes, akin to the bones of Spirit Qi. Common classifications of Spirit Marrow included combat, alchemy, healing, taming beasts, etc. The marrow could also take various external forms, like swords and knives. Only cultivators with Spirit Marrow could be considered Spirit Masters.

The practical Spirit Power of Spirit Masters exhibited unique effects, granting them extraordinary abilities that ordinary people did not possess—moving mountains and filling seas, crafting spirit treasures, or even resurrecting the dead.

Of course, those without marrow could also cultivate; ordinary people could still increase their strength and physical capabilities through continuous cultivation. Some without marrow could reach higher levels and become formidable martial artists, but the gap between martial artists and Spirit Masters of the same level remained almost insurmountable.

This talent was mostly determined at birth. Some powerful marrows even became family heirlooms passed down through generations. For example, in the Lin family, the representative “marrow” was of the combat type, with its external form being the renowned double-bladed crystal known throughout the continent. Spirit Qi would converge into cold blades in both hands, capable of cutting through iron like mud even at a low Yellow Level.

This was an incredibly powerful talent weapon, and it was through such “marrow” that the Lin family had maintained their dominant position for generations.

When Lin Qingshuang was tested, the projection of the Soul Testing Stone on the ground showcased two translucent blades like crystal. But when it came to Lin Qinghen, there was nothing.

If it weren’t for the undeniable bloodline of the Lin family, people would start to question whether he was truly the biological son of the family head.

How could this happen?

Lin Qingheng had never personally experienced this part, but through the gradually resurfacing memories of the original owner, the most painful and profound segment was this one.

The principle that power in the Spirit World was paramount seemed ingrained in everyone’s bones. With Lin Qinghen’s talent being a well-known fact, factors like his deceased mother, disdain from the family head, contempt from relatives, ridicule from outsiders, and lack of background all compounded, leading his situation to take a nosedive.

One by one, the servants who attended him left. He quickly moved to another yard, his circumstances deteriorating further. His birthmark looked terrifying and was unappealing, and gradually, it felt as if everyone looked down on him. Other children in the family even took the opportunity to bully him.

Even his original name, Lin Qingheng, was similar to Lin Qingshuang’s, making it sound like they were full siblings. Soon, a family elder deliberately changed it.

This elder had previously been at odds with his birth mother and had long harbored resentment. Taking this opportunity, he found a pretext to change it to Lin Qinghen, a name that directly mocked the ugly birthmark on his face.

Lin Zhongtian, his biological father, had always looked down on this child and ignored him, treating him as if he didn’t exist.

From the ages of three to six were the most challenging years for the original owner.

At such a young age, the child worked hard to cultivate, almost forgetting to eat and sleep. But the Soul Testing Stone didn’t lie; his talent was indeed poor. Until his death, there was little improvement, partly due to his weak constitution, which ultimately cost him his life.

When Lin Qingheng crossed over and became Lin Qinghen, things remained the same; his crossover didn’t change anything. The child’s talent didn’t reverse overnight and stayed the same as before.

At most, having lived once gave him a slightly better mindset. He gradually grew accustomed to the birthmark on his face and didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention, so he wore a soft leather mask every day. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, he tried his best to survive.

In such circumstances, acceptance was the only option.

He had taken over this body for another chance at life. No matter how bleak the situation, living well was worthwhile, honoring both himself and the deceased original owner.

The so-called chosen one in the crossover truly didn’t exist, Lin Qinghen had tried and tested this multiple times.

In terms of cultivation, this body had blocked meridians, making it extremely difficult for Spirit Qi to flow and be absorbed, with restrictions at every turn. Even practicing for an hour a day was a limit; any further wouldn’t yield results.

If he pushed himself a bit, his whole body would ache, and his face would burn. Moreover, when he first crossed over, his physical condition was poor. After walking just a few steps, he would feel dizzy.

After repeatedly attempting to cultivate for several days, Lin Qinghen gave up on the fantasy of being a crossover protagonist.

It turned out, being realistic was much better.

Compared to himself, his sister Lin Qingshuang seemed more like the protagonist; he was merely a bland foil for the main character.

His experiences over these ten years confirmed that not focusing on cultivation as his main occupation was indeed the right decision.

From three years old until now, Lin Qinghen had just barely reached the ten-layer level of the Soul Testing Stone at the age of ten. While others would achieve “pointing Spirit” in a day, he had to spend three to four days just to succeed.

By the time he was over seventeen—specifically, just last night—he finally reached Yellow Level Two Stars. This morning, when he got up, he felt much lighter and stronger.

That meant the seventeen-year-old Lin Qinghen was still lagging behind the three-year-old Lin Qingshuang; the gap in talent was that vast, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He had just been getting by. Moreover, after quickly abandoning the main focus on cultivation, Lin Qinghen spent a few days contemplating and decisively returned to his old profession of farming.

Whatever Spirit Master nonsense was just a cloud of dust. Whether ancient or modern, fantasy or another world, his spirit as a Chinese person was to adhere to his heart and return to his roots—farming.

It would also help to strengthen his body!

However, as he gradually familiarized himself with this place, Lin Qinghen learned that farming here was quite different, requiring Spirit Power in many areas. The high status of powerful Spirit Masters was also because Spirit Power was indeed the most important energy source in this world.

That was why Lin Qinghen still devoted an hour each day to cultivating at a fixed time; having a bit of Spirit Power would make farming and daily life more convenient.

Although Yellow Level Two Stars was low, Lin Qinghen had a good mindset and modest expectations. For now, this level was barely enough.

Last night, after breaking through, Lin Qinghen had a lot on his mind while heading to the planting garden, yet once he arrived, he tossed those memories aside and got down to business.

Wearing a straw hat and dressed like the laborers in the garden, he had two bamboo baskets hanging at his waist and a basket on his back. Once inside the garden, no one would notice his identity.

The Lin family’s planting garden was circular in shape, with the more valuable Spirit Plants growing closer to the center. The plants and animals here were ranked similarly to people, following the same grading method as Spirit Masters.

The outermost part of the garden was the largest, encompassing several thousand to nearly ten thousand acres, all planted with or raised as Yellow Level Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts.

Being a wealthy family, the Lin family generally used Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts below Yellow Level Three Stars for daily meals. In other words, this vast area was essentially Lin family farmland.

Spirit Masters needed to eat, too, especially combat-type Spirit Masters, who not only felt hunger but also had large appetites. Even top-level Spirit Masters at Heaven Level could endure long periods without food, but under normal circumstances, they would still choose to eat to recover stamina while absorbing some Spirit Power.

Moreover, the desire for food was one of humanity’s strongest cravings, and Spirit World cultivators didn’t shy away from such desires.

Lin Qinghen naturally needed to eat, as the Spirit Qi in his meals was one of the sources for cultivating Spirit Qi. While life in the Lin family was difficult, one positive aspect was the family’s wealth.

From childhood to now, sneaking in to grab a bite had never attracted anyone’s attention, and at least he wouldn’t starve. His own power wasn’t high, so he survived by eating some inconspicuous low-tier food.

Today, Lin Qinghen was in a good mood. He happily set up a fish trap by the creek and then harvested a large handful of wheat from the nearby circular wheat field.

Round wheat was a common Yellow Level One Star Spirit Plant, somewhat resembling the wheat he remembered, but much larger, growing up to an adult’s shoulder. The wheat grains were round and had a slightly soft texture, hence the name.

He placed the dehulling tool for the round wheat in his basket. It was lightweight and nimble, and with a bit of Spirit Power, it worked quickly. Soon, he gathered a large handful of round, somewhat translucent wheat grains.

After spending a long time here, he realized this world was truly favored by the heavens compared to Earth. There were plenty of tools powered by Spirit Power, from his small dehulling machine to airships that could carry thousands of people. In terms of development level, it was actually higher than the place he lived in his previous life.

Moreover, due to the presence of Spirit Qi, the growth speed of crops was incredibly fast. Growing round wheat, a relatively common staple, from planting to maturity only took two months in ordinary soil. Its survivability was strong, requiring little time for maintenance.

The Lin family’s planting garden had also set up formations, with a much higher concentration of Spirit Qi than outside. Here, the growth speed of round wheat was even more ridiculous, taking only about twenty days for a harvest, and other types of plants and animals were similar.

This favorable geographical environment was truly a dream setting for a farmer like Lin Qinghen. After crossing over, he upheld the principle of being low-key, avoiding trouble, and running away if necessary, secretly posing as a laborer and immersing himself in farming.

Over the years, many in the Lin family seemed to have forgotten about this “useless” child, which suited him just fine.

Of course, there were still some who hadn’t forgotten.

Just as Lin Qinghen finished preparing his staple food and turned to pick up his fish trap by the creek, he found that while he hadn’t caught any fish, he had about ten lively shrimp inside, perfect for making a bowl of fresh shrimp porridge.

Happily carrying his ingredients to make breakfast at his usual spot, he unexpectedly turned a corner and bumped into someone.

The person was dressed similarly to him in the garden laborers’ attire. His name was Shi Qi, a young lad. Having spent a considerable amount of time here, Lin Qinghen was quite familiar with him.

Upon seeing him, Shi Qi’s eyes lit up, and before he could say anything, he grabbed Lin Qinghen and started running forward.

“Master Qinghen, come with me! Young Master Lin Fei is throwing a fit in the garden again!”