Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Silver Rank reward
Ace raised a brow. “Huh? I taught her nothing—” He coughed mid-sentence, correcting himself. “Ahem, not nothing, I mean… I didn’t teach her any cultivation technique.”

Shan Yifeng crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. “Hmm. I don’t believe you.”

Just then, Zhao Yun and Liu Mei walked in, their conversation lighthearted until Zhao Yun turned to Liu Mei with curiosity.

“Mei’er,” she asked, “who taught you the movement technique you used earlier?”

Liu Mei grinned, puffing up her chest with pride. “I created it!”

A heavy silence filled the room.

You… created it?” Ace, Zhao Yun, and even Xie Ninger—who had only reappeared to listen—looked at her, stunned.

Only Shan Yifeng was unfazed, throwing his hands up in frustration. “See?! See what I mean?! Master, how is that even fair?!”

Ace barely held himself back from blurting out, Teach me, Master! The urge was strong, but he swallowed it down. It wasn’t appropriate.

Instead, he groaned internally. System, give me something! Stop delaying my reward! He cursed inside his mind, feeling like he was missing out on some profound secret.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun and Xie Ninger, equally intrigued, exchanged glances before turning to Liu Mei.

“Mei’er, show us again,” Zhao Yun requested, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“Yes, do it once more,” Xie Ninger added, her usual cool demeanor slipping just slightly.

Liu Mei, ever eager to display her newfound talent, grinned.

“Alright! Watch carefully!”

Liu Mei took a deep breath, her playful grin widening as she adjusted her stance. Then—whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, she vanished from her spot, reappearing a few steps away. Then again—whoosh!—her figure blurred, flickering between positions like a shadow dancing in the wind.

Zhao Yun’s expression sharpened. Fast. Too fast. It wasn’t a technique she recognized, nor was it something an ordinary Silver Rank cultivator should be capable of.

Xie Ninger, arms crossed, narrowed her eyes. “This movement… It’s not just speed, it’s instinctual. It flows.”

Ace, who had been watching in silence, couldn’t help but rub his chin. “Mei’er, how exactly did you create this?”

Liu Mei came to a sudden halt, panting slightly. She tilted her head, as if the answer was obvious. “Easy! I just… move when I feel like I should!”

The silence that followed was almost comical.

Shan Yifeng’s jaw dropped. Zhao Yun blinked. Xie Ninger let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

Ace massaged his temples. That’s not an explanation! That’s madness!

As Ace tried to process Liu Mei’s absurd explanation, he suddenly felt a familiar sensation—a system notification appearing in his mind.

Shan Yifeng finally found his voice. “You’re telling me… you dodged all my attacks… because you ‘felt like you should’?! What kind of reasoning is that?!”

Liu Mei pouted. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

Shan Yifeng paused, deep in thought, before nodding to himself. “That makes sense,” he muttered and then—without another word—walked away.

Ace’s eye twitched.

What makes sense?! At least leave an explanation, you stupid disciple!

He wanted to scream, to grab the boy by the collar and shake the answer out of him. But no. He held it in. He suffered in silence.

Instead, he exhaled sharply and muttered, “I’m in no mood to cook.”

His gaze swept the room, searching for a solution—no, for a victim.

Then, his eyes locked onto Zhao Yun.

“Zhao Yun.”

She stiffened. “Uh… yes?”

Her voice held the barest tremor, and the sight of a Gold Rank cultivator cowering before a newly ascended Silver Rank was almost comical.

Ace smirked,”You’re just in time, cook the pork. I have a very pressing matter to deal with.”

Zhao Yun hesitated for a fraction of a second before bowing stiffly. “Yes… Master Xiao.”

Ace made his way to his room, shutting the door behind him as soon as he arrived.

With a mix of anticipation and excitement, he opened the system interface, his heart brimming with hope.

Ding!

[System Rewards Unlocked.]

New Feature Unlocked: Spirit Beast Shop

You’ve obtained a Legendary Grade Spirit Beast Snow Fox (5 Tails)

Land Expansion: +10 Plot of Land

Tree Growth Plots: +4

Cultivation Technique obtained: Drunk Man Cultivation

Compensation for System Delay: 10,000 Gold Credits

Ace stared at the notification, momentarily frozen. Then, his lips twitched.

A five-tailed Snow Fox? Legendary grade? Oh. Okay. That’s good then.

More land and tree plots? That meant greater Spirit Farming potential, and with it, unimaginable wealth!

But what really caught his attention was the Drunk Man Cultivation.

“…What kind of name is that?” He muttered under his breath.

Yet, he couldn’t deny the curiosity bubbling within him.

Ding!

“Host, do you want to learn [Drunk Man Cultivation]?”

Ace hesitated for a moment. The name alone sounded… questionable. But if the system offered it as a reward, it had to be something valuable.

“Accept.”

The moment he confirmed, a flood of information surged into his mind, as if a file had been forcefully downloaded into his brain.

His head buzzed, images flashing before his eyes—a man swaying like a drunkard, yet dodging fatal attacks with uncanny precision; a single, lazy step sending waves of energy through the ground; a casual flick of the wrist toppling an opponent twice his size.

The technique wasn’t just about fighting—it was about deception, unpredictability, and an overwhelming counterforce that struck when least expected.

Ace clenched his fists, feeling the newfound knowledge settle into his very bones.

“This… this is just what Shan Yifeng needs!” Ace grinned, already imagining his disciple stumbling around like a drunken fool—only to dodge attacks effortlessly and counter with crushing force.

A perfect movement technique for someone like Yifeng, who relied too much on brute strength.

“Huhu… I’ll be sure to teach him this.”

His grin widened.

With a refreshed mindset, Ace stepped out of his room, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

The scent of sizzling pork filled the air as he entered the kitchen. Zhao Yun was diligently tending to the pan, flipping the meat with practiced ease, while Liu Mei crouched near the fire, adding wood to keep the flames strong.

His eyes scanned the room—Xie Ninger was nowhere to be seen.

“Master! Master! I did it! I did It!”

Shan Yifeng came sprinting into the kitchen, completely out of breath, his face flushed with excitement.

Everyone paused, staring at him.

Ace raised an eyebrow. “…Did what?”

Shan Yifeng puffed out his chest. “I figured it out!”

Ace blinked. “Figure what out?”

Shan Yifeng scratched his head. “The key to mei’er’s movement.”

Ace crossed his arms. “Really? Tell me about it.”

A long, awkward silence.

Shan Yifeng’s expression slowly shifted from confidence to confusion.

“….Wait, no. I forgot.”

Liu Mei burst out laughing. Zhao Yun sighed. Ace rubbed his temples.

“Get out.”