After winter set in, Xu Ning had to reduce his Cultivating time to chop firewood and prepare for the cold.
For convenience, Xu Ning bought an axe and also spent three hundred coins on over thirty catties of raw iron.
As soon as he returned to the Cottage, Xu Ning immediately heard several impatient voices.
hoe: "Finally, I'm about to reach mortal-grade mid-rank! Xu Ning, quickly give me raw iron."
cleaver: "Xu Ning, look at these nicks on me, quickly give me raw iron."
axe: "I just got here, and there are already good things?"
iron pot: "What about mine? Oh, no mine!"
Xu Ning glared at the iron pot: "It's useless for you to upgrade. I'll give it to you later when there's extra!"
In fact, after receiving the twenty taels of silver from Zhao Datou, Xu Ning now had more than enough money.
However, having been poor for so long, he truly didn't want to waste it on the iron pot, because currently, as long as he filled his stomach with food, there was no need to waste money to improve the deliciousness.
iron pot: "Ah! That's too much!"
Xu Ning ignored it, distributing the thirty catties of raw iron to the cleaver, axe, and hoe for them to consume.
All three items simultaneously advanced to mortal-grade mid-rank.
Early the next morning, Xu Ning eagerly took the three items up the mountain for testing.
The results also greatly surprised Xu Ning.
Leaving aside everything else, the three items felt very light and convenient in his hands, giving Xu Ning a very smooth and handy feeling.
At the same time, the sharpness of the three items also exceeded Xu Ning's expectations.
Wood that normally required three or four axe swings now only needed one, meaning the sharpness had increased by three or four times.
With the help of this mortal-grade mid-rank axe, Xu Ning's firewood chopping speed was incredibly fast; in just one morning, he chopped the amount Xu Ning would usually do in two days.
Recently, due to his martial arts training, his overall strength had also greatly improved, making it easy for him to carry the wood back.
Within two days, the entrance to the Cottage was piled high with the firewood Xu Ning had recently chopped.
Zhao Datou was utterly stunned: "How is your firewood chopping speed so fast?"
Xu Ning: "Practice makes perfect!"
Zhao Datou: "If only you could put this same focus on martial arts training!"
These words once again gave Xu Ning a familiar feeling, as if parents in his previous life would also say, 'If only you put the same focus on studying as you do on playing games.'
Unbeknownst to them, snow suddenly began to fall.
However, Zhao Datou remained strict with Xu Ning, still making Xu Ning train martial arts bare-chested in this weather.
In his words, the cold Qi of winter could stimulate the body's potential, making martial arts Cultivation twice as effective.
This was truly hard on Xu Ning, who was frozen red all over.
But surprisingly, the effect of Cultivating this way was indeed good. According to Xu Ning's estimation, it would originally take two years for three Cultivation Techniques to reach the first layer.
If he continued to Cultivate in such an environment, it would only take a year and a half.
In comparison, Zhao Datou was much more comfortable, warming himself by the fire inside the Cottage every day.
"Xu Xiaozi, you know, I feel like since you came, this Cottage seems much warmer. This winter doesn't feel cold at all."
"Also, where did you chop this firewood? How is it so long-burning? Even a single piece can burn for half an hour."
Xu Ning wanted to say that the Cottage was mortal-grade mid-rank, so of course it was warm, and after Xu Ning's continuous feeding during this period, it should be close to reaching mortal-grade high-rank.
As for the firewood, it was the roots of mortal-grade mid-rank trees that Xu Ning had cultivated during this time, which is why they burned so long.
Because he didn't have much time to collect manure and was afraid of attracting attention, Xu Ning had only cultivated two mortal-grade mid-rank trees in such a long time. Their trunks were all fed to the manure bucket, and the roots were brought back for winter use.
As for the wheat crops, Xu Ning absolutely dared not upgrade them; he only watered them with manure.
After all, he was going to stay in this place for a long time. If he were to create something that defied common sense again, he probably wouldn't be able to stay long and would have to run away with his bucket.
"I also don't know what kind of tree this root is from, but when I chopped it, it felt very hard and very heavy," Xu Ning said perfunctorily.
Zhao Datou: "This stuff would be great for making charcoal!"
Xu Ning said irritably: "We don't even have enough to burn, let alone make charcoal!"
Don't let the amount of firewood Xu Ning had recently chopped deceive you; it might not be enough to last through the winter. Once heavy snow sealed the mountains, firewood would quickly become scarce.
Zhao Datou: "With you here! I'm not worried!"
Xu Ning suddenly thought of something: "Old man, how about we buy an ox next year?"
Zhao Datou: "That's up to you. Anyway, I've given you the money, so you can decide!"
Though he said that, Zhao Datou still felt warm inside. After all, Xu Ning hadn't run off with the twenty taels of silver but was thinking about adding things to this small home with only two people.
Xu Ning pondered: "I also want to buy a dog and a few chickens!"
Zhao Datou: "If you can afford to raise them, then buy them!"
Xu Ning: "We harvested so much wheat last year, we can't just let it rot!"
Putting everything else aside, Zhao Datou truly had a lot of land. After Xu Ning planted everything, he harvested a total of over three thousand catties of wheat.
As for the wheat stalks, Xu Ning used all of them to feed the Cottage.
Zhao Datou: "Don't you want to sell it?"
Xu Ning: "We have enough money for now; we'll see next year!"
Xu Ning naturally had his own ideas. Raising more livestock would naturally produce more manure.
At that time, he could water a few more Medium Grade trees, first upgrading the manure bucket to mortal-grade high-rank. That way, watering things in the future would be much faster. The manure bucket was the core item!
Unbeknownst to them, the snow fell heavier and heavier, making it impossible to go outside.
Every day after Xu Ning finished Cultivating, he would go inside and huddle with Zhao Datou by the fire.
Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three months, Xu Ning could do nothing but Cultivate.
Now the heavy snow had melted, and it was finally possible to travel.
Xu Ning eagerly took the accumulated manure from this period to water the trees, directly cultivating two Medium Grade trees.
After chopping them down and feeding them to the manure bucket, Xu Ning dug up the roots and brought them back home.
After burning for an entire winter, the firewood at home was already running low. If he didn't get some more back, there wouldn't even be firewood for making fires and cooking.
"Xu Xiaozi, didn't you say last year you wanted to buy an ox? I've inquired, and your Uncle Lin Er's cow had a calf two years ago. Do you want me to take you to take a look?"
As soon as he returned home, Zhao Datou's voice immediately came.
Xu Ning's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Really? Then let's go, let's go together to see!"
Zhao Datou smiled upon hearing this, leading Xu Ning towards a house in the village. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of a tiled house.
In the village, those who could live in tiled houses were already considered wealthy families; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to afford to raise an ox.
"Village Chief, why have you come? Please come in and sit."
It was still early, and Lin Er hadn't gone out yet. He was feeding pigs when he saw Zhao Datou and Xu Ning approaching, and he immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise.
Zhao Datou chuckled: "This junior of mine wants to buy an ox. I heard your cow had a calf, so I brought him to take a look."
Lin Er nodded quickly: "This way, I'll take you over."
However, upon seeing the calf, Zhao Datou and Xu Ning were a little dumbfounded.