You Cultivate, I Farm

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Lu Xuan wandered through the market, finding nothing of note. He wasn't disappointed and decided to pay a visit to Steward He.

"Hey, Lu lad, dropping by?"

A thin, elderly man glanced from his ledger at Lu Xuan, then resumed his work, paying no further attention.

Lu Xuan casually found a spot to sit, observing several young medicine apprentices, busy coming and going in the Hundred Herbs Hall.

The collected spirit plants needed several processes, and these apprentices handled the most basic of tasks.

This wasn't technically demanding, so the Hall openly processed them in the hall, unconcerned about anyone observing.

"Here, have a cup of hot tea."

Before long, Steward He, done with his tasks for the moment, came over to Lu Xuan, offering him a cup of tea floating with a delicate greenish spirit.

As Lu Xuan sipped the tea, its refreshing aroma lingered, leaving a pleasant taste.

"How are the spirit plants growing? If they don't meet standards, your benefits might take a hit!"

The thin elder asked with concern.

"They're good, better quality than the last batch."

Lu Xuan smiled in response. He knew the plants in his spiritual field not only affected his own gains but also somewhat represented Steward He's reputation. After all, it was He who introduced Lu Xuan into the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Hearing Lu Xuan's response, Steward He eased a bit, and the two engaged in casual conversation.

Suddenly, a woman hurriedly entered the Hundred Herbs Hall, holding a child.

The woman seemed teary-eyed, her eyes visibly swollen from crying for a long time.

The child appeared bewildered, mouth slightly agape, cradled tightly in the woman's arms.

After a couple of inquiries, the woman entered the Hall, and Steward He, concerned, followed her inside.

Moments later, he returned to the hall with a grave expression.

"There's a cultivator we had a cooperation with for the spirit plants; unfortunately, he had an accident. His family came to inquire about the follow-up on the plants."

"What happened?"

"It seems a few of them were invited to a secret realm to harvest herbs. Unluckily, they encountered a wounded second-grade demonic beast. Two of them died on the spot, and the other two are critically injured, hanging onto life."

"What's the name of the cultivator who had a cooperation with the Hall?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan couldn't help but recall Lei Fei, the cultivator who had invited him to explore a secret realm some time ago.

"His name's Lei Fei. One of the deceased among the two. Do you know him?"

Sure enough, Lu Xuan got confirmation from Steward He that it was indeed Lei Fei, the cultivator who had invited him previously.

"When they tried to invite me to explore the secret realm, I was worried about the plants in my spiritual field and the potential danger. That's why I declined."

Lu Xuan sighed.

"It's a good thing you declined. Otherwise... you might have been part of that unfortunate event."

Steward He couldn't help but remark.

"All I can say is they faced such a calamity after venturing into numerous realms, and yet, they encountered a second-grade demonic beast."

"What about the spirit plants he had acquired?"

"The cultivator passed away, and his family isn't adept at nurturing first-grade spirit plants. As per regulations, the Hall should take over, transplant the plants, and compensate the family."

"But compared to matured spirit plants, the compensation will be significantly lower. The family came here hoping the Hall would give them the remaining plants to cultivate."

Steward He didn't explicitly state the course of action, but Lu Xuan sensed it from his demeanor. The Hundred Herbs Hall prioritized profit, and in the face of profit, sentiment held little sway.

This incident further cemented Lu Xuan's resolve not to venture into risky situations. After all, if something happened to him outside, the plants in his field would be of benefit to others for free.

With this interlude, he had no desire to savor spirit tea anymore; he finished it and left.

...

"You want forty spirit stones for such a small Cloud-Stepping Lynx? Are you out of your mind?"

"Friend, this isn't an ordinary Cloud-Stepping Lynx. Look at its eyes; it's an exceptional breed. The price is definitely not the same as usual."

While strolling, an argument at a nearby stall caught Lu Xuan's attention.

Curious, Lu Xuan approached the stall, his attention drawn to an iron cage in the corner.

The cage, made of an unknown material, had fine patterns along its slender bars, exuding a cold air. Talismans adorned its corners to prevent whatever was inside from escaping.

Through the gaps, Lu Xuan saw a small lynx inside the cage.

Its fur was jet-black, except for its four paws, which resembled pure snow, as if it stood on four clouds, hence the name "Cloud-Stepping." The lynx's eyes, resembling emerald jewels, were fixed and alert.

As Lu Xuan's gaze met the lynx's, the lynx, covered in wounds, bared its teeth slightly, tilting its body as if ready to pounce.

"Are distinctive eyes enough to make it an exceptional breed? Then is my pet ferret's fur on my waist also exceptional for a cultivator?"

A Qi-refining cultivator couldn't resist challenging the stall owner.

Understandably, he was annoyed; under normal circumstances, this Cloud-Stepping Lynx cub would go for twenty spirit stones, but this stall owner, based on the lynx's unique eyes, was now asking for forty.

"Forty spirit stones, no lower!"

The stall owner remained steadfast, sticking to the original price.

"Keep your so-called exceptional Cloud-Stepping Lynx to yourself! It's pretty, I'll give you that! Great to admire every day!"

With that, the Qi-refining cultivator left.

"Ignorant."

The stall owner heartlessly sneered.

"Excuse me, how did you come by this Cloud-Stepping Lynx? And what's with its eyes?"

Suddenly, a gentle voice from the side caught the stall owner's attention. A clear and handsome young man stood before the iron cage, gazing at him with clear eyes.

"My companion and I went through many hardships to acquire it from deep within a secret realm."

"The Cloud-Stepping Lynx is a first-grade spirit beast, swift in action, soundless, with decent attack abilities. This young one here is different from the usual; when it grows up, its eyes might possess some extraordinary qualities."

"What do you think?"

"How about thirty spirit stones?"

Lu Xuan instinctively bargained.

"Heh."

The stall owner crossed his arms, ignoring Lu Xuan.

"Calling it an exceptional breed just because of its eyes? Do you have any evidence? Its distinctive emerald eyes might just be due to some stimuli during its embryonic development or influenced by a unique spiritual environment. To label it an exceptional breed so casually is quite arbitrary."

"Moreover, your lynx cub in the cage doesn't seem to be in good shape. It probably suffered considerable injuries during your capture and has been confined,

receiving inadequate treatment and rest."

"With its current state, its chances of surviving aren't certain."

"Thirty-six spirit stones, no lower. Remember, capturing it came at a significant cost for us."

"Thirty-two spirit stones, and I'll take it right now."

Lu Xuan knew his reasoning had swayed the stall owner. Besides, he was particularly fond of this Cloud-Stepping Lynx with its distinctive emerald eyes, so he slightly raised his offer.

"Alright, I'll cut you a deal."

The stall owner, teeth gritted, eventually agreed.

He knew the likelihood of it being an exceptional breed was slim, and he was afraid of not being able to sustain it. To earn a bit more than what a typical Cloud-Stepping Lynx would fetch was already a pretty decent outcome.

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