You Cultivate, I Farm

After planting two new Holy Infant Fruit seedlings in the spiritual nursery, Lu Xuan ventured to a corner of the small courtyard.

There, an unremarkable dark red stone was placed, which no one could imagine harbored a disaster-class demon spirit with the potential of a Nascent Soul Realm, the Flesh Spirit Deity, within.

He extracted a large quantity of flesh and blood from his storage bag and draped it over the dark red stone.

A terrifying aura flashed inside the stone, and all the gathered flesh and blood around it instantly merged into the stone, as if it had never been there to begin with.

"The Flesh Spirit Deity's demand for flesh and blood is truly fearsome."

"Even in the hatching stage, it has consumed so much flesh and blood."

Lu Xuan looked at the dark red stone in front of him, feeling somewhat worried.

In the Underworld courtyard, both the Aberrant Longevity Peach and the Thousand Tendril Hand had significant demands for demon beast flesh and blood. Now, adding the nascent stage demon spirit, the Flesh Spirit Deity, into the mix, it was quite challenging to sustain these three types of spiritual plants with normal methods.

"I must find a way to increase my resources."

After carefully tending to all the spiritual plants in the Underworld courtyard, Lu Xuan returned to his original appearance and went back to the Sky Sword Sect.

With two days left until the treasure exchange meeting mentioned by Huo Lin'er, he went to the spiritual field, used the Earth attraction Technique, and arrived at the location of two Dual-Headed Armadillos, sweeping away the Spirit Soil they had collected over the years.

Then, with the Spirit Soil and Heart Ape Fruit in hand, he proceeded to a damaged secret realm.

The spiritual power in the secret realm was purer, making it even more suitable for the growth of spiritual plants than the Myriad Beasts Grotto. Coupled with the Spirit Soil and the Dark Spring Spirit Dew, planting the Grade Five Heart Ape Fruit in the secret realm was more beneficial for its growth.

Lu Xuan checked the various spiritual plants in the secret realm. Although the Flame Fruit and Ice Gourd Fruit were not tended to at all times, their growth progress was satisfactory and had reached the mature stage.

The Sword-Nurturing Gourd, nourished by the sword qi of second-hand flying swords, was only slightly behind the Flame Fruit in growth progress and had also entered the mature stage.

Lu Xuan seemed to see within the green and mottled gourds, stirred by sword qi, a large number of Grade Four Sword Talismans being nurtured.

Returning from the damaged secret realm, he stayed within the sect's cave dwelling, cultivating numerous spiritual plants while waiting for the treasure exchange meeting to arrive.

On time, two days later, he arrived at the location Huo Lin'er had provided.

"Junior Brother Lu, welcome, welcome. Let me introduce you, this is Senior Brother Bai Feiyu, a true disciple of our sect, whose mastery of the sword technique is ethereal and divine, leaving countless demon spirits and heretical cultivators' souls vanquished under his sword.

This treasure exchange meeting is primarily organized and hosted by him and me."

Huo Lin'er, clad in a fiery red robe, greeted Lu Xuan with a warm smile and introduced a young cultivator standing beside him.

The cultivator had a handsome appearance and an ethereal demeanor, like a celestial being. A pure white sword scabbard hung at his waist, the exposed handle of the flying sword within seemed to be made from a segment of Flood Dragon bone.

The moment Lu Xuan sensed the Flood Dragon flying sword, a vibration transmitted from the ancient sword scabbard at his waist, as if it had encountered a dream-like companion sword.

"Greedy sword, not satisfied with so many flying swords within, still coveting other flying swords."

Lu Xuan cursed inwardly, sending a thought to the Profound Sword Sheath.

"Senior Brother Bai, greetings."

He greeted the young swordsman.

"Junior Brother Lu, I've heard about you more than once since I returned to the sect."

A smile emerged on the young man's lips.

"Both of us are disciples of the Sword Hall, but I've been away from the sect for some years on business. Recently, upon my return, I learned that Junior Brother Lu has independently discovered a method to condense the seeds of a Grade Three Sword Grass, which I deeply admire."

"So, you're Sword Hall's Senior Brother Bai."

Lu Xuan's smile was warm, and he inwardly marveled at the strength of the Sword Hall, which indeed was the most powerful branch within the sect. Among the few true disciples he had met, both Jian Wuxia and Bai Feiyu before him were Sword Hall disciples.

"Junior Brother Lu, please come in. I hope you find the treasures you desire."

Bai Feiy

u led Lu Xuan into a luxurious hall.

The hall's floor was covered with Grade Three demon tiger pelts, nearly a hundred white jade chairs were neatly arranged, and dozens of spirit orbs, gleaming with precious light, floated under the hall's ceiling. More than ten beautiful female cultivators shuttle back and forth, carrying spirit fruits and teas.

Lu Xuan looked around and purposely chose a secluded corner.

No sooner had he sat down than he saw Zhong Jingshan, also hiding in a corner. The two exchanged a nod of greeting before immersing themselves back into their own worlds.

Although he preferred to stay quietly in the corner, things did not go as he wished.

With his reputation in the field of spiritual plants and his achievements in the Sword Hall, cultivators continuously approached him for greetings and conversations.

The visitors were all acquaintances, including the small circle of spiritual plant cultivators led by Liu Su, Sword Hall disciples, fellow sect members he had met when opening new Blessed Lands, and even unfamiliar cultivators nearby, who came forward to introduce themselves to Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan managed the interactions on the surface, but seeing the silent Zhong Jingshan surrounded by even more cultivators brought him a sense of balance.

He secretly observed the Inner Sect cultivators who entered the hall one after another.

Among the cultivators present, there were five true disciples: Jian Wuxia with the Innate Sword Body, Zhong Jingshan skilled in controlling insects, Huo Lin'er with the Fire Spirit Body, the newly met Sword Hall true disciple Bai Feiyu, and an unfamiliar true disciple.

Among the rest, there were more than a dozen at the late and complete stages of Foundation Establishment, and dozens at the early and middle stages, making it a grand event.

Soon, a streak of red light flashed by, and Huo Lin'er appeared at the front of the hall.

"Fellow sect members, welcome to the treasure exchange meeting organized by Senior Brother Bai Feiyu and me."

"This treasure exchange meeting aims to provide a platform for all sect members to exchange treasures, cultivation insights, and make acquaintances."

"The meeting will be divided into two phases. The first phase is directed exchange, where you can come forward to showcase your treasures and state your exchange requirements. During a set period, the rest can decide whether to exchange."

"The second phase is free exchange, where you can collaborate with multiple sect members to exchange for the treasures you desire."

"There's only one rule for this treasure exchange meeting: no bullying or coercing others into unfair trades. If anyone disrespects this rule and our fellow sect members, don't blame Senior Brother Bai and me for being inhospitable."

Huo Lin'er's youthful face was stern, and fire lotuses surged around his robe.

"Let the exchange begin."

With that, he leaped down from the platform.

Moments later, a figure swiftly moved onto the stage.

A middle-aged cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment bowed to Lu Xuan and the others below.

"Fellow Senior Brothers and Sisters, Junior Brothers and Sisters, today let me be the first to throw out a brick to attract jade, and start the treasure exchange."

As he spoke, a uniquely styled flying sword appeared in front of him.

The flying sword was about three feet long, with a slender, crystal-clear blade resembling a vertebra, exuding a chilling aura that caused a thin layer of white mist to form around the sword.

"A Grade Four flying sword, the Cold Bone Sword, forged from the skeletal remains of a Grade Four demon beast, the Cold Profound Flood Dragon. Each move can invoke an extreme chill, making it highly lethal."

"I'm willing to exchange it for a defensive artifact of the same grade, or a cultivation-enhancing pill of the same grade."