You Cultivate, I Farm

"Though merely an auxiliary technique, unsuitable for cultivation or practical combat, its value to me at present is no less than that of a cultivation method."

The appearance of the white light sphere caused Lu Xuan's cultivation to soar like a rocket.

However, with his average aptitude, while it was fine for a short time, prolonged exposure would undoubtedly lead to others noticing peculiarities in his cultivation. This could potentially land him in trouble.

Normally, cultivators refrained from actively probing into others' cultivation levels, as it was considered impolite and could easily upset the other party.

But with frequent interactions, inadvertent scrutiny was inevitable.

The Concealment Technique allowed him to disguise himself to some extent, appearing as nothing more than a modest spirit plant cultivator with low cultivation.

Unless someone had significantly higher cultivation or practiced specific detection techniques, it was difficult to discern his true abilities.

Following the technique's progression, Lu Xuan slowly circulated his spiritual energy within, instantly concealing the fluctuations. His presence diminished significantly.

After some experimentation, he revealed the cultivation of the second level of Qi Condensation, returning to his usual unremarkable appearance as a casual independent cultivator.

In his spiritual field, the previously harvested Firefly Grass had been completely gathered, leaving only two Lunar Erosion Trees on either side.

During this time, the Lunar Erosion Trees had also grown considerably. Among the emerald leaves, the moon-shaped Lunar Fruits had transformed from concave to flat, then to round as they became fuller.

When they reached the silvery-hook stage, they could still hide within the foliage, subtly revealing themselves. As they grew fuller, they appeared partly concealed, almost ready to emerge.

While the Lunar Erosion Trees hadn't reached maturity, Lu Xuan anticipated what rewards the full moon would bring from them.

The newly planted Firefly Grass and Crimson Cloud Pines in the spiritual field still had some time before reaching maturity.

The Firefly Grass had a relatively low cultivation period, typically around two to three months before reaching maturity. As for the Crimson Cloud Pines, being a first-grade spirit plant, Lu Xuan estimated it would take about half a year to mature.

Of course, these were the standard growth periods for most low-tier spirit plant cultivators. Lu Xuan speculated that due to his acute awareness of the immediate status of the spirit plants, he might slightly shorten their maturation time.

After all, other cultivators couldn't cater to their minute needs or attend to them so meticulously.

For them, nurturing spirit plants was merely a means of livelihood; cultivation was the true path.

For instance, the Spirit Rain Technique employed by spirit plant cultivators typically involved widespread watering, unlike Lu Xuan's precise and localized approach, aimed at keeping the spirit plants in their best state.

The Firefly Grass, once harvested, couldn't be kept for too long. Lu Xuan intended to visit the Hundred Herbs Hall again to sell the fifteen Firefly Grass he had on hand to Steward He.

Among the fifteen Firefly Grass, four were of ordinary quality, ten were of good quality, and one was of superior quality.

To safeguard against any unforeseen circumstances, Lu Xuan activated a protective array using two Broken Spirit Stones before venturing out.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall, the familiar fragrance of herbs lingered.

The young apprentices were bustling around handling materials, while the lean elder leisurely reclined on a wooden chair, flipping through account books.

"Ah, young Lu is here again. How was the harvest?" the elder inquired.

"You'll have to tell me the current market value of Firefly Grass first," Lu Xuan replied with a mysterious smile.

"Due to many low-tier Qi cultivation practitioners venturing into the wilderness, the demand for healing elixirs has decreased."

"However, there are signs of increased pests in the northern district lately. Many low-tier spirit plant cultivators' fields have been affected. So, the prices remain the same as last time: twenty Broken Spirit Stones for an ordinary one, with an additional thirty for good quality."

Nodding at the information, Lu Xuan had noticed the previously bustling gathering spot for independent cultivators was now considerably empty as he traveled here. He was also aware of the pest issue, which had caused substantial losses in many cultivators' fields due to the absence of protective arrays.

"Here, I've brought some Firefly Grass this time. Steward He, you can categorize them according to their quality," Lu Xuan said, placing fourteen Firefly Grass in front of the lean elder.

"As for this one, it comes with a different price tag," he added, flashing the superior-quality Firefly Grass before Steward He.

"Is this... a superior-quality Firefly Grass?" The elder, well-versed in purchasing Firefly Grass for many years, immediately discerned the uniqueness of this specimen, surprised by its quality.

"Yes, indeed. It is of superior quality. Considering your field with nearly no spiritual energy, being able to cultivate such a specimen is quite remarkable."

"It seems, perhaps, you have a decent talent for nurturing spirit plants," he remarked, gazing at Lu Xuan and sighing in admiration.

"It's just luck. I simply utilized the time others spend on cultivation for cultivating spirit plants," Lu Xuan replied half-seriously.

"Regardless of your methods, the more high-quality Firefly Grass you cultivate, the better. I'll purchase this one for seventy Broken Spirit Stones. How does that sound?" Steward He inquired.

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow, smiling but not saying a word.

It was obvious: he wanted more money!

The lean elder naturally understood the implication and soon proposed a price that tempted Lu Xuan.

"Four Broken Spirit Stones more, I can't go higher. After all, it's about twenty to thirty percent more than the purchase price of regular Firefly Grass."

"Deal!" Steward He swiftly exchanged the fifteen Firefly Grass for fifty-one Broken Spirit Stones and eighty Broken Fragments, totaling almost fifty-five Broken Spirit Stones when added to the three he had from before.

"Young Lu, if you come across this quality of Firefly Grass again, remember to bring it to me. I promise the price will not disappoint you," Steward He advised as he watched Lu Xuan amassing the Spirit Stones around his waist.

"If you indeed have a talent for spirit plant cultivation, I might introduce you to a path. It could be your opportunity," he added.

"Oh?" Lu Xuan, intrigued by the elder's words, looked curiously at him.

"It's not enough now. Let's see the quality of the spirit plants you bring in the future."

"Thank you, Steward He. I'll make sure to visit often to take care of your business," Lu Xuan replied, indifferent to the elder's hinted opportunity. After all, the appearance of the white light sphere had diminished the significance of any potential opportunity. If anything, it might disrupt his current peaceful life of farming.

He bid farewell to Steward He, carrying a heap of Spirit Stones, and headed straight home.

Initially considering purchasing some demonic beast meat or spirit rice to improve his living conditions and satisfy his cravings, he found himself reluctant upon passing by the stalls.

Next month's rent for his courtyard was due!

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