Am I really a genius?

Li Xiuchang's mind immediately conjured up the many benefits of controlling ghosts for labor.

Ghosts don't fear hardship or fatigue, don't eat or drink, don't need to relieve themselves, don't slack off, don't sleep, don't demand payment, and don't talk back—they're simply the perfect laborers chosen by the heavens!

Better than slaves!

Just imagine, if all ten of his fire tenders were replaced by ghosts, he could save ten Spirit Stones in costs per day.

If he had enough ghosts under his command to arrange for them to collect smoke and then sell the collected smoke directly, he would earn even more.

Li Xiuchang had once been smug about his invention of smoked Spirit Meat, feeling he had chosen the right major. But now, it seemed that Spirit Planter and Soul Master were the perfect combination!

However...

"Why are all these malevolent spirits female ghosts? Could it be that malevolent spirits also have gender dysphoria?" he asked curiously, not having seen a single male ghost.

It couldn't be that there were more female ghosts than male ghosts, could it? Malevolent spirits also came from people, after all.

Or perhaps Senior Brother Mo had some peculiar preferences...

"Female ghosts are more meticulous and suitable for tending to Spirit Plants, while male ghosts have greater strength and have all been sent to mine," Zhang Wanzhi said with a hint of teasing. "Your Senior Brother Mo also has a mine outside, where thousands of male ghosts are mining day and night, earning a fortune."

A thousand male ghosts, even mining the lowest-grade Spirit Ore, how much would that earn in Spirit Stones per day?

The key was that it was pure profit, with no costs involved... Li Xiuchang looked at Mo Tu with new eyes.

That damned capitalist... Please take me with you!

Compared to Senior Brother Mo Tu's method of earning Spirit Stones, the small businesses he and Senior Brother Wang Long were dabbling in were completely insignificant.

"It seems I need to prioritize the Soul Master path," Li Xiuchang had originally planned to cultivate multiple skills. After Spirit Chef and Alchemy, he had now officially decided to make Soul Master his third primary skill.

The path of Soul Mastery could provide free labor and also enhance one's combat power, making it indeed very practical.

However, the biggest problem was that it was too dangerous, requiring him to catch ghosts himself. Li Xiuchang believed in Prudent Cultivation and was unwilling to put himself in harm's way.

But if he could directly purchase malevolent spirits from Senior Brother Mo, wouldn't that save him trouble and danger?

"Senior Brother Mo, if I also want to learn the way of Soul Mastery, can I buy some malevolent spirits from you to practice with?" Li Xiuchang asked.

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu exchanged a glance... Good heavens, you give them a hen to lay eggs, and they're already thinking about opening a chicken farm?

They gave Li Xiuchang the Netherfrost Grass seeds and cultivation methods for two reasons: first, to solidify Li Xiuchang's intention to move his smoked Spirit Meat workshop, and second, to provide him with some Spirit Stones through this method, allowing him to cultivate faster.

But they never expected Li Xiuchang to be solely focused on earning Spirit Stones.

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu exchanged a few telepathic messages and immediately made a decision.

"I can teach you," Mo Tu said directly.

Li Xiuchang couldn't hide his surprise. He had only intended to buy some malevolent spirits for his own use, but he hadn't expected Senior Brother Mo Tu to be willing to personally guide him in the way of Soul Mastery.

It seemed that Senior Brother Mo Tu, who appeared cold and taciturn on the surface, was actually a warm-hearted person.

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu thought that instead of Li Xiuchang wasting time figuring things out on his own, it would be better for them to teach him directly.

Mo Tu, who always acted decisively, said, "Go plant the Netherfrost Grass."

With that, he walked out of his courtyard and headed towards Eastern Geng District, number eighteen.

Li Xiuchang was still a bit unaccustomed to this Senior Brother Mo's style. After Zhang Wanzhi patted him on the shoulder, he snapped back to reality and quickly left Eastern Geng District, number twenty-five, with Zhang Wanzhi.

On the way, Zhang Wanzhi chuckled, "Old Mo has some insights into both Spirit Plants and Soul Mastery. You'll probably pick things up quickly by learning from him. He doesn't like to waste words, so if you don't understand anything, just ask directly, don't beat around the bush."

Li Xiuchang nodded in agreement and soon returned to Eastern Geng District, number eighteen.

Upon entering the courtyard, Li Xiuchang took out the ten Netherfrost Grass seeds.

Mo Tu took a seed and scanned the courtyard, as if searching for the most suitable spot to plant it.

Li Xiuchang also held a seed, looking around like Mo Tu, planning to follow him later and gain some experience.

The path of Spirit Plants was also one of the Hundred Cultivation Arts. Learning even a little could increase his Length attribute.

Li Xiuchang had been immersed in cultivation during this period, and besides the daily pickling of Spirit Meat, he had hardly practiced any other skills, causing his Length attribute to grow slowly.

Seeing this, Mo Tu began to explain, "When choosing a planting location, the first step is to consider the environment. The Immortal Dust Sect has abundant Spiritual Qi, which is suitable for planting Spirit Grass. However, Netherfrost Grass prefers shade and cold, so your courtyard is not ideal.

"But it's rare to encounter an environment that is completely suitable for Spirit Grass growth. Therefore, the core of the Spirit Plant path is to change the environment and create a growth environment that is perfectly suited to the Spirit Grass."

Li Xiuchang was quite surprised. So, Senior Brother Mo could actually speak so much in one go.

Of course, he didn't forget to understand the meaning behind Mo Tu's words, extracting the core message and committing it to memory.

Next, Mo Tu demonstrated to Li Xiuchang how to alter the soil quality using the methods of a Spirit Planter, how to create an environment conducive to Spirit Grass growth using various materials, how to plant the seeds, and how to use Spirit Liquid and Mana in conjunction to promote germination.

Li Xiuchang felt as if divinely aided, easily memorizing all these details.

Afterward, with Mo Tu's help, he personally experienced planting a seed himself.

He actually succeeded on his first attempt!

Although many critical steps were led by Mo Tu, for a newcomer to the path of Spirit Plants, Li Xiuchang achieving this much was already incredibly impressive.

In the third planting, Mo Tu provided full assistance, with Li Xiuchang taking the lead.

The result was another success.

Could it be that I'm truly a genius?

Li Xiuchang was impressed with himself.

He even felt that if he were planting a Tier 1 Spirit Grass, he might be able to handle it himself.

"Is it because Senior Brother Mo Tu taught me well, or is my comprehension heaven-defying?"

"Senior Brother Mo indeed taught very well. Every sentence was a distilled key point, explained simply and profoundly, making me understand immediately and accept it without any pressure."

"But ultimately, Senior Brother Mo is at most a Tier 2 Spirit Planter!"

If Mo Tu's Spirit Planting skills had reached Tier 3, he would have already been promoted to an Outer Sect honored guest, breaking the curse of the Eastern Geng District.

In Li Xiuchang's opinion, Mo Tu was at best a top-tier Tier 2 Spirit Planter.

So after some analysis, he concluded: My talent is maxed out!

At least in the path of Spirit Planting.

Especially when he glanced at the Length value in the lower left corner of his vision, his heart skipped a few beats from the shock.

Length value: 2.89!

Before this, the Length value was less than 1.7. This meant that in just this short while, it had grown by over an inch!

Li Xiuchang tried hard to maintain his composure, not wanting to show any abnormality.

At the same time, he was overjoyed in his heart, realizing he had found the right path!

A woman fears marrying the wrong man, and a man fears choosing the wrong profession.

He was naturally born to eat from the bowl of Spirit Planting!