Am I Really a Genius?

Li Xiuchang's mind instantly filled with all the advantages of controlling ghosts and putting them to work.

Ghosts didn't fear hardship or exhaustion. They didn't eat, drink, shit, or piss; they didn't slack off or sleep; they wanted no pay and never talked back. They were practically heaven-chosen laborers!

They were even more useful than slaves!

Just imagine: if he replaced all ten firewood workers he hired with ghosts, he could save ten spirit stones a day in costs.

If he had enough ghosts under his command, he could send them to collect smoke, then sell the smoke directly. He would earn even more that way.

Li Xiuchang had once felt smug because he had come up with smoked spirit meat, thinking he had chosen the right profession. But now, it seemed that being a Spirit Planter plus a Soul Master was the perfect combination!

However...

"Why are all these Yin Souls female ghosts? Could it be that even Yin Souls suffer from gender dysphoria?" he asked curiously, having yet to see a single male ghost.

Could there really be more female ghosts than male ghosts? Weren't Yin Souls transformed from humans, too?

Or could it be that Senior Brother Mo had some special preferences...

"Female ghosts are more meticulous, so they're suited to caring for Spirit Grass. Male ghosts are stronger, so they've all been sent mining." Zhang Wanzhi teased, "Your Senior Brother Mo has a mine outside, too. Over a thousand male ghosts mine there day and night, bringing in a fortune every day."

A thousand male ghosts—even if they were mining the lowest-grade spirit ore, how many spirit stones would they earn in a day?

The key was that it was pure profit, with no costs at all... Li Xiuchang's gaze at Mo Tu changed completely.

Damn capitalists... Take me with you!

Compared to Senior Brother Mo Tu's methods of earning spirit stones, the little business he and Senior Brother Wang Long had tinkered with was nothing but child's play.

"It seems I need to raise the priority of becoming a Soul Master." Li Xiuchang had always planned to pursue multiple arts in cultivation. After Spirit Cooking and Alchemy, he had formally decided to make Soul Mastery his first choice for his third craft.

The path of Soul Mastery could provide free labor while also increasing one's own combat strength. It was indeed highly practical.

The biggest problem, however, was that it was far too dangerous. He would have to capture ghosts himself, and Li Xiuchang believed in Prudent Cultivation. He was unwilling to put himself in danger.

But if he could simply purchase Yin Souls directly from Senior Brother Mo, wouldn't that spare him all the trouble and danger?

"Senior Brother Mo, if I also want to learn Soul Mastery, could I buy some Yin Souls from you to practice with?" Li Xiuchang asked.

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu exchanged a glance... Well, look at this guy. We gave you a hen that lays eggs, and now you're already thinking about opening a chicken farm?

The two of them had given Li Xiuchang the Netherfrost Grass seeds and cultivation method partly to strengthen his resolve to move his spirit-meat smoking workshop away, and partly to subsidize him with some spirit stones through this method so that he could cultivate faster.

But they hadn't expected Li Xiuchang to be single-mindedly focused on earning spirit stones.

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu exchanged a few words through voice transmission, and instantly reached a decision.

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

Li Xiuchang could barely conceal his delight. He had originally only wanted to buy some Yin Souls for his own use, but he hadn't expected Senior Brother Mo to be willing to personally guide him in Soul Mastery.

It seemed that although Senior Brother Mo looked cold and spoke little on the surface, he was actually warm-hearted.

What Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu had in mind was that rather than letting Li Xiuchang waste time figuring things out himself, they might as well teach him personally.

Mo Tu had always been swift and decisive. He said, "Go plant the Netherfrost Grass."

With that, he walked straight out of his own courtyard and headed toward Eastern Geng District No. 18.

Li Xiuchang still hadn't adapted to Senior Brother Mo's style. It was only after Zhang Wanzhi patted him on the shoulder that he came to his senses and hurriedly left Eastern Geng District No. 25 with Zhang Wanzhi.

On the way, Zhang Wanzhi smiled and said, "Old Mo has some experience in both Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts and Soul Mastery. If you follow him, you should get the hang of it quickly. He doesn't like speaking nonsense, so if there's anything you don't understand, just ask him directly. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Li Xiuchang nodded in agreement, and they soon returned to Eastern Geng District No. 18.

Once they reached the courtyard, Li Xiuchang took out the ten Netherfrost Grass seeds.

Mo Tu picked up one seed and swept his gaze around the courtyard, seemingly searching for the most suitable place to plant it.

Li Xiuchang also held a seed and looked around like Mo Tu, planning to follow behind him and mooch some experience.

Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts was also one of the Hundred Cultivation Arts. Any amount he could learn was worthwhile, and it would at least increase his Length Value a little.

During this period, Li Xiuchang had been absorbed in cultivation. Aside from his daily spirit-meat pickling, he had barely practiced any arts, causing his Length Value to increase slowly.

Seeing this, Mo Tu began explaining, "When choosing a planting location, the first step is to consider the environment. Immortal Dust Sect is rich in spiritual energy, making it suitable for growing Spirit Grass. But Netherfrost Grass prefers shade and cold, so this courtyard isn't suitable.

"However, it's rare to encounter an environment that is completely suitable for Spirit Grass to grow in. Therefore, the core of Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts is changing the environment and creating one that is perfectly suited to the Spirit Grass's growth."

Li Xiuchang was quite astonished. So Senior Brother Mo could speak that many words in one breath after all.

Naturally, he didn't forget to understand Mo Tu's meaning, extract the core points, and commit them firmly to memory.

Next, Mo Tu demonstrated to Li Xiuchang how to use a Spirit Planter's methods to alter the soil, how to use various materials to create an environment beneficial to Spirit Grass growth, how to plant the seeds, and how to combine spirit liquid with magical power to induce germination.

Li Xiuchang felt as if divine aid had descended upon him. He effortlessly memorized every detail.

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

To his surprise, he succeeded on the very first attempt!

Although Mo Tu had guided many of the crucial steps, Li Xiuchang was a newcomer who had only just begun learning Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts. The fact that he had managed this much was already astonishingly impressive.

For the third planting that followed, Mo Tu provided assistance throughout, but Li Xiuchang took the lead.

The result was another success.

Could it be that I'm really a genius?

Li Xiuchang was dazzled by his own brilliance.

He even felt that if he were planting first-grade Spirit Grass, he might be able to handle it himself.

"Was Senior Brother Mo Tu simply an excellent teacher, or is my comprehension truly heaven-defying?"

"Senior Brother Mo is indeed an excellent teacher. Every sentence he says is distilled into the key points, yet he explains them clearly and profoundly, allowing me to understand everything as soon as I hear it. I have no trouble absorbing it at all."

"But when all is said and done, Senior Brother Mo is only a Second-grade Spirit Planter at most!"

If Mo Tu's Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts had reached third grade, he would have long since been promoted to an Attendant of the Outer Sect, and the curse of Eastern Geng District would have been broken.

In Li Xiuchang's view, Mo Tu was at most a top-tier Second-grade Spirit Planter.

Thus, after analyzing everything, he reached the conclusion—I've maxed out my talent!

At least when it came to Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts.

Especially after he glanced at the Length Value in the lower-left corner of his vision, he was so shocked that his heart skipped several beats.

Length Value: 2.89!

Before this, his Length Value had been less than 1.7. In other words, it had increased by more than an inch in this short while!

Li Xiuchang struggled to maintain his composure, making sure he didn't reveal anything unusual.

At the same time, his heart filled with wild joy. He had found the right path!

Women feared marrying the wrong man; men feared choosing the wrong trade.

He had been born to make a living from Spirit Plant Cultivation Arts!