Cooperation

"After each kind of Spirit Plant matured, the things that came out of the White Light Orbs were all different."

After harvesting two different kinds of Spirit Plants, Lu Xuan gradually discovered a few patterns.

When the Spirit Firefly Grass matured, the orbs contained cultivation ranging from several months to more, low-grade spells, and First Grade Talismans. As for the Eclipse Moon Fruit, what came out was mainly Magic Tool fragments, pills, talismans, and pill formulas with a relatively low probability.

"Maybe in the future, I can adjust the types of Spirit Plants according to my own needs."

However, the most urgent problem right now was to change to a larger Spirit Field as soon as possible, one with richer spiritual energy and a more complex environment that could support the growth of all kinds of Spirit Plants.

Second was the urgent need for a Storage Bag. After all, his wealth was growing richer and richer, and the talismans and pills on him were increasing too. He couldn't very well stuff them into his clothes every time he went out.

Thinking of this, Lu Xuan looked at the twenty-eight Eclipse Moon Fruits piled up in the house and decided to sell them in exchange for Spirit Stones.

He packed them into a cloth bag, made no stops on the way, and headed straight for his destination, Hundred Herbs Hall.

Inside a room filled with rich medicinal fragrance, Manager He had sharp eyes and immediately spotted Lu Xuan and the bulging cloth bag he was carrying.

"Lu Boy, haven't seen you for a while. What Spirit Plant has matured this time?"

"Two Eclipse Moon Trees have entered the mature stage. I picked some fruit to come pay my respects to you, elder."

Lu Xuan said with a smile.

"Paying respects to this old man is fake. Paying respects to the Spirit Stones in Hundred Herbs Hall is what's real, isn't it?"

The Gaunt Old Man said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Take out your treasures and let this old man have a look."

Lu Xuan placed the cloth bag on the wooden counter.

"Twenty-eight Eclipse Moon Fruits. One is Superior Grade, and the rest are all Good Grade."

"Almost all of them are Good Grade? You brat, you've had an awakening?"

Manager He said in surprise. Among the Spirit Firefly Grass Lu Xuan had brought over before, although there had also been Good Grade and Superior Grade plants, there had been quite a few Common ones as well. But this time, they were all Good Grade or above. How could he not be astonished?

"They're indeed all Good Grade or above."

He inspected every Eclipse Moon Fruit one by one, judging their grade from aspects such as the size and roundness of the fruit.

"After three days apart, one must scrape one's eyes clean and look anew..."

The Gaunt Old Man looked at Lu Xuan and sighed with emotion.

He still remembered when this teenage Youth had first entered Hundred Herbs Hall, taking out a few Common, ordinary Spirit Firefly Grass and saying he wanted to sell them to Hundred Herbs Hall.

Hundred Herbs Hall originally had its own stable purchase channels and generally did not buy Spirit Plants from small Rogue Cultivators like this. But seeing the Youth's resolute and stubborn face at the time, the old man had felt a stir of compassion and agreed to the Youth's request to sell.

And now, the Youth had already become a Spirit Plant Master who could plant high-quality spiritual herbs at any time.

The Gaunt Old Man was filled with emotion for a moment, but the Youth's next sentence pulled him back to reality.

"Manager He, what are you spacing out for? You're not thinking about how to take advantage of me, are you?"

"You brat!"

Manager He laughed and scolded him.

"A Good Grade Eclipse Moon Fruit is one Spirit Stone and ten Fragmented Spirit Stones. For that Superior Grade one, add another twenty Fragmented Spirit Stones."

"Works for me."

Lu Xuan had already compared prices at other medicine shop stalls, and he knew this was a rather fair price, so he agreed straightforwardly.

The price of Eclipse Moon Fruit was quite a bit lower than Spirit Firefly Grass, but one Eclipse Moon Tree could bear more than twenty fruits. Calculated this way, its value was still far higher than Spirit Firefly Grass.

Manager He handed a total of thirty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones to Lu Xuan and asked curiously, "Lu Boy, tell me honestly. Has your planting level improved quite a lot? So many Good Grade Spirit Fruits isn't something you can accomplish just by being lucky."

"It has indeed improved somewhat."

"However, this is also the result of great sacrifice."

"I merely used the time other cultivators spent cultivating and exploring Secret Realms on planting Spirit Plants instead."

"In order to plant higher-grade Spirit Plants, I've already completely given up the naive idea of becoming a powerful cultivator. Right now, I only want to plant Spirit Plants properly and live the ordinary life of a Spirit Plant Master in peace and stability."

Lu Xuan's eyes went vacant as he worked hard to maintain his persona as an utterly ordinary Spirit Plant Master.

"Having such thoughts is fine too. At the very least, it's relatively safe. You won't have to fight people to the death over that sliver of opportunity, and maybe you'll even live longer than they do."

"Moreover, if you maintain this kind of progress, you can also rely on your identity as a Spirit Plant Master to gain a very high status."

The Gaunt Old Man felt the same and comforted Lu Xuan.

He paused, then continued.

"I told you before, if you always had this level of planting ability, I would send you an opportunity."

"You also know that Hundred Herbs Hall has an Alchemist. His Alchemy level is among the best in the entire Vast Forest Market, and he has many Alchemy Herb Boys under him as well."

"So, there is a great demand for all kinds of pill materials. We also have several fairly large Spirit Fields and employ Spirit Plant Masters to specialize in planting the related spiritual herbs."

"Although my status isn't high, I can still be considered someone whose words carry some weight in Hundred Herbs Hall. I can recommend that you cooperate with Hundred Herbs Hall."

"What kind of cooperation?" Lu Xuan asked curiously.

"Generally, there are two kinds. The first is to directly hire Spirit Plant Masters to grow spirit herbs for Hundred Herbs Hall. The ownership of the spirit herbs grown belongs to Hundred Herbs Hall, and the Spirit Plant Master is given a certain remuneration."

"The better the quality of the spirit herbs grown, the more rewards will be granted."

"This kind of cooperation model can provide you with a more stable planting environment, allowing you to focus on cultivation without worrying about anything else."

"The second kind is much simpler. We will sell Spirit Seeds at a low price to Spirit Plant Masters who wish to cooperate. At the same time, we'll agree that once the spirit plants mature, Hundred Herbs Hall has the right of first refusal. The risks and benefits are borne by the Spirit Plant Master alone."

"Of course, this priority right won't be abused. If the price differs too much from other buyers, the Spirit Plant Master may decide for himself."

Lu Xuan nodded. Both kinds of cooperation had their own advantages and disadvantages.

The first was more stable. Whether it was his own safety or the safety of the Spirit Field and spirit plants, there would be guarantees, but comparatively speaking, it offered less freedom.

The second carried higher risk, but the benefits it produced might also be greater. If he truly were an ordinary Common Spirit Plant Master content with mediocrity, then of course the first would be the safer choice.

But Lu Xuan had never liked being restrained. Added to the matter of the White Light Orb in the Spirit Field, having free space was especially important to him.

"Manager He, I've always been used to being lazy and idle, and I'm not accustomed to being managed by others. So if we really are to cooperate, then I'll choose the second kind."

Lu Xuan happened to be wishing for someone to provide him with Spirit Seeds.

"Good. Then I'll go report this to the higher-ups. Once it's settled, I'll inform you the next time you come over."

"All right. Then many thanks, Manager He."

Lu Xuan cupped his hands toward the Gaunt Old Man and spoke gratefully.

He could clearly sense the old man's goodwill toward him, and had always kept it deep in his heart.

"In that case, the most urgent matter is to get a bigger and better Spirit Field."

The thought in his heart became even clearer and more pressing.