Threat

"Senior Brother Lu, what do you think of this Spirit Field?"

Lu Xuan walked slowly through the spacious courtyard, carefully observing his surroundings.

A Qi Training Stage 1 Scarred Young Cultivator followed close behind him, step for step.

The young man bent slightly at the waist and squeezed out an extremely enthusiastic smile.

"The owner of this courtyard was once a Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivator. He went out exploring once and never returned for a long time. His descendants mortgaged it, and our Brokerage took it over to rent out."

"This Spirit Field before you is nearly one mu. It has Rich Spiritual Energy, and the courtyard is located beside the Rogue Cultivator Market. Guards from the Marketplace patrol the area, so its safety is also greatly guaranteed."

"And there's that Chicken Coop up ahead. The previous owner inscribed several runes on it—Dust Removal, reinforcement, and soundproofing. It's suitable for raising Spirit Beasts, spirit birds, and the like."

"It really is quite good. It's just that I still need to consider it."

Lu Xuan said calmly.

Over the past few days, he had taken time out of his schedule and looked at several Spirit Fields through brokers.

These Spirit Fields were several times, even more than ten times, the size of his current Spirit Field. Their Spiritual Energy was also much richer, and they came with all sorts of conveniences.

Among them was even one courtyard that not only had more than one mu of Spirit Field, but actually had a Spirit Spring inside! That could not help but make Lu Xuan greatly tempted, but after asking about the rent, he was quickly knocked back to reality.

Of the Spirit Fields he had seen, even the cheapest required forty Spirit Stones a month in rent. The one with the Spirit Spring even required sixty Spirit Stones a month, and each payment had to cover no less than half a year.

Lu Xuan had gone from long-term poverty to sudden wealth recently, and his net worth was already close to three hundred Spirit Stones. In his heart, it was inevitable that he had become a little inflated.

But now he realized that this amount of Spirit Stones was completely not enough when it truly mattered. He still had to accumulate for a while longer.

Thinking of this, Lu Xuan turned his head and said to the Scarred Broker, "I'll go back and consider it first. If I'm interested, I'll come find you again."

With that, he turned and left.

Once Lu Xuan's figure had gone far away, the Scarred Broker could not help but spit.

"What the hell? A little Qi Training Stage 2 rogue cultivator actually wants to rent this kind of Spirit Field? Wishful thinking!"

"Wasting my damn time!"

Lu Xuan frowned slightly. It had already been some time since his cultivation had broken through to Qi Training Stage 3, and his five senses were much sharper than before, so he vaguely heard the Scarred Young Cultivator's words.

He immediately gave a faint, mocking smile. He paid no mind to the broker's attitude of bowing before him and turning arrogant afterward, only quietly putting him on his blacklist. He would absolutely never look for him to view Spirit Fields again.

"Ah, in the past, I always felt I was too poor, so poor I couldn't even bear to feed the Grass Puppet one Fragmented Spirit Stone."

"Now my net worth is nearly three hundred Spirit Stones. I can feed the Grass Puppet one, throw—no, I can even feed it two."

"But why do I feel like I'm still really too poor?"

Such a thought arose in his mind.

"I still have to work hard to earn Spirit Stones."

After resting for a few days, Zhang Hong once again headed to the Wilderness Secret Realm. Zhang Xiuyuan had already entered working mode these past few days.

The two continued to cooperate. Zhang Xiuyuan found rogue cultivators who met the conditions and had encountered Insect Pests, and Lu Xuan would step in to resolve the Insect Pests.

After using it many times, his understanding of Gold Metal Swordplay naturally became even deeper. On top of that, his pest removal was clean and efficient, and his price was cheap, so he had also gained a certain reputation among the rogue cultivators in the North District.

Previously, Zhang Xiuyuan had still needed to take the initiative to seek out customers, but now they all came to the door themselves. When there were many people, they even had to line up for a bit.

That day, Lu Xuan accepted five Spirit Stones and, seen off by a constantly grateful rogue cultivator, walked out of a run-down courtyard.

"Daoist Lu, what a coincidence. To think I'd run into you here."

A gentle voice sounded by his ear.

Lu Xuan looked toward the voice and saw a Plump Cultivator standing at the corner, smiling as he looked at the two of them.

"Coincidence my ass. The North District is so big, how could we just happen to run into each other here? He was clearly waiting for me!"

Lu Xuan cursed inwardly, then replied with a smile.

"So it's Daoist Qin. It has been a long time. Your cultivation has grown even deeper, Daoist. You are truly a model for us rogue cultivators."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. It is Daoist Lu who has quite surprised me. I didn't expect that the Qi Training Stage 2 rogue cultivator who still needed to invite me to help remove Insect Pests several months ago would now have grown to the point where he can easily resolve Insect Pests himself."

Qin Ming sighed. He truly had not expected that the low-level Qi Training rogue cultivator he had once completely ignored would one day use an exquisite swordplay to become his competitor.

"It was just luck. Compared with Senior Brother Qin, I am still far inferior."

A trace of reminiscence appeared in Lu Xuan's eyes.

"It all began with that Insect Pest incident. Ever since then, in order to prevent the Spirit Plants in my Spirit Field from suffering Insect Pests again, I steeled my heart and used my entire fortune to purchase a swordplay."

"After bitterly cultivating for several months, and perhaps because I have just the slightest bit of talent on the path of the sword, I achieved what I have today."

"However, because my cultivation is low, I can only use the swordplay two or three times a day. That has also led to me only being able to earn that tiny, insignificant bit of Spirit Stones now."

Because there was a conflict of interest, Lu Xuan had long anticipated the scene of meeting other cultivators who resolved Insect Pests, especially the Qi Training Stage 4 Qin Ming before him, who could be counted as having the most business in the North District.

He spoke the answer he had long prepared in a smooth, unhurried manner, and made it clear that his cultivation was low and that he was only trying to earn some Spirit Stones for household expenses. He could not take much of Qin Ming's business.

"So that's how it is."

Qin Ming nodded slightly.

"However, Daoist Lu is still young. You should focus on cultivation for now, and it would be best to meddle less in the Insect Pest matter."

Qin Ming smiled as he looked straight at Lu Xuan, half advising, half threatening.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Daoist Qin. I know what I should do."

Lu Xuan replied blandly, then tugged Zhang Xiuyuan away.

As they walked, he kept feeling a gaze falling faintly on his back.

"There are so many Rogue Cultivators in the North District. I already made it clear I only wanted to earn a few Spirit Stones, so what's the meaning of threatening me?"

He thought indignantly to himself. He had already shown weakness, yet Qin Ming was still pressing him so relentlessly that anger could not help but rise in him.

Suddenly, his steps paused, and a thought appeared in his mind.

The more he thought about it, the worse it seemed. Lu Xuan simply stopped and pulled Zhang Xiuyuan beside him to a halt.

"Xiao Yuan, Little Uncle Lu has something he needs your help with."

"Go to the homes of those friends you're close to who've also run into Insect Pest trouble, and ask whether their family invited a plump, fair-skinned Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivator skilled in Ice Element Techniques."

"If they did, ask clearly just how he dealt with the Black Sprout Insect Larvae after solving the Insect Pest problem."

"You're young, so others won't be on guard against you and will tell you the details. I'll keep watch outside, so you don't need to worry about safety."

Seeing Lu Xuan's solemn expression, Zhang Xiuyuan, who had been sensible since childhood, also understood the seriousness of the situation. He pressed his lips together and nodded hard.

The two arrived before the home of a Rogue Cultivator Zhang Xiuyuan had mentioned. Zhang Xiuyuan called out from outside the courtyard, and at the invitation of a Youth his own age, entered the yard.

Lu Xuan held several Talismans in his hand and waited quietly for him to come out.

This concerns recommendations, so everyone, please be sure to keep following today's update! I'm begging you!