Renting a Field

"Maturing..."

"Maturing..."

He focused his mind on the Spirit Firefly Grass. The status of all fourteen Spirit Firefly Grass plants showed as maturing.

"Faster! Higher! Stronger!!"

The black Sword Grass stood ramrod straight, transmitting an uplifting, ever-advancing spirit to Lu Xuan.

"When the flowers bloom, come and see me..."

Among the Red Cloud Pine's fine red needles, Lu Xuan saw several bright-red clusters of flowers poke out little pointed tips.

After nurturing it for so long, the Red Cloud Pine had finally blossomed.

"The air is filled with a smell more decayed than usual, carrying a faint trace of char, utterly enchanting."

On the rotten wood, the Dark Marrow Mushroom covered in countless dark-red hyphae clearly very much liked the special fertilizer Lu Xuan had added to the Spirit Field last night.

He made a round through the Spirit Field, and after confirming that every spirit plant was growing well, he returned to the house.

Among the things Qin Ming had left behind, Lu Xuan directly took the Storage Bag for his own use, to say nothing of the more than two hundred Spirit Stones.

As for the remaining Flying Sword Magic Tool and the unknown pills in the assorted bottles and jars, he had no plans to hurry and sell them for the time being.

After all, who knew whether any hidden marks had been left on the Flying Sword Magic Tool? He decided to wait until the storm passed before exchanging them for Spirit Stones or Spirit Seeds.

Several days passed like this. Lu Xuan stayed in the courtyard the whole time, tending to the spirit plants every day. He seemed leisurely and comfortable, but in truth, he was loose on the outside and taut within, worried about the follow-up reactions that might be caused after killing Qin Ming.

After he discovered no cultivators invading or spying on his courtyard, he relaxed slightly and stepped out of his home.

The courtyard's Spirit Field was far too small. Added to what Manager He of Hundred Herbs Hall had said about establishing a simple cooperative model with Lu Xuan, Lu Xuan once again had the thought of renting a larger Spirit Field.

He entered a Brokerage that specifically served cultivators.

In the Brokerage hall, there were only a scant few people, either receiving cultivator clients or organizing something.

"Welcome, Daoist."

A free broker saw a customer come to the door and came out to greet him at once, an extremely enthusiastic smile appearing on his face.

"So it's Daoist Lu. Planning to look at Spirit Fields again this time?"

This broker happened to be the Scarred Young Cultivator who had gossiped behind his back last time. His memory was decent, and he immediately recognized Lu Xuan's figure. The smile on his face instantly stiffened, and he deliberately emphasized the word "again."

Lu Xuan nodded, his expression indifferent.

Seeing Lu Xuan's attitude, a trace of extremely well-hidden mockery flashed through the Scarred Cultivator's eyes. He shouted to a Slightly Plump Young Cultivator beside him.

"Hey, this Daoist wants to go look at Spirit Fields. You receive him."

He knew very well that Lu Xuan was only a Qi Training Stage 2 Rogue Cultivator and could not possibly have the strength to rent those large courtyards. Not wanting to waste time for nothing, he directly called over a young Rogue Cultivator who had just started working at the Brokerage.

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator raised his head and said to Lu Xuan with a smile, "Daoist, if you have any requirements, you can ask me directly. I have a large number of Spirit Fields here, and can satisfy all kinds of requirements you might have."

"I saw a Spirit Field I was interested in before. Take me over to look at it again."

Lu Xuan explained to the Slightly Plump Cultivator which Spirit Field he had viewed before and told him to simply take him there.

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator nodded, and the two left the Brokerage.

"Looking at those big Spirit Fields again. What use is looking at them more? It's not like he can afford to rent them."

The Scarred Young Cultivator watched the two figures recede, gave a derisive laugh, then turned his head and swiftly switched to an incomparably enthusiastic smile.

"This Daoist, let me introduce that popular superior Spirit Field to you again..."

Lu Xuan first chose the courtyard that contained a Spirit Spring. Though its rent was the highest, requiring sixty Spirit Stones a month, the attraction of that Spirit Spring was simply too great.

More importantly, with Qin Ming's more than two hundred Spirit Stones, Lu Xuan now felt the price was only so-so.

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator led him to that enormous courtyard, took out a specially made Array Plate, and opened the Protective Array set up outside.

"Daoist Lu, please look. This courtyard is located near the center of the Marketplace. The people living nearby are all rather well-known Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators, so there's no need to mention its safety."

"The Spirit Field in the courtyard is more than one mu, with Rich Spiritual Energy that can speed up the growth of spirit plants. It's most suitable for a Spirit Plant Master like Daoist Lu."

"Of course, the most important thing is this Spirit Spring in the Spirit Field. It can continuously seep Spirit Spring water, which contains weak spiritual energy. Whether it's used to brew spirit wine or steep spirit tea, it's extremely suitable."

"When doing Alchemy or Artifact Refining, adding a small amount of Spirit Spring water can also slightly improve the quality of the pills and Magic Tools."

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator pointed at a Spirit Spring as he spoke to Lu Xuan.

The Spirit Spring was about ten feet long and about five feet wide, with a shallow layer of accumulated Spirit Spring water inside.

"Can this Spirit Spring be guaranteed to always have water? It won't stop appearing after this bit is used up, right?"

He raised one doubt of his to the Slightly Plump Cultivator.

"Daoist, you can rest assured. It's said that the Spirit Spring is tightly connected to a branch of the spirit vein in the Marketplace, and Spirit Spring water will always seep out, only the amount won't be large."

"This point can be written into the contract. If there isn't any, we will provide you with sufficient compensation, Daoist."

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator said with a smile.

"Can the price be any lower? Sixty Spirit Stones a month is a bit too expensive."

Lu Xuan skillfully fell back on his old trade.

"Well... the rent isn't something I can decide, but if you do want to rent it, that first-grade Protective Array in the courtyard can be used by you free of charge for a while."

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator sighed inwardly. That sliver of hope he had been clinging to—that Lu Xuan might actually rent it—vanished in an instant.

"Sixty Spirit Stones..."

Lu Xuan pondered briefly.

"Then I'll take this one!"

"If you feel sixty Spirit Stones a month is too expensive, Daoist, you can still go take a look at a nearby courtyard."

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator wore a smile and gave his formulaic reply.

"Ah...?"

He suddenly realized something and looked up at Lu Xuan, his eyes half expectant, half doubtful.

Lu Xuan gave a smile that was not quite a smile and nodded.

"Thank you, Daoist, thank you, Daoist! I'll go handle everything for you right away!!"

The Brokerage.

The Scarred Cultivator lay on a wooden chair, rocking gently back and forth, clearly in an excellent mood.

Just moments ago, he had smoothly closed a deal, renting out a Small Courtyard for seven Spirit Stones a month and earning a sizable commission.

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator burst in like wind and fire.

"Back already? That Rogue Cultivator didn't make you take him around to see a few more Spirit Fields?"

He looked at the Slightly Plump Young Cultivator rushing toward the counter, a trace of mockery hidden in his tone.

"No, just one."

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator did not even lift his head as he answered offhandedly.

"Then he still has some conscience. Didn't waste too much of your time."

"Exactly. Daoist Lu really is too good. He took one look at the Spirit Field and settled on it right away. He even paid the deposit."

"Hm?"

The Scarred Cultivator thought he had misheard. The wooden chair that had been rocking gently came to an abrupt stop.

The Slightly Plump Young Cultivator lifted his head and revealed a simple, honest smile.

"The one for sixty Spirit Stones a month."

With a clatter, the wooden chair slipped out of control and crashed to the floor.