New Neighbor

New Neighbor, inside the house.

Lu Xuan sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, circulating his cultivation method as Spiritual Power flowed through his body.

After one full cycle, he slowly breathed out a mouthful of Turbid Qi.

Although many days of bitter cultivation could not compare to the cultivation reward brought by a single stalk of Spirit Firefly Grass, Lu Xuan still cultivated diligently without slacking.

It was just that most of his energy was placed on tending and nurturing Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts, while cultivating methods and spells came second.

It had been more than half a month since he had moved into the new courtyard. During this time, he rarely went out, devoting himself wholeheartedly to cultivating Spirit Plants.

Everything in the Spirit Field had changed quite a bit.

The Three-tailed Red-Whiskered Carp in the Spirit Spring had grown about two inches, and their slender red whiskers had grown more than half a foot. When they shot out of the water to fish for insects, they could instantly stretch to more than half a zhang.

The branches and leaves of the hundred stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass had grown much taller. On their emerald-green, slender leaves, specks of fluorescence gradually began to appear. In the depths of night, countless points of light were like fine stars filling the sky, flickering faintly.

The Blood Jade Ginseng had poked a section out of the Spirit Soil, like jade just dug from the earth, crystal clear and translucent.

After the Spirit Ginseng grew out, their moving speed suddenly increased by a great deal. If he paid even the slightest less attention, they would either fool around together or run into the area where the Spirit Firefly Grass was, forcing Lu Xuan to keep watch at all times.

The Red Cloud Pine had quietly grown five tiny Pine Nuts, half hidden among the fine red pine needles, revealing only sharp little tips.

The Sword Grass had already grown to about the same size as the Split Silver Blade, and its need for Sword Qi was even greater. Every two hours, Lu Xuan had to release a Gold Metal Swordplay at it.

Fine cracks could occasionally be seen in the Spirit Soil beside it, the result of the sword intent leaking out from the Sword Grass.

As for the Dark Marrow Mushroom, countless dark-red mycelia had already wrapped tightly around the decaying Spirit Tree, leaving almost no gaps.

"The rotten wood has been absorbed by the dark-red mycelia almost completely. Looks like I'll have to find a few more pieces, otherwise the growth of the Dark Marrow Mushroom will be affected."

Lu Xuan muttered to himself.

"Perfect. I can use this trip to browse the market and see if I can find any interesting Spirit Beasts or Unknown Spirit Seeds."

He walked out of the courtyard gate. Under the glare of the strong light, he narrowed his eyes somewhat uncomfortably.

"Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, you've finally come out of your courtyard today. What a rare sight."

From the courtyard across from him, a voice came over.

Lu Xuan looked toward the sound and saw a Middle-aged Cultivator lying on a wooden chair. Seeing Lu Xuan come out, the man rose and walked over.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wang."

Lu Xuan greeted him.

The Middle-aged Cultivator was named Wang Shan and lived next door to Lu Xuan. After Lu Xuan moved in, he had even come to the courtyard once for a visit.

Wang Shan had Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivation and was a Patrol Captain in the Marketplace. In his free time, he liked to go to the Pleasure House to relax a little.

"Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, keeping yourself shut up at home like this all the time won't do. Come out and play with your Uncle Wang one of these days. I'll take you to broaden your horizons."

Wang Shan teased Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan showed a trace of embarrassment at the right moment and waved his hand in refusal.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Fellow Daoist Wang, but with my Qi Refining Low Stage cultivation, if I entered a Pleasure House, wouldn't I be flayed and swallowed alive, not even my bones left?"

Not long after moving over, Lu Xuan had controlled his Breath Concealment Technique, making his cultivation appear to be Qi Training Stage 3.

After all, there were many Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators living nearby. If he still remained at Qi Training Stage 2, it would instead draw attention.

Qi Training Stage 3 was still low, but at least it looked somewhat normal.

As for the Pleasure House, what he said was not wrong either. The Female Cultivators inside all cultivated various charm techniques and knew how to please customers, but there was a very real chance one would have their Spiritual Power and essence blood siphoned away without realizing it.

More importantly, if one only went in to listen to music, that would be fine. But if one wanted a deeper exchange, the Spirit Stones spent would not be a small number.

"You're way too boring. We cultivate to gain greater power, isn't it all for enjoyment?"

Wang Shan clicked his tongue, his interest gone in an instant.

"Fellow Daoist's cultivation is profound, so being able to deal with those demon women is naturally fine."

"As for me, I don't enjoy affairs of romance. I prefer keeping company with Spirit Plants and Spirit Beasts. Everyone has their own aspirations!"

"That's true. I won't force you. When you change your mind one day, just tell me, and I'll take you to experience it. The Spirit Stones will be on me."

The two parted there. Wang Shan swayed back into his own courtyard.

Lu Xuan continued forward. When he passed by one side courtyard, a rich aroma of wine drifted from inside.

Lu Xuan had also met the owner of that courtyard before. He was a Qi Training Stage 4 cultivator who could not do without wine for all three meals a day, and had also honed a skill in brewing Spirit Wine.

After learning of Lu Xuan's identity as a Spirit Plant Master, he had even chased after him to ask whether Lu Xuan planted any Spirit Plants that could be brewed into Spirit Wine. Only after Lu Xuan denied it did he give up.

When Lu Xuan had first moved into the courtyard, he had attracted some curiosity and probing from the surrounding cultivators. Only after they saw Lu Xuan's Qi Refining Low Stage cultivation and learned that he was merely an ordinary Spirit Plant Master did these probing gazes gradually fade away.

The Rogue Cultivator Market was not far from the new courtyard. In less than fifteen minutes, Lu Xuan arrived at the market.

Inside the market, people came and went, and the hawking cries of various Stall Owners could be heard from time to time.

"Don't miss it if you're passing by! All kinds of top-grade Magic Tools, everything you could ask for! Only things you can't imagine, nothing you can't find!"

"Fresh Demon Beast Meat, just hunted from the Wilderness! The blood hasn't even dried yet! Buy a pound or two and it's worth half a month of cultivation!"

"Buying back secondhand Magic Tools, secondhand Array Formations, and damaged Talismans at high prices! Also purchasing all kinds of strange Treasures and unknown materials!"

Lu Xuan walked slowly through the market, constantly turning his head left and right as he paid attention to the goods on the stalls.

Most of the stalls displayed the Cultivation World's main cultivation resources, such as magic tools, Demonic Beast materials, spirit herbs and spirit grasses, Talismans, medicinal pills, and so on.

Things Lu Xuan needed, like Unknown Spirit Seeds, Spirit Beast eggs, or Young Beasts, were extremely rare. Even when he occasionally saw them, they were only being sold as add-ons; almost no one set up a stall dedicated to them.

Suddenly, he stopped and arrived before a stall.

The Stall Owner was a young girl at Qi Training Stage 2. Her appearance was ordinary, and her skin was a healthy oat color. Seeing Lu Xuan sweeping his gaze over the goods on her stall, she hurriedly came forward to greet him.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist. I have all kinds of Demon Bird feathers here, as well as specially prepared Demon Bird eggs. They contain dense Spiritual Power and taste excellent. Would you like some?"

Lu Xuan shook his head and pointed at a black cage in the corner of the stall.

"How are these young Demon Birds in here being sold?"

Inside the cage were several colorful young birds with vivid feathers, abundant and dense, revealing only a pair of bird claws patterned in black and white.

"Oh, these Brocade Chickens? I got them by raiding a bird's nest in the mountains. You can tame and raise them; after they mature, they might lay spirit eggs. If they can't, you can just eat them directly too. The meat is delicious."

The young girl introduced them to Lu Xuan.

"If I raise Brocade Chickens, about how long will it take for them to enter maturity?"

"Two and a half years."