This Batch Is Good Quality

This Batch Is Good Quality

The two reached an agreement. After Lu Xuan and the Stall Owner swore an oath, Lu Xuan handed him eight Spirit Stones and fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones, receiving the Spirit Seed wreathed in wisps of smoke.

With the money and goods settled, he was in high spirits as he made his way to Hundred Herbs Hall.

Manager He spotted him from afar and jogged out.

"You rascal, what brings you here today?"

"I heard a Mutated Cultivator just appeared in the Rogue Cultivator Market, causing several casualties. You didn't run into him, did you?"

Only after grabbing Lu Xuan and leading him into Hundred Herbs Hall did he relax a little.

"Unfortunately, I did, but I escaped quickly enough and wasn't caught up in it."

Lu Xuan spoke.

"I don't know whether to call you lucky or unlucky. You rarely venture out, yet the moment you do, you run into something so dangerous. Fortunately, you weren't hurt."

The Gaunt Old Man sighed with emotion.

"In just a short time, the Marketplace has become terribly unstable. Cultivators are dying everywhere, and Evil Spirits keep appearing from time to time."

"If you ask me, you might as well become a full-time Spirit Plant Master for the hall. Once you're here, you'll have high-stage Qi Refining cultivators protecting you, and you won't have to worry about anything like this happening again."

Manager He extended another invitation to Lu Xuan, hoping to bring him into Hundred Herbs Hall under the protection of the hall's high-stage cultivators.

Lu Xuan knew that Manager He meant well and had made the suggestion out of concern for his safety. However, his Spirit Field and Spirit Plants involved too many secrets. He didn't want to live under someone else's roof and be restricted at every turn.

"Manager He, I truly appreciate your kindness, but I've grown used to being lazy and free. I can't stand all sorts of restrictions, so I'd rather stay in my own courtyard."

"Besides, I rarely leave home anyway. I only want to stay there and cultivate Spirit Plants properly. That should help me avoid most dangerous situations."

"Fine, have it your way. You came this time because some Spirit Firefly Grass has entered its mature stage?"

Seeing that Lu Xuan had made up his mind, the Gaunt Old Man stopped trying to persuade him and changed the subject.

"That's right. Thirteen stalks have already matured in the first batch. Why don't you take a look and see how the quality is?"

Lu Xuan chuckled.

"Judging by that smug look on your face, the quality is probably not bad. Take them out and let this old man have a look."

Seeing Lu Xuan's expression, Manager He grew curious.

With a thought from Lu Xuan, thirteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass were moved out of his Storage Bag and landed before Manager He.

"Superior Grade Spirit Firefly Grass."

"Another Superior Grade."

"Hm? This is... Perfect Grade?"

The Gaunt Old Man couldn't help raising his head and looking at Lu Xuan, a trace of astonishment appearing in his eyes.

After calming himself, he once again focused on the Spirit Firefly Grass before him.

"This one is Good Grade."

"Superior Grade."

"Perfect Grade again?"

The four Perfect Grade stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass that appeared one after another left Manager He shocked at first, then numb and composed.

"This batch is very good quality."

"I never expected you to be able to cultivate Perfect Grade Spirit Firefly Grass. You've truly surprised me."

Among the thirteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass, there were actually four of Perfect Grade. The Gaunt Old Man couldn't help recalling that even the few experienced senior Spirit Plant Masters in Hundred Herbs Hall seemed unable to guarantee such a success rate.

And that was despite the Spirit Fields belonging to Hundred Herbs Hall having denser and purer spiritual energy.

If Lu Xuan cultivated them using the hall's Spirit Fields, wouldn't the chances of producing Perfect Grade Spirit Firefly Grass be even greater?

At that thought, he let out a deep sigh. If he had invited Lu Xuan to become a full-time Spirit Plant Master for the hall out of concern for his safety just moments ago, now he regretted that Hundred Herbs Hall could not claim such a remarkably gifted Spirit Plant Master.

"Luck, just luck. I only achieved this because I spent the time others used for cultivation on nurturing Spirit Plants."

Lu Xuan smiled.

"Hahaha, effort always brings its reward."

Manager He laughed heartily.

"Come, let's settle the account! The purchase prices are still the same as before: three Spirit Stones and fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones for each Good Grade stalk, twenty more Fragmented Spirit Stones for each Superior Grade stalk, and four Spirit Stones for each Perfect Grade stalk."

"That makes... forty-eight Spirit Stones and seventy Fragmented Spirit Stones in total."

Lu Xuan calculated it mentally, confirmed the amount was correct, and accepted the Spirit Stones Manager He handed him.

With that, his net worth once again exceeded a hundred Spirit Stones, bringing the number in his possession to more than one hundred and twenty.

Although Hundred Herbs Hall provided Lu Xuan with Spirit Firefly Grass Seeds at a price one or two tenths lower than the market price, according to their agreement, the purchase price for mature Spirit Plants remained at the normal rate.

The reason Hundred Herbs Hall sold Spirit Seeds cheaply to Lu Xuan and the other Spirit Plant Masters was to secure priority access once the Spirit Medicines matured.

In other words, they sacrificed part of the profit from the Spirit Seeds in exchange for a targeted, stable, and higher-quality source of Spirit Medicine.

"If the Spirit Firefly Grass you bring later is of this quality as well, I can put in a good word for you before the Young Miss and help you apply for some other First Grade or even Second Grade Spirit Seeds."

Manager He looked at Lu Xuan and spoke solemnly.

"Second Grade Spirit Seeds?"

Surprise colored Lu Xuan's voice. The last time he had come, the two sides had only just established their partnership, and he had no achievements worth mentioning. The young female cultivator who managed Hundred Herbs Hall hadn't trusted him much, so she had only provided one hundred Spirit Firefly Grass Seeds and twenty Blood Jade Ginseng Spirit Seeds.

"I can certainly guarantee the quality. As for the rest, I'll have to trouble you, Senior. I'll bring you a packet of Spirit Tea Leaves another day."

He spoke to the Gaunt Old Man gratefully.

"That won't be necessary. If you cultivate high-quality Spirit Medicine for the hall, then as the one who recommended you, I'll naturally benefit greatly as well."

Manager He smiled.

After selling the Spirit Firefly Grass, Lu Xuan didn't linger. He remained cautiously alert along the way and hurried home at full speed.

Once home, he closed the courtyard gate, activated the Array Formation, and took an Exorcism Talisman out of his Storage Bag.

As his spiritual power activated it, a pure white radiance appeared and swept over the area around Lu Xuan. Nothing happened.

Only then did Lu Xuan completely relax and set down the Cloud Stepping Lynx that had been sitting quietly on his shoulder.

"Thanks to you, little fellow, for warning me today. Well done. I'll reward you with two extra strips of Puffer Pig Meat later."

In the Rogue Cultivator Market, if the Cloud Stepping Lynx's Green Eyes hadn't detected the anomaly beforehand, then even with a Magic Tool and plenty of Talismans on him, Lu Xuan could still have been injured.

At that thought, he gently stroked the two small tufts of fur on the tips of the Cloud Stepping Lynx's ears and spoke warmly.

The Cloud Stepping Lynx's Green Eyes glanced blandly at Lu Xuan, allowing him to stroke its head.

"Awooo~~ Dried meat, dried meat! My favorite dried meat~"

Lu Xuan seemed to see, within its aloof and proud body, a lively and adorable soul stomping its four white-cloud paws and cheering jubilantly.

But the instant he thought of the Cloud Stepping Lynx's coarse roar, the little figure within its body vanished without a trace.

"Awoo~"

Feeling the hand on its head stop moving, the Azure-Eyed Cloud Stepping Lynx tried hard to squeeze out a low whine.