Restlessness

"Gold Metal Swordplay, a First-Rank Spell. It uses a special method to nurture metal-element Sword Qi within the acupoints. Once activated, it moved swift as the wind and possessed immense killing power."

A First-Rank Spell... He had not expected to obtain such a fine treasure from the Light Orb.

Lu Xuan's mind went blank for an instant.

He currently possessed three spells: the Fireball Technique, Spirit Rain Technique, and the Earth Guidance Art he had obtained from a White Light Orb not long ago. All three were unranked spells—strictly speaking, merely crude applications of spiritual power.

Yet although the Gold Metal Swordplay was only the lowest First Grade, Lu Xuan was already completely satisfied.

One had to know that even among Qi Refining Middle Stage and even late-stage cultivators, First-Rank Spells were hardly something everyone possessed.

He remained where he was, slowly gathering spiritual power according to the route that had appeared in his mind.

At once, a Pale Gold Airflow roughly Three Inches long and as wide as a finger surged vigorously from his body. It streaked toward the stone wall, cleaving a Black Thorn cleanly in two.

Lu Xuan walked over, picked up the smoothly severed piece of thorn, and silently marveled at the Pale Gold Sword Qi's destructive power.

Though Black Thorns were not Spirit Plants, they were exceptionally tough. Lu Xuan had once tested them with the Fireball Technique, and it had taken half a quarter-hour of burning to snap a thorn.

Compared side by side, the Gold Metal Swordplay was far cleaner and more decisive, its killing power clearly more than twice as great.

"I've only just begun cultivating it. It takes far too long to unleash the Sword Art, and its power is greatly diminished."

"With such a powerful spell, I'll have to practice it diligently from now on."

"Of course, it would be best if I could obtain another Gold Metal Swordplay as an experience bar."

Lu Xuan could not help thinking this as he looked at the remaining fifteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass.

He placed the harvested Spirit Firefly Grass into the Jade Box, intending to head out again.

He currently had nine mature stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass: six of Common quality and three of Good Grade.

The number of Jade Boxes was limited, and there was no room left for additional Spirit Plants. To prevent the Spirit Firefly Grass from losing spiritual energy later, he had to sell these nine stalks as soon as possible.

At the same time, quite a bit of space had opened up in the Spirit Field. With the Spirit Firefly Grass in the remaining area also nearing maturity, Lu Xuan planned to use the Spirit Stones he exchanged for more Spirit Seeds.

If he had enough Spirit Stones, he would see whether he could pick up a low-grade Protective Array at the marketplace.

The White Light Orbs appearing in the courtyard's Spirit Field had abruptly made the field far more important. Lu Xuan feared that cultivators or Demonic Beasts might sneak in, steal from it, damage the Spirit Plants within, and affect the richness of the White Light Orbs.

He gave the Grass Puppet a few instructions to watch the house, then left the courtyard carrying the Jade Box filled with Spirit Firefly Grass.

The moment he stepped outside, he happened to run into Zhang Hong, who was returning from the marketplace.

"Little Brother Lu, where are you headed?"

Zhang Hong spotted Lu Xuan from afar and called out with a hearty laugh.

"Greetings, Zhang Dage. I'm planning to take a look around the marketplace."

Lu Xuan greeted Zhang Hong.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he learned that Zhang Hong had just returned from the marketplace after purchasing several Protective Talismans in preparation for the upcoming Reclamation Secret Realm.

"Little Brother Lu, do you truly have no interest in joining us to reclaim that New Secret Realm in the Wilderness?"

Zhang Hong changed the subject and asked Lu Xuan again, still unwilling to give up.

"I appreciate Zhang Dage's kindness, but my ambitions lie elsewhere. I only want to be an ordinary, law-abiding Spirit Plant Master."

Lu Xuan waved his hand and firmly refused.

"Then there's nothing to be done. I was thinking that if we could travel together, our long acquaintance would let us look after one another."

Zhang Hong said regretfully.

"I wish Zhang Dage endless fortuitous encounters on this journey and a safe return."

Lu Xuan clasped his fists and offered his sincere blessing.

The two parted ways.

Lu Xuan walked to the marketplace and discovered that far more cultivators than usual had appeared there.

Defensive talismans had become hot commodities, while Healing Elixirs were rarer than rare. The moment they appeared, crowds of cultivators rushed to snatch them up. Even with prices much higher than usual, demand still exceeded supply.

"It seems news of the Wang Family's impending reclamation of a New Secret Realm has already spread throughout Vast Forest Market."

"So many low-stage and middle-stage Qi Practitioners want a share of the pie. I wonder how many will obtain opportunities, and how many will become stepping stones for others."

Lu Xuan felt the restless air of the marketplace but remained unmoved, watching in silence.

He lingered in the marketplace for two or three quarter-hours, paying attention to every scrap of information around him and occasionally questioning Rogue Cultivators at their stalls. At last, after turning through several intersections, he arrived before an apothecary named Hundred Herbs Hall.

The apothecary's owner was an alchemist with great demand for all kinds of alchemy ingredients. Lu Xuan had previously sold all the spiritual herbs he grew to this apothecary, and its prices were fairly reasonable.

Upon entering the apothecary, he was met by a thick medicinal fragrance. Familiar with the place, Lu Xuan made his way into a wooden room.

The wooden room was piled with Spirit Herbs of every size, while several Herb Boys busied themselves processing them.

"Lu Boy, here to sell Spirit Firefly Grass again?"

A Gaunt Old Man spotted Lu Xuan at once, glanced at his bulging chest, and called out to him.

"Yes, Manager He. Some Spirit Firefly Grass has matured, so I've come to sell it to your shop."

The Gaunt Old Man was a relative of the apothecary's alchemist and usually helped manage miscellaneous affairs in the shop. Lu Xuan had to deal with him whenever he wanted to sell Spirit Firefly Grass, and the two were fairly familiar with each other.

"How many?"

"Nine stalks. How many Spirit Stones is Spirit Firefly Grass selling for per stalk now?"

Lu Xuan took the Jade Box from his chest and asked.

"The same old price. Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones per stalk."

"Manager He, that's hardly fair, is it?"

Upon hearing the Gaunt Old Man's answer, Lu Xuan withdrew the hand extending the Jade Box.

"From what I understand, quite a few Spirit Plant Masters in the North District have recently suffered Insect Pests among their Spirit Firefly Grass. Their yields are lower than usual."

"Word is spreading throughout the marketplace that the Wang Family in the central area is going to reclaim a New Secret Realm, causing the price of Healing Elixirs to soar."

"As a primary ingredient for refining Healing Elixirs, if Spirit Firefly Grass is still priced according to the old rates, that would be bullying us honest Rogue Cultivators too much."

"You little rascal. Your cultivation isn't high, but your nose is certainly sharp."

Manager He laughed and cursed lightly, then straightened his expression.

"Three Spirit Stones and twenty Fragmented Spirit Stones per stalk of Spirit Firefly Grass. Not a penny more or less."

Lu Xuan lowered his head and considered for a moment, knowing this was already quite a fair price.

"Are Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass priced the same way?"

"Oh?"

The Gaunt Old Man raised his head, surprise in his eyes.

"You brat, you've even grown Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass? Let me take a look."

High-quality ingredients could slightly raise both pill formation rates and medicinal efficacy during alchemy, making them greatly favored by all alchemists.

"Indeed, it is Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass."

"You're so young, and the spiritual energy in your Spirit Field is so thin, yet you managed to grow Spirit Plants of such quality. That is no easy feat."

"How about this? I'll buy these three stalks of Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass for three Spirit Stones and fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones each. What do you say?"

Lu Xuan quickly nodded. After all, they were only slightly better than Common Spirit Firefly Grass, not superior or even perfect-grade specimens. An increase of thirty Fragmented Spirit Stones per stalk was already quite good.

He handed the nine stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass to the Gaunt Old Man. The old man Checked Once in detail without nitpicking, counted out the Spirit Stones, and handed them to Lu Xuan.

Six stalks of Common Spirit Firefly Grass and three stalks of Good Grade Spirit Firefly Grass brought him a total of twenty-nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones and seventy Fragmented Spirit Stones.

Lu Xuan carefully stored them at his waist. Feeling the threads of icy chill the Spirit Stones gave off through his clothes, his heart burned hot.