A Little Special Treatment

The relationship between He Song and Zhao Lin changed because of this as well.

From the countless emotions they had felt when they first met,

to gradually becoming familiar with each other,

and finally to regretting that they had not met sooner.

Over the past three years, He Song and Zhao Lin had gradually grown closer, and their visits to each other became more frequent.

By now, the two could be considered friends.

Although He Song had yet to introduce Zhao Lin into the small circle he shared with Wei Fan and the others, he had already begun considering it.

Zhao Lin was familiar with Meng Guan, and he was now friends with He Song as well.

Whether to let him join their small circle was something He Song needed to consider.

Today.

After casting the Spirit Rain Technique for half an hour in the Spirit Fields under his care, He Song headed toward the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Now that his cultivation had stabilized, it was time to claim two more mu of Spirit Fields.

His annual income from now on would also exceed what he had earned during the Qi Refining Early Stage.

Before long, He Song appeared at the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Inside the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Zhao Lin happened to be on duty today.

Thus, the instant He Song stepped into the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, Zhao Lin, who had been reading miscellaneous books to pass the time, immediately rose to his feet.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on breaking through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage. Your cultivation has greatly advanced, and Foundation Establishment is now within sight!" A flash of spiritual light passed through Zhao Lin's eyes as he promptly offered his congratulations.

Though he too was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, He Song was his friend. Seeing his friend break through, he naturally had to congratulate him.

At the same time, several Spirit Talismans swiftly appeared in Zhao Lin's hands.

"Come, come. I drew these Thick Earth Talismans myself. They are not worth much, so consider them a gift to celebrate your breakthrough." As he handed several Thick Earth Talismans to He Song, delight flickered through Zhao Lin's eyes.

His friend's breakthrough to the Qi Refining Middle Stage meant that his own foundation within the Immortal Market had become that much steadier.

Should anything happen in the future, He Song would be able to offer him some help as well.

Just like Meng Guan before.

After becoming friends with him, Zhao Lin had unexpectedly obtained the lucrative post of managing the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Therefore, in Zhao Lin's eyes, exchanging benefits with friends had its advantages.

"Then I shall thank Brother Zhao. I am indeed in need of such life-preserving Spirit Talismans. Brother Zhao is truly generous." He Song did not refuse and accepted the Thick Earth Talismans directly.

For something like a Thick Earth Talisman, which could save one's life at a crucial moment, He Song would certainly take it even if he did not lack them.

What was more, Zhao Lin himself was a talisman maker. The Thick Earth Talismans he drew cost no more than the price of the materials.

He had not forgotten the great calamity three years ago. He needed to continually strengthen his ability to preserve his life; only then could he survive steadily in this cruel world of cultivation.

Over the past three years, all the Spirit Stones he had earned had gone toward inscribing formation patterns, leaving him with very little. Now that he had a source of income, the more the better.

As for owing a favor, so be it. It was a favor owed to a friend; he could find an opportunity to repay it later.

He Song, who had now successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, was no longer the same as before.

He could save up ninety Spirit Stones in a year. A favor for a few Thick Earth Talismans was truly nothing much.

"Fellow Daoist, you came here this time for those two mu of Spirit Fields, did you not?" Seeing He Song accept the Thick Earth Talismans, a trace of satisfaction flashed through Zhao Lin's eyes.

Clearly, he greatly approved of He Song accepting his congratulatory gift without hesitation.

He Song was just about to nod.

But Zhao Lin suddenly smiled and shook his head, continuing.

"Then Fellow Daoist has come too late. When you previously said you were going into seclusion to break through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, I had already transferred those two mu of Spirit Fields under your name. Their location is right here."

After taking a rather roundabout path, Zhao Lin fetched a map from the side as he spoke and pointed out the location to He Song.

On the map lay a vast stretch of Spirit Fields outside the Immortal Market, with individual plots marked by their owners' names.

Surprised, He Song swept his gaze over it and quickly found his own name.

Where the two large characters "He Song" appeared, there were two plots, one large and one small.

Yet the two plots were connected. Only the black line at their junction indicated that the smaller plot had been added later.

As his gaze swept over the surroundings again, He Song quickly discovered that many people had their names in two separate places.

For instance, he saw the name Chen Zhou written over two different plots.

Before He Song could ask anything, however.

Zhao Lin's finger had already pointed toward the spot bearing He Song's name on the map.

"Take a look, Fellow Daoist. This original large plot is your original five mu of Spirit Fields. This newly added smaller plot is the new two mu. Since the two fields lie together, you will not need to run east and west every day and cast the spell twice."

As Zhao Lin spoke, He Song froze for a moment before quickly understanding.

Spirit Plant Farmers like himself, who could add new Spirit Fields beside their original plots, were likely few in number.

When other Qi Refining Middle Stage Spirit Plant Farmers received additional Spirit Fields, those new fields would often be in another location.

Just like the Chen Zhou He Song had just seen, whose name appeared in two different places.

As a result, those cultivators had to travel between two areas of Spirit Fields every day and cast the Spirit Rain Technique twice.

They had to cast the Spirit Rain Technique twice, each time for half an hour, and travel a considerable distance to reach the other Spirit Field.

Naturally, this meant they had to spend more time each day.

And what about He Song?

He Song only needed to cast the Spirit Rain Technique once where his Spirit Fields were located. The area was merely a little larger, and he did not need to run around. It still only took half an hour.

Comparing the two, cultivators like He Song, whose large and small plots of Spirit Fields lay together, were undoubtedly far more comfortable than those who had to run between two fields every day and cast the Spirit Rain Technique twice.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!" Faced with Zhao Lin's utterly obvious act of giving him special treatment, warmth rose in He Song's heart, and he thought even more highly of Zhao Lin.

Not only had Zhao Lin transferred the additional two mu of Spirit Fields under his name when He Song had gone off to make his breakthrough, allowing him to receive his annual stipend sooner.

He had even helped force the two plots together, letting He Song earn more without spending additional time.

In doing so, Zhao Lin had truly taken everything he could do for He Song and done it to the utmost.

Whether it was transferring the Spirit Fields under his name in advance,

or forcibly merging the two plots together,

both gave He Song a new understanding of Zhao Lin and of the world of cultivation.

So this was how power could be used in the world of cultivation.

So Zhao Lin was truly someone worth befriending. When something came up, he really could give He Song special treatment.

"No need to thank me. Why speak of such things between you and me? It is only a small matter. As long as it is something I can handle here in the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, I will make sure it is done beautifully for you."

Faced with He Song's thanks, Zhao Lin waved his hand without a second thought, not taking it seriously at all.

What a tiny matter.