A Few Too Many Secrets, Keeping a Low Profile Is the Only Way to Win

After unloading the spirit beast manure, Hu Bugui did not quote a price right away.

Instead, he opened his mouth, looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Xu Changqing asked doubtfully, "What is it?"

Hu Bugui gave a dry laugh. "Can I invest manure... no, I mean invest?"

"Huh?" Xu Changqing's eyes widened.

Hu Bugui said helplessly, "There are still two years until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition. Resources will keep rising in price during that time. Just selling manure isn't enough to stay alive."

Xu Changqing suddenly understood. "You want to use spirit beast manure to invest in my Grade-Two Spirit Field."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Hu Bugui nodded hard.

Xu Changqing could not help but ponder it.

Fertilizing spirit rice really would increase its yield; he had tested that last winter.

If he could secure Hu Bugui's long-term investment, the benefits would definitely outweigh the drawbacks.

But the question was, how much did the other man intend to take?

That was the key among keys.

Too little, and Hu Bugui definitely would not agree.

But too much, and Xu Changqing would not agree either.

Hu Bugui seemed to have seen through his thoughts, so he immediately said, "If you only want manure from hundred-year spirit beasts, then I'll take one-tenth of the total yield."

That meant taking one hundred jin out of one thousand jin.

Two hundred jin out of two thousand jin.

Of course, the portion submitted for the mission had to be deducted first.

"You have better spirit beast manure?" Xu Changqing asked in surprise.

Hearing this, Hu Bugui patted his chest. "I've got some connections in this line of work. Even manure from five-hundred-year, or even thousand-year spirit beasts, I can get it."

Xu Changqing thought for a moment before saying, "How about this? Let's test it out during spring first. If everyone is satisfied, we can continue working together afterward."

Hu Bugui's eyes lit up. "No problem!"

Just like that, Xu Changqing obtained enough hundred-year spirit beast manure to spread across his entire Spirit Field.

Afterward, as long as he handed over around one to two hundred jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, he would not be breaching the agreement.

The reason Hu Bugui wanted so little was because a cunning rabbit had three burrows.

He was not investing only in Xu Changqing.

In fact, he had sought out many spirit farmers to cooperate with.

To put it bluntly, he had transformed from a mere manure peddler into a manure supplier.

He might lose money at first, but afterward, he could potentially make a huge profit.

All he stood to lose was manure that spirit beasts produced every day anyway.

But to spirit farmers, this was a fine thing that could increase production.

That was why even Xu Changqing could not help being tempted.

After fertilizing every spirit plant in the Spirit Field,

Xu Changqing did not hesitate. He turned and headed straight for the Core Administration Office.

Since he had already begun, he could not waste time.

He had to seize every opportunity.

He might as well post a Rainfall mission now.

He would find a formal disciple with a Water Spirit Root to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.

Actually, there was another option.

That was to find a dao companion with a Water Spirit Root.

Then he would not need to post missions and wait eagerly for someone else to help him.

But the problem was that Xu Changqing had too many secrets and could not reveal them lightly.

If others learned that a spirit farmer who had just joined the core division could already produce as much from one mu of Spirit Fields as those in the Foundation Establishment Realm, or even more,

it would definitely cause a sensation and perhaps even attract the "attention" of the immortal elders.

If he attributed it all to talent alone, that would be far too forced.

After all, back in the outer sect, Xu Changqing had only succeeded on his third assessment.

Therefore, he needed to raise his cultivation realm to a certain level before considering that matter.

Just like last time, he posted the mission and filled in the reward.

Afterward, he received a notification talisman.

Next, all he had to do was wait patiently.

The next day arrived quickly. Xu Changqing had just finished breakfast

when the talisman on him began to tremble and flash.

This meant that a disciple with a Water Spirit Root had accepted the mission and was on the way.

Xu Changqing was in no hurry. He first cultivated atop the ridge between the fields, absorbing wood spiritual energy.

Then he chased the little yellow dog around the ground until it panted with its tongue hanging out.

Finally, the talisman flashed more and more rapidly.

Xu Changqing had thought the other person would walk over.

He had not expected her to arrive standing atop a Flying Paper Crane.

Xu Changqing looked up and saw a female disciple with a Water Spirit Root.

Her appearance was rather pure and innocent.

Her large eyes were especially striking.

"Are you Fellow Daoist Xu?" a voice called from above.

Xu Changqing replied, "I am Xu Changqing. And you are?"

"My name is Bai Ling'er. I'm the Water Spirit Root formal disciple who accepted your Rainfall mission." At the same time, the Flying Paper Crane above slowly descended.

Whoosh.

Bai Ling'er jumped down.

Then... things became a little awkward.

Xu Changqing went from looking up where he stood to looking down.

Bai Ling'er had to crane her head back, even rising onto her tiptoes.

Seeing that she only reached his chest, Xu Changqing could not help asking with a smile, "Didn't your parents come with you?"

Bai Ling'er said indignantly, "I accepted this mission. Why would my parents come?"

Xu Changqing had only meant to tease her. Hearing that, he froze for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Are your parents in the Water-Control Pavilion too?"

Bai Ling'er nodded lightly. "My father is a talisman master in the Water-Control Pavilion."

"Oh-ho!"

The smile on Xu Changqing's face instantly vanished, and his attitude became far more courteous. "I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Bai this time."

Good heavens, she was not someone he could afford to offend.

Although he had never been to the Water-Control Pavilion,

he knew that talisman masters held no low status.

If he angered Bai Ling'er with his words and her parents came knocking later, things would not end well.

So he had better be honest.

"Alright!" Bai Ling'er turned to face the Spirit Fields.

She activated the Second-Level Minor Cloud-Rain Art.

With a wave of her small hand,

the water spiritual energy in the air before her swiftly gathered.

Before long, a layer of mist formed above the Spirit Fields.

Moreover, the mist seemed faintly dark.

It looked as though it were evolving toward real dark clouds.

Xu Changqing raised a brow and secretly thought, *I saw this once in the outer sect before, but compared to this, it was not even in the same league.

It seems Bai Ling'er's aptitude is quite high.*

Splash, splash, splash!

The sound of rain rang out.

Dense spiritual rain fell, covering more than half of the Spirit Fields.

A moment later, the spirit plants that had received the rain were visibly more vigorous.

Their surfaces were coated in a layer of "water-glow skin."

"Done." Bai Ling'er looked extremely relaxed.

"This is your payment, twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones." Xu Changqing promptly took out the money.

The reason he used spirit stones

was mainly to make others think that he did not have spirit rice either.

That way, no suspicions would arise.

After all, the price of spirit rice had already gone insane.

Bai Ling'er accepted the spirit stones, then took out a talisman. "This is my Communication Talisman. If you need help, just let me know. You won't need to post a mission anymore."

"Alright." Xu Changqing carefully accepted it.

"I'm leaving." Bai Ling'er jumped onto the Flying Paper Crane and swiftly departed.

Only after Xu Changqing could no longer see her did he finally let out a breath. "Good thing she's young and didn't understand what I said earlier. Otherwise, I'd have been in trouble."

Then, he turned his gaze toward the Spirit Fields.

Now that the soil had been loosened, fertilized, and watered,

as long as no accidents occurred, this harvest's yield would definitely surge.

It might even surpass three thousand jin!!!