Resource depletion

Cultivating spirit plants had extremely strict requirements, and the foundation of it all lay in the soil.

That was precisely why spirit fields existed.

Their soil was rich in spiritual energy. Cultivators could not use that energy, but it made the soil the best choice for growing spirit plants.

Spirit soil also came in different grades. It was said that a spirit plant grown in high-grade spirit soil for one year would gain as much growth as ten years elsewhere. Some spirit soil could even be refined into pills for cultivators to consume, making it every bit as valuable as heavenly treasures.

That was why spirit soil was so precious. Even the spirit fields belonging to the Spirit Plant Courtyard were not made entirely of spirit soil; ordinary soil accounted for sixty or seventy percent. Even so, that was enough.

The soil in Lin Mo's courtyard was, naturally, ordinary soil.

It looks like accelerating the spirit plants' growth isn't as simple as I thought. They aren't just absorbing the spiritual energy in the spirit spring water-they're rapidly plundering the spiritual energy in the soil, too. Given enough time, it'll become dead soil, completely unusable.

These four spirit plants are extremely important to me. I can't afford to be careless.

For now, my only options are to find some spirit soil or a formation that gathers spiritual energy from heaven and earth to replenish the soil.

With that thought, Lin Mo immediately discarded the first option.

Spirit soil was a genuinely precious cultivation resource, strictly controlled by the sect. It was not something a mere outer sect disciple like him could obtain.

There was another option: replace the ordinary soil with a fresh batch.

But that would be an enormous undertaking. With Lin Mo's current cultivation, he would certainly be discovered, and explaining it would be difficult.

As for a formation... he would probably have to make another trip to the Black Market.

With the soil's spiritual energy exhausted, the four spirit plants had wilted considerably in just one night. The tips of their branches and leaves were already turning yellow. Left unattended, they would probably wither and die within two days.

Naturally, Lin Mo would not simply stand by. Gritting his teeth, he took out the Little Gourd and gave each plant one drop of the spirit spring water made from spirit liquid.

After all, the fruits he had traded for spirit liquid had come from these plants. He had already intended to use some of that spirit spring water on them, and the depletion of the soil's spiritual energy gave him the perfect occasion.

It truly was wondrous.

The spirit spring water vanished the moment it touched the ground, while the four drooping spirit plants visibly perked up. They were even growing taller.

"As expected of spirit spring water upgraded by imbuing spirit liquid!"

Lin Mo studied them, clicking his tongue in admiration.

The problem was solved for the moment, but he certainly could not water them with such precious spirit spring water every day. He still needed to find a suitable formation as soon as possible.

But then came the most crucial problem.

He had no money.

He had already traded his twenty most valuable spirit plant fruits for spirit liquid. All told, he only had a dozen or so spirit stones left, nowhere near enough to cover a formation's market price.

Besides the formation, he also needed to buy a cultivation method and a spell technique suited to him. Those would be major expenses, too.

Without spirit plants, he had no source of income.

Caught in this vicious cycle, Lin Mo scratched his head. Unable to think of a solution just then, he could only set his worries aside and walk toward the spirit fields.

Hum!

Halfway there, Lin Mo suddenly sensed something and jerked his head up. A series of humming sounds reached his ears.

Dozens of figures stood on flying swords in the sky, their hands clasped behind their backs. With the blazing sun behind them, their faces were impossible to make out as they sped away.

Anyone capable of flying on a sword was at least a seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator-a fairly formidable expert.

They were all inner sect disciples!

This was the first time Lin Mo had seen so many inner sect disciples appear together.

Judging by their haste, they seemed to have some urgent business to attend to.

Bah, what do the affairs of those big shots have to do with me?

Lin Mo shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Qin Sang Sang was still working, but her movements were much more practiced than before, and she seemed to be having a considerably easier time. Presumably, that was thanks to those few drops of spirit spring water.

Spirit spring water primarily affected the body. For a mortal like Qin Sang Sang, whose blood and vital energy were deficient, it was immensely useful. Even diluted, it was enough to give her a little extra strength out of thin air, keeping her from fainting again halfway through her work.

Qin Sang Sang had no idea she had received such a fortuitous gift.

Hearing movement behind her, she stood up and flashed a brilliant smile, calling to Lin Mo, "Hello, Senior Brother Lin!"

The first time Lin Mo had heard Qin Sang Sang call him Senior Brother Lin, he had been delighted for quite a while.

Ever since he joined the sect, people had generally called him "you there" or "chamber-pot boy." At best, they called him "Little Lin," or simply used his full name.

This girl was the first person to call him senior brother!

Qin Sang Sang did not understand why it made Lin Mo so happy, but she quietly took note of it.

Whenever she saw him, she would raise her head and call out a greeting.

She was still young, with a clear, crisp voice and bright, limpid eyes. Her delicate, pretty face brimmed with enthusiasm.

This time, however, Lin Mo only nodded absently at her greeting.

"What's wrong? Something on your mind?"

Noticing this, Liu Xianzong came over of his own accord to ask.

Lin Mo nodded and took the opportunity to ask, "Senior Brother, I'd like to choose a cultivation method and a spell technique. Do you have any recommendations?"

Liu Xianzong clicked his tongue as soon as he heard that.

"You've only just become an outer sect disciple, and you're already choosing a cultivation method?"

"Oh... right. As long as your golden coin grass yields three harvests a year, you won't just be able to buy a cultivation method-you could buy a spell technique as well."

"Tsk, tsk. I really envy you."

The sect did not teach cultivation methods to outer sect disciples. If they wanted to cultivate, they had to find their own way.

Those with exceptional talent would be taken directly as disciples by the elders, who would have cultivation methods and everything else ready for them.

It was people like Lin Mo and Liu Xianzong, who had risen from the ranks of servant disciples, who were unloved by father and mother alike. They had to save up contribution points themselves and exchange them at the Sect Affairs Hall. It could easily cost one or two years' savings, and even then they would only get a Yellow Tier Low Grade method-the lowest grade, barely good enough to use.

Liu Xianzong had been an outer sect disciple for five years, yet he had only managed to obtain one Yellow Tier Mid Grade cultivation method and two low-grade spell techniques. To say he was not envious would have been a lie.

"On the path of cultivation, fall behind by one step, and you'll fall behind at every step."

"Junior Brother, I suggest you get it right in one go and exchange your points for the Yellow Tier Mid Grade Jade Art. Once you cultivate it, the spiritual energy in your body will replenish itself endlessly, and it can also accelerate spirit plant growth. For spirit plant farmers like us, it's absolutely the best cultivation method, practically tailor-made."

Liu Xianzong himself cultivated the Jade Art, so he had done plenty of research on it.

The Jade Art?

Lin Mo committed the name firmly to memory.

Ever since they had met, Liu Xianzong had taken exceptionally good care of him.

If the opportunity arose, Lin Mo would certainly repay him.

"Senior Brother, on my way here just now, I saw a lot of inner sect disciples flying off on swords. Do you know what happened?"

Remembering the scene he had just witnessed, Lin Mo asked another question.

He was merely making idle conversation with Liu Xianzong and did not expect to learn anything from him.

After all, this was a major affair involving inner sect disciples. Liu Xianzong was only an outer sect spirit plant farmer. How could he possibly know?

"Well, wouldn't you know it? I actually do have some inkling about that."

Liu Xianzong glanced around, then suddenly spoke with a mysterious smile.