Lin Mo was a little worried that, like the Spirit Plant before him, he might someday become a monster with no trace of humanity left.
But on second thought, he had already drunk the Spirit Spring Water, and nothing had changed after all this time. Perhaps this mutation only happened to Spirit Plants. With that thought, he stopped worrying.
All in all, Lin Mo's mental resilience had improved considerably during his three years as a Servant Disciple.
He had been fretting over his lack of money today, only to receive such an enormous surprise that evening.
With these things, he could solve the problem of the soil's depleted spiritual energy tonight.
With that in mind, Lin Mo opened the Treasure Gourd again and dripped a drop of Spirit Spring Water beneath the mutated Spirit Plant's roots.
Then he pulled his clothes tighter around himself, turned, and headed toward the Black Market.
The black-robed man did not appear every day, but whether he was there or not, no one dared occupy his spot.
Who knew what had happened to make those vendors so wary of him?
After all, quite a few of those vendors had connections, some even backed by figures at the level of Inner Sect elders.
Naturally, he would not pass up such a fine opportunity today. He was sitting in his usual spot, speaking quietly to the person before him.
His wares were reasonably priced. Even at a time like this, he still charged market rates, and their quality was guaranteed.
As a result, the line was extremely long. Lin Mo waited for nearly an hour before his turn came.
"Back again so soon?"
Seeing a familiar figure sit down before him, the black-robed man sounded a little surprised.
"Next time, just come straight to me. No need to wait in line."
Waiting in line was a matter of principle.
But if Lin Mo could reliably supply large quantities of high-quality Spirit Plants, then he was the principle.
"Keeping a low profile, keeping a low profile."
Lin Mo spoke with a cheerful smile, but inwardly, he was speechless.
If I'd known I had that privilege, why would I have wasted an hour waiting in line?
Lin Mo had spent three years on the mountain, and this was the first time he had learned that he could enjoy special privileges.
It felt thoroughly satisfying.
"What do you want?"
"More spirit liquid?"
"I didn't bring much spirit liquid today, though."
The black-robed man activated the formation. Though his robe concealed his face, the familiarity in his voice was unmistakable.
Lin Mo shook his head and said, "I want a formation that can increase the concentration of spiritual energy in spirit soil, and a cultivation method of a sufficiently high grade."
At Lin Mo's request, laughter came from beneath the black robe.
"I have them, but you might not be able to afford the price."
A cultivation method could be passed down through a family and commanded an extremely high price. Consumable resources like spirit liquid and formations could not compare.
This time, Lin Mo was generous. He simply tossed over the Storage Bag hanging at his waist.
"Take a look. Is this enough?"
The black-robed man wasted no words. With a wave of his hand, he sent a strand of spiritual energy into the Formation Disc.
The invisible barrier instantly blocked every outside gaze, ensuring the utmost privacy for their transaction.
He took out a stalk of Golden Coin Grass and examined it from top to bottom. A flash of amazement passed through his pale blue eyes.
A cursory inspection revealed that all thirty-odd Spirit Plants were of the same quality.
They were even better than those from their previous transaction.
"By rights, I shouldn't ask where these came from. But for you to bring out so many fine things again after just a few days... I really am a little curious."
The black-robed man sighed with admiration, seemingly probing him.
Lin Mo's expression remained unchanged. He merely asked, "Are these enough?"
The black-robed man had no intention of digging down to the roots. After doing some calculations, he shook his head and said, "Thirty-six fruits in total. I'll value them at seventy-two Contribution Points. The formation is only thirty Contribution Points, so that's more than enough. But it still won't cover the cultivation method you want."
"If you're buying it for yourself, I imagine you're after a high-grade yellow tier cultivation method."
"I have one, and it's particularly well suited to a Spirit Plant Farmer. But the price is steep. What you've brought isn't enough."
The highest grade of cultivation method that could be practiced in the Qi Refining Realm was high-grade yellow tier.
That was what it meant to reach the goal in a single step.
High-grade yellow tier?
"How much?"
Lin Mo asked without betraying anything.
"One hundred Contribution Points."
One hundred Contribution Points!
Lin Mo had already put an extremely high estimated price on a high-grade yellow tier cultivation method, yet the black-robed man's quote still exceeded his expectations.
"This cultivation method of mine is different."
Seeing that Lin Mo seemed inclined to refuse, the black-robed man hurriedly said,
"It's part of a complete cultivation method that can take you all the way to the pinnacle. And as far as I can tell, this volume would be a rarity even throughout the surrounding region."
"As long as you have enough talent and can find the later portions, your combat strength will absolutely let you look down proudly on others of your generation."
"I can't explain its mysteries to you, but if I had a wood spiritual root, I would definitely practice it myself."
Clearly, he truly coveted Lin Mo's goods and wanted to sell his cultivation method, rattling off all that in one breath.
Lin Mo was tempted too.
He had asked about the prices of cultivation methods at the Sect Affairs Hall.
Yellow tier low grade cultivation methods generally cost between ten and fifteen Contribution Points.
Yellow tier mid grade ones cost thirty to fifty.
High-grade yellow tier ones usually started at eighty and were already the best cultivation methods the sect sold to its disciples.
The black-robed man had always been fair in his dealings. He probably would not inflate the price.
That suggested the cultivation method really was quite good.
With the Treasure Gourd in his possession, Lin Mo was confident he could go far along the path of cultivation.
And a good cultivation method was indispensable to him.
Most importantly, the black-robed man had said it was the beginning of a complete cultivation method. As long as he could find the subsequent portions to practice, he could transition seamlessly and unleash even greater combat strength.
"I'll take it, but... I need to discuss it with... think it over. I'll come find you in a few days."
After a moment's thought, Lin Mo spoke in a low voice.
The sums involved in his dealings with the black-robed man were growing larger and larger, already beyond what his meager cultivation could keep under control.
In a deliberately transparent attempt at concealment, he invented someone backing him to keep the black-robed man from being tempted by his wealth.
As it happened, that was precisely what the black-robed man believed.
So he was not surprised to hear that Lin Mo needed to consult someone.
Smiling, he took twenty fruits, placed a jade disc into the Storage Bag, and handed it back to Lin Mo. "Your Spirit Plants are excellent. If the ones you bring next time are of the same quality, forty-five will be enough."
Ninety Contribution Points would buy the cultivation method he needed. That was a saving of ten Contribution Points!
Lin Mo's heart was already flying home like an arrow. He had no intention of lingering to chat.
He put away the Storage Bag and nodded. "We'll see."
With that, he rose and headed outside.
Watching his retreating figure, the black-robed man chuckled twice.
He really is a greenhorn. I wonder whose disciple he is?
To produce Spirit Fruit like this in such a short time, whoever is behind him must be an Inner Sect elder at the very least.
Before you continue