3 Life Is Not Easy

In front of the Bright Moon Building, Chen Qing tidied his clothes.

Looking at the waning lights and the red cherry blossoms and green willows in front of him, he could not help but sigh. "It's all for life. How difficult!"

After saying that, he walked into the Bright Moon Building. Soon, a pretty young lady reached out to hold his arm and led him in.

"What do you want today, Master1?"

Her voice was extremely soft, making one's bones go soft.

Chen Qing took out a low-grade spirit stone, and threw it into the young lady's arms. "Find a good place to listen to the music on the second floor."

When they reached the second floor, they were surrounded by beautiful women. It was as if they had entered a peacock's nest. There was a faint fragrance between the soft jade and warm fragrance.

They sat down at a seat by the window. The beautiful woman on the stage opened her cherry-like mouth, and a clear melody entered their ears. It made everyone forget their worries and salivate.

As expected of a professional!

The pretty lady waved her beautiful fan. "Master, what do you want to drink?"

Chen Qing reached into his pocket, and took out 30 inferior-grade spirit stones. He placed them on the table, and said, "Bring a pot of wine to everyone present."

As he spoke, Chen Qing took out another low-grade spirit stone, and threw it into the young lady's arms. "Do you understand what I mean?"

The young lady smiled and pushed Chen Qing gently. "I understand."

Soon, delicate and pretty ladies brought wine over and served a pot of wine to everyone present.

When they asked, they pointed at Chen Qing's jade-like hand.

Those who were served wine cupped their hands at Chen Qing. Chen Qing smiled and cupped his hands in return.

As the wine was served, Chen Qing saw a new scholar take a sip. He stood up, and said, "May I know why this Fellow Daoist is treating us?"

Chen Qing thought to himself that the Bright Moon Hotel really knew how to arrange things. That scholar was clearly arranged by the little lady that received Chen Qing.

Chen Qing stood up and cupped his fists, laughing as he said, "I am Chen Qing of Carefree Mountain's Cold Wave Cave, I am now at the third layer of Qi Refining. I am fortunate to have received a Grass Spirit Gu from the sect.

"Now that there's hope for a livelihood, I'm happy, so I want to invite everyone to share the joy!"

Hearing this, many people immediately picked up their drinks. "Grass Spirit Gu, that's good stuff!"

"I see. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"

"Then we'll have to rely on you for the Gu spirit grass in the spirit field in the future!"

"This is extremely useful information."

After chatting with these people for a while, Chen Qing knew that many people should know that he had a Grass Spirit Gu after today.

It was only 30 low-grade spirit stones he'd spent. There was no heartache.

Chen Qing bought some rice and meat for the remaining spirit stones, and went to the stall area. After shopping for a while, he finally realized something.

"Senior Brother, how much is this earth spirit crystal?"

The green-robed Daoist said, "Five low-grade spirit stones for one qian."

Chen Qing said disdainfully, "There's still dust in here. It's obvious that it's not pure.

"What if my Gu insect gets indigestion?"

The green-robed Daoist said, "This is fresh. There must be dust. How about this? I'll give you four low-grade spirit stones for one qian."

Chen Qing took out the last 20 spirit stones from his spirit stone bag. "Give me half a tael's worth."

When he returned to the Cold Wave Cave at night, Chen Qing looked at his empty spirit stone bag.

During the day, it had been filled with 56 spirit stones. They were all gone now.

Alas, that was life.

Speaking of which, that young lady's hands were really soft today…

Hiss…

Chen Qing carefully cut the cured meat he'd bought, and arranged it neatly on rice before putting it into the pot.

After a while, fragrance filled the air. Chen Qing picked up the three cabbages that he had taken from Li He's field.

When mixed with the warm cured meat and rice, the cabbage was so fragrant that it made people salivate.

Glancing at the Grass Spirit Gu, its growth progress changed from 18 to 24.

'One qian of ocher Rehmannia can increase the growth progress by six points.'

Chen Qing put down a one-qian piece of earth spirit crystal and held his rice bowl. "I'll eat. You eat too."

There was no news on the second day, so Chen Qing simply went to the spirit plant elder to continue his work.

He worked in the sect for three consecutive days. On the next day, Chen Qing returned to his residence, and saw a boy waiting at the door.

"Are you Senior Chen?"

Chen Qing asked, "What's the matter?"

The boy said, "My master asked me to ask you if you're free in the next few days. He and a few good friends need to take care of their spiritual fields, so he specially sent me to invite you."

Chen Qing asked, "Who's your master?"

The boy said, "Ye Botong from the Clear Rain Temple."

Chen Qing revealed a smile. "So it's Fellow Daoist Ye. I was originally very busy these few days, but since Fellow Daoist Ye asked, I can only make a trip.

"I'll be there in a few days."

The boy replied happily, "Thank you, Senior Chen."

After asking Li He about Ye Botong's background, and finding out that he was a crane keeper, Chen Qing felt relieved.

Generally speaking, those who used production-attribute Gu to obtain income cared more about their reputation, otherwise they would not be able to survive here.

Moreover, after hearing that Ye Botong was also a disciple of Carefree Mountain, Chen Qing felt more at ease.

After managing 30 mu of spiritual fields for six consecutive days, perhaps because Ye Botong was quite busy, Chen Qing finally met him on the sixth day when the bill was due.

After accepting Ye Botong's 30 Spirit Stones, Chen Qing took out two more and handed them back.

"There's no need for that, since we're friends."

Ye Botong didn't feign anything and accepted it. "Actually, this is the spiritual field of me and the four Fellow Daoists around me. It's just that they left it for me to take care of when they were outside."

Chen Qing smiled, and said, "Your and my friend, we don't have to differentiate it so clearly."

He paused for a moment, then looked at the two spirit stones, and said, "It's just that this matter is not worth telling outsiders."

Ye Botong nodded and smiled. "Hahaha, don't worry."

Chen Qing did not want outsiders to know, because he was afraid that others would say that he had ruined the market and provoke the dissatisfaction of other cultivators with Grass Spirit Gu.

Ye Botong, on the other hand, took back these two spirit stones because, to be honest, he only owned four mu from the 30 mu of spiritual fields, so it was like he got a 50% discount. Naturally, he wouldn't let the other four people know.

The two of them looked at each other and smiled. They drank and ate their fill before bidding farewell.

Over the past few days, Chen Qing gradually began to learn that cultivators who had Grass Spirit Gu would only manage about three mu of land a day. There were very few who could manage four mu of land.

His Grass Spirit Gu was truly a good treasure.

Thinking of this, he felt that the bundle of Gu spirit grass and 10 low-grade spirit stones had been worth it.

'I have to find a time to visit Elder Chen again.

'It can't be a good sentiment if you don't socialize often.'

When he had first come to this world, Elder Chen had been one of the people he had been acquainted with. The elder had helped him a lot.

Although Elder Chen was old, he was still a big shot cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

A few days of salary in exchange for Elder Chen's favor was a profitable business.

In the past half a month, many nearby senior and junior brothers had come to invite Chen Qing. After he was done with his business, he took the time to visit Elder Chen.

He bought a bottle of ginseng wine worth 10 low-grade spirit stones from Li He. He did not expect that Elder Chen wouldn't smile this time.

Instead, he scolded Chen Qing, and said that he had just obtained the way to make money, and did not know the severity of the matter, buying such an expensive thing.

The elder reprimanded Chen Qing earnestly, "You have just obtained a Gu insect, it is time to accumulate, don't spend money recklessly.

"You have to work harder. You're still young."

After listening to rambling for an hour, Chen Qing was asked to stay for dinner. Only then did Chen Qing cup his hands and bid farewell gratefully.

Looking at the wine in his hand, he said, "I didn't expect Elder Chen to be such an honest elder."

Recalling what Li He said about how dangerous the area outside Carefree Mountain was, Chen Qing began to think about how Elder Chen had managed to live to this age.

On the way back, Li He held his rice bowl and called out to Chen Qing, "Have you heard? Senior Wu is crippled."

Chen Qing asked, "Do you mean Senior Brother Wu who is at the fourth layer of Qi Refining?"

Li He nodded. "Yes, he only has one Sword Gu. Now that he's crippled, I don't think many people will want him to take risks with them in the future."

For some reason, Chen Qing felt a sense of satisfaction.

He liked to hear about cultivators who chose battle-type Gu insects getting into trouble.

Especially when the battle type was the first Gu insect they chose.

'Look, he liked to fight, right? Something had to have happened!

'Our production department is still the most stable.'

Hence, Chen Qing tore off a drumstick from the plate in front of Li He, and sat side by side with him on the threshold. "Tell me in detail."

Li He became even more energetic. "He only has one Sword Gu. Now that his leg is broken, his combat strength must have decreased greatly. I think it's difficult."

Chen Qing nodded in agreement. "What if no one wants to help?"

Li He smiled, and said, "I heard that he's preparing to use all his resources to get an artificial leg. He's probably preparing to take on jobs elsewhere."

Chen Qing understood what he meant—Senior Wu would pretend not to be crippled. "But this isn't a long-term solution. He'll be discovered sooner or later."

Li He nodded. "That's true. Our production department is still the safest."

After eating half of Li He's chicken, Chen Qing returned to his cave abode in satisfaction.

Opening the bed, he found 28 Spirit Stones neatly arranged inside. 'Does this count as sleeping on money?'

The money to go to the Bright Moon Building was not spent in vain.

After carefully counting all the spirit stones again, Chen Qing prepared to take a look at his precious Gu insect.

[Mortal-grade Grass Spirit Gu]

Quality: Rank seven

Lifespan: 42/65

Effect: Takes care of the Gu spirit grass within five mu of land, and increases its growth speed and quality.

Growth Requirements: earth spirit crystal, ocher Rehmannia, spirit exuvia

Growth Rate: 42/100

Advancement Requirements: Rank nine, 10 drops of earth origin spirit liquid, one soul-snatching flower

During this period of feeding, he basically knew the efficacy of the three ingredients.

The earth spirit crystal could increase growth by three points for five low-grade spirit stones.

One qian of ocher Rehmannia could increase growth by six points for nine low-grade spirit stones.

One piece of spirit exuvia could increase growth by eight points, and cost 10 low-grade spirit stones.

'Looks like it's cheapest to nurture it with spirit exuvia.'

Chen Qing counted all his assets. He still had three qian of ocher Rehmannia. This was something he had obtained by chance in the past year.

28 spirit stones, a rusty sword, three sets of clothes, three pieces of cured meat, and 50 jin of white rice.

He picked up a tree branch and counted on the ground. "The most economical way is to buy four more pieces of spirit exuvia, one qian of ocher Rehmannia, and one qian of earth spirit crystal.

"A total of 54 spirit stones.

"If the initial progress is zero, it should take about 130 low-grade spirit stones to advance from rank seven to eight.

"That's 26 days' worth of income.

"It doesn't seem very expensive."