Chapter 9 Full Moon_1

"Even though it's merely an auxiliary method, unable to be used for cultivation or combat, for my current situation, its value is certainly no less than a cultivation technique."

The appearance of the white light cluster caused Lu Xuan's cultivation level to soar like a rocket.

But his natural aptitude was mediocre, and while this was fine for a short period, over time, his unusual advancement in cultivation would undoubtedly be discovered by others. This might very well land him in trouble.

*Cultivators usually wouldn't take the initiative to probe someone else's cultivation level since it's considered impolite and could easily offend the other party.*

*However, through frequent interactions, accidental or deliberate prying was inevitable.*

The appearance of the Concealment Method allowed him to mask his cultivation level to a certain extent, presenting himself as he always did—a mere low-ranking, insignificant Spirit Plant Master.

*Unless the other party's cultivation level was vastly superior to his, surpassing him by a major realm, or unless they practiced some sort of investigative formula method, it would be difficult for them to perceive his true cultivation level.*

Lu Xuan followed the cultivation technique's designated route and slowly circulated the spiritual power within his body. Instantly, the fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from him were completely suppressed, and his presence diminished dramatically.

*After testing it for a while, he revealed a Qi Cultivation Second Layer cultivation level, reverting back to his usual, unremarkable self as a small loose cultivator.*

In the Spirit Field, the Spirit Firefly Grass he had planted earlier had all been harvested; only the two Moon Erosion Trees on either side remained.

The Moon Erosion Trees had grown significantly over this period. Among their emerald-green leaves, the crescent-shaped Moon Erosion Fruit had gradually grown fuller, changing from concave to flat and then to perfectly round.

The silvery crescent phase was still able to remain hidden among the foliage, half-secluded and half-revealed, but as the fruit became plumper and rounder, it was on the verge of breaking out of its concealment.

Although the Moon Erosion Tree had yet to reach First Grade, its value was considerably higher than that of the Spirit Firefly Grass. Lu Xuan looked forward to the full-moon phase, hoping it would bring him some sort of light cluster reward.

The newly planted Spirit Firefly Grass and Red Cloud Pine in the Spirit Field were still some time away from maturation.

The Spirit Firefly Grass was relatively easy to cultivate, generally maturing within two to three months. As for the Red Cloud Pine, being a First Grade Spirit Plant, Lu Xuan estimated it would take around six months to mature.

Of course, this was the typical cultivation cycle for most low-ranking Spirit Plant Masters. Lu Xuan speculated that, due to his ability to discern the immediate state of the Spirit Plants, he might be able to slightly shorten their maturation period.

*After all, other Spirit Plant Masters couldn't, as he could, accurately grasp the subtle demands of each Spirit Plant or cater to them so meticulously.*

*To them, cultivating Spirit Plants was merely a means to make a living, while cultivation was regarded as the true path.*

Take the Spirit Rain Technique, for example—Spirit Plant Masters often perform large-scale irrigation, entirely incapable of Lu Xuan's precise control and localized implementation, which aimed to keep the Spirit Plants in optimal condition.

The harvested Spirit Firefly Grass couldn't be stored for too long, so Lu Xuan decided to make another trip to Bai Cao Tang to sell the fifteen stalks to Manager He.

Of the fifteen stalks, four were of ordinary quality, ten were of good quality, and one was of superior quality.

He fed two Broken Spirits to the Grass Puppet, activated the Protective Array, and left the house without worries.

Inside Bai Cao Tang.

The familiar scent of herbs lingered as always.

The attendants bustled about processing materials, while the thin elder reclined leisurely on a wooden chair, reviewing the ledger in his hands.

"Yo, Kid Lu, you're back again. How's the harvest this time?"

"You'll first need to tell me the current market price for Spirit Firefly Grass."

Lu Xuan flashed a mysterious smile.

"Because many low-rank Qi Cultivators have ventured into the wilderness recently, the demand for healing pills has dropped significantly."

"But there are signs of increased pest infestations in the North District. Many Spirit Fields owned by low-ranking Spirit Plant Masters have suffered damage, so the prices remain the same as last time: ordinary quality for three Spirit Stones and twenty Spirit Fragments per stalk, and good quality earns thirty extra Spirit Fragments per stalk."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan gently nodded. On his way over, he had already noticed the once-bustling gathering places of loose cultivators were now eerily quiet and deserted.

*Regarding pest infestations, he had indeed heard some whispers—many Spirit Fields belonging to loose cultivator Spirit Plant Masters lacked proper formation defense and had been invaded by demon insects, causing devastating losses.*

"Well, here's the Spirit Firefly Grass I brought this time. Manager He, you can sort them by quality yourself."

Lu Xuan laid out fourteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass before the thin elder.

"As for this one, its price will be separate."

He finally took out the superior quality Spirit Firefly Grass and waved it before Manager He.

"This is… a superior quality Spirit Firefly Grass?"

The thin elder, a seasoned buyer of Spirit Firefly Grass, immediately recognized the distinctiveness of the stalk. With evident surprise in his voice, he asked.

"Indeed, this is a superior quality Spirit Firefly Grass. Given that your Spirit Field, lacking nearly all spiritual energy, managed to produce grass of this quality, that's indeed a rare feat."

"It seems you might possess some notable talent in cultivating Spirit Plants."

He gazed at Lu Xuan, sighing thoughtfully.

"Just lucky."

"I merely use the time others devote to cultivation and redirected it toward planting Spirit Plants."

Lu Xuan spoke half-truthfully.

"I don't care what method you use. The more high-quality Spirit Firefly Grass you produce, the better. I'll buy them at a price you'll be satisfied with."

"This stalk—how about I pay three Spirit Stones and seventy Spirit Fragments for it? What do you think?"

Manager He offered Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow but remained silent, smiling faintly.

*The implication was clear—there needed to be more money!*

The thin elder naturally caught on to his meaning and quickly proposed a price that caught Lu Xuan's interest.

"Four low-grade Spirit Stones, no more than that. After all, it's already two to three times higher than the price of ordinary Spirit Firefly Grass."

"Deal!"

Manager He promptly handed Lu Xuan the Spirit Stones he earned from selling the fifteen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass—a total of fifty-one Spirit Stones and eighty Spirit Fragments!

Adding that to the three Spirit Stones he had left previously, his overall fortune had quickly risen to nearly fifty-five Spirit Stones.

"Kid Lu, if you have any more Spirit Firefly Grass of this quality in the future, make sure to bring them all to me. I'll ensure the price won't disappoint you."

Manager He looked over at Lu Xuan, who was pocketing his pile of Spirit Stones, and gave him a specific reminder.

"If you truly have a talent for cultivating Spirit Plants, I could introduce you to an opportunity—something that might just be your great chance."

"Oh?"

Lu Xuan's curiosity was piqued as he turned to look at the elder.

"Not yet. Let's see the quality of the Spirit Plants you bring me in the future."

"Thank you, Manager He. I'll make sure to continue supporting your business."

*Lu Xuan wasn't particularly interested in the elder's mention of opportunities. After all, compared to the appearance of the white light cluster, no opportunity seemed significant anymore.*

*In fact, it might even disrupt the peaceful and simple lifestyle he currently enjoyed with his farming work.*

He bid farewell to Manager He and headed straight home with his pouch full of Spirit Stones.

*Initially, he thought of buying some demon beast meat or Spirit Rice to improve his meals and indulge his appetite. However, when he passed the stalls, he hesitated and couldn't bring himself to spend.*

*Next month, he still had to pay the rent for the courtyard!*