The scorching sun was blazing down on the earth.
Xu Ping was focused on using the Spirit Rain Skill in the spirit field, his entire body drenched in sweat, but his mood remained joyful.
Watering the spirit field was actually a very tiring and tedious task.
Each time he cast the spell, Xu Ping gave it his all, and after watering, his Mana was almost depleted.
What kept Xu Ping maintaining a positive work attitude, besides the benefits brought by watering the spirit field,
was also the increasing experience with each casting, the feeling of incremental progress was truly irresistible for him.
[Spirit Rain Skill · Experience +1]
After finishing watering another acre of spirit field, Xu Ping let out a long sigh of relief.
After a short rest, he hurried on to the next acre of spirit field.
The onlookers on the ridge grew in number, and the discussions rose and fell.
"Fellow Daoist Xu’s Spirit Rain Skill is indeed better than Elder Yan’s!"
"Haha, I’ve already signed up; Fellow Daoist Xu is coming to water my family’s spirit field tomorrow."
"Ah, why didn’t you tell me earlier!" Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet
"I don’t even know when it’ll be my turn!"
Under a distant tree shade, Elder Yan’s face was heavy, his gaze fixed tightly on Xu Ping: "So it’s him."
He instantly recognized Xu Ping as the person who had watched him water the spirit field a few days ago.
"I underestimated this kid!" Elder Yan’s face was ugly.
He originally thought that Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill had just broken through, never expecting that his attainment was nearly catching up to his own.
It seemed that the boy came specifically to probe into his situation that day!
"Truly premeditated!" Elder Yan’s eyes were as cold as frost.
Now, being old and weak, he could exert at most half his power; even with higher cultivation, he certainly couldn’t compare to Xu Ping.
And then, taking advantage of the beast tide to raise prices, suddenly appeared with extremely low prices to snatch his customers.
As long as the other farmers weren’t foolish, they would naturally know whom to choose!
Moreover, in contrast, it made him seem even greedier.
He feared that during the next fruiting period, hardly any farmer would seek him out.
This was meant to cut off his livelihood!
"Really a good tactic! Since you are ruthless, don’t blame me for being unkind!" Elder Yan snorted coldly and turned to leave.
He originally intended to have a talk with Xu Ping, but now it seemed completely unnecessary.
If Xu Ping knew what Elder Yan thought, he would definitely cry injustice!
If Elder Yan had come a few days earlier, he could see that Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill indeed just broke through not long ago.
But after all, he didn’t have a proficiency panel and certainly wouldn’t think that within these few days, Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill had improved again.
As for cutting off his livelihood, it was even more of a grievance!
By this time next year, Xu Ping would probably have become a Spirit Plant farmer, and wouldn’t compete for these spirit farmer businesses!
He merely intended to make a quick profit for now.
All of this, both sides might never know.
Xu Ping and Old Man Lu arrived at Zhao Tao’s home.
Just reaching the spirit field, a woman about twenty-five or six, with a well-proportioned figure and snow-white skin, akin to a ripe peach, came into view.
This was Zhao Tao’s Dao Companion, Lv Liu.
Out of appreciation, Xu Ping stole a few more glances.
"Too bad she already belongs to someone, otherwise she would suit you, Fellow Daoist Xu, unless you like married women, then forget what I said." Seeing this scene, Old Man Lu jokingly whispered to Xu Ping.
Xu Ping rolled his eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, Fellow Daoist Lu, you’re here."
Lv Liu smiled, blooming like a water lily in the sunlight, displaying the charming grace of a mature woman.
"Not late, right?" Xu Ping clasped his hands and smiled.
"Not late at all, thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu!" Lv Liu smiled with her brows.
"You’re welcome." Xu Ping clasped his hands in response, a gentle smile on his face.
Seeing the two talking, Old Man Lu gave Xu Ping a wink aside.
Xu Ping couldn’t be bothered with him, went straight into the spirit field, and began wielding the Spirit Rain Skill.
Already familiar with the routine, Xu Ping watered all of Lv Liu’s spirit fields in less than an hour.
When he sat by the field ridge to rest, Lv Liu handed him a towel, softly saying, "You’ve worked hard, Fellow Daoist Xu."
Xu Ping didn’t hesitate.
He took the towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
This silk handkerchief was very clean with a faint, delicate fragrance.
"Has Fellow Daoist Zhao not returned from hunting demons?" Xu Ping asked after getting up and returning the towel.
Zhao Tao was at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, having formed a demon hunting team to specialize in hunting Demon Beasts to earn Spirit Stones and typically earned much more than Xu Ping.
Lv Liu’s face showed a trace of worry, "Nowadays, there are so many Demon Beasts outside the market, I intended to persuade him to stop hunting, but he wouldn’t listen, saying this is a great opportunity."
"So many Demon Beasts?"
Xu Ping’s heart skipped a beat, quickly asking, "What’s going on?"
Just as life was heading towards prosperity, how could an accident happen!
"This is normal, our market is on the edge of the Longevity Realm, close to the wilderness, there is a small beast tide every few years." Old Man Lu intervened.
"Would the beast tide threaten the market?" Xu Ping pursued.
"It wouldn’t, our market was established by the Longevity Sect, guarded by a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, typically the beast tide poses no threat." Old Man Lu shook his head.
"Fellow Daoist Lu’s experience is vast; as long as you stay in the market, there shouldn’t be any danger," Lv Liu also softly assured.
Hearing their words, Xu Ping breathed a slight sigh of relief.
If the Demon Beast tide truly threatened the market, with his current level of cultivation, it would be near impossible to survive.
"Alas, my man is stubborn, now that the Longevity Sect has issued a ’Demon Hunt Order,’ he won’t listen even more." Lv Liu sighed lightly.
Noticing Xu Ping’s puzzled expression, Lv Liu explained:
"The ’Demon Hunt Order’ is a task issued by the Longevity Sect to hunt Demon Beasts. Currently, hunting Demon Beasts allows you to earn an extra Spirit Stone and also obtain Contribution Points from the Longevity Sect."
"Contribution Points!"
Xu Ping was slightly shocked inside.
This was generous indeed?
Contribution Points were valuable; they could be used to exchange for a ticket to leave Dongwu Market.
Dongwu Market, near the wilderness, was three thousand miles away from the closest human community.
For an ordinary cultivator to traverse such a vast distance was simply a fool’s dream, as Demon Beasts, malevolent spirits, and poisonous creatures on the journey could easily claim their lives.
The only safe way to travel was by taking the Longevity Sect’s Spiritual Boat.
Tickets to Dongwu Market were quite cheap, only costing twenty Spirit Stones, and even allowed credits. As long as one farmed as a spirit farmer to repay slowly, and after settling the debt, they could leave anytime.
The original owner was tricked into coming this way.
However, staying longer reveals that for an ordinary spirit farmer, leaving is just an impossible dream.
Because a ticket to leave costs two hundred Spirit Stones each.
Completely unaffordable for them.
Of course, the Longevity Sect knew ordinary cultivators couldn’t afford such expensive tickets, so they kindly presented other options.
For instance, signing a contract to help the Longevity Sect farm for thirty years.
After that, the ticket price would significantly drop to just twenty Spirit Stones.
Or by making contributions to the Longevity Sect in exchange for Contribution Points; having enough, the ticket becomes free.