https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-Little-Uncle-Lu-Do-You-Want-Spirit-Stones-/12543680/
Chapter 14: The Return
Chapter 14: The Return
Lu Chen's voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for Zhang Xiuyuan to argue.
Not wanting to spend too much time searching for afflicted solitary herbologists, Lu Chen assigned the task to Zhang Xiuyuan and offered him a small reward.
Left with no choice, Zhang Xiuyuan reluctantly accepted.
The thought of earning thirty spirit stones by finding a cultivator plagued by demon insects brought a smile to Zhang Xiuyuan's face, and his imagination ran wild.
"However, there are some conditions that must be made clear," Lu Chen added. "The search for affected cultivators must be limited to the North District, and I can only assist a maximum of three solitary herbologists per day in dealing with the pest problem."
Lu Chen wanted to focus most of his attention on the spiritual plants in his own yard, and he didn't want to compromise their optimal growth by overextending himself for a small reward.
He knew how to prioritize his tasks effectively.
Another factor was that he was currently presenting himself as a second layer of Qi Refining cultivator. If he frequently exerted himself using the Metal-Gold Sword Technique, he risked exposing his true cultivation level.
Over the next dozen or so days, as Zhang Xiuyuan diligently searched, Lu Chen found himself going out almost every day to help with pest control.
Due to the increasing severity of the insect problem and the possibility of repeated infestations, he had to use the Metal-Gold Sword Technique three times on each outing.
Each time he helped, he gave Zhang Xiuyuan thirty spirit stones, while he kept four spirit stones and seventy fragments for himself. After more than ten days of this routine, combined with his previous savings, Lu Chen now had a comfortable fortune of around two hundred spirit stones.
During this period, the owner of the yard came by to collect rent once, paying thirty spirit stones.
Additionally, he harvested eleven Eclipse Fruits, leaving nineteen remaining on the tree.
All of them were of good quality, yielding five Silver Blade fragments, three first-grade Nourishing Yuan Pills, and three first-grade talismans.
With the addition of these five fragments, the broken Silver Blade looked slightly more complete, with only a few small gaps remaining.
As the Eclipse Fruits were simpler to store, Lu Chen didn't rush to sell them. Instead, he collected them, planning to sell them all together to He Guan, the manager of the Hundred Grass Hall, once they were fully ripe.
Aside from the soon-to-be-ripe Eclipse Fruits, the other three types of spiritual plants in the spirit field were thriving.
The Spirit Glow Grass had already passed its halfway point in the growth cycle, and in a little over a month, it would be ready for another harvest. The Red Cloud Pine hadn't changed much, but it had noticeably grown taller.
As for the Sword Grass, under the daily stimulation and nourishment of the golden sword energy from the Metal-Gold Sword Technique, it was slowly growing a black blade of grass that resembled a slender sword.
It stood upright, its tip pointing towards the sky, with a faint sword intent lingering around its leaves.
...
"Come, come, come, let's divide the spirit stones. Here's your payment for today."
On the cobblestone path, Lu Chen took out ninety fragments and handed them to Zhang Xiuyuan.
"Thank you, Little Uncle Lu!"
Zhang Xiuyuan smiled broadly and skillfully accepted the fragments, carefully tucking them into his clothes.
The two of them had just visited three solitary cultivators' homes that day, and Lu Chen had successfully resolved the pest issues at each one. Now, it was time to divide the spoils.
"They're back! The first group of cultivators who ventured into the newly discovered realm has returned!"
Not far ahead, a commotion suddenly erupted, and Lu Chen vaguely heard a few words. It seemed that the first batch of solitary cultivators organized by the Wang family to explore the wilderness had returned that day.
Intrigued by the new realm, a place where opportunities and dangers coexisted, Lu Chen decided to bring Zhang Xiuyuan along to check it out.
"I heard that the new realm is protected by several powerful formations," someone in the crowd said. "The Wang family's formation masters successfully broke through two of them and discovered many rare spiritual plants, heavenly treasures, and even high-grade artifacts and cultivation techniques!"
"Damn, I'm so jealous! I regret not signing up to go with them!"
"If I had gone, who knows what heavenly opportunities I might have stumbled upon? I could have soared to new heights, maybe even becoming a Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivator!"
"Exactly! I wish I could have gone in their place!"
The crowd buzzed with envy as they imagined the vast rewards the returning cultivators must have reaped from the secret realm.
In fact, there would probably be quite a few who returned with nothing but loss, having forfeited their lives in the process.
Hearing the discussions among the cultivators, Zhang Xiuyuan, who had been anxiously awaiting news of his father, bid Lu Chen farewell and rushed home as fast as he could.
Lu Chen, unhurried, strolled along the path back to his home.
News of the returning cultivators from the new secret realm spread like wildfire, igniting the entire North District of the city. A sense of restlessness permeated the air.
As Lu Chen passed by the residence of a loose cultivator, he heard anguished cries.
Through the open gate, he saw a weary-looking cultivator holding an urn, with a woman weeping bitterly in front of him.
Lu Chen recognized this family. The man was a middle-aged cultivator named Xiong, with a third layer of Qi Refining cultivation. He had volunteered to join this expedition into the new secret realm.
The outcome was obvious.
This was not the first time Lu Chen had witnessed such a scene during his journey back.
"The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Ordinary cultivators can only strive to seize every possible opportunity, even if it means risking their lives. They must give it their all, regardless of the dangers."
"Cultivation is difficult, and the path is fraught with challenges."
"Fortunately, I have that special spirit field. I don't need to fight tooth and nail for a glimmer of opportunity. I can simply focus on tending to my fields."
Lu Chen felt even more grateful for the special white light sphere, and it solidified his resolve to never rashly venture out on dangerous adventures.
In the following days, he quietly stayed at home, cultivating his spiritual plants.
Zhang Xiuyuan didn't come to see him during this period, and Lu Chen understood that he was worried about his father. Whenever he saw Zhang Xiuyuan, he looked listless, and although Xu Wan seemed calm on the surface, her noticeably thinner face betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Father!"
One afternoon, as Lu Chen was using the Spirit Rain Technique to water his spiritual plants in the courtyard, he heard a delighted shout.
A smile appeared on his face, and he opened the gate.
As expected, Zhang Hong rushed toward his home, his clothes disheveled and his face dusty from the journey. The bulging pouch at his waist indicated that he had made considerable gains.
Upon seeing Lu Chen, he nodded from a distance, offering a weary smile.
Lu Chen smiled back, watching as Zhang Hong embraced his wife and child, his face radiant with joy as he entered his home.
Lu Chen didn't go over to join them. Zhang Hong had just returned from the secret realm with his spoils, and this was the most sensitive time. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the atmosphere was tense, with people being cautious and suspicious of each other.
Although they trusted each other, Lu Chen knew that an unexpected visit at this time might arouse unnecessary suspicion and resistance.
Half a day later, Zhang Hong came to his door.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
