Chapter 17: Cooperation
Chapter 17: Cooperation
"It seems that each Spirit Plant yields something different within the white light sphere upon maturity."
After harvesting two different types of Spirit Plants, Lu Chen gradually discovered some patterns.
When the Spirit Firefly Grass matured, the light sphere contained varying amounts of cultivation experience, low-grade techniques, and first-grade talismans. As for the Moon-Eroding Fruit, the sphere primarily offered artifact fragments, pills, talismans, and occasionally, pill formulas, albeit with a lower probability.
"Perhaps in the future, I can adjust the types of Spirit Plants I cultivate based on my needs."
However, the most pressing issue he needed to address was finding a new Spirit Field as soon as possible—one that was larger, richer in spiritual energy, and more complex in terms of environment, capable of supporting the growth of various types of Spirit Plants.
Secondly, he urgently needed a storage bag. After all, his wealth was growing, and he was accumulating more talismans, pills, and other items, which were inconvenient to carry around in his pockets during his travels.
With that in mind, Lu Chen looked at the twenty-eight Moon-Eroding Fruits piled up in the room and decided to sell them to obtain spirit stones.
He placed them in a cloth bag and set off directly to his destination—the Hundred Herb Hall—without any detours.
In a room filled with the fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs, He Guan's sharp eyes noticed Lu Chen and the bulging cloth bag he was carrying.
"Lu, my boy, it's been a while. Have you had another successful harvest of Spirit Plants?"
"Two Moon-Eroding Trees have entered the maturity stage, so I picked some fruits to pay a visit to you, Senior."
Lu Chen replied with a smile.
"Visiting me, an old man, is just an excuse. You're really here to visit the spirit stones in the Hundred Herb Hall, aren't you?"
The thin and elderly He Guan said with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"Take out your treasures and let me have a look."
Lu Chen placed the cloth bag on the wooden cabinet.
"There are twenty-eight Moon-Eroding Fruits. One is of superior quality, and the rest are of good quality."
"Almost all of them are of good quality? Have you had a breakthrough, young man?"
He Guan asked in surprise. Previously, when Lu Chen brought in Spirit Firefly Grass, there were indeed some of good and superior quality, but there were also a significant number of ordinary ones. However, this time, every fruit was of good quality or better, which surprised him.
"Indeed, they are all of good quality or higher,"
Lu Chen replied as he examined each Moon-Eroding Fruit, judging their quality based on factors such as size and shape.
"It's truly awe-inspiring to see how much you've grown in just a few days..."
The thin and elderly He Guan sighed as he looked at Lu Chen.
He still remembered when the boy, who was just over ten years old, first entered the Hundred Herb Hall. He had taken out a few ordinary Spirit Firefly Grass stalks and asked to sell them to the hall.
The Hundred Herb Hall usually had its stable supply channels and typically did not purchase from small, individual cultivators. But seeing the boy's determined and stubborn expression back then, the elderly He Guan had taken pity on him and agreed to his request.
And now, the boy had become a Spirit Herbologist capable of cultivating high-quality spirit herbs.
The thin and elderly He Guan had many mixed feelings at that moment, but the boy's next sentence snapped him back to reality.
"He Guan, why are you spacing out? Don't tell me you're thinking of ways to take advantage of me?"
"You rascal!"
He Guan laughed and scolded.
"For the good quality Moon-Eroding Fruits, I'll give you ten shattered spirit stones each. And for the superior quality one, I'll add another twenty."
"Deal."
Lu Chen had already compared prices with other medicine shops and stalls, and he knew that this was a fair price, so he readily agreed.
The price of the Moon-Eroding Fruits was significantly lower than that of the Spirit Firefly Grass. However, each Moon-Eroding Tree could bear more than twenty fruits, so their overall value was still much higher than that of the Spirit Firefly Grass.
He Guan handed Lu Chen a total of thirty-two low-grade spirit stones and asked curiously,
"However, it is also the consequence of making many sacrifices."
"I merely devote the time that other cultivators spend on their cultivation and exploration of secret realms to the cultivation of spirit plants."
"In order to grow higher quality spirit plants, I have completely abandoned the naive idea of becoming a powerful cultivator. Now, I just want to focus on cultivating spirit plants and lead a peaceful life as an ordinary spirit herbologist."
Lu Chen's eyes glazed over as he tried to maintain his image as an ordinary spirit herbologist.
"It's good to have such thoughts. At least it's relatively safe, and you don't have to fight with others for that slim chance of opportunity. Perhaps you'll even live longer than them."
"Moreover, if you continue to make progress, you can also gain a high status as a spirit herbologist."
The thin and elderly He Guan spoke with empathy, comforting Lu Chen.
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"As I mentioned before, if you consistently maintain this level of planting skill, I will give you an opportunity."
"You know that there is a pill concoctor in the Hundred Herb Hall, whose skill in pill concoction is among the best in all of Linyang Fang City. He also has many pill-concocting apprentices under his wing."
"As such, there is a great demand for various pill ingredients, and he also possesses several sizable spirit fields, employing spirit herbologists to cultivate related spirit herbs."
"Although my status is not high, I do have some influence in the Hundred Herb Hall, and I can recommend you to cooperate with them."
"What kind of cooperation?" Lu Chen asked curiously.
"There are generally two types. The first is to directly employ spirit herbologists to cultivate spirit herbs for the Hundred Herb Hall. The ownership of the cultivated spirit herbs belongs to the Hall, and the herbologists are given appropriate compensation."
"The better the quality of the spirit herbs cultivated, the more rewards will be given."
"This mode of cooperation can provide you with a more stable planting environment, allowing you to focus on cultivation without worrying about other things."
"The second type is much simpler. We will sell spirit seeds to spirit herbologists who wish to cooperate at a low price, and at the same time, agree that when the spirit plants mature, the Hundred Herb Hall will have the priority to purchase them. The spirit herbologist alone bears the risks and enjoys the profits."
"Of course, this priority right will not be abused. If the price offered by other buyers is significantly higher, the spirit herbologist is free to make their own choice."
Lu Chen nodded; each type of cooperation had its pros and cons.
The first type was more stable, guaranteeing the safety of both the cultivator and the spirit field, but it was also less free.
The second type carried more risk, but the potential rewards were also greater. If Lu Chen truly wanted to be an ordinary spirit herbologist content with a mundane life, the first option would be the safer choice.
However, Lu Chen had always disliked being restrained, and because of the white light sphere in his spirit field, having the freedom to do as he pleased was especially important to him.
"Manager He, I'm used to being lazy and dislike being constrained by others. So, if we are to cooperate, I'd prefer the second option."
Lu Chen was secretly hoping that someone would offer him spirit seeds.
"Very well, then I'll discuss it with the higher-ups. Once it's been decided, I'll inform you when you come by next time."
"Alright, thank you, Manager He."
Lu Chen bowed to the thin, elderly man, expressing his gratitude.
He could clearly sense the old man's kindness, and he kept this gratitude in his heart.
"With this, the most pressing matter at hand is to find an even larger and better spirit field."
This thought became even clearer and more urgent in Lu Chen's mind.
(End of Chapter)
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