Chapter 344: Clearing Wasteland and Farming

Two hours later.

Qin Ming returned to the Lingxu Market.

The moment he stepped through the gates of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge, he saw Jia Heyi approaching with a face full of reverence.

"Shopkeeper Lu, you're back!"

"Mm, Old Jia, recruit some people and prepare to move to the Five Elements Mountain spiritual fields."

"It is best to find spiritual farmers with spirit-planting skills, as well as spirit planters," Qin Ming ordered directly after entering the shop.

Upon hearing this, Jia Heyi froze on the spot.

Since the auction at Five Elements Mountain had just concluded, and their Mirror Jing Xue Ge had not been invited,

and since Qin Ming had not told him specifically what business he went out to handle, the news had not yet reached the Lingxu Market.

At this moment, Jia Heyi was still completely in the dark.

"Ah? What spiritual fields?"

"Shopkeeper Lu, are we moving to Five Elements Mountain?" Jia Heyi asked, confused and puzzled.

But Qin Ming's next words struck his mind like a thunderclap from clear skies.

"Exactly. I auctioned off two hundred mu of the fourth-tier branch pulse at Five Elements Mountain; henceforth, this pavilion intends to rely on this location for its operations and development."

"Leave just enough personnel in the shop here at the Lingxu Market to keep watch."

"In the future, once we have grown spirit plants, we will sell them in the market."

Buzz~ Jia Heyi's head was spinning.

"F-fourth-tier branch pulse spiritual fields."

He never expected that Shopkeeper Lu had gone to attend the Five Elements Mountain auction.

For such a precious land, what a huge price must have been paid to acquire it?

For a moment, Jia Heyi found this Shopkeeper Lu, who had descended from above, impossible to fathom.

In his heart, he felt an immense awe rise toward him.

Jia Heyi had operated in the Lingxu Market for so many years, yet the Mirror Jing Xue Ge remained a third-rate power.

Yet as soon as Shopkeeper Lu arrived, he could participate in a large-scale auction and even purchase spiritual fields on a fourth-tier branch pulse.

Regarding such capability and resolve, Jia Heyi asked himself that no matter what, he could never achieve it.

Immediately after.

Jia Heyi proceeded to make arrangements and handle matters according to Qin Ming's instructions.

Upon hearing that they could go operate in the spiritual lands of the fourth-tier branch pulse, everyone under the Mirror Jing Xue Ge became extremely excited.

Previously, in their perception, Shopkeeper Lu was merely a hands-off owner who neglected his duties.

But they never expected that his first move would be stunning.

Over the following half-month.

Jia Heyi recruited dozens of spiritual farmers and several second-tier spirit planters in the Lingxu Market.

All of these people underwent Qin Ming's observation and verification.

Subsequently, Qin Ming led these individuals to the spiritual fields to clear wasteland and begin farming.

After handing over matters with the people of the Myriad Dao Shang Alliance, they flew across the Five Elements Mountain Range and arrived at the location of that spiritual land.

In an instant, a vast expanse of verdant spiritual mountains came into everyone's view, with spiritual mist drifting ethereally like gossamer silk.

The two hundred mu of spiritual fields lay on the slopes of the spiritual pulse, where spiritual qi lingered thickly; the soil was fertile and moist, presenting a deep black-brown hue and emitting a faint, unique fragrance of spiritual earth.

"Such a precious land; indeed, it is worthy of being a fourth-tier branch pulse!"

"The soil here seems to possess spirituality, capable of nourishing all things."

A second-tier spirit planter who had been recruited spoke with immense shock as he gazed upon the spiritual fields before him.

But what followed.

Once they entered the boundaries of the spiritual land, everyone, including Qin Ming, was somewhat dumbfounded.

For although these two hundred mu of spiritual fields were rich in spiritual qi and possessed a third-tier upper-grade spiritual pulse environment, their southern side bordered directly on the Beast Cry Mountain Range; near the southern area of the fields, traces of demonic beast activity were everywhere, along with various hoof prints of flying birds and walking beasts.

Only then did Qin Ming suddenly realize why the three major powers were willing to put this spiritual land up for auction.

It turned out there was the factor of the demonic beast threat; if one were to farm and operate here, constructing defenses against demonic beasts would require a great deal of effort and cost.

Jia Heyi and the others also revealed expressions of worry.

But next, Qin Ming seemed to pay no heed to this at all.

Instead, he began instructing the cultivators of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge to build houses and pavilions near the spiritual land, clearing the wasteland to prepare for farming.

Two months later.

The facilities surrounding the spiritual fields had been completed, and he had instructed Jia Heyi to purchase a third-tier lower-grade formation to guard the spiritual fields.

In this way, safety increased significantly.

Qin Ming himself occupied the ten-mu core region of the third-tier supreme-grade spiritual pulse; after careful consideration, he planted some spirit plants with a short maturation cycle here, intended for grinding out attributes.

These were five mu of third-tier lower-grade Dragon Pattern Grass and five mu of third-tier Star Twilight Flowers; both types of spirit plants are used to refine a type of spiritual incense called "Soul-Cleansing Incense," which is quite popular among high-level cultivators and those of high status.

Furthermore, as third-tier spirit plants, these two types can mature and be harvested within two years.

As for the remaining spiritual fields, Qin Ming allocated them to the spiritual farmers below to plant spirit rice.

Among these recruited spirit planters, the one with the highest skill was a second-tier upper-grade spirit planter named Li Lan, who possessed a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation base and indeed possessed profound attainments in spirit planting.

"Fellow Daoist Li, regarding that one hundred mu of third-tier upper-grade spiritual fields, I intend for you all to cultivate and plant Spirit Perching Rice; there shouldn't be a problem, correct?" Qin Ming summoned Li Lan to ask.

Li Lan replied respectfully: "Shopkeeper Lu, I have also heard a little about this Spirit Perching Rice, but I have never planted it before; your subordinate is willing to do his utmost to try."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming handed him a jade slip and said lightly: "Here are the methods and key points for planting Spirit Perching Rice; with your level of spirit planting skill, successfully cultivating and planting it should not be difficult."

After taking the jade slip and examining it, Li Lan's expression turned to great joy as he said: "I will certainly not disappoint Shopkeeper Lu's expectations."

"Hmm, if anyone among you can cultivate third-grade spiritual rice, this Shopkeeper will reward you handsomely!" After giving his instructions, Qin Ming dismissed them to attend to their respective tasks.

Having done this,

Qin Ming then summoned the Shi Tian Shu.

"Master, what do you need from me? Hee-hee!"

The Shi Tian Shu had been in high spirits lately, immersing itself daily in the joy of acquiring treasures.

"Since you have obtained a top-grade magical treasure, you must naturally work. I now assign you a task."

"Matters regarding the spiritual fields outside have now begun to proceed smoothly, but this place borders the Beast Cry Mountain Range."

"Although protected by formations, some wandering demonic beasts will inevitably intrude and cause trouble; go patrol the mountains for me."

Upon hearing this, the Shi Tian Shu immediately pulled a bitter face. "Master, this... this makes me a little patrol guard?"

"Can't you assign me some other job?"

"What? You are unwilling?"

"Very well, hand over the Zhu Que banner; I have great use for it." Qin Ming's expression stiffened as he spoke indifferently.

"Hee-hee! I'll go, I'll go right now, isn't that enough!"

The Shi Tian Shu hastily agreed, then vanished in a flash, fearing Qin Ming might change his mind.

The next day.

On a forested mountain path of the Five Elements Mountain.

Clang! "The Great King told me to patrol the mountains, alas!"

"Yi-er-yi-er-yo!"

Holding a black steel fork, striking a bronze gong, with the Zhu Que command banner strapped to its back, the Shi Tian Shu walked along the mountain path full of vigor, imposing and radiating domineering presence.

"After patrolling the Southern Mountain, I patrol the Northern Mountain, alas!"

"Yi-er-yi-er-yo!"

Its aura as a third-grade Demon King intentionally or unintentionally leaked out, startling the demonic beasts in the nearby forests into fleeing in all directions.

Thanks to fellow Daoist "Book Friend 20200102154356364" for the donation of 100 coins.

Thanks to fellow Daoist "Reader pxz1004" for the donation of 100 coins.

(End of Chapter)