Chapter 489: Clearing Land and Planting Crops

Two hours later.

Qin Ming returned to the Spirit Ruins Marketplace.

As soon as he stepped through the door of Jingxue Pavilion, Jia Heyi hurried forward with respectful deference.

"Lord Lu, you're back!"

"Mm. Jia, gather some people and prepare to move to the Five Elements Mountain spirit fields."

"Preferably spirit farmers with cultivation skills, and spirit cultivators," Qin Ming said directly upon entering the shop.

Jia Heyi froze in place upon hearing this.

The Five Elements Mountain auction had just ended, and Jingxue Pavilion had not been invited.

Qin Ming had not told him what he had done outside, so the news had not yet reached the Spirit Ruins Marketplace.

Jia Heyi was still completely in the dark.

"Huh? What spirit fields?"

"Lord Lu, are we moving to the Five Elements Mountain?" Jia Heyi asked, bewildered.

But what Qin Ming said next struck his mind like a thunderclap.

"Precisely. I bid on two hundred mu of the fourth-rank branch vein. From now on, this pavilion will rely on this land for its operations and growth."

"Leave a few people behind to guard the shop in the Spirit Ruins Marketplace."

"Once the spirit plants are harvested, we'll sell them in the marketplace."

Whirr~ Jia Heyi's head buzzed.

"Fourth-rank branch vein spirit fields?"

He never imagined Lord Lu had gone to the Five Elements Mountain auction.

How great a price must it have cost to secure such a precious place?

For a moment, Jia Heyi found himself utterly baffled by this newly arrived Lord Lu.

He felt profound awe toward him.

Jia Heyi had managed the Spirit Ruins Marketplace for years, yet Jingxue Pavilion remained a low-tier force.

Yet the moment Lord Lu arrived, he joined a major auction—and secured spirit fields on a fourth-rank branch vein.

Such boldness and capability—he knew he could never match it.

Immediately after.

Jia Heyi set about carrying out Qin Ming's orders.

When Jingxue Pavilion's staff heard they were going to cultivate on a fourth-rank branch vein, they all became ecstatic.

Previously, they had viewed Lord Lu as a negligent owner who neglected his duties.

Yet now, with one move, he had stunned them all.

Over the next half-month.

Jia Heyi recruited dozens of spirit farmers and several second-rank spirit cultivators in the Spirit Ruins Marketplace.

All of them were observed and vetted by Qin Ming.

Then Qin Ming led them to the spirit fields to clear the land and begin cultivation.

After coordinating with the Ten Thousand Paths Trading Alliance, they flew across the Five Elements Mountains to the location of the land.

Instantly, a vast expanse of mist-shrouded mountains appeared before them, spiritual mist drifting like gauze.

The two hundred mu of spirit fields lay upon the mountain slope, saturated with spiritual energy, rich and moist soil, deep black-brown in color, exhaling a faint, exotic fragrance of spirit earth.

"Such a precious land—no wonder it's a fourth-rank branch vein!"

"Even the soil here seems alive, nurturing all things."

One of the recruited second-rank spirit cultivators stared at the fields in awe.

But then.

Once they entered the spirit field's boundaries, everyone—including Qin Ming—was stunned.

Though the two hundred mu of land was rich in spiritual energy and possessed a high-grade third-rank vein, its southern edge abutted the Beast Roar Mountains. Around the southern region, traces of demonic beasts were everywhere—footprints of flying and terrestrial creatures.

Qin Ming finally understood why the three major factions had been willing to auction off this land.

The threat of demonic beasts was the reason. Cultivating here would demand immense effort and cost to build defenses.

Jia Heyi and the others showed signs of worry.

Yet Qin Ming seemed unconcerned.

He began instructing Jingxue Pavilion's cultivators to build houses and pavilions near the spirit fields and clear the land for cultivation.

Two months later.

All facilities around the spirit fields were completed, and Jia Heyi had purchased a third-rank low-grade formation to guard the land.

Security had greatly improved.

Qin Ming himself took possession of the ten mu core area of the third-rank supreme vein. After careful consideration, he planted short-cycle spirit plants here to grind his skill lines.

Five mu of third-rank low-grade Dragon Pattern Grass, and five mu of third-rank Star Tan Flower—both used to brew a spirit incense called "Purifying Soul Incense," highly sought after by high-rank cultivators and the elite.

As third-rank spirit plants, both would mature and be harvestable in two years.

The remaining spirit fields were allocated to the spirit farmers for growing spirit rice.

Among the recruited spirit cultivators, the most skilled was a third-rank upper-grade spirit cultivator named Li Lan, with Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation, and considerable expertise in spirit plant cultivation.

"Li Daofriend, I plan to have you cultivate Spirit Resting Rice on the hundred mu of third-rank upper-grade land. No problem, right?" Qin Ming summoned Li Lan and asked.

Li Lan replied respectfully: "Lord Lu, I've heard of Spirit Resting Rice before, but I've never grown it. I'll do my best."

Qin Ming handed him a jade slip and said calmly: "Here are the methods and key points for cultivating Spirit Resting Rice. With your skill, success should not be difficult."

After examining the jade slip, Li Lan's face lit up with joy: "I will not disappoint Lord Lu."

"Mm. If any of you manage to grow third-rank spirit rice, I'll reward you handsomely!" After giving his instructions, Qin Ming dismissed them to their tasks.

After finishing this,

Qin Ming summoned the Devouring Heaven Rat.

"Master, you called me? Hehe!"

The Devouring Heaven Rat had been in high spirits lately, reveling in the joy of collecting treasures.

"Since you've obtained a top-grade magic treasure, you must work. Now, I have a task for you."

"The spirit fields are now running smoothly, but they border the Beast Roar Mountains."

"Though protected by a formation, stray demonic beasts still sneak in. Go patrol the mountains for me."

The Devouring Heaven Rat's face fell into a grimace. "Master… you want me to be a little scout?"

"Can't I get another job?"

"What? You refuse?"

"Then hand over the Vermilion Bird Flag. I have great use for it," Qin Ming said coldly.

"Hehe! I'll go, I'll go right away!"

The Devouring Heaven Rat hurriedly agreed and vanished in a flash, afraid Qin Ming would change his mind.

……

The next day.

On the forest trails of the Five Elements Mountains.

CLANG! "The Great King sent me to patrol the hills!"

"Yi-er yi-er yo!"

The Devouring Heaven Rat held a black steel trident, clanging a copper gong, its back adorned with the Vermilion Bird Flag, radiating vigor and authority as it marched down the path.

"Patrol the southern hills, then the northern hills!"

"Yi-er yi-er yo!"

It deliberately leaked its third-rank demon king aura, sending nearby demonic beasts fleeing in terror.

……

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(End of Chapter)