Chapter 14

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Xu Zhangqing had originally planned to brew spirit rice wine with the remaining spirit rice.

Unexpectedly, his plan was ruined by these【Hibernating Insects】.

He had already given Hu Bugui twenty jin of spirit rice.

Plus what he had consumed during this period, only sixty jin remained.

Now, giving away fifty jin in one go, even if it was only first-grade spirit rice,

was no small loss for him.

After all, the spirit rice could not be harvested for at least another month.

Looking at the dense yellow-brown insects before him.

Xu Zhangqing had no mind to cultivate.

He simply stared blankly.

Just then, the spirit talisman in his hand suddenly trembled.

A faint layer of light emerged.

"It lit up!" Xu Zhangqing exclaimed in surprise.

He had posted a task at the【Core Management Office】that morning.

Unexpectedly, someone had claimed the insect-killing task by noon.

He did not know what kind of spirit root they had.

If they had a water spirit root, they could both kill insects and nourish the spirit rice.

As the time approached afternoon, the spirit talisman's flickering frequency grew faster and faster.

This meant the person who claimed the insect-killing task should be approaching.

Xu Zhangqing hurriedly came to the spirit field ridge to wait patiently.

Not long after, a thin man gradually walked closer.

The man held a constantly flickering spirit talisman in his hand.

Obviously, he was the one who claimed the insect-killing task.

Xu Zhangqing narrowed his eyes and looked at the man's chest.

The imagined water ripple pattern did not appear.

Instead, there was an inverted golden sword.

This meant the newcomer was not a water spirit root disciple, but a metal spirit root disciple.

Metal spirit roots specialized in killing.

Even at the early stage of Qi Refining, they had considerable combat power.

As soon as this person approached, Xu Zhangqing felt a prickling sensation on his back, very uncomfortable.

There was no way; wood spirit roots were restrained by metal and fire spirit roots, and instinctively produced a rejection reaction.

Luo Zhao looked him up and down and asked, "Are you Dao Friend Xu who posted the insect-killing task?"

Xu Zhangqing nodded. "Yes."

Luo Zhao shook the constantly flickering spirit talisman in his hand and teased, "Your place is really remote."

"I like quiet." Xu Zhangqing explained with a smile.

Luo Zhao continued, "Before killing the insects, you first take out the spirit rice for me to look at."

"Why?" Xu Zhangqing's smile faded, and his expression became doubtful.

Luo Zhao smiled wryly. "I've been stiffed many times, so I'm somewhat... helpless."

"I see." Xu Zhangqing understood.

He did not hesitate, immediately taking out the spirit rice from his small storage bag.

After confirming it was correct, Luo Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief, a friendly smile appearing on his face: "My name is Luo Zhao, a metal spirit root disciple of【Zhuqi Peak】."

Xu Zhangqing asked somewhat surprised, "The【Zhuqi Peak】that forges spirit tools and magic tools?"

"Correct." Luo Zhao affirmed.

Xu Zhangqing couldn't help but say, "Aren't you all quite busy?"

"I'm just an apprentice." Luo Zhao spread his hands and shrugged.

Xu Zhangqing blinked. "Then can I buy spirit tools from you?"

Since planting in the second-grade spirit field, he found ordinary farm tools were no longer sufficient.

If not for lacking spirit rice and spirit stones, he would have wanted to buy a set of spirit tools long ago.

"I'm not qualified to sell, but I can introduce you." Luo Zhao waved his hand.

"Let's talk about it later." Upon hearing this, Xu Zhangqing no longer wasted time.

"Fine." Seeing this, Luo Zhao did not waste words either.

He flicked his hand, and a white sphere flew out from his sleeve.

Spiritual power continuously poured into it from within his body.

Immediately, Xu Zhangqing saw the sphere light up.

Emitting a white halo.

At the same time, a sharp, piercing intent spread out.

Luo Zhao seized the timing, aiming at the spirit field ahead and hurling it forward with force.

With a swoosh, the white sphere spun and flew over.

In the form of a splash, it released faint wisps of white-gold qi.

Along the path it passed came constant "pu chi" sounds.

Xu Changqing was shocked to discover that the yellow-brown 【Winter Dormancy Insects】 on the spirit rice.

Were all chopped into pieces.

One batch after another died, without even a chance to struggle.

In no time at all, one-third of the area was cleared.

Yet the spirit rice had not a single mark, all intact and unharmed.

From this, it could be seen that Luo Zhao's control was extremely strong.

"What is this thing?" Xu Changqing stared with wide eyes.

Luo Zhao's voice rang out: "This is called a Sword Pill."

"Sword Pill?" Xu Changqing showed a questioning look.

Luo Zhao immediately explained: "Formal Disciples who awaken the Metal Spirit Root all receive a Mystic Iron Sword Pill, which they must nurture daily with their own spiritual power. If I didn't come out to earn extra money, I damn well couldn't afford to raise it."

Xu Changqing suddenly understood.

It seemed that different spirit roots had different troubles.

Although the Wood Spirit Root was unsuited for combat, at least its resources were decent.

Compared like this, his heart felt much more comfortable at once.

After all this fussing about, the time came to evening.

Luo Zhao almost exhausted all his spiritual power before cleaning the insects out of the spirit field.

"Thank you, Dao Friend Luo." Xu Changqing quickly saluted with clasped hands.

Luo Zhao handed over a spirit talisman and said: "Don't mention it. If you need help next time, just use this Communication Talisman to find me."

"Fine." Xu Changqing took it.

"I'm leaving." Luo Zhao put fifty jin of First-grade Spirit Rice into the Small Storage Bag, then turned and left.

Xu Changqing watched the other party gradually go farther away.

Then he turned his gaze back to his own Second Grade Spirit Field.

Actually, dealing with these insects wasn't difficult at all.

If he himself had a Metal Spirit Root or Water Spirit Root, he wouldn't even need to find an outsider.

Nor would he consume so much spirit rice.

At this moment, he longed for the other spirit roots even more.

"Xu Dao Friend!" At this moment, a call suddenly rang out from afar.

"Luo Dao Friend… huh?" Xu Changqing thought Luo Zhao had returned, only to find it wasn't him.

It was an acquaintance.

Who?

Lin An!

Someone who became a Formal Disciple at the same time as him.

The other party ran over panting, sweat covering his face.

Lin An complained: "Xu Dao Friend, I had a hard time finding you."

Xu Changqing looked at him with a surprised face: "Looking for me for something?"

Lin An was about to explain, but was drawn in by the spirit rice before his eyes.

The entire Second Grade Spirit Field was filled with growth, a scene of prosperity.

These spirit rice plants were very robust, every grain of the rice ears plump.

At a glance one could tell the grade was not low, and even the yield was not low.

Xu Changqing spoke up to remind him: "What do you want from me?"

"Right." Lin An came back to his senses, then said: "Tomorrow a Foundation Establishment Stage senior brother needs help harvesting spirit plants. I've already notified Zhao Ziyao. Do you want to come along?"

"Harvest?!" Hearing this, Xu Changqing's eyes lit up.

Spirit plants cultivated by Foundation Establishment Stage disciples were definitely extraordinary.

Perhaps they could bring him an unexpected harvest.

Lin An continued: "Not for nothing. Afterward, ten jin of Second-grade Spirit Rice as remuneration."

Xu Changqing couldn't help but ask further: "How many days?"

Lin An pondered for a moment: "One mu of Second Grade Spirit Field per person. It should be done in one day, right?"

"I accept." Xu Changqing agreed while laughing heartily: "It's not because of the ten jin of Second-grade Spirit Rice remuneration, but because you came so far to find me—I can't let you down."

"Hahaha!" Lin An's mood instantly brightened, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Don't leave yet. We'll go together tomorrow." Seeing it was getting late, Xu Changqing pulled him toward his wooden house.

"This friendship wasn't made in vain." Lin An felt somewhat moved in his heart.