Chapter 17: Longevity: My Farming-Style Cultivation Is Too Steady Chapter 17 Auspicious Snow Heralds a Bountiful Year, Spirit Farmer

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Xu Zhangqing did not rush to submit the task.

He had to make sure he and others were on the same level.

Until only two days remained before the New Year, and everyone had more or less finished harvesting.

He then came to the Ling Tian Core Management Office and saw Hua Lao again.

Much like last time, since there were many people, disciples were working part-time.

"Hua Lao!" Xu Zhangqing was very respectful, after all the other party was an administrator.

"It's you." Hua Lao had not forgotten and still had some impression.

Xu Zhangqing nodded slightly: "I'm here to complete the winter task and submit spirit rice."

Hearing this, Hua Lao looked him up and down: "If I remember correctly, this is your first time planting in winter; could it be that the yield met the standard?"

"Barely completed." Xu Zhangqing forced a wry smile.

Hua Lao seemed slightly surprised: "As long as it's completed, it's fine. Those in your batch didn't even reach a yield of one thousand jin."

"Zhao Ziyao?" That person popped into Xu Zhangqing's mind.

"Yes." Hua Lao nodded slightly.

Although somewhat surprised by this, Xu Zhangqing did not take it to heart.

Originally, their relationship was just average.

If it weren't for Lin An being involved in between.

They probably would never have interacted until death.

Afterwards, Xu Zhangqing submitted one thousand jin of second-grade spirit rice for the winter.

"Top-grade spirit rice?" Hua Lao was surprised.

These days, newcomers who can grow top-grade spirit rice are few and far between.

Unexpectedly, the person before him could actually do it.

Xu Zhangqing thought to himself: "It seems top-grade spirit rice isn't something just anyone can grow, but I only have this kind of spirit rice."

Then he discovered that exchanging top-grade spirit rice for points was different.

If second-grade spirit field produce yields high-quality spirit rice, one thousand jin can obtain two hundred points.

And if second-grade spirit field produce yields top-grade spirit rice, also one thousand jin, it can be exchanged for 250 points, gaining an extra 50 points, as well as praise from Hua Lao.

Before leaving, Xu Zhangqing specifically asked.

He learned that exchanging for a high-rank cultivation method actually required two thousand points.

That is to say, either submit ten thousand jin of second-grade spirit rice all at once.

Or accumulate bit by bit, and eventually be able to exchange.

"It seems I can only wait longer." Xu Zhangqing pondered.

Afterwards, he left the Ling Tian Core Management Office.

Unexpectedly, just as he arrived at the position outside the palace at the mountain road junction.

He ran into a familiar face head-on.

Who?

Zhao Ziyao!

The other party had a face full of worry, obviously in a bad mood.

However, upon seeing Xu Zhangqing, Zhao Ziyao's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stopped him: "Xu Dao Friend!"

"What is it?" Xu Zhangqing watched the other party with a face full of alertness.

Zhao Ziyao couldn't help but ask: "Have you completed the winter task?"

"Mm." Xu Zhangqing thought it over repeatedly and ultimately did not lie.

Since Hua Lao's side had casually revealed Zhao Ziyao's situation.

That meant the news of himself completing the winter task could not be hidden.

Since that was the case, if he hid it from Zhao Ziyao now, it might cause this person's dissatisfaction.

Therefore, he might as well admit it openly and first see what this guy actually wanted to do.

Seeing this, a flash of displeasure crossed Zhao Ziyao's eyes, but it was hidden quickly, and then he asked: "Can you lend me one hundred jin of second-grade spirit rice?"

"As expected." Xu Zhangqing knew this guy was up to no good, and then with a face full of difficulty he said: "I also barely completed the winter task with great effort, and what's left isn't even enough for myself."

Zhao Ziyao pressed: "How much is left?"

"Fifty jin." Xu Zhangqing shrugged.

"A bit too little." Zhao Ziyao frowned.

Indeed, there was a possibility the other party was hiding something.

But he himself had failed to complete the winter task due to insufficient yield.

Therefore, the possibility of hiding it was not great.

Maybe this time he could complete it purely by dumb luck.

"I can only lend you ten jin, no more." Xu Zhangqing said with a face full of pain.

"Ten jin is fine too." Zhao Ziyao did not refuse.

Xu Zhangqing immediately took out ten jin of second-grade spirit rice from his small storage bag.

"I'll definitely return it next year." After getting it, Zhao Ziyao made a guarantee.

"Good." Xu Zhangqing chuckled lightly.

Afterward, Zhao Ziyao continued walking toward the mountain-top platform.

Xu Zhangqing turned to look at the other's eager back, his gaze instantly turning cold.

This person cannot be deeply befriended.

Originally, the relationship between the two sides was already ordinary, yet he was so actively borrowing things.

In contrast, Lin An.

Although when they were at the outer perimeter, both had some resistance.

But after becoming formal disciples, the other party had never asked to borrow anything from him.

Even with Zhang Su last time, even though Xu Zhangqing actively offered spirit rice, she accepted reluctantly.

"It's snowing!"

"Fortunately the harvest was timely!"

"Auspicious snow foretells a bountiful year; next year will be even better!"

At this moment, the gray sky suddenly drifted down heavy snow.

The extreme cold swept over the entire spirit field.

Xu Zhangqing, idle anyway, stopped to watch the snow scenery for a while.

He discovered that not all places were covered by the heavy snow.

Many spirit fields were still no different from autumn, completely unaffected.

Even some places were actually steaming.

The snowflakes melted before they even fell down.

Two days passed in an instant.

The moment Xu Zhangqing opened the door.

A cold wind mixed with snowflakes surged in.

Fortunately he was a cultivator, so he wasn't afraid of the cold.

Outside, the spirit field was covered by ice and snow.

Such a huge world, instantly entered a sealed state.

Creak creak!

Xu Zhangqing left home with one foot deep and one foot shallow, then walked toward the left side.

When he approached the Ling Tian Core Management Office.

He discovered more and more people nearby.

Everyone unconsciously walked toward one direction.

"Flying paper cranes, can bear three hundred jin of weight, reach the market in half an incense stick!"

"Rent for one day is five low-grade spirit stones, purchase requires fifty low-grade spirit stones!"

"Spirit beasts, traveling to and from the market takes only one incense stick, ten low-grade spirit stones per day!"

When Xu Zhangqing came to a fork in the road.

He was surprised to discover.

Many disciples of the Water Pavilion and Ling Beast Valley were standing by the roadside.

All were selling and renting various things that could move quickly.

But obviously, compared to spirit beasts.

Everyone was more inclined toward flying paper cranes.

Because the price was cheaper.

Five low-grade spirit stones were equivalent to ten jin of second-grade spirit rice.

At this moment, a wood spirit root disciple who had rented a flying paper crane shouted to those around: "I can take two more people to Hongfeng Valley, just give one low-grade spirit stone, or two jin of second-grade spirit rice."

"I'll come." Xu Zhangqing hurriedly took out rice.

Not long after, three people were gathered.

Afterward, the flying paper crane began flapping its wings hard.

However, it did not fly up.

No, accurately speaking, it could not fly high.

He didn't know if it was because three people were too heavy, or it was designed like this itself.

The height of this flying paper crane was only about five meters of vertical distance from the ground.

The person renting the paper crane asked smilingly: "Two Dao Friends, how is this year's harvest?"

Xu Zhangqing shrugged: "Not bad."

The other person was a female disciple with an awakened wood spirit root, she said lightly: "Better than last winter."

The person renting the paper crane introduced himself: "I am Xu Mingsheng, I have been a formal disciple for five years."

Xu Zhangqing thought for a moment and said: "Cai Kun, two and a half years."

The female disciple finally said: "Lin Mengru, two years."

Xu Mingsheng said playfully: "Two Dao Friends, this year's Hongfeng Valley Market will be very lively."

Xu Zhangqing asked doubtfully: "Why?"

Xu Mingsheng explained: "Because there are still two years until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition begins, all Formal Disciples have started preparing resources."

"None of our business." Lin Mengru pouted.

Wood Spirit Root Disciples are not suited for combat.

Even if they participate in the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, their ranking won't be high.

No matter how powerful, they'll still be done for when they meet those Metal Spirit Roots and Fire Spirit Roots.

Xu Mingsheng waved his hand: "Dao Friend Lin, you're wrong about that."

"Oh?" Lin Mengru raised her eyebrows, looking slightly unconvinced.

Xu Mingsheng said seriously: "We can just take this opportunity to sell the spirit rice, spirit plants, and such in our hands at a higher price!"

"Makes sense." Xu Zhangqing deeply agreed.

"So, I want to communicate with you in advance about... market prices." Xu Mingsheng got to the point.

Xu Zhangqing had always believed that every spirit farmer was a lone cultivator.

Therefore there was no need to gather in groups.

But only after contacting Xu Mingsheng did he realize everything was wrong.

The sale of spirit rice generally has two channels.

One is the official channel, exchanging spirit rice for points.

One is the unofficial channel, transacting at market price.

And the transaction price of the unofficial channel has always been decided by Xu Mingsheng, or rather the power behind him.

This power is composed of old spirit farmers who have joined the Spirit Field Core Area for at least three years.

Its name is Nongxin Society.

When prices are high.

When prices are low.

All controlled by them.

Seeing that only two years remained until the Formal Disciple Grand Competition.

Therefore Xu Mingsheng and the others deliberately limited the quantity of spirit plants.

First reduce the output flowing into the market, increasing customer demand.

Then take this opportunity to raise prices, thereby making a huge profit.

Normally two jin of second-grade spirit rice could be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone.

But under their control, it can now be sold for two!