Chapter 22: Longevity: My Farming-Style Cultivation Is Too Steady Chapter 22 Going Out to Collect Spring Seedlings, Recommended Four

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

As the days passed one by one, the winter snow began to melt.

The temperature kept dropping.

The little fellows were so cold they refused to leave their nests.

"Stay home and behave, I'm going to collect the Spring Seedlings." Xu Zhangqing didn't care whether it understood him; after speaking, he opened the door and walked toward the Core Management Office.

With only a few days left until spring, the necessary steps couldn't be skipped.

Normally, reaching the Core Management Office took about half an hour.

But because of the thaw, the roads were difficult to traverse.

This time it took a full hour to arrive.

"If all else fails, I'll buy a Flying Paper Crane first." Xu Zhangqing stood at the stairs, looking disgusted as he scraped the rotten mud off the soles of his feet, then stepped into the hall.

Since it was still early, there weren't many disciples.

Regardless of gender, they were all Wood Spiritual Root Disciples.

"Steward!" Xu Zhangqing stepped forward respectfully to greet him.

"You're here." Hua Lao recognized him quickly this time.

Xu Zhangqing nodded and said, "I'm here to collect this year's Spring Seedlings."

Hearing this, Hua Lao said quite gratifiedly, "It's good to be diligent."

In his view, if one's aptitude was poor and comprehension average,

the only way was to make up for the innate gap with others through acquired diligence.

He appreciated someone like Xu Zhangqing very much.

Last winter, knowing it would reduce the yield, he still persisted in planting.

He even managed to grow spirit rice of top-grade quality.

Possessing both talent and great diligence was truly rare and precious.

Now that the New Year hadn't even ended, he came to collect Spring Seedlings early in the morning.

Xu Zhangqing asked, "May I ask Steward, if I want to plant other spirit plants?"

Hua Lao instead countered, "Have you reached Qi Refining Middle Stage?"

Xu Zhangqing blinked, then replied, "I'm still a few strands of spiritual power short."

Hua Lao asked again, "Which layer of Changqing Jue?"

Xu Zhangqing frowned slightly. Being able to grow top-grade spirit rice definitely couldn't be just the First Layer, so he replied, "The Third Layer."

Hua Lao shook his head involuntarily: "Although the cultivation method's grade is acceptable, your cultivation realm is too low. I suggest you continue planting spirit rice."

Anyone who reached Qi Refining Middle Stage

could exchange for other spirit plants at his place.

However, Hua Lao didn't know

that the person before him had already reached Qi Refining Middle Stage long ago,

and was now only one step away from Late Stage.

Nor was Changqing Jue at the Third Layer, but rather the "Fifth Layer," which was very hard to surpass.

"Ugh." Xu Zhangqing was helpless.

Hua Lao said meaningfully, "Here I can only follow the rules. Whatever realm you've reached, that's the spirit plant you can exchange for."

Xu Zhangqing blinked: "What if I buy seeds from other spirit farmers?"

Hua Lao turned his face away: "I don't care about that, and I can't control it."

Xu Zhangqing's eyes lit up instantly.

Obviously, Hua Lao had made things very clear.

On his side, he could only act according to the rules of the Dongting Immortal Sect.

But he wouldn't stop spirit farmers from trading privately.

In other words, as long as you complete the yearly tasks.

As for how spirit seedlings, seeds, etc., are obtained,

actually those above don't care at all.

Hua Lao turned his face back: "Let me remind you again, exchanging spirit seedlings is free, but if you exchange for other spirit plants, points will be deducted."

The rarer and more precious, the more points consumed.

Most spirit plant seeds on the market can be traded privately.

But those of higher quality are almost all monopolized by the Dongting Immortal Sect.

Not only is private trading not allowed,

but ordinary disciples are not even allowed to plant them.

For example, Outer Disciples can only plant spirit rice.

While Formal Disciples, besides spirit rice, as their cultivation realm and cultivation method grade increase,

can unlock more spirit plants step by step, but they are almost all more common types.

Only upon reaching Core Disciple can one plant very rare, extremely high-quality spirit plants.

"Understood." Xu Zhangqing couldn't help but take a deep breath.

No wonder the Five Great Powers monopolize resources.

So it turns out the upper beam is crooked and the lower beams are askew.

From the Sect Management, all the way down to the middle and lower layers.

Layer upon layer of monopoly, layer upon layer of exploitation.

Almost all cultivation resources are pinched in their own hands.

If one wants to obtain more, one can only raise one's cultivation realm and cultivation method rank.

Even one's rank and status.

Very quickly, Xu Zhangqing finished collecting this year's Spring Seedlings.

But after going down the mountain, he did not head toward the remote Spirit Field where he resided.

Instead, winding around, he actually arrived at the door of Formal Disciple Zhang Su.

Xu Zhangqing called out toward the inside: "Senior Brother Zhang, are you in?"

Not long after, a female disciple with a Water Spirit Root walked out from the house directly opposite.

Xu Zhangqing cupped his hands in salute: "Dao Friend!"

The Water Spirit Root female disciple sized him up while asking: "What business do you have seeking Senior Brother Zhang?"

Xu Zhangqing smiled lightly: "I've come to offer New Year greetings."

The Water Spirit Root female disciple nodded slightly: "Wait a moment."

"Hahaha... Junior Brother Xu!" After about two or three minutes, Zhang Su walked out from inside the house laughing heartily.

"Senior Brother Zhang!" Xu Zhangqing hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed.

Zhang Su asked with a smile: "It's not yet the harvest stage, why has Junior Brother come looking for me?"

Xu Zhangqing naturally understood the meaning in the other's words, so he explained: "A few days ago there were many people, I didn't dare disturb you, so I could only find a time with fewer people and specially came to offer New Year greetings to Senior Brother."

Hearing this, the smile on Zhang Su's face grew even more radiant: "It's good that you have this sincerity, come in!"

Only at this moment did he open the Fence Gate.

Then the two entered the house step by step.

After sitting down, Zhang Su called out: "Come—serve tea for my Junior Brother Xu!"

Xu Zhangqing curiously examined the interior, discovering it was quite luxurious.

The walls were hung full of various precious calligraphy and paintings.

Even the meditation cushions used for cultivation were actually made of Spirit Stones.

Very quickly, the Water Spirit Root female disciple who had appeared earlier brought two cups of hot tea.

This tea was also not simple.

It emanated faint Spiritual Energy.

Zhang Su asked with a beaming smile: "Junior Brother Xu, how is this tea?"

"Good tea." Xu Zhangqing took a shallow sip: "The aftertaste is sweet, the fragrance lingers on lips and teeth, and the Spiritual Energy contained within even tugs at my Spiritual Power."

Zhang Su said quite proudly: "Of course, this is Hundred Years Spiritual Tea."

Xu Zhangqing said with quite some envy: "Senior Brother still knows how to enjoy life."

Zhang Su put down the tea cup, his bulky body leaning back, looking lazy and leisurely: "Cultivation and being human are no different, eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, enjoy when you should enjoy."

Xu Zhangqing deeply agreed with this: "Senior Brother lives with clarity."

Zhang Su narrowed his eyes, staring at Xu Zhangqing like this for a long while before asking: "Junior Brother Xu, the New Year greetings have been given, is there anything else?"

As the saying goes, one doesn't visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason.

What's more, this is a Formal Disciple who just joined the core not long ago.

He had prepared himself for a request to borrow rice or perhaps borrow Spirit Stones.

Xu Zhangqing hesitated a moment, then said: "Junior Brother wants to buy some seeds, but has no channels at all, so I could only come disturb Senior Brother."

Zhang Su appeared slightly surprised: "So it's to buy seeds!"

"What else?" Xu Zhangqing shrugged as a matter of course.

"Nothing." Zhang Su waved his hand slightly embarrassedly, then asked: "I wonder what type of seeds or Spiritual Seedlings Junior Brother wants?"

Xu Zhangqing shook his head: "I'm also not too clear on what seeds or Spiritual Seedlings to choose."

Zhang Su asked again: "What is Junior Brother's cultivation realm? How many layers has your cultivation method reached?"

"Approaching Qi Refining Middle Stage." Xu Zhangqing paused, then continued: "The Changqing Jue is now at the Third Layer."

"Changqing Jue Third Layer?" Zhang Su was quite surprised by this.

After all, once promoted one can learn the higher-grade 【Wood Spirit Cultivation Technique】.

Very few still raise the Changqing Jue to such heights.

This Junior Brother before me truly has perseverance.

Therefore, Zhang Su stroked the stubble on his chin thoughtfully: "Cultivation realm is a bit lacking, the seeds and Spiritual Seedlings available to choose are not many.

Considering it is now spring, Senior Brother recommends 【Four-leaf Clover】."

"Four-leaf Clover?" Xu Zhangqing had never heard of it, so he was quite bewildered.

Zhang Su explained: "This 【Four-leaf Clover】 is slightly higher-grade than Spirit Rice, barely matching your current cultivation realm and cultivation method rank.

Of course, the main thing is the price isn't expensive either."

Xu Zhangqing hurriedly asked: "How much?"

"Senior Brother happens to have a batch here, just ten Low-grade Spirit Stones." Zhang Su took out a large Storage Bag, and very quickly took out the 【Four-leaf Clover】 seeds.

Xu Zhangqing looked closely and discovered these seeds were all extremely tiny.

Some were even extremely shriveled.

Zhang Su hooked the corner of her mouth: "Let's agree beforehand, these Four-leaf Clover seeds have been stored for many years; how many can be grown depends entirely on your own skill and luck."

Xu Zhangqing pretended to ponder.

Zhang Su did not urge him either.

Drinking tea on one side, waiting on the other.

Xu Zhangqing nodded after a good while: "Junior Brother wants to give it a try!"

"Very good." Zhang Su said with great satisfaction: "If you can truly grow them, Senior Brother is willing to purchase all of them at the current market price."