I Practice Farming While the Rest Cultivates

Chapter 618: Chapter 616 Waving the Tiger Skin as a Banner

However, one challenge that faced Lu Xuan was that this sixth-grade Nine Confucian Treasure Tree was evidently more difficult to nurture.

“A scholarly atmosphere… listening to the teachings of Confucian classics, poetry, and essays…”

“Could it be that I need to plant it near a cultivation academy? That would satisfy both conditions.”

Lu Xuan thought to himself but soon dismissed the idea.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“A scholarly spiritual power environment; perhaps I could find some way to acquire related treasures.”

“As for the Confucian classics, I could hire a Confucian Path Cultivator to come and cultivate near the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree.”

He didn’t have the makings to practice the Confucian cultivation technique. After all, he knew himself well and was certainly not the scholarly type; he would have to think of other methods.

“Another sixth-grade spirit plant.”

His mood took a long time to settle down.

After collecting spirit plants for many years, his cave abode currently housed only a few varieties of sixth-grade spirit plants, which showed their rarity and valuable nature.

Unexpectedly, he had obtained one in such a befuddled manner today; it was indeed a surprise delight.

However, there is a predestined order to things in the universe. If it weren’t for Lu Xuan revealing his mastery in the cultivation of spirit plants at the Transformation Stage earlier, he probably would not have drawn Lei Zheng’s attention, and thus, would not have received the spiritual seed.

He hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to plant the Black Character Spirit Seed in the Wu Spirit Soil.

Although it couldn’t meet the growth conditions for the time being, the pure and dense environment of spirit aura and spirit soil, along with Lu Xuan’s meticulous care, was enough to maintain the life force of the spiritual seed.

After planting the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree, Lu Xuan continued to patrol around the spirit field.

The Ice Firefly Grass that had been planted not long ago had already taken root and sprouted. The tender shoots were suffused with a deep blue glow, and a cold breath was detectable from a distance.

A thin layer of frost had formed on the surface of the spirit soil near the spirit plant. Rather than giving off a feeling of desolation and death, the frost seemed to enhance the vitality of the emerging Ice Firefly Grass.

Lu Xuan dared not be the slightest bit negligent with these more than ten Ice Firefly Grasses, as his hopes for advancing to the Core Formation stage and improving his cultivation level afterward lay with them.

After inspecting all the spirit plants in the spirit field, he returned to the courtyard.

With Lei Zheng’s reminder, he planned to stay in his cave abode for the time being and raise the defensive state to the highest level, allowing the Void Nightmare Eye to roam within a radius of dozens of miles with the cave abode at its center.

Even the thought of trading a fifth-rank treasure item for spirit stones had been aborted.

He planned to wait until he had broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage before selling the fifth-rank treasure that he didn’t much need; that would be a safer approach.

One day, as he was playing with Fat Bird, a deep voice suddenly came from outside the cave abode.

“Is Friend Lu in the cave abode? We are the Sky Star Cave Patrol Cultivators. Recently, Thunderfire Star Cave has not been very peaceful, so we’ve come to check each cave abode.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan hurried out to meet them.

As soon as he came out of the cave abode, he saw four cultivators standing quietly outside the formation.

The leader was a dignified young man dressed in black. As Lu Xuan’s Spiritual Sense swept over him, he immediately detected that the young man was at the “Early Core Formation stage.”

The other three were wearing standard armor decorated with many intricate charms, clearly not ordinary objects.

All three were at Foundation Establishment Perfectionist cultivation level, standing in a triangular formation, subtly forming a battle array.

“Greetings to the senior and the three cultivators.”

Lu Xuan respectfully offered his salutations.

“Friend Lu, I presume? My name is Chen Mingcheng. By the order of the Star Master, I am leading these three cultivators to patrol around Thunderfire Star Cave.”

“Please be accommodating, Friend Lu, and allow me to check to ensure that no Demon Envoy or Evil Cultivator has invaded the cave abode and contaminated the flesh body without your knowledge.”

The steady young man spoke slowly, his tone polite but with a hint of unquestionable authority.

Seeing Lu Xuan nod in agreement, a dull gray ancient mirror appeared in his hand.

A beam of grey light shot out from the ancient mirror, circled around Lu Xuan’s body, and in an instant, retreated back into the mirror.

“There are no abnormalities.”

Chen Mingcheng said to Lu Xuan.

“I wonder if Friend Lu agrees to let us inspect your cave abode?”

Although no evil spite qi was detected on Lu Xuan, for safety’s sake, these Sky Star Cave patrol cultivators still wanted to conduct a thorough search.

“I must decline.”

Lu Xuan said with a firm tone.

“There are some secrets in the cave abode related to me, and I greatly dislike having my living space pried into. So I ask for your understanding, senior.”

“Here are a few bottles of Jade Wash Spirit Dew, a token of appreciation for the diligence of the senior and fellow cultivators patrolling day by day.”

“This spirit brew tastes excellent, even Qi Wuheng Star Envoy couldn’t stop praising it.”

Lu Xuan presented the Jade Drench Elixir to them, deftly bringing up Qi Wuheng in the conversation.

There were simply too many high-rank spirit plants in his cave abode, as well as some weird spiritual plants not meant for the public eye—discovery would reflect poorly.

“Friend Lu is acquainted with Elder Brother Qi?”

As expected, upon hearing what Lu Xuan said, the attention of the composed young cultivator was completely captured by the name Qi Wuheng.

“I can’t speak to being particularly close; I just assisted Qi Wuheng in resolving an issue with a spirit beast he had not long ago.”

Lu Xuan said with a smile.

“So it was Friend Lu who cured Elder Brother Qi’s Thunder Wing Bird spirit beast.”

The realization dawned on the composed young man and his gaze towards Lu Xuan immediately warmed.

He had heard about Qi Wuheng’s spirit beast and knew that the issue which had troubled the Thunderfire Star Cave Envoy for so long was resolved by someone, just not who exactly.

Unexpectedly, he met the person responsible here.

Qi Wuheng was a small realm higher than he was and likewise held a much more respected status. Since Lu Xuan was able to help a star envoy in the mid-term of Nascent Soul stage, that fact increased his estimation of Lu Xuan significantly.

“That spirit beast has accompanied Elder Brother for many years, and their affection for each other is deep. Friend Lu’s solving of that problem for Elder Brother, I admire.”

“It was just sheer luck.”

Lu Xuan said modestly.

“Then, thank you for the spirit brew, Friend Lu. I, Chen, shall take it back and savor it properly.”

Chen Mingcheng said with a laugh.

Having accepted the Jade Wash Spirit Dew from Lu Xuan, and upon learning of his unusual relationship with Qi Wuheng Star Envoy, the composed young man did not mention the idea of inspecting the cave abode again.

“If Friend Lu notices any anomalies, you can always ask me for help. I will be patrolling this area for the near future.”

Before leaving, he handed Lu Xuan a communication talisman.

Lu Xuan quickly expressed his gratitude and watched as Chen Mingcheng, and the three Sky Star Cave guards departed.

Only when the four figures had completely disappeared did he return to his cave abode.

“Good thing that I didn’t let them in for inspection. Finding so many high-rank spirit plants, and even those weird spiritual plants, would be troublesome to explain away.”

“They might even become greedy, considering the high value of those spirit plants. Furthermore, in other cultivators’ eyes, a Spirit Plant Master generally has weaker strength compared to same-level cultivators, which could make the temptation even greater.”

Lu Xuan mused to himself. He had first bribed them with small favors and then pulled the big tiger’s skin of Qi Wuheng Star Envoy to divert the matter of inspecting the cave abode.