There was no problem with Quenching Spirit Art; Li Mu had already entered it into his proficiency panel.
After the old Daoist checked and confirmed, he readily pulled out 10 crystal-clear Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch; each was about the size of a baby's fist, exuding a rich spiritual aura.
Li Mu's eyes lit up, and he quickly took the 10 Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, put them into his Spirit Stone cloth bag, and at the same time handed Quenching Spirit Art to the old Daoist.
"The transaction is complete. If you have good things next time, come find me again." Li Mu put away the other three Cultivation Techniques and happily took his leave.
1 Medium-Grade Spirit Stone is equal to 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
I'm rich!
Li Mu gleefully put away the Spirit Stone bag and happily left the old Daoist's Cultivation Technique stall, not noticing that as he turned around, the old Daoist secretly took a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and sprinkled some fluorescent powder onto his clothes.
The old Daoist watched Li Mu's departing back, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
Li Mu walked towards the neighboring stall selling talismans.
He didn't know when he would be able to master the Thunder-Summoning Evil Expulsion Method, and the Cui Ling Fruit Seedling urgently needed treatment.
After bargaining with the talisman vendor, Li Mu spent 35 lower spirit stones to buy 10 Evil Expulsion Talismans, bought a catty of Yao Beast meat at the meat stall, and then went to the spirit plant shop to buy spirit-nurturing water…
Li Mu calculated how to use this Spirit Stone.
After Zhang Laotou moved out, that mountain peak was deserted, so Li Mu planned to open a few more spirit rice fields on that mountain peak.
Applying to the Sect for a reclamation order to open up a few acres of spirit rice fields nearby, the ownership of the spiritual mountain belongs to the Qingxuan Sect, and the spirit rice fields applied for by Utility Disciples naturally belong to the Sect, but they are exempt from rent for three years, and after three years, they need to continue paying rent to the Sect.
The cost of developing spirit rice fields is not small. Without a Spiritual Vein nearby, a Spirit Gathering Array needs to be set up, costing hundreds of lower spirit stones. Generally, no Utility Disciple would do such a thankless task.
However, for Li Mu, with the Heavenly Talent of Plant Spirit Absorption, the more spirit rice fields he owned and the more spiritual plants he planted, the more feedback he would receive, making it very worthwhile.
Having made up his mind, Li Mu found an unoccupied corner, put the purchased supplies into his storage grid, and changed direction to head towards the Qingxuan Sect's outpost in Qing'an Town.
"What are you doing? This is an important Sect area, don't wander around if you have nothing to do." Soon, Li Mu was stopped by an Outer Sect Disciple.
"I'm looking for Senior Brother Xu, who manages the spirit rice fields, to apply for a reclamation order," Li Mu quickly explained his purpose.
"Come with me!" The Outer Sect Disciple looked at Li Mu and led the way.
Li Mu quickly followed, walked through the corridor, and was led to a side room with an open door. Inside, a man in his thirties was sitting at a desk, concentrating on writing ledgers.
"Senior Brother Xu, there's a young man who wants to apply for a reclamation order. This is him." The Outer Sect Disciple pointed at Li Mu and reported to Xu Lijin.
"Hmm? You want to reclaim land? Which mountain peak?" Xu Lijin looked up at Li Mu and asked in surprise.
This year, due to the insect plague, the harvest was not good, and the spirit rice farmers were complaining bitterly. Many people applied to withdraw from the Sect's land, so Xu Lijin was already stressed! Yet, someone dared to go against the trend and apply for reclamation at this time.
"I rented two spirit rice fields on Xiao Liang Mountain, but they are a bit far apart and inconvenient to manage, so I plan to open a few more spirit rice fields to consolidate them. Then I'll find a Dao Companion to farm together." Li Mu feigned a simple and honest expression, smiling as he replied.
"Haha, you're not old, but your vision is quite long-term. Xiao Liang Mountain, right? Alright, I'll approve this reclamation order." Xu Lijin laughed heartily, amused by Li Mu's described plan, and approved a reclamation slip for him.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu." Li Mu thanked him gratefully, and when he took the reclamation order, he didn't forget to slip two lower spirit stones into his hand.
Xu Lijin touched the two lower spirit stones, paused slightly, then smiled knowingly and casually put the Spirit Stones away.
"Haha, go! Work hard, I have high hopes for you. When you need to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, come find me again, and I'll give you a discount then." Xu Lijin laughed heartily, watching him leave with a smile.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu!" Li Mu thanked him gratefully, taking the reclamation order and quickly leaving.
A quarter of an hour later, Li Mu returned to Xiao Liang Mountain and immediately used Evil Expulsion Talismans and spirit-nurturing water to treat the Cui Ling Fruit Seedling.
Ten Evil Expulsion Talismans were cast consecutively, transforming into specks of golden light and righteous Qi, dispelling the evil Spiritual Qi attached around the Cui Ling Fruit Seedling. Coupled with the irrigation of spirit-nurturing water, soon, those sickly Cui Ling Fruit Seedlings regained their vitality.
Seeing this, Li Mu breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to add the Thunder-Summoning Evil Expulsion Method to his daily Cultivate routine in the future.
This method could not only be used to treat the Cui Ling Fruit Seedling but also to attack evil spirits and Ghost when encountered, and its evil-expelling effect should be good.
After confirming that the Cui Ling Fruit's spirit rice field was fine, Li Mu began to busy himself with the task of opening new spirit rice fields, starting to reclaim new land.
Two hours later, Li Mu, covered in sweat from exhaustion, took off his clothes, preparing to take a cool shower.
"Huh! How did this thing get on my clothes?"
Li Mu noticed something was wrong. On the clothes he had just taken off, his Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits discovered some powdery spiritual substance.
【Iridescent Mother Butterfly Spirit Powder】
【Rank: First-Rank Spiritual Item】
【Characteristics: Strong aura, yet hidden】
【A unique spirit powder from the Iridescent Mother Butterfly, refined with a secret method. Its aura lingers for ten days and has a fatal attraction to Iridescent Male Butterflies within ten li.】
Li Mu was startled when he saw the attributes of the powdery spiritual item clinging to his clothes.
Who! Who sprinkled this tracking spirit powder on him? If Li Mu didn't possess the Heavenly Talent - Identify Myriad Spirits, these barely visible spirit powders would surely have been overlooked by him.
In Li Mu's mind, the face of the old Daoist at the stall appeared.
That's right! It must be him!
Li Mu quickly changed into a new set of clothes, thoroughly checked his house and his entire body, and after confirming that no spirit powder was attached, Li Mu packed the old clothes stained with the tracking powder, went out, and ran quickly towards Luo Hun Valley.
As Li Mu fled, only one thought remained in his mind: he must quickly raise the Rank of his Sword Control Technique and his Cultivation, and learn to fly with a sword as soon as possible. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to escape during a life-or-death situation.
The sun was setting, and night was approaching.
Li Mu kept changing direction, running twenty to thirty li in one breath, arriving near Luo Hun Valley.
Li Mu forcefully threw the bundle containing his old clothes far into the depths of Luo Hun Valley, then, without looking back, ran straight towards Xiao Liang Mountain.
Not long after Li Mu left, an old Daoist priest holding a sword, followed by a seven-colored spiritual butterfly, arrived at Luo Hun Valley.
"That kid clearly only has a Qi Refining fifth-Rank Cultivation. It's strange, how dare he stay in Luo Hun Valley at this time?" The old Daoist's expression was solemn as he began to recall the agitated seven-colored spiritual butterfly that wanted to fly deeper into Luo Hun Valley.
"Little Seven, it's too dangerous inside. We'll come back tomorrow." The old Daoist sighed, successfully recalled the seven-colored spiritual butterfly to his hand, and gently comforted it.
Li Mu was completely unaware of this. After returning to Xiao Liang Mountain, he focused on Cultivate and remained vigilant at all times.
"Damn it! This world is really too dangerous. If you have anything good, people will covet it. From now on, I need to be low-key, even more low-key, and plant more spirit rice to raise my Cultivation to the Late Stage of Qi Refining as soon as possible! No, at least Foundation Establishment." Inside the house, Li Mu gritted his teeth, vigilantly listening to the movements outside, secretly making up his mind.