The next day, early in the morning.
Li Mu cast the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique to water the Emerald Spirit Fruit and spirit rice fields, then turned over and fertilized the other five mu of spiritual fields, preparing to sow the next batch of Wind Spirits.
Following that, he piled compost and set up a Yin Spirit Array for the newly reclaimed four mu of land...
Beneath Xiao Liang Mountain's earth pulse lay a hidden Spiritual Vein.
With his Level 5 Formation technique, Li Mu set up a large Spirit Gathering Array to draw out this Spiritual Vein.
At the same time, he set up a simple illusion Formation on Xiao Liang Mountain's terrain, concealing Xiao Liang Mountain.
The entire day, Li Mu was busy in the fields.
Li Mu reclaimed half a mu of land next to his courtyard and planted dozens of first- and second-tier spirit seeds he had previously acquired.
These were all Spiritual Plants that could be grown in spiritual fields without special environmental requirements, such as: first-tier: Sunflower Blossom, first-tier: Ice Spirit Grass, first-tier: Blood Spirit Mushroom, second-tier: Rejuvenation Grass, and so on.
To ensure their smooth growth, Li Mu spent dozens of medium spirit stones to set up a Gathering Spirit Formation in the courtyard, accelerating the spiritualization of the half-mu of new land and providing ample spiritual energy for the spirit seeds.
At the same time, he also improved his living environment.
Soon, Li Mu activated the Gathering Spirit Formation, and the twenty-eight Medium Grade Spirit Stones embedded in it shimmered with light, emitting a large amount of spiritual essence.
Above the courtyard, a vortex suddenly rose, and streams of spiritual essence gathered, swirling around the courtyard, entering but not leaving, accumulating without dispersing.
Li Mu took a deep breath and immediately felt a noticeable change in the air; it was cool, refreshing, and invigorating.
The Spiritual Qi concentration in the courtyard was rapidly increasing.
After successfully drawing out Xiao Liang Mountain's Spiritual Vein, coupled with the effect of the Gathering Spirit Formation, the Spiritual Qi concentration in the courtyard quickly climbed to six or seven times its original level.
Li Mu took a few breaths of Spiritual Qi and felt a bit intoxicated; prolonged inhalation could easily go to his head, as if it were addictive.
"Woof woof!" Crimson Wolf sensed the change in Spiritual Qi in the courtyard and excitedly circled Li Mu, wagging its tail.
"It feels great, doesn't it! We'll have to replace the Spirit Stones in about ten days, and they're expensive!" Li Mu reached out and patted Crimson Wolf's head, saying with a pained expression.
"Woof!" Crimson Wolf had no concept of Spirit Stones, but seeing its master unhappy, it quickly stuck out its tongue to lick Li Mu's face, trying to comfort him.
"Go on, go on, you just ate and now you want to lick me.
Go play by yourself." Li Mu patted Crimson Wolf's backside, shooing it away.
"Woof!" Crimson Wolf looked at Li Mu with a wronged expression, as if saying, "How could you dislike me!"
"Stop being cute, keep a good watch on the house, I'm going out for a bit." Li Mu instructed Crimson Wolf, took out a spiritual sword, and flew off using Sword Control Technique.
"Woof woof!" Crimson Wolf responded reluctantly, watching Li Mu fly eastward on his sword.
With the extensive use of free proficiency points, Li Mu's strength had greatly improved, and he no longer feared traveling.
His Storage Pouch contained a large number of refined spiritual talismans, and Li Mu planned to sell a batch to earn Spirit Stones to maintain the Gathering Spirit Formation and purchase cultivation supplies.
However, this time, Li Mu did not fly to Qing'an Town but chose to fly eastward.
Qing'an Town was too close to Xiao Liang Mountain, leaving no room for maneuver.
If anything happened, it would be easy for his base to be discovered.
Previously, Li Mu had gained a reputation selling spiritual talismans in Qing'an Town, which attracted three rogue cultivators to ambush Xiao Liang Mountain.
This time, Li Mu decided to fly further, to Qingping Town, to sell his spiritual talismans.
Supported by his Level 5 Sword Control Technique and Qi Refining Stage Eight cultivation, Li Mu arrived at Qingping Town, built alongside a mountain, in just over a quarter of an hour.
Qingping Town was built around a large mineral vein, and its population was much larger than Qingxuan Town.
This town was rich in spiritual mineral resources, attracting a large number of Loose Cultivator miners.
The shops along the street were mainly Artifact Refining shops and spiritual mineral shops.
After paying a lower spirit stones for a stall fee, Li Mu found an empty spot in the bustling market, spread out his stall on the ground, and began to set up.
He displayed stacks of first-tier High Grade spiritual talismans, the spoils of war from the three rogue cultivators, and various other miscellaneous items.
He also put up a wooden sign stating he was collecting High Grade Spiritual Plant seeds and Artifact Refining spiritual materials.
Thus, Li Mu began his first stall-selling experience in Qingping Town.
"Kid, are you out of your mind! Quickly take down that sign!" The thin old man at the neighboring stall quickly reached out and covered the sign Li Mu had just put up.
"Elder, this is my first time setting up a stall in Qingping Town.
Is there something I should be aware of here?" Li Mu was startled and quickly asked.
"You can collect anything in Qingping Town, just don't collect mineral materials.
This is the Xuan Wolf Gang's main business, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere!" the thin old man reminded him.
"I see, thank you for your reminder, Elder.
This is a protective talisman I refined.
Please take it for self-defense." Li Mu thanked him gratefully, took out a spiritual talisman, and gave it to the thin old man to thank him for the advice.
"You refined this talisman? First-tier High Grade, good craftsmanship, impressive!" The thin old man took the protective talisman, his eyes lit up, and he gave Li Mu a thumbs-up in praise.
"Just trying to make a living!" Li Mu replied with a smile.
"Little brother, what's your name!" the thin old man asked curiously, looking at Li Mu.
"My surname is Li, and my given name is Mu.
And you, Elder! How should I address you!" Li Mu introduced himself and politely asked.
"My surname is Mi, you can just call me Old Man Mi.
If I had your skill, I would have joined the Talisman Gang long ago.
Why set up a stall yourself! It's tiring and you'll attract trouble!" Old Man Mi looked at Li Mu and reminded him.
"Old Man Mi, what kind of trouble will I face if I don't join the Talisman Gang?" Li Mu asked in surprise.
"Look! Trouble has already arrived.
Remember to pay Spirit Stones to ward off disaster! Don't resist." Old Man Mi gestured forward with his eyes and whispered.
Li Mu followed his gaze and saw three burly men in green Gang uniforms walking directly towards his stall.
"Kid, new here?
Pay this month's management fee!" The black-faced man leading them reached out and demanded from Li Mu.
"How many Spirit Stones is this management fee?" Li Mu instinctively frowned.
He hadn't even opened his stall yet and was already being charged protection money; he hadn't encountered such a situation in Qing'an Town.
"Seeing as you're a Utility Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, we'll give you a discount on the management fee.
Give me 10 lower spirit stones!" The black-faced man sized up Li Mu, looked at the Sect Utility Disciple uniform he was wearing, and indicated.
Li Mu glanced at Old Man Mi, who was gesturing for him to quickly pay the Spirit Stones.
Li Mu sighed lightly and readily took out 10 lower spirit stones to pay the 'management fee'.
"Good! Now that we've collected your management fee, if you encounter any problems with your business, just come to the Xuan Wolf Gang!" The black-faced man took the Spirit Stones, said with a smile, and then left with his two subordinates.
"Old Man Mi, is this Xuan Wolf Gang even more powerful than the Qingxuan Sect?" Li Mu looked at Old Man Mi in confusion, asking curiously.
"Heh! They're two of a kind.
Duan Pinghai, the Foundation Establishment manager of the Qingxuan Sect in Qingping Town, is the biological brother of Duan Pinghai, the leader of the Xuan Wolf Gang.
Now you understand, right!" Old Man Mi explained in a low voice.
Li Mu was silent for a moment.
The situation of Loose Cultivators living in Qingping Town was even more difficult than in Qing'an Town!
The Qingxuan Sect exploited them once, and the Xuan Wolf Gang exploited them again, leaving them with very few Spirit Stones in their own hands!
However, reality soon shattered Li Mu's speculation.