“Guo Senior Brother, my duties also include reclaiming land! If I still want to be a spirit rice farmer, can I reclaim land myself and rent spirit fields?”
Li Mu looked at Guo Changming, asking with concern.
“Of course, no problem. As long as you can collect the full amount of spirit plant resources for the Sect on time within your scope of duty, you can do whatever you want! In Qingshui Town, you have the final say on spirit plant-related matters!” Guo Changming nodded with a smile.
After a pause, Guo Changming changed the subject, looking at Li Mu with profound meaning and solemnly warning, “However, I must make one thing clear to you first. It’s fine if you want to reclaim land yourself or rent Sect fields, but you must never conceal anything. The share of rent that should be paid must not be less. If you dare to violate the Sect rules, the enforcement Disciples of the Sect Enforcement Hall are not to be trifled with.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu felt a slight chill. The Sect Enforcement Hall was the core force maintaining the Sect’s interests. The enforcement process was extremely harsh. Every case would be investigated, every accusation would be rectified, and severe punishments, soul searching, spirit summoning, and various dark methods could be employed.
“Thank you, Guo Senior Brother, for the guidance. I understand the severity.” Li Mu nodded, expressing his gratitude.
“If there are no problems, give me your Disciple token! I will now assign you a task: guarding Qingshui Town for one year will earn you 1000 Contribution Points. If you contribute to cultivation, and the collected amount of spirit plants increases by 10%, you will be rewarded with 300 Contribution Points. If the spiritual items are insufficient and you cannot collect the full amount of spirit plant resources, the Sect will impose penalties based on the situation.” Guo Changming looked at Li Mu, gesturing.
“Guo Senior Brother, what about the penalties?” Li Mu looked at Guo Changming, asking worriedly.
“Junior Brother, don’t worry! This penalty won’t fall on you. The inability to pay the full amount of spirit plants is usually due to Yao Beast attacks on towns, or natural disasters, or insect plagues leading to reduced spirit plant harvests. The tenants renting the spirit fields will naturally make up for the losses. If they can’t, the Sect will also consider the situation. Junior Brother, you just need to do your job well, and you don’t need to worry about this problem.” Guo Changming explained with a smile.
Li Mu nodded. He was also renting the Sect’s spirit fields and knew that Guo Senior Brother’s words were true. If the spirit field’s harvest was damaged, the responsibility rested with the spirit rice farmer who rented it, unless a large number of Utility Disciples renting the Sect fields died, which would lead to the spirit fields completely losing their harvest and being irrecoverable.
If such a problem occurred, the Sect would definitely send people to investigate the cause, and this responsibility would not fall on him.
Li Mu confidently handed his Disciple token to Guo Changming, allowing him to allocate the Sect duties, becoming the manager of the Plant Division in Qingshui Town.
“The head of Qingshui Town is Nangong Hong. After you go to Qingshui Town, give him your Disciple token, and he will arrange the Plant Division affairs for you. At that time, you must assist him well in managing Qingshui Town and not easily stir up trouble.” Guo Changming handed the Disciple token back to Li Mu, instructing him.
“Okay, Guo Senior Brother. Also, I would like to stay in Gangyang City for a few more days before going down to Qingshui Town. Is that alright?” Li Mu took the token and asked for permission.
“Yes, but there are still twenty days until the Sect field rental collection day. At that time, you must go down in advance to familiarize yourself with the process and lead this work in Qingshui Town.” Guo Changming nodded, reminding him.
“Understood. I’ll stay for two or three more days, then I’ll go to Qingshui Town to take up my post!” Li Mu nodded happily.
“Hmm, it’s rare for you to come to Gangyang City. Go and broaden your horizons these few days! I won’t keep you!” Guo Changming nodded with a smile, watching him leave.
“Okay, Junior Brother bids farewell!” Li Mu saluted respectfully and turned to leave the Contribution Hall.
Watching Li Mu’s departing back, the smile on Guo Changming’s face faded, replaced by a thoughtful gaze. A Utility Disciple who had just passed the outer Sect assessment, yet immediately produced two medium spirit stones, truly startled him.
That kid was definitely not that simple! What heart disease? Guo Changming didn't believe it.
The matter instructed by Elder Zhong was not completed!
However, the personnel allocation problem in Qingshui Town was conveniently resolved, which was an unexpected gain. He hoped that kid could last a little longer!
Guo Changming lowered his head and flipped through the Disciple token. A new piece of information appeared on it: Inner Sect Disciple Yuan Silan, Ji Chenglong, Yan Wenjun, ..., and ten others, who entered Tianling Mountain from Qingshui Town ten days ago, went to Xiaofeng Valley for training and to search for Spirit Medicine, suddenly lost contact. Sect Disciples who provide effective clues will be rewarded.
Tsk tsk tsk... How could the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range be so easy to enter? Even ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators together wouldn’t gain any advantage!
—
Coming out of the inner city, Li Mu first returned to Wangyun Pavilion Inn, changed into a High Grade first-tier magic robe, put on the Linglong Mask, changed to a mature face (Li Mu’s face in his original world), and the Spiritual Pressure emanating from his body transformed from Qi Refining Seventh Level Elementary to Qi Refining Ninth Level Peak.
As Li Mu walked on the street, the Cultivators’ gazes towards him involuntarily carried a hint of respect.
Qi Refining Ninth Level Peak, capable of advancing to Foundation Establishment at any time. No one dared to easily offend such a Cultivator.
Li Mu walked unimpeded and smoothly arrived at Chen's Cultivation Method Building, walking straight in.
“Welcome to Chen's Cultivation Method Building, guest. What kind of books do you need? I can recommend them for you.” Seeing a guest enter the shop, the female shopkeeper of the book building enthusiastically stepped forward to greet him.
The book building had three floors, occupying a considerable area, about a hundred square meters, displaying seven or eight large bookshelves filled with various books. Not only were there Cultivation Technique books, but also history stories, agricultural books, medical books, etc. The catalog was dense, and the books were made of paper, beast hide, and even Jade Slip for transmitting techniques, etc. There was a wide variety.
“Hmm, shopkeeper, please recommend spirit plant books, as well as spells related to spirit plants: Kurong Technique, Spirit Transferring Technique, Soil Measurement Technique, Turning Earth Technique, etc.” Li Mu looked at the female shopkeeper, gesturing.
“No problem, please have a seat here for a moment, I’ll go get them for you.” The female shopkeeper of the book building pointed to a wooden chair in front of a desk, greeting him enthusiastically.
Li Mu complied, sat down on the wooden chair, and casually flipped through a book placed on the desk, “Yao Spirit Illustrated Handbook,” which seemed to record information about various Yao creatures.
Flipping to a random page, information on several types of rodent Yao creatures was displayed one by one.
Mine-Devouring Rat, Attribute: Earth, Habits: Nocturnal, timid by nature, keen sense of smell, feeds on various metal Spirit Ores, commonly found near metal ore veins such as Profound Iron Ore and Purple Spirit Copper, ..., Innate Skills: Earth escape, Digging, Earth Manipulation, Weaknesses: Afraid of water, poor eyesight, can be lured with High Grade Spirit Ores, ...
Bamboo Spirit Rat, Attribute: Wood, Habits: Timid by nature, feeds on second-tier and above Spirit Bamboo, delicate Physique, rare in number, feeds on Spirit Bamboo year-round, contains extremely high Green Spirit Bamboo Qi in its body, its inner core can be used to refine: Detoxification Pills, Illusion Spirit Pills, ..., Innate Skills: Bamboo Recognition, Rat Hair Arrows, Bamboo Disguise, ...
...
Bloodthirsty Bat, Attribute: Blood, Habits: Nocturnal, cruel and bloodthirsty, poor eyesight, high spiritual consciousness, feeds on Yao Beast blood, ..., Innate Skills: Spirit Blood Clone, Blood Seeking Spiritual Consciousness, Blood Transformation, ...
...
“Guest, I’ve found the spirit plant books for you! Are you also interested in books about Yao creatures?!” The female shopkeeper of the book building placed a pile of books on the table, asking Li Mu with a smile.
“Indeed, I’m interested. How much does this book cost?” Li Mu asked with a smile.
“This ‘Yao Spirit Illustrated Handbook’ details three hundred seventy-two types of Yao creatures, valued at: 100 lower spirit stones.” The female shopkeeper replied with a smile.
“I’ll take this one. Let me see the others.” Li Mu closed “Yao Spirit Illustrated Handbook” and began to flip through the spirit plant books.
“Spirit Plant Accelerated Cultivation Method” - Qingmu Zhenjun’s original creation, “Spirit Plant Basic Detailed Records” - written by Qingmu Zhenjun, “Fifty Essential Techniques for Experienced spirit rice farmers,” “One Hundred Most Worthwhile Spirit Plants to Cultivate,” ...
More than a dozen thick, voluminous books were laid out on the desk, waiting for Li Mu to choose.