Li Mu formed a hand seal with his right hand, and the earthy gray spiritual power gathered between his fingers was flung out, disappearing into a barren patch of land.
With a rumbling sound, the barren land was as if a Earth Dragon had passed through it; the ground cracked, and soil flew, and in the blink of an eye, a barren area over three zhang long was turned over, with a large amount of weed roots also being unearthed.
“This Turning Earth Technique is truly easy to use!”
Looking at the effect created by the Turning Earth Technique, Li Mu exclaimed with joy, “This is merely the effect of a beginner Turning Earth Technique; the effect will definitely be stronger after upgrading.”
Before, if he had learned this Turning Earth Technique, he wouldn't have had to work so hard when cultivating the spirit fields.
Li Mu used up all his free proficiency points to upgrade the Turning Earth Technique to Level 1, and then he picked up another Jade Slip to study.
...
Time flew by, and the sun set in the west.
Li Mu glanced at his log, filled with a sense of accomplishment, having learned a large number of Legacy techniques throughout the afternoon.
Kurong Technique, Spirit Transformation Technique, Soil Testing Technique, Turning Earth Technique, Harvesting Technique, Drying Technique, ...all thirteen auxiliary techniques of a spirit rice farmer were learned. From now on, all farming will be controlled by techniques, and he won't need to personally cultivate the fields.
Not only was efficiency improved, but it also greatly benefited the spirit plants.
In addition, Li Mu also learned the Peeling Technique and Skinning Technique for making talisman skins himself, as well as a Profound Grade High Grade movement Cultivation Technique Legacy—the Five Elements Illusionary Body Art.
It was a pity that all his free proficiency points were exhausted, so the Five Elements Illusionary Body Art could not be upgraded.
However, even though the Five Elements Illusionary Body Art was only at the introductory level, Li Mu deeply felt the extraordinary power of this Profound Grade Cultivation Technique.
Combined with the Five Elements Escape Minor Divine Ability comprehended from the Five Elements Technique, the Five Elements Illusionary Body Art, when unleashed, could create illusions and escape, making it unpredictable and increasing its power by several times over.
...
Night fell quietly, Li Mu's figure paused, and his body suddenly transformed into a mass of earth, falling to the ground and disappearing.
In the courtyard, Li Mu's figure split from the wooden door, his wood-attributed body transforming into a living, breathing flesh and blood body, incredibly miraculous.
Li Mu combined the Five Elements Escape and tried out the Five Elements Illusionary Body Art, and the effect was incredibly mystical.
Having mastered this movement technique, coupled with a sword array, Formation, and the Puppet army of the Puppet Dao, Li Mu was confident that even if he encountered a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, he would have the strength to fight.
Li Mu smiled contentedly, walked to the stove, and began to make a fire to cook.
Soon, a roaring fire burned in the stove, steam billowed from the pot lid, and the aroma of spirit rice wafted out.
Without the commotion of Crimson Wolf by his side, Li Mu couldn't help but notice that Xiao Liang Mountain was too quiet, which felt a bit unaccustomed.
However, at present, Li Mu couldn't bring Crimson Wolf back. He would first go to Qing'an Town tomorrow morning to pay the Sect's rent, and then he would have to rush to Qingshui Town to take up his post. He didn't know what kind of situation he would encounter then.
Li Mu sighed, “I can only wait until I'm settled in Qingshui Town before bringing Crimson Wolf back.”
The next day, early in the morning.
Li Mu rode his sword and, in less than three hundred breaths, landed at the entrance of Qing'an Town. He paid a broken spirit stones to the guard as an entrance fee and walked straight towards the Sect's station.
Qing'an Town, Station Courtyard
“Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Wang, this is bad! That guy from Xiao Liang Mountain came early!” Lin Qiuhai jogged into the inner hall and found Wang Feng, quietly calling out.
“What? The rent payment day hasn't arrived yet, why is he here?!” Wang Feng was startled and asked, puzzled.
“He's here to pay the rent in advance. He passed the Outer Sect Disciple assessment and is already an Outer Sect Disciple. He's going to Qingshui Town to take up his post,” Lin Qiuhai quickly explained.
“What?!” Wang Feng's expression hardened, and he was filled with anger.
“Senior Brother Wang, what should we do now?! Should the plan continue?” Lin Qiuhai looked at Wang Feng and asked hesitantly.
“Isn't he going to take up a post in Qingshui Town?! That's a good opportunity. Go, you go and inform Miss Yan, I'll deal with him,” Wang Feng looked at Lin Qiuhai and gestured.
After speaking, Wang Feng walked directly towards the main hall to personally meet Li Mu, the guy who had caused him a great deal of loss.
Inside the main hall stood a young man, around eighteen years old, dressed in an Outer Sect Disciple robe, with delicate features and a half-smile on his face, meeting his gaze.
Wang Feng, with a cold and expressionless face, strode forward and stood before Li Mu.
“Senior Brother Wang, you're finally here. There are one thousand four hundred catties of White Jade Spirit Rice here, which is the rent I owe this year. Please inspect it, Senior Brother Wang,” Li Mu pointed to the corner where fourteen spirit rice bags were stacked.
Wang Feng followed the direction Li Mu pointed and saw a pile of spirit rice bags stacked in the corner of the main hall, having appeared at some unknown time.
“No hurry on this. When did you pass the Outer Sect Disciple assessment?” Wang Feng only glanced at it, more concerned about the Outer Sect Disciple robe on Li Mu's body, and asked in a deep voice.
Wang Feng, at Qi Refining Eighth Level Late Stage, had used many underhanded methods to successfully pass the Outer Sect Disciple assessment. However, this young man, whose cultivation was only at Qi Refining Seventh Level Early Stage, was able to pass the Outer Sect Disciple assessment, which greatly surprised him.
“A few days ago, I guess! I just made a trip to Gangyang City,” Li Mu casually replied, meeting Wang Feng's scrutinizing gaze, and indicated, “I will continue to rent the two mu of spirit fields on Xiao Liang Mountain. Please continue to take care of them, Senior Brother Wang.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Feng frowned and looked at Li Mu, asking, “Aren't you going to take up a post in Qingshui Town?! And you still want to continue renting the spirit fields on Xiao Liang Mountain? Can you manage it?!”
For the ten-odd mu of medium spirit fields on Xiao Liang Mountain, Wang Feng had paid a heavy price, all his savings had been wasted. He originally thought that this guy, after advancing to an Outer Sect Disciple, would sensibly leave, but who knew he would cling on and not let go.
“Qingshui Town is only sixty li from Qing'an Town. If I fly on my sword, I can get there in the time it takes to brew tea, it's not far!” Li Mu smiled and explained, “Besides, I painstakingly cultivated a lot of spirit fields on Xiao Liang Mountain, and there are still two years left on the lease. I've set up several Formations and put in a lot of effort, how could I bear to abandon them?! Even if I can't take care of them, I must do my best!”
Hearing this, Wang Feng's face darkened, and the killing intent in his heart towards Li Mu grew heavier.
Before, this guy was holed up in Xiao Liang Mountain, and the assassins from Listening Rain Pavilion couldn't deal with the Formations on Xiao Liang Mountain, so they couldn't succeed.
Now, since he's going to take up a post in Qingshui Town and is unwilling to give up his property on Xiao Liang Mountain, he'll frequently travel between Xiao Liang Mountain and Qingshui Town. There will be too many assassination opportunities. This time, if Listening Rain Pavilion still can't get it done, it would be inexcusable!
Thinking that this guy was seeking his own death and would sooner or later die at the hands of Listening Rain Pavilion's assassins, and at that time, all the Medium Grade spirit fields cultivated on Xiao Liang Mountain would belong to him, Wang Feng couldn't help but smile, and his mood improved!
Seeing Wang Feng's face darken one moment and smile the next, Li Mu didn't know what good things he was thinking about. He frowned, remaining vigilant in his heart.
“Senior Brother Wang, please inspect the spirit rice! If there are no problems, I must leave!” Li Mu looked at Wang Feng and urged.
“Alright, wait a moment.” Wang Feng replied with a smile, walked to the pile of spirit rice bags, opened one, and meticulously inspected each one.
Wang Feng procrastinated, inspecting for a quarter of an hour, only then passing the inspection and making a note in the rent ledger.
“Senior Brother Wang, I have other matters, so I'll take my leave first!” Seeing that Wang Feng had recorded his rent payment information, Li Mu quickly bid farewell.
“En! Junior Brother, have a safe journey!” Wang Feng chuckled, sending him off with a meaningful tone.