Near the pigsty’s composting grounds, Xu Youlong, covering his nose, led Lu Chen to a pile of fertilizer.
“These are top-grade fertilizers, not pig manure, but from the city’s Immortal cultivators…” Xu Youlong observed Lu Chen’s expression.
“Understood,” Lu Chen nodded slightly, his expression showing no discomfort.
The reason a Spiritual Field is a Spiritual Field isn't just because of the rich Spiritual Qi, but also because of the type of fertilizer used to cultivate it.
After advancing to the Qimai Realm, Lu Chen, now with Spiritual Sense, could also perceive the “Immortal Qi” within these fertilizers.
Xu Youlong sneered inwardly, “Understood? You understand jack shit!”
“These fertilizers come from various Families in the city… and even Xianyun Pavilion…”
Lu Chen frowned, “You don’t need to be so detailed.”
Xu Youlong’s smile grew wider. “Can’t you handle it already?”
Lu Chen glanced sideways at Xu Youlong, and just as Xu Youlong was about to speak, he preempted him, “Where’s the fertilizer you prepared for me?”
Xu Youlong was momentarily stunned, looking at the fresh fertilizer in front of him.
Lu Chen said indifferently, “I’ll take these fertilizers. I’ll use them ‘next year’.”
Xu Youlong’s expression was complicated; he wanted Lu Chen to use them now!
Lu Chen’s lips curved slightly, and he calmly picked up a long stick from a distance.
Lu Chen poked at the fertilizer in front of Xu Youlong’s twisted face. “I see you’re using the loose piling method here. There are still some animal innards in this fertilizer. In summer, it usually takes three or four months to decompose, but with the cold weather, it’ll be just right for next year.”
“!!!”
Xu Youlong’s heart sank. “Damn it! He really knows!”
Watching Lu Chen continue to poke at the fertilizer, the stench grew even more pungent and harder to look at, and Xu Youlong’s stomach churned uncontrollably.
Lu Chen’s expression remained normal as he continued, “Because of the difference in composition, it’s best to extend the decomposition time to prevent uncomposted fertilizer from damaging the soil structure, ruining the seedlings, not to mention the smell.”
“By the way, do you know about high-temperature composting and compact piling methods?”
“When composting, don’t pile it so high. Pile it in batches and seal it with soil…”
“Do you have specialized people for this? Humidity also needs attention.”
Xu Youlong had long been dumbfounded. Now, he had only one thought: “This kid actually knows more than I do!”
Lu Chen threw the long stick. “Hah, why am I telling you all this? I’m just showing off.”
Xu Youlong’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he cried out inwardly, “I’m the clown here!”
“Are you hot?”
“No, not hot… I’ve been feeling weak lately… Please… please follow me.”
How could Xu Youlong dare to harbor any ill intentions? He led Lu Chen to the truly prepared pile of fertilizer.
Lu Chen reached out, rubbed it between his fingers, and then sniffed it under his nose.
“This fertilizer isn’t very good. It’s composted, but compared to that uncomposted pile earlier, the quality is too poor.” Lu Chen was a bit unwilling and asked, “Is there any better fertilizer?”
Xu Youlong said with an ingratiating smile, “This is already the best.”
“Alright, these will do. How much?” Lu Chen said, “Give me a price, and I’ll go to the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild to withdraw the silver.”
“Don’t worry about the price, you can settle it after the harvest next year,” Xu Youlong said guiltily.
At this moment, Xu Youlong was incredibly relieved. Fortunately, Lu Chen had interrupted him earlier, preventing him from saying that he would directly pull the uncomposted fertilizer from just now to fertilize the fields.
“Good,” Lu Chen looked into the distance, “Your cart…”
“You can use it freely!”
Lu Chen smiled slightly, nodding in thanks.
At the edge of the composting grounds, Chen Mu, Zhang Lin, and Xu Youlong gathered.
“What’s going on with you? Didn’t we agree…”
“Agreed my ass!”
“Why did you let him take usable fertilizer?”
“Sigh!”
“What are you sighing about? Speak up!”
Chen Mu and Zhang Lin paced anxiously.
Xu Youlong looked at the busy Lu Chen in the distance and slowly said, “I don’t want the land anymore.”
“You can’t just say you don’t want the land because you have a job at the pigsty. Don’t forget how much we’ve helped you cultivate over the years!” Chen Mu said indignantly.
Xu Youlong retorted, “I haven’t shortchanged you either!”
Zhang Lin said, “Don’t be afraid of him just because he’s an Immortal cultivator. What can the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild do? This is Sifang City, with the City Guard Commander protecting us. Immortal cultivators can’t bully us Mortals!”
Xu Youlong shook his head. “Now we’re the ones trying to bully him! The City Guard Commander is also reasonable, and after all, we are Mortals, and he is an Immortal cultivator. What’s more, when it comes to farming, he really knows his stuff!”
“Why are you defending him now?” Zhang Lin said angrily.
“Exactly!” Chen Mu echoed.
“That young brat, what does he know about farming?”
“Exactly!”
Xu Youlong’s mood was complicated; he had thought the same before.
But now, it seemed Lu Chen’s understanding of fertilizer surpassed that of an ordinary farmer, so how bad could his farming be?
Xu Youlong even suspected that Lu Chen had achieved Immortal Ascension by farming!
“You’re the one who doesn’t want the land. If that kid doesn’t farm next year, you can’t interfere again!” Zhang Lin said, pulling Chen Mu away.
Three days later, Lu Chen finished fertilizing the hundred acres of Spiritual Fields and re-tilled the land.
At the edge of the field, Chen Mu and Zhang Lin had already been waiting with their carts for a long time.
“Aren’t you going to find work? It’s still three months until New Year’s.” Lu Chen’s expression was slightly playful.
“It’s a good time to rest,” Zhang Lin moved a sack of grain seeds off the cart and said, “Even if you’re an Immortal cultivator, farming alone is quite hard. So, we came to lend a hand.”
Lu Chen smiled. “No good deed goes unpunished.” He could figure out their intentions with his toes.
“That’s not right, is it?”
Lu Chen sniffed, walked to the cart, opened a bag, grabbed a handful of grain seeds, and sniffed them carefully. “These grain seeds have a problem!”
Chen Mu and Zhang Lin were struck as if by lightning.
“Wh-what’s the problem?” Chen Mu stammered.
“These grain seeds have been dried for too long and have gone bad. Even if planted, the germination rate will be very low.”
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Chen Mu and Zhang Lin’s bodies.
“And these grain seeds are all empty and bad!”
Lu Chen said with a solemn expression, “Do you have some enemies? Why is there even a bag of roasted grain seeds here?”
Chen Mu and Zhang Lin stared blankly at Lu Chen, finding him increasingly eerie.
“You didn’t prepare these grain seeds yourselves, did you? You must have bought them from someone else, right?” Lu Chen pressed his lips, his tone low.
“No, no, no…” Chen Mu.
“Yes, yes, yes…” Zhang Lin.
The two were incoherent, panicked in their hearts; they had almost been exposed by Lu Chen on the spot!
“I see you two are good people,” Lu Chen said righteously, “Has someone been bullying you? Tell me, and I’ll help you get justice!”
Chen Mu and Zhang Lin mumbled about going to exchange the grain seeds and fled with their cart.
“You’ve already caught up with the progress of the other Spiritual Fields. Why don’t you take a break and go to Xianyun Pavilion to listen to some music?”
Zhou Jinfeng looked curiously at Chen Mu and Zhang Lin’s retreating figures. Why did they look so panicked?
“Farming for a year still can’t afford a small tune. Forget it. Even if I had money, wouldn’t it be better to buy meat to eat?” Lu Chen shook his head, refusing.
“It’s not entirely about listening to music. Mainly, Chu Xiaoxiao wants to see you,” Zhou Jinfeng said.
“If she wants to see me, she can come herself. If I go to see her, can I not pay?”