At this moment, Old Man Lu approached Xu Ping, excitedly handing over the reward of a Spirit Stone to Xu Ping, and gratefully said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, thank you very much."
"No need for thanks," Xu Ping replied with a smile, "It's only right to get paid for work."
"Let's go, Fellow Daoist Xu, there's still a few more families to visit, let's head to Old Wang's place first!" Old Man Lu urged Xu Ping as he hurried along.
"I'm only at the third level of Qi Cultivation, and my Mana was already depleted after watering Fellow Daoist Zhou's Spirit Field!" Xu Ping grumbled.
"I completely forgot!" Old Man Lu scratched his head in embarrassment.
In his eagerness to make money, he had forgotten about this.
Thus, they could only wait for Xu Ping's Mana to recover before proceeding.
Luckily, after consuming a bowl of Spirit Rice, Xu Ping's Mana quickly replenished.
Though still quite fatigued, the desire to earn Spirit Stones motivated him to head to Old Wang's house.
After collecting another Spirit Stone.
Xu Ping finally finished his work for the day.
...
Squeak, squeak～
The cicadas on the sycamore by the path were shrieking exhaustively, causing irritation.
However, Xu Ping was in a great mood; he had earned two Spirit Stones today and added yesterday's one, after deducting four Spirit Crystals given to Old Man Lu, he still had twenty-six Spirit Crystals.
Earning this much in two days was equivalent to half a year's income for him!
Indeed, laborious farming has no future; mastering a skill is the real deal!
Xu Ping's lips curled into a smile.
Returning home.
Xu Ping skillfully prepared the meal; the rice boiled in the pot, releasing an enticing aroma.
Having consumed two large bowls of rice to fill his stomach, he headed to the bedroom to begin his routine cultivation.
Half an hour later, his Dantian was brimming with Mana.
Xu Ping slowly exhaled a breath of impure air, ending his cultivation, and opened his eyes, focusing on the panel.
[Name: Xu Ping]
[Lifespan: 28/98 years]
[Realm: Qi Refining Realm - Third Level: 72/100]
[Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Skill - Proficient (third layer): 162/200]
[Skills: Spirit Rain Skill - Proficient: 41/200; Geng Metal Finger - Mastered: 146/400]
"Hmm, the realm progressed?"
Xu Ping's heart shook, his gaze flitting across the panel repeatedly, afraid he had made a mistake.
Convinced he hadn't, the realm indeed shifted from "Qi Refining Realm - Third Level: 71/100 to Qi Refining Realm - Third Level: 72/100."
"Not easy at all!" Xu Ping couldn't help but sigh.
Ever since crossing over, it's been ten days, and he hadn't slacked, finally making a dent in his realm!
"Calculating this way, breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining Realm should take..."
Xu Ping used his fingers... he couldn't use them, hastily getting up to find paper and pen.
God's mercy, he had no paper or pen at home.
Helplessly, he could only go outside, picking up a branch to sketch on the ground.
Calculating roughly, breaking through one point every twelve or thirteen times.
It should take... a year.
Reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining Realm at twenty-nine.
"Better than nothing!" Xu Ping was somewhat satisfied with his progress, though faster would definitely be better.
After all, he didn't want to be stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for life.
Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul... even eternal life as an Immortal, he yearned for them all.
Yet, even the first hurdle of Foundation Establishment had thwarted countless individuals.
Before sixty, mastering the fundamental cultivation technique to the perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining Realm was merely a minimal requirement.
Let alone the three major thresholds.
At his current cultivation speed, he feared he might only reach the ninth level perfection at over fifty.
Although there is still a chance to break through to Foundation Establishment, the margin for error is very low.
He certainly wanted to achieve the ninth level perfection of Qi Refining Realm sooner, so even if he failed once, there would be another chance.
But if he wants faster progress, he needs external resources.
Such as Pills for increasing cultivation.
These pills have always been costly.
If he were his previous self, he wouldn't be able to afford it.
But now, that's uncertain!
...
...
Four days later, in the morning.
Elder Yan was having breakfast at home.
At sixty-five years old, he had begun to pay attention to health preservation, usually eating finer meals.
A bowl of Spirit Rice, with a plate of farm-fresh vegetables and some boiled tender Demon Beast Flesh on the side.
Chewing slowly, he finished eating.
Arriving at the meditation room to circulate his Mana, nourishing his body and meridians.
At his age, his vitality was beginning to decline; the Immortal path held no hope, his lifetime would only revolve at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation.
Yet, health preservation is indispensable, daily post-meal circulation to nourish the body would let him live longer than those only knowing to fight blindly.
Moreover, crucially, even at sixty-five, he felt his vigor was undiminished.
Some not-fully-shut-door people praised him as being more capable than some young men.
This truly made him immensely proud.
After half an hour, Elder Yan ended the nourishment session.
After tidying his robes, he was ready to head out to water others' Spirit Fields.
As one of the few Spirit Farmers proficient in Spirit Rain Skill, during the fruit-bearing period, his daily schedule was very tight.
Countless Spirit Farmers sought him for watering their Spirit Fields.
Thus, he decided to raise his prices amidst the current Beast Tide crisis.
After all, aside from Demon Beast materials dropping in price following the Beast Tide, everything else would increase, including Spirit Rice.
Since Spirit Rice was rising, following suit was entirely reasonable.
Thinking of this, Elder Yan felt secretly pleased.
Felt that he indeed possessed business acumen.
...
...
Just as Elder Yan stepped out the door, a young cultivator hurriedly approached him.
"Didn't I say, one at a time, your Spirit Field isn't due yet." Elder Yan frowned slightly as he looked at the young cultivator in front of him.
The young cultivator named Wu Ming had scheduled Elder Yan to water his Spirit Field in five days.
"I'm not here to hurry you, Elder Yan." Wu Ming promptly explained, a hint of tension in his tone.
"Then why are you here? Worried I'll run off with your deposit?" Elder Yan sneered.
"No, no." Wu Ming laughed awkwardly.
After hesitating for a while, he finally revealed his purpose: "Elder Yan, could you... refund my deposit, I won't trouble you for watering the Spirit Fields."
"Not watering anymore?"
Elder Yan furrowed his brows, "You better think carefully, the fruit-bearing period lasts less than twenty days. If you regret it, there won't be another chance."
"No regrets, no regrets." Wu Ming quickly assured.
"Fine, then I'll refund you." Elder Yan didn't mind.
Refunding a Spirit Farmer's deposit was of no consequence to him; numerous people sought him for watering Spirit Fields.
Elder Yan fetched two Spirit Crystals from his storage pouch, preparing to hand them to Wu Ming but suddenly remembered the rumors over the past few days.
Could it be?
Swiftly, he retrieved the Spirit Crystals.
"Elder Yan, are you?" Wu Ming was taken aback.
"I ask you, why aren't you seeking me for watering Spirit Fields?" Elder Yan's expression grew stern, a hint of probing in his eyes.
"Well... this..." Wu Ming stammered, panic surging within, unsure how to answer.
"If you don't speak, don't even think about getting your deposit back." Elder Yan coldly chuckled, his tone fraught with threat.
"Ah!"
Wu Ming was greatly surprised but dared not offend Elder Yan, helplessly exposing his reasons for refunding the deposit: "I... I found someone else for watering the Spirit Fields."
"Who? Did Spirit Rain Skill truly just recently breakthrough?" Elder Yan pressed further.
"It's Xu... Xu Ping, indeed recently, and he waters an acre for only one Spirit Crystal." Wu Ming nervously hastened to confess all he knew.
"Hmph! Truly arrogant, dare to snatch my business without even notifying!" Elder Yan snorted, his heart aflame with anger.
"Eld... Elder Yan, about the deposit..." Wu Ming was uneasy, growing more tense.
Elder Yan didn't reply, directly tossing the Spirit Crystals to Wu Ming.
"Thank you, Elder Yan." Thrilled, Wu Ming tucked the crystals in his bosom and left, not turning back.
Watching Wu Ming's gradually receding silhouette, Elder Yan's gaze cooled: "I shall see what figure you are!"
He had roamed this place his entire life.
Exerting power for many years, he definitely didn't want to be overturned in old age.
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