Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

Based on what Manager Lu said, this insect plague is likely more severe than before, and Lü Ping's supply of medicinal herbs has decreased again.

But this is already the second month, and in a little over a month, we will need to pay the Xianju fee for the next quarter.

Lu Ping had no choice but to move into the inner room with Manager Lu.

Inner room.

A stick of calming incense was lit, and wisps of white smoke rose, soothing the mind.

In the cup of tea, two or three tea leaves were swirling around. This was a mid-grade first-level spiritual plant, the tea produced by the Qingming Tea Tree. Not to mention the rogue cultivators living on the outskirts, even some cultivators living in the inner city could not afford to drink it often.

Manager Lu took a sip before starting to discuss business with Lü Ping.

"Of the ten Rejuvenating Herbs, three are of average quality and seven are of good quality."

"Of the five Lingzhi mushrooms, four are of average quality and one is of good quality."

"Due to pests, we are unable to provide top-quality Rejuvenating Herb this time. Please forgive us, Manager Lu."

After inspecting the herbs, Manager Lu found no high-quality spiritual herbs and couldn't help but ask.

"Without top-quality rejuvenating herbs, the price is... well..."

"Let's go with the original market price."

He deliberately dragged it out, wanting to give Lü Ping another scare, wondering if there were any remaining medicinal herbs in his storage bag.

However, Lü Ping will not be squeezed out of the acquisition price.

"Manager Lu, that's a bit unfair of you."

"As you and I both know, in the outer areas, many spirit plant masters' spiritual soil has been damaged, and the number of mature spiritual herbs is 30% to 50% less than usual."

"If we go by the original market price, it would be too damaging to our long-standing friendship."

Knowing that Lü Ping's words made sense, Manager Lu did not insist further. After pondering for a moment, he offered a new acquisition price.

"Rejuvenating Grass, average quality, one and a half spirit stones; good quality, two spirit stones."

"For a regular quality Spirit Ganoderma, it costs three spirit stones; for a good quality one, it costs three and a half spirit stones."

"In total, that's thirty-four low-grade spirit stones."

Thirty-four low-grade spirit stones, four low-grade spirit stones remaining, the rest will be used for the next quarter's immortal residence fee.

"Young Master Lü, I have a new spiritual seed here. Ordinary demonic insects can hardly harm it in the slightest. However, it is very difficult to cultivate, even more difficult than the Moon-Closing Flower. I wonder if you would like to give it a try?" Manager Lu interrupted Lü Ping, who was deep in thought, thinking that he was frightened by the recent insect plague.

Thinking of the superior quality Rejuvenating Herb that Lü Ping had offered, Manager Lu did some calculations in his mind and then spoke up to help.

A completely new spirit seed, but its exact nature is unknown.

It should be noted that most spiritual plants fear demonic insects, but they tend to act in the opposite way in the face of new spiritual species.

What is even more worthy of exploration is Manager Lu's goodwill.

The highest quality Rejuvenating Herb is really important to him, or to Lingcaotang.

Shopkeeper Lu took out an iron-gray spirit seed from his storage bag. This spirit seed looked very different from ordinary spirit seeds, and even its vitality was barely visible.

Lu Ping placed his finger on it and felt a stinging sensation at his fingertip, as if he had touched a sharp sword.

[Iron Sword Orchid, a mid-grade first-tier spiritual plant, is difficult to cultivate. Once mature, it is as hard as iron, with leaves as sharp as swords. It is often used as a testing stone for flying swords, and can also be used to temper flying swords.]

"May I ask Manager Lu, what kind of spirit seed is this, and why does it possess the sharpness of a flying sword?" Lu Ping asked with a hint of interest, pretending to be completely unaware.

"Hehe." Manager Lu took another sip of tea: "This spiritual seed is called Iron Sword Orchid. It is a mid-grade first-tier spiritual plant and was obtained from a place called Crimson Fire Workshop."

"The price is two low-grade spirit stones each. How about it, young man Lü, interested in taking on the challenge?"

Lu Ping handed over the spirit stones and said loudly.

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Thank you, Manager Lu."

After leaving the Lingcao Hall, we passed by the market for independent cultivators.

Lu Ping saw a familiar figure; it was Xu Cui, who was leading Zhao Xiaofan toward a stall.

Beside the stall, a piece of cloth was hanging from a bamboo pole, with a message written on it.

"My name is Zhou Yang, and I am a master of the Kusanagi Sword. I deeply sympathize with all fellow spirit plant masters who suffer from the scourge of demonic insects. Therefore, I am offering a significant price reduction: only six low-grade spirit stones for each insect infestation removal. If the infestation recurs within three days, I will sell it for free."

Six spirit stones, but last time it was only five spirit stones for cleaning fees; the pest infestation keeps recurring, so you're offering to clean it up for free, is this a package deal?

Staring at the words on the cloth, seeing how profitable pest control was, Lü Ping almost had the urge to steal the business, but the next second, he completely dismissed the idea.

"Forget it, this kind of business is too eye-catching. They've already openly displayed how many spirit stones they've earned."

"Furthermore, those setting up the same stalls are all cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Stealing their business is practically suicide."

soon.

Because Xu Cui had to protect Zhao Xiaofan, she was pushed out by others.

"Sister-in-law, your spirit soil has already been used to kill the insects with frost magic."

"Have other demonic insects appeared?"

Lu Ping stepped forward to help Xu Cui protect Zhao Xiaofan. Seeing this, Xu Cui instructed him to take Zhao Xiaofan back, and then turned around and continued to push her way up.

Surrounded by the crowd, Zhou Yang was dressed in a white Taoist robe, with a handsome face and a faint smile on his lips.

On the way back to Zhao Xiaofan, Lü Ping learned that the pest infestation in the market had suddenly worsened, and that in addition to rove aphids, ground beetles had also appeared in his home.

The Earth Beetle is a low-grade first-tier demonic insect. Its body is hard, like it is wearing armor, and it can cause harm to spiritual plants and cultivators with weak cultivation.

Xu Cui must have been concerned for Zhao Xiaofan's safety to push her way into Zhou Yang's stall like this.

Back at his residence, before he could even open the door, Lü Ping was stopped by Zhao Xiaofan.

"Uncle Ping, be careful, you might have ground beetles in your house too."

"These ground beetles are really something. One of them even broke the stone table in my house."

"Even my mother is no match for the earth beetle."

call out.

A whooshing sound came from behind, as if Zhao Xiaofan's complaint had been heard.

A ground beetle flew in from Zhao Xiaofan's house, its head bearing a single horn, its body shimmering with an eerie luster under the sunlight.

It flapped its wings and, like a shooting star, crashed into Zhao Xiaofan.

Zhao Xiaofan is only four years old and has just begun to cultivate, guiding spiritual energy into his body. If this beast were to hit him, it would be strange if he didn't break his bones and tendons.

Lu Ping strode forward, a cold glint in his eyes. His spiritual energy surged like a river, flowing to his fingertips and emitting a white glow.

The next moment, he gently raised his right hand and drew a sharp sword light.

A streak of light, faster and more swift than the earth beetle, arrived first despite being a latecomer.

With a loud crack, the earth beetle, which had been charging forward aggressively, exploded as if struck by a heavy hammer, its flesh and blood splattering everywhere.

The pungent, fishy stench in the air went straight into people's noses.

A bird soars alone in the high sky.

Time passed so long that the cold sweat on Zhao Xiaofan's face dried up.

Zhao Xiaofan's unfocused eyes slowly regained their focus, and his nose twitched slightly. The pungent, fishy smell was unmistakable, and he began to speak haltingly.

"This...this is a ground beetle..."

"Uncle Ping, you, you, you...!"

"I'm going to tell my mother..."

......