Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

Within the market town, the rampant demonic insects have been mostly eradicated.

However, the Spirit Plant Practitioners Mutual Aid Association did not disband immediately.

Lü Ping gleaned some information while in the market for scattered cultivators.

The Spirit Plant Masters Mutual Aid Association did a good job in eliminating the demonic insects this time, and was tacitly allowed to stay.

Outside the market, a group of spirit farmers who rented spirit fields died; inside the market, some cultivators, unable to afford the expensive fees of a Grade C immortal residence, chose to go outside the market to fill the vacancies left by the spirit farmers.

Inside the Spirit Herb Hall, it was packed with spirit plant masters buying spirit seeds. Manager Lu couldn't stop smiling, and all he could hear was the sound of spirit stones falling into his pocket.

Manager Lu's business was booming, but he didn't neglect Lü Ping.

Once the business at Lingcaotang was nearly finished, Lü Ping was led into the inner hall.

The discount still applies. Others buy ten portions of Rejuvenating Grass Seeds for five spirit stones, but Lü Ping can buy fifteen portions of Rejuvenating Grass Seeds for only five spirit stones.

Seeing that Lü Ping didn't move for a moment, Manager Lu asked curiously, "What's wrong, young Lü? Do you feel that the old man's discount isn't enough?"

"No, that's not it." Lu Ping shook his head. The first two times, he had at least provided a certain quality and quantity of Rejuvenating Grass, and he could accept the discount offered by Manager Lu.

"Manager Lu, you shouldn't accept rewards without merit."

"Old man, can you please be frank today? Why did I give you a discount even though I didn't sell you the Rejuvenating Herb?"

Shopkeeper Lu stroked his beard, his eyes filled with admiration for Lü Ping. It was rare to see such a steady and promising young cultivator.

"Take this as a test I'm giving you."

"Let's see if you can cultivate a top-quality Rejuvenating Herb this time, in a stable environment."

"If possible, we can sign a contract; if not, this is the last discount we can offer."

After hearing what Manager Lu said, Lü Ping understood.

Behind the Spirit Herb Hall stood an alchemist.

Although he didn't know the skill level of the alchemists behind Lingcaotang, since they were able to occupy a place in the inner city and operate safely for more than ten years, their abilities must be quite good.

The purpose of assessing him is either because Lingcaotang needs high-quality Rejuvenating Grass, or because they admire his rapidly improving skills in cultivating spiritual plants.

Self-interest comes first; everyone gets what they need.

"I understand, thank you, Manager Lu."

With a great weight lifted from his heart, Lü Ping left the inner city after the money and goods were exchanged.

It must be said that the concentration of spiritual energy in the inner city surpasses that in the outer city. Consequently, the cost of living in a Grade C immortal dwelling near the inner city is also higher.

Lu Ping pondered that once his cultivation level reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, he would accumulate some spirit stones and then move them inside.

Not only will the concentration of spiritual energy in the courtyard be higher, but the courtyard will also be larger, with more spiritual soil, allowing for the cultivation of more spiritual plants.

As for why one must wait until the fourth level of Qi Refining, it is not a rigid rule, but rather a rule tacitly observed by cultivators in the C-level Immortal Abode.

......

Lu Ping walked unhurriedly through the alleyway.

In a secluded courtyard on the left, the sounds of mournful sobbing and deliberately hushed conversations strangely mingled together.

A family of three stood outside the gate, their faces beaming with anticipation and smiles on their lips. They carried large and small bags and occasionally glanced into the courtyard.

Each of the three had a leather bag tied around their waist.

This animal skin bag, called the Flesh Shrinking Bag, is made from the stomach of a python-like monster. It has a faint, fishy smell and is called a pseudo-storage bag by the spirit farmers outside the market.

It seems that this family of three is preparing to move in with Lingnong.

Inside the courtyard, a family of rogue cultivators was weeping. Lu Ping recognized them; they were also a family of three. The male head of the household was a cultivator who made a living by hunting demons, and the female head of the household was a spirit plant master. They had a son, and they were strikingly similar to Zhao Dashan's family.

The woman in the courtyard looked exhausted, clutching a blood-stained robe in her hand. Her face was pale, and she coughed up blood every now and then. When she saw the new tenants arrive outside the courtyard, the weary woman glanced at the courtyard reluctantly, then took the child beside her and walked out.

In this scene, Lü Ping had already seen several households in the outer alleys.

Those who fared slightly better were those whose homes were infested with pests, but fortunately no one was injured or killed.

"Cultivation?"

"Ordinary cultivators, let alone cultivate, cannot even withstand a plague of insects; those who go into the mountains, if they are unlucky, may not even be able to bring back their blood-stained robes."

"It's tough to live, it's tough to live."

"If I didn't have the white light, I'm afraid I would have been kicked out by Li Ren long ago. I would have had to pay another spirit stone to stay at Brother Dashan's house. Without the white light, I probably wouldn't have fared well if I had encountered the earth beetle."

"By the way, I wonder if Brother Dashan has returned safely."

Lu Ping felt a little relieved and hurriedly went to his residence. He didn't care what others thought; he just wanted to stay at home and cultivate the spiritual plants.

However, the Zhao family is an exception.

Lu Ping, preoccupied with his journey, didn't see Zhao Dashan first; instead, Zhao Dashan spotted him first.

"Aping." Even from a distance, Zhao Dashan greeted Lü Ping. He had changed out of his robes, so he must have been back for some time: "As soon as I got back, I saw Cui Niang and Xiao Fan, and then I thought I'd come and find you."

"When I saw you weren't home, I went back and changed my clothes."

"Hey, I was just wondering if you were back yet, and I actually bumped into you."

Another wound appeared on Zhao Dashan's face; even from a distance, one could smell the blood. It was clear that this trip into the mountains had been fraught with difficulties.

Lü Ping was pulled by Zhao Dashan into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, Zhao Xiaofan was playing with a yellow dog. When he saw Lü Ping arrive, he called out "Uncle Ping" and then continued playing with the little yellow dog. Xu Cui was helping Zhao Dashan wash clothes. In fact, all that was needed was a cleaning spell, but she insisted on washing them by hand.

Upon seeing Zhao Dashan sit down with Lü Ping, Xu Cui immediately began preparing food and drinks; even Zhao Xiaofan was pulled to the table, temporarily separating him from the little yellow dog.

As soon as the wine was poured into the glass, Zhao Dashan's expression turned serious. He picked up the glass, pulled Zhao Xiaofan aside, and expressed his gratitude to Lü Ping.

"Aping, I heard from Cui Niang that if it weren't for you, Xiao Fan might not have survived this time."

I'd like to propose a toast to you.

"Aping, your sister-in-law would also like to toast you."

"Uncle Ping, I'd like to toast you too."

The three of them finished their drinks one after another. Zhao Xiaofan only took a small sip before choking, which made the others laugh.

"Brother Dashan, there's no need to be so polite. The friendship between us is naturally unmatched by others. Xiaofan is my nephew, and what I've done is nothing."

Wife, children, brothers.

The path of cultivation is incredibly difficult, but fortunately, Zhao Dashan has everything.

"Hey, Brother Dashan, you've broken through." Sensing the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from Zhao Dashan that he couldn't quite contain, Lü Ping realized that Zhao Dashan's cultivation had broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

"Haha, just lucky, just lucky." Zhao Dashan chuckled, scratching his head.

"We were lucky this time we went into the mountains and brought back some good things. We also prepared some for you, Aping."

Upon hearing this, Lü Ping became somewhat curious.

"Oh, I wonder, Brother Dashan, what good stuff did you bring me...?"