Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

At the inner city gate, the Yunzhu Li family had already gathered people to set up shacks.

Inside the shanty, one copper stove after another was placed, and the bamboo charcoal burning inside released warmth with crackling sounds.

The Li family stewards, all at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, wore thin robes and seemed oblivious to the swirling snow.

Ordinary cultivators of the Li family wore a blue robe with an array engraved on it, allowing them to move freely in the cold winter.

The wind and snow had frozen the line of cultivators and mortals, leaving them with no energy to even speak.

Lu Ping, wrapped in thick robes and shivering, looked no different from the other rogue cultivators around him.

The reason he came to collect the free bamboo charcoal was not to covet the bamboo charcoal provided by the Yunzhu Li family, but simply because he did not want to appear out of place among the surrounding rogue cultivators.

Fearing that Zhao Xiaofan would get cold, he held her in his arms.

Zhao Xiaofan then realized how warm it was in Uncle Ping's arms, and snuggled closer to Lü Ping.

"I would like to ask all the fellow Daoists in the market to do me a favor."

"This year's snowstorm is unusually severe, making it difficult for ordinary people in towns and villages to make a trip to the market."

"Please let them collect the bamboo charcoal first."

The person who spoke was the third elder of the Yunzhu Li family, named Li Qing.

The man was over sixty years old, yet his figure remained upright, showing no signs of aging. His back was slightly hunched, and his dark-patterned black brocade robe exuded the calm and imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position. His face was thin and refined, and when he spoke, the pressure unique to a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator swept over you.

Some people with ulterior motives, or those who are naturally timid, swayed slightly under its oppressive aura.

After a group of mortals received their bamboo charcoal, they were escorted back to the mortal town by cultivators from the Li family.

As the cultivators from the Li family passed by the line of independent cultivators, a barely perceptible arrogance appeared on their faces.

Fortunately, there were no problems with receiving the bamboo charcoal.

It's mostly because the third elder of the Li family is in charge.

......

Nothing happened on the way back to the courtyard.

After examining the condition of the Moon-Closing Flower and the Spring-Returning Grass, Lü Ping discovered another problem.

The growth of the Rejuvenating Grass is basically at its maximum. It only needs to be nurtured and protected with [Sweet Rain Mist] for a few more days before it can be harvested.

However, the Moon-Closing Flower is a mid-grade first-tier spiritual plant, and it will take about two more months to cultivate it to maturity.

This means that if Lü Ping wants to harvest the mature Moon-Closing Flower, he must do his best to protect the 'Young Miss' with the [Sweet Rain Mist] for a long time.

Most importantly, it's impossible to predict whether this awful weather will worsen further.

The plant masters and farmers in Yunzhufang City all rely on the weather for their livelihood.

In some respects, Lingnong's situation was better than that of plant masters like Lü Ping.

Under the rule of Huayang Sect, every city inhabited by mortals has a Taoist academy to select children among the mortals who possess spiritual roots.

Children with spiritual roots will cultivate and grow in mortal Taoist academies until they are twelve years old. Then, they will be guided by the immortal master of Huayang Sect to enter the sect and undergo the sect entrance examination.

Passing the Huayang Sect's entrance exam is like ascending to the clouds in a single move, becoming a disciple of this major Core Formation sect; if one fails the Huayang Sect's entrance exam, one will be assigned to one of the various cultivation markets under the Huayang Sect's jurisdiction. Lü Ping and Zhao Dashan are both disciples from mortal academies who failed the entrance exam.

However, disciples who have just entered the cultivation market do not have the skills to survive in the market. The Huayang Sect has decreed that anyone who cultivates spiritual fields in the market can only be a disciple of the Dao Academy for a period of nine years. After nine years, they can no longer serve as a spiritual farmer.

Furthermore, the Huayang Sect would conduct irregular inspections of the green corn offered in the market and the quantity of spirit farmers.

One could roughly consider the market and agricultural workers as having been incorporated into the Huayang Sect's organization.

Therefore, the Yunzhu Li family values ​​the market's spiritual farmers more than the independent cultivators in the surrounding areas.

After all, every nine years, the market's spiritual farmers will be reduced to outsiders and rogue cultivators.

[Spiritual Plant Master, may I transplant the Moon-Closing Flower beneath me? I will shelter them from the wind and snow.]

Lu Ping, who was struggling to find the right environment for cultivating the Moon-Closing Flower, suddenly heard the voice of the Cloud-Patterned Bamboo.

The bamboo, which was only half a person's height when it first entered the courtyard, is now more than seven feet tall.

The cloud-patterned bamboo stands tall and straight like solidified green jade, defying the onslaught of wind and snow. The cloud patterns on the bamboo joints and leaves shimmer slightly, like flowing white clouds. Unbeknownst to many, it has grown not only to a height of over seven feet, but also to embody the gentle and virtuous spirit of a gentleman who protects the weak.

The cloud-patterned bamboo trembled, and as it rustled, the accumulated snow rolled off, leaving behind a patch of fertile soil undisturbed by the wind and snow.

Brother Yun, you are a gentleman.

The leaves of the Iron Sword Orchid drooped slightly, reflecting on the noble character of the Cloud Pattern Bamboo. It also wanted to protect the spiritual land. The other spiritual plants of the same kind were not as tall as the Cloud Pattern Bamboo, and their leaves were not as dense. They were truly willing but unable to do so.

"Cloud-patterned bamboo can truly be called the 'gentleman's bamboo."

[The plant expert is too kind.]

Being able to communicate with spiritual plants has truly solved many problems.

Lu Ping focused his mind intently on the Biyuehua flowers, carefully transplanting them. If any of the three Biyuehua flowers showed any discomfort, he would immediately stop and check what the problem might be.

It took some time and effort, but thankfully we finally succeeded in transplanting the Moon-Closing Flower to the base of the Cloud-Patterned Bamboo.

The delicate Moon-Closing Flower, its roots once again buried in the soil, began to vigorously take root, not wanting to disappoint its elder brother, the Cloud-Patterned Bamboo, and the Spirit Plant Master's meticulous care.

The bamboo body, with its flowing cloud-patterned lines, is slightly tilted, sheltering three hibiscus flowers beneath it.

not only that.

Even Big Yellow ran out of the shed, its body, the size of an adult water buffalo, bent over to shield itself from the wind and snow.

【Master, I'll help too.】

"You feel cold in this snow and wind; what if you actually get chilled?"

My master gives me two sections of the root of the Crimson Blood Ginseng every day, hehe.

[And it's perfect timing; I can use the cold snow to strengthen my muscles and bones, and digest the medicinal power accumulated in my body.]

Seeing this, Lü Ping said no more, only instructing Da Huang not to be reckless, and fed it another piece of red ginseng root.

[Wuhu, great! Even the Moon-Covering Beauty can grow up safely now.]

The blizzard may cover the rocks and vegetation, but it cannot freeze the goodwill of sentient beings like the cloud-patterned bamboo.

......

The last day of October.

The wind and snow grew heavier, and many independent cultivators in the market were grumbling that a demonic wind had swept through the Snow Toad Mountains.

A bluish-white mist enveloped the sacred land in the courtyard.

Lu Ping patiently examined the growth of each spiritual plant. Seeing that all the plants were growing well and had not been defeated by the wind and snow, he was filled with joy and relief.

"Hey, this batch of spring grass is almost ripe."

One after another, the rejuvenating grasses are growing rapidly, almost reaching their full height.

The green of the spring grass grew even more lush, and amidst the vast white expanse, a few green sparks ignited.

[One Tier 1 Low-Grade Rejuvenating Grass has been harvested. It is in good condition. Reward: One Spirit Energy Cluster.]

[One Tier 1 Low-Grade Rejuvenating Grass has been harvested. It is of superior quality. Reward: One experience orb.]

[One Tier 1 Low-Grade Spiritual Plant, Moon-Closing Flower and Spring-Returning Grass, has been harvested. The plant is in perfect condition. Reward: One Tier 1 Mid-Grade Green Wood Amulet.]

[Green Wood Amulet...]