Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

"Uncle Ping, are you home?"

Zhao Xiaofan's voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

Lu Ping quickly opened the courtyard gate and led Zhao Xiaofan, whose little face was red from the cold, into the wooden house.

Inside the copper stove in the room, the bamboo charcoal crackled and popped as it burned.

but.

Looking at Zhao Xiaofan's wrinkled face, Lü Ping was full of concern.

"Xiao Fan, what's wrong? Is there a problem at home?"

As far as Lü Ping knew, Xu Cui had been staying at home peacefully lately, teaching Zhao Xiaofan, so it was unlikely that anything would go wrong.

Zhao Xiaofan shook her head, her small eyebrows furrowed slightly, her nose turned red, and her eyes gradually became moist.

"Uncle Ping, when is my father coming back?"

"Aunt Shen came to visit today. She said that the market has recently started to see some activity, which is mostly related to the land reclamation at the front."

"After Aunt Shen left, Mother was so worried that she couldn't eat much."

"Uncle Ping, do you think my father will come back safely?"

"Uncle Ping, if it weren't for me, would my father have worked so hard...?"

As she spoke, Zhao Xiaofan sniffed and burst into tears.

Seeing this, Lü Ping quickly picked up Zhao Xiaofan and gently comforted him.

"Xiao Fan, you can't think like that. If it weren't for you, your parents wouldn't be living such a peaceful life now."

"Besides, that day when we said goodbye."

"Didn't you say you wanted your dad to catch lots and lots of monster cubs and bring them back?"

Lu Ping gently patted Zhao Xiaofan's back, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

Children's emotions come and go quickly.

They picked up Zhao Xiaofan and took him back.

In Zhao Dashan's courtyard.

Looking at Xu Cui's haggard face, disheveled hair, and red and swollen eyes, even the bamboo charcoal in the courtyard had only just been lit. Clearly, the safety of Zhao Dashan, who had entered the Snow Toad Mountain Range, was a source of great distress for both mother and son.

In the past, they were busy patrolling and teaching Zhao Xiaofan. Today, someone mentioned land reclamation, which made the mother and son panic.

Xu Cui wiped away her tears, looking apologetic, and took Zhao Xiaofan from Lü Ping's arms.

"Ah Ping, I'm sorry you had to see this."

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. I've also received some information from Manager Lu about the land reclamation at the front."

"The reclamation of the Snow Toad Mountains should have made good progress."

"In addition, Brother Dashan is a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator."

"I imagine it won't be long before they return safely."

Lu Ping offered words of comfort, but Xu Cui's smile was forced; clearly, only when they actually saw Zhao Dashan would the mother and son feel at ease.

Without lingering, Lü Ping returned to his own courtyard.

Within the spiritual soil, the Snow Frost Fruit had already sprouted. Its leaves were long and narrow like willow leaves, deep blue in color, with white specks scattered among them, and a thin layer of fine snow remained on the leaf surface; the stems were pale, covered with tiny ice crystals, and felt icy to the touch, standing tall amidst the wind and snow.

As for the Iron Sword Orchid, although it has sprouted and produced five leaves, it is buried in a thick layer of snow.

Every time Lü Ping finished teaching Tie Jianlan sword techniques, he would brush away the accumulated snow for her, but Tie Jianlan would stop him.

Fellow Daoist, there's no need to worry. I will defeat this mere fine snow.

Seeing this, I stopped interfering with the Iron Sword Orchid. Even the most experienced and skilled plant masters cannot understand themselves as well as the plants themselves.

My mind was focused on the cloud-patterned bamboo, whose growth process had already completed one-third of its course.

The cultivation cycle for cloud-patterned bamboo is the longest, requiring a full nine months to reach maturity.

To get the light cluster reward from the Cloud Pattern Bamboo, it will take at least until June.

"Bamboo and wood-based spiritual plants have long growth and development cycles and high requirements for spiritual soil and spiritual energy nutrients, making them time-consuming and labor-intensive to cultivate."

"I hope I'll receive a reward from the Light Group and not let down all the years of training I've put in."

Lu Ping muttered something under his breath, and the cloud-patterned bamboo seemed to understand, swaying its body.

[I certainly won't disappoint the plant master.]

【We are too, we are too.】

At the foot of the cloud-patterned bamboo, three hibiscus flowers echoed in agreement.

Lu Ping focused his attention on it and discovered that the progress of the three Moon-Closing Flowers had increased significantly.

Originally, it was estimated that the three 'Closed Moon Flower' plants would reach maturity in the next day or two.

I never expected it to mature so quickly.

"Okay, okay, let me grab some light clusters quickly."

Lu Ping activated the [Sweet Rain Mist], and a bluish-white mist enveloped the three Moon-Closing Flowers, like a pair of giant hands quietly anticipating the light cluster that was about to form.

The three Moon-Closing Flowers absorbed the bluish-white mist from their bodies.

As the bluish-white mist was inhaled, the three Moon-Closing Flowers began to emit a faint spiritual light, one after another, entering the mature stage.

[One Tier 1 Mid-Grade Spiritual Plant, the Moon-Closing Flower, has been harvested. Its condition is perfect. Reward: Tier 1 High-Grade Magical Artifact, the Radiant Pendant.]

[One Tier 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Plant, the Moon-Closing Flower, has been harvested. Its quality is excellent. Reward: One Spirit Energy Cluster.]

[One Tier 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Plant, the Moon-Closing Flower, has been harvested. Its quality is excellent. Reward: One Spirit Energy Cluster.]

First-grade superior magic artifact!

As expected of you, a beauty that eclipses the moon.

They did not let down Mr. Lü's hard work in cultivating them, nor did they let down the cloud-patterned bamboo and the rhubarb that sheltered them from the wind and snow day and night.

Despite having the first-tier superior-grade magic weapon, the Xuan Tie Flying Sword, and the first-tier supreme-grade magic weapon, the Xuan Tie Sword Array Diagram, as well as the newly acquired first-tier superior-grade magic weapon, the Flowing Light Pendant, Lü Ping was still very satisfied.

[The Radiant Jade Pendant, a high-grade first-tier defensive magic artifact, can autonomously and slowly absorb the moonlight and the free-floating spiritual energy in the world, accumulating it within the pendant. Once activated, the moonlight and spiritual energy within the pendant will form a semi-transparent, luminous white light shield, capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining.]

[The Radiant Pendant accumulates the moon's essence, forming three protective shields in a short period. Once the moon's essence is used up, it must be replenished before the shield can be formed again.]

The white orb lay quietly in my palm, exuding an irresistible allure.

With a thought, Lü Ping sent the Radiant Pendant flying out from the ball of light and settling peacefully in his palm.

The size of the jade pendant is almost the same as that of a green jujube. It has a warm, moon-white color and is made of some kind of jade.

At the very center of the jade pendant is a bright moon, surrounded by simple cloud patterns.

A little spiritual power was injected into it, and the bright moonlight shone down, falling on the cloud patterns and making the cloud patterns glow as well.

"If we only consider value, the price of the Flowing Light Pendant is even higher than that of a Xuan Tie Flying Sword."

Within the market, and even across the entire cultivation world, defensive magical artifacts are a level above other types in terms of crafting difficulty, material requirements, and rarity.

Therefore, defensive magic weapons of the same tier are much more expensive than other types of magic weapons.

Naturally, this conclusion does not involve the rare treasure.

"Okay, okay."

"First, there is a Tier 1 mid-grade Green Wood Amulet, then there is a Tier 1 high-grade defensive magic artifact, the Flowing Light Pendant."

"Add to that my decent physical body, and my defensive capabilities are already quite good."

Lu Ping couldn't suppress the joy on his lips; it was overflowing.

Hanging the Radiant Pendant at the waist and then covering it with a robe, one can faintly sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowing towards the Radiant Pendant.

Lu Ping gently stroked the delicate petals of the Moon-Closing Flower, communicating with it in spirit.

"Excellent, excellent, you haven't disappointed me."

Hehe, then I'm happy.

We haven't thanked the spirit plant master and Brother Cloud Pattern Bamboo for their care yet; it's only right.

Yunwenzhu shook its body and nodded.

It was just a small favor.

Lu Ping nodded and, carrying the spiritual energy he had just obtained, returned to the wooden house.

He wanted to strike while the iron was hot and absorb these two clusters of spiritual energy...