Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

The Yunzhu Market at this moment is different from the restless and repressive atmosphere before the land was reclaimed.

Upon learning of the good news from the pioneering team ahead, he also received a handwritten letter from his family.

Whether they were independent cultivators on the outskirts of the market or cultivators in the inner city, smiles were a rare sight on their faces.

Inside the Lingcao Hall.

The air was thick with the aroma of medicine. The new batch of apprentices recruited last year were now gradually maturing and bustling about in the hall, busy with their tasks.

Inside the hall, Lü Ping also saw an acquaintance.

His clothes were simple and ordinary; who else could it be but Chen Xiuping?

Just then, Chen Xiuping finished reporting to Manager Lu about the cultivation of spiritual plants in the medicinal garden outside the market, got up to leave, and bumped into Lü Ping.

"Greetings, Daoist..." Chen Xiuping was about to address him as "fellow Daoist," but sensing the spiritual pressure emanating from Lü Ping, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, he quickly changed his address: "Greetings, Senior."

After exchanging a brief greeting, Chen Xiuping hurriedly left, heading towards the Spirit Herb Garden, which belonged to the Spirit Herb Hall, outside the market.

Turning back, Manager Lu took a sip of tea, a mocking expression on his face.

"Greetings, Senior Lü."

Lu Ping shook his head and said with a wry smile.

"Manager Lu, I can't accept being called your senior."

"You brat, you don't come here unless you have a reason. You're not here to buy Iron Sword Orchid seeds again, are you?" Manager Lu looked at Lü Ping's unrepentant appearance with a pained expression. He couldn't bear to see a junior plant master fixated on a single plant. "Young Lü, I'm not saying this to be mean, but we don't need to be so fixated on Iron Sword Orchids."

"Which spirit seed in the hall do you fancy today? I'll give you a discount."

"To help you, kid, get back on the right path as soon as possible."

Manager Lu was speaking eloquently, intending to fulfill his responsibilities as a senior, but was suddenly interrupted.

The one who interrupted Manager Lu was none other than Lü Ping.

With a calm smile on his face, Lü Ping took out two Iron Sword Orchids from his storage bag.

"Hiss, you little rascal." The gaunt shopkeeper Lu stretched out his rough hands and picked up two iron sword orchids. His rough hands were slightly stung by the orchid leaves. "No, you really managed to cultivate iron sword orchids."

"Not only that."

"The Iron Sword Orchid is grayish-green all over, with sharp leaves like unsheathed swords, and contains abundant spiritual energy."

"This is absolutely top-quality Iron Sword Orchid."

Manager Lu had firsthand experience of the difficulty in cultivating Iron Sword Orchid. Even though he had mastered a highly advanced sword technique, it was only on his third attempt that he was able to cultivate Iron Sword Orchid, and only on his fifth attempt that he was able to cultivate a high-quality Iron Sword Orchid.

"This young Lu, could it be that his talent for cultivating spiritual plants is even higher than mine?" Manager Lu couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, but he had to admit that, in terms of cultivating Iron Sword Orchid, Lu Ping's talent was indeed higher than his.

Cultivating Iron Sword Orchids depends on the plant cultivator's mastery of swordsmanship and magic, as well as their own talent for cultivation.

Despite all the variations, the essence remains the same: the Iron Sword Orchid is ultimately a spiritual plant.

Moreover, Manager Lu knew Lü Ping quite well.

If someone told him that Lü Ping not only possessed a perfect, first-tier, mid-grade sword technique, but that the technique was also called Sword Essence Finger, Manager Lu would never believe it, even if he were beaten to death.

Feeling the persistent stinging sensation from the Iron Sword Orchid on his hand, Manager Lu's evaluation of Lü Ping's expertise in spiritual plants rose even higher in his mind.

Previously, I was simply trying to be kind to others and make friends whenever possible; now, I admire Lü Ping's talent in cultivating spiritual plants and feel that I should focus on befriending him.

"A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days' absence," Manager Lu remarked, looking at Lü Ping's calm and even teasing expression.

"When I do business with people, I never cheat or swindle."

"To be honest, Iron Sword Orchids will sell well whether they are placed in Red Fire Market or Cloud Bamboo Market."

"The purchase price of a mature Iron Sword Orchid fluctuates between fifteen and twenty low-grade spirit stones, depending on its quality at maturity."

"The iron sword orchids you cultivated are of superior quality, and you have previously collaborated with my Lingcaotang."

"Lingcaotang can offer twenty low-grade spirit stones to buy a single Iron Sword Orchid."

A single Iron Sword Orchid was purchased for twenty low-grade spirit stones. Twenty low-grade spirit stones could buy a bottle of Nourishing Spirit Pills and two Yellow Dragon Pills at the Treasure Pavilion, which was considered a high price.

"It was just a fluke," Lü Ping said modestly, his face filled with gratitude. "Thank you for your kind words, Manager Lu."

"The acquisition price will be as Manager Lu stated."

After the money and goods were exchanged, Lü Ping obtained three Iron Sword Orchid seeds from Manager Lu at the extremely low price of two spirit stones. In exchange, all Iron Sword Orchids cultivated thereafter would be sold to Lingcaotang first.

"Young Master Lü, I haven't yet congratulated you on your breakthrough in cultivation, becoming a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

"It was just luck. With the experience of breaking through last time, this time it went much more smoothly."

After their conversation, Lü Ping left Lingcaotang.

No sooner had Lü Ping left Lingcaotang than Manager Lu entered the quiet room of Lingcaotang.

In the quiet room, on the table, the ink on a piece of white paper was still wet.

On the white paper were written names, and Chen Xiuping and Lü Ping's names were prominently listed.

After some thought, Manager Lu rewrote Lü Ping's name at the front.

"Iron Sword Orchid and Crimson Blood Ginseng are both mid-grade first-tier spiritual plants."

"However, the key to cultivating Crimson Blood Ginseng lies in the flesh and blood of demonic beasts with abundant blood and qi. In the cultivation of spiritual plants, one can use skillful techniques."

"On the contrary, Iron Sword Orchid possesses both a mastery of sword magic and a natural talent for cultivating spiritual plants, both of which are indispensable."

Moreover, compared to Chen Xiuping, Manager Lu had a higher opinion of Lü Ping.

Lu Ping is calm and composed, and he is very dedicated to cultivating spiritual plants.

There was a knock on the door of the quiet room.

"Is Manager Lu available?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Lu Yuan felt a jolt in his heart. Why was this inspection so far ahead of schedule, without him being notified?

Lu Yuan respectfully opened the door to the meditation room and led a male cultivator inside.

The male cultivator was in his early twenties, with a calm and composed demeanor. He wore a plain blue-patterned Daoist robe, and his face was handsome and gentle, yet his eyes held a hint of barely perceptible arrogance. As he walked, the medicine pouch at his waist remained securely in place, without any exaggerated swaying. The lingering warmth from the long-term cultivation of spiritual herbs and alchemical fire was deeply felt.

"Greetings, Master Wang." Lu Yuan bowed respectfully. The male cultivator before him not only surpassed him in cultivation level, but also in alchemy.

Lu Yuan was only a mid-grade first-level alchemist, while this Alchemist Wang was a high-grade first-level alchemist from Yunhua Immortal City. According to inside information, this Alchemist Wang had already reached the threshold of second-level alchemist.

The Spirit Herb Hall within Yunhua Immortal City is the main hall, and also the foundation for the other branches to operate in other markets.

Let alone the second tier, even the first tier, high grade, is something Lu Yuan doesn't know when he'll be able to reach.

"Manager Lu, there's no need to be nervous. This visit is not for inspection purposes."

"I came at Fellow Daoist Li's invitation, and also to see if the Li family can bring out some desired spiritual herbs from the Snow Toad Mountains during this land reclamation."

"This is......"

Wang Danshi picked up the white paper on the table, showing slight interest.

"Master Wang Dan, these are some of the spiritual plant masters I have recently included in my evaluation."

"Oh, a plant spirit master."

After listening, Master Wang put down the blank paper and turned to ask about the land reclamation by the Li family in Yunzhu...