Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

After Li Ren left, the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.

Lu Ping arrived in the spiritual land, his spiritual power surging within him. Several crimson feathers, with flames burning on them, contained violent and turbulent fire elemental spiritual power, which was the first-tier mid-grade spell [Fire Feather Technique].

The fiery feather landed on the round, plump, and blazing Flaming Sun Fruit, and began to slowly dissipate as the Flaming Sun Fruit absorbed the fire elemental energy.

An hour later.

Having enjoyed the sun and the fiery spiritual power of the Flaming Sun Fruit, they seemed to have eaten their fill and became somewhat lazy. The fruit swayed back and forth on the branches, ripe and tempting.

The heavy load of the blazing sun fruits bent the thick stems, almost causing them to droop into the gray-black spiritual soil.

Lu Ping frowned slightly. This Flaming Sun Fruit wasn't just full; it was practically stuffed. He was swaying unsteadily, as if he'd drunk fake alcohol.

"The Flaming Sun Fruit isn't much better, and it's just as troublesome as the Cloud-Patterned Bamboo."

Lu Ping reached out and grasped the stem of the Flaming Sun Fruit. As his spiritual energy surged, the Flaming Sun Fruit was covered in white frost.

This white frost was not created by casting the [Spirit-Nourishing Frost] spell, but by a very common insect-killing spell called [Frost Armor Spell].

Frost gradually covered the Flaming Sun Fruit, and the fire elemental energy contained within the fruit evaporated into water vapor.

In a short while.

The blazing sun fruit plant has become a battlefield of frost and fire.

The battle lasted for a full fifteen minutes.

Finally, with Lü Ping ending the defeat of the Frost Armor Technique, the Flaming Fruit, which had secured this victory, no longer swayed precariously; its flames blazed brightly, as if celebrating its triumph.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a mid-grade first-tier spiritual plant manage to overeat."

Lu Ping was quite shocked after helping Yan Yangguo digest his food.

I've only ever seen spiritual plants suffer from malnutrition and prolonged cultivation cycles due to poor cultivation environments, insufficient spiritual energy concentration, and inability to meet special cultivation conditions.

The situation with the Flaming Sun Fruit...

Lu Ping shook his head, indicating that he neither understood nor respected it. If the Flaming Sun Fruit eats too much and doesn't help digest the excess fire elemental energy in its body, it is very likely to affect its appearance after it matures.

This is related to the reward from the white light orb, so it cannot be taken lightly.

After helping Yan Yangguo get back on track, Lü Ping waited quietly in the courtyard for the Li family cultivators to arrive.

Li Ren was merely a steward, not a self-cultivating plant master within the Li family.

Before transplanting the cloud-patterned bamboo, the Li family's spiritual plant master needs to identify the bamboo. Only after the bamboo has passed the identification can the transplanting proceed.

Half an hour later.

Li Ren then led an old man in a gray robe into the courtyard.

The gray-robed old man's aura was solid and his demeanor was calm. Lu Ping could not discern his specific cultivation level, but he was probably at least a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator.

However, even with his cultivation level at the sixth level of Qi Refining and the rich scent of plants, he couldn't conceal the decaying aura emanating from the gray-robed old man.

This senior spiritual plant master of the Li family doesn't have many days left before his lifespan ends.

The gray-robed old man approached the cloud-patterned bamboo, channeled his spiritual energy into it, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed its presence.

Fifteen minutes later, a smile appeared on the withered and thin old face.

"It's rare to find such a high-quality cloud-patterned bamboo."

After speaking, the gray-robed elder nodded, and the young disciples behind Li Ren, having received the signal, stepped forward and began the transplantation of the cloud-patterned bamboo, with clear division of labor.

The gray-robed elder glanced casually at the Flaming Sun Fruit in the spiritual soil, let out a soft exclamation, slightly raised his left foot, and finally withdrew it.

It took a full quarter of an hour for the Li family cultivators to safely remove the cloud-patterned bamboo.

Transplanting spiritual plants will inevitably cause damage to them. This damage will only decrease after the spiritual plant matures. Transplanting before the spiritual plant matures will severely affect its appearance after maturity.

This is why, even though he had rented the courtyard, Lü Ping wasn't in a hurry to move in.

Upon seeing that the cloud-patterned bamboo had been transplanted, the gray-robed elder looked at Lü Ping with appreciation.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for cultivating the cloud-patterned bamboo for my Li family."

"Fellow Daoist, you are entitled to receive an additional reward from my Li family for the superior quality cloud-patterned bamboo, according to the regulations."

The gray-robed old man waved his hand, and a cultivator from the Li family stepped forward and respectfully handed Lü Ping a cloth bag.

Lu Ping weighed the contents of the bag and estimated that there were at least twenty low-grade spirit stones inside.

Whether it was genuine or not, the old man in the gray robe did a good job of maintaining appearances.

If someone treats me with respect, I will repay them tenfold.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Excellency." Lü Ping bowed.

The gray-robed old man nodded, and spoke again as he left.

"The Flaming Sun Fruit is being cultivated well, it's just a pity that we don't have the help of Fire Cloud Stone."

"If it's intentional..."

"never mind."

The gray-robed old man originally intended to recruit Lü Ping, hoping to bring talent to the Yunzhu Li family because of Lü Ping's excellent skills in cultivating spiritual plants.

In the end, for some unknown reason, the matter was dropped.

On the contrary, Li Ren, for some reason, shrank his neck as he left.

Finally, the courtyard fell into peace.

Even the five tireless Firefeather Chickens were now quietly taking a rest at the Sun Fruit.

The two Fire-Feathered Chickens, A and B, who had been generous to the Fire-Feathered Chicken clan for a hundred years, now seemed indifferent, faintly radiating a mysterious holy light, for reasons unknown.

【Owner......】

Big Yellow came closer, its usually heroic appearance now carrying a strange meaning, its upturned triangular ears drooping.

[Master, I also wish to dedicate my body to the livelihood of the Wind Chaser Dog clan for centuries to come!]

Even the dog that guards the house has been led astray by A and B...

Lu Ping ignored Da Huang and pondered why the gray-robed elder of the Li family had inexplicably stopped recruiting after issuing the offer.

......

Inner city, Yunzhu Tower.

This was established by the Li family within Yunzhufang City, responsible for handling all matters, large and small, within the city.

Quiet room.

Li Ren knelt on the ground, beads of sweat dripping from his face; the old man in the gray robe closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the couch.

"Li Ren, today I intended to recruit Lü Ping, but do you know why I stopped?"

"I know..."

Li Ren's heart skipped a beat, and he wiped the sweat from his face.

"It was my grandson who lacked the ability to recognize talent. When his meridians were damaged, he took away the cloud-patterned bamboo that he had nurtured for so long, thus creating a karmic connection with him."

Upon hearing this, Li Shouzhou, dressed in a gray robe, nodded.

"Not stupid."

"Li Ren, you are not only my grandson, but also the steward of the eastern district of the Li family."

"There have always been criticisms of your behavior within the clan; after the incident involving the three Bu siblings, the attacks against you have intensified."

In the quiet room, after a long silence, Li Shouzhou sighed.

"Grandson, your spiritual talent is not particularly good."

"There are quite a few clansmen who are eyeing this deacon position."

"In the future, do not tarnish the reputation of the Yunzhu Li family."

"And then..."

"My dear grandson, how much longer can these old bones of mine protect you..."

"Go out."

"Grandson has learned a lot."

Then, Li Ren lowered his head, said nothing, and walked out of the quiet room.

Thinking about the cloud-patterned bamboo transplanted today, and about Lü Ping's methods of cultivating spiritual plants, which even his own grandfather approved of and wanted to introduce into the family, Li Ren made a decision.

"I cannot betray my grandfather's support; I must firmly hold onto this position as the Li family's steward."

"Find some time, prepare some gifts, and go to visit Fellow Daoist Lü..."