Gou Zai created a blessed land in the immortal abode

The Kong family's Guangling Mountain is shrouded in mist and clouds, and from a distance it looks as if it is covered by a huge porcelain-white vessel.

Several large courtyards are nestled halfway up the mountain, with green tiles and white walls, upturned eaves, and a faint fragrance of incense wafts from them, dispersing into the clouds on the mountain breeze.

"Third Uncle, are you saying that these twenty top-quality Spirit Gathering Grasses came from a rogue cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining?"

The courtyard, with a pavilion next to the artificial hill.

Kong Chengheng gazed at the twenty Spirit Gathering Grasses neatly placed in a brocade box on the table, examining them carefully for a moment:

"It's even better than mine."

"As a rogue cultivator, let alone where he got his spiritual field, just judging from this Spirit Gathering Grass, his skill in spiritual plants is no less than that of the spiritual plant masters in his family."

Kong Chengheng's tone was full of doubt.

He was very suspicious of Li Chengming's identity as a rogue cultivator.

"Could it be a spy sent by another force, who has been lying in wait with you for a long time, and only now has the opportunity to show himself?"

"Unlikely."

Kong Shaowen shook his head, pondering as he said:

"When that kid came to my pharmacy, he had just begun to cultivate Qi and entered the immortal realm. I have tested him many times over the years, and he doesn't seem to be from any other force."

After listening, Kong Chengheng stared at the Spirit Gathering Grass for a moment and then said:

"Or perhaps, these Spirit Gathering Grasses were planted by Li Chengming himself."

There are only two possibilities.

As for Li Chengming's claim that other rogue cultivators found it in the mountains, that sounds like a mere excuse.

Neither Kong Shaowen nor Kong Chengheng would be foolish enough to believe this clumsy lie.

"If that kid really grew it himself, then his talent in the field of spiritual plants is truly rare."

Kong Shaowen stroked his beard, his words filled with praise for Li Chengming.

Upon hearing this, Kong Chengheng glanced at his third uncle and instantly guessed what he was thinking.

"Does Third Uncle want him to become a retainer in my household?"

"Yes, yes." Kong Shaowen nodded with a smile.

Although Kong Shaowen is of a higher generation, it should be noted that Kong Chengheng is the current young patriarch of the Kong family.

Now, the head of the Kong family.

The matter of recruiting retainers naturally requires his approval first.

Kong Chengheng did not immediately agree to recruit Li Chengming.

He lowered his head, fiddling with the dark green jade thumb ring on his thumb, and after a moment slowly said:

"There's no rush. If Li Chengming can produce such high-quality Spirit Gathering Grass in the next few months, it won't be too late to recruit him as a retainer."

This time was also enough for him to send people to thoroughly investigate Li Chengming's background.

As the current head of the Kong family, Kong Chengheng has always been cautious in his actions.

After all, the various immortal sects are now quite dissatisfied with the way the major families recruit retainers.

In the past, the immortal sects, by virtue of their ability to recruit a wide number of disciples, made their cultivators superior to those of aristocratic families in both quantity and quality.

Therefore, they were able to suppress powerful families and make them willingly offer up spiritual items.

However, as aristocratic families began recruiting talented and virtuous independent cultivators as retainers, the gap between the two sides gradually narrowed.

"That's fine too."

Kong Shaowen nodded.

…………

"Spirit wood, spirit iron... now all that's missing is the Spirit Condensation Jade."

Seeing that the two conditions for establishment had been completed, Li Chengming pondered to himself:

"The Mind-Concentrating Jade has the effect of calming the mind and soothing the soul. It is the most beloved treasure of cultivators such as alchemists, talisman masters, and array masters who need to expend their mental energy for a long time."

These cultivators, skilled in all kinds of immortal arts, were all wealthy, so much so that a precious jade that had no effect on improving cultivation or helping in combat rose in price to about one and a half spirit stones.

"Let's check out the individual stalls first."

Compared to counter sales, there is much more room for negotiation at individual stalls.

Poor, independent cultivators like Li Chengming would prefer to buy things from street vendors.

Sometimes, you might stumble upon a great bargain if you encounter a vendor who doesn't have a keen eye.

…………

Li Chengming wandered around the stalls for a while, and suddenly noticed a piece of white jade that looked like jade fat on one of the stalls.

He paused, then slowly walked over, his gaze not fixed on the white jade, but instead rummaging through the other spiritual objects.

The stall owner, whose face was covered by a black veil, spoke:

"What are you seeking, fellow Daoist?"

Her voice was melodious and pleasant; she was a female cultivator.

"Take a look at them all."

Li Chengming replied, then casually picked up a broken spirit pen and asked:

"How many spirit stones does this spirit brush cost?"

"This is a talisman brush. Although it's only half full, it can still be used to draw talismans. If you want it, take it for five spirit stones."

A broken pen for five spirit stones?

Li Chengming raised an eyebrow, put it down, and picked up a longbow with a long history of damage.

"How much is this bow?"

"This bow is made of twenty-year-old white willow wood and the sinew of a Qi Refining Level 3 demon. With just the infusion of magic power, its power is comparable to a spell cast at the early stage of Qi Refining."

"If you wish, fellow Daoist, take these twelve spirit stones!"

"Too expensive."

Li Chengming shook his head, put down the longbow, and then asked several other questions.

They only ask about the price, never actually buy.

This greatly angered the female cultivator. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she rebuked her:

"Fellow Daoist, are you here to make fun of me?"

"No, no."

Seeing that the other party was a bit agitated, a glint flashed in Li Chengming's eyes. He then said a few words of comfort before picking up the Mind-Concentrating Jade from the corner of the stall.

"And tell me, what is the price of this jade?"

"One and a half yuan."

"Too expensive, how about one yuan?"

The female cultivator looked up at the sky; the sun had already set in the west. After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth and said:

"make a deal."

Li Chengming smiled.

Although this Concentration Jade had been used before, getting it for just one spirit stone was still a bargain.

Having obtained the Mind-Concentrating Jade, Li Chengming didn't waste any more time outside and hurried back to the courtyard.

Close the door and enter the immortal abode.

[Quiet Room: Fanpin]

[Current effect: Cultivation speed increased by 30%, probability of breaking through bottleneck slightly increased]

[Requirements for creation: 20 jin of spirit wood (completed), 5 jin of spirit iron (completed), 1 piece of spirit-concentrating jade]

The only thing missing to set up the meditation room is this Mind-Concentrating Jade in his hand.

Li Chengming immediately delivered it.

The next instant, a phantom image of a building appeared before his eyes.

Space is currently limited in the Immortal Abode, so this quiet room can only be placed next to the spirit field.

Clang!

With a commotion, a building resembling a side room instantly appeared on the empty ground.

It is not large, about two zhang long and one zhang wide.

Li Chengming pushed open the door and entered; the furnishings inside were quite simple.

A futon, a table, and an incense burner on it.

A stick of sandalwood incense is stuck in the incense burner.

The gentle smoke from cigarettes brings a sense of peace.

Li Chengming sat cross-legged on the futon, circulating his internal energy and carefully experiencing the sensations.

The flow of spiritual energy is smoother than before.

"My cultivation speed has indeed increased slightly."

"With this quiet room, I should be able to break through to the third level of Qi Refining in about a year."

"Now that the Immortal Abode space has been fully utilized, all the remaining profits from the spirit fields can be used to purchase pills."