The Path to Immortality: Starting with the Growth of Bubble Fruits from the Ground

Zhou Mu looked at the things on the table and said, "Aunt Liu, Brother Zhang, Old Wang, I won't divide these things among myself."

The three of them, including Lao Wang, looked at him at the same time.

Zhou Mu continued, "Li Kui came for me this time. You guys kept watch for me for two nights. I'll remember that kindness. Consider my share my thanks."

Zhou Mu didn't not want it, but he knew that without the help of the three men, he wouldn't be able to get past Li Kui, let alone divide the spoils.

Hearing Zhou Mu say this, Old Wang remained silent, but Aunt Liu spoke up: "No."

Zhou Mu was taken aback.

Aunt Liu was clearly short-tempered: "Xiao Zhou, you can't say that. Without you as bait, where would these things come from? I've made the decision, the four of us will split them equally."

"Besides, if you don't take it, and word gets out, how are we supposed to live in this area anymore?"

Aunt Liu looked at Old Wang and Brother Zhang: "Don't you agree?"

Brother Zhang scratched his head and chuckled, "Your Aunt Liu is right. Little Zhou, we won't feel at ease taking it if you don't."

Zhou Mu opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

Old Wang rummaged through the things on the table and then said, "How about this, Xiao Zhou takes 20%, and the rest we three will split equally."

Aunt Liu wanted to say something more, but Old Wang waved his hand and said, "I know this kid's temper. He really won't take any more than that."

A moment later, the four finished dividing the spoils.

Zhou Mu obtained one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills, half a bottle of Qi Cultivation Pills, fifty low-grade spirit stones, and about a dozen low-level talismans.

Aunt Liu took the bronze bell magic artifact, Brother Wang took the flying sword, plus fifty spirit stones.

The rest belong to Old Wang.

Zhou Mu put his share into his storage bag, feeling a surge of joy; this was his second pot of gold.

"Murderers and arsonists wear golden belts; no wonder the treacherous cultivators outside the sect are endless and impossible to eradicate."

At this moment, Old Wang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Zhou, actually these things are not the biggest benefits."

"What else is there?" Zhou Mu looked at the three grinning figures, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Could it be that the sect offers a bounty?"

"It's because of the blood locusts," Old Wang said, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. "Little Zhou, remember this, it's a taboo in the Myriad Dao Sect. You must never mention it or get involved with it outside, or no one can protect you."

Seeing Old Wang's unusually serious expression, Zhou Mu wondered, "Could it be that there are locust plagues in the cultivation world too?"

"It's normal that you don't understand, Xiao Zhou. All you need to know is that if that bottle of blood locust eggs is released, not only your spirit fields, but also the hundred acres of spirit fields nearby will be devoured overnight."

Aunt Liu continued, "Little Zhou, once the blood locust eggs come into contact with the spirit field, they will hatch within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. In addition, being in the spirit field with ample food, these blood locusts can lay eggs again in a short time, endlessly."

Brother Zhang also spoke up: "Moreover, these blood locusts advance extremely quickly. They are not yet at the next level when they first hatch, but they can reach the next level in just one night."

"Goodness, it really is a locust plague, and a super-enhanced one at that."

Zhou Mu was shocked, but he was also puzzled as to why Li Kui would have such a thing. He hurriedly asked, "Old Wang, how did Li Kui get such a thing? Could it be that Zhou Ye gave it to him?"

Old Wang shook his head: "Li Kui is just a pawn, and even Zhou Ye might not know about it. I guess..."

"Family Alliance..."

Zhou Ye muttered to himself, feeling a chill run down his spine. The family alliance was going all out; once the locust plague broke out from his spirit field, Zhou Mu would be doomed.

To deal with Zhou Mu, a mere servant disciple, the Clan Alliance went so far as to trigger a locust plague and even drag Li Kui and Zhou Ye into it. This is what makes the Clan Alliance so terrifying.

They act without regard for the consequences, aiming to make everyone understand that the rules they set cannot be broken.

Judging from their style of doing things, Li Kui's defeat tonight is not the end, but just the beginning.

"However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Tonight we took precautions against a small locust plague. Although it was an accident, the sect will surely reward us."

"What reward?"

When the topic of rewards came up, Zhou Mu perked up, his eyes widening as he looked at Old Wang expectantly.

"have no idea…"

Old Wang shrugged.

"..."

---------

The next morning, Zhou Mu wielded his sickle in the spirit field. With a flash of cold light, swathes of yellow rice fell down.

The golden rice grains filled several sacks.

"Cool!"

Three hours later, Zhou Mu stood beside the two spirit fields, 9999 and 9998, looking at the sixteen full sacks around him, feeling extremely satisfied.

This season, he harvested a total of 2,100 jin of Polygonatum rice from two mu of land and 900 jin of Blood Tooth Rice from one mu of land.

Another acre of spirit grass yielded 800 catties, which were tied into twenty bundles and piled up along with the burlap sacks beside the spirit field, resembling a small wall.

"Zhou Mu, not bad, you're quite fast."

At this moment, Steward Liu rode a flying boat to the edge of the spirit field.

Manager Liu stepped off the flying boat with a smile and stood in front of Zhou Mu. His gaze swept over the sacks, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Manager Liu," Zhou Mu bowed respectfully, then pointed to the harvest from the spirit fields behind him: "This is all the harvest I have this season. I've prepared 70% to hand over to the sect."

As he spoke, Zhou Mu placed thirteen sacks and sixteen bundles of spirit herbs in front of the flying boat. This time, he handed over an extra ten percent.

This is an unwritten rule, and it's something everyone agrees on.

"Yes, very good."

Manager Liu smiled with satisfaction, but he only accepted eight sacks and ten bundles of spirit herbs.

"Manager Liu, what is this...?"

Zhou Mu asked in surprise, not understanding why Steward Liu only accepted 50%.

Manager Liu smiled and then said, "Zhou Mu, if you grow a first-grade medium-level Huangjing Rice within six months, I will decide to reduce your yield by 10% for this grade."

"In addition, you and the other two have made contributions in saving the spirit field. The sect has ordered that for the next three years, all four of you will have your fees reduced by 10%."

Zhou Mu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, and quickly cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Steward, and thank you, sect."

Zhou Mu's gratitude was genuine; those 20% were real spirit stones, although it was only for this one time, and the reduction would only be 10% for the next three years.

But even a tenth of what's gained in three years is a lot of spirit stones, and Zhou Mu secretly praised the sect's generosity.

Moreover, although he didn't explicitly say that he would hand over the 10% to Steward Liu, he didn't accept it either. It seems that as long as Zhou Mu continues to make progress, Steward Liu will not accept this 10% in the future.

"Zhou Mu, come to see me tomorrow. I have something important to discuss with you."

"yes!"

After Manager Liu left, Zhou Mu collected the remaining 50% of his spoils.

"I'll plow the few acres of spiritual fields again this afternoon, and then I'll go talk to Old Wang tonight."

Although Zhou Mu had some guesses about the "important matter" that Steward Liu mentioned, he still wanted to talk to Old Wang first.

Since his last trip to the market, Zhou Mu has become increasingly convinced that Old Wang is a hidden master.

In addition, after this season's harvest, Zhou Mu had twenty more white bubble fruits and two green bubble fruits in his dantian, which was enough for him to break through to the third level of Qi Refining.

However, Zhou Mu still needed a suitable excuse. After all, breaking through two levels in less than a year was too conspicuous among the four spiritual roots, and it didn't seem reasonable no matter how you looked at it.

Moreover, the family alliance is watching him closely. If he exposes his cultivation speed at this time, will they use it as an excuse to cause trouble?

Zhou Mu decided to try to get a suitable excuse from Lao Wang indirectly.