章 3: Chapter 2 Pest Damage_2
"One must have enough firepower, and the damage range should be controlled."
Coming from humble beginnings and having only reached the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, he had currently mastered only two low-level spells.
One was the Spirit Rain Technique, mainly used for nurturing spiritual plants, and the other was the defensive Fireball Technique.
However, for both these spells, his knowledge was shallow and he was completely unable to execute refined control.
Moreover, the two spells did not seem suited to deal with the specific task of exterminating Black Bud Worm Larva.
The Spirit Rain Technique, in its initial stages, only served to nourish the spiritual plants. Lu Xuan guessed that the Black Bud Worm Larva would not only be unharmed by the spell, but might even be reinvigorated by it...
As for the Fireball Technique, it did have enough firepower, but if employed, it would result in the mutual destruction of the Spirit Firefly Grass and the Black Bud Worm Larva.
"It seems I'll have to seek help in the market and spend money to avoid disaster."
"At least, knowing the problem will allow me to save some money."
Lu Xuan touched the somewhat shriveled cloth bag at his waist and sighed deeply.
...
"Little Brother Lu, are you home?"
Knock, knock. accompanied by a loud and clear voice, echoed from outside the courtyard.
Immediately after, a grey-black rope of grass came slithering out from a corner of the courtyard, gently tapping Lu Xuan's knee.
This was the Grass Puppet staying in the yard; sensing a person approaching and possibly intruding on the Spirit Field's boundary, it warned Lu Xuan.
"The person has been standing outside the door for some time and has already called out, yet you choose to sound the alarm only now. If someone with ill intentions was present, my house would have been burglarized before you could even react."
As Lu Xuan looked at the retracted grey-black grass rope, he couldn't help but rub his forehead.
The voice sounded familiar and belonged to one of the few cultivators Lu Xuan knew since he'd crossed over.
"I'm here, Brother Zhang!"
He replied, and then walked up to the courtyard gate, opening the door.
A tall, kind-looking cultivator walked in.
The visitor was Zhang Hong, a Third Level Qi Cultivator, who lived next to Lu Xuan. Zhang Hong had a Dao companion who had reached the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation and they were raising a six or seven-year-old child. When Lu Xuan had just arrived, Zhang had given him many pointers saving him from much trouble.
"Brother Zhang, please come inside for a cup of hot tea."
Lu Xuan led Zhang Hong into the house.
Zhang Hong turned and looked at the Spirit Firefly Grass and the Moon Erosion Trees along the little stone path, nodding his head in approval.
"Little Brother Lu, you are taking good care of these two types of Spirit Plants. It seems like there will be a good harvest in the near future."
"I wouldn't say so. Compared to the Spirit Plants in the Spirit Fields of your house, these do not match."
Lu Xuan served a cup of hot tea to Zhang Hong after he sat down.
Two or three tender green tea leaves floated up and down in the teacup, spinning endlessly.
Zhang Hong didn't mind, he knew Lu Xuan's cultivation level and financial situation. Being able to have a cup of tea mixed with spiritual tea leaves was already quite hospitable.
"As expected from Clear Rain Tea, drinking it gives the feeling as if drizzling rain is nourishing the heart. Only at Lu Xuan's place would I have a chance to drink such a fine tea."
"At home, my wife never allows me any of this, it's so boring."
Zhang Hong sipped the tea, savoring the effects it brought, and shook his head with his eyes closed. Thinking about the restraints at home, he couldn't help but slap his thigh.
"No choice, your sister-in-law wants to prepare for Little Yuan's future, so naturally, she has to be more careful in spending."
"You're right."
Zhang Hong let out a sigh,
"Sometimes, I really envy you, Little Brother Lu. You are alone with no pressure to support a family."
"You can lead the life you want without arguing over trivial matters, like where to buy groceries, or worrying about a child's health or what cultivation technique they should learn, or which Sect they could enter in the future."
"How carefree you are!"
"If Brother Zhang were in my shoes, I bet he would miss being with his wife and child. It would be such a joy."
Lu Xuan said with a smile.
"You kid, you're so young and already understand so much."
Zhang Hong only casually sighed, then changed the subject with a laugh.
"The reason I came to see you this time is because I have something to tell you."
"From various sources, I learned that the Wang family in our market town accidentally discovered the location of a Secret Land. But it is located far in the wild, so after some time, they will hire hundreds or thousands of cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer or higher to go and develop the Secret Land."
"I thought you might be interested, and if you are, you should start preparing."
"Develop a Secret Land?" Lu Xuan said thoughtfully, falling into contemplation.
"I'm planning to go and have a look. A new Secret Land is very risky, but the rewards are in proportion to the risks. Just by planting Spirit Plants in the market town, maintaining a normal family life is very difficult."
"As for you, Little Brother Lu, I personally suggest you go and take a look. After all, the Wang family has cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage leading the way, so it will be difficult for us to encounter any powerful Demon Beasts."
"The most important thing is, Little Brother Lu, you are still young. Being a Spirit Plant Master is safe, but the resources you can acquire are limited and your strength increases slowly. After a long time of planting Spirit Plants, your vigour, too, will slowly diminish, and it would be hard for you to make further progress."
Zhang Hong looked at Lu Xuan, who was deep in thought, and advised him.
Lu Xuan nodded lightly. Indeed, what Zhang Hong said made sense. Developing a Secret Land carries a certain amount of risk but is still within a manageable range. Moreover, the appearance of a new Secret Land often means huge earnings. Even if he only got the leftovers, it would take a long time to fully digest them.
If this had been earlier, he might have had a slight chance of agreeing.
But now, with the appearance of the White Light Group, this faint possibility had disappeared completely.
He would venture out to gain cultivation resources, and then exchange them for elixirs, cultivation techniques, magic artifacts – but he could get all of these by staying at home and growing Spirit Plants!
It is safer and earns more. Gardening is wonderful!
He pretended to ponder for a while, looking undecided. Eventually he raised his head, his eyes filled with regret as he said to Zhang Hong,
"I appreciate your kindness, Brother Zhang, but I am a cautious person, with low cultivation and no special spells. I'm afraid that if I went, I might never return."
"Therefore, all I want to do is stay in the house, guarding this small Spirit Field, and quietly grow Spirit Plants."
"As for the future, let's see how it unfolds."
Seeing that Lu Xuan was firm in his decision, Zhang Hong couldn't help but sigh.
"Your idea is not wrong. Although there is not much danger in developing a Secret Land, it doesn't mean there is none. Even the slightest negligence could be fatal for us Qi Practicing Little Cultivators."
"However, I have no choice but to take a chance. Little Yuan shouldn't have to follow my unconventional cultivation methods like I did."
The two sat in silence for a while before Zhang Hong left, taking his leave and asking Lu Xuan to look after his young son when he left.
Lu Xuan nodded in agreement, watched Zhang Hong leave, and closed the courtyard door.
"With the advent of the White Light Group, I have to avoid putting myself in danger as much as possible in the future."
"Unless I have 90% certainty... no, 90% certainty is as good as none. If I don't have 100% certainty, I won't casually take risks."
Gazing at the Spirit Firefly Grass and Moon Erosion Fruit along the cobblestone path, Lu Xuan felt a surge of confidence.
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