Chapter 97: Chapter 80: Moving into Jin Qjao Peak’s Medicinal Field 1
Translator: 549690339
“Thank you for your praise, Elder Brother. With my lower-grade spiritual roots, cultivation has never been easy for me. Therefore, I can only put my efforts into farming techniques.” Lin Yi responded with an appreciative bow.
Elder Brother Wu chuckled, “Having the ability to master the fundamental farming technique, the Cloud Rain Technique, to such an extent is not just about hard work. You truly have a talent for farming.”
He pondered, and said, “Considering the nourishment provided by your Cloud Rain Technique, you indeed could cultivate a lower-grade medicinal field. Are you yet to choose your Cave Mansion.”
I have not done so yet,” Lin Yi shook his head. He figured the steward of the Affairs Hall, Su Qi Hong, must be waiting to see whether he would choose cultivation, and then select a suitable cave mansion based on the location of the spiritual field.
<>”That’s good. Let’s talk inside. Junior Brother Su, bring the map of the cave mansions.” Elder Brother Wu nodded and beckoned. Then he sauntered back to the Affairs Hall.
Cultivators who previously thought Lin Yi was arrogant could only shake their heads and chuckle helplessly. Who would have thought this Outer Sect Spirit Farmer truly had some abilities? However, no matter how good farming was, it was useless without high cultivation levels.
The cultivation world sought immortality. Only by continually elevating cultivation levels could one gain more life and, eventually, have a lifespan equal to the heavens and earth. Cultivating fields was merely a futile act for those with lower-grade spiritual roots.
Seeing Elder Brother Wu led Lin Yi into the Affairs Hall, the crowd dispersed as if what had occurred was just a minor disturbance that no one seemed to care about.
Inside the Affairs Hall, Su Qi Hong presented a map of Golden Sword Peak’s domain, marking the location of almost all the cave mansions. Depending on cultivation levels, each cave would provide varying concentrations of spiritual energy.
Pointing to a remote location distanced from Golden Sword Peak, Su Qi Hong said, “In the midsection of this hill is a cave mansion suitable for high-level Qi Refinement. It’s surrounded by ten acres of lower-grade medicinal fields, which have gone unused for a while. It’s quite a distance from the main peak. Would you like to go there?”
A thought crossed Lin Yi’s mind. Staying away from the main peak was exactly what he wanted. He then cupped his hands and bowed, “Elder Brother Wu, I am ready to proceed.”
Elder Brother Wu gently nodded, “Very well. I will now relay the rules of
cultivating a medicinal field. There is no field rent but merit points will be taken instead. One acre of field requires twenty merit points per year.”
“Additionally, only those who cultivate fields will be granted residency in this cave mansion. The usage of the cave mansion costs a hundred merit points annually.”
“The lower-grade medicinal fields can cultivate spirit grass and spirit medicine necessary for fundamental pill-making. You may freely plant as you wish. Seeds can be purchased at the Pill Hall with spirit stones. All produce from your medicinal field is yours to keep.”
Hearing Wu’s explanation, Lin Yi pondered. Each acre required twenty merit points, making it a total of two hundred points for ten acres. Adding the cave mansion rent, that would make three hundred merit points a year.
In the Outer Sect, even after a full year of cultivating spirit fields, each acre would only yield one merit point.
It seems like one needs to strive harder in the Inner Sect while one could coast along in the Outer Sect, even cave mansions are rented using merit points.
If he wanted to obtain more resources for cultivation and enjoy a better cave mansion, he would have to enhance his capabilities, complete more tasks, and earn more merit points. This is the rule of the Inner Sect: focus on improving one’s strength.
However, the fact that he could freely utilize his medicinal field and keep the harvest provided some comfort. He could plant the necessary materials for pill-making.
After a moment of thought, he asked, “Elder Brother Wu, can I obtain merit points by submitting the spirit grass I plant?”
“No, except for undertaking tasks from the Merit Hall or under special circumstances, there’s no way in the Inner Sect for items to be exchanged for merit points,” Elder Brother Wu shook his head and stated.
Lin Yi immediately understood. The reason for implementing merit points was to encourage disciples in the Sect to gain experience and improve their abilities through tasks.
If turning in spirit grass could accumulate merit points, some crafty individuals might take advantage of this to use spirit stones in order to avoid gaining experience.
He bowed in gratitude again, “Thank you, Elder Brother, for clearing up my confusion. I am willing to start planting. Can you recommend any Spirit Grasses that I can cultivate?”
Elder Brother Wu smiled. This Junior Brother Lin was not as dull as the other Spirit Farmers, “You can plant the Spirit Grass needed for Gathering Qi Pills.
They are always in demand. However, there is fierce competition due to a large number of growers.”
“The Inner Sect Pill Hall frequently buys this kind of Spirit Grass for pill-making, and they offer different prices depending on the quality. If you can grow them as well as you grow the Spirit Rice, the Pill Hall will prioritize purchasing from you.”
Lin Yi nodded slightly. He had always planned to start by planting the Spirit Grass that’s needed for the Gathering Qi Pills. After all, he needed these pills, and they also sold well in the market, “Elder Brother, what should I do next?”
Elder Brother Wu took out a contract that marked the location and acreage of the medicinal field, as well as the merit points to be paid annually, “Sign the contract and you’re good to go. But you should think it through. Even if you’ve mastered the basic Farming Techniques…”
“With a cultivation level at Qi Refining Level Four, it’s quite challenging to cultivate ten acres of medicinal fields. During this period, you also need to learn more advanced Farming Techniques. This activity could keep you very busy. If you think it’s too much for you, you can start by renting a few acres.”
“Moreover, even if you’ve paid the merit points as rent, if there’s no harvest from the medicinal field within a year, it will be forcefully taken back on the grounds of wastage.”
“Thank you, Elder Brother. I still choose to rent ten acres.” Lin Yi looked at the contract and signed his name without hesitation.
Elder Brother Wu took back the contract and handed Lin Yi a booklet, “This contains some knowledge on planting in medicinal fields and the necessary ingredients for common pills, including the prices of seeds. You can look it up for yourself. I’ll be leaving now. I wish you a bumper harvest.”
As he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back and handed Lin Yi a few Communication Talismans, “If you have any questions during the process of growing the medicine, you can ask me through the Sound Transmission Talismans.”
“Thank you, Elder Brother.” Lin Yi bowed respectfully, full of gratitude. After he watched Elder Brother Wu leave, he received the Cave Mansion Token from Su Qi Hong and left the Affairs Hall.
When he arrived at the Ferry Platform of Golden Sword Peak, he noticed that his Cave Mansion was located at Jin Qiao Peak. All the peaks in the Golden
Sword Lineage were named starting with ‘Jin’ (Gold), followed by the name of a Foundation Building disciple.
The one closest to Golden Sword Peak was named Golden Cloud Peak after their senior disciple, Zhou Yun Feng. And Jin Qiao Peak, which was farther away, represented that the Foundation Builder who acknowledged Gold Sword Zen Ren as his master joined later.
If he one day becomes a disciple of Gold Sword Zen Ren and advances to the Foundation Building stage, then a peak named Golden Yi Peak might appear in the Golden Sword Lineage.
However, just because a mountain peak is named after a disciple, it doesn’t mean that the peak belongs entirely to that Foundation Building cultivator.
“How many Spirit Stones are needed to reach Jin Qiao Peak?” Lin Yi asked about the price.
“It requires half a Spirit Stone.” The disciple in charge of the Ferrying Ritual Instrument replied.
Lin Yi inwardly exclaimed at the expense – before even leaving the territory of the Golden Sword Lineage, it already costs half a Spirit Stone! Frequent commutes would consume a Qi Refining Disciple’s monthly allowance of several dozens of Spirit Stones – no wonder the black market for flying cars emerged.
This made him miss his stout senior brother. Even though the ‘black car’ was pretty shabby, it was cheap.
He took out half a Spirit Stone and boarded the Flying Boat. Though costly, the comfort level was definitely higher. The boat took off as soon as it was half full. The entire flight was smooth and fast – you truly get what you pay for.
On the Flying Boat, he enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery around him. It was still in the midst of spring within the Inner Gate when a snowfall had begun outside. Inside here was the true essence of the Cultivation World.
Once arriving at the Ferry Platform of Jin Qiao Peak, Lin Yi descended from the Flying Boat. To reach his Cave Mansion halfway up the mountain from the peak, he would have to walk the rest of the way. At this point, he realized the importance of having a Flying Artifact.
Even if he builds his Foundation in the future and can control a Flying Sword, he would still need a Flying Artifact to cover up underneath the Realm Concealment of “Lesser Gou’s Border”..
