Chapter 225: 148. Fifty years? I, Xu Xing, only struggle day and night!
Next, Xu Xing once again found Liu Hao, the Inner Sect Disciple who rented his three-acre Spiritual Farmland. He told him about his plan to sell the three-acre Spiritual Farmland.
A three-acre Spiritual Farmland was an asset sufficient to be passed down within a family in the Inner Sect. If one could hold onto such a Spiritual Farmland, establishing a small cultivating family would not be difficult, as it could continuously produce Spirit Shells.
However, Xu Xing’s Immortal Journey was different from that of ordinary people. As long as he had enough resources in a short period, he could elevate his cultivation. Therefore, while a steady stream of income was good, it wasn’t suitable for him.
Furthermore, the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm was imminent. Selling resources to rapidly increase his cultivation was what he needed to do at this stage.
The salary from his leisurely post, over 30,000 Spirit Shells, wasn’t a small sum. However, if he were to buy some cultivation resources and pills, these Spirit Shells would be stretched too thin.
Selling the three-acre Spiritual Farmland...
Liu Hao, the Inner Sect Disciple renting Xu Xing’s three-acre Spiritual Farmland, was a grizzled Spiritual Plant Cultivator. He was around three hundred years old. Seeing no hope of advancing his cultivation, he had been renting Spiritual Farmlands in the Sect to cultivate Dragon Tooth Rice, using it to support his family and the cultivation of his descendants.
Upon hearing Xu Xing’s words, he was slightly tempted. If he bought the three-acre Spiritual Farmland, their Liu family would truly be rooted in the Sect.
True Disciple Xu... Liu Hao glanced down at the Purple Ribbon Gold Seal tied to Xu Xing’s waist and forcibly suppressed his greedy thoughts.
He kindly reminded Xu Xing, "Spiritual Farmlands are extremely precious in the Sect. When you first enter, it’s manageable, as the Sect allocates some Permanent Farmland to Immortal Geniuses like you to meet your resource needs. However, later on, obtaining more Spiritual Farmland becomes much harder..."
Those with steady wealth possess firm determination. Immortal Geniuses born with Innate talent were the Sect’s valued disciples, which was why they were allocated Permanent Farmland. This allocation significantly increased a disciple’s loyalty to the Sect.
However, the Flying Feather Immortal Palace was, after all, dominated by numerous Aristocratic Families, and Spiritual Farmland was scarce. Obtaining three acres of Spiritual Farmland upon entering the Sect wasn’t due to the disciples’ own capabilities but was a benevolent policy of the Sect. In the future, the cost to acquire another three acres of Spiritual Farmland would far exceed any gains from selling it today.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Liu, for the reminder." Xu Xing first thanked Liu Hao, then said, "In two years, I intend to venture into the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. A Top-grade Fixed Light Talisman is crucial for me. Although the three-acre Spiritual Farmland is valuable, a man must make choices. I am confident that I can recoup my losses even if I spend everything."
He was selling the Spiritual Farmland not only to raise the Spirit Shells needed for his cultivation. The most critical reason was to send a signal to the Sect’s high-level members.
In two years, his cultivation would reach the Late Immortal Foundation Stage. While this would be shocking, there had to be a discernible trail of his progress. If he consumed vast resources and still couldn’t achieve such accelerated growth, he wouldn’t be a First-class True Lineage disciple, but a first-rate waste.
Selling fixed assets like Spiritual Farmland would be sufficient proof that he had consumed a large amount of resources for his rapid cultivation improvement.
There was no need to worry about the speed of his cultivation improvement itself; the Sect’s high-level members wouldn’t be alarmed merely by that. However, the crucial premise was that his progress must be traceable. Otherwise, who could say whether a disciple like him hadn’t betrayed the Sect and obtained benefits that way to advance his cultivation?
Once the suspicion of the Sect’s high-level members was aroused, even possessing many Spiritual Farmlands would mean nothing more than numbers on paper. Xu Xing understood this very clearly.
So that’s how it is...The Hangu Mountain Secret Realm... A flicker of envy flashed deep within Liu Hao’s eyes.
The Light Sealing Talisman was an essential cultivation resource for those at the Late Immortal Foundation Stage. When he was younger and still harbored ambitions, he had inquired about the Light Sealing Talisman. He learned that the Sect possessed the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm, formerly the Cave Mansion of the Divine Illusion Saint Monarch, which contained many high-grade Light Sealing Talismans and Top-grade Fixed Light Talismans.
"It’s understandable for True Disciple Xu to sell his Spiritual Farmland to venture into the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm." Hearing this, Liu Hao’s concerns eased.
If Xu Xing lacked a legitimate reason for selling the Spiritual Farmland, Liu Hao wouldn’t dare purchase it, no matter how much he coveted the three-acre plot. Firstly, he feared that a True Disciple like Xu Xing might use selling the farmland as a pretext to defraud bottom-level cultivators like himself—such incidents were not uncommon on the various peaks. Secondly, he worried that Xu Xing was acting too impulsively, selling the Spiritual Farmland without due consideration, which could lead to trouble later.
Next, Liu Hao used a Voice Transmission Talisman to call two other Inner Sect Disciples, who, like him, were Spiritual Plant Cultivators. The three men, each from a different family, pooled their funds, and each bought one acre of Xu Xing’s Spiritual Farmland.
One acre of Spiritual Farmland was valued at 100,000 Spirit Shells. This was calculated based on the yield of resources from the farmland over three hundred years. Each acre of lower-grade Spiritual Farmland could produce resources worth about three hundred or more Spirit Shells annually, totaling roughly 100,000 Spirit Shells over three hundred years.
Three hundred thousand Spirit Shells...
After receiving this enormous sum, Xu Xing felt like he was walking on air.However, a sobering thought followed: once he reached the Returning Core Realm or even higher realms, 300,000 Spirit Shells wouldn’t amount to much. With this, he regained his composure.
For instance, the Fourth-Level Talisman he possessed, if auctioned, could fetch at least one million Spirit Shells. An all-out attack from a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord, while not extraordinary among the Ten Major Sects, was potent enough for such a talisman to be considered a Sect Treasure in smaller factions.
「With 330,000 Spirit Shells in hand, Xu Xing went to the Lu Shi Hall in the Outer Sect and found Deacon Jiang Yan.」
"Four bottles of Crystal Jade Pills, two bottles of Golden Marrow Pills," Xu Xing began, getting straight to the point. "Also, three measures of top-grade Fire Melting Wood from Senior Brother Feng’s Guang Chuan Island, and three Second-Level Talismans."
Crystal Jade Pills were used to enhance Magic Power during the Immortal Foundation Middle Stage. One bottle cost 17,000 Spirit Shells. Golden Marrow Pills aided in breaking through from the Immortal Foundation Sixth Layer to the Immortal Foundation Seventh Layer. They were even more expensive, at 50,000 Spirit Shells per bottle.
Of course, cheaper alternatives existed for both pills, costing less than half the price. However, these substitutes often induced pill poison, which damaged one’s foundation and was troublesome to eliminate. Crystal Jade Pills and Golden Marrow Pills, despite their cost, had the advantage of being nearly free of pill poison. Any residual poison would naturally dissipate if one abstained from the pills for a period.
"Four bottles of Crystal Jade Pills, two bottles of Golden Marrow Pills... and all these spirit materials..." Jiang Yan, who was working an abacus behind the counter, jumped in surprise upon hearing Xu Xing’s request. "Junior Brother Xu, where did you acquire so many Spirit Shells? These pills alone amount to nearly 170,000 Spirit Shells! Adding the spirit materials, the total will be at least 230,000 to 240,000 Spirit Shells! Where did you strike it rich?"
He had been in business for many years, and this was the largest single order he had ever handled. Even when the Luo Ying Two Immortals opened their Shell Field on Luo Ying Island, they hadn’t placed such a massive order at once. Everyone’s money was hard-earned. Reckless spending today meant tightening one’s belt tomorrow.
Xu Xing repeated the explanation he had given Liu Hao. He then sighed and added, "Without spending heavily to achieve a breakthrough, I won’t have much confidence entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. However, Senior Brother Jiang, you must keep this confidential. If other disciples in the Sect find out, my chances in the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm will diminish..."
When selling the three acres of Spiritual Farmland, he had asked Liu Hao and the other two to wait until his return from the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm before officially transferring the farmland deeds. To reassure them, he had stamped their tripartite agreement with his Purple Ribbon Gold Seal.
Selling Spiritual Farmland, purchasing pills—these actions were intended to leave a traceable record for the Sect regarding his cultivation progress. However, this was a contingency for after his return from the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. If word got out now and reached any traitors within the Sect, the consequences would outweigh the benefits.
As for whether Jiang Yan was among the Sect traitors... Although Xu Xing didn’t know their identities, he considered it unlikely that Jiang Yan was involved. If Jiang Yan were a traitor, he wouldn’t involve someone so closely associated with him. If I were to meet with misfortune, Jiang Yan would be the first to be investigated. Besides, the traitors are likely high-level members of the Sect. To prevent leaks, their organization wouldn’t involve too many people.
Even in the Bloodline World, there was the Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun with his heart-bewitching techniques. How much more so for the Nascent Soul Daoist Lords of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace? Each of them would be proficient in secret Soul Searching techniques!
"I see," Jiang Yan nodded in understanding. "As a First-class True Lineage disciple, you must have been warned by your elders not to consume inferior pills. That’s why you’re purchasing Crystal Jade Pills and Golden Marrow Pills."
After saying this, he pondered for a moment. "Since it needs to be kept secret, we can’t use the Sect’s official accounts. Disciples from the Noble Clans of the Five Palace Crown Clan will certainly be entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. Many of these Noble Clan Disciples are arrogant and will use their Sect positions to investigate their rivals..."
Last time, Xu Xing showed good character by giving Nie Shu a Qilin Horn Fruit. Although the Qilin Horn Fruit wasn’t exceptionally valuable, Xu Xing’s gesture proved he was someone worth associating with.
"Junior Brother Xu, I’ll procure these pills and spirit materials for you through various channels within five days. Rest assured, these channels are clean. I’m well aware of what every senior and junior brother has purchased from me, and I’m acquainted with the shopkeepers in the markets outside the Sect..." Jiang Yan smiled, his words intended to dispel Xu Xing’s concerns.
Even though this would cost me some money and deplete some accumulated goodwill, it’s all worth it. A cultivator who understands social etiquette, possesses talent, and has a resolute character is a worthy investment.
"Your great kindness is beyond words," Xu Xing said, nodding and solemnly clasping his hands in a bow towards Jiang Yan.
Using various channels will not only cost Jiang Yan money but also expend his accumulated favors. This discretion, keeping my purchases off the books, might create a significant advantage for me in the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. These outcomes are foreseeable.
「After leaving the Lu Shi Hall, Xu Xing was about to summon his Escaping Light to head towards his Biyuan Mountain Cave Mansion for secluded cultivation.」
However, he had taken only a few steps when an unexpected person intercepted him.
"Senior Brother Xu," Yu Xue’s voice came via sound transmission through divine sense. "True Lord Song has mostly concluded his considerations regarding your matter. He doesn’t require you to pledge allegiance to him. He only asks that you willingly remain in the Immortal Foundation Realm for fifty years. In return, after fifty years, True Lord Song will gift you a Shell Field and a Spirit Plant Garden."
He wants me to lay low for fifty years?Let his prominence go unchallenged? Xu Xing stopped, his brows furrowing with displeasure.
Now that he had the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch as his backer, he no longer needed to fear Song Knife as much as before, nor did he need to act with excessive caution, lest he provoke Song Knife and invite disaster.
Fifty years?I, Xu Xing... seize every moment!
With his thoughts racing, Xu Xing made a decision. "Please, Junior Sister Yu," he said, clasping his hands, "return to Imperial City Peak and inform True Lord Song that Xu Xing does not fear him!"
Then, feigning anger, he flicked his wide sleeve, and with a flash of Escaping Light, he bypassed Yu Xue and shot directly towards his Biyuan Mountain Cave Mansion.