Qing'an Town, the Qingxuan Sect's base, was located in the center of town, the tallest and largest building.
Along the way, Li Mu encountered many spirit rice farmers like himself, who had pushed their wheelbarrows and wooden carts early to deliver spirit rice and pay their tenant rent.
During the spirit rice harvest season, the Qingxuan Sect's Outer Sect Disciples would be dispatched to maintain order for the spirit rice farmers paying their tenant rent; no one dared to cause trouble at this time.
"Aphids! I didn't notice the aphids, this harvest was a huge loss!"
"Yeah! My one mu of land only yielded 600 catties of spirit rice. I worked for half a year for nothing, and even lost ten lower spirit stones."
"Sigh! Who isn't like that! But if we don't plant spirit rice, what else can we do!"
"I'm giving up the lease and not farming anymore. I heard that a Spirit Stone mine was discovered in the neighboring Qingping Town, and they're recruiting people. I'm going to mine Spirit Stones."
"Mining Spirit Stones? Entering a mine tunnel, it's easy to encounter Earth Fiends and malevolent spirits. You wouldn't even know how you died. It's better to just farm peacefully!"
"This insect plague is quite severe. Aphids will definitely be a problem again next year, just be careful!"
...
While queuing to pay his tenant rent, Li Mu listened to the sad discussions of the surrounding spirit rice farmers, and his mood became inexplicably heavy.
The aphid plague had suddenly become widespread on a large scale, and many spirit rice farmers failed to discover it in advance, resulting in a significant loss in spirit rice income this time. The spirit rice farmers all sighed in distress, some secretly wiping away tears in sadness.
Li Mu silently queued, waiting to pay his tenant rent, not getting involved in their conversation.
If not for the help of his Golden Finger, Li Mu would have discovered the insect plague much earlier. Now, he would also be like them, frowning and distressed over an insufficient harvest to pay the tenant rent.
Soon, it was Li Mu's turn to pay the tenant rent. The Managing Disciple opened the spirit rice bags and inspected them, immediately discovering that the quality of this batch of spirit rice was excellent.
"These remaining three bags of spirit rice, you're going to sell them in the market, right? Sell them to the Sect!" The Managing Disciple looked at Li Mu and asked forcefully.
"Uh! Sir, how will the price of this rice be calculated?" Li Mu was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked.
"You won't get less, it'll be purchased at market price!" The Managing Disciple gave Li Mu an annoyed glance and instructed his subordinate, "Xiao Zhou, give him thirty lower spirit stones and move the rice bags into the warehouse together."
"Alright!" The Disciple named Xiao Zhou took out a Spirit Stone and handed it to Li Mu.
Li Mu counted them, no more, no less, exactly thirty lower spirit stones.
All ten bags of spirit rice were taken by the Qingxuan Sect, and Li Mu was happy to be unburdened. He pushed his empty cart towards the market to purchase some supplies along the way.
Upon reaching the market, after a quick inquiry about the price of spirit rice, Li Mu wished he could slap himself a few times.
He had lost a lot!
Due to the aphid plague, many spirit rice farmers had insufficient harvests and instead had to purchase spirit rice in the market to pay their tenant rent. The market price of White Jade spirit rice had already risen by two shattered Spirit Stones, and at this rate, the price of spirit rice would continue to rise.
Motherfucker!
None of the Qingxuan Sect members were good people!
Uh! Except for me.
Li Mu sighed, accepting the loss. That Managing Disciple's cultivation was at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, not someone he could afford to provoke. If he insisted on forcefully buying the spirit rice, there was nothing he could do to stop him.
"Boss, how much for Wind Spirit Grass seeds?" Li Mu came to the Spiritual Plant shop and asked the shop owner.
"Five lower spirit stones per catty." The shop owner directly took out a prepared packet of spirit seeds from under the counter. Every time it was the season for harvesting spirit rice and paying tenant rent, it was also the time to sell Wind Spirit Grass seeds.
"Can one catty of spirit seeds plant one mu? Is the price negotiable?" Li Mu asked hesitantly. After farming for half a year, he only earned thirty lower spirit stones. He wished he could break one Spirit Stone into two to spend.
"It's portioned for one mu of spirit field. The price is non-negotiable. If you don't want it, then goodbye!" The Spiritual Plant shop owner glanced at Li Mu and said indifferently.
...
Damn it! If it weren't for the fact that this was the only Spiritual Plant seed shop in the entire Qing'an Town, Li Mu would definitely have walked away just based on the shop owner's sales attitude.
Helplessly, almost the entire Qing'an Town was under the control of the Qingxuan Sect, and many industries were monopolized.
For example, this spirit seed trade was cultivated by the Sect's High Grade spirit rice farmers. Many of the spirit seeds being sold could only grow fruit and could not be self-propagated.
Li Mu gritted his teeth and pulled out five lower spirit stones, buying a bag of Wind Spirit Grass seeds, then turned and left the Spiritual Plant shop.
Li Mu pushed his wooden cart and browsed the market, spending five shattered Spirit Stones to buy half a catty of spirit deer meat, two lower spirit stones at the tailor shop for a cultivation uniform, several stacks of talisman paper at the Spirit Talisman Shop, and various foods and necessities. Soon, his cart was piled with many daily necessities.
...
"How much for this spell?" Li Mu stopped at an old Daoist's stall selling Cultivation Techniques, pointing to a worn-out spell book and asking.
Just now, when Li Mu was scanning the Loose Cultivator stalls, his Divine Ability, Identifying Myriad Spirits, unexpectedly discovered a small treasure to be picked up. A non-grade Finger Flicking Force Cultivation Technique book actually had a hidden compartment, inside which a Profound-grade Cultivation Technique was clearly hidden.
Li Mu suppressed his excitement and asked the old Daoist selling Cultivation Techniques for the price.
"Two lower spirit stones!" The old Daoist looked at the book Li Mu pointed to and replied.
"This Cultivation Technique isn't even graded. Two lower spirit stones is too expensive. I'll take it for one lower Spirit Stone!" Li Mu habitually haggled.
The old Daoist hesitated. Just as Li Mu said, an ordinary Cultivation Technique indeed couldn't sell for much, but one lower Spirit Stone, the old Daoist was reluctant to sell it for that.
"How about you buy other Cultivation Techniques, and this book will be a bonus, a gift to you." The old Daoist thought for a moment and suggested.
This old guy, he's so good at business!
Li Mu thought about it. Besides his Sword Control Technique, which was a combat technique, and his sword art, he seemed to need to Cultivate a spell. Then, if he encountered ghosts like Yin Souls again, he wouldn't be flustered.
"Do you have any fire-attribute spells? How much are they?" Li Mu scanned the Cultivation Technique books on the stall again.
"Yes, yes, this Fire Control Art, and this Condensing Fire Art, both are good combat spells. Each is only 20 lower spirit stones, and I'll include a Finger Flicking Force Cultivation Technique." The old Daoist's spirits lifted, and he quickly selected two Cultivation Techniques.
"They're all Low Grade Yellow-tier. Just the Fire Control Art then! 15 lower spirit stones." Li Mu slashed the price again, his voice firm.
"Give this old man a little something to earn! 19 lower spirit stones, and you can take both books!" The old Daoist pleaded with a sorrowful expression.
"I only have 15 lower spirit stones left. If not, I'll just buy this Finger Flicking Force." Li Mu flatly refused.
"Just two more, just two lower spirit stones, 17 lower spirit stones." The old Daoist begged bitterly.
Li Mu hesitated for a moment, but then he felt his Spirit Stone bag, and his heart hardened again, directly opening his Spirit Stone bag to show him.
In the end, the old Daoist lost to Li Mu's Spirit Stone bag, gloomily accepting fifteen lower spirit stones, unwilling to bother with this poor ghost anymore.
Li Mu silently tucked the two Cultivation Technique books into his embrace, pushed his wooden cart, and decisively left Qing'an Town, spending all thirty Spirit Stones from selling the spirit rice in a flash. Next, he would have to endure a period of hardship, continuing to earn Spirit Stones by drawing spirit talismans.