At this moment, Xu Yi suddenly felt someone tug him.
He turned his head and saw it was Old Li.
Old Li pointed to the side, signaling Xu Yi to follow him.
Stepping out of the crowd and reaching a corner, Xu Yi asked curiously,
“Old Li, what are you doing here?”
Old Li smiled and said,
“Of course, I’m here to help you. I don’t want to see you go down my old path.”
As he spoke, Old Li took out a small Storage Pouch.
“Take this. There are sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stones inside.
Later, find an opportunity to give this bag of Spirit Stones to that Outer Affairs Disciple.
He won’t make things difficult for you when he sees the Spirit Stones in the bag.”
Upon seeing this, Xu Yi immediately shook his head and refused.
“No need. You should keep these Spirit Stones for your retirement.
The amount of red jade crystal rice I submitted is sufficient; there’s no need for these tricks.”
Old Li became anxious when Xu Yi refused.
“Tsk, why don’t you understand, kid? Do you think he won’t make things difficult for you just because the amount is sufficient? You’re too naive.”
As he spoke, Old Li shoved the bag into Xu Yi’s hand.
Xu Yi truly didn’t need Old Li’s help and kept declining.
Old Li was getting a bit angry with Xu Yi.
At this moment, Old Li’s gaze swept over and pointed towards Zhou Huai.
“Look over there.”
Xu Yi looked over.
He saw a middle-aged man standing in front of the large Magical Artifact.
The number displayed on the artifact was stuck at ninety-nine, just one jin short.
The middle-aged man walked up to Zhou Huai with a fawning smile.
Then, he and Zhou Huai went behind the large Magical Artifact.
After a while, the two reappeared.
Zhou Huai had a smile on his Face, then reached out and patted the large Magical Artifact.
The number on the artifact immediately jumped from ninety-nine to one hundred.
“This Magical Artifact has been refined for too long; it’s bound to make mistakes,” Zhou Huai explained.
But everyone present knew the Dao behind it.
At this point, Old Li grabbed Xu Yi’s hand and said,
“Have you seen anyone submit a sufficient amount of red jade crystal rice so far?
I can tell you, the spots that won’t be held back are limited.
These spots have already been divided up; they won’t be yours.”
Old Li handed the bag to Xu Yi again.
“Listen to me, there’s no mistake.”
Seeing this, Xu Yi accepted the bag.
“Old Li, since you’re thinking so much for me, I’ll take this bag for now. If I don’t use it, I’ll return it to you.”
Old Li waved his hand, signaling there was no need to return it.
He felt that Xu Yi would definitely use this bag of Spirit Stones.
At this moment, Xu Yi’s name was called.
Under Old Li’s gaze, Xu Yi put the bag into his bosom and went to the large Magical Artifact.
The Qingxuan Sect Disciple who had previously received Xu Yi also came to the Magical Artifact.
Seeing that Xu Yi still showed no sign of offering anything, the Disciple sneered inwardly.
He took out the Storage Pouch and released the red jade crystal rice Xu Yi had harvested.
The large Magical Artifact immediately sucked in the red jade crystal rice.
Before long, a green number appeared on the artifact.
‘108’
This indicated that Xu Yi had submitted one hundred and eight jin of red jade crystal rice.
Everyone present was astonished to see this.
A quiet discussion erupted in the crowd, wondering if the Magical Artifact was malfunctioning.
The Disciple holding the Storage Pouch was stunned, muttering,
“How is this possible? This isn’t right!”
Zhou Huai frowned immediately upon seeing this number.
As an Outer Affairs Disciple, he was very clear about the mysteries of this large Magical Artifact.
When there was no manual manipulation, the large Magical Artifact would automatically deduct five.
This meant that if someone submitted one hundred jin of red jade crystal rice, the number on the artifact would display ninety-five.
In other words, at least one hundred and five jin of red jade crystal rice needed to be submitted.
Only then could it meet the standard without manual manipulation.
Zhou Huai had not manipulated the large Magical Artifact.
After all, he didn’t believe Xu Yi could submit a sufficient amount of red jade crystal rice.
The display of ‘108’ on the artifact meant that Xu Yi had submitted one hundred and thirteen jin of red jade crystal rice.
“How did he do it?”
Zhou Huai was greatly shocked.
A single portion of red jade crystal rice yielding one hundred and thirteen jin,
that would make him a significant figure in Qingxuan Sect, regardless of his status.
Moreover, Zhou Huai had a secret.
Previously, he had specifically sent a Disciple to release Black Dot Insects into the Spirit Field Xu Yi was responsible for.
If nothing unexpected happened, even if Xu Yi had originally grown enough red jade crystal rice, the Black Dot Insects would have significantly reduced the yield.
But now, not only was there no reduction, but the yield had actually increased significantly.
What ability did Xu Yi possess to turn the insect plague into nourishment for the red jade crystal rice?
Zhou Huai couldn’t understand.
In the distance, Old Li was also greatly shocked to see this.
“This kid really didn’t lie.”
He had thought Xu Yi was just trying to save Face, but he didn’t expect his own old Face to be slapped so hard.
In front of the large Magical Artifact, Zhou Huai coughed.
Immediately after, Zhou Huai patted the large Magical Artifact.
The number on the artifact immediately jumped from one hundred and eight to ninety-eight.
“The Magical Artifact is faulty. This is the actual amount of red jade crystal rice you submitted.”
Zhou Huai said, smiling at Xu Yi.
“I am very clear about the amount of red jade crystal rice I submitted; it’s definitely more than ninety-eight jin.”
Xu Yi looked at Zhou Huai, neither humble nor overbearing.
Zhou Huai sneered at this.
“So, you suspect I tampered with it?
Hmph, setting aside whether I tampered with it or not, one hundred and eight jin of red jade crystal rice, do you think you’re a planting expert?
Go ask around, how many people in the entire Qingxuan Sect can achieve that?
And which of those who can achieve it isn’t a prominent figure in Qingxuan Sect?
Do you think you can compare to these experts?”
Zhou Huai’s words immediately drew agreement from some people present.
The Spiritual Qi in a single Spirit Field was limited.
A yield of one hundred jin per mu for red jade crystal rice, with a fluctuation of three above, was normal.
But wanting to exceed three was very difficult.
It required not only meticulous cultivation but also rich experience, with no room for error.
The planting experts Zhou Huai mentioned were also known to those present.
The Third Elder of Qingxuan Sect.
The Third Elder of Qingxuan Sect had also taught many Disciples.
Among his Disciples, only a handful of three could achieve this level.
As for Xu Yi, merely a Loose Cultivator, could he compare to these people?
Therefore, most people present felt that the Magical Artifact was faulty.
In the distance, Old Li, seeing Xu Yi refuse to hand over Spirit Stones and instead question Zhou Huai, pounded his chest in frustration.
“Why is this kid so stubborn? Does he only feel comfortable working for free for Qingxuan Sect?”
Old Li wished he could grab Xu Yi and slap him twice,
to make Xu Yi sober up.
At this moment, facing Zhou Huai’s words, Xu Yi said,
“In any case, the red jade crystal rice I submitted is definitely more than this amount. I want to report this to Qingxuan Sect and ask Qingxuan Sect to thoroughly investigate this matter.”
Xu Yi sneered inwardly.
What about the experts of Qingxuan Sect?
Can they make the yield of a single portion of red jade crystal rice reach one hundred and sixty jin?
If that were said, wouldn’t it scare those experts to death?
Zhou Huai laughed out loud upon hearing this.
“Haha, report to Qingxuan Sect? Don’t make people laugh their teeth off.”
Zhou Huai had never seen someone as naive as Xu Yi.
A mere Loose Cultivator wanting to ask Qingxuan Sect to uphold justice, where did he get the Face?
As an Outer Affairs Disciple of Qingxuan Sect, was he not superior to Xu Yi, a Loose Cultivator?
Moreover, even if Qingxuan Sect truly knew about this matter, Zhou Huai wasn’t afraid.
Qingxuan Sect had long tacitly allowed such things to exist.
They usually didn’t interfere, as long as it didn’t look too bad.
If it were truly exposed, who knows how many people up and down Qingxuan Sect would be implicated.
Therefore, Zhou Huai felt that at worst, he would punish himself with three cups of wine afterward, and the matter would be over.
As for punishment, what a joke.
Not only Zhou Huai laughed, but the Qingxuan Sect Disciples beside him also joined in the mockery.
Even those watching the commotion behind Xu Yi also burst out laughing.
They all felt that Xu Yi was fantasizing.
After laughing for a while, Zhou Huai waved his hand and said,
“According to the contract, you failed to submit a sufficient amount of red jade crystal rice. What do you say, will you compensate with one thousand jin of red jade crystal rice, or ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones?
Of course, if neither can be met, then sign this new contract.”
Zhou Huai took out a new contract and placed it in front of Xu Yi.
The content of the contract was the same as the one signed by the man before.
It required continuously cultivating red jade crystal rice for Qingxuan Sect until the compensated amount was met.
In the distance, Old Li sighed to the sky upon seeing this.
He didn’t want Xu Yi to go down his old path, but he didn’t expect Xu Yi to still follow his old path.
“Sigh, not slapping this kid twice really doesn’t relieve the anger.”
However, at this moment, a voice sounded.
“If the Magical Artifact is faulty, why not replace it with a new one, and instead continue using it?”