Li Lingyu was slightly surprised to see Wei Songnian stepping in to bargain.
She had interacted with him before; normally, he only played the role of a broker. After all, if the transaction involved enough spirit stones, she herself would happily pay him a higher commission.
The young cultivator opposite them had clearly just broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, his qi still a little unstable. She had originally planned to take advantage of a newcomer's inexperience and squeeze out a higher price.
But now that Wei Songnian was standing on the newcomer's side, she wouldn't need to pay him a commission either.
"I'm not in a hurry to sell the peach seed," she said with a smile. "How about this? I'll use a secret method to nourish the seed and increase its spiritual potency. This is the same technique our sect uses to raise the quality of spirit grain seeds.
And I'll throw in a jade slip, recording my personal insights on how to properly cultivate a spirit peach tree."
Since Wei Songnian had joined in, her chance to inflate the price was gone.
Wei Songnian shook his head and held up two fingers.
"Senior Sister, still too expensive! Insights can be copied endlessly. Two spirit stones, how about that?"
When bargaining, the more you cut, the better.
At this point, the green-robed woman standing beside Li Lingyu spoke up.
"Secret methods and knowledge are the most precious things. Isn't the sect's greatest wealth its inheritances, our cultivation arts and spells? My junior sister is offering her insights for less than two spirit stones, and you're still not satisfied?"
Her tone was cool, her expression remote, as if holding the world at a distance.
As she spoke, she produced a crimson seed, no larger than a fingertip.
"I once came across a mid-grade first-tier Firecloud Apricot. I'll add the seed in as a bonus.
For three spirit stones, you'll receive two spirit seeds enhanced by secret methods, plus a jade slip of cultivation insights. You can't call that a bad deal."
The way she put it left little room for haggling. Wei Songnian knew the price wouldn't drop any further. He frowned, glanced at Ji An, gave the faintest of nods, then shook his head slightly.
Ji An understood the message: a little expensive if you're not in a hurry, you could wait.
But who knew how long it might take to find another chance like this?
He cupped his hands politely.
"We'll take them. If I run into problems later, I hope I may seek Senior Sister's guidance. Of course, I'll pay in spirit crystals for your time."
He was bound to cultivate fruit trees eventually, and he lacked any connections in this field. Now that he had caught hold of one, he wouldn't let go.
"No problem. If you need me, you can find me at Verdant Cliff."
Li Lingyu agreed readily, her eyes curved like crescent moons. Exchanging a seed she couldn't use for three spirit stones was a fine deal.
The "insights" she was offering were nothing more than basic fruit-tree cultivation notes, not worth much in the eyes of experienced spirit farmers.
She accepted the apricot seed from her senior sister, pinched a hand seal, and a scarlet radiance enveloped both seeds.
That's just the Flamefire Incantation, Ji An noted, sensing the fluctuations. The technique was the same as what he had learned, though her activation method was different.
When the red glow faded, Li Lingyu performed another seal. A surge of verdant light flowed into the seeds.
This second spell, Ji An did not recognize.
"All done. Once you water them with a rainfall spell, they'll sprout within a few days."
Li Lingyu produced a jade slip, then handed the peach seed, apricot seed, and slip to Ji An.
Wei Songnian passed over three spirit stones.
"How curious Junior Brother Ji buys the seeds, but it's Junior Brother Wei who pays," Li Lingyu teased.
Wei Songnian grinned broadly.
"Junior Brother Ji is one of my best clients. Of course, I'll take good care of him.
By the way, Senior Sister, does Elder Ge's private medicine garden need any spirit farmers? Junior Brother Ji is an expert with plants."
Li Lingyu's willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly. She shook her head.
"My master's garden is tended by myself and a few very experienced spirit farmers. We have no plans to recruit new hands for now."
There would always be people who tried to use her as a stepping stone to curry favor with her master. It annoyed Li Lingyu, and her impression of the two men across from her dipped a little.
Seeing the change in her expression, Wei Songnian quickly said:
"What a pity! Junior Brother Ji's three-year assessment came just before he broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining. Otherwise, his name could have been submitted to the Administrative Hall for the sect's senior cultivators to select disciples.
Junior Brother Ji is exceptionally gifted in planting techniques; both Minor Rain Spell and Thick Earth Formula have reached the Perfection stage. Managing an ordinary medicine garden would be child's play for him."
"Junior Brother Ji truly has such skill?"
Li Lingyu exchanged a glance with her senior sister, both of them catching the surprise in each other's eyes.
She coughed lightly, then said:
"It's not that I don't believe you, but I've yet to see Minor Rain Spell at Perfection. I'd very much like to witness it."
Of course, she had seen Minor Rain Spell and Thick Earth Formula at Perfection before. Two of the farmers tending her master's medicine garden had reached that level.
But they were both in their sixties or seventies.
A disciple who had only been in the sect three years could be at most eighteen years old.
Wei Songnian winked and laughed.
"Junior Brother, why don't we step outside and show the senior sisters a little demonstration?"
"I'll only embarrass myself," Ji An replied modestly.
He stepped out of the hall, the others following to a patch of grass.
The bright moon hung high; the night was cool.
Distant lantern lights flickered faintly, adding a touch of loneliness to the scene.
Though the light was dim, each of them could see clearly for dozens of meters.
Ji An formed a hand seal, and a warm radiance gilded the grass in gold.
A deep, encompassing spiritual energy pulsed outwards, sinking quickly into the earth.
The blades of grass swayed without wind, stretching gently as if expressing joy.
This is the exact fluctuation of spiritual power unique to Perfection-level Thick Earth Formula, Li Lingyu thought, nodding slightly.
Ji An's hands shifted again, conjuring a cloud suffused with a soft glow.
A nourishing aura spread out; silver-threaded rain descended, striking the grass with a faint musical chime.
After a quarter-hour, the clouds dissipated, leaving a fine mist lingering over the patch of land.
"Junior Brother's skill is remarkable. If my master hadn't already filled her quota of disciples this year, I would surely recommend you."
Li Lingyu sighed softly. She had long wished for a junior skilled in planting, then she could hand over her duties in the medicine garden and focus entirely on cultivating her spiritual meridians in preparation for Foundation Establishment.
The new disciple her master had accepted this year was at the ninth level of Qi Refining and came from a family known for its farming. Yet the boy didn't know a single planting spell. The garden still required her oversight.
Ji An froze for a moment, finally understanding Wei Songnian's painstaking intentions. He cast his senior brother a grateful look.
Wei Songnian let out a low sigh.
"Alas, Junior Brother Ji's timing was unlucky. Wait another three years."
"Junior Brother," Li Lingyu said warmly, "if you encounter any difficulties cultivating spirit peaches, you're welcome to come to Verdant Cliff and seek me out."
Ji An smiled. "So long as Senior Sister doesn't find me a nuisance."
They chatted a little longer before the two women took their leave.
Ji An watched them fly off, then turned and gave Wei Songnian a deep bow.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll remember this kindness."
He had never imagined his senior brother would go this far on his behalf.
"Please, rise! We're brothers," Wei Songnian said hurriedly, pulling him up.
"It didn't even work out; your salute is undeserved.
But I know many elders with the right to take disciples don't always fill their quotas. That way, if they come across real talent, they can still take them in.
If you could become a disciple early, the road ahead would be much smoother.
As for me, I have no special skills and little talent for combat. The chances of any elder favoring me are slim."