Ji An waved his hand.
"Got it, let's get to work."
Once the medicine fields were tended, he needed to make a trip back to Bihai Lake.
The talisman grass had to be sown, the Jadegrain Rice needed watering, and the Spirit-Seeking Rat's feed pellets still weren't prepared. His list of tasks was long.
He considered sounding out Li Lingyu to see if there was any stipend for managing the herb garden, but quickly shook his head.
Not wise. Better to put in a couple of months of solid work first before asking questions.
Seeing Xiang Yong already summoning rain, Ji An began casting as well.
The Thick Earth Formula covered only two mu at a time, so he had to cast it twenty times just to condition his section of the fields.
Since these were all high-grade spirit herbs, he worried a single pass wasn't enough. He cast the spell twice per mu, just to be safe.
For the fire-aspected plots, he used the Flamefire Incantation, finishing them off with four casts.
Then he spread two wide sweeps of Minor Rain across the twenty mu, everything done in one go.
"Old Xiang, my side's finished. I'll head off first."
The whole job had taken less than half an hour. Ji An gave a brief farewell and departed.
He couldn't help feeling pleased. Compared to growing spirit rice, tending medicine fields was far easier, and it freed up more time.
Of course, that only worked if one's techniques were as sharp as his.
"Safe travels, Senior Brother," Xiang Yong replied, then froze when he saw the enormous raincloud above the fields.
A lifelong spirit farmer, he knew quality when he saw it. His own perfected-level Minor Rain could only cover five mu at most.
But stepping into Ji An's rainfall, he felt that peculiar resonance Master Ge had once described: "the touch of true Dao intent."
Though faint, it was undeniably the same essence he'd felt when Elder Ge herself cast spells.
"This Senior Brother isn't greedy for credit, willing to swap fields every two months… Hah, I'll have to treat him to a proper drink soon," Xiang Yong thought with relief.
...
Emerald Bamboo Peak
Ji An sat in a pavilion, golden light flickering at his fingertips.
He had come to find someone, but was told that Zhao Mengyao was visiting her master, so he could only wait.
Not wanting to waste time idling, he began practicing the Sharp Gold Art.
Though a planting spell, its practical use was limited mainly to killing pests like aphids, and it didn't require a high level of mastery.
He still kept at it. One, it honed his spiritual sense and control. Two, it would eventually help him form a Metal Dao Seed.
By midday, his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.
He reached into his storage pouch for a jade bottle, ready to swallow a Fasting Pill, when a figure in a blue dress came into view.
It was Zhao Mengyao.
Ji An quickly stood, waved, and strode forward with a respectful bow.
"Greetings, Senior Sister."
"When did Junior Brother arrive? Have you been waiting long?" Zhao Mengyao asked, inwardly wondering what business he had this time.
"For a while already. Since it's noon, let me treat you to a meal. We can talk while we eat."
The Beast-Taming Hall had spirit food kitchens far superior to the coarse fare of Bihai Lake's farming disciples.
"Well, has Junior Brother struck it rich?"
Her eyes curved with mirth. He'd come seeking her several times before, but this was the first time he'd offered to buy a proper meal.
Not rich, but… on the way up.
Ji An shook his head with a grin.
"I've just formally taken a master's. But I can't give up the fields at Bihai Lake, those harvests are my main source of contribution points, so I can exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible."
"You've taken a master's?"
Zhao Mengyao's brows arched. This wasn't the usual season for initiations. He must have had some stroke of fortune.
"A fine thing! Whose tutelage are you under?"
"The Verdant Cliff lineage. My master is Elder Ge Ying."
"Elder Ge?" Zhao Mengyao's eyes lit up in surprise.
"She's one of the sect's foremost alchemists.
Junior Brother, if you ever take up the alchemy path, do remember to save me a few of your pills. Don't worry, I'll pay in full spirit stones."
The Foundation Establishment pills required main ingredients that were at least a hundred years old. Though Foundation Establishment cultivators were fewer in number, they couldn't afford to consume pills as freely as Qi Refining disciples.
The truth was, even if they wanted to be reckless, there simply weren't enough pills to go around.
As the cultivation world prospered, the number of cultivators kept growing, but spiritual lands remained limited. Naturally, the per-capita share of resources declined.
"If I learn alchemy, I'll definitely set aside some for Senior Sister."
They chatted as they entered the spirit food shop, each ordering jade corn, a meat and vegetable side dish, and two spirit fruits.
Once they finished eating, Ji An set down his chopsticks and got straight to the point.
"From now on, I'll have to travel frequently between Verdant Cliff and Bihai Lake. The talisman bird just isn't enough anymore.
Flying boats are too expensive, so I'm thinking of buying a flying beast as transport. The faster the better, and one that's easy to raise.
Senior Sister, do you have any recommendations? Ideally, I'd like to take one home today."
The talisman bird was far too slow; so much of his time was wasted in transit time, he'd rather spend practicing his spells.
Zhao Mengyao thought for a moment before replying.
"If you don't mind appearances, you can go with a Gray-Feathered Sand Goose or a Red-Necked Crane.
Both cost about the same. They're omnivores; you can feed them small fish, shrimp, tender shoots, or roots.
If you don't plan on raising them into higher-grade beasts, you don't even need to prepare feed pellets. Just let them forage on their own, and toss in the occasional spiritual herb so they don't decline."
Most cultivators chose white cranes as their mounts for their appearance. Wealthier ones would purchase hawks or eagles for speed and ferocity.
"I'll take the Gray-Feathered Sand Goose," Ji An decided. Crane-type beasts were too small and uncomfortable to ride, while the sand goose was large enough to be practical.
"Very well. Come with me up the mountain.
They usually go for thirty spirit stones or more. Do you have enough on hand?"
As she spoke, Zhao Mengyao instinctively touched her storage pouch, silently calculating how many spirit stones she still had.
She couldn't help it. Ji An had borrowed spirit stones from her one too many times.
Although she'd already exchanged for her Foundation Establishment Pill, she still needed to buy supporting treasures and medicines. Her funds were stretched thin.
If he wanted to borrow again, she wouldn't be able to cover him.
"I've got enough," Ji An said, patting his pouch.
The recent monster hunt had yielded plenty. Even after expenses, he still had more than two hundred spirit stones left.
Zhao Mengyao let out a breath of relief, then led him to the beast pens.
With her presence smoothing the deal, Ji An secured a Gray-Feathered Sand Goose for forty-six spirit stones.
The beast was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, with glossy plumage. Its beak and webbed feet glowed a striking red, its back dark brown, chest and belly pale gray streaked with black bands.
Its long neck arched proudly, marble-sized black eyes gleaming with arrogance.
After payment, a disciple from the Beast Hall handed over a beast token and a jade slip.
"The jade slip lists its diet and includes a recipe for bird-type spirit beast pellets.
Of course, you can buy ready-made feed from us as well. Does Senior Brother need any?"
Ji An pressed the jade slip to his forehead and scanned it. All common herbs. He could easily refine the feed himself later. He shook his head.
"Then does Senior Brother need a beast pouch? If you plan on hunting outside, you'll need to conceal your mount."
"No need."
Ji An shook his head again. A beast pouch could wait until he truly needed one. For now, spirit stones saved were spirit stones earned.
"Very well. Once sold, spirit beasts are not returnable.
One more thing, this sand goose is unusually spirited, with a mischievous streak. After taking it home, you'll need to discipline it firmly a few times."
-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 125+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader