“Spirit Rice?”
Seeing Lu Qinghe’s stall, several menial disciples nearby cried out in surprise.
Spirit Rice was nothing remarkable among outer sect disciples, but for menial disciples, it was a rare treasure.
Several of them crowded around, eyes fixed on the exposed grain.
“It really is Spirit Rice! They say it speeds up cultivation. The reason outer sect disciples cultivate faster than us isn’t just their better spiritual roots-it’s that they eat Spirit Rice every single day.”
Every pair of eyes burned with longing. For any cultivator, anything that could hasten one’s cultivation was something you prayed for but rarely found.
Especially for menial disciples like them. If they could push their cultivation to Qi Condensation fourth layer, they could enter the outer sect and enjoy the sect’s provisions.
Cultivation was a race against time. The faster you advanced, the higher you could climb. If you were still stuck at Qi Condensation third layer by age fifty, your vitality would have already declined-further progress would be all but impossible.
Lu Qinghe noticed more and more people gathering, and his Qi Condensation second layer cultivation was laid bare for all to sense.
A trace of wariness flickered through the onlookers’ eyes.
Qi Condensation second layer was already considered formidable among menial disciples. Those at the third layer were few and far between here.
Besides, even in a real fight, a third-layer cultivator couldn’t necessarily crush someone at the second layer outright.
This was precisely why Lu Qinghe had waited until reaching the second layer before coming to the trading area.
A Qi Condensation second layer menial disciple asked curiously, “Senior Brother, where did you come by this Spirit Rice?”
A hoarse voice emerged from beneath the cloth mask. “I tend a spirit field. This rice is what I’ve saved up over several years. If I weren’t planning to buy a pill soon to break through, I’d never part with it.”
Respect immediately surfaced on every face. Breaking through from the second layer meant reaching the third-and Qi Condensation third layer was as rare as phoenix feathers among menial disciples.
Moreover, receiving a spirit field assignment at only the second layer was a privilege reserved for those menial disciples with connections and backing.
Ordinary menial disciples could only dream of it.
Lu Qinghe addressed the second-layer cultivator. “Junior Brother, would you like to buy some? Only five spirit stones.”
The cultivator’s heart clearly stirred, but he shook his head with a helpless smile. “Senior Brother jests. Where would I find spirit stones to buy Spirit Rice? Spirit stones are scarce goods for us menial disciples.”
Those around him nodded in agreement. In a good year, scraping together one or two spirit stones was already considered fortunate.
Most of them barely completed their sect duties, leaving neither time nor strength to earn anything extra. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
Lu Qinghe paused, caught off guard. He hadn’t expected menial disciples to be this poor-a second-layer cultivator who couldn’t produce even five spirit stones.
After a moment’s thought, the second-layer cultivator carefully drew out a battered long knife.
“Senior Brother, I have a broken Low Grade Magical Artifact here. It can still produce about a tenth of a Low Grade artifact’s power. Could I exchange it for some of your Spirit Rice?”
Contemptuous glances shot toward him from all sides. A broken Low Grade Magical Artifact was worth one spirit stone at best, and who knew how many more uses it had left.
Being stared at like some pitiful spectacle, the second-layer cultivator glared back, flushing with anger.
“I never said I wanted all the Spirit Rice! Fifteen jin is fine. If that’s too much-twelve jin, then.”
Lu Qinghe’s gaze settled on the broken blade. This was his first time seeing a Magical Artifact in person.
A cultivator’s true strength was measured by three things: cultivation and Magic Power, techniques, and Magical Artifacts. Lacking any one left you incomplete.
But Lu Qinghe had no intention of trading. He didn’t know the exact price of a broken artifact, but it clearly didn’t match twelve jin of Spirit Rice in value.
More importantly, at Qi Condensation second layer, he couldn’t even wield a Magical Artifact properly-let alone a broken one.
“Junior Brother, my apologies. A Magical Artifact is of no use to me.”
The second-layer disciple refused to give up. If he could get his hands on even a few jin of Spirit Rice, it would spare him months of bitter grinding.
“Senior Brother-ten jin. Just ten jin of Spirit Rice.”
“I only need spirit stones and pills,” Lu Qinghe said flatly.
Anything else served him less than simply eating the rice himself.
At those words, the second-layer disciple’s face fell completely. Others who had been eyeing the rice with thoughts of bartering wore the same look of regret.
The menial disciples’ trading area ran on barter-exchanging whatever surplus scraps one had-but it was all dregs from the cultivation world’s margins.
Anyone who possessed spirit stones or pills would have already used them to strengthen themselves. No one brought such things here to trade.
Seeing their expressions, Lu Qinghe’s brow furrowed. Could it be that Spirit Rice simply couldn’t be sold in the menial disciples’ area?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a rough voice cut through the crowd. “Fifty jin of Spirit Rice-I’ll take it all.”
Everyone parted to make way. A broad-shouldered cultivator radiating Qi Condensation third layer pressure strode forward.
He studied the disguised Lu Qinghe, sharp eyes trying to pierce through the facade.
Qi Condensation third layer. Lu Qinghe steadied himself inwardly, keeping his bearing calm and revealing nothing. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Senior Brother, you wish to purchase all the Spirit Rice?”
The rough cultivator nodded. Finding nothing amiss on Lu Qinghe’s person, he turned his attention to the rice itself. The moment he examined its quality, surprise flickered across his weathered face.
“Junior Brother, this Spirit Rice is the finest of the fine. I’ve bought a few jin every year for several years running, but none of it came close to this quality.”
“I don’t have enough spirit stones on hand. But I heard you’re looking to break through the third-layer barrier. I have a Blood Ginseng here.”
“It’s only five years old, but it’s genuine spirit medicine. Taken raw, it can help you force open acupoints and break past your current realm.”
The rough cultivator produced a jade box. Inside lay a palm-sized root, blood-red from tip to tail.
Lu Qinghe’s heart quickened. A five-year Blood Ginseng-freshly dug, by the look of it. Its value certainly didn’t match fifty jin of Spirit Rice.
But if he could plant it in the Black Soil Space…
This Blood Ginseng could become ten years old. Fifty years old. Even a hundred.
He kept his expression still. “Senior Brother, Blood Ginseng is indeed spirit medicine, but the age is too low. Its efficacy may not match the value of my Spirit Rice.”
The rough cultivator’s face darkened with displeasure. “The age may be modest, but it’s far superior to plain Spirit Rice. I wouldn’t have offered it otherwise.”
“How about this-I’ll add one spirit stone to cover the difference.”
He produced a spirit stone and held it out alongside the jade box.
“Done.”
Lu Qinghe didn’t hesitate. He handed over fifty jin of Spirit Rice and accepted the Blood Ginseng and spirit stone in return.
The trade complete, the rough cultivator threw his head back and laughed. “I like a straightforward man! The name’s Ouyang Qi. If you come across Spirit Rice of this quality again, Junior Brother, come find me.”
Lu Qinghe inclined his head. “I will.”
With the transaction finished, Lu Qinghe rose and drifted through the menial disciples’ exchange area, absorbing whatever scraps of cultivation knowledge he could glean from the stalls and chatter.
Finally, when no one was watching, he slipped away from the exchange area without a sound.
He doubled back through several different paths, found an empty corner where no eyes could reach, and tossed his entire disguise into the Black Soil Space.
Only then did he stroll back to the spirit field at an unhurried pace.