You Cultivate, I Farm

“You have the right heart,” Lu Xuan said with a smile.

The reason he treated those around him so generously was simply that he had too many treasures.

Being able to use a small portion of them to help those close to him break through their cultivation levels and solve difficult problems was something that deeply satisfied him; he wasn’t too concerned about reciprocation.

However, “cultivators” usually value karma, and those who had once received his kindness often brought him rare spiritual seeds or corresponding treasures.

Before Baili Jianqing left, Lu Xuan handed over various treasures such as spirit brews and sword talismans for him to take back to the shop.

“Hiring a few more people really saved a lot of trouble; no need to spend time going back and forth.”

Lu Xuan escorted Baili Jianqing to the entrance of the cave abode and watched as his figure disappeared into the ocean of sword qi, he couldn’t help but sigh.

In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. Everything in the cave abode was as usual, with a few high-rank spiritual plants a hair’s breadth from maturity.

One day, while Lu Xuan was inspecting all the spiritual plants, a cry of a white ape echoed from outside.

“Elder Brother Huo!”

A smile appeared on Lu Xuan’s face as he transformed into a streak of flowing light and appeared at the entrance of the cave abode.

Due to his inherent fire spirit body, Fire Scale Child had chosen to join the Hundred Artisans Sword Peak specializing in instrument refining after completing his core formation.

Before the major competition at Sword Peak, he had accepted a sect mission to guard outside, and it had been six or seven years since the two had seen each other.

“Elder Brother Huo, it’s been a long time, and your strength has increased significantly.”

Lu Xuan looked at Fire Scale Child, who was dressed in a fiery red robe and had the appearance of a child, and said with a smile.

“Not bad, but I am still far behind you, Junior Brother Lu.”

Fire Scale Child said earnestly, his voice mature and unaligned with his innocent appearance.

“I just returned from outside and heard about Junior Brother Lu stealing the show at the Sword Peak competition, grabbing three A-grade scores.”

He walked side by side with Lu Xuan into the cave abode, his face filled with admiration.

Dominating countless cultivation prodigies among the nine great Sword Summits, even leaving the Nascent Soul True Monarchs behind, was something he dared not even think about, yet Lu Xuan had achieved it with ease.

“Luck, luck.”

“The spirit brew category was quite niche, and not many fellow sect members participated in the competition. As for the talisman making, I just happened to be proficient in several types of sword talisman production techniques and didn’t expect to score highly with the elders at Sword Palace.”

“As for the spiritual plants, after all, I have over a hundred years of cultivation experience, so getting that score wasn’t surprising to me.”

Lu Xuan said modestly.

The two entered a small courtyard with pavilions and towers, quietly enjoying tea made from the spirit brew and relishing spirit fruits.

“Elder Brother Huo, was your trip to guard the blessed land smooth?”

“It was safe, albeit with some close calls.”

“That blessed land is located in a very remote area and is overexploited. The cultivation resources it produces are somewhat inconsequential for the sect, but it still serves some purpose, so we keep it under our control.”

“However, it holds great attraction for many surrounding forces, who frequently come across some petty individuals, but they have all been exterminated by me and other fellow sect members.”

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Fire Scale Child’s eyes.

“Other forces have designs on our sect’s blessed land?”

Lu Xuan couldn’t help but ask.

“You have been staying in the sect all year round, Junior Brother, naturally unaware of the perils of the cultivation world.”

“For a tiny bit of resources, let alone risking their lives, they would try their luck even in lands marked by evil spirits and monsters, which doesn’t deter the cultivators intent on climbing upward.”

Fire Scale Child said helplessly, his tone carrying a hint of envy for the thorough protection Lu Xuan received at the sect.

“The main reason is that I’ve been busy cultivating spiritual plants, with no opportunity to venture out.”

Lu Xuan gave a dry laugh.

“Although the Dongxuan Sword Sect wields absolute control over the Dongxuan Realm, some shadows inevitably breed in corners untouched by their reach.”

“Such places are hardly peaceful, and there are quite a few that even the Dongxuan Sword Sect would rather not deal with.”

Fire Scale Child remarked with a sigh.

Lu Xuan nodded slightly.

With the presence of the White Light Group, the number of times he ventured out to explore the Secret Land and seek opportunities was scarce.

After all, braving the risks without a certain chance to find treasures, and even if found, they were highly likely not as rewarding as the White Light Group’s rewards. There was no need to venture out.

“Thank goodness for the Dongxuan Sword Sect’s mighty protection over a mere Spirit Plant Master like myself.”

Lu Xuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Compared to his former Sky Sword Sect, the Dongxuan Sword Sect was not just hundreds of times stronger. Just the Ninth Grade Ten Directions Annihilation Sword Array alone was evidence enough, not to mention the gap between Great Deity of the Spirit Transformation and Primordial Infant True Monarchs.

This filled his heart with a sense of security.

“As long as the Sword Sect stands, the cultivation doesn’t stop.”

…

After sitting for a while, Fire Scale Child bid his farewell and left.

Lu Xuan returned to the Spirit Field and continued inspecting the numerous Spirit Plants.

“One stalk of White Bone Slaying Sword Grass has fully matured.”

Focusing closely, he saw that the translucent progress bar beneath one of the stalks of White Bone Slaying Sword Grass was completely filled.

Lu Xuan’s palm turned into a crystalline jade hue, carefully uprooting it through the killing-intent-ridden pale Sword Grass.

“A naturally born killing sword.”

He scrutinized the pale Sword Grass in his hands. The Sword Grass bristled with killing intent, as if placing him in the midst of a flesh and blood battlefield, with a burgeoning intent to kill arising within him.

After storing it in the Gluttonous Insect Pouch, this peculiar sensation dissipated.

He glanced at the faintly flickering White Light Group and gently touched it.

The Light Group silently shattered, with countless small light points soaring into the sky and instantly condensing into a fine light river, entering Lu Xuan’s body.

[A harvest of a Class 5 White Bone Slaying Sword Grass, acquiring a Sixth Grade Seven Slaughter Sword.]

A thought flashed by, and an oddly shaped Flying Sword appeared before Lu Xuan.

The Flying Sword was extremely slender, entirely blood-red with a continual flux of blood-red luminescence, as if it had been soaked in blood for countless years. The handle bore a restless character “kill,” rich in killing intent, seeming almost to physically invade Lu Xuan’s flesh.

Focusing closely, he immediately learned detailed information about this blood-red Flying Sword.

[Seven Slaughter Sword, Sixth Grade Flying Sword, forged from a large amount of Class 6 Blood Drink Stones, refined in endless killing intent. The Sword Qi contains intense killing intent, which can destabilize an opponent’s mind, throwing their thoughts into disarray, and upon entering the body, can instantly stiffen the flesh and blood.]

“A Sixth Grade Flying Sword, that’s quite decent.”

Lu Xuan scrutinized the slender blood sword in his hands, pleased.

Currently, he possessed many Flying Swords and cultivated Sword Grass, but few were of high rank.

Until now, only the Peacock King Sword, refined into a low-grade magical treasure, and the Spectral Splitting Shadow Sword Grass, because of its mysterious and unpredictable nature, had been handy for him.

The most powerful method in his arsenal via the Sword Dao was undoubtedly the Sixth Grade Thousand Thunder Sword Array, but there had been no opportunity to use it yet.

Now, this Sixth Grade Seven Slaughter Sword was a great addition, complementing the “Killing Sword Sutra” perfectly.

“Not bad for a transition.”

Lu thought to himself, with the Sixth Grade Star Shifting Sun and Moon Sword Grass, seven plants of Sixth Grade Azure Profound Wither Bloom Sword Grass, and even the Infinite Sword Grass of Freedom planted in the Spirit Field, he would not lack high-grade sword instruments in the future.

“Come to think of it, the rewards from Sword Grass type Spirit Plants are truly extraordinary.”

He remembered that back in the Thunderfire Star Cave, he had matured a stalk of White Bone Slaying Sword Grass and obtained a Class 6 Swordsmanship Treasure, the Tablet of the Profound Realm. Now, with this Seven Slaughter Sword, both treasures left him more than satisfied.