"Huh? Isn't that the alchemy apprentice Qian Xiaoyue who lives next door? Why is she setting up a stall here? And she's selling... talisman paper?"
Zhou Changwang was about to hurry home, after all, he still had his Spirit Field to tend to, but as his eyes glanced over a certain stall, his steps paused. He saw a slightly delicate-looking female cultivator quietly setting up her stall.
This female cultivator was actually his neighbor, the alchemy apprentice Qian Xiaoyue.
However, what surprised him was that the items on her stall weren't related to alchemy at all, but rather talisman paper, a completely unrelated item and one of the essential base materials for making talismans, talisman hide paper.
The stacks of talisman hide paper were meticulously cut to the standard talisman size, overall slightly yellowish, but the surface was smooth and delicate. Although not top-grade, they were already quite decent.
"I didn't expect my neighbor to have such a method for making talisman hide paper."
Zhou Changwang sighed, but didn't step forward to disturb her. Soon, he left the Independent Practitioner Marketplace.
...
Skill: Spirit Rain Skill (Mastery 189/200)
"Without realizing it, my Spirit Rain Skill is about to level up."
After using the Spirit Rain Skill nine times consecutively, Zhou Changwang couldn't help but reveal a slight smile on his face.
Not only because his magic was about to advance, but also because he could clearly feel that after using these nine Spirit Rain Skills, he no longer felt the previous lack of Spiritual Power.
Apparently, he still had energy to spare.
This proved that his cultivation level had indeed improved.
"However, the Qi Refining Second Layer (31/100) cultivation level still has some distance to break through to the Third Layer."
Sighing, Zhou Changwang found a place to begin meditating and recovering.
After three circulations, most of the Spiritual Power in his body recovered, and Zhou Changwang then woke up.
"Changwang, Changwang."
Not long after he awoke, he saw Old Xu hurrying over from afar.
And behind him followed another person.
"What's the matter?"
Zhou Changwang patted his backside, stood up, and asked.
His eyes looked somewhat surprised at the person behind him.
Xu Zhong.
Although both he and Xu Zhong were from the Spirit Plant Hall, they didn't follow the same Spirit Plant Master, so they didn't have much of a relationship.
"Changwang, didn't I ask you to help me with pest control yesterday?
Someone asked me about it, and I thought it was no big deal, so I mentioned it. Somehow, the word got to Xu Zhong, and he's been worrying about his Spirit Field.
So he asked me to see if you could help him with pest control too."
Old Xu said with a slight trace of embarrassment on his face.
Behind him, Xu Zhong, though dressed in fine clothes, had a wrinkled and worried look on his face. Upon seeing him, he gathered his spirit, cupped his hands, and said, "I also heard that Fellow Daoist Zhou has exceptional talents and has already mastered the Geng Metal Finger, and is skilled at pest control. That's why I asked Elder Xu to bring me here to ask for Fellow Daoist Zhou's help with pest control."
"I really can't help."
Zhou Changwang quickly waved his hands and said.
Xu Zhong's Spirit Field had already become a taboo area for the surrounding Spirit Farmers, afraid to even get close.
It's simply because there are too many Spirit Insects.
Some speculate that an Insect King might have already been born inside, otherwise, it's impossible for there to be so many Spirit Insects gathering there.
The Insect King is not like ordinary Spirit Insects, not only is it larger, but its speed, attack power, and destructiveness are more than double. As a little Spirit Farmer at the Qi Refining Second Layer, his means are limited and cannot handle it.
"I know this may be somewhat difficult.
But these few acres of Spirit Field are all I have.
I've already accepted the reduced yield, but if there's nothing left, I'm done for.
These five acres of Spirit Field are rented from the Spirit Plant Hall on a half-rent, half-credit basis, with the agreement that any shortfall must be made up after a good harvest. If I can't pay it back, the Spirit Plant Hall will surely demand compensation, and if I can't compensate, I'll have to become a Contracted Farmer."
Xu Zhong quickly complained, and finally pleaded with a hint of supplication, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, considering we both come from the Spirit Plant Hall, please help me?"
"Fellow Daoist Xu, this is tough for me too.
I'm only at the Qi Refining Second Layer, how can I help you? Even if I expend all my Mana, how many Spirit Insects can I get rid of?
It's better to ask someone from the Spirit Plant Hall for help.
Though costly, at least their cultivation level is high, and their Mana is ample, and they're strong at pest control. If you hire them for a few days, your crisis could likely be resolved."
Zhou Changwang declined.
"It's no use.
I tried hiring them before.
The pest control master only got rid of a dozen Spirit Insects before saying he was out of Spiritual Power, refusing to continue unless I provided him with a Qi Recovery Pill to recover his Spiritual Power, or otherwise spend three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones to make him take action again.
A bottle of Qi Recovery Pills costs thirty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, with ten capsules per bottle, making each capsule three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, which I can't afford.
According to him, I estimate even spending thirty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones might not rid the Spirit Field of all the Spirit Insects."
Xu Zhong said helplessly.
As a young person, he couldn't stand such aggressive behavior and opportunistic pricing; thus, he abandoned the idea of continually hiring people from the Spirit Plant Hall for pest control.
Though this was an isolated case, given a choice, he naturally wanted to avoid such a loss.
So, the next day, he sought for the brothers Zhao Jie and Zhao Qiang, who cultivated Spirit Fields in the same area. Both had a cultivation level above the Mid Stage of Qi Cultivation and planted three acres of Spiritual Medicine, with highly advanced Spirit Plant skills.
If they were willing to help, they could easily solve his trouble.
Unfortunately, the two brothers always kept to themselves and were busy with their Spirit Fields every day, completely ignoring his request, leaving him with no choice but to give up after futile pleas.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I won't say how many Spirit Stones I'll give, nor ask for a complete removal of all Spirit Insects within a certain time frame.
We'll calculate based on the number of Spirit Insects; for every ten Spirit Insects removed, I'll give you one Lower-Grade Spirit Stone, payable after each full count.
Additionally, the bodies of the Spirit Insects will be yours, how about it?"
Then, Xu Zhong quickly said.
"Changwang, for the sake of your neighboring Spirit Fields, please help him out."
Old Xu hastily persuaded him as well.
"Well... alright then."
Zhou Changwang hesitated slightly but finally agreed.
Indeed, the offer was desirable; ten Spirit Insects for one Lower-Grade Spirit Stone, considering the number of Spirit Insects in his field, he could earn at least ten Lower-Grade Spirit Stones if he cleared them all.
For him, it was no small number.
Coupled with the Spirit Insect bodies... that would be double the happiness.
Of course, the most important factor was that Xu Zhong's Spirit Field was too close to his.
If the Linghe in his field were to be entirely devoured, the next likely target would be his Spirit Field.
Rather than dealing with it later, it's better to take the initiative now, and with Spirit Stones on the line, why not?