MTLNOVEL Chapter 17
Three months passed in a flash.
Due to the Hundred Beasts Sect’s invasion, the spirit fields halted production for a time.
Li An and Wang Zilin worked hard to replant and restore the fields. It took a while, but Spirit Plant Mountain finally got back on track. Luckily, the sect didn’t demand yields during this period.
Otherwise, they’d have been in deep trouble.
“This month, the first batch of spirit rice will ripen. With how they’re growing, we might get nearly 400 pounds in extra rewards!” Wang Zilin said excitedly, wiping sweat from his face after casting the Cloud and Rain Technique.
Li An had shared many tips on the technique, making Wang Zilin much more skilled. Plus, with the sect disabling the qi-stealing array, pests vanished, and the fields’ spiritual qi was even, leading to far better growth than before.
“Mm, keep it up. Ninety-five percent split,” Li An said with a slight smile.
Wang Zilin: “…”
Though the split hadn’t changed, Wang Zilin no longer resented Li An. Beyond the life-saving debt, Li An treated him well.
His monthly spirit stone ration went from a third of one stone to half a stone!
Fan Jie used to give only a third.
“I’m going to check on Sister Susu’s grave. The grass needs clearing,” Wang Zilin said, limping off, his figure somber.
Zhang Susu’s grave, just a memorial without a body, was on the mountainside.
On the day of the beast tide, she’d run to Fan Jie for help but was blocked by barriers at the mountainside. Beasts tore her apart, leaving little behind…
In the vast Clear Sun Sect, in the wide world and long immortal path, Wang Zilin might’ve been the only one who truly cared for Zhang Susu.
Li An stayed silent. He’d warned her that during danger, the Green Lotus Pond’s deep mud was a safe hiding spot, but she hadn’t caught on, seeing Fan Jie as her savior instead…
Li An couldn’t spell it out—that’d put him at risk.
He’d done what he could. Everyone had their fate.
…
At night, Li An counted his spirit stones.
Though not an official disciple, as Spirit Plant Mountain’s overseer, his rations rose to three spirit stones and five bags of spirit rice a month.
Plus, skimming half a stone from Wang Zilin, he had 10.5 stones.
Still poor, but he had some savings now.
He thought of Fan Jie. That guy was rich.
Too bad time was short back then. Li An couldn’t check everything and had to ditch Fan Jie’s stones and treasures.
If Fan Jie’s storage bag had been marked, keeping it would’ve exposed him.
So, he took only the bag and Fire Spirit Fruits.
The safest choice!
Over these three months, Li An had visited the stream where he buried the bag, ensuring it wasn’t found, but left it untouched.
Fire Spirit Fruits couldn’t appear in the sect. He’d have to sell them elsewhere later.
He wasn’t in a rush.
…
The next day, Li An left Spirit Plant Mountain for the outer sect.
After registering at Righteous Intent Residence and waiting, Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan came out.
They gathered again in the Moon Lake pavilion.
“Brother Li, cheers to surviving the trap and becoming Spirit Plant Mountain’s overseer!” Zhao Xianchuan raised his cup, and they drank.
They discussed the Clear Sun Sect’s current state.
After ambushing the Hundred Beasts Sect’s invasion, the sect had some relief. Nearby disturbances stopped, letting Wang Dazhu and others train in peace.
In that battle, two of the Hundred Beasts Sect’s Foundation Establishment beast tamers died, along with four Second Rank beasts, earning the Clear Sun Sect a brief calm.
But Li An learned the Hundred Beasts Sect was supposed to have a False Core beast in the trap, which didn’t show up for some reason.
Li An guessed the Spirit Bells he’d moved spooked the False Core expert, making them hold back.
Still, Zhao Xianchuan’s family reported the fight over the Mid Grade Spirit Mine in Sui State was ongoing.
Such conflicts could drag on for years, with no side backing down easily.
“Brother An, I’m ready to aim for the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining!” Wang Dazhu said happily. He was at the peak of the Third Layer, even ahead of Zhao Xianchuan. “A brother from the Tool Forging Hall said my strong build suits it. At next year’s sect exam, I’ll aim for the Tool Forging Hall. What do you think?”
The sect exam gave everyone a chance to advance.
Official disciples could try for the inner sect, registered disciples for official status.
Wang Dazhu and others trained at Righteous Intent Residence for three years. If they didn’t become official disciples by then, they’d be sent to various halls.
The best outer sect halls were the Alchemy Hall, Tool Forging Hall, and Talisman Hall!
With their current cultivation and contributions, Wang Dazhu and others were far from official disciple status, so they were already planning their paths.
“Sounds great!” Li An said. If Wang Dazhu got into the Tool Forging Hall, it’d be a win.
“What about you, Brother Zhao?” he asked.
Zhao Xianchuan’s face soured. “I’m studying alchemy books…”
Alchemy demanded high talent. Despite his efforts, Zhao Xianchuan’s chances of entering the Alchemy Hall were slim.
If he couldn’t join a top hall, he’d be sent to low-tier places like the mines, Spirit Plant Mountain, or Weaving Hall, with limited prospects.
Wang Dazhu had a shot at the Tool Forging Hall, and Li An was likely headed for the Talisman Hall, which stung Zhao Xianchuan.
“Mu Qingwan’s already at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, progressing fast,” Zhao Xianchuan said. “She’s close with Chen Cheng. They’re called the sect’s golden couple. Rumor is, once they’re both inner sect disciples, they’ll marry…”
They spoke of Mu Qingwan with envy.
Li An stayed calm.
After parting with them, he went to Nurture Path Residence but learned Xu Qiuhui had been in seclusion for a month and wasn’t available.
He left 50 pounds of spirit rice, asking someone to pass it to Xu Qiuhui as this year’s fresh batch, a small gesture to show he hadn’t forgotten her kindness.
The rice wasn’t much, just a sign of gratitude.
Then he went to the sect’s exchange hall to buy a talisman brush.
The cheapest brush cost six spirit stones, but Li An gritted his teeth and bought it.
Used brushes could be found at the market, but that took time and luck to find good ones, and they didn’t last long.
“Got any Detox Pills?” he asked before leaving. “For clearing pill poison.”
“Sure, the cheapest Detox Pill is 10 spirit stones each,” the middle-aged man at the exchange hall said, chuckling. He remembered this menial who bought Mixed Spirit Pills to cultivate.
Li An’s face fell, and he left.
Couldn’t afford it!
He went to the market, spending his last 2.5 spirit stones on talisman paper.
Paper was cheaper at the market. After haggling, he got 143 sheets for 2.5 stones.
Twenty more than at the exchange hall!
But Li An was broke again.
…
Shortly after Li An left the outer sect, in the Alchemy Hall’s main building, a young man reported to a middle-aged man in a fiery red robe.
“Brother Lu, I checked. The menial seems clean. Xu Qiuhui taught him to buy Spring Essence Grass. He got his first brush and papers from her too… He connected with Xu Qiuhui through spirit rice. He’s got some smart brain, but nothing too special. He bought Mixed Spirit Pills recently and came asking for Detox Pills today. Overall, no red flags.”
The red-robed man’s face darkened. “Fine… Hurry and find a substitute for the Fire Spirit Fruits. If we mess up Master’s plans, we’re done for!”
…
(Chapter End)