MTLNOVEL Chapter 7
“Based on how you’ve performed lately, I’ll be rearranging the spirit field assignments.”
“Zhang Susu, you’ll be in charge of the middle field!”
Zhang Susu was instantly overwhelmed with emotion, nearly bursting into tears.
She had suffered a lot recently—her monthly supplies were completely withheld, she was starving while working, and she had gotten visibly thinner.
“That’s great!”
Wang Zilin was thrilled too. It looked like she and Li An were switching places, and he’d always disliked Li An. Now Li An was finally going to suffer…
“Li An, you’re in charge of the right field. Wang Zilin, take the left.”
But Fan Jie’s words left him stunned.
He was the one assigned to the worst field??
“Why?!”
He blurted out in fury.
“Why?”
Fan Jie’s gaze turned sharp as he looked at Wang Zilin. “Wang Zilin, what’s this? You’ve been hiding spirit rice!”
He pulled out a cloth bag.
Wang Zilin’s face changed drastically. That was his bag—he’d left it in his living quarters, not brought it to the fields.
“Immortal Master…”
He tried to explain, but Fan Jie slapped him hard.
Wang Zilin fell to the ground, coughing up blood. Then Fan Jie kicked his thigh with a loud crack.
“You damn thief!”
Wang Zilin screamed as his leg clearly broke.
Zhang Susu, standing to the side, was pale with fear, trembling from the sight.
…
That night, Fan Jie stayed at Zhang Susu’s place for dinner.
It was a quiet night. Li An faintly heard Zhang Susu moaning in pain, Fan Jie breathing heavily, and Wang Zilin crying in silence with no one to care…
Li An stayed calm. He didn’t get involved. Instead, he focused on counting up his current gains.
Three months had passed, and now he had two full spirit stones, a small chipped piece of one, and 100 kilograms of spirit rice.
It was time for a trip. In two or three months, he’d be trying to break through to the Second Stage of Qi Refining, and he needed to prepare.
After all, many people knew his spirit root was damaged. If he broke through smoothly, it might attract unwanted attention.
He needed a cover story.
Also, now that Zhang Susu had climbed into Fan Jie’s bed, Li An would probably be stuck with the middle-quality field again. With pests worsening, extra harvests might no longer be possible—he needed a new plan.
…
The next day.
He asked Fan Jie to leave.
Fan Jie was in a great mood and waved it off with a smile, granting it easily.
Zhang Susu, maybe too tired, hadn’t even gotten up yet and didn’t go work in the field.
As Li An left, he looked back and saw Wang Zilin limping into the worst, left-side field with a wooden crutch.
He looked just like a beaten dog.
…
By midday, Li An had left Spirit Plant Mountain and reached the outer sect area of the Clear Sun Sect.
The outer sect had many divisions—Spirit Plant Mountain, Ironworks Hall, Scripture Hall, Pharmacy, and more.
Most jobs were handled by Menial Servants. Registered disciples managed them, and above them were Outer Sect Elders.
Compared to that, the inner sect was truly the world of cultivators. Inner disciples only needed to cultivate—they didn’t have to do any manual labor.
In the outer sect, registered disciples could get resources not only through monthly allowances but also by completing sect tasks to earn contribution points, which could be traded for supplies.
Privately, many people formed informal trade markets to exchange goods.
The busiest time was always at month’s end, especially in the open space to the south of the outer sect.
Li An arrived.
There were all kinds of things for sale.
Damaged refined iron, broken martial techniques, forging materials—you name it.
Most of the people were registered disciples and Menial Servants, easily told apart—Menial Servants wore light gray rough clothing, while registered disciples wore matching robes.
Li An walked around for a bit, checking out the herb stalls, then found a spot for himself. He set up a little booth and placed the 100 kilograms of spirit rice he had carried on his shoulder.
Many came to ask the price, but when they saw he was a Menial Servant, the registered disciples all tried to force the price down.
Li An refused every one of them.
“Hey, isn’t that Senior Sister Xu?”
Someone nearby suddenly exclaimed.
A young woman in a pale yellow dress approached slowly from the other side of the market. She moved gracefully and looked dazzling, catching everyone’s attention the moment she appeared.
Li An recognized her too. Xu Qiuhui—senior sister among the outer sect's official disciples. Rumor was that at the end-of-year exam, she would attempt to become an inner disciple.
She was the one who had overseen their entry exams when they joined the sect.
Someone like Xu Qiuhui rarely appeared in these markets.
Many registered disciples greeted her with respect, and she nodded calmly and courteously. As she passed through, she suddenly stopped in front of Li An’s booth.
“This spirit rice isn't bad quality… and in such quantity. How much?”
Xu Qiuhui looked at Li An.
There was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Clearly, she remembered this young man who had some talent but chose to enter through the No-Spirit Gate and become a Menial Servant.
Li An’s mind turned quickly. “Half a spirit stone.”
“For all of it?”
“All of it.”
Xu Qiuhui said calmly, “This much spirit rice should go for a full spirit stone at market price.”
“I’m not doing anyone a favor,” she added.
Li An replied, “Immortal Xu, I’m not trying to curry favor. I wanted to ask you something.”
Xu Qiuhui gave him a light glance. “Ask first. If I’m willing to answer, we can talk about the deal afterward.”
“Immortal Xu, I want to know—how can one treat a damaged spirit root?”
Li An appeared deeply concerned.
Xu Qiuhui gave him another glance and replied, “If you had gotten a Grade Two Restoration Pill before entering Qi Refining, there would’ve been an 80% chance to fix it. Now that you’re already at the First Stage, even with the pill, your chances are only 30%.”
Li An’s face darkened with despair. “Grade Two Pill… Is there no cheap herb that helps the spirit root?”
Xu Qiuhui said, “Spring-Holding Grass has some effect, but it’s very small.”
Li An’s face showed gratitude. “Thank you, Immortal Xu!”
Xu Qiuhui nodded. Then she took out a full spirit stone and handed it to Li An. “This is basic knowledge—I won’t take advantage. I’ll still pay the market rate.”
Li An said quickly, “Immortal Xu, this knowledge might be easy for you, but for me, it’s like saving my life!”
“Really, half a spirit stone is enough… I can’t repay a favor that big.”
He was sincere.
Xu Qiuhui found herself admiring him a little—this Menial Servant had a good heart.
“Fine. Then I’ll pay half a spirit stone for the rice. Take this other half and these spirits sand grains as a deposit.”
“Two months from now, bring me another 100 kilograms.”
Li An was overjoyed. “Yes! Thank you, Immortal Xu!”
He took the spirit stone and asked, “Immortal Xu, where do you live? Do you want me to deliver it to you?”
“No need.”
Xu Qiuhui waved casually. The 100 kilograms of spirit rice instantly vanished into a small gray pouch.
A storage pouch.
Then Xu Qiuhui turned and left.
Watching her leave, Li An walked to a nearby herb vendor.
The herbs here had only a little spiritual energy—low quality, useful only to beginner cultivators.
After some bargaining, Li An used half a spirit stone to buy 30 kilograms of Spring-Holding Grass.
He had chosen these herbs the moment he arrived. Asking Xu Qiuhui was just a setup—to form a connection.
In the world of cultivation, social ties were important too. Just having a friend like Wang Dazhu, a registered disciple, had kept Fan Jie from exploiting him too much.
But who knew how long Wang Dazhu’s friendship would last?
More connections—Li An would have to make them himself.
And, he had another purpose.
Spring-Holding Grass looked very similar to another Grade Two spiritual herb—Origin-Spring Grass.
Unless someone was a certified alchemist, most people couldn’t tell them apart.
Origin-Spring Grass was great for restoring spirit roots.
Later, when his root started to heal and his strength increased, he could claim he accidentally ate Origin-Spring Grass thinking it was Spring-Holding Grass—and that’s how his root recovered.
Combined with having asked Xu Qiuhui about it, no one would suspect anything.
“Eh? Brother An?”
Just as Li An finished buying the Spring-Holding Grass, a voice called out.
He turned and saw Wang Dazhu walking into the market with several other disciples.
Familiar faces like Mu Qingwan and Zhao Xianchuan were among them.
…
(End of Chapter)