Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Reclaiming Linggu (Part 1)

Qingshui Town, within the courtyard of the Qing Xuan Sect’s residence

“Senior Brother Nangong, this is my disciple token, I have been assigned to Qingshui Town to serve as the Steward of the Spirit Plant Department!” Li Mu handed the disciple token to the imposing Nangong Hong, who stood before him.

Nangong Hong appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, yet he possessed the cultivation at the peak of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, likely only lacking a Foundation Establishment Pill to reach Foundation Establishment.

Li Mu sized up Nangong Hong, feeling a sense of admiration for this ’Celestial Pride.’ Without his proficient panel, this golden finger, Li Mu wouldn’t even be worthy to carry his shoes.

Nangong Hong accepted the disciple token, scanned it with his divine sense, and then, smiling at Li Mu, said, “So the new Steward of the Spirit Plant Department is Junior Brother Zhao! You have come just in time. In a few days, it’s time to collect the tenant rent! I was just worrying about how to handle it!”

After verifying Li Mu’s identity, Nangong Hong returned the disciple token to him.

“Indeed, Senior Brother Guo just sent me down!” Li Mu replied with a smile, receiving the disciple token and putting it into his storage bag.

“Alright! There’s no rush with the Spirit Plant Department’s affairs! Junior Brother, you must be exhausted coming all the way from Gangyang City! Why not first arrange a dinner to welcome you, and then prepare a room for you to rest,” Nangong Hong warmly offered.

“Senior Brother Nangong, there’s no need to stand on ceremony; I came from Qing’an Town and have always lived there, which isn’t far from Qingshui Town. If possible, I’d prefer to arrange my own accommodations. I don’t plan to live in the residence!” Li Mu smiled, politely declining Nangong Hong’s suggestion.

“Ah! Junior Brother may not know, but Qingshui Town occasionally faces Demon Beast invasions, unlike the stability of Qing’an Town. The sect’s residence here is equipped with a defense array, capable of withstanding Tier Two Demon Beasts. If you stay outside, it wouldn’t be as safe!” Nangong Hong kindly reminded, looking at Li Mu.

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Nangong, but I have my plans; I still don’t intend to stay at the residence!” Li Mu smiled slightly, firmly refusing.

Nangong Hong looked at Li Mu in surprise, not understanding what reliance this Junior Brother Zhao, only at the Early Stage of Qi Refining Seventh Layer, had that he refused to stay in a secure residence protected by the sect’s defense array and chose to find accommodations elsewhere.

“Very well! If Junior Brother persists, I won’t force you. If you change your mind, feel free to let me know.” Nangong Hong looked at Li Mu and agreed.

“Alright! Senior Brother Nangong, could you hand over the affairs of the Spirit Plant Department in Qingshui Town to me? On my way here, I noticed there are still many vacant lands suitable for cultivating spirit fields. Why are they left to waste?” Li Mu nodded with a smile, getting directly to the point.

Nangong Hong was slightly taken aback, not expecting this Junior Brother to be so career-driven, immediately concerned with his duties.

“Junior Brother Zhao, having just arrived at Qingshui Town, there are some things you may not know. The abandoned lands were left out of necessity. First, Qingshui Town is close to the Tai Mo River. During flood season, the river’s water level rises and floods those lands, making them unsuitable for spirit field cultivation or planting spirit plants,” Nangong Hong explained, looking at Li Mu.

After a pause, Nangong Hong continued, “Secondly, Qingshui Town is near Lingtian Peak, which houses a Tier Two and above spirit vein. It is rich in various spirit medicines and ores. The sect’s servant disciples and the loose cultivators of Qingshui Town acquire cultivation resources through other means, and few are willing to be Spirit Plant Cultivators. Thus, there is a manpower shortage, and these wastelands cannot be converted into spirit fields.”

“Thirdly, there are various Demon Beasts descending the mountain or crossing the river to attack the town, damaging the spirit fields, along with pest issues, making fewer people willing to be Spirit Plant Cultivators.”

“Junior Brother, the task of the Steward of the Spirit Plant Department carries a significant burden!” Nangong Hong said at the end, looking at Li Mu with deep meaning and sighed.

…

Having anticipated Qingshui Town would be a challenging place, Li Mu was mentally prepared.

Anyone else facing the dreadful state of the Spirit Plant Department in Qingshui Town might have concerns, but for Li Mu, it was entirely fortunate.

With so many places suitable for developing spirit fields left to waste, Li Mu was ready to select and cultivate a vast spirit field, spanning one hundred, even a thousand acres, for ease of management.

“Alright! I understand!” Li Mu nodded, directly addressing Nangong Hong, “Senior Brother Nangong, could you show me the account books, the sect land register, and the collection and payment register of the Spirit Plant Department?”

“Of course, that’s not an issue. These are all the account books of the Spirit Plant Department; I’ll hand them over to you now.” Nangong Hong, taken aback, quickly retrieved several account books from his storage bag and handed them to Li Mu as if relieving himself of a burden.

Receiving the account books, Li Mu started flipping through them seriously, scanning ten lines at a glance, to understand the affairs of the Spirit Plant Department while searching for suitable places to reclaim.

“Senior Brother Nangong, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I plan to explore the spirit fields of Qingshui Town to verify the accounts.” Li Mu politely indicated to Nangong Hong.

“Junior Brother Zhao is truly diligent! Would you like me to accompany you?” Nangong Hong paused momentarily, praising Li Mu with a smile.

“No need! I can go alone. If I need assistance, I’ll seek your help!” Li Mu smiled freely, politely declining.

“Alright!” Nangong Hong nodded with a smile, seeing him off.

Soon, Li Mu left the courtyard of the sect’s residence, holding the spirit field account book and a map, and wandered around the spirit fields near Qingshui Town alone, looking for suitable places to develop spirit fields.

The terrain of Little Liang Mountain is steep, and after much effort, Li Mu reclaimed eleven acres of spirit fields, reaching the limit.

Qingshui Town is different; close to the Tai Mo River, backed by Lingtian Mountain, a large mountain range, with plenty of flat valleys suitable for cultivation, dozens, even hundreds of acres of spirit fields.

“This place won’t do. During flood season, the water level of the Tai Mo River may rise and flood this area!”

“This spirit field is okay; it can be developed into about fifty acres. Hmm! This is the Foundation Establishment Wang Family’s leased spirit field, …”

“Oh! This spirit field is good; setting up spirit summoning and gathering arrays could promote it to a middle-grade spirit field. Unfortunately, it can’t be developed into a hundred acres, …, I’ll remember this place.”

…

Li Mu flew back and forth over Qingshui Town, searching for a place suitable for him to develop spirit fields.

Time flew by, and Li Mu moved further away.

Ultimately, Li Mu stopped flying with sword control, hovering in the air. Seven or eight miles from Qingshui Town, he discovered a Linggu, extremely suitable for cultivating spirit fields.

The Linggu was formed by two converging peaks, with a cascading waterfall roaring powerfully, filling the valley with a thunderous sound.

Sunlight shone on the raging waterfall, creating a rainbow in the mist, enhancing the grandeur with towering ancient trees and dense forests across the magnificent cliffs.

The waterfall surged, the cyan pool lay serenely, the river twisted and turned, the ridges layered one upon another, painting a picturesque scenery.

By the edge of the cyan pool, a large area of weeds and shrubs grew, with flat terrain, suitable for developing into a hundred-acre spirit field.

What delighted Li Mu more was that, through Pulse Diagnosis Technique, he found a spirit vein in the valley, where many spirit medicines grew.

In a short time, Li Mu discovered numerous spirit medicines: centennial Ice Mist Spirit Grass, Purple Salvia, Golden Pearl Grass, Hundred-Child Flower, …, of various types, making this valley abundant with Spiritual Qi, accompanied by a cyan pool and a waterfall, offering an ideal environment.

Li Mu’s eyes sparkled, already contemplating what array would be best to conceal the valley and make it his exclusive domain.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep