Chapter 11: A Minor Disaster Every 3 Years, A Major Disaster Every 10 Years
Chapter 11: Chapter 11: A Minor Disaster Every 3 Years, A Major Disaster Every 10 Years
"What is it?"
Wang Lixia had noticed Chen Mo long before he walked over.
"Senior, I have a presumptuous request. I might have to trouble you again."
His words were exceptionally polite. However, she pulled a long face and replied coldly, "If it’s a presumptuous request, then don’t say it."
Though her words were freezing, Chen Mo didn’t hear absolute rejection in her tone. He quickly continued, "Senior, how about I handle the Rainfall for your Spirit Field again this year?"
Wang Lixia frowned slightly. If he handled the Rainfall for three months last year just to borrow Fasting Pills, what was he trying to do this time, especially after experiencing a bountiful harvest?
"What are you after this time?"
Chen Mo cupped his fists and spoke with assurance, "First, to repay your kindness for protecting me last time. Second, to ask you to escort me once more."
"That’s it?" Wang Lixia was somewhat surprised. Her hunched back even straightened involuntarily.
"My parents taught me that a drop of kindness received in need must be repaid with an overflowing spring, let alone a life-saving grace!"
"Do you know the consequences of doing this?"
"It’s nothing more than my Realm stagnating a bit. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I would have ended up like Fellow Daoist Yin in the south."
Wang Lixia paused slightly, looking into the distance thousands of meters away.
"He hasn’t returned either?"
Chen Mo nodded. From her tone, it seemed Yin Zheng wasn’t the only Spirit Plant Cultivator who had met with an accident!
"Has the Marketplace recruited any new Spirit Plant Cultivators? I think there’s a Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivator next door to his field."
The Spirit Fields were only so large, and there were only so many Spirit Plant Cultivators around. Wang Lixia naturally knew the situation like the back of her hand.
"I haven’t heard anything yet," Chen Mo replied, glancing back.
She stared at him for a moment before saying slowly, "However, that Cultivator has already rented six acres of Spirit Fields. They probably won’t take that plot too." She muttered to herself, "Looks like they’ll have to recruit new Spirit Plant Cultivators to come here..."
Chen Mo didn’t take the bait to continue that topic. He had no intention of telling her that he wanted to rent Yin Zheng’s land. Although Wang Lixia would definitely find out once the seeds were sown and the Spiritual Rain began to fall, now was not the time to tell her!
"Senior, I have an appointment at the Marketplace to buy some seeds..."
"Come find me tomorrow at 7:00 AM."
Without giving Chen Mo a chance to finish, Wang Lixia effectively issued an order for him to leave. The grain-selling season had passed. According to her experience, it was highly unlikely they would encounter any Tribulation Cultivators. But since he asked, she would just accompany him for the trip. After all, without selling grain, it was just a simple round trip that would take a single day.
...
Early the next morning, Chen Mo waited diligently by the wooden cabin. When 7:00 AM arrived, the figure in her twilight years appeared right on time. Wang Lixia walked slowly, leaning on her walking stick. This time, without the need to push a cart, Chen Mo walked side-by-side on her left.
On the way, he made idle conversation. "Senior, how long have you been a Spirit Plant Cultivator?"
At first, Wang Lixia merely snorted and glared, thoroughly annoyed by the junior’s incessant chattering. But under his rapid-fire barrage of words, she finally spoke up.
"What? Are you trying to pry some secrets out of my mouth?"
Chen Mo shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no. A distant relative is not as helpful as a close neighbor. It’s just idle chatter." He didn’t have a strong ulterior motive, though of course, he would be very glad if he could fish out some information.
Bombarded by Chen Mo’s words, Wang Lixia finally took the initiative to speak. "Spirit Plant Cultivator, oh, Spirit Plant Cultivator. How is your Cultivation of the Flaming Palm going? Have you reached the entry-level?"
As soon as her voice faded, two roaring bursts of fire erupted from Chen Mo’s hands with a WHOOSH. This display immediately made Wang Lixia stop in her tracks. She stared intently at his hands, speechless for a long time. After a long while, she finally asked, "Proficient Realm?"
"When I saw you cast the Flaming Palm that day, I was filled with admiration. So, over the past two months, I have practiced bitterly every day..."
"Foolish!" Wang Lixia scolded immediately, but then a look of distress crossed her face. "Never mind, never mind. Doesn’t that mean you haven’t been working on your Cultivation lately?"
Chen Mo nodded somewhat apologetically. He definitely wasn’t going to tell her that not only had he reached the Proficient Realm in the Flaming Palm, but his Qi Cultivation Technique had also gained 15 experience points!
"Sigh." Wang Lixia smiled bitterly and shook her head, falling silent for a moment.
"Senior, do you think raising one’s Realm is more important?" Chen Mo pressed.
"Yes and no."
"Please enlighten me, Senior."
"As far as I know, in the Ancient Dust Marketplace—no, I should say, among the Spirit Plant Cultivators at the foot of Purple Cloud Peak—the highest Realm is only the Qi Refining Fourth Layer," Wang Lixia explained slowly. "Do you know the reason?"
"Insufficient resources?"
"You’re quite smart. A bountiful harvest year like last year is something you can only hope for, not seek! Purple Cloud Peak suffers a minor disaster every three years and a major disaster every ten years." When she mentioned the word ’disaster,’ a playful yet angry expression appeared on her aged face. However, it vanished in a flash.
"What kind of disasters are there?"
"A minor disaster every three years refers to drought, while a major disaster every ten years refers to an insect plague!"
"An insect plague?!"
Chen Mo could understand a drought; it just meant they had to water the fields more. But what was an insect plague? It was true that there were Insects in the Spirit Fields, but it shouldn’t be enough to form a plague!
"Your Realm is very important, and Magic is equally important. If you have some spare cash..." Wang Lixia stopped herself right as the words reached her lips.
Spare cash? How could he possibly have spare cash?
"What about spare cash?"
Faced with his persistent questioning, she eventually spilled it. "With spare cash, you could buy a manual for the Geng Metal Finger. Compared to the Flaming Palm, it is exceptionally effective at killing Insects."
The Geng Metal Finger? Chen Mo had specifically kept an eye out for it the last time he visited the Marketplace. However, he wasn’t financially comfortable, so he hadn’t considered it.
"Senior, since the Geng Metal Finger is better, why does the Marketplace equip Spirit Plant Cultivators with the Flaming Palm?" Chen Mo was somewhat puzzled.
"Heh," Wang Lixia sneered. "Do you think they are all good people?!"
After saying this, she spoke no more. For the rest of the journey, Chen Mo constantly pondered the meaning behind her words. Gradually, a terrifying thought surfaced in his mind.
...
Near noon, the two arrived at the Ancient Dust Marketplace. Unlike the bustling scene during his last visit, the Marketplace was much quieter now. The Spirit Plant Cultivators had returned to their respective fields, and naturally, there were fewer Loose Cultivators coming and going.
Wang Lixia waited at the entrance of the Marketplace while Chen Mo went to Niu’s Shop alone. The Guard at the door stopped him. It took a great deal of effort before he was finally announced to Wei Wuwei inside the shop. When Wei Wuwei came out and saw him, he was quite surprised. "Weren’t you scheduled to come pick up your seeds next month?"
Chen Mo cupped his fists and said, "Boss Wei, the Spirit Plant Cultivator next door to me hasn’t appeared for over two months. It’s already the season to plow the fields. I’m afraid that if I don’t act soon, that land will go to waste."
"Next door? Which Cultivator?" Wei Wuwei frowned. Although he kept track of the Spirit Fields in the Marketplace, he couldn’t possibly know every single Spirit Plant Cultivator inside out. Thus, there were occasionally cases where Spirit Plant Cultivators went missing and the Spirit Fields were left barren.
"Yin Zheng."
"Yin Zheng? He should be renting two acres," Wei Wuwei pondered, muttering to himself. "Thank you for coming all this way to remind me, Fellow Daoist Chen! It looks like I need to scout for a new Spirit Plant Cultivator."
At this moment, Chen Mo took a step forward and spoke frankly. "Boss Wei, I wonder if I might be able to rent that Spirit Field!"
"You?" Wei Wuwei looked at him in astonishment.