Chapter 61: 10 Mu of Spirit Field, Obtained!
Chapter 61: Chapter 61: 10 Mu of Spirit Field, Obtained!
"Dead? But he was a Qi Refining Third Layer Cultivator!" He Zhiping muttered under his breath. He couldn’t fathom who a simple Spirit Plant Cultivator could have possibly offended to end up murdered.
"Hmph!" Wei Wuwei scoffed coldly. "Instead of tending to his fields properly, he just had to get crooked ideas and become a Tribulation Cultivator! He deserved to be killed."
Hearing this, the heavy stone in Chen Mo’s heart finally dropped. Although he didn’t know how the Marketplace had found out, now that Xiao Changhua’s death had been officially classified, the investigation would never trace back to him.
However, the whole ordeal still left him with lingering fear. When he visited the Marketplace next year, he definitely had to find a way to acquire a Magic spell capable of destroying a corpse and erasing all traces. Next time, he would make sure to scatter even the ashes completely clean!
While Chen Mo was still lost in thought, Wei Wuwei cut to the chase.
"Who is willing to contract these ten acres of Spirit Fields?" Being stuck with this errand put him in a foul mood. Not only was it a waste of time that delayed his Cultivation, but he also had to explain everything to a bunch of Spirit Plant Cultivators—some of whom actually had the nerve to haggle!
"Ten acres, this year?" He Zhiping’s friend, Miao Chen, asked in surprise.
"That’s right. Of course, you can also split the lease." Taking on an extra ten acres all at once was truly not something an ordinary Spirit Plant Cultivator could afford. What was more, the real catch was yet to come!
"I’ll lease two acres!" Miao Chen was the first to speak up. He quickly tugged at He Zhiping’s sleeve, signaling for him to contract a few acres as well. However, the latter didn’t rush to make a commitment. Instead, he asked, "Then... what about the tax grain owed on these ten acres of Spirit Fields?"
"Naturally, it must be paid," Wei Wuwei replied indifferently. This was exactly why Purple Cloud Peak had personally issued the order! They had already given these Spirit Plant Cultivators a one-year grace period for their tax grain; it was impossible to reduce it any further next year!
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd that had just been eager to try instantly got cold feet. If this year’s tax grain fell on the newly contracted Spirit Plant Cultivators, it meant that the entire quota of 200 catties of Spirit Yellow Rice per acre would have to be handed over! Not only that, the 20 catties owed to the Marketplace would also have to be paid.
Didn’t that mean that no matter how many acres of these Spirit Fields they cultivated, they wouldn’t earn a single grain for themselves, and after a whole year of grueling labor, they would actually operate at a loss?! Furthermore, the more they contracted, the more they would lose. No Spirit Plant Cultivator with half a brain would ever agree to such a thing!
As long as one’s strength was sufficient, they could always find Spirit Fields to cultivate. This year was already a disaster year, which had delayed their Cultivation. For them to face guaranteed losses the following year on top of that? Who in their right mind would take this deal?
"Although you won’t see any benefits next year, you’ll be able to keep more grain every year after that, won’t you?" Wei Wuwei began to coax them patiently. This was the most difficult part of the whole affair. Otherwise, why would it be considered a thankless errand?
No one answered. Who could predict the future? What if they cultivated it for just one year, only to be hit by a drought or a pest plague in the second or third year? Wouldn’t they lose even more then?
"How about this!" Wei Wuwei began to dangle a carrot. "For these ten acres, the Marketplace will waive the rent next year!"
An exemption of 20 catties per acre was no small amount. But even so, that would only guarantee they wouldn’t take a loss on the rent next year. What about the manpower, material resources, and seeds? Those costs still had to be factored in.
At this moment, whether it was He Zhiping, Miao Chen, or the other Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivators, everyone hesitated, not daring to speak up lightly. As for a Qi Refining First Layer Cultivator like Lan Ling, wanting to take on more Spirit Fields at a time like this would be nothing short of a death wish.
The scene fell into a dead silence.
At this moment, Wei Wuwei finally turned his gaze toward Chen Mo. "Fellow Daoist Chen, from what I saw just now, you’re already at the Qi Refining Third Layer, aren’t you?"
"Thanks to Shopkeeper Wei’s patronage, it was just a stroke of luck."
Almost instantly, Lan Ling, He Zhiping, and the others all snapped their heads to look at him! Their slightly parted lips could hardly conceal their expressions of absolute shock.
Qi Refining Third Layer?! How was that possible! How long had he even been engaging in Cultivation? Yet he was already at the Qi Refining Third Layer! At this speed, he was practically catching up to the Cultivators of the Cyan Yang Sect! Could it be that he actually possessed Cultivation Immortal talent?
He Zhiping looked like he had swallowed a fly. Three years ago, this guy was just a brat he could easily push around. If it hadn’t been for that damn old hag protecting him, he would have taught the kid a harsh lesson long ago. He never expected that three years later, not only would the brat’s strength advance by leaps and bounds, but his Realm would even surpass his own!
As for Lan Ling, her initial shock quickly melted into a faint blush. Her gaze toward Chen Mo grew much softer, as if she were genuinely fantasizing about becoming his Dao Companion. At this very moment, she had even picked out names for their future children: a boy would be called Chen Xiaolan, and a girl would be named Chen Xiaoling...
A smile graced Wei Wuwei’s face. "Out of these ten acres, you contract five. How about it?"
Since he was asking personally, he figured the young man wouldn’t dare refuse. After all, he was the one who had introduced Chen Mo to become a Spirit Plant Cultivator in the first place! It could be said that Chen Mo owed all of his current achievements entirely to him!
"Since Shopkeeper Wei has spoken, how could I possibly refuse?"
"Good, then the rest..."
"Wait!" Chen Mo suddenly interjected.
Wei Wuwei’s expression stiffened, revealing his displeasure. "You already agreed. What? Are you trying to back out now?"
The corners of the other Spirit Plant Cultivators’ mouths curled upward. He had no business biting off more than he could chew! He had agreed so readily, and now how long had it been? One breath? Two breaths? And he was already going back on his word?
Eager for some drama, this group of Spirit Plant Cultivators couldn’t wait to see how Shopkeeper Wei would deal with him!
"Back out? How could I? I would never refuse a request from Brother Wei," Chen Mo said with a laugh.
"Then what do you mean by telling me to ’wait’?" Wei Wuwei was a little confused.
"Brother Wei, I remember you once told me that a Tribulation Cultivator’s head is worth ten taels of Spiritual Sand."
A Tribulation Cultivator? A head?
In a daze, Wei Wuwei vaguely recalled that there was indeed such a thing. "Did I?" Was this kid asking him for Spiritual Sand?
"If Brother Wei can recall it, then I’ll contract all ten of the remaining acres!"
GASP!
The surrounding crowd gasped in sheer disbelief. Did this kid have a death wish? That was ten acres of Spirit Fields—was he really going to work for free for a whole year? Did he plan on abandoning his Cultivation entirely?
Just as the others were thoroughly bewildered and even considered Chen Mo foolish, He Zhiping suddenly realized something.
He thought, "Wait a minute! He was the one managing these ten acres of Spirit Fields this year, too.
"That means he already has the ability to cultivate fifteen acres simultaneously!"
He Zhiping wanted to speak up and point this out, but just as he turned his head, he met Chen Mo’s icy glare. The look sent shivers down his spine. It felt as if... as if the moment he opened his mouth, he would drop dead on the spot!
He Zhiping gulped heavily, swallowing the words right back down his throat.
Wei Wuwei chuckled softly. He pulled a Sachet from his robes, poured out ten taels of Spiritual Sand, and tossed it over. "Look at my terrible memory. If Fellow Daoist Chen hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten completely!"
Chen Mo mirrored his laughter. "Not at all! Who in the Marketplace doesn’t know how generous Shopkeeper Wei is?"
"Good! Then these ten acres of Spirit Fields are yours."
"You got it!"