Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Continue Being a Spirit Plant Cultivator

Opportunity!

This might be Chen Mo’s only chance.

He held his breath and concentrated, pouring his entire being into Qi Crossing Breeding. With his current proficiency, as long as no one held a knife to his neck, it was impossible for him to make a mistake.

Soon, the ten catties of Spirit Rice were converted one by one.

"Here are five taels of Spirit Seeds." Chen Mo pushed the bred Spirit Seeds in front of Cui Ji.

The Steward inspected them and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Come with me!" he said, turning and walking away.

Song Yunxi stepped forward, throwing an arm around Chen Mo’s shoulder. "That scared the life out of me," he whispered.

"Thank you, Brother Song!" Chen Mo cupped his fists, expressing his gratitude with utmost sincerity.

If it weren’t for him, he would have been sent to the Immortal Cave Mansion within two days. By then, all of his efforts over the years would have vanished into thin air!

"Don’t mention it! What kind of relationship do we have? We’ve visited the Fragrance Pavilion together. Later..."

"A Breeder... I’m a Breeder too!"

"Me too!"

Among the crowd of Spirit Plant Cultivators who had just witnessed the scene, someone shouted out urgently. Perhaps this was their only hope! Seven or eight Spirit Plant Cultivators swarmed over, blocking Cui Ji’s path.

The Steward of the Niu Mansion furrowed his brows in displeasure. How dare these lowly wretches block his way on their own accord? Did they have a death wish?

"Breeders? What is your seed yield rate?"

"One... one hundred to one."

"Get lost!" Cui Ji glared at them, his voice dropping into a harsh reprimand.

"Mine is eighty to one!"

"Mine is eighty to one too!"

"Seventy!"

"Sixty!"

Cui Ji grew impatient with their bird-like chirping and chattering. "If any of you can match his yield rate of twenty to one, I’ll take you with me!"

"T-twenty to one?" The one who had first shouted ’one hundred’ was instantly rendered speechless.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Where did he get so much Spirit Rice to practice the Qi Crossing Technique?"

For a moment, the Spirit Plant Cultivators’ gazes toward Chen Mo were filled with doubt. They worked themselves to the bone, saving only a tiny amount of Spirit Rice each year specifically to practice the Qi Crossing Technique. Their goal was to one day cultivate this Magic to Minor Achievement, completely shedding their identities as Spirit Plant Cultivators and joining the Marketplace.

But after eight, nine, or even over a decade of years had passed, they were still hovering between entry-level and basic proficiency. Every step forward required a massive amount of Spirit Rice to feed their progress!

But how could they possibly have that much!

At this moment, the final glimmer of light in the eyes of the Spirit Plant Cultivators, which had just sparked with hope, was completely extinguished. What awaited them would be an endless abyss of despair!

Cui Ji let out a disdainful scoff, then left the side courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back.

Song Yunxi and Chen Mo quickly followed, finally stepping out of the pigpen-like courtyard.

The courtyard door closed.

It closed on the hopes of survival for the forty Spirit Plant Cultivators!

Only a step away, the line between life and death was drawn here!

Chen Mo let out a long sigh of relief. He felt incredibly fortunate that he had cultivated the Qi Crossing Technique and become a Breeder.

Cui Ji led the two of them to a wing room and unrolled the long scroll once again. Right in front of them, he used Spiritual Qi to erase Chen Mo’s name from it.

To them, writing or erasing a name was as effortless as lifting a hand. But without a valid reason, even Master Niu wouldn’t be able to do such a thing!

"Thank you, Steward Cui!" Song Yunxi tugged at the corner of Chen Mo’s clothes.

"Thank you, Steward Cui!" Chen Mo chimed in.

"I’m merely acting in accordance with the rules," Cui Ji said, giving Song Yunxi a meaningful look.

This matter could be considered doing him a favor. After all, Song Yunxi had an uncle serving as an Elder at Purple Cloud Peak! Furthermore, Breeders with a yield rate of thirty-to-one or better were naturally exempt from the conscription—this was something Purple Cloud Peak had specifically decreed. Therefore, Cui Ji didn’t even need to disturb the Pavilion Master; he handled the matter himself! Not to mention, the young man was sensible enough to slip him a Low Grade Spirit Stone!

"You’re too modest! Brother Chen and I will remember your kindness, Steward Cui!" Song Yunxi cupped his fists and thanked him again.

"Brother?"

"That’s right! Brother Chen and I have sworn an oath of brotherhood!"

Song Yunxi didn’t shy away from his relationship with Chen Mo. Through this incident, he had learned a truth. Instead of hiding it, it was better to openly declare it, which would also provide Brother Chen with some protection! Of course, the one protecting him wasn’t Song Yunxi himself, but the uncle standing behind him!

Cui Ji looked Chen Mo up and down before saying with a smile, "Good, very good. If Fellow Daoist Chen ever needs anything in the future, you can come find me anytime!"

If the other Spirit Plant Cultivators heard this, it would definitely cause a commotion. Who was this person standing before them? He was the Steward of the Master’s Mansion! Even if he wasn’t second only to one and above all others, a single stamp of his foot could still make the entire Marketplace tremble!

"Thank you, Steward Cui! Please forgive me if I trouble you in the future."

"Don’t mention it!"

The three exchanged a few more pleasantries before they finally took their leave from the Master’s Mansion.

As Chen Mo stepped over the threshold and exited the grand courtyard, a surreal feeling of surviving a disaster washed over him. Just half an hour ago, he was still worried about his own safety. He hadn’t expected the crisis to be so easily resolved in the blink of an eye.

"Brother Chen, you managed to turn peril into safety today, and by befriending Steward Cui, getting around the Marketplace will be much easier for you in the future."

Song Yunxi had no intention of telling him about spending a Low Grade Spirit Stone. In his eyes, what was spent was spent! There was absolutely no need to let the other party weigh it on their mind, or even try to pay him back.

"Brother Song! I owe all of this to your favor!" Chen Mo knew very well that the reason Cui Ji let him go—and even said those words—was entirely out of respect for Song Yunxi.

"Haha, since that’s the case, why don’t we go for a drink at the Fragrance Pavilion?"

"Sure! I’ll be the host today, how about it?" Chen Mo still had twenty-four taels of Spiritual Sand. If it was just for one night, it would be enough!

"Alright! I won’t hold back with you today!" Song Yunxi laughed loudly, not declining the offer at all.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder to the Fragrance Pavilion.

This was Chen Mo’s third time visiting this place, but today it felt as though the scenery remained while the people had changed. Hong Yan, who usually stood at the door to invite guests in, was nowhere to be seen.

Walking inside, a group of lovely courtesans sat in the main hall. Some were chatting, while others were focused on Cultivation, but there were hardly any guests in sight. The matters concerning Purple Cloud Peak had affected them as well. The Loose Cultivators had all been chased away—or rather, had fled. Who was left to patronize the business?

Bored out of their minds, the women immediately perked up and looked over upon hearing the approaching footsteps.

It was normal enough when they saw Song Yunxi. But when Yu Xi saw Chen Mo, her eyes filled with confusion. Glancing at Hong Yan, she noticed the other woman looked equally astonished.

"Isn’t he a Spirit Plant Cultivator?" Yu Xi asked.

Just moments ago, the two of them had been discussing how that interesting Spirit Plant Cultivator would likely fail to avoid the conscription, and whether he could return alive was an unknown. They hadn’t expected that in the blink of an eye, the very man would be standing right in front of them!

"Is he just an ordinary Spirit Plant Cultivator?" Hong Yan retorted.

By this time, she had already stood up and walked over to greet them with a smile.

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