Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Facing such a delicate female cultivator, extending the most gentle and inviting voice, Lu Xuan found it impossible to feel any hint of attraction.
Suppressing his eager curiosity, he reassured Mrs. Wang, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. Are you sure there are strange sounds at home?"
"I've heard it more than once, a particularly eerie sound, terrifying to listen to. My heart's been pounding nonstop since then," Mrs. Wang replied, her delicate hand pressed against her chest.
Following her gesture, Lu Xuan noticed a large expanse of plump snow-white.
"...Sister-in-law, are you using this to test a spirit plant master?" he muttered inwardly, continuing to inquire, "Did Brother Wang leave any defensive talismans or formations in the courtyard for you?"
"We have those."
Hearing her response, Lu Xuan frowned slightly.
"Since Brother Wang left you protective talismans and formations, why come to me?"
"Your cultivation is at the second level, mine is at the third. Besides, you're just a spirit plant master, not skilled in combat. Our strengths are similar."
"Sorry, I can't help you. I suggest you either find Brother Wang or stay at home, relying on formations and artifacts until he returns."
Lu Xuan was straightforward.
"But... I'm a weak woman. I'm afraid to stay at home... Little Brother Lu..." Mrs. Wang pleaded weakly, appearing pitiful.
"Bang!"
The closing sound of the courtyard gate answered her.
Persistently, Mrs. Wang pleaded a few more times from outside, but Lu Xuan remained unmoved, heading straight into the house.
Soon, tranquility returned outside the courtyard.
Listening carefully and hearing no sounds for a while, Lu Xuan relaxed.
He couldn't confirm if Mrs. Wang's words were true or false.
If true, her house indeed had strange sounds, risking danger by going in, and being alone in a room with a woman, it would be hard to explain if Brother Wang returned.
If false, Mrs. Wang was either trying to entice him or had ulterior motives.
Among these possibilities, the likelihood of falsehood far outweighed the truth. After all, it made no sense not to seek help from her fifth-level cultivation husband but instead seek aid from a third-level stranger cultivator.
"Huh, female cultivators!"
"They only hinder my farming speed!"
Lu Xuan sneered, dismissing the matter from his mind.
Over the next two or three days, everything was calm.
Observing carefully, Lu Xuan noticed neither Brother Wang nor Mrs. Wang showing any unusual behavior or coming to find him.
He didn't know if they had successfully dealt with the so-called strange sounds or if it was entirely fabricated.
With no disturbances, Lu Xuan enjoyed leisure, nurturing spirit plants daily, watching the Three-Tailed Red Whiskered Carps vie for spirit rice at the Spiritual Spring poolside.
Occasionally, he amused himself with the Cloud-Stepping Lynx cubs. Their occasional calls still carried a distinctive, rough, and robust tone.
After a few days, under Lu Xuan's careful care, four Spirit Firefly Grass plants entered complete maturity.
Among them, two were of good quality, one superior, and one perfect.
From observing the thirteen mature Spirit Firefly Grass plants, Lu Xuan realized achieving a perfect-quality Spirit Firefly Grass wasn't simple.
He believed he had maximized his cultivation efforts, yet the chance of producing a perfect-quality plant remained small.
Four Spirit Firefly Grass plants yielded four faintly shimmering white light clusters.
"Harvested one Spirit Firefly Grass plant, gained six months' worth of cultivation."
With this thought, Lu Xuan's spiritual power surged, stabilizing his fifth-level cultivation.
"Harvested one Spirit Firefly Grass plant, gained an Explosive Flame Talisman."
As the white light cluster was absorbed, a thought flashed in Lu Xuan's mind.
A fiery red talisman appeared in his hand, inscribed with peculiar patterns, resembling a raging flame when linked together. Holding it, he felt a slight burning sensation.
Lu Xuan stowed it away in his storage bag.
He never underestimated talismans. Although a Explosive Flame Talisman was equivalent to an attack from a low or mid-level cultivator, its killing power was limited. However, in large quantities and when used together, their effect was extraordinary.
During Qin Ming's ambush at the fourth cultivation level, the numerous talismans Lu Xuan accumulated played a crucial role.
"Harvested one Spirit Firefly Grass plant, gained the Earth Attraction Technique."
As this thought passed, Lu Xuan's understanding of the Earth Attraction Technique's principles, execution speed, and control deepened. It was as if he had performed it hundreds or thousands of times in an instant.
He vaguely felt he had mastered the Earth Attraction Technique to a great extent.
From minutely changing the terrain's gravel size to, with sufficient spiritual power, even causing seismic shifts.
The two superior-quality plants brought forth talismans and techniques, meeting Lu Xuan's expectations.
He glanced at the last white light cluster from the perfect-quality Spirit Firefly Grass, anticipating more.
"Harvested one Spirit Firefly Grass plant, gained a Grade One treasure, Thunderfire Bead."
The white light cluster vanished, leaving a fist-sized bead in front of Lu Xuan.
The bead glowed fiery red, with numerous dark red lines on its surface, and a faint glimpse of lightning within.
"The Thunderfire Bead, a Grade One treasure, can unleash surging thunder and fire power instantly when used."
"The bead has limited uses of thunder and fire power. After depletion, it can be recharged in certain special spiritual environments."
"A consumable treasure that can recharge thunder and fire energy, but it seems challenging to find suitable recharging locations."
Lu Xuan contemplated the Thunderfire Bead in his palm.
Unlike conventional artifacts, although consumable, it was different from one-time-use talismans. It had more uses and could be recharged for repetitive use.
This made its value much higher than same-grade talismans.
"It truly befits a perfect-quality spirit plant, harvesting such a Grade One treasure from a spirit grass without a grade."
Previously, the Grade One Broken Silver Blade was obtained after collecting numerous Moon Erosion Fruits. Though the Thunderfire Bead's value was slightly lower, it came from a single mature Spirit Firefly Grass.
This demonstrated the significance of perfect-quality spirit plants.
Among this batch, Lu Xuan obtained four perfect-quality Spirit Firefly Grass plants.
One provided a year's cultivation, one brought a Grade Two sword talisman, and another contained a Grass Spirit Essence condensed with abundant plant essence.
This new one, refusing to be outdone, yielded the Thunderfire Bead.
Comparatively, the cultivation gains from other quality Spirit Firefly Grass ranged from three to nine months, primarily Grade One talismans, no Grade One techniques, with the best being the Grade One Metal Vajra Sword Art.
"I must work harder on farming, not just for the allure of perfect-level rewards."
"I simply want to experience the weighty harvest after toiling diligently."
Lu Xuan stowed the Thunderfire Bead in his storage bag, determined.
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