You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 398: The Emperor Jujube

Huo Lin'er's visit was primarily to deliver the thousand Sword Seals to Lu Xuan and inform him about the forthcoming control over the incomplete secret realm, not lingering for too long.

Shortly after, he bid farewell and left.

Lu Xuan saw him off from the cave dwelling, watching as he transformed into a streak of crimson light that vanished into the horizon before returning inside.

Given Huo Lin'er's exceptional talent and formidable strength, and his initiative to extend a friendly gesture, Lu Xuan naturally couldn't ask for more.

He roughly assessed his current strength; with the myriad treasures at his disposal, he could easily handle two or three average late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. At full strength, even a larger number of late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't pose a problem.

Of course, the long-established members of the Sky Sword Sect were an exception.

Compared to the true disciples, there was still some distance, but he was close.

"However, once a few more fourth-grade spiritual plants mature in the cave dwelling, or perhaps even a fifth-grade plant, the gap shouldn't be much."

Lu Xuan's spiritual sense swept across the entire cave dwelling, feeling a bright future ahead.

Lu Xuan felt inclined to visit the Agricultural Hall.

After the maturation of the three Sword-Nurturing Gourds, he had more than a dozen of them and needed to find an opportunity to deal with them properly.

Previously cultivated spiritual plants like the Flame Fruit, Ice Gourd Fruit, and Enchanting Spirit Peaches were all internally consumed, feeding the various spiritual beasts, the White Ape, and the Phoenix Bird, two major protective spiritual beasts, or used for hosting guests.

The other matured spiritual plants were either exchanged for spiritual plants and other treasures, submitted to the Sword Hall or the Pill Hall, or were Yin realm plants that were difficult to handle.

The lotus seeds from the Earth Fire Heart Lotus and the sinister eyes produced by the Hundred-Eyed Enigmatic Wood were extravagantly reserved for his use.

Similarly, fourth-grade Spirit Nurturing Pine fruits, being too precious, were temporarily stored in the Gluttonous Insect Pouch.

He summoned the Wind Falcon, lightly leaped onto its broad back, and soared into the high winds. Along the way, whenever the Spirit Cranes recognized Lu Xuan's familiar silhouette, they flocked towards him, greeting him warmly.

Seeing this, the plump bird flapped its wide azure wings rapidly, its round belly shaping into a sleek droplet form, swiftly leaving the Spirit Cranes far behind.

Lu Xuan directed the plump bird to land in the plaza in front of the Agricultural Hall and entered the inner hall directly.

"Greetings, Senior Brother."

A square-faced young cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage saw Lu Xuan and greeted him respectfully.

"Good day, Junior Brother. I've recently advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and have specifically come to claim the corresponding sect benefits."

"Additionally, when I advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, I was entitled to choose the condensing method for a third-grade spiritual plant, which I hadn't decided on at the time. I wonder if it's still possible to make a selection now."

Lu Xuan inquired, having only obtained the condensing methods for second-grade Flame Fruit and Ice Gourd Fruit at the time. He had left the third-grade choice open until now due to indecision.

"Please hand me your identity token, Senior Brother. I need to confirm your status."

"Sure."

Lu Xuan removed the identity token from his waist and handed it to the young cultivator.

"So it's Senior Brother Lu!"

After the young cultivator scanned the black token with his spiritual sense and looked up, his tone was filled with surprise.

"I've long admired Senior Brother's reputation. I'd definitely like to learn from you about cultivating spiritual plants when I have the chance."

"No problem, you're welcome anytime," Lu Xuan nodded.

"Indeed, Senior Brother Lu, you can still select the condensing method for one third-grade spiritual plant."

"Moreover, you've yet to claim your mid-stage Foundation Establishment benefits."

The benefits for advancing to the mid-stage were the same as for the early stage: acquiring a fourth-grade spiritual seed, three third-grade spiritual seeds, and ten second-grade spiritual seeds.

Additionally, he would receive the condensing method for one third-grade and two second-grade spiritual plants.

"For the two third-grade plant condensing methods, I'll choose the Sword-Nurturing Gourd and Hidden Essence Grass."

Lu Xuan stated firmly.

The Sword-Nurturing Gourd consistently yielded fourth-grade sword talismans from its light orbs, while Hidden Essence Grass could produce third-grade Foundation Establishment pills, the pill recipe for Foundation Establishment pills, and Spirit Essence Pearls capable of restoring Green Wood Source Qi,

a primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment pills.

Lu Xuan was extremely satisfied with these two plants and made his choice without hesitation.

For the remaining two second-grade condensing methods, Lu Xuan chose randomly, considering future opportunities for improvement.

"As for the spiritual plants..."

Lu Xuan browsed through the jade manual in his hand, which displayed the images of various grades of spiritual plants, lifelike and detailed, with brief introductions underneath each.

If the image was illuminated, it meant there were ready sprouts or seeds available; if dim, it indicated a wait was necessary to acquire them.

"For the third-grade plants, please fetch me three Sword-Nurturing Gourd seeds. For the second-grade, five each of Flame Fruit and Ice Gourd Fruit seeds."

"As for the fourth-grade..."

Lu Xuan flipped through the manual, which listed over a dozen fourth-grade spiritual plants, including ones he had cultivated like the Earth Fire Heart Lotus, Profound Insect Vine, and Five-Element Fruit.

Possibly due to their rarity and the difficulty in condensing seeds, only a small portion of the fourth-grade plant images were illuminated.

The remaining fourth-grade seeds available for Lu Xuan to choose were only three, each with extremely high cultivation requirements.

After much consideration, Lu Xuan pointed to an image and said to the young cultivator:

"Let's go with this fourth-grade Emperor Jujube."

"Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Lu."

The young man went into the depths of the inner hall, returning hastily with floating spiritual seeds and jade slips in front of him.

"These are the spiritual seeds you requested, along with the four condensing methods. Please review them, Senior Brother."

After scanning them with his spiritual sense, Lu Xuan nodded.

"That's correct."

He accepted these items and purchased ten more Sword-Nurturing Gourd seeds from the Agricultural Hall before returning to the cave dwelling.

As soon as he passed through the formation, Lu Xuan went to the spiritual field and took out the fourth-grade Emperor Jujube seed.

The seed, a dull yellow jujube kernel, was etched with numerous deep and shallow spiritual lines, harboring an extremely dense earth elemental spiritual power, as if ready to burst forth from within.

He performed the Earth Attraction Technique, placing the dull yellow seed into the spiritual soil.

Focusing his mind on the shallowly buried kernel, a thought emerged in his mind.

【Emperor Jujube, a fourth-grade spiritual plant, requires cultivation with pure earth elemental spiritual power during its growth. It has stringent environmental demands and high expectations for spiritual soil.】

【Upon maturation, the spiritual fruit produced has a wide range of uses, aiding cultivators in practicing earth elemental techniques and mystical powers, accelerating cultivation, and crafting specific high-grade pills. It can also nourish certain types of demonic beasts.】

【When earth attains its utmost, it becomes emperor!】

"Fourth-grade spiritual plant, Emperor Jujube!"

"Another new variety of spiritual fruit has been added to the cave dwelling."

"While its applications seem broad, its limitations are not small, affecting only earth elemental demonic beasts and the field of pill crafting."

"With high growth environment demands, that's hardly an issue now. Am I not a cultivator about to possess an incomplete secret realm, afraid of not meeting the growth conditions of a mere fourth-grade spiritual plant?"