Qing'an Town, the residence of the Qing Xuan Sect, remained bustling as ever, with a large number of spirit plant cultivators lining up to pay the field rent.
Finally, it was Old Man Zhang's and Li Mu's turn. Old Man Zhang paid the rent of seven bags of Spirit Rice and immediately brought up the matter of subleasing the Spirit Field to the management disciple.
"Kid, I recognize you. You already have one acre of Spirit Field under your name. Can you handle managing two acres at the same time?" The management disciple looked at Li Mu and immediately recognized him as the kid who was forced to sell Spirit Rice yesterday.
"No problem, I'll just cut down on some cultivation time." Li Mu replied with a smile.
"Alright then!" The management disciple had nothing more to say and proceeded to handle the sect land subleasing matters for them.
After signing his name on the contract drafted by the management disciple, the Spirit Field leased under Old Man Zhang's name and the courtyard where he lived were officially subleased to Li Mu.
"Thank you, Brother Zhao. Let's go to the Drunken Old Man Inn, I'll treat you to a good meal." Old Man Zhang said cheerfully and enthusiastically.
"Then I won't be polite about it!" Li Mu responded with a delighted smile; he hadn't enjoyed the delicacies of this world beyond simple fare.
"It's necessary. I'll tidy up the courtyard tomorrow and move out." Old Man Zhang felt immense gratitude towards Li Mu and was already heading toward the wagon, preparing to take him to the town's tavern to celebrate.
Recently, numerous spirit plant cultivators wanted to sublease their Spirit Fields, yet seeing their miserable situation, no newcomers dared to step in, so they could only continue farming for the sect.
Soon, the two pushed the wagon to the corner by the entrance of the Drunken Old Man Inn and entered the small tavern.
"Waiter, bring me a plate of pine nut steamed Spirit Fish, let's stew a Ginseng Spirit Chicken, make a plate of river shrimp, and serve a pot of Spirit Rice." Entering the shop, Old Man Zhang found a seat, sat down, and ordered generously from the waiter.
"Brother Zhao, is there anything else you'd like to eat? Order whatever you want, don't be shy with me." After speaking, Old Man Zhang looked at Li Mu and asked.
"No need, no need! That's enough to eat!" Li Mu quickly signaled with his hands, realizing with alarm that ordering Ginseng Spirit Chicken and steamed Spirit Fish could cost up to ten Lower Spirit Stones. Old Man Zhang was insane!
"Don't worry, enjoy the meal! I'll treat this time. Once we're back in the Mortal World, I'll have no chance of tasting these spiritual food delicacies in my lifetime. Today, I want to feast to my heart's content." Old Man Zhang laughed self-deprecatingly, indicating this.
"Why would that be? Elder Zhang will have plenty of opportunities to eat in the future." Li Mu, unsure how to comfort him, could only speak perfunctorily.
Old Man Zhang smiled, choosing not to continue this topic. Instead, he retrieved a hemp-wrapped package from his chest and handed it to Li Mu. "Haven't you always been curious about how I performed the Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill, and Spirit Rain could last so long? Inside here there's a cultivation technique: Profound Water Technique, insights into cultivating Clear Wind Rain Summoning Skill, as well as my essential records on nurturing Spirit Plants over these years. I'm giving them all to you."
"Such precious inheritance, aren't you taking it back to the Mortal World? What if later generations possess Spirit Roots, and they can use them." Li Mu's expression turned serious as he questioned, deferring.
"Forget it! Bringing these things back to the Mortal World will only increase trouble. It might even attract fatal disaster, so it's better for you to keep them. If, in the future, any of my descendants discover Spirit Roots, I'll have them come to you. Then, if you can help, do so; if you can't, that's okay too." Old Man Zhang thought deeply, advising Li Mu.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu nodded, accepting the package and promising, "No problem, if any of your descendants come looking for me in the future, I will certainly offer help."
"Haha! That's right! Waiter, why aren't the dishes served yet? Bring another pot of Cui Ling Wine." Old Man Zhang laughed heartily, turning to wave at the waiter.
"Table 3, add a pot of Cui Ling Wine! Here it comes! Sir, your food is on the way!" The waiter, carrying dishes, turned to notify the shopkeeper and quickly set the table with food.
Soon, a table full of fragrant, spiritually rich dishes was set, along with a pot of Cui Ling Wine worth ten Lower Spirit Stones, the taste of which was unmatched.
The jade-green wine, crystal-clear and vivid.
A cup of Cui Ling Wine went down into his stomach, the rich sweet and sour aroma of the wine, the dense Spiritual Qi spread in his mouth, making Li Mu shiver, as the spirit wine flowed in warm streams throughout his body, cozy, uplifting the soul as if reaching an elevated state.
"Great wine, so satisfying!" Old Man Zhang shouted aloud with delight, revealing a smile of satisfaction, mixed with regret, helplessness, and loss—like bidding farewell to a chapter of his life, yet also, as if picking up a new kind of life.
Li Mu couldn't comprehend Old Man Zhang's complex emotions, so he quietly drank with him, somewhat worried about Old Man Zhang becoming drunk and being unable to pay for this meal.
A pot of Cui Ling Wine wasn't much, about three to four ounces. Li Mu drank two cups, while Old Man Zhang finished the rest.
Only then, occasionally discovering the effect of Cui Ling Wine, did Li Mu truly regret.
[You have consumed Cui Ling Wine, your divine sense has received a slight enhancement.]
[You have consumed Cui Ling Wine, your divine sense has received a slight enhancement.]
...
What's going on! Cui Ling Wine also has the effect of boosting divine sense?
Li Mu inadvertently glanced at the character display screen, and saw a sudden log entry, quickly looking at the remaining Cui Ling Wine in his cup, staring at the wine.
Soon, the Innate Divine Power - Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits activated, with the virtual screen showing an information introduction.
[Cui Ling Wine]
[Grade: Tier One Spirit Wine.]
[Attributes: Soothing the spirit, micro-supply of spiritual power.]
[Refined from Cui Ling Fruit and Mist Herb, moderate consumption can enhance a weak divine sense and recover true essence of spiritual power.]
So, Cui Ling Wine has the effect of enhancing weak divine sense—no wonder so many cultivators love this spirit wine, and why it's sold at such a high price.
With this realization, Li Mu determined to cultivate Cui Ling Fruit in the future, if the opportunity arises, to obtain the brewing formula of Cui Ling Wine.
Yesterday, Li Mu cultivated the Quenching God Technique all night, successfully getting this cultivation technique to entry-level and logged into his character's skill display, with proficiency requirements emerging.
However, the Quenching God Technique, this divine sense cultivation technique, was highly challenging to cultivate, requiring time and patience, grinding slowly, sometimes, cultivation would be interrupted when falling into divine separation.
Li Mu cultivated for a whole night without enhancing proficiency in the Quenching God Technique, let alone sensing an increase in divine sense power.
If Cui Ling Wine could assist cultivation, the progress of the Quenching God Technique cultivation and the rate of divine sense power enhancement should accelerate greatly, thinking so, Li Mu couldn't stay still.
After a hearty meal with the bill paid by Old Man Zhang, Li Mu escorted him home and returned to the courtyard, retrieving two bags of Spirit Rice from the warehouse, preparing to sell them at the market and use the Spirit Stones gained to buy Spirit Seed of Cui Ling Fruit.