Chapter 159 - 144: Miasma

Chapter 159: Chapter 144: Miasma

’So that’s why Senior Brother Ma is always going to Ten Thousand Serpent Lake Island. This must be the reason...’

He was certainly no stranger to that voice; in fact, it had left quite an impression on him.

A face that could frighten a crying child into silence wasn’t one you’d easily forget.

Besides, this man was a true Spirit Plant Master.

Ke Jing’s eyes gleamed as he wondered if he should go and see the man too. ’Even if I don’t get anything else,’ he thought, ’snagging a stalk or two of Tier Two Spirit Medicine would be great.’

He’d asked around before and learned that Spirit Plant Masters always get a cut of the Spirit Medicines they cultivate.

’Li Changsheng is only at the Qi Cultivation realm; there’s no way he can use Tier Two Spirit Medicine.’

’That old fox...’

Ke Jing stewed on it for a moment, unable to stop himself from cursing inwardly.

Steward Ma probably had the same idea—they were both after Li Changsheng’s share of the Spirit Medicine.

Now that Steward Ma had the first-mover advantage, he probably wouldn’t get much out of it if he went now.

Ke Jing’s fingers tapped on the table as he muttered to himself, "How can I..."

Let’s not dwell on Ke Jing’s scheming.

「Meanwhile.」

Li Changsheng and Steward Ma walked together toward the southern part of the Spiritual Land.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Changsheng handed Steward Ma a jade slip containing the records of the Spirit Medicines planted in the Ring Mountain Spiritual Land.

Noticing the steward’s confused look, Li Changsheng smiled and said, "Senior Brother Ma, this jade slip records the Spirit Medicines being grown in the Spiritual Land. Once they’re mature, would it be possible for you to give me some?"

Fearing Steward Ma might get the wrong idea, he explained, "I want to research them and see if I can use them to cultivate Tier Two Spirit Medicine."

Hearing this, Steward Ma nodded and agreed without a moment’s hesitation. "No problem." He paused, then added with some difficulty, "But it won’t be a large quantity, of course. You know how it is, if it’s too much..."

"It’s fine. I’m just doing some research, so I won’t need much," Li Changsheng said, shaking his head with a smile.

Although he didn’t believe Li Changsheng would discover anything, he still offered a smile and some praise. "With your heaven-sent talent for Spirit Plants, Junior Brother, I’m sure you can do it."

Li Changsheng chuckled. "I’m just going to give it a try."

The two of them walked past one Spirit Field after another.

As Li Changsheng listed them off, Steward Ma recorded every Spirit Plant he mentioned.

Time passed slowly.

By noon, they had recorded basically all the Spirit Medicines planted in the Spirit Fields.

Although there were some repeats among the Spirit Medicines planted across the several hundred acres of Spirit Fields, it still provided his Golden Finger with a wealth of information to record.

On the way back.

Li Changsheng suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, is there any news about Dong Xing and Fang Fan?"

Steward Ma knew that he and Dong Xing were good friends. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Their safety is guaranteed... It’s just that I’m afraid you won’t be seeing them again, Junior Brother."

Li Changsheng was relieved to hear the first part of that sentence, but he sighed at the end.

"Sigh... Is there no way to get them back from the Power Demon Sect? For instance, haven’t we attacked their Spiritual Land?"

"Ha..."

Steward Ma scoffed disdainfully. "Those muscle-bound louts? They don’t produce a thing. Now, if you’re talking spirit ore mines, they have plenty of those."

"Spiritual Land? Heh..."

"Hm?"

Li Changsheng looked puzzled. "They don’t cultivate Spirit Fields?"

Steward Ma nodded and explained, "Although the Bitter Prison Mountain has many Spirit Veins, they mostly yield spirit ores. There are Spirit Fields, but they are very, very rare..."

"Besides, most of their sect’s disciples are Body Cultivators. They’re good at breaking mountains and digging mines, not planting Spirit Fields."

Li Changsheng frowned. "Then what will happen to Dong Xing and Fang Fan?"

"Sold!" Steward Ma said bluntly.

Li Changsheng was stunned. "Sold? Sold where?"

"Er..."

Steward Ma’s expression stiffened. He answered vaguely, "Perhaps to a realm connected to the Power Demon Sect, or maybe they were taken even farther away by traveling merchants..."

Seeing his unnatural expression, an absurd theory suddenly formed in Li Changsheng’s mind.

The Power Demon Sect, the Cyan Yang Sect, and the Ten Thousand Poison Forest were all interconnected, occupying one corner of the Wanzhong Mountains Range.

’What about the other, boundless regions of the Wanzhong Mountains Range? Are they home to other Demon Sects, or... righteous sects?’

’Could Dong Xing and Fang Fan have been sold to the domain of a righteous sect?’

Of course, this was just speculation on his part.

Li Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then decided not to ask. Instead, he raised another question.

"Senior Brother Ma, since those two were abducted by the Power Demon Sect, will the sect provide any compensation?"

"Yes."

Steward Ma nodded. "But that matter is being handled by Steward Jin and Steward Ke. I don’t know the specifics."

"Oh."

Li Changsheng understood. He thought for a moment before adding, "I remember they were once granted three acres of Spirit Fields by Steward Lan, but those fields were destroyed by the Power Demon Sect..."

"So how is that being handled?"

Upon hearing this, it dawned on Steward Ma. He teased, "So that’s why you came down the mountain today, Junior Brother. You’re here to ask for benefits for your subordinates."

Li Changsheng held up his hands. "We were all neighbors, after all. And now that I’m in charge of their area, I can’t just turn a blind eye."

Steward Ma gave him a thumbs-up and sighed, "Having a steward like you is a blessing they must have earned over several lifetimes."

He thought for a moment, then smiled. "I’ll ask about it tomorrow. It shouldn’t be a problem."

Li Changsheng cupped his hands in a salute. "Then I thank you on their behalf, Senior Brother."

"You’re too polite, Junior Brother."

Steward Ma grinned and waved his hand dismissively.

’The issue of the Spirit Fields for Dong Xing and the others is really just a matter of will,’ Steward Ma thought. ’If we want to give them the fields, they can get them legitimately. But it would be just as easy to obstruct the process—it all comes down to a single word from the right person.’

’Now that Li Changsheng has spoken up, of course I’ll help make it happen.’

Just as Steward Ma was lost in thought...

Li Changsheng suddenly sighed, "Actually, there is one more thing I need to trouble you with, Senior Brother."

"Oh?"

Steward Ma’s attention snapped back. "What is it, Junior Brother?"

Li Changsheng stretched and said with a smile, "You remember how Elder Lan granted me those three acres of Spirit Fields? Well, I’ve planted them all with Concentration Flowers now."