I Practice Farming While the Rest Cultivates

Staring intently at the surface of the Verdant Calabash, he could feel a piercing intent coming at him.

As Lu Xuan gently shook it, the vague sound of sword cries could be heard from within the gourd, as though a great deal of Sword Qi was fiercely swirling inside.

“What is this…?”

Shi Zhong and another looked curiously at the Nurturing Sword Gourd in Lu Xuan’shand.

“This is a Nurturing Sword Gourd, a three-rank Spirit Plant that I cultivated with my own hands. Its quality is outstanding.”

“Although it’s not exclusive to our Sect, it’s not commonly found elsewhere. It nurtures invisible Sword Qi within, highly lethal and not inferior to many other three-rank Flying Swords.”

“How about it, would you two like to exchange the Spirit Gathering True Liquid for this Nurturing Sword Gourd?”

As Lu Xuan casually tossed the Nurturing Sword Gourd in his hand, fine strands of Sword Qi occasionally dispersed from within the gourd.

The two men were intrigued upon seeing the extraordinary features of the Nurturing Sword Gourd.

Their intention for this visit was to invite Lu Xuan to an unnamed small island to hunt demon beasts and search for treasures like Spirit Gathering True Liquid. Although Lu Xuan politely declined, it didn’t greatly affect the two men. Moreover, the value of a third-rank Nurturing Sword Gourd evidently outweighs that of a same-rank Spirit Gathering True Liquid.

“Friend Lu, you’ll be losing quite a bit if you exchange the Nurturing Sword Gourd for Spirit Gathering True Liquid,” Shi Zhong reminded him.

“It doesn’t matter. You two have traveled far and undergone hardships, risking yourselves to obtain this three-rank Spirit Gathering True Liquid for me. It’s not a big deal if I lose a little,” said Lu Xuan, squinting and smiling.

“Alright then, please wait for our good news, Friend Lu. Rest assured, we will definitely bring back the Spirit Gathering True Liquid,” Shi Zhong and the other promised Lu Xuan.

They didn’t stay long in Lu Xuan’s small courtyard. After some idle chatter, exchanging cultivation insights and island stories, they left together.

Watching the two of them fly away on their Flying Swords and disappear into the horizon, the smile on Lu Xuan’s face broadened.

“Having other cultivators help retrieve the items I need and then swapping treasures with them—it’s like unlocking a new modifier.”

“There’s no choice. Despite having many treasures and methods, I’m still an insignificant and helpless Spirit Plant Master. I should keep as low a profile as possible.”

Lu Xuan silently pondered. This action allowed him to get what he wanted without bearing any risk, all he needed to part with was the cultivated Nurturing Sword Gourd.

He had plenty of treasures, but few of them were suitable for trading with Shi Zhong and the other.

The Wind-Thunder Sword, Great Sun Sword Charms, and other fourth-rank Sword Symbols, as well as the Hidden Spirit Cloak and Fengyue Yuyin, were all important to him. Whilst the Soul Lantern, Thousand Masks, and Vitality Pill were of sufficient value, these were objects of Yin evil. Offering them rashly might arouse their suspicions.

Meanwhile, the Nurturing Sword Gourd itself was not particularly useful for Lu Xuan right now. Plus, there were currently three plants growing in the Sky Sword Sect Cave Mansion that would yield over ten when fully mature. He wouldn’t feel too bad about using a few.

As for the gourd being worth more than the Spirit Gathering True Liquid he wanted, there was nothing he could do about that. After all, he was the one needing a favor. Naturally, Shi Zhong and the other wouldn’t agree if he offered items of equal or fewer value in exchange.

But this was only the case on the surface. For Lu Xuan, aside from its basic value, the Spirit Gathering True Liquid had a tremendously valuable additional use.

It could be used to cultivate five-rank Dragon Bone Herb, which would contribute great merits towards collecting the substantial Light Cluster rewards later.

If the reward for a fourth-rank Xuan Insect Vine was like this, what about a fifth-rank Dragon Bone Herb? Wouldn’t the rewards skyrocket?

“Shi Zhong and the other earn a Nurturing Sword Gourd, and I earn Light Cluster rewards. It’s win-win.”

A self-satisfied Lu Xuan thought to himself.

Deep in the Boundless Sea.

Mighty waves surged skyward, and from the depths of the sea emerged giant beasts, dozens of feet long, frolicking at will.

Suddenly, the spiritual energy on the surface of the sea fluctuated intensely, giving rise to a boundless vortex, and a water-wall stretching more than a hundred miles emerged from it.

The water-wall kept rising, forming an island reaching thousands of feet high. Through the dense water-wall, one could faintly make out a massive palace inside.

On the surface of the water-wall, countless phantom flood dragons were swirling and dancing around in an imposing manner, visible from hundreds of miles away.

“What…what is this?”

“Could it be a secret land emerging?”

“Hurry up! Before the cultivators notice, rush to that island and seize the opportunity.”

The many cultivators in the nearby marine areas couldn’t calm their hearts after witnessing this spectacle.

Such an anomaly clearly indicated the extraordinary nature of the island behind the water-wall. If one could seize the opportunity and enter it first, acquiring huge opportunities, it might be possible to rise rapidly and skyrocket to success!

With this thought, most cultivators lost their composure instantly. Regardless of their lower or middle-level Qi cultivation, they rushed toward the expansive water-wall like moths to a flame.

“It’s here.”

On the Stone Island, a blood-robed cultivator flew out of a dim cave. He felt the immense fluctuation of spiritual energy, looked in the direction of the water-wall island, and mumbled to himself.

“Surely there must be numerous restrictive formations outside the secret land.

I need to prepare well.”

“Given the huge commotion, I bet quite a few cultivators from the island will go and explore.”

The stout cultivator’s seemingly boneless arms continuously differentiated into soft tentacles, burrowed into the gray grave mound, and withdrew gray corpse puppets.

“We are both in the late-term of the Foundation Establishment Realm, what else do we need to prepare for? Even if all the cultivators on this island were to unite, they may not be a match for us.”

“Kill whoever comes. Kill a pair if two come. I will avenge my King Worm of

Blood – Coagulating Yin Worm.”

The blood-robed cultivator snorted coldly.

In the small courtyard, sword lights crisscrossed amidst the occasional howls of wind and peals of thunder.

Lu Xuan was practicing sword techniques with the Wind -Thunder Sword.

Due to his limited talents and a short period of cultivation, both “Starlight Swordsmanship” and “Thousand Owl Sword Classic” were still in their early stages, even though he used them multiple times to cultivate the corresponding sword grass. Neither the potency of the sword techniques, nor the speed and fluency of their execution, were satisfactory.

As for the “Four Seasons Sword Art”, it was relatively easier to practice. After years of cultivating the sword grass with the sword technique and acquiring corresponding sword intents from the sword grass light cluster, Lu Xuan’s understanding and control over it was profound and thorough.

Combined with the Fourth Grade Wind Thunder Sword, it was even more complementary.

The Wind-Thunder Sword carried a powerful force of wind and thunder. Swinging it created black winds and thunderclaps. Applying different sword intents resulted in a wide array of extraordinary effects.

The Spring Rain Sword Art produced a continuous sword intent. The gentle black wind seemed to insidiously infiltrate deep to the bone. Occasional changes in the sword’s stance brought thunderous sounds that raced like lightning.

The Summer Day Sword Art stirred up a fierce wind, as if black clouds were pressing down on the city, amidst flashes of lightning and thunder, and the wild sword intent concealed a strike that could shake the heavens.

The Autumn Wind Sword Art merged the black wind and sword intent into an austere, grim, and hidden murderous intent.

The Winter Snow Sword Art, combined with the sword’s natural bone-penetrating chillness and the blowing of the black wind, unwittingly slowed down the bodies of enemies. Their divine souls felt nearly frozen, and even the power of thunder and electricity carried a chilly breath.

The more Lu Xuan danced, the smoother and more natural his movements became. He switched freely between the four kinds of sword techniques, and the black wind on the Wind-Thunder Sword grew more intense.

In the end, with a clanging sound, he inserted the Wind-Thunder Sword back into the Nurturing Xuan Sword Sheath.

Sword Qi stirred and the wind danced wildly.

“The wind has started to blow.”