Chapter 4: Introducing Business

"One Spirit Crystal per acre, that’s too expensive!" Old Man Lu tried to bargain.

"If not, forget it." Xu Ping turned to leave.

"Alright, alright!"

Seeing Xu Ping’s resolute attitude, Old Man Lu stomped his foot angrily: "Let’s do it your way, hurry up!"

Old Man Lu really had no choice.

Recently, expenses have been a bit high, saving a bit would be good.

Besides, he is proficient in the Spirit Rain Skill, so it shouldn’t be too bad... right?

Xu Ping turned back expressionlessly: "So it’s settled, you must pay your debt."

He laughed inwardly.

He deliberately revealed his proficiency in the Spirit Rain Skill in front of Old Man Lu.

Although Old Man Lu is greedy and lustful, he has been an agricultural cultivator for decades, with extensive connections and quite adept at dealing with people.

With his help, Xu Ping’s money-making plan could be much easier.

However, in order to hold the leading position in future transactions, his recent performance was necessary.

"Rest assured, I won’t fall short," Old Man Lu said with annoyance.

"Then let’s go."

After the conditions were agreed upon, Xu Ping straightforwardly followed Old Man Lu to his spiritual farmland.

Old Man Lu’s spiritual farmland was twice the size of Xu Ping’s, with lush green Spirit Rice stretching into large patches as far as the eye could see.

Xu Ping walked into the fields without hesitation, pinching his Magic Technique and beginning to cast the Spirit Rain Skill.

The proficiency-level Spirit Rain Skill promptly showed its prowess.

As the spell unfolded, clouds rapidly gathered around, and a dark cloud began swirling in the sky, growing increasingly large, seemingly devouring the entire world.

Moments later, a gentle spirit rain began to pour down, nourishing the spiritual farmland.

Old Man Lu, who had been far away and observing poorly, now watched closely and realized the extraordinary aspect of Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill.

The size of the dark cloud formed by the Spirit Rain Skill was similar to that of Elder Yan’s, but more importantly, the spiritual energy in the rain was shockingly abundant, stronger than that in Elder Yan’s Spirit Rain Skill!

"Could Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill be more adept than Elder Yan’s!!"

Old Man Lu found it hard to believe.

But the scene before him constantly reminded him that it seemed to be the case.

He sought Xu Ping originally to save money, but Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill was so powerful, making it feel like he stumbled upon a good deal!

Thinking of this, Old Man Lu smiled broadly.

Even his wrinkled face seemed a bit younger.

Getting a bargain truly lifts the mood!

In reality, Xu Ping’s proficiency in the Spirit Rain Skill was still a bit inferior to Elder Yan.

Yet Elder Yan was old and weak, with physique and meridians far worse than when he was young, and dared not unleash the Spirit Rain Skill to its fullest.

Using even half of his strength was considered good.

Xu Ping, on the other hand, cast it with full force, which naturally led to the illusion that Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill was stronger.

As the spirit rain poured, the ears of Spirit Rice in the spiritual farmland became increasingly lush and vibrant.

Old Man Lu’s smile widened.

Just as Xu Ping finished watering the second acre, he stopped and extended his hand to Old Man Lu: "Two acres, two Spirit Crystals in total!"

"Here, I’m a man of integrity."

Knowing he gained a good deal, Old Man Lu quickly pulled out two stones emitting faint spiritual light from his body and handed them to Xu Ping.

Xu Ping received the Spirit Crystals without any fuss.

Just like that, using two acres as a calculation unit, Xu Ping watered Old Man Lu’s spiritual farmland step by step.

After earning a Spirit Stone, Xu Ping sat down on the ridge.

He was exhausted, and his mana was almost completely depleted.

If it weren’t for his breakthrough in the Spirit Rain Skill, which didn’t increase mana consumption, and enhanced control after the breakthrough, he probably couldn’t manage to water all ten acres of Lu Han’s farmland in one go.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you worked hard."

Old Man Lu walked over with a grin, somehow pulled out a green fruit from somewhere and handed it to Xu Ping: "Here, have a fruit to quench your thirst!"

"Thanks."

Xu Ping took the fruit, washed it with clear water from a water gourd, and took a bite. The flesh was tender, the flavor fragrant, somewhat reminiscent of an apple from a previous life.

After a few big bites, his gaze involuntarily fell on Old Man Lu’s face, smilingly asking: "Fellow Daoist Lu, how do you think my Spirit Rain Skill compares to Elder Yan’s?"

Old Man Lu hesitated, wanting to say Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill was stronger, but fearing that saying it might prompt Xu Ping to raise the price, he could only ambiguously say: "About the same, about the same."

"If so."

After discarding the fruit core, Xu Ping’s eyes gleamed, "How about you introduce some business to me, and I’ll give you a twenty percent share?"

"That would be fantastic!"

Old Man Lu was overjoyed, immediately agreeing, "Leave it to me; I’m very familiar with this area and promise to garner business for you."

He patted his rib-filled chest with confidence.

That was exactly the effect Xu Ping sought.

With Old Man Lu’s help, he could soon make his business flourish.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, actually..."

Old Man Lu hesitated for a while but eventually spoke up that Xu Ping’s Spirit Rain Skill was stronger than Elder Yan’s.

Then he took the opportunity to suggest Xu Ping raise his price, considering Elder Yan charged two Spirit Crystals per acre, and there seemed to be no reason for a superior Spirit Rain Skill to be priced at just one Spirit Crystal.

After giving it some thought, Xu Ping still refused.

As a newcomer, demanding two Spirit Crystals directly, even with Old Man Lu’s help, would make initial business surely difficult.

Now, the fruiting period was less than a month away, and once his reputation grew, it would be too late.

Low prices can attract spiritual farmers.

Besides, there’s hardly any cost involved!

"Fellow Daoist Xu is certainly thoughtful, I’ll go find some people now!" Old Man Lu ran off, faster than a rabbit.

Xu Ping chuckled silently.

How enthusiastic!

...

...

...

Returning home, Xu Ping headed straight for the bedroom.

He came to the bedside, bent down and pulled out a black pottery jar from under the bed, which contained all the belongings of the original owner.

Being called all the belongings, but it wasn’t really much.

Just seven Spirit Crystals and two Fireball Talismans.

It was really miserably poor.

Fortunately, today he made a hefty profit.

Xu Ping happily placed the ten Spirit Crystals in his arms into the jar.

One Spirit Stone might not be a fortune for him, but it could buy fifty pounds of Spirit Rice, and if he saves, it’s enough for him for two months.

More importantly, his business has only started, and future wealth is within reach.

"Finally able to relish days of feasting on meat!"

Although Spirit Rice is quite tasty, as a meat lover, he hadn’t had a bite of meat since crossing over, and was really craving it.

Xu Ping tried to see if he could hunt some ordinary animals for a treat, but this area had been cultivated for decades, filled with cultivators.

Animals had long been hunted clean.

To eat meat, he could only buy Demon Beast Flesh from the market.

But Demon Beast Flesh is pricey!

The original owner had never been willing to buy it.

Of course, whether Xu Ping could consistently have meat depended on how well Old Man Lu, his intermediary, performed.