Chapter 568 - 21 Spirit Plant Department_3

Chapter 568: Chapter 21 Spirit Plant Department_3

The Spirit Plant Department is also responsible for supplying spirit rice and spirit fruit to the Spirit Food Department, spiritual medicine to the Pill-refining Department, and spirit grass for the Spirit Beasts in the Beast Department, among others.

All of these tasks require a lot of manpower.

Because of this, even the Minister of the Spirit Plant Department has to step in and work every day. They’re always reporting to Rende Hall about their shortage of staff.

However, Rende Hall also has its hands tied. They could not just lower their hiring standards due to a staff shortage. They’ve already arranged for the Puppet Department to help out, but unfortunately, the puppets they produced can only handle simple tasks like farming. Their help is valuable, but not substantial enough.

Wang Ba was not in a hurry either. As long as he could find supply for the chicken feed, Bu Chan could relax a bit. It is true that the greater the number and quality of spirit plants a Spirit Plant Master cultivates, the more helpful it is to them.

But cultivation also needs a balance of tension and relaxation. With Bu Chan being busy all the time, Wang Ba was somewhat worried.

For the first forty or so years, Bu Chan had been living in fear under Wang Ba. Now that they finally have some stability, Wang Ba did not want Bu Chan to work so hard.

However, it was clear that the Spirit Plant Division was indeed very busy, until the sky turned completely dark.

Several figures hurriedly descended from afar.

The figure at the front looked just like an old farmer. His sleeves were rolled up, his trousers were also rolled up, and his exposed skin was tanned and cracked. Wang Ba could not imagine how a cultivator could end up looking like this.

After all, mortals tan under the sun, but cultivators do not.

Seeing Cui Daqi, this old farmer seemed taken aback for a moment, then his face broke into a smile as radiant as an old chrysanthemum:

“Old Cui, why didn’t you let me know that you were coming? I’ve just come from Goqi Berry Field. There are many goqi berries there that are over a thousand years old…”

“Ahem!”

Originally, Cui Daqi was smiling amiably and wanted to greet him, but upon hearing the topic shift, he quickly coughed to divert the conversation:

“Hehe, Old Ma, I came to you because I have a matter…”

“A matter?”

Seeing Cui Daqi’s somber demeanor, the old farmer immediately thought of something, and his expression changed slightly:

“You’re not going to tell me that your department has overspent its budget again.”

“Of course not!”

Listening to the old farmer ramble, Cui Daqi quickly explained his agenda and pointed at Wang Ba:

“This is a junior fellow of mine, he has raised quite a few Spirit Beasts and needs Spirit Valley Bran as feed. I was wondering if your side could…”

“Spirit Valley Bran?”

Upon hearing this, the old farmer immediately breathed a sigh of relief and his face broke into a smile again:

“It’s a small matter. This stuff contains plenty of residual spiritual energy, it’s best for feeding chickens and ducks. But we usually can’t be bothered to bother with it.”

Cui Daqi pressed on:

“He needs at least ten thousand jin of Class II Spirit Valley Bran and one thousand jin of Class III Spirit Valley Bran. As for the price…”

“What price? It’s all stuff we don’t want. It’s great he’s taking it away, it saves us hassle. Beside, we’re all from the same family.”

He then turned to Wang Ba, and pointed at an elderly Jin Dan deacon standing next to him with a benign smile:

“For this matter, you can just look for him. His surname is Qiu. If he can’t handle it, you just come and find me.”

Within a few words, the matter was resolved.

Even though Wang Ba knew that having Cui Daqi help him would make things easier, the fact that it was this straightforward and did not even cost a single spirit stone was beyond his expectations.

This was the easiest thing he had ever encountered in his first forty years of cultivation.

Cui Daqi timely reminded: “Wang Ba, you can call him Martial Uncle as well.”

“Yes, thank you, Martial Uncle.”

Wang Ba promptly bowed to the old farmer.

“Wang Ba…”

The old farmer seemed a bit puzzled, as if he felt that he had heard the name somewhere before.

However, his attention was soon caught by Cui Daqi’s words.

The Jin Dan deacon named Qiu, who was appointed by the old farmer, spoke to Wang Ba coldly:

“Fellow Daoist, I wonder if you have any requirements regarding the type of Spirit Valley Bran…”

Fellow Daoist?

Wang Ba was slightly stunned.

In the Wanxiang Sect, this address wasn’t commonly used. Since they were all part of the same sect, this form of address seemed rather distant. Typically, those with similar cultivation levels would casually address each other as senior or junior brothers, and they would establish the exact seniority after getting familiar with each other.

Seeing the deacon’s unwilling expression, Wang Ba quickly understood and apologised:

“I’m giving Senior Brother Qiu some trouble. There’s no requirement for the variety.”

While speaking, he took out two essences of spirit chicken from his sleeve and gave them to the deacon.

The deacon surnamed Qiu saw Wang Ba being so polite, and his expression improved significantly.

He slightly waved his hand, “What kind of person does Junior Brother Wang take me for?”

Wang Ba wanted to give more, but Deacon Qiu firmly refused.

This made Wang Ba look at him in surprise.

At this point, Deacon Qiu took out a jade slip from his Storage Treasure and began to record:

“Each month you need ten thousand jin of Class II Spirit Valley Bran and one thousand jin of Class III Spirit Valley Bran, right? Where should it be delivered?”

“Ah? There’s no need for a delivery. I already feel guilty about taking these for free.”

Wang Ba quickly responded.

“No worries, I’ll ask around. If it’s nearby, it’s no trouble to deliver it on the way.”

But Deacon Qiu asserted,

Finally unable to withstand the other party’s pleas, Wang Ba had to say:

“I am at Wanfa Peak, and you, Senior Brother…”

Before his words fell,

A sudden voice rang out beside Wang Ba:

“Did you say you’re at Wanfa Peak?!”

At the same time, the old farmer’s dark and dry face instantly appeared before him, eyes filled with rage, staring intently at Wang Ba!

Cui Daqi on the side was taken aback, suddenly thinking of something, and muttering to himself: “Oh no!”

Immediately afterward, he quickly stepped in front of Wang Ba, anxiously staring at the old farmer before him:

“Old Ma, he is only Junior Brother Yao’s disciple. You and Senior Brother Yao…”

“Move! Cui Daqi, don’t force me to take action against you too!”

The old farmer yelled angrily.

Everything happened so fast, Even Wang Ba couldn’t help but freeze in place.

Then he quickly reacted, the first thought that came into his mind was:

“It must be that my master has bullied him before…”

Nevertheless, Wang Ba wasn’t overly alarmed. Since the other party didn’t immediately attack, it meant his mind was still clear, and he simply couldn’t control his emotions at the moment.

With Cui Daqi present, he didn’t have to worry about his safety.

At this moment, what did occupy his mind, was disbelief.

“Just how many people did my master bully…”

From the day he entered the sect, the important figures he encountered, such as Vice Hall Master of Rende Hall Luo Yuzhong, Vice Hall Master of Diwu Hall Song Dongyang, Vice Minister He the big drinker from the Spirit Food Department, Minister Ma from the Spirit Plant Department… all of them have been bullied by his master.

It’s hard to imagine just how annoying this old man must have been back in the day.

But no matter how annoying, he was still his master.

Could the low profile that his master talked about still be viable after offending so many sect leaders?

Maybe he should re-adjust his mindset.

“Did you also forget how that man with the surname Yao tricked me, huh?!”

The old farmer glared at Cui Daqi.

The entire room was filled with the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the cultivators from the Spirit Plant Department were all startled by this scene.

In their memories, they had never seen the minister so angry.

Cui Daqi could only respond with a bitter smile: “I know, how could I not know, but… Wang Ba is innocent. He only joined the sect a few months ago, if you’re not pleased, you should find Senior Brother Yao…”

“If I could beat him, wouldn’t I have done so already?!”

The old farmer couldn’t help but yell in exasperation.

Cui Daqi: “Uh…”

When Wang Ba heard this, he almost burst into laughter. The old man, Minister Ma… was really too straightforward.

After a moment’s hesitation, he seriously began to contemplate and eventually stepped forward.

“Wang Ba!”

Cui Daqi quickly warned.

Wang Ba gave a reassuring look to Cui Daqi and then turned to the old farmer, giving him a respectful bow:

“Disciple Wang Ba pays respects to Martial Uncle Ma.”

The old farmer narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Wang Ba.

A sharp luster appeared in his eyes:

“How bold!”

“What do you want to say?”

Wang Ba stated respectfully and calmly:

“The saying goes, ‘Once a teacher, forever a parent’. The guidance given to me by my master is invaluable. As a disciple, having benefited from my master’s teachings, I should also take responsibility for any consequences of my master’s actions.”

“I’m not aware of the situation between Uncle Ma and my master. If my master was right, I wouldn’t have anything to say, and I will accept whatever you decide.”

“If my master did something inappropriate, as a disciple, I still wouldn’t have anything to say, but I would be willing to make up for any mistakes my master has made.”

“You?”

The old farmer scoffed:

“You, just a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, what ability do you have to make up for the mistakes your master committed?”

“Have you seen my face? Have you seen the color of my skin? Back then, I was about to take a female cultivator as my Dao Companion. But your master used his ‘Solar Method’ and burnt me. My soul also received the same damage, from then on I became like this! He himself admitted to have injured me accidentally, can you make up for that?!”

Wang Ba fell silent.

…

Meanwhile,

Shaoyin Mountain Quest Hall,

A figure with a bare torso quietly descended from the sky.