4: Chapter 4 Mastery of Magic

"Huang Laifu?"

This person had just beaten him up a few days ago.

"Why wouldn't he renew the lease?"

Although Huang Laifu was harsh on Spirit Farmers before, he wouldn't go so far as to not renew the lease on the spirit fields.

Being a Spirit Farmer was a tough job that few Cultivators were willing to do; there were always more fields than people.

If no one renewed the lease, what would Huang Laifu live on?

After leasing the spirit fields, the market provided him with his current residence.

If Xu Changsheng lost his status as a Spirit Farmer, the residence would naturally be reclaimed by the market.

At that time, he could only rent a room in an inn within the market, which cost one Spirit Stone for ten days.

If he couldn't afford a room, he would be kicked out of the market. One must know that the market was located atop a First-Tier Spiritual Vein, and every breath of Spiritual Qi had to be paid for.

In this way, Xu Changsheng would become a Loose Cultivator in the wilderness, and Huang Laifu would lose someone to make money for him.

A lose-lose situation; what was the latter plotting?

"Could it be at Chen Xuan's instigation?"

Thinking of this possibility, Xu Changsheng's gaze turned cold; the pettiness of these few people was even worse than he had imagined.

"And then they'll make a move on me outside the market?"

"A nice plan they've got."

If it were the old him, he might have really been exiled from the market, but now, he was different.

While pondering, he unconsciously returned to his residence.

He sat on the cushion.

Taking out the bottle containing the qi nurturing pills, he poured a round Medicinal Pill into his hand.

The Medicinal Pill entered his stomach.

After a while, a warm current of Spiritual Qi started from his Dantian and filled his entire body.

"This is the effect of the qi nurturing pill!"

Just one pill was enough to match three days of his hard cultivation!

Recalling how over the past five years, the original owner had earned nearly a thousand Spirit Stones and hadn't been willing to spend a single one on himself, giving them all to Su Xiaojing, Xu Changsheng's anger flared up.

"Truly a Divine Being."

...

The next day.

Just as dawn broke.

Xu Changsheng remained sitting cross-legged, digesting the remaining medicinal power of the qi nurturing pill.

Suddenly, there was movement outside.

"Xu Changsheng, come out!"

Huang Laifu's shrill voice came through.

He opened the door.

Now that Xu Changsheng was full of confidence, he didn't give him a friendly face: "Deacon Huang, coming to my door so early, I presume it's nothing good."

"You?!"

Huang Laifu didn't expect the other party to be so calm; the stream of insults he had prepared got stuck in his throat.

Ten days ago.

Chen Xuan had given him five hundred Spirit Stones and ordered him to completely eliminate Xu Changsheng.

He thought the previous blow had already nearly crushed Xu Changsheng, and he just needed to add a few more straws to make him give up on himself or even die directly in the mouth of a wilderness Yao Beast.

But looking at Xu Changsheng's current state, it didn't seem like it.

He thought to himself: "Maybe he's faking it; I've heard that before someone goes completely insane, they actually become calm and indifferent."

He cleared his throat: "Xu Changsheng, you're about to get kicked out of Liuyun Market. Enjoy these few days while you can."

"Why?"

"Listen up, Xu Changsheng. The market has ruled that you are incapable of managing the spirit fields. Your lease expires today. Pack your bags and get out immediately!"

"Great!"

"This is an order, not a discussion with you..."

"What?"

Hearing Xu Changsheng's words, Huang Laifu was instantly speechless, the mockery he had prepared swallowed back into his stomach before he could finish.

"What did you say? Do you even know what you're saying?"

"I said, this is a good thing."

Xu Changsheng took out the land deed wrapped in silk and handed it over.

"From now on, I am no longer your Spirit Farmer. Don't even think about lecturing me like you used to."

"Bang!"

After saying that, he slammed the door shut.

"According to the market rules, I will leave this place within three days. Fellow Daoist Huang, remember to come and inspect then."

"You!"

Huang Laifu felt as if his punch had landed on cotton; his face turned from smugness to a purplish-red like pig liver.

He comforted himself: "It seems this person really is close to madness. Why should I bother arguing with a lunatic?"

After Huang Laifu had walked far away, another sound came from the door.

"What happened? I saw Huang Laifu leaving with a land deed from afar."

The voice was old; it was Wu Laoxie.

"Yes, it's mine," Xu Changsheng said while cleaning his residence.

Hearing this, Wu Laoxie was shocked.

"Brother Xu, you... you're not going to be a Spirit Farmer anymore?"

"Correct."

"This... this isn't good. Without an income, how long can you stay in the market? How about I go and plead for mercy for you? Maybe there's still a chance."

Xu Changsheng shook his head: "No need. I have my own plans. Don't worry, with the Spirit Stones I borrowed from you, I won't be without a place to go."

"Alright." Wu Laoxie knew he couldn't persuade the person in front of him and could only leave.

Xu Changsheng continued cleaning.

Suddenly.

The broom hit a hard object under the bed.

Curious, he used the Object Manipulation Technique to pull it out; it was a square jade box.

"This is?"

Xu Changsheng tried hard to recall the original owner's memories.

Mottled fragments reassembled in his mind; this seemed to be a Peiyuan herbal medicine—Hongling Grass—that Su Xiaojing had given to the original owner during one of her visits.

A faint medicinal fragrance still lingered on it.

Xu Changsheng took a light sniff.

"Wait, something's wrong!"

Hongling Grass is a main ingredient for the qi nurturing pill. He had just taken a qi nurturing pill and could tell that it was definitely not this kind of enchanting fragrance.

...

After tidying up his residence, he carried all his belongings in a bundle to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

"Shopkeeper Wang, can you help me see what kind of herbal medicine was previously stored in this box?"

Wang Ye took a sniff, and a strange look quickly appeared on his face.

He said in a low voice: "I didn't expect you to look so honest, yet you actually have a special herb like this Zhenxinpu. Which female Cultivator have you set your sights on?"

Hearing this.

Xu Changsheng's expression changed. He had heard of this herb; as long as one consumed a whole piece, a Cultivator would fall into a state of intoxication and would answer any question truthfully.

He now knew why Su Xiaojing was able to find out the location of the Ancient Wood Secret Realm key.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

"Hey."

Wang Ye sighed.

"Young people these days are really in a hurry."

Walking on the road.

He recalled Su Xiaojing's words from that night.

"Husband Xu, this is the Hongling Grass I specifically brought for you from the Sect. Eating it can improve your cultivation."

"Does it taste bitter? Just bear with it; good medicine tastes bitter."

"Giggle, your cultivation hasn't improved? It might be that your Opportunity is shallow, Husband Xu. Cultivation is still too difficult for you."

Even though he already had a new key in hand, Xu Changsheng was still affected by the residual will of the original owner. His anger burned like fire, and his chest heaved.

"Don't worry, this grudge will be avenged!"

He stopped in front of a seven-story pavilion building.

"Nangui Inn."

Like the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, it was an official shop of the market and relatively reliable.

He threw down over thirty Spirit Stones.

"I'll rent a guest room for a year."

...

Three months passed quietly.

This day.

Xu Changsheng sat cross-legged in the inn room, slowly circulating his Cultivation Technique.

His closed eyes opened, light swirling within them.

"After five years of cultivation, I've finally broken through to the Qi Refining Third Layer."

His Water Arrow Technique had also reached the Major Achievement Realm a few days ago.

"The original owner wasted too much time before."

Just then, a light screen appeared.

"[Todays Intelligence (Green) First-Tier Medium Grade Talisman Legacy]"

"[Inside the Qingbo Fishing Grounds in Liuyun Market, at fishing pond number thirty-two, a Golden Arowana has recently swum in. Inside the belly of this Arowana is a First-Tier Medium Grade Talisman Legacy.]"