5 Rank Nine

At night, an endless stream of boy servants came to Chen Qing's cave abode to invite him.

In just four hours, he received almost a month's worth of work. Moreover, the price had changed from one low-grade spirit stone per mu to four low-grade spirit stones per mu.

Previously, he could earn 180 spirit stones a month. Now, he could earn 240 spirit stones a month.

After planning his itinerary, Chen Qing began his work. During this period of time, he did not plan to go to the market at the foot of the mountain to buy things.

Salaries had gone up, and prices had gone up.

A month slowly passed, and the price increase finally stopped.

The Lotus Cave had already announced that the two evil cultivators who attacked Carefree Mountain back then were disciples who had been expelled by them. It had nothing to do with them.

'What a pity. It only lasted for a month. If only it had lasted a little longer.

'But it's fine. My Grass Spirit Gu can advance to rank nine soon. Perhaps I can still earn eight low-grade spirit stones a day after advancing to rank nine.'

After taking 40 low-grade spirit stones, Chen Qing prepared to buy some dry wood to give it a try.

He went to the Myriad Treasure Pavilion and asked. The dry wood1 actually cost 10 low-grade spirit stones for one qian. This price was indeed a little expensive.

After strolling out of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, Chen Qing prepared to go to the market to see if there were any cultivators selling new goods outside.

After walking around, he finally saw a small piece of dry wood in a cultivator's stall.

"How much is your dry wood?"

"Nine low-grade spirit stones for one qian."

It was indeed cheaper than the Myriad Treasure Pavilion. "I'll buy more if it's cheaper."

"If you buy it all, it'll be eight low-grade spirit stones for one qian."

Chen Qing wondered how much he needed now. If he bought too much, he would not want to bother selling it.

"Four qian for 35 low-grade spirit stones, are you selling it?"

This cultivator was obviously in quite a hurry. "Alright."

After returning home, Chen Qing took out one qian of dry wood to feed the Grass Spirit Gu. After it finished, Chen Qing took out another qian of dry wood to feed it.

The next night, when Chen Qing looked again, his Gu's growth progress had already changed from zero to eight.

A qian of dry wood could increase the growth progress by four points.

'Looks like I still need two qian of dry wood.'

Now that he had enough money, he brought it all with him to the market.

After searching around, Chen Qing could not find the cultivator who sold dry wood yesterday, so he could only reluctantly buy one qian from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

Recently, when he had the time, he had to come and take a look. The prices of the black-hearted merchants of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion were really too expensive.

On the way back, when Chen Qing passed by Li He's place, Li He stopped Chen Qing. "Fellow Daoist Chen, come and eat!"

Chen Qing cupped his hands and smiled. "Why, has your Wine Gu ranked up?"

Li He smiled awkwardly. "Although I spent three years of my savings to buy more than 20 kinds of materials, I finally succeeded."

Chen Qing congratulated him. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your Wine Gu reaching rank seven!"

When they entered the courtyard, the people inside were all neighbors and a few disciples of Carefree Mountain who were familiar with Li He.

It was obvious that the others looked at Li He with envy.

The upgrade of a Gu insect was comparable to the joy of getting a promotion during a birthday celebration.

As for Chen Qing, he was not qualified to enjoy this feeling.

After all, it took him three years to raise his Gu insect from rank six to rank seven. He had only raised his Gu insect from rank seven to eight last month, and he was going to raise it to rank nine this month.

In order to express his happiness, Li He specially took out a bottle of iris ginseng wine worth 25 spirit stones, and distributed it to everyone.

This also meant that after his Gu insect reached rank seven, he could already brew iris ginseng wine.

After drinking three small cups of iris ginseng wine, Chen Qing felt that his cultivation level had loosened. He bade farewell and returned to his cave abode to cultivate.

After completely refining the three small cups of iris ginseng wine, Chen Qing withdrew from his cultivation state.

"My cultivation has improved a little."

After drinking this iris ginseng wine, his cultivation speed was more than three times faster than usual.

It was indeed a good thing, but he could not afford to drink it.

There was no hurry. Grass Spirit Gu2 was about to reach rank nine. At that time, he would be able to earn money even faster.

In any case, Chen Qing knew the materials for the advancement after rank nine. It was enough to advance.

At that time, he could save money to buy a Wine Gu and make his own wine every day.

He was only 21 years old this year, and was in his prime. What was there to be anxious about?

With the huge profit of eight spirit stones a day being no more, Chen Qing was also prepared to return to the spirit plant elder for a few days.

For the past few days, he would go to the market every day after work. As a war could've broken out recently, many disciples of Carefree Mountain's Hall of War Affairs who had gone out had returned.

Chen Qing was not worried that something would happen. After wandering around for three days, he finally met the cultivator selling dry wood again.

At this moment, the cultivator looked even more dispirited. Clearly, he had suffered a blow.

Chen Qing didn't care about that, and directly said, "90 spirit stones for one tael and one qian3 of dry wood, are you selling?"

The dispirited cultivator hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll sell it to you."

After selling it to Chen Qing, the cultivator packed up his stall, and walked towards the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. He muttered, "Another 80 spirit stones to buy. The last 80 spirit stones!"

Fine, another one had fallen into the trap.

However, Chen Qing was not interested in knowing more. He was focused on his grass darling4.

He counted with his fingers. In six days, the Grass Treasure would be able to reach rank nine. He wondered what special changes would happen after reaching rank nine.

'I heard from those senior brothers that rank nine Gu insects will have a huge improvement.

'It's best to increase the range.'

After being fed for six consecutive days, the Grass Spirit Gu finally hardened again, turning into a jade-like worm.

After waiting for almost four hours, the insect shell broke open, and a Grass Spirit Gu that was one size bigger crawled out.

Chen Qing focused his gaze on the brand-new Grass Spirit Gu. The information had already changed.

[Mortal-grade Grass Spirit Gu]

Quality: Rank nine

Lifespan: 42/86

Effect: Takes care of the Gu spirit grass within eight mu of land, and increases its growth speed and quality.

Growth Requirement: None

Growth Rate: 100/100 (To be promoted)

Advancement Requirements: Rank nine, 10 drops of earth origin spirit liquid, one soul-snatching flower

The coverage increased from six mu to eight mu!

Great, great, great!

Chen Qing could earn eight low-grade spirit stones a day. He was finally starting to get rich.

However, he could forget about advancing for the time being.

Not to mention the soul-snatching flower that cost about 800 low-grade spirit stones, just the earth origin spirit liquid alone cost nearly 100 low-grade spirit stones per drop.

Chen Qing estimated that it would take 1,000-2,000 spirit stones to settle it.

For the time being, he shouldn't think about advancing. He would save money slowly.

Fortunately, he could earn eight low-grade spirit stones a day.

Two months passed slowly. During this period of time, the entire sect was relatively calm. There were no storms, and everyone was peaceful.

After returning home, Chen Qing carefully counted the 400 spirit stones he had saved up until now, and began to imagine what would happen after his grass darling advanced.

When he was feeding the grass darling, Chen Qing stared at the grass darling's information, and was overjoyed.

Yes, it was still so pleasing to the eye.

Wait a minute!

Why did he need nine drops of earth origin spirit liquid!

What was going on?

Could it be that its requirements had become lower because he had raised it well recently?

Or could it be that there was earth origin spirit liquid in the plot of land that was taken care of today, and it was swallowed by this little fellow by chance?

Now, one drop of earth origin spirit liquid cost 80 spirit stones!

Chen Qing could only earn so much money in half a month!

He would find an excuse to go shopping tomorrow.