Chapter 3: Frost Armor Technique

After Zhang Hong left, Lu Xuan did not delay, taking all his belongings to prepare to seek a solution for the black sprout worm larvae.

Before leaving, he took out a small stone the size of a fingernail and approached the straw puppet.

The small stone was pure white, emitting a faint spiritual energy fluctuation. It was a small piece of spirit shard, divided from a low-grade spirit stone, widely used among low-level cultivators like Lu Xuan.

"Eat well and drink well, and guard the house properly!"

He inserted the small piece of spirit shard into the gray grass lump on the straw puppet's head, earnestly instructing it.

With the spirit shard's energy supplement, the straw puppet emitted a very faint spiritual light, as if it had more energy.

Although he was not entirely confident in this slow-reacting guard puppet, Lu Xuan had no other choice and could only hope that the spirit plants in the yard would be safe during his absence.

After leaving, Lu Xuan quickly walked along the stone path.

The courtyard where he lived was located in the northern district of Linyang Market, where most residents were low-level cultivators like him, harboring dreams of breaking through their limits and changing their fates, densely packed in a small area.

As for the center of the market, it was the domain of major families and powerful forces, and Lu Xuan rarely went there.

Having not gone out for a while, he felt slightly uncomfortable, looking at everything around him, which was both familiar and strange.

A deep yellow paper bird, about half a zhang long, slowly flew by at a low altitude, carrying a cultivator. The bird's body was covered with spines of varying lengths, indicating it had been used for a long time.

Next, a multi-legged mechanical beast flew over Lu Xuan's head, with two or three dozen cultivators sitting on it.

The multi-legged mechanical beast was a common means of transportation in the market, requiring only a few dozen spirit shards to quickly reach the market center.

There was no no-fly array outside the market, and there were many such spirit beasts and flying magical tools in the sky, with occasional sword lights flashing by at higher altitudes.

The sword lights were formed by cultivators riding flying swords, indicating they were at least high-level cultivators, an existence that was out of reach for him at the moment.

Lu Xuan couldn't help but show a hint of envy. Riding a flying sword and soaring through the sky, traversing the world, was a distant dream for him, both in his past and present life.

He collected his thoughts and quickened his pace, soon arriving at a gathering place in the northern district.

The gathering place had many shops and stalls, though they were inferior to those in the central area, they were more than enough for low-level cultivators like him.

Lu Xuan weaved through the crowd and quickly found a middle-aged cultivator in a corner.

The middle-aged cultivator was also at the second level of the Qi Condensation stage, with a slender figure and a gaunt face, making his cheekbones prominently protrude.

He had a pair of mustaches on his upper lip, and his eyes darted around, quickly scanning the passing cultivators.

Lu Xuan knew his surname was Huang, living not far from his courtyard, and he was a regular in the gathering place, well-informed about all the gossip in the northern district.

However, if one wanted to inquire about something from him, a certain reward was required.

Sensing Lu Xuan's gaze, the middle-aged man's mustaches slightly curled up, and he forced a smile, approaching Lu Xuan.

"Little Daoist Lu, it's been a while. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Lu Xuan smiled in return.

"Indeed, I need to consult Senior Brother Huang about something."

"I've heard that Senior Brother has extensive connections and is familiar with cultivators of various levels in the northern district. Could you introduce a few to me?"

"I have a few requirements: first, they should be at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation stage; second, they should be proficient in powerful and finely controlled spells or similar magical tools."

"Lastly, they should be within the northern district and available immediately."

Lu Xuan said to the middle-aged cultivator, handing over a handful of spirit shards.

He did not expect to find a cultivator of a higher level, as although they might solve the black sprout worm larvae problem faster, the cost of hiring a fifth-level cultivator would be more than double that of a fourth-level one.

Moreover, the spirit fire grass had already been severely eroded, and if not resolved promptly, he would lose not only one or more spirit fire grass plants but also the white light orbs with unknown rewards when the spirit fire grass matured.

Therefore, the usually frugal Lu Xuan reluctantly paid so many spirit shards and required a fourth-level cultivator to be available immediately, all to quickly resolve the black sprout worm larvae problem.

The middle-aged cultivator took the spirit shards from Lu Xuan, his smile becoming much more genuine and warm.

"There are quite a few fourth-level cultivators in the northern district, but only a few can meet your additional conditions."

"According to my knowledge, there are three nearby."

"First is Fairy Lingyun, whose cultivation is quite advanced. She has a set of Red Cloud Needles, which she uses with great skill, meeting both the requirements of powerful and finely controlled spells."

"Second is Daoist Qin Ming, who is proficient in ice spells. While his offensive power may be slightly lacking, his control is unparalleled."

"Lastly, there is Daoist Li Xu, who is obsessed with sword techniques and has the ability to transform sword qi into threads, also meeting your requirements."

He told Lu Xuan the addresses of the three fourth-level cultivators, and after seeing him nod in acknowledgment, he said with a smile:

"Why don't I accompany you, Little Daoist Lu, to visit these three fellow cultivators?"

"Senior Brother Huang's kindness is appreciated, but I don't want to trouble you further."

Lu Xuan knew that would be an additional cost, thanked him with a bow, and turned to leave.

He was not worried that the middle-aged cultivator would deceive him, as this was his livelihood, and he wouldn't ruin his own business.

...

In the courtyard.

On the back of the spirit fire grass eroded by black threads, a thin layer of frost rapidly spread, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

Sensing the approaching cold, the black sprout worm larvae twisted, trying to escape from the leaf.

However, the escape speed was not fast enough to keep up with the frost's spread, and the black threads were frozen by the thin layer of frost.

The frost, like snowflakes, instantly solidified and became hard, cracking with a light sound, and the black sprout worm larvae fell along with the thin layer of ice.

A white, tender hand reached out and caught all the broken ice pieces.

"Wow, Senior Brother Qin truly lives up to his name, using the Frost Armor Technique with such skill. I am truly impressed."

Lu Xuan looked at the spirit fire grass leaf, which was undamaged by the frost, and exclaimed half in surprise and half in admiration.

The owner of the white, tender hand was a plump cultivator, who chuckled and put the broken ice pieces into his chest.

"As requested, I solved the black sprout worm larvae problem without freezing the spirit plant's leaves."

"I observed the nearby spirit fire grass and found no traces of black sprout worm larvae. You can rest assured for the next period."

"However, I noticed that the protective power of your small spirit field is quite weak. This might lead to similar issues in the future."

The plump cultivator reminded Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan waved his hand.

"We'll deal with future issues when they come. The reward for this time is..."

"Six spirit stones and fifty spirit shards, as agreed upon."

A single spirit fire grass plant was worth far less than six spirit stones, but the high reward was mainly due to solving the spirit field's pest problem and Qin Ming's status as a mid-level cultivator.

The plump cultivator wore an innocent smile.

Lu Xuan took out fifty spirit shards, counted them twice, and then carefully extracted six spirit stones from his waist, turning his head to hand them to the plump cultivator.

"Thank you, Daoist Lu."

Qin Ming took the spirit stones and left the courtyard.

Feeling the spirit stones moving further away from him, Lu Xuan felt a deep pain and couldn't help but spit out a curse.

"Shrewd merchant!"