Chapter 5: Restlessness

"The *Gengjin Sword Technique*, a first-grade spell, cultivates a golden sword qi within the body's acupoints using special methods. When activated, it moves as swiftly as the wind, with immense destructive power."

A first-grade spell, I never expected such a valuable treasure to come out of the light orb...

Lu Xuan's mind was momentarily dazed.

He currently mastered three spells: Fireball, Spirit Rain, and Earth Attraction, which he had recently obtained from the white light orb. These three spells were all of the lowest grade, and in strict terms, were just rudimentary applications of spiritual energy.

However, the *Gengjin Sword Technique*, although only the lowest grade, was more than enough to satisfy Lu Xuan.

It's important to know that even among mid- and high-level cultivators, first-grade spells are not something everyone possesses.

He stood in place, following the route that appeared in his mind, and slowly gathered his spiritual energy.

Then, a pale golden stream of energy, about three inches long and as wide as a finger, surged out of his body and swiftly shot towards the stone wall, cleanly slicing a black thorn in two.

Lu Xuan walked over, picked up the thorn with a smooth cut, and was secretly amazed by the destructive power of the pale golden sword qi.

Although the black thorn was not a spirit plant, it was very tough. Lu Xuan had once experimented with the Fireball spell, and it took half a moment to burn through the thorn.

Comparing the two spells, the *Gengjin Sword Technique* was much cleaner and more efficient, with its destructive power clearly more than double.

"Just starting to cultivate, it takes too long to use the sword technique, and the power is greatly reduced."

"Having such a powerful spell, I must practice diligently from now on."

"Of course, if I could obtain additional *Gengjin Sword Technique* as experience, that would be even better."

Lu Xuan looked at the remaining fifteen spirit glow grass plants, thinking to himself.

He placed the harvested spirit glow grass into a jade box and decided to go out again.

He already had nine mature spirit glow grass plants, six of ordinary quality and three of good quality.

The jade box had limited space and could not hold any more spirit plants. To avoid the spirit glow grass losing their spiritual energy, he needed to sell these nine plants as soon as possible.

At the same time, a lot of the spirit field was now empty, and the remaining spirit glow grass was about to mature. Lu Xuan planned to use the spirit stones he would get from selling the plants to buy some spirit seeds.

If he had enough spirit stones, he would try to find a low-grade protective array in the market.

The appearance of the white light orb in the spirit field had greatly increased its importance. Lu Xuan was afraid that cultivators or beasts might sneak in and steal or damage the spirit plants, affecting the richness of the white light orb.

He instructed the grass puppet to guard the place and left the courtyard with the jade box containing the spirit glow grass.

As soon as he stepped out, he happened to meet Zhang Hong, who was returning from the market.

"Little Brother Lu, where are you going?"

Zhang Hong saw Lu Xuan from a distance and laughed heartily.

"Big Brother Zhang, I plan to go to the market to take a look."

Lu Xuan greeted Zhang Hong.

After a few pleasantries, he learned that Zhang Hong had just returned from the market, buying several protective talismans to prepare for the upcoming secret realm opening.

"Little Brother Lu, are you really not interested in joining us to explore the new secret realm in the wilderness?"

Zhang Hong changed the subject, still hoping to persuade Lu Xuan.

"Big Brother Zhang, I appreciate your kindness, but my aspirations lie elsewhere. I just want to be a simple and peaceful spirit plant cultivator."

Lu Xuan waved his hand and firmly declined.

"Well, there's nothing I can do. I was hoping that if we could travel together, we could look out for each other after knowing each other for so long."

Zhang Hong said regretfully.

"I wish you a series of fortunate encounters and a safe return, Big Brother Zhang."

Lu Xuan clasped his hands and sincerely wished him well.

They parted ways.

Lu Xuan walked to the market and found that there were many more cultivators than usual.

Defensive talismans were in high demand, and healing pills were even more sought after, with many cultivators vying for them as soon as they appeared, even though the prices were much higher than usual, they were still in short supply.

"It seems the news of the Wang family's upcoming secret realm opening has spread throughout the Linyang Market."

"So many low- and mid-level cultivators want to get a piece of the action, but who knows how many will gain fortune and how many will become stepping stones for others."

Lu Xuan felt the restlessness in the market but remained calm, watching quietly.

He lingered in the market for a couple of hours, paying attention to every piece of information, occasionally asking the wandering cultivators who were setting up stalls. Finally, he turned a few corners and arrived at a pharmacy called 'Hundred Herbs Hall.'

The owner of the pharmacy was an alchemist with a high demand for various alchemical materials. Lu Xuan had previously sold his spirit herbs to this pharmacy, and the prices were fair.

Entering the pharmacy, a strong medicinal scent greeted him. He walked familiarly into a wooden room.

The wooden room was piled with various spirit herbs, and several apprentices were busy processing them.

"Little Lu, are you here to sell spirit glow grass again?"

A lean old man saw Lu Xuan and gestured to his bulging chest.

"Yes, Manager He, some spirit glow grass has matured, and I'm here to sell them to your shop."

The lean old man was a relative of the alchemist and helped manage the pharmacy. Lu Xuan had to deal with him to sell his spirit glow grass, and they were quite familiar.

"How many?"

"Nine plants. What's the current price for spirit glow grass?"

Lu Xuan took out the jade box from his chest and asked.

"Still the old price, three low-grade spirit stones per plant."

"Manager He, that's not fair, is it?"

Hearing the lean old man's answer, Lu Xuan pulled back his hand that was reaching out with the jade box.

"From what I understand, many spirit plant cultivators in the northern area have recently suffered from insect infestations, reducing their yields."

"The news of the Wang family's secret realm opening has spread throughout the market, causing the price of healing pills to skyrocket."

"Selling spirit glow grass, the main ingredient for healing pills, at the old price is too unfair to us honest wandering cultivators."

"You little rascal, your cultivation may be low, but your nose is sharp."

Manager He laughed and scolded, then straightened his expression.

"Three spirit stones and twenty spirit fragments per plant, no negotiation."

Lu Xuan thought for a moment, knowing this was a fair price.

"Is this the price for good-quality spirit glow grass as well?"

"Oh?"

The lean old man raised his head, surprised.

"You've grown good-quality spirit glow grass? Let me see."

High-quality raw materials can slightly increase the success rate and effectiveness of alchemical pills, making them very popular among alchemists.

"Indeed, they are good-quality spirit glow grass."

"You are young, and the spirit field you occupy has weak spiritual energy. Growing such quality spirit plants is quite an achievement."

"In that case, I will buy these three good-quality spirit glow grass for three spirit stones and fifty spirit fragments each. What do you think?"

Lu Xuan quickly nodded, as it was only slightly better than ordinary and not top-quality or perfect. Being able to increase the price by thirty spirit fragments per plant was already quite good.

He handed the nine spirit glow grass plants to the lean old man, who carefully inspected them, found no issues, and counted out the spirit stones, handing them to Lu Xuan.

Six ordinary spirit glow grass plants and three good-quality spirit glow grass plants, in total, he received twenty-nine low-grade spirit stones and seventy spirit fragments.

Lu Xuan carefully put them in his waist, feeling the coldness of the spirit stones through his clothes, his heart burning with excitement.