You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 281: Senior Brother, I'm Not Afraid of Hardship

"After another batch of Hidden Essence Grass matures, I'll be able to steadily advance to the mid-stage of Foundation Building."

Lu Xuan, having assimilated the additional twenty-plus years of cultivation, felt the abundant spiritual liquid in his dantian, sensing an intuition that he was about to touch upon a new realm.

From the sharp decrease in cultivation rewards gained from the Hidden Essence Grass, he began improving its variety. By obtaining second-grade Starlight Sword Grass, Lu Xuan's cultivation rewards amounted to no less than forty years.

However, due to his mediocre aptitude, he was still on the verge of breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Building.

With his talent, he was undoubtedly at the bottom of the rankings within the Sky Sword Sect.

For those talented geniuses in the sect, it generally took one to two decades to advance from the early stage to the mid-stage of Foundation Building. Those with true transmission-level talents could even break through in less than ten years.

If Lu Xuan devoted himself to arduous cultivation, he might not succeed in breaking through even after fifty years.

Fortunately, the existence of the luminous spheres greatly shortened the talent gap between them, and there was even a trend of catching up from behind.

Since he started planting Hidden Essence Grass, it had only been three or four years until the next batch. The mid-stage of Foundation Building was now within reach.

Lu Xuan looked at the mountains covered with spiritual plants and burst into laughter.

He left more than thirty Hidden Essence Grass plants untouched by the Green Wood Source Qi, allowing them to grow naturally until maturity, when he would use them to condense spiritual seeds.

"Thirty-five Hidden Essence Grass plants should yield no less than one hundred and fifty spiritual seeds. That should be enough. Any more, and it would be difficult for spiritual power to support the needs of the spiritual plants."

With a full reward of luminous spheres, Lu Xuan returned to his room.

"Junior Brother Lu Xuan, are you there?"

After resting for half a day, a low voice came from outside the array formation.

"I'm here."

Lu Xuan hurried to the foot of the mountain and opened the array formation, where he saw a middle-aged cultivator with a square face and a solemn expression standing straight before the formation.

With a slight sweep of his spiritual awareness, Lu Xuan sensed that the middle-aged cultivator's cultivation was no less than the mid-stage of Foundation Building, and his expression became significantly more serious.

"I wonder how Senior Brother would like to be addressed? What brings you to find me?" Lu Xuan asked respectfully.

"Calling me Senior Brother Huang will do."

"I've come this time to entrust Junior Brother with a task. It's been several years since you were promoted to an inner sect disciple, and it's time for you to fulfill the duty of guarding the sect."

"The duty of sect guarding? Please explain it in detail, Senior Brother."

Lu Xuan's heart tightened, speaking respectfully.

"That's right. This is an obligation that every Foundation Building disciple should fulfill."

"The sect has many outposts across the cultivation world to gather resources, guard dangerous areas, and protect wandering cultivators. Most of these outposts require Foundation Building cultivators to guard them, suppressing minor threats to prevent damage to the sect's interests."

"Huang Senior Brother, can I refuse this duty of sect guarding? Or perhaps extend it for several decades more?"

Lu Xuan asked tentatively.

"Junior Brother Lu Xuan, this won't work. Guarding duties are usually assigned to inner sect disciples who have been in the sect for several years. After all, the early stage of Foundation Building is already sufficient. It would be a waste to use mid-stage Foundation Building disciples."

"If Junior Brother doesn't want to go, it may lead to Senior Brothers from the Disciplinary Hall coming to resolve it, and you may be punished as a result."

Lu Xuan smirked. Although he rarely ventured outside and had little interaction with fellow disciples, he was aware of the reputation of the Disciplinary Hall. Once they came, he would at least suffer some consequences.

"What kind of punishment would there be?"

He still harbored a glimmer of hope. If it was just a punishment of spirit stones or sword imprints, it wouldn't be unacceptable. He could spend money to solve the problem.

However, the words of the middle-aged cultivator left him with a cold feeling in his heart.

"Defying sect orders generally results in a ten-year confinement, during which you are not allowed to leave or engage in any activities. After it ends, you will still be required to complete the task."

"A ten-year confinement?"

Lu Xuan shook his head. If he were really confined for ten years, most of the spiritual plants on the mountain would wither by the time it ended.

"Junior Brother Lu Xuan, there's no need to be so resistant. The sect won't let you waste several years of effort in vain."

"During your guard duty, you'll receive at least three hundred sword imprints annually, and the places where you guard are usually small clans or wandering cultivators, with little risk. It's rare to hear of fellow disciples losing their lives because of this."

Seeing Lu Xuan's reluctance, the middle-aged cultivator explained.

"Three hundred sword imprints annually? That means I can get at least three fourth-grade spiritual seeds."

Since he couldn't refuse, Lu Xuan could only accept it. Fortunately, the number of sword imprints for subsidy didn't disappoint him.

"Please, Senior Brother, introduce me to the details of the locations where I can guard."

"Alright."

The middle-aged cultivator nodded.

"At present, there are three places for you to choose from, Junior Brother Lu Xuan."

"The first place requires you to arrive within three months. It's a small city run by several wandering cultivators who produce several rare ores. It's less than a thousand miles away from the Falling Nightmare Mountain Range and provides a subsidy of three hundred sword imprints annually."

"Although the number of sword imprints is the least, because it's near the Falling Nightmare Mountain Range, there are many secret realms nearby, and demonic beasts often appear. Therefore, it's relatively more popular, and other inner sect disciples are competing for this opportunity."

"The second place is located in the city of Xuan Yin, where many major forces are situated. The sect generally has a say in the city and requires you to arrive within a month."

"Xuan Yin City is over a thousand miles away from the Dark Yin Sect and is easy to encounter demonic cultivators, making it the first choice for fellow disciples who want to hone their combat abilities."

"Due to the higher risk, the subsidy of sword imprints will be greater, with three hundred and sixty sword imprints annually."

"What about the last one?"

Lu Xuan frowned and asked. He wasn't very satisfied with these two guard locations. One was near the Falling Nightmare Mountain Range, and the other wasn't far from the Dark Yin Sect. Both seemed to have considerable risks.

"The last one is located near the Boundless Sea, on a large island where some special spiritual materials, sea creatures, and rare spiritual herbs are produced."

"It is said that around the islands, you can occasionally find rare spiritual liquid."

"But there aren't many opportunities there, and it doesn't help with self

-improvement. Also, it's located in a bitter cold area, so it's usually a semi-compulsory task assigned to an inner sect disciple. The subsidy for sword imprints each year is three hundred and twenty."

"Special sea creatures, rare spiritual herbs, and the possibility of finding spiritual liquid?"

"Most importantly, there are no secret realms, no disciples from sinister sects. It means it's safer."

Hearing this, Lu Xuan's eyes lit up.

"Senior Brother Huang, then I'll choose the island near the Boundless Sea."

"I'm a wandering cultivator by nature, not afraid of hardship or tiredness. Please grant my wish and let me go to the island to train for a few years."

Lu Xuan said sincerely to the middle-aged cultivator.

Safe, reliable, and risk-free, he could also witness various sea creatures and spiritual herbs while possibly finding spiritual liquid to cultivate Dragon Bone Grass. Where else could he find such a good opportunity?

"Are you sure, Junior Brother?"

The middle-aged cultivator asked with some doubt. After all, very few inner sect disciples chose that island. Everyone wanted to stay away from that cold island, which made him somewhat uncomfortable with Lu Xuan's choice.

Everyone wanted to seek opportunities, defend against evil, where would they actively approach a cold island?

"I'm sure."

Lu Xuan quickly responded.