"Clearing the Tree Cave Fox, it seems to be a demon hunting mission."
Tree Cave Fox, this is a Tier One Demon Beast with the cunning and agile nature of the Fox Race and possesses a certain degree of wisdom.
Because of its small size and agile movements, it uses the excessive destruction of trees as its nesting ground and is classified as a type of pest.
They move in packs, occasionally carnivorous, posing a danger comparable to that of a carnivorous beast.
Don't be fooled by its mere First and Second Layer strength in Qi Cultivation; it may not harm cultivators, but ordinary people stand no chance against this Fox Demon and can only be prey.
"121 Reputation Points reward, just completing this affair would secure the Steadfast Dao Heart for Zhiwei, and there's still some Reputation Points left over."
"The fur of the Tree Cave Fox, when sold at Qinghe Market, can also exchange for some Spirit Stones to support the sect."
Lu Ping sorted out the benefits of this Doorway Affair.
The fur of the Tree Cave Fox can be used as raw material for making talismans and magical artifacts.
With thirty-six Tree Cave Foxes calculated, selling their fur can bring about seventy Spirit Stones. Although not much, it's better than nothing; earning a bit is better than earning none.
As for the one-time free refresh at the System Mall, this reward isn't bad.
Regular operations to refresh the mall require spending ten Reputation Points, so saving is better.
Overall, this Doorway Affair is quite simple, not highly difficult.
No need to send Lu Yuanshan and other higher-ups to deal with the demons; casually sending a few disciples can easily complete it.
Silently noting it, Lu Ping wasn't in a hurry to immediately summon Lu Yuanshan to instruct him to take people to Little Stone Town to clear out the group of Tree Cave Foxes.
These few days, Lu Zhiwei will come to seek an audience, and it's not too late to arrange this Doorway Affair then.
The remaining twenty Reputation Points, then, can perfectly be exchanged for [One-Star Healing]. This item is used for healing disciples, with miraculous effects.
To be prepared for emergencies, these twenty Reputation Points must be reserved.
Lu Ping didn't plan to consume any more Reputation Points, and checked the other function of the system, [Experience].
"Experience..."
As one of the system's five basic functions, [Experience] is actually something Lu Ping is quite interested in.
Experience, as the name implies, is sending disciples down the mountain to experience and wander the earthly world.
The requirements for disciples' experience in major sects are generally based on cultivation level. Usually, reaching the Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation allows for descending the mountain for experience, accumulating reputation and fame for the sect.
The Cyan Mountain Sect used to do it this way, enabling any Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation disciple to descend the mountain for experience, with return periods ranging from a few months to three to five years, offering a high degree of freedom.
However, more or less, among disciples who went out for experience, only a few encountered fortuitous opportunities to enhance their cultivation or brought back a Dao companion.
Of course, this requires one's strength to be firm enough to hold onto opportunities, while also being smart and adept at making connections.
Most disciples who went out for experience never returned, perishing outside, becoming countless white bones on the path of cultivation, turning into stepping stones under others' feet.
Though experience is dangerous, it's the most effective way to temper disciples' character, helping them adapt to the survival of the fittest.
The path of cultivation itself is battling against heaven, battling against earth, and battling against people; there are no smooth sails, requiring one to constantly cut through thistles and thorns, licking blood on the blade's tip.
No strong individuals can be cultivated in a greenhouse.
"Since the system has the Experience function, it must be useful; sending a disciple down the mountain for experience is not a bad idea either."
Lu Ping reviewed the information of sect members, browsing the data of disciples under his sect.
He decided to give it a try, sending a disciple out for experience to see what can be gained.
Of course, the disciple sent out should not be too weak; if they perish outside at the hands of a demon beast or demon cultivator, Lu Ping could not bear it.
Considering the current scarcity of disciples in the sect, each one is a treasure.
Searching around, Lu Ping's gaze finally landed on a male disciple.
[Name: Xuu Yi]
[Identity: Cyan Mountain Sect Disciple]
[Age: 21]
[Character: Hating Evil Like an Enemy, Treating People Kindly]
[Status: Healthy]
[Realm: Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation]
[Talent: Wind and Wood Dual Spirit Roots]
[Location: Cyan Lotus Mountain]
...
Dual Spirit Roots, with one being the rare Wind Attribute; the strength is decent, at Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation, and crucially, the character is likable.
Sending him out for experience, Xuu Yi shouldn't act recklessly or tarnish the name of the Cyan Mountain Sect.
He's indeed the first choice for experience candidates.
Lu Ping chose Xuu Yi, and a dialogue box popped up.
[You have chosen Xuu Yi, the target will recently descend the mountain for experience]
Having designated a candidate, the next step is waiting. Xuu Yi descending the mountain for experience requires sect higher-ups' permission and also time for preparations.
After finishing these operations, Lu Ping then closed the system panel.
On the other side, Lu Yuanshan was carrying a Spiritual Peach Tree seedling, heading alone towards the Medicinal Garden.
The Cyan Mountain Sect has three acres of Medicine Field, located near the mountain top, adjacent to ten acres of Spirit Field, all situated in areas rich in Spiritual Qi, making them ideal for planting Spirit Plants.
The growth of Spirit Medicine and Spirit Rice requires constant nourishment by Spiritual Qi, or else lacking enough Spiritual Qi will result in deficient Spirit Charm, limiting growth and preventing maturity.
Spirit Rice and Spirit Medicine without Spirit Charm naturally have diminished effects and do not provide benefits to cultivators.
Now it is the midsummer season, with a gentle breeze, the temperature is not hot and feels somewhat cool.
In the Spirit Field, the Spirit Rice is nearing maturity, each stalk forming a golden ocean, swaying gracefully in the breeze.
"Counting the days, after one or two more months, this year's Spirit Rice should be harvested."
Standing outside the Spirit Field, looking at the golden Spirit Rice, Lu Yuanshan showed a look of anticipation.
Spirit Rice is currently one of the main income sources for the sect, and the sect places great importance on it, assigning disciples to guard it daily, casting magic to rain and irrigate, and clearing pests.
In the early years, the sect planted very little Spirit Rice, only five to six acres, which were not sold externally but entirely supplied to the Fire Kitchen as sect rations.
But now, it's different; through sect decline and a sharp decrease in income, the sect places increasing importance on Spirit Rice income, expanding the planting scale, hence the current scene.
Once this batch of Spirit Rice is harvested, the Spirit Field must be expanded, which will keep us busy for a while.
After pausing for a moment in the Spirit Field area, Lu Yuanshan refocused and headed straight for the Medicinal Garden.
Upon arrival, a verdant figure was seen busily moving through the Medicinal Garden, casting the Golden Needle Technique to eliminate pests.
During the cultivation of Spirit Medicine, some Spirit Worms may come to gnaw and damage the growth of Spirit Medicine, so pest elimination is crucial and cannot be slackened, needing monthly attention.
The Golden Needle Technique is a magic specifically for pest control, such low-tier magic is easy to learn and consumes very little Spiritual Power.
Due to most Spirit Worms being small in size, hiding among the branches and leaves, and in the roots to camouflage, making them hard to find, the verdant figure had to focus fully, earnestly searching for pest damages, unaware of Lu Yuanshan's arrival.
Seeing She Qingqing work diligently, Lu Yuanshan wasn't in a rush to speak, and glanced at the Medicine Field indifferently.
The varieties of Spirit Medicine here are few, only a dozen kinds, yet due to the large numbers planted, it appears densely packed.
Common Clear Heart Grass, Orchid Vine, Purple Cloud Reishi, and other Tier One Spirit Medicines are cultivated in large patches, all still in the growing stage, with a period left until maturity.
All these Spirit Medicines, without exception, need monthly care, irrigation, and pest control.
Observing the growth of Spirit Medicine, the young girl had care-taken the Medicinal Garden quite well, prompting Lu Yuanshan to reveal a bit of smile, calling out softly.
"Qingqing."
Upon hearing the call, the verdant figure known as Qingqing turned her head immediately.
Seeing it was Lu Yuanshan, she quickly greeted and saluted.
"Sect Leader."