"Managed to break through by sheer luck."
Zhou Changwang chuckled and said.
"Mastered it?"
Old Xu continued to ask.
Zhou Changwang nodded.
Seeing this, Old Xu immediately said somewhat sourly, "I didn't expect you to have such talent with Geng Metal Finger. It's just that without breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, without Spiritual Sense, there's no Spirit Insect in this Spirit Field that could escape your finger."
"Not entirely true. Geng Metal Finger is just one kind of magic; it can't eliminate all Spirit Insects."
Zhou Changwang shook his head.
Having worked as an apprentice in the Spirit Plant Hall for years, he wasn't completely uneducated; he naturally knew that there are countless Spirit Insects in the world, some troublesome to the point that even Foundation Establishment True Cultivators are helpless.
His Geng Metal Finger is suitable for removing Spirit Insects attached to Linghe, but if it's about cultivating Spiritual Medicine or other more precious Spiritual Materials, it's far from enough.
"Changwang, look, Old Xu here isn't so bad to you usually, right?"
Old Xu's eyes shifted, suddenly smiling cunningly.
"Ordinary."
Zhou Changwang quickly stopped him.
He's heard this kind of talk many times in his past life, and if he responded affirmatively, an endless array of traps would follow.
Some were even series of traps, almost impossible to guard against.
"Well..."
Old Xu's expression stalled, forced a smile, and said to himself, "It's actually not a big deal.
Aren't Spirit Insects in the Spirit Field increasing?
Your three acres of Spirit Field are easy to manage.
But for me, the old man's ten acres, if there are three Spirit Insects hiding in every acre, that's thirty!
With my old arms and legs, how can I cope?
So if you have time, could you lend a hand?"
"Can't help."
Zhou Changwang responded with no hesitation.
Trying to make him work for nothing?
This stubborn old man is dreaming.
"One Lower-Grade Spirit Stone."
Old Xu gritted his teeth, looking pained.
"For a day?"
Zhou Changwang glanced sideways.
"Ten days."
Old Xu blurted out.
He had it figured perfectly; in ten days, the Spirit Rice would almost be mature and ready to harvest, no longer needing insect removal.
"Then I'm not doing it."
Zhou Changwang simply shook his head.
"Three days."
Old Xu thought for a while and said through his teeth.
Indeed, he was feeling overwhelmed; with ten acres of Spirit Field, just two Spirit Insects hiding per acre was enough to give him headaches, not to mention the increase in numbers during the fruit-bearing period.
Add onto that the Spirit Insects occasionally migrating over from Xu Zhong's Spirit Field... it made his scalp tingle.
Instead of hiring people from the Spirit Plant Hall later, spending three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones for just one day's work, it'd be better to pass it on to Zhou Changwang, saving some money.
"I keep the Spirit Insects killed."
Zhou Changwang immediately said.
"Fine."
Old Xu nodded and said with emotion, "Changwang, from the start I knew you were extraordinary, and now it seems my instincts were indeed correct..."
"Sweet talking won't help.
You'll have to pay upfront.
Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll default on your debt."
Zhou Changwang said expressionlessly.
What about noticing he wasn't ordinary—he didn't believe it.
Before his transmigration, his original self was quite average, having qualifications of Five Elements Spiritual Root, which was considered poor among Spirit Farmers, barely noticeable.
On the contrary, this Elder Xu had a stingy character, and Zhou Changwang really feared that after doing the work, the other party wouldn't give him the promised Spirit Stone.
After all, since his rebirth, he hadn't even seen what a Spirit Stone looked like.
"Really, would I, Xu Fugui, default on your Spirit Stone!"
Old Xu's face flushed instantly, protesting indignantly, hesitated for a moment, and then tossed out a slightly crystal-clear block, saying, "Coincidentally, I still have three acres of Spirit Land where Spirit Insects haven't been removed yet, please handle them together."
Saying this, he smugly smiled, as though he'd gotten a bargain, quickly pointing to three acres of Spirit Field not far off.
"No problem."
Zhou Changwang didn't refuse, getting paid meant getting to work.
Moreover, he had just cleared the Spirit Insects from his own Spirit Field earlier, and had some Spiritual Power left in his body, genuinely intending to slay more Spirit Insects and didn't want to waste it.
After all, Spirit Insect Meat is not only delicious, but also infused with Spiritual Qi, genuinely advancing his cultivation.
Plus, most importantly, more Spirit Insects could be exchanged for Spirit Stones...
Thinking of Spirit Stones, he couldn't help but take another look at the slightly crystal-clear block in his hand.
"Is this a Spirit Stone?"
Comparing it with the shape of the Spirit Stone in his memory, Zhou Changwang felt a sense of satisfaction.
Clearly, this was a Spirit Stone.
Lower-Grade Spirit Stone.
It looked somewhat like certain jade stones, but grayer and rectangular, not heavy, only about a hundred grams. Yet, just holding it, he could still feel the abundant Spiritual Qi inside the Spirit Stone.
He knew this was a standard Lower-Grade Spirit Stone.
Measured by weight.
One hundred grams equals one stone.
Two hundred grams means two stones.
After all, Spirit Stones are considered consumables to some extent.
Cultivators can directly absorb the Spiritual Qi within the Spirit Stone for cultivation or restoring Spiritual Power within themselves.
The consumption of Spiritual Qi within the Spirit Stone causes its core to naturally shrink and diminish, reducing its weight.
Therefore, outside, Spirit Stones weighing less than a hundred grams are called Broken Spirit Stones, also used for buy-sell transactions in marketplaces, akin to pocket change in real life.
Then, he carefully put away the Lower-Grade Spirit Stone, directly heading into Old Xu's Spirit Field, beginning a thorough investigation.
Expertly, soon he found the first Spirit Insect.
Spirit Locust.
He didn't expect it; he found no trace of the ferocious Spirit Locust in his own Spirit Field, yet found one in Old Xu's.
But looking at its wings as thin as a cicada's, he felt it was only natural.
After all, Spirit Locusts can fly.
Where they land truly depends on their preference.
Without hesitation, he held his breath, stationed himself at two meters away from the Spirit Locust, then circulated Spiritual Power, controlling it with his Heart Spirit to condense into complex rune structures.
One breath, two, three...
After five breaths.
He adjusted the angle of his fingers and pointed forward.
Silently and invisibly, a flash of golden light vanished.
Geng Metal Finger +1
The Spirit Locust's head, about the size of a human thumb, was instantly shattered, but its entire body, in reflex, tightened, using its sickle-like front claws to slash hard, directly cutting a large gash in the Linghe stalk it was attached to.
Soon, the upper part of the Linghe bent slightly, drooping down as if it were about to snap.
This is what makes the Spirit Locust most troublesome.
Even in death, its instincts drive its front claws to swipe, slicing through anything in its path.
Adding in its high vigilance, jumping and flying away at the slightest disturbance... no Spirit Farmer wishes to see any Spirit Insects in their field, and this one the least. Ah.