Chapter 56: The Spirit Grain Attracts Guests from All Corners

The environment of Jie Prison was worse than the Lava Cellar and the Nine Yin Ice Cavern combined. The constant torment of switching between extreme heat and cold was something even a Spirit Sprout Realm expert couldn’t withstand. But for Qin Haoxuan, it was a rare paradise. Not only was it not uncomfortable, but the searing heat from the One-Leaf Golden Lotus’s remaining power was perfectly counteracted. Nevertheless, he put on a pained expression and left quickly, lest anyone with ill intentions discover his secret.

After leaving Jie Prison and returning to the Spirit Field Valley, Qin Haoxuan found a secluded thicket to cultivate. The night passed without incident.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, he was about to head to Xu Yu’s room to walk with her to class when he saw a group of disciples in gray robes gathered around her and Murong Chao, speaking to them with fawning smiles.

To become a Gray-Robed disciple, one either had to reach the Tenth-Leaf Spirit Sprout Realm or have made sufficient contributions to the sect.

These disciples rarely came to the Spirit Field Valley. Could they be causing trouble for Xu Yu and Murong Chao? But their ingratiating smiles suggested otherwise.

Qin Haoxuan quickened his pace, and their voices drifted to his ears.

A tall, thin disciple was complaining, “Junior Sister Xu, I’m willing to offer ten low-grade spirit stones for 8,000 jin of Grade-1 corn. My Golden Mane Lion loves Grade-1 corn, but my own field is already full of spirit rice. I can’t bear to pull it up!”

“A Golden Mane Lion isn’t even a top-tier spirit beast. Why feed it such good corn?” a burly, bearded man with a hearty demeanor chimed in, patting his chest. “Junior Sister Xu, I’ll give you ten low-grade spirit stones for just 7,000 jin. It’s for my Crimson Tigerhawk. If it grows well, its future potential will be no less than that of a Mountain-Swallowing Beast! I’ll buy as much as you can grow; you won’t have to worry about sales at all.”

Just as he finished, a refreshing, fragrant breeze blew past. A group of graceful female disciples, led by a stunningly beautiful woman in a cyan robe, had also arrived.

The two male disciples’ hearts sank. Luo Jinhua from the Hundred Flowers Hall is here too? I heard she recently acquired a Golden Lynx. Is she also here for the corn? If so, we don’t stand a chance.

The woman in the cyan robe, Luo Jinhua, swept her elegant eyes over the crowd, her gaze like a spring breeze. Her smile was as radiant as a hundred flowers blooming in unison, dazzling the onlookers. “You must be Junior Sister Xu and Junior Brother Murong Chao, correct?”

They both nodded.

“I am Luo Jinhua of the Hundred Flowers Hall,” she said. “I heard you can grow Grade-1 corn, and I’d like to buy some for my Golden Lynx.” Seeing Xu Yu hesitate, she glanced at the two male disciples. “I will offer ten low-grade spirit stones for 6,000 jin of Grade-1 corn, and I will buy your entire harvest. How about it?”

The onlookers who heard her offer were shocked and filled with regret. That was double the market price. If only they could grow Grade-1 corn. Seeing Xu Yu still silent, they desperately wanted to nod on her behalf.

“What do you think, Junior Sister?” Luo Jinhua said with a charming smile. “If you are willing to sell your future harvests to me, we can get to know each other better, and you can visit the Hundred Flowers Hall often.”

One of her followers added, “Our Senior Sister Luo is a very kind person, and our hall is full of female disciples. We all hope you will come and visit.”

Those with quick wits immediately understood. This wasn’t about buying corn; it was about recruiting Xu Yu.

Of course, Xu Yu understood their intentions as well, but her expression remained calm. It was only when she saw Qin Haoxuan approaching in the distance that a wide smile blossomed on her face. She turned to the disciples from the Hundred Flowers Hall. “You should discuss the matter of buying corn with my Brother Haoxuan. Whether we continue to plant it, or who we sell it to, will all be his decision.”

With that, she walked over to him. “Brother Haoxuan, you’re back! These senior sisters want to discuss buying our corn.”

Qin Haoxuan nodded. He had overheard their conversation and understood their true intentions.

“Senior Sisters, the morning frost is heavy. Please, come inside,” he said with a gentle smile, making an inviting gesture.

Luo Jinhua looked at Xu Yu and Murong Chao. Seeing no objection, she gave Qin Haoxuan face, though she was puzzled as to why a weak-seeded disciple was the decision-maker for their group. “Junior Brother Qin is very thoughtful.”

After the female disciples went inside, Qin Haoxuan turned to the two male disciples. “Would you two like to come in as well?”

They looked at each other. They knew that with the Hundred Flowers Hall involved, they had no chance. It would be better to spend the time tending to their own fields. They clasped their hands and said, “Thank you for the invitation, Junior Brother, but we have other matters to attend to.”

After they left, Qin Haoxuan also entered the room.

Luo Jinhua got straight to the point. “Junior Brother Qin, I came today to discuss the matter of purchasing your corn.”

“I see. And what are Senior Sister Luo’s terms?”

“I will buy all the Grade-1 corn you grow in the future at double the market price—ten low-grade spirit stones for 6,000 jin. How does that sound?”

“The price is very tempting. However, even if we plant all three of our plots with corn, it won’t be a huge amount. I’m honored that you would come all this way in person,” Qin Haoxuan said with a chuckle. “But I’m afraid we may have to disappoint you. Corn is not that valuable, and we probably won’t plant it again after this harvest.”

Luo Jinhua just smiled. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t plant corn. As long as it is Grade-1 grain, I will buy it long-term, and I will always offer the best price.”

Hearing this, Qin Haoxuan was even more certain of her true motive. But the Hundred Flowers Hall was the only all-female faction. It was almost a certainty that Xu Yu would join them eventually. There was nothing wrong with them trying to build a relationship early.

Luo Jinhua was an experienced disciple, and as they talked, Qin Haoxuan humbly asked her for advice on planting. Just as they were getting into a lively discussion, a female disciple who had been standing guard outside stopped a handsome young man in an orange robe. “Senior Brother Chu, our Senior Sister Luo is inside discussing business with Junior Sister Xu. Please wait a moment.”

“Senior Brother Chu? Could it be Chu Xiangzi of the Ancient Cloud Hall?” Luo Jinhua muttered to herself, then said to Xu Yu, “Let me go and see.”

Chu Xiangzi of the Ancient Cloud Hall? Wasn’t he the one who strong-armed the sale of my corn yesterday? Qin Haoxuan stood up. “Senior Sister Luo, Junior Sister Xu, you two continue. I’ll go see what’s going on.”

“Alright,” Xu Yu said, nodding. “I’ll chat with Senior Sister Luo a little longer then.”

Seeing that Xu Yu deferred to Qin Haoxuan’s decision, Luo Jinhua was even more surprised. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out the strange dynamic of their group.

At the same time, Murong Chao felt a pang of jealousy. He believed that Qin Haoxuan had only won Xu Yu’s trust through his showy actions. If I also show the same decisiveness, she will surely see me in a new light. In any case, I am a Gray Seed, a far cry from a weak seed like him.

“Junior Sister Xu, perhaps I should go out and see as well,” he said. “Chu Xiangzi is Master Guyun’s favorite disciple, a Thirtieth-Leaf expert. He bullied us yesterday; I want to see what he’s here for now.”

Xu Yu turned her gaze to Qin Haoxuan, her meaning clear.

“Of course, let’s go together,” he said generously. He and Murong Chao then walked out of the room.

Watching them leave, Luo Jinhua began to see the bigger picture. “This Qin Haoxuan is no simple character,” she thought. “Xu Yu relies on him a great deal. I’ll have to make sure to build a good relationship with him in the future.”

This Chu Xiangzi was indeed the person who had forced Hao Shuai to sell the corn at a low price. As the Legacy Disciple of Master Guyun, he had once been considered a top candidate for the position of Sect Master. But with the arrival of the three Purple Seeds, that halo had been stripped away, and he had come to hate them for it.

Yesterday, he had been wandering Yixiantian in a foul mood when he had come across the sale. He had bought the corn at half price and had been gleefully feeding it to his new Mountain-Swallowing Beast cub when the door to his room was kicked open and his furious master, Master Guyun, had stormed in.

“Yesterday afternoon at Yixiantian, did you buy 11,000 jin of Grade-1 corn for half the offered price?”