Chapter 132: I've Become a Master
"Of course!"
As part of the agreement to rent this high-grade tier-2 spiritual field, Gu Mo naturally wouldn't be careless about the cultivation of the Sword Bamboo.
Without delay, Gu Mo returned to the spiritual field and approached the half-mu patch of Sword Bamboo. Compared to a year ago, these bamboos were now brimming with vitality, each one infused with a sharp sword aura.
What had once been tier-2 low-grade Sword Bamboo had now been cultivated by Gu Mo to tier-2 mid-grade quality.
Pressing two fingers together, a stream of Minor Metal Sword Qi burst from Gu Mo's fingertips. Harvesting Sword Bamboo wasn't as simple as just cutting it down—it required the use of sword-type techniques. However, if the sword technique's power was too weak, it wouldn't even be able to sever the bamboo, and might instead end up nourishing it.
Only sword qi powerful enough to exceed the bamboo's tolerance threshold could cut it down—and this method of harvesting would yield the highest quality results.
Zheng zheng zheng...
The sword qi released from Gu Mo's fingertips slashed at the Sword Bamboo, unleashing a series of sharp sword cries. But these cries were quickly drowned out, and one by one, the bamboo stalks were cleanly severed.
A total of 100 stalks—this was the entirety of the bamboo in the field, and precisely the quantity required for delivery to Immortal City. It had to be said that the Lu Clan's past deliveries had always been cutting it close. If there had been even the slightest issue with the Sword Bamboo in their spiritual field, they wouldn't have been able to meet their quota.
Such issues had already occurred twice before, and the Lu Clan had received two warnings. If it happened again, there were only two possible outcomes: either they would lose their supplier qualification or be downgraded.
Even among suppliers, there were different tiers. The Lu Clan was considered a second-tier supplier since they provided tier-2 spiritual plants. Naturally, those who could provide tier-2 products couldn't be compared to suppliers of tier-1 goods.
But if they failed to meet the quota three times and wanted to avoid disqualification, then they would be demoted to third-tier supplier status. The lower the tier, the fewer the benefits and privileges.
"Next year's Sword Bamboo yield should increase quite a bit."
Gu Mo's false core-level divine sense scanned the field beneath the surface. As long as the roots were intact, new bamboo shoots would sprout next year and grow into fresh Sword Bamboo.
This year, Gu Mo had taken over midway, but thanks to his year of meticulous cultivation, the bamboo's root system had flourished—indicating a higher yield in the future.
With a wave of his hand, Gu Mo collected the 100 stalks and exited the spiritual field formation. Seeing the anxious look on Fang Jiaoyan's face, he placed the 100 stalks, each exuding a biting sword aura, before her.
The combined sword aura of all 100 stalks sent a chill through Fang Jiaoyan, who was in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. But soon, her eyes filled with astonishment.
She knew all too well the quality of Sword Bamboo. After all, the Lu Clan had been supplying Immortal City for many years. But this was her first time seeing Sword Bamboo of such exceptional quality.
If she'd had any doubts about Gu Mo's abilities before, they vanished completely at that moment. This Fellow Daoist Hu's strength far exceeded her expectations.
For a brief moment, Fang Jiaoyan regretted not signing a long-term contract with Gu Mo back then. But on second thought, a spiritual plant master of this caliber wasn't someone a small family like the Lu Clan could hope to bind.
"Fellow Daoist Fang, since the deadline is tight, why don't you deliver this batch of Sword Bamboo right away?" Seeing Fang Jiaoyan still dazed, Gu Mo couldn't help but remind her.
"Huh? Fellow Daoist Hu, aren't you coming with me?" she asked, startled.
"I'm not a supplier for Immortal City—what would I go for? And there's no need to mention me either, Fellow Daoist Fang." With a wave of his hand, Gu Mo's figure vanished into the spiritual field's formation.
Unless absolutely necessary, Gu Mo never wandered around as his true self—especially with a massive bounty still on his head. If something urgent ever did arise, his false core incarnation could handle it.
Watching Gu Mo disappear into the formation, Fang Jiaoyan was left momentarily speechless. She had never met a cultivator like him.
Clearly blessed with exceptional skill in spiritual plant cultivation, yet he had no interest in flaunting it. He simply immersed himself wholeheartedly in his craft. Only with that kind of dedication could one achieve such mastery.
At that moment, Fang Jiaoyan's imagination filled in the blanks, shaping an image of Gu Mo as a cultivator wholly devoted to mastering the spiritual plant arts.
His habit of never leaving the field all year seemed to confirm that.
Whooo...
Taking a deep breath, Fang Jiaoyan carefully stored the 100 stalks of Sword Bamboo, offered a slight bow toward the field, and then made her way to Immortal City.
With this batch of Sword Bamboo, she knew without a doubt—the Lu Clan's supplier qualification was safe.
Rushing along the road, Fang Jiaoyan arrived at the department in Immortal City responsible for receiving and evaluating supplier materials. The place was already crowded with representatives from other suppliers waiting to submit their goods.
"Fairy Fang has arrived!"
Fang Jiaoyan's appearance naturally drew attention. Many gazes were tinged with lust. Her beauty was well known among cultivators, and seeing her in person today confirmed the rumors.
Word had it that Fairy Fang's Dao companion had perished during a failed attempt at forming a Golden Core. Without that spiritual plant master to support her, many believed the Lu Clan would lose its supplier status this time. Stripped of that qualification and without her peak Foundation Establishment Dao companion, Fang Jiaoyan now seemed like a plump piece of meat—ripe for the taking.
Hmph!
Sensing the malicious gazes around her, Fang Jiaoyan snorted coldly. In the past, she might've been full of anxiety. After all, losing the supplier qualification would spell disaster for the Lu Clan.
But now...
Fang Jiaoyan gently touched the storage pouch at her waist. With these 100 stalks of top-grade Sword Bamboo, the Lu Clan's status as a supplier was rock solid.
"Thank you all for waiting."
At that moment, a middle-aged cultivator appeared. Though his cultivation wasn't particularly strong, every representative stood up to greet him with respectful bows.
"Greetings, Manager Zhou!"
This was Zhou Shanlin—the official responsible for receiving and evaluating supplier materials. His authority was immense. For the suppliers present, the quality of their goods—and whether they passed inspection—was entirely up to him.
Though he wouldn't blatantly reject qualified goods, when it came to borderline cases, whether or not to accept them was entirely at his discretion.
A simple "no" from him could mean the loss of an entire year's earnings—or even the supplier qualification itself.
"We're all familiar here, so let's get straight to it," Zhou Shanlin said with a cupped-fist salute, signaling the start of the annual evaluation.
Immediately, the representatives stepped forward one by one to submit their materials, while Zhou Shanlin examined each submission carefully. Although he was only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, his expertise in appraising materials was unmatched—this was precisely why he held such a critical position.
"These Iron Thread Grasses don't meet the standard."
Zhou Shanlin looked over the batch of spirit herbs with fine, thread-like strands and shook his head.
"Manager Zhou, please be lenient—this year's been truly difficult." The supplier's representative hurried forward and discreetly tried to slip him something.
"Immortal City only looks at material quality. Nothing else matters." Zhou Shanlin pushed the bribe back. Normally, for borderline cases, if someone offered a little something, he might turn a blind eye.
But this time was different. A high-ranking official in Immortal City had recently been exposed for accepting bribes, and now the entire city was under strict scrutiny. He didn't want to risk defying regulations at such a sensitive time.
"Th-this…"
Zhou Shanlin's refusal left the supplier representative momentarily at a loss. This batch of Steelthread Grass was a significant source of income for their family—if Immortal City didn't purchase it, they'd be forced to tighten their belts for the rest of the year.
Although they could still sell it at the trading market, the price there was nowhere near what Immortal City paid. On top of that, Immortal City made full purchases in a single transaction, while the trading market would require selling piece by piece. For spirit herbs with low demand, there was a real chance some wouldn't sell at all.
If it were just a financial loss, they could endure a difficult year. But more importantly, this would count as a contract violation. Three violations would disqualify them entirely. As a Tier 3 supplier, they had no room left to be downgraded further.
"Next!"
Zhou Shanlin called out.
At his words, a tense silence fell among the gathered supplier representatives. Clearly, everyone had realized—this round of procurement allowed for no under-the-table dealings.
This made some of the suppliers with lower-quality goods feel extremely uneasy.
Zhou Shanlin went on to reject the spirit materials from several more suppliers, which quickly created an atmosphere of panic. Many were too afraid to step forward and make their deliveries, worried that their own goods would also be turned down.
Seeing the crowd hesitate, Fang Jiaoyan stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Manager Zhou, the Lu family is here to deliver their materials."
"The Lu family? You're responsible for submitting Sword Bamboo. You've already been cited for two previous violations. If you fail to submit qualified Sword Bamboo this time, your supplier status with Immortal City will be revoked." Zhou Shanlin glanced at the beautiful Fang Jiaoyan. Under normal circumstances, he might have tried to pressure her a little—but given the current crackdown from the top, he didn't dare act recklessly. As attractive as she was, she wasn't nearly worth risking his position as a manager in Immortal City.
"This time, we will ensure Manager Zhou is satisfied!"
As Fang Jiaoyan spoke, she brought out 100 stalks of Sword Bamboo. Immediately, a sharp sword aura radiated from them, drawing glances from everyone nearby.
"This is…"
Zhou Shanlin's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the bamboo. As an expert in this area, he could instantly recognize the bamboo's exceptional quality.
These were already mid-grade Tier 2 Sword Bamboo—and among mid-grade Tier 2, they were at the top of the class. Sword Bamboo was typically only a low-grade Tier 2 spirit plant. For someone to cultivate it to mid-grade Tier 2, and at such a high level within that category, was something only a truly skilled spirit plant master could accomplish.
"Manager Zhou, is there a problem with this Sword Bamboo?" Fang Jiaoyan asked cautiously, seeing his silence.
"No problem at all. This Sword Bamboo is excellent—truly outstanding. May I ask which spirit plant master you hired to cultivate it?" Zhou Shanlin replied with a warm smile.
To raise a spirit plant to a higher tier wasn't something an ordinary cultivator could do. If he could recruit this expert into Immortal City, that would be a major achievement for Zhou Shanlin.
Immortal City was always eager to recruit talent. Anyone who could bring in a top-tier expert would receive generous rewards.
"My apologies, Manager Zhou. That master is a reclusive cultivator." Fang Jiaoyan cupped her hands in respect. Since Gu Mo wished to remain anonymous, she wouldn't disclose his identity without permission.
"I see."
Zhou Shanlin nodded. He understood well the eccentricities of true masters. But now that he knew the Lu family had a prior connection with this one, there might be opportunities down the line.
With that in mind, he continued, "Fellow Daoist Fang, if your Lu family can consistently supply Sword Bamboo of this quality, I will submit a request to have you promoted to a Tier 1 supplier."
"What?!"
Fang Jiaoyan's eyes widened in disbelief. She knew very well the benefits of becoming a Tier 1 supplier for Immortal City.
"Rest assured, Manager Zhou. Our Lu family will spare no effort in delivering only the highest-quality Sword Bamboo!" she responded quickly.
Even after leaving Immortal City, Fang Jiaoyan still felt like she was in a dream. But the heavy pouch of mid-grade spirit stones in her hand told her it had all been real.
Thanks to the improved Sword Bamboo quality, the payment Immortal City gave was several times higher than before. According to their agreement, the profits from the Sword Bamboo would be split evenly between the Lu family and Gu Mo.
After all, Sword Bamboo was a crucial income source for the Lu family—they couldn't give it up completely. But to retain their supplier status, Fang Jiaoyan had willingly surrendered half the profits.
Yet under the current circumstances, the Lu family's income hadn't decreased—it had actually multiplied.
"Whew…"
Letting out a long sigh of relief, a smile crept onto Fang Jiaoyan's lips. This time, surely no one in the clan would oppose her anymore.
"Master Hu!"
When she saw Gu Mo again, Fang Jiaoyan greeted him with a deep and formal bow—too deep and too formal. Ah, wait… misread that one.
Gu Mo withdrew his gaze. He wasn't surprised by Fang Jiaoyan's reaction. In this cultivation world, the legacy of spirit plant masters was sparse, and what Gu Mo had inherited was from the Valley of the Divine Farmer—and even that was only a partial inheritance. The true legacy could only be obtained by journeying to the Valley itself.
But even the knowledge Gu Mo now possessed was enough for others to consider him a spirit plant master.
"Master Hu, here's your agreed share." Fang Jiaoyan handed over the payment from the materials, then brought forward a young girl from behind her.
The girl bore a strong resemblance to Fang Jiaoyan—about seventy to eighty percent alike. She had a naturally alluring aura, though not fully developed yet due to her age. But once she matured, she would undoubtedly be just as stunning—if not even more so—than Fang Jiaoyan herself.
"Master Hu, this is my daughter, Lu Lingmei," Fang Jiaoyan said with a hint of pride.
Her daughter possessed a low-grade water spiritual root and showed considerable talent in the field of spirit plants. The clan had planned to train her as a spirit plant master and let her inherit their top-tier Tier 2 spiritual field. Unfortunately, the only training available came from the incomplete legacy passed down from Fang Jiaoyan's late husband.
It was nearly impossible to nurture a true spirit plant master from such a fragmentary inheritance. But now, Fang Jiaoyan saw hope—standing right before her was a genuine spirit plant master.
If her daughter could become his apprentice, that would be her fated opportunity.
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