A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

There were also some men’s and women’s clothing, along with common disguise items like turmeric juice.

Lü Zhong used his Gang Qi to grind the remaining items into a fine powder, which he then gathered into a ball and threw in the trash.

After sorting through his gains, he pushed open the door and stepped out of the Quiet Chamber.

Outside, Li Hejun was already waiting with the pair of sisters.

”Master!” she said in greeting.

Behind her, the sisters bowed as well.

”Yes.” Lü Zhong gave a slight nod, motioning for them to follow.

He had already given careful thought to their arrangements the previous night.

Although the Steward didn’t manage the farm’s specific operations, there was still a fair amount of work to handle. Fortunately, it mostly involved processing documents, and Li Hejun had more than enough experience to handle the role competently.

Therefore, he planned to have the Spirit-Hosted Puppet preside over the hall.

Li Hejun would then be responsible for handling the day-to-day affairs. This way, he would have plenty of free time, sparing him the misery of being stuck in his residence all day, which felt like a prison sentence.

’This is cultivation, after all. If I still have to work a nine-to-five, what’s the point?’

As for any potential gossip from his subordinates, Lü Zhong was confident they wouldn’t dare.

No one would dare to casually challenge the authority of a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

He didn’t need to worry about the main branch of the Tan Family, either.

As long as he maintained normal production on the farm and prevented any large-scale theft of Spirit Rice or destruction by Demon Beasts, he figured they wouldn’t interfere.

When he told Li Hejun his plan, she was clearly taken aback. Covering her mouth, she said, ”Master, I am but a mere mortal. I’m afraid the Immortal Masters... won’t listen to me, will they?”

”Don’t worry. Once I apply the carrot and the stick, they’ll listen,” Lü Zhong said with confidence.

Cultivation wasn’t just about temperament; it also required resources like Spiritual Objects.

The farm had more than a dozen positions of varying ranks, each with a different annual Spirit Stone stipend. It was impossible that no one hoped for a promotion.

And where there was ambition, there was an opening for leverage.

Seeing the look of trust on Li Hejun’s face, Lü Zhong felt a sense of satisfaction.

...

The Liuyun Mountain Farm held a regular meeting each quarter to discuss the previous quarter’s agricultural status and plan production for the next. Aside from the year-end assembly, it was the farm’s only major event.

Inside the Steward Hall, the Spirit-Hosted Puppet sat bolt upright and perfectly still.

Li Hejun stood to one side in a flowing dress, drawing glances from the many stewards in attendance. They were puzzled, as a mortal had never before been present at these meetings.

To the puppet’s left sat Tan Yunde, his expression placid, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

Lü Zhong, sitting cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber, took control of the Spirit-Hosted Puppet. He shifted its gaze to Tan Yunde and spoke in a level tone, ”How has the farm been operating this quarter? I’ll have to trouble Vice Steward Tan to give us an overview.”

”Yes!” Tan Yunde stood and clasped his hands in a salute, then began his report.

”Last quarter was the planting season. In total, we planted 3,127 mu of Cyan Rice Spirit Rice, 822 mu of Golden Threaded Spirit Rice, and sixty-nine mu of Cyan Bud Spirit Rice. The necessary farming tools have been allocated... The farm’s households welcomed seven new children—three boys and four girls—all of whom have been placed in the Nursery for care... As for pests, the qingfu infestation continues to be a recurring problem. We have sent an invitation to the Beast-Extinguishing Manor, requesting an Insect Exterminator to handle the situation...”

His report was exhaustive, covering every aspect of the farm’s operations, and it went on for the better part of an hour.

From this information, Lü Zhong gained a general understanding of how the Liuyun Mountain Farm operated.

But his responsibility was merely to be aware of these things.

After all, the so-called Steward was, in essence, just a High-level Thug.

Soon, the meeting concluded without incident.

With Li Hejun presiding over the hall and handling documents, Lü Zhong was free. He first set up the portable Spirit Gathering Array he carried, inserted several Spirit Stones, and began his cultivation.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, his speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi was much faster than it had been in the Qi Refining Stage.

The Spirit Gathering Array continuously drew the mottled Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stones, converting and releasing it. Due to his rapid absorption, the qi gathered into wisps that flowed into his body. Guided by the pathways of the Heling Feixing Scripture, it circulated through his meridians before being refined into pure True Essence.

During this process, his injuries began to show signs of improvement. ’At this rate,’ he thought, ’I should be fully healed in another six months.’

After cultivating for a mere three ancient hours, a faint, stabbing pain emanated from his meridians.

’It seems that even after the body-purifying breakthrough of Foundation Establishment, which significantly strengthened my meridians, there’s still a daily limit to how much I can cultivate. This just further proves the necessity of consuming Pills and other Spiritual Objects.’

A wave of annoyance washed over Lü Zhong at the thought.

If his Spirit-Seeking Rat were still alive, he could be out searching for spiritual treasures right now.

Liuyun Mountain was adjacent to Mingyang Mountain, a place rumored to be home to even Tier Three Demon Beasts. If he could search for treasures there, he might actually find Spirit Medicines that were centuries old.

’Sigh, it’s too late for regrets now.’ Lü Zhong felt a surge of frustration and decided to go out for a walk.

He activated his Flying Star Qi Introduction Skill, along with the Concealing Breath and Concealing Trace Techniques.

Without anyone, man or spirit, noticing, he slipped away from the Liuyun Mountain Farm.

Outside the farm lay a patchwork of fields, paths crisscrossing between them. But unlike the fields on the mountain, these were planted with Mortal Rice. Thus, even with their heavy, laden ears of grain, they attracted no covetous gazes.

With his Magic Skills active, he was effectively invisible to mortal eyes, his presence no more noticeable than the air itself.

As he walked and observed his surroundings, Lü Zhong’s mood gradually settled.

Unlike the mortals of Linyong City, those living here all bore the surname Tan; they were essentially all members of the Jingyang Tan Family. As a result, their treatment was significantly better. There were no exorbitant taxes, and their standard of living was what one would expect in a time of peace and prosperity. While they might not have had fish and meat at every meal, they at least never had to worry about having enough food or clothing.