I Just Want to Cultivate Quietly and Farm

Chapter 86: Chapter 81: Spirit Plant Department Affairs (Part 2)

Li Mu swiftly tidied up the dishes, left the stone house, and began inspecting the hundred-acre Spirit Field that had been cultivated.

Upon discovering the weeds that had survived by chance, Li Mu casually performed the Withering and Flourishing Technique. As the soil in the field was too hard, he supplemented it with the Earth Flipping Technique, ..., after strolling through the entire hundred acres, he spent another two hours.

The Spirit Gathering Array and Spirit Summoning Array simultaneously took effect; spiritual power was abundant within the Linggu. Li Mu estimated that the spiritualization rate of the hundred acres would take about twenty days to complete, transforming them into a Lower Grade Spirit Field. By then, planting could begin.

Li Mu’s plans for the hundred acres were simple: fifty acres for Wind Spirit Grass (3 months), thirty acres for White Jade Spirit Rice (6 months), and twenty acres for Cui Ling Fruit (9 months). Since Wind Spirit Grass has a short growth period and can be harvested in three months, after two or three consecutive harvests, he believed that by the time Cui Ling Fruit was ready to be harvested, it would definitely help him achieve Foundation Establishment.

He wondered if that ”Yin Yang Five Elements Scripture” had been sent over by the Sect.

Li Mu let out a silent sigh, feeling a bit anxious. He had prepared everything but was missing this cultivation technique that would allow him to establish his foundation.

This is related to the responsibilities of the disciples in the Cultivation Hall. Surely, he wouldn’t neglect his duties, right?

Oh! I need to go to the sect’s base.

Currently, Li Mu is one of the Management Disciples of the Qing Xuan Sect in Qingshui Town and holds responsibilities in the Spirit Plant Department.

Li Mu hurriedly rose with Sword Control, flew out of Cyan Dragon Valley, and headed towards nearby Qingshui Town.

In less than fifteen minutes, Li Mu landed in the courtyard at the sect’s base in Qingshui Town.

”Greetings, Senior Brother!”

”Servant Disciple - Xiao Cheng, greets Senior Brother.”

...

The servant disciples in the courtyard all admired Li Mu, offering greetings and saluting him.

”Hmm! Where is Senior Brother Nangong?” Li Mu nodded toward the servant disciples and casually asked.

”Senior Brother Nangong is entertaining Patriarch Ling and Patriarch Chen, discussing the arrangements for the duel in three days. Senior Brother, should I lead you there?” Servant Disciple - Xiao Cheng stepped forward first, enthusiastically explaining.

”No need; I’m the new Management Disciple in the Spirit Plant Department, my second time here at the base’s courtyard, not really familiar. Lead me to the Spirit Plant Department!” Li Mu waved his hand and ordered.

”Sure, Senior Brother, this way please!” Xiao Cheng nodded happily, gestured, and led the way in front.

Quickly, under Xiao Cheng’s guidance, Li Mu arrived at a two-entry courtyard in the Spirit Plant Department.

”This hall is where Senior Brother works; the main hall serves as the reception area. The adjacent room is a resting place, and the largest one is the Spirit Plant warehouse. Meals can be taken at the canteen, or other disciples can deliver them. ..., the Spirit Plant Department has twelve Servant Disciples in office, among them, Servant Disciple - Chu Shuyuan has worked the longest, for three years, and is the most knowledgeable of the Spirit Plant Department’s operations. There’s also Ding Zhenghong, Junior Brother Ding mainly oversees the warehouse, ...,” Xiao Cheng passionately introduced the situation of the Spirit Plant Department to Li Mu, talking at length.

Li Mu nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. With Xiao Cheng’s introduction, the situation in the Spirit Plant Department was crystal clear, even giving him a clue on work arrangements, which was very good.

”Hmm! Isn’t there twelve Servant Disciples on shift at the Spirit Plant Department? Why haven’t I seen anyone?” Li Mu asked puzzledly, looking at the empty courtyard of the Spirit Plant Department.

”Well, well, perhaps they went out to check the Sect’s Land; in thirteen days, it seems like it’s the Sect’s Land rent day! They should be verifying the situation at the Sect’s Land!” Xiao Cheng opened his mouth without knowing how to explain, guessed.

”Well done, I’ll reward you with this bottle of Qi Gathering Pill!” Li Mu took out a pill bottle and tossed it to Xiao Cheng.

”Thank you, thank you, Senior Brother!” Xiao Cheng was overjoyed, accepting the pill bottle and expressing gratitude.

”Could you please gather all the Servant Disciples working in the Spirit Plant Department?” Li Mu gave a slight smile and instructed.

”No problem! Senior Brother, please wait a moment, I’ll be right back.” Xiao Cheng promptly agreed, threw down a sentence, and left the Spirit Plant Department as if escaping, going to assemble the colleagues for Li Mu.

Li Mu observed the main hall of the Spirit Plant Department, then took a tour of the warehouse, examining the warehouse’s Protective Array, brows unconsciously furrowing.

The warehouse storing plants from the Sect’s Land rent in the Spirit Plant Department was guarded by only a simple alert array, and another Protective Array hadn’t been activated with Spirit Stones. Well! Probably because the plants hadn’t yet entered the warehouse, so it hadn’t been activated!

To ensure the warehouse’s safety, I’ll secretly add a Five Elements Eight Extremes Array later!

After inspecting the few buildings within the Spirit Plant Department, Li Mu made a decision in his heart.

”Senior Brother, mission accomplished, the people are here for you.” Xiao Cheng hurriedly ran to Li Mu with a crowd, reporting with heavy breaths.

”Hmm, well done!” Li Mu smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping across the faces of twelve Servant Disciples who looked anxious and uneasy.

”Pay respects to Management Senior Brother!”

”Greetings, Senior Brother!”

...

The twelve Servant Disciples, nervous, unevenly voiced greetings to Li Mu.

”Excuse me, Senior Brother, if nothing else, I’ll be on my way.” Xiao Cheng wisely greeted Li Mu and promptly left the Spirit Plant Department.

Seeing Xiao Cheng off, Li Mu let his gaze fall on the twelve Servant Disciples, scolding, ”During your shifts at the Spirit Plant Department, if you’ve been slacking off or whatnot, I can’t be bothered to concern myself with it, but with the Sect’s Land rent day approaching, this month you must maintain prime status, always be on call, not leaving the base’s courtyard a step, understood?”

Hearing this, the twelve Servant Disciples’ faces turned ashen, each looking constipated, exchanging glances, having words bottled up yet fearing to speak, unwilling to comply with Li Mu’s order.

”What’s the matter, feel free to say if you have problems?” Li Mu asked sternly.

”Senior Brother, usually strict guard duty starts on the rent day itself; beginning now seems too early!”

”Exactly! My elderly mother is sick at home needing care; staying at the office without leaving is impossible!”

”Senior Brother, I’m raising dozens of Colorful Spirit Chickens and two Giant Fang Pigs, ...”

”My Dao partner is nine months pregnant, about to give birth; I really can’t leave!”

...

When Li Mu finished speaking, the twelve Servant Disciples complained one after another, each with reasons for being unable to comply, feeling helpless.

Li Mu chuckled; seemingly, the Management Disciples’ position in the Spirit Plant Department had been vacant too long, nurturing a bunch of Servant Disciples who ate without diligence, explaining why they were unseen earlier, likely abandoning their posts for personal matters.

Similar to departments in the original world, bad habits had developed; even after issuing orders, they still dared to provide reasons to refuse arrangements!

Frankly, if not for duties assigned by the sect, Li Mu wouldn’t want the responsibility of being the Management Disciple for the Spirit Plant Department, taking on a pile of tasks.

Now, if the sect’s rent doesn’t get collected or something goes wrong, blame would fall on him. Li Mu had no choice but to push tasks onto them since he passed the Outer Disciple assessment, ranking above Servant Disciples.

”Surely there are numerous Servant Disciples wishing to join the Spirit Plant Department! You’ve drawn a year’s wages from the sect, hardly doing any work. Just now, you’re finding yourselves busy? Whoever can’t comply, tell me, I’ll approve their departure from the Spirit Plant Department.” Li Mu gestured with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the speech of the Servant Disciples instantly seemed choked off, leaving them without excuses.

What a joke! The Spirit Plant Department’s position is lucrative; sometimes, even without Spirit Stone allocations, it’s hard to secure.

The tasks in the Spirit Plant Department, throughout the year, are only busy during rent collection, Spirit Seed distribution, and field cultivation; typically, there’s little work, nearly just collecting wages, none wished to lose this position.

”Management Senior Brother, my elderly mother will be taken care of by my elder brother, I’m willing to follow Senior Brother’s arrangements strictly.”

”Yes, yes! My Dao partner can be looked after by my elderly mother; I also comply.”

”Me too!”

...

The Servant Disciples nodded like garlic being pounded and showed a flattering smile to Li Mu, expressing willingness to comply.

Li Mu’s words hit their weak spot, transforming all Servant Disciples into utmost compliance.

Li Mu smiled satisfactorily, began assigning tasks to Servant Disciples, cleaning the Spirit Plant Department, tidying the warehouse, ..., the site became bustling.