Cultivating Immortality Starts with Planting Techniques

"I wonder, Brother Li what is your opinion of the Yue family?" 

With that question, his intent to recruit couldn't have been more obvious. 

Li Ye's expression didn't change, and he replied with calm sincerity: 

"A great clan in the Huan Kingdom, second only to the Purple Profound Sect." 

"Second only to the Purple Profound Sect…" 

Yue Quan repeated the words, his expression somewhat unreadable. Then, he simply said, 

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix'?" 

"If you're willing, I can personally recommend you as a guest alchemist for our family. You'll receive protection and tribute from the clan… isn't that far better than struggling as a mere spirit farmer in the sect?" 

"In fact, should you be open to joining the family through marriage, with your level of alchemy skill, we have beautiful, gentle, and understanding clan women who would be more than willing to become your wife…" 

"Once we're family, with the Yue family's influence, even if you have past grievances with the Li family, we can step in and seek justice on your behalf!" 

Protection, status, a lovely wife, and even revenge all laid out in one generous offer. That was truly a tempting package. 

If my golden finger weren't farming, but rather dual cultivation through marriage, I might've been swayed already! 

Li Ye shook his head inwardly but smiled as he looked at Yue Quan. 

"Brother Yue, I deeply appreciate your sincere offer. But since you've already looked into my background so thoroughly, you must know of my many experiences within the clan." 

"As for living under someone else's roof, I've long lost any desire for that… Where there are many benefits, there are bound to be just as many troubles. I'd rather stay in the sect and farm in peace!" 

He declined so decisively that Yue Quan's expression changed. 

He couldn't believe that someone with such alchemy skills would be content to toil away in the fields. Assuming Li Ye was simply unsettled about being investigated, Yue Quan quickly tried to salvage the situation. 

"Brother Li, I didn't mean to pry into your background, I just" 

"No need! It's a small matter. No need to dwell on it, Brother Yue." 

Li Ye waved him off, cutting the explanation short. 

He had already expected this. 

Now that he had revealed his value and hadn't concealed his identity, such a situation was almost inevitable. 

His secret lay hidden right there in those fields that others looked down upon 

but who could ever discover it? 

Li Ye pointed to the jade bottles on the table. 

"Let's talk about the pills instead. Even if I don't join the Yue family, we can still do business together!" 

Yue Quan sighed inwardly but couldn't deny Li Ye had a point. 

Even if he couldn't earn the merit of bringing an alchemist into the family, he still had a business to run he couldn't afford to lose this supplier! 

He forced a smile once again. 

"Since Brother Li has no interest in joining the family, then let's leave that aside. As for the Qi-Gathering Pills and Wood Origin Pills, let's settle on a price…" 

.... 

"Hahaha! Brother Li, please take care on your way!" 

Yue Quan wore a beaming smile, his manner warm and friendly as he walked Li Ye downstairs. As they walked, he even offered, 

"The journey is long would you like me to have one of the store's guards escort you?" 

Li Ye quickly shook his head. "That's far too much, Brother Yue! If we made such a show of it, wouldn't that be a bit excessive?" 

The two shared another round of light-hearted banter. 

Though Yue Quan had failed to recruit him, the business deal went quite well. 

Li Ye had sold off a batch of Qi-Gathering Pills and a single Wood Origin Pill, instantly earning over a hundred spirit stones his purse significantly heavier. 

He promptly used some of the earnings to buy a small shield-type magical artifact, patching up a major gap in his defensive capabilities. 

Earn in Hundred Treasures Pavilion, spend in Hundred Treasures Pavilion not a single coin leaves with you! 

Li Ye made a solid profit, but Yue Quan had done even better, practically laughing all the way to the bank. 

Initially, he had been a bit annoyed by how bluntly Li Ye had rejected his offer showing not the slightest regard for him or the Yue family. 

But after that round of profitable trading, that irritation had been completely buried under a pile of spirit stones! 

After all, as the store manager, what reason did he have to be mad at money? 

As they were still chatting and joking, Li Ye reached the front door and was about to step outside when two people came walking in. The smile on his face vanished instantly. 

"Bro Li Ye, what are you doing here?" 

Li Zongyin stared at the figure before him. He almost blurted out "Brother," but caught himself mid-sentence and changed the way he addressed him. 

"Where I go has nothing to do with you, does it?" 

Li Ye replied flatly, without a hint of emotion. 

"Watch your mouth, you bumpkin!" 

Before Li Zongyin could react, the woman beside him, Zhang Jingjing, lashed out with a scolding tone. 

This time, however, Li Zongyin didn't stop her as he had in the past. 

Li Ye gave Zhang Jingjing a cold look. A flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes, and it hit her like a blast of icy wind. She felt a sudden chill in her chest whatever words she had on the tip of her tongue were immediately swallowed. 

"Li Ye, what do you think you're doing?!" 

Li Zongyin suddenly stepped forward, placing himself in front of Zhang Jingjing. He released his aura and stared at Li Ye, anger flashing in his eyes. 

Qi Refining, level six? 

In such a short time, he'd already advanced to another stage. His aura even hinted at an imminent breakthrough… It seemed the brat had gained a lot by sticking with Cai Shiwei. 

No wonder he's acting so tough now. He probably thinks this lowly spiritual farmer isn't worth bothering with anymore. 

"Zongyin-ge, he dared to disrespect me don't just let him walk away!" 

Zhang Jingjing continued to whine. 

Once charming and cute, her round face was now twisted in anger. 

Li Ye looked at the two of them with mild indifference, not even bothering to respond. He simply walked around them, heading straight out the door. 

They had once come to him, hoping to use him to curry favor with Cai Shiwei and boost their standing. 

But after all this time, they barely had any interaction. Occasionally, he'd hear Li Zongyin's name pop up in gossip tied to Cai Shiwei but no one mentioned Li Ye anymore, aside from a few fellow spirit farmers. 

In that sense, Li Zongyin had perfectly fulfilled Li Ye's wish to have nothing to do with him ever again. 

As for Zhang Jingjing… pampered to the point of delusion by the Zhang family, if Li Ye responded to her provocations now, she'd only become more insufferable. 

Seeing himself completely ignored, Li Zongyin long used to being fawned over grew increasingly furious. 

Yet even as a fellow clan member, and in public no less, he merely frowned and moved to block Li Ye's path. Putting on an air of superiority, he said: 

"I won't hold it against you for frightening my fiancée…" 

"But as a member of the Li family, slaving away in the sect's fields that's a disgrace to our clan!" 

"If you still have any ambition left, you should go and apologize to Senior Brother Cai. I can put in a good word for you he surely won't hold a grudge over your repeated rejections." 

"With your talents, even the scraps from his table would be enough to benefit you greatly. Why continue to…" 

His tone was arrogant, his posture lofty as if he were bestowing a favor from on high. 

The nearby cultivators who had gathered to watch the commotion couldn't help frowning. 

This guy is a bit too full of himself, isn't he? 

"If you enjoy being a lapdog, then go ahead and wag your tail 

just don't bother me with it…" 

Li Ye had just about enough of his yapping and was preparing to act when a voice called out behind him: 

"Fellow cultivator, this is Yue Family's Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Harassing our customers and disturbing business like this if you don't back off, I'll have to ask you to leave." 

Yue Quan strode over to Li Ye's side, giving him a knowing look as he released the full pressure of his level seven Qi Refining cultivation. 

His late-stage aura swept through the room, instantly draining the color from Li Zongyin's face. Even Zhang Jingjing paled in fright. 

It wasn't just the gap in cultivation… 

They knew better than to mess with the Yue family. 

Li Zongyin opened his mouth, then closed it again. In the end, he didn't dare say another word. With a dark expression, he turned and left with Zhang Jingjing in tow. 

"Many thanks, Brother Yue. I'm sorry you had to see that," Li Ye said with a respectful cupped-fist gesture. 

"It's nothing," Yue Quan replied with a smile. "I've seen plenty of arrogant clan brats like him. Even if I hadn't stepped in, I'm sure Brother Li could've handled it with ease." 

Then, with a chuckle, he added, "If you want to repay me just make more pills for sale." 

Li Ye didn't take the bait. Instead, he joked: 

"In that case, I'll try to make one more Qi Refining Pill next time..." 

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