In the guest room of the Spirit dicine Manor.
The sky outside was faintly lit as Han Zheng opened his eyes from cultivation.
Instead of sleeping after consuming 50 points of Hunger Level for cultivation last night, he continued to cultivate until dawn.
The reason Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill is more exquisite than Iron Elephant Skill is that one can imrse deeply in cultivation.
While the body subconsciously circulates Inner Strength, the mind can rest in a state of half-sleep.
Thus, in the future, Han Zheng could even cultivate while sleeping.
Although it would not be as effective as cultivating in a normal state, it could still significantly increase his speed.
Han Zheng summoned his attribute panel to take a look.
[Na: Han Zheng
Cultivation: Postnatal realm (cleared 220 acupoints and eight ridians.)
Martial Arts Skills: Postnatal realm Iron Elephant Skill, Perfect, Postnatal realm Vajra Fist, Perfect.
Innate realm Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill, Skill Level at 15%, Innate realm Vajra Demon Suppression Seal, Skill Level at 10%
Current status: Lack of pain sensation, abundant qi and blood]
Last night, Han Zheng practiced in the Taotie Furnace twice, and with the enhancent brought by the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill, he cleared a hundred acupoints and three ridians, resulting in a surge in power.
Moreover, the enhancent in combat prowess was even more significant.
Now, Han Zheng was confident that he could face that pig demon alone again and slay it with brute force.
Stepping out of the guest room, a scent of herbs filled Han Zheng's nostrils.
The manor was small, housing only ten rooms, which previously accommodated twenty Shenghe Hall attendants and one pharmacist to care for the spiritual dicine.
"Little Brother Han is up early, let's have breakfast together."
Li Feng erged from another guest room.
The two went to the dining hall, where many attendants had already finished eating and went to harvest and collect spiritual dicine.
Li Sancheng and the others were still sound asleep; after all, they had just been through a fierce battle, so it was understandable.
"Eh? Breakfast is so lavish?"
Inside the dining hall, three dishes and a soup were served in large buckets—braised pork, chicken stewed with potatoes, scrambled eggs, and a big pot of spare rib soup. The staple foods were white flour buns and rice.
It was all at dishes; the only greenery was the scallions on top of the spare rib soup.
It should be noted that due to the food shortage, grain prices in Black Stone County had risen sharply.
Ordinary families, let alone such at dishes, could hardly afford rye buns.
So even braved the dangers outside the city to forage for wild vegetables just for a bite to eat.
Even under normal circumstances, Han Zheng wouldn't dare to eat this well.
"It's the last day, after all. These attendants will return to Black Stone County with us after harvesting the spiritual dicine, so we slaughtered all the pigs and chickens."
Han Zheng was surprised, "Is Shenghe Hall only planting this batch of spiritual dicine and not planting anymore?"
Li Feng happily took a sip of the spare rib soup and said, "Of course, we will plant more, but we have to wait until six months later. This land needs to recover its Spiritual Energy first.
The reason why spiritual dicines are precious is that their growing conditions are harsh.
They must be planted in areas with clear mountains and waters, abundant Spiritual Energy, and without contamination by foul air.
Moreover, after planting a batch of spiritual dicine, the land needs ti to recover and accumulate Spiritual Energy again.
Otherwise, the second batch of spiritual dicines grown will be of inferior quality and could even destroy the Spiritual Field.
It was not easy for the Store Manager to find such a Spiritual Field, and of course, it has to be treated with care.
However, the attendants' daily als are not bad, and the Store Manager has treated them well.
This Spirit dicine Manor, located away from villages and markets, seems isolated from the world.
They have to stay here for half a year, so obviously, we can't starve them. Thus, the supplies provided are quite plentiful."
After Han Zheng had finished eating, Li Sancheng and the others arrived in the dining hall, their eyes turning red at the sight of the braised pork.
While they continued to eat, Han Zheng went to find Manager Chen and urged him to harvest the spiritual dicine quickly so they could depart as soon as possible.
At the back of the manor was a ten-acre field of spiritual dicine, where Shenghe Hall attendants were carefully harvesting.
A single spiritual dicine was worth more than their annual monthly salary; they dared not damage it.
Seeing Han Zheng approach, Manager Chen humphed and didn't even greet him.
He hadn't forgotten how Han Zheng humiliated him yesterday!
He even had to plead with him to deal with the pig demon.
"Manager Chen, how much longer until the spiritual dicine is harvested?"
"About a day, we'll leave tomorrow morning,"
Manager Chen replied indifferently.
Han Zheng frowned slightly, "That's too slow. Can they speed up and finish in half a day?
This manor is no more than a hundred miles from where we killed the pig demon. That pig demon had parents, you know.
We managed to reach the manor from there overnight; do you think the pig demon's parents will be slower than us?
If the pig demons follow our trail, we might be facing two even stronger adult pig demons!"
With his current Cultivation, Han Zheng was confident he could face and slay a pig demon of that previous strength.
But facing two, he was not so sure, and the parents of that pig demon were definitely stronger than their offspring.
Most demons don't need to cultivate; they rely on their racial Talent.
Thus, the older the demon, the more powerful it becos, unless they are weakened by reaching the limit of their Life Span and a decline in qi and blood.
The mother of that pig demon could even give birth to another brother for it, so it doesn't seem like a sign of declining vitality.
"Impossible!"
Manager Chen sneered, "Do you think picking Spirit dicine is as easy as pulling up radishes in your garden? One by one with a simple pluck?
Such ticulous work, who can ensure the quality of the Spirit dicine if it's rushed?
Moreover, this is a hundred li, how could the pig demon possibly catch up?
It's a pig demon, not a dog demon!
And Han Zheng, you need to understand your place!
You're just guards hired by Shenghe Hall, to put it plainly, you are just Escort Masters.
I'm the one managing the caravan, since when is it your turn to call the shots here?"
Previously, facing the threat of the pig demon, Manager Chen had to humble himself with Han Zheng.
Now that they were at the manor, Han Zheng still wanted to give orders, which was totally outrageous!
Han Zheng snorted coldly and without wasting any more words on Manager Chen, he turned around and walked away.
This old fellow has a short mory for lessons, not even sure why Chen Baiqing would let him manage things.
Seeing Han Zheng leave, Manager Chen's mouth curled into a disdainful sneer.
A Martial Artist from the lower ranks of a Martial Arts Hall, destined to be a re Protector or a carrier of ssages in this lifeti, and he really thinks he's sobody?
When Han Zheng returned to the guest rooms, he knocked on Li Feng's door.
"Do you need for sothing, Brother Han?"
Li Feng was inside, reading a book.
He was responsible for assessing the quality of the Spirit dicine, and his work would only start once the picking was finished.
"Pharmacist Li, with your experience, how long would it take to finish picking the Spirit Fields within the manor?"
Li Feng thought for a mont and said, "Whether it's the previous workers from the manor or those we've brought with us, they're all skilled hands, half a day should be enough, and another half an hour for to assess the Spirit dicine should suffice."
Han Zheng snorted coldly, "But Manager Chen claid it would take a whole day and night, and we could only leave tomorrow morning."
Li Feng seed to think of sothing and shook his head, "If that's what Manager Chen said, then it's normal, half a day is indeed enough for picking Spirit dicine, but he has his private affairs."
"Private affairs? What private affairs?"
Li Feng closed the door of the guest room and spoke in a low voice, "Brother Han, we've shared hardships, and I trust you. Don't let this information get out.
Actually, picking the Spirit dicine could even be done faster. I ntioned to Manager Chen last night that they could pick the Spirit dicine while I simultaneously assessed it.
This would speed up the process, but Manager Chen refused, insisting I wait for his notice before going to assess the Spirit dicine.
So, my guess is that Manager Chen is deliberately dragging this out here just to line his own pockets through false accounts.
There are different grades of the sa Spirit dicine, with the difference in price between superior and inferior grades sotis being more than tenfold.
For example, if the manor produced one hundred jin of superior Spirit dicine, Manager Chen would only report sixty jin, downgrading and mixing the superior grade into diocre or even inferior.
Then, back at Shenghe Hall, he would sell these nominally 'diocre' Spirit decine at the price of superior goods, but the records would only reflect the diocre grade, thus yielding an astounding profit back and forth."
Han Zheng asked in surprise, "This old guy is doing sothing so outrageous, the Store Manager doesn't care? And if you knew, why didn't you say anything?"
Li Feng shook his head, "Manager Chen's surna is Chen, distant uncle of the Store Manager, his own relative.
We are always outsiders. Speaking out about this, if there isn't enough evidence and it backfires, wouldn't I be the unlucky one?
Also, Brother Han, do you know why Manager Chen insists on his own nephew escorting the caravan?
It's because he wants to do these false accounts in secret, underreporting the grade of the Spirit dicine. With fewer people around, it's easier to manipulate, so he wants to bring in his own people.
Honestly, I didn't even want to co this ti, but the Store Manager insisted, and I couldn't refuse."
"If old Chen wants to make money, that's fine, but letting him delay us like this, we're all going to die!"
Han Zheng snorted coldly.
"Why do you say that?" asked Li Feng, puzzled.
"This manor is not more than a hundred li from where we killed the pig demon. Once its parents discover its corpse, they can easily follow the tracks back to the manor.
You've seen the scene of us killing that pig demon, Pharmacist Li, how difficult it was?
It was so hard dealing with just one pig demon, who could stand against two?"
Li Feng was shocked, "Is that really the case?"
Han Zheng said gravely, "Demons are not re beasts; they possess intelligence, a sense of vengeance, and are even crueler.
They don't sit in one place playing the waiting ga for prey but would roam around hunting within hundreds of li!"
After hearing Han Zheng's words, Li Feng's expression turned unsightly.
He didn't care about Manager Chen's embezzlent, but Manager Chen delaying could lead to their deaths at the hands of demons, and Li Feng could not sit idly by.
"Pharmacist Li, you don't get along with Manager Chen, do you?"
Han Zheng suddenly asked.
Li Feng nodded, not surprised that Han Zheng could tell.
All along the way, he barely spoke to Manager Chen, while getting along with Han Zheng instead, clearly not on the sa side as Manager Chen.
"The Store Manager is close to retirent, but his son is not good at running the pharmacy, so they'll definitely need to choose another Store Manager to take over Shenghe Hall.
Of course, I'm qualified for this position, and I want to compete for it.
Manager Chen's son is also a high-level Pharmacist at Shenghe Hall, eyeing the sa position.
He wants to help his own son succeed, so it would be odd if he had good feelings towards ."
Han Zheng narrowed his eyes and said, "Pharmacist Li, rember that it's better to strike first than to suffer later.
The guy is related to the Store Manager and has a father who knows how to line his pockets, what do you have to compete with that?
Why not take this opportunity to work together to subdue Chen Moshan, catching him red-handed, and then take him to the Store Manager for handling?"
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