Infinite Professions-Chapter 146 - 64: Cultivation

Although it is called a cultivation marketplace, aside from some peculiar methods, it is no different from a mundane marketplace. Behind the various shops, there are small establishments and vendors selling all sorts of goods, including some "Immortal Fate" rumors.

Shen Hex was already familiar with this, so he wasn’t too curious. He wandered around casually before arriving at the Red Maple Inn in the center of the marketplace.

Although called an inn, it actually serves multiple roles, handling cave mansion rentals, land transactions, and even liaising with some "Kun Cultivators." As long as the spiritual stones are adequate, companions can be arranged, providing more than just pleasure and even enhancing cultivation, making it extremely popular.

"Customer, what do you need?"

A servant greeted Shen Hex, hinting at the presence of spiritual Qi, indicating his cultivation was at least at the Spirit Gathering Realm. Although only a Tier One Cultivator, he was differentiated from ordinary people.

Shen Hex was straightforward: "I want to reside in Red Maple Valley for a long time. Do you have any accommodation to recommend?"

"Accommodation?"

The servant glanced at him and then produced a map, upon which spirit light shimmered, revealing a topographical layout.

"The accommodations in Red Maple Valley are roughly divided into three types."

"One type is cave mansions and shops within this marketplace. Residents automatically become inhabitants of Red Maple Valley, granting free passage without needing to pay accommodation fees. Moreover, the marketplace sits upon the Red Maple Spiritual Vein, filled with Primordial Spirit Qi, greatly beneficial for cultivation."

"Another type is shanty housing, the low buildings surrounding the marketplace. Because a Spirit Gathering Array is set in the marketplace, the surrounding spiritual Qi is relatively sparse but still adequate for Spirit Gathering Realm and even Cultivation Technique cultivators. Residents consume a trace of jade tablet spiritual Qi every ten days."

"The third type is tied to the spirit fields, requiring rental or purchase for residence. Though not as abundant as the marketplace, the spiritual Qi is fuller than the shanty housing. Residents also consume a trace of jade tablet spiritual Qi every ten days."

"..."

The servant’s introduction prompted Shen Hex to calculate discreetly in his mind.

The marketplace is vast, making habitation challenging!

Various Foundation Establishment Powers opened Red Maple Valley as a marketplace, and naturally, there is no charity. A certain price must be paid to enjoy the nourishment of spiritual Qi in Red Maple Valley.

The most direct cost is spiritual stones.

A trace of jade tablet spiritual Qi equates to a spiritual stone. In Red Maple Valley, cultivators without housing not only consume a trace of jade tablet spiritual Qi daily but also must rent a cave mansion or inn room with extra spiritual stones or face sleeping on the streets.

Rent is a means for Red Maple Valley to extract profit and the foremost hurdle for cultivators to establish themselves in the cultivation realm. Without a means to make a living or sufficient spiritual stones, one cannot remain.

Shen Hex asked: "What is the price for a cave mansion in the marketplace?"

"Cave mansions are categorized into three grades. The highest grade, including shops, can be sold for thousands or even tens of thousands of spiritual stones. However, most are only for rent. Some lesser cave mansions are for sale but cost upwards of a thousand spiritual stones. I don’t know if the customer..."

The servant looked at Shen Hex, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Observing this, Shen Hex understood and switched topics directly: "What about the shanty housing?"

"Shanty housing is much cheaper, with many houses listed for sale, ranging from dozens to two to three hundred spiritual stones."

The servant looked at Shen Hex: "Does the customer want to purchase shanty housing?"

Shen Hex shook his head: "And the spirit fields, how are they sold?"

The servant was not impatient: "Spirit fields are owned by various powers in Red Maple Valley, mostly for rental rather than sale. Currently, there are no idle fields for sale. If the customer wishes to reside in the fields, a contract must be signed to routinely farm spirit grains or spirit medicine yearly."

Shen Hex chuckled: "Are there landlords and tenant farmers in the cultivation realm as well?"

"There’s nothing new under the heavens."

Before the servant spoke, they were approached by a middle-aged man dressed as a wealthy landlord: "My surname is Qian, the shopkeeper of Red Maple Inn. Is the customer looking to rent the fields?"

"Ah, it’s Shopkeeper Qian!"

Shen Hex nodded: "I wonder about the rental price of the fields?"

"It depends on which fields the customer wishes to rent."

Shopkeeper Qian smiled and pointed at the map with his hand: "Fields are also classified into three grades. The top grade is filled with Primordial Spirit Qi, suitable for Qi Refining cultivation and for planting some spirit medicine. The hosts demand that only experienced spirit farmers can rent them and must plant the designated spirit medicine."

Shen Hex continued asking: "What about the next grade?"

"The next grade is much more relaxed."

Shopkeeper Qian smiled: "Anyone, whether a spirit farmer or not, can rent as long as they pledge spiritual stones, providing a fixed amount of spirit rice annually."

Shen Hex nodded: "Does the shopkeeper have any recommendations?"

"Hmm!"

Shopkeeper Qian pondered for a moment and then pointed to a part of the map: "This field is located on the edge of Red Maple Valley. Although the spiritual Qi is sparse, there is a nearby underground stream nourished by the Red Maple Spiritual Vein. Nearby spirit farmers can use the stream’s water to irrigate the fields. Even without the Small Cloud Rain Skill or spirit plant techniques, spirit rice can still be planted..."

After the introduction, Shen Hex’s expression was observed: "Is the customer satisfied?"

"Hmm!"

Shen Hex thought for a moment before nodding: "Let’s go with this location. I’d like to rent ten acres."

"Ten acres?"

"That’s possible."

Shopkeeper Qian glanced at him and then instructed the servant to fetch a spirit contract: "These ten acres of spirit fields are owned by the Wang Family. Renters must submit three thousand catties of White Spirit Rice yearly, collected by our Red Maple Valley Inn on their behalf. Please pledge a hundred low-grade spiritual stones. If unable to pay the spirit rice in full on time, we will confiscate the deposit and reclaim the fields."