My Portable Spirit Farm: Rise of the Humble Servant

Zhao Yuanqi’s hand froze mid-air, the porcelain cup hovering inches from his lips. He looked up at Chen Ping, his expression a mask of sheer astonishment and confusion.

“Junior Brother… you chose this?”

He set the cup down with a sharp clack, leaning forward, his tone dropping into a serious, admonishing register.

“Junior Brother, do not blame this Senior Brother for speaking out of turn. The position of Head of the Spirit Plant Hall… is truly not a plum assignment. In fact, it is a pit.”

Zhao Yuanqi tapped the table for emphasis.

“The previous Hall Head resigned in disgrace. Because the Spirit Herb Garden’s output failed to meet the Sect’s standards year after year, he not only lost out on extra benefits but barely received the standard Contribution Points. After struggling for a few years, he couldn’t take the humiliation anymore and quit.”

Zhao Yuanqi’s voice rose with righteous indignation.

“This place is remote, the administrative duties are a tangled mess of trivialities, and the profit margins are nonexistent compared to the Spirit Ore Valley or the Spirit Beast Valley. Junior Brother, your talent is outstanding, and your future is boundless. Why choose such a thankless, cold post? Please, reconsider!”

Chen Ping could hear the genuine concern in Zhao Yuanqi’s voice.

He lifted his own teacup, taking a gentle sip. The warm, spiritual energy of the tea slid down his throat, a stark contrast to the cold calculation in his mind.

“Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. However…”

He set the cup down, meeting Zhao’s gaze with a frank, unbothered look.

“I have always harbored an interest in the path of planting and agriculture. I know a thing or two about the soil. Furthermore, a quieter post suits my cultivation style. I will take it.”

Zhao Yuanqi stared into Chen Ping’s calm, determined eyes. He realized instantly that further persuasion was useless.

He shook his head inwardly. This new Junior Brother has excellent talent, but his temperament is as stubborn as a mule. He ignores the lucrative positions to pick the bones.

He sighed, forcing a smile back onto his face.

“Very well. To each their own. Since Junior Brother has made up his mind, I will register it for you.”

He tapped his finger on the jade slip, right on the line designating the ‘Spirit Plant Hall Head.’ A stream of spiritual light infused the jade, sealing the appointment.

With the official position settled, it was time for the second perk of his promotion: the allocation of real estate within the Sect’s Marketplace.

This was a privilege exclusive to Elders. The Sect allocated a shop to every Foundation Establishment Elder, allowing them to either operate a business or rent it out for passive income.

Aside from the monthly stipend, this was the financial lifeblood of a Sect Elder.

Zhao Yuanqi clapped his hands.

Outside the quiet room, a Qi Condensation disciple immediately entered. He bowed respectfully before unrolling a massive map drawn on tough, cured beast hide.

The map depicted a bird’s-eye view of the Marketplace, with streets crisscrossing like a chessboard. Shop names and numbers were densely marked across the surface.

Chen Ping glanced at it and immediately recognized the layout. He had visited this marketplace many times as a lowly disciple.

Currently, many of the prime locations were glowing with a soft light, indicating they were already occupied.

Only the marginal streets—the desolate edges of the market—had dim, blank spots available.

“Junior Brother Chen, please take a look.”

Zhao Yuanqi gestured to the map.

“These blank spots are the available properties you may choose from.”

Chen Ping’s gaze swept over the leather surface.

The central district, the throbbing heart of the Marketplace where spirit stones flowed like water, was entirely lit up. These were the highly sought-after locations, the gold mines.

Even the secondary streets bordering the center were fully occupied.

The only options left were hidden deep in winding alleys or located on the extreme fringes, places where customers rarely ventured.

Zhao Yuanqi frowned. He turned to the Qi Condensation disciple, his finger hovering over the map.

“What is the meaning of this? I distinctly remember several prime spots on North Third Street and near the West Market entrance being vacant. Why are they all lit up now? It hasn’t been that long. Where is the reserved quota for the new Foundation Establishment Elders?”

The disciple’s face paled. He hunched his shoulders, speaking gingerly.

“Reporting to… to Elder Zhao. The spots you mentioned… were acquired at a high premium just a few days ago. The buyers were from the ‘Myriad Treasures Pavilion’ and the ‘Hundred Herbs Pavilion.'”

The disciple swallowed hard before continuing.

“Their backing is the Flowing Cloud Merchant Alliance and the Hundred Herbs Sect… Elder Liu from the Deacon Hall personally approved the transfer notes. Disciple… this disciple really couldn’t…”

Zhao Yuanqi’s expression darkened instantly.

The Flowing Cloud Merchant Alliance and the Hundred Herbs Sect were powerful external forces. Even the Qingyun Sect had to give them a certain amount of face.

But this? This was a slap in the face.

Zhao Yuanqi was furious. Someone was clearly exploiting a loophole, selling off the assets reserved for the Sect’s own rising stars to fill their own pockets.

He gritted his teeth, a surge of protective anger rising within him. He wouldn’t let their new genius be bullied like this.

“Hmph! So what if Liu signed the notes? Rules are rules! How can the rightful share of a Qingyun Sect Elder be cannibalized by outsiders? Go!”

Zhao Yuanqi slammed his hand on the table.

“Relay my words. Tell them to vacate one prime location for Elder Chen immediately! Tell them it is a direct order from the Deacon Hall!”

The Qi Condensation disciple’s face turned the color of ash. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He was a low-level runner. Zhao wanted him to go negotiate with the Myriad Treasures Pavilion? To demand that the Flowing Cloud Merchant Alliance spit out the fat meat they had already swallowed?

This wasn’t an order; it was putting him on the fire to roast.

His lips trembled. He wanted to obey, but the sheer terror of offending those heavyweights froze him in place. He looked ready to cry.

“Senior Brother Zhao.”

Chen Ping’s voice cut through the tension, calm and timely.

He extended a finger, pointing to a forgotten corner at the extreme western edge of the map, right up against the Marketplace wall.

It was a large blank area, isolated from every major thoroughfare.

“I think this place is quite good. The space is substantial. The location is a bit remote, but that just means it’s quiet.”

Zhao Yuanqi’s righteous rant died in his throat. He looked at where Chen Ping was pointing, then back at Chen Ping’s serene face.

He knew that place. Everyone knew that place.

“The West Corner Warehouse?” Zhao blurted out. “Junior Brother, are you mad? That place used to be the dumping ground for low-grade Spirit Ore. It was abandoned because it was so remote that no customers ever went there!”

Zhao gestured frantically at the map.

“It’s just a dilapidated warehouse with a broken storefront! It’s big, sure, but it’s a godforsaken wasteland where birds don’t even stop to shit! How… how can you possibly make a profit there?”

“An old warehouse…”

Chen Ping’s eyes, however, lit up with a subtle gleam.

Huge space. Remote location. Zero foot traffic.

Wasn’t this exactly what he had been dreaming of?

To utilize the Jade Pendant space effectively, he needed absolute privacy. He couldn’t have customers wandering in or prying eyes watching his movements.

This abandoned ore depot wasn’t trash; it was practically tailor-made for him.

He suppressed the surge of satisfaction in his heart and smiled at Zhao Yuanqi.

“It is fine, Senior Brother Zhao. A large space has its own utility. Being remote saves me from unnecessary trouble. I will take it. There is no need to send this Junior Nephew to his death over a storefront.”

As he spoke, he nodded at the trembling disciple.

The disciple looked at Chen Ping with eyes full of tears, looking as if he had just been granted a royal pardon. He looked ready to kowtow right then and there.

Zhao Yuanqi looked at Chen Ping, then at the lonely, isolated mark of the West Corner Warehouse. He thought back to the Spirit Plant Hall assignment.

The feeling of strangeness grew stronger.

This new Junior Brother… he seems to have a fetish for the unwanted, the remote, and the desolate.

But Chen Ping was insisting, and he had gracefully diffused a difficult political situation. Zhao couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for this young man’s “non-contentious” nature.

“Fine then!”

Zhao Yuanqi shook his head helplessly, turning to the disciple.

“Go fetch the land deed and the jade slips for the West Corner Warehouse. Register them under Elder Chen’s name immediately.”

“Yes! Yes! This disciple will handle it at once!”

The disciple responded with frantic energy, retreating from the room with steps that felt light as air.

Chen Ping nodded to Zhao Yuanqi, a faint smile touching his lips.

Some secrets were best kept in the dark.