Wang Chen's Doggie had his mouth wide open, asking for a fortune, and Old Sun, who was always stingy, really wanted to curse and turn his back on him.
However, he couldn't bring himself to move.
Circumstances forced his hand.
Earth Rhinoceros Beetles were peculiar creatures that liked to forage during the day.
The more intense the sunlight, the better their appetite.
Just yesterday afternoon, Old Sun's thirty mu of Spirit Fields had already suffered retaliatory destruction by the Earth Rhinos.
If he didn't rush to clear them by this morning, things would only get worse.
Now, if he went to Cloud Mountain City to look for help, not only would it waste time, but it also wouldn't be cheap.
And he wasn't even sure to find a pest control expert.
Not only had Wang Chen killed ten Earth Rhinos, one of them was even a monsterized Earth Rhino.
His Geng Metal Finger had broken through to Mastery Level.
After pondering, Old Sun decided to bargain with Wang Chen, "Thirty Low Spirit is really too expensive..."
The old fellow was reluctant to pay a high price, but was eager to solve the Earth Rhino problem.
So he shamelessly haggled with Wang Chen.
Refusing to leave and blocking the door.
Wang Chen got irritated, "How about this, we don't calculate by mu, we calculate per beast."
He raised two fingers, "For each Earth Rhino I kill, you give me twenty Fragmented Spirit Stones. Also, the carcasses of the Earth Rhinos I kill are mine, how about that?"
Old Sun squinted and did the calculations, feeling that it truly was a much better deal.
Earth Rhinos had a strong territorial instinct.
About ten in a den.
Under normal circumstances, thirty mu of Spirit Fields could, at most, accommodate three to four dens of Earth Rhinos.
Full count, four dens of Earth Rhinos would be forty beasts, and even if Wang Chen killed them all, he would only earn eight hundred Fragmented Spirit Stones.
Which is equivalent to eight Low Spirit.
The most crucial point was that this pricing strategy would fully ensure Wang Chen's enthusiasm for pest control.
The more Old Sun thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
But he still wanted to haggle further, "Doggie ah..."
"If not, forget it."
Turning around and ready to leave, Wang Chen said, "I still need to rush to my own fields!"
"Alright, alright!"
Seeing Wang Chen's firm attitude, Old Sun stomped his foot angrily, "Let's do as you say, and make it quick!"
Old Sun really had no other choice.
In fact, he also knew Geng Metal Finger.
But this spell required transforming mana into the power of Geng Metal, which was a great burden on the meridians.
Old and frail, Old Sun's meridians were far from as resilient as they were in his youth and couldn't withstand the damage caused by frequent use of Geng Metal Finger, leaving him helpless against the Earth Rhinos ravaging his Spirit Fields.
He couldn't risk his life just to get rid of pests, could he?
So he had to look for external assistance.
Wang Chen turned back around, expressionless, "Let's make it clear then, you can't go back on your word."
He laughed to himself.
Actually, helping Old Sun with pest control and getting five Low Spirit stones would have been quite good.
After all, Wang Chen's entire savings amounted to just a mere seven Low Spirit.
Moreover, exterminating Earth Rhinos would not only improve his skill proficiency but also yield loot.
Three birds with one stone!
Old Sun's face turned beet red, "How can you slander me out of thin air? Am I the kind of person to flee from a debt?"
That was debatable!
Wang Chen didn't have much affection for this old man.
Memories from the original owner told him.
In the past, Old Sun had not been shy about taking advantage of the original owner and had benefited quite a bit from him.
Now, he was merely reclaiming some interest.
Once the terms were agreed upon, Wang Chen straightforwardly followed Old Sun to his Spirit Fields.
Old Sun's Spirit Fields were three times larger than Wang Chen's, and as far as the eye could see, the Spiritual Rice was lush and densely packed.
But upon closer inspection, one could notice significant damage to some of the rice panicles.
Many stalks had only leaves left, with no rice panicles to be seen!
Under the anxious gaze of Old Sun, Wang Chen activated his Spiritual Sense to enhance his senses and began searching the Spirit Fields.
He naturally entered the "hyper-awareness" state.
In this state, Wang Chen was able to resonate wonderfully with the Spiritual Rice in the surrounding Spirit Fields.
The Spiritual Rice would tell him where the pests were!
He quickly sensed something odd.
And it wasn't just in one place!
The pest infestation in Old Sun's Spirit Fields was much worse than Wang Chen had anticipated.
He had just begun searching when he discovered three Earth Rhinoceros Beetles!
Wang Chen immediately held his breath and cautiously approached the Earth Rhinoceros Beetle nearest to him.
When he was about ten feet away, he resolutely made his move.
A streak of Geng Metal Qi shot through the air, instantly slicing through an Earth Rhinoceros Beetle perched on a rice stalk.
This Earth Rhinoceros Beetle was actually quite well hidden.
However, under Wang Chen's exceptional Insight, it had nowhere to hide and was killed with a single blow.
Without picking up the fallen insect body, Wang Chen moved five steps to the left.
He struck again with his sword finger!
The second Earth Rhinoceros Beetle met the same fate as its peer.
Then came the third.
After completing the triple kill, Wang Chen calmly collected all the spoils that had fallen onto the field one by one.
Old Sun, standing on the ridge of the field, was stunned and could hardly believe his eyes.
Asking Wang Chen for help with pest extermination, Old Sun had been somewhat desperate.
It wasn't that he had much faith in Wang Chen's abilities.
But Wang Chen's performance just now had truly astonished Old Sun!
Everyone said Zhang Ada was an expert at pest extermination, but compared to the seventeen-year-old Wang Chen, he was far inferior.
Old Sun involuntarily followed behind Wang Chen, yet he didn't dare to get too close.
Fearing he might disturb Wang Chen.
Maintaining his enhanced state, Wang Chen quickly located a new Earth Rhinoceros Beetle.
But after killing the fifth beetle, Wang Chen stopped his search.
He gathered all the trophies together and handed them to Old Sun, "Old Sun, please honor the reward."
Old Sun was confused, "Ah?"
"Pay me!"
Wang Chen was impatient, "Twenty Fragmented Spirit Stones for one Earth Rhinoceros Beetle, one Low Spirit for five; strictly cash only for this small business!"
Old Sun was shocked, "Ah!"
What are all these ahs!
Although Old Sun had previously assured with chest-thumping confidence that he wasn't the type to renege on a deal.
Wang Chen didn't trust this old man in the slightest!
His idea was simple: kill a few and settle up for those few; continue killing once the Spirit Stones were in hand.
Otherwise, Old Sun could go play with eggs by himself!
After understanding Wang Chen's intention, Old Sun had no reply.
He was completely subdued by Wang Chen's divine operation.
He obediently took out a Low Spirit Stone.
Wang Chen wasn't out to cheat him, took the Spirit Stone, and let Old Sun take care of the Earth Rhinoceros Beetle carcasses.
After all the Spirit Fields were cleared, he would return all the trophies at once.
In this way, everything would be clear and straightforward between them.
And so, settling up for every five Earth Rhinoceros Beetles, Wang Chen methodically searched Old Sun's Spirit Fields step by step.
But after gaining the third Low Spirit Stone, he sat down on the ridge of the field.
Without any intention to continue.
Old Sun was baffled again, "Doggie, why have you stopped?"
Wang Chen replied annoyedly, "Old Sun, I'm only at the third level of Qi Cultivation!"
Executing the Geng Metal Finger consumed a lot of Mana.
Even with his high hit rate, after killing more than a dozen Earth Rhinoceros Beetles, his Dantian was now completely empty.
He needed to practice his Qi recovery.
Wang Chen hadn't even had his breakfast yet!
And Old Sun, comprehending the situation, clenched his teeth and took out a White Jade Vase from his Storage Bag.
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Continuing to ask for votes with the second update.