“This is too early!” Iron Egg was very unwilling.
“There are leaves to eat, the same kind as yesterday!” The dung bucket on the other side was already impatient at this moment, and quickly spoke to tempt it.
Iron Egg’s eyes lit up after hearing this, and it hastily said, “Let’s go, Xu Ning, quickly carry me there!”
Xu Ning picked up the axe and hoe, and carrying the dung bucket, he jumped directly onto Iron Egg: “As you wish.”
“I said you carry me, not me carry you!” Iron Egg was instantly displeased.
Xu Ning: “Stop talking nonsense, let’s go!”
Perhaps it was because it ate those Medium Grade tree leaves yesterday, or perhaps Iron Egg was naturally strong, but carrying Xu Ning seemed effortless for it.
Soon, one person and one ox arrived at the tree-planting spot.
Xu Ning, carrying the dung bucket, jumped down from Iron Egg, then poured the manure in his hand onto the sapling.
Immediately, something that made Iron Egg’s eyes widen occurred: as the manure beneath the tree disappeared at a visible speed.
And that originally small sapling also grew wildly at a visible speed, and soon the trunk grew to the size of a pumpkin.
The originally somewhat bare tree canopy instantly grew lush and green, making Iron Egg drool.
Then, Xu Ning walked forward with the axe and chopped hard at the tree trunk.
After dozens of blows, the entire tree instantly fell.
Iron Egg had long been impatient, and it galloped forward, starting to eat wildly.
Xu Ning, meanwhile, picked up the dung bucket and began to feed the tree trunk to it.
Soon, an entire tree trunk was completely devoured by the dung bucket.
And the dung bucket also welcomed a new change; the entire dung bucket looked much sturdier.
Then, the dung bucket spoke: “Xu Ning, I have already reached mortal-grade high-rank.”
Its voice carried an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Xu Ning: “What are the improved effects?”
This was what Xu Ning cared about most.
dung bucket: “Fermentation time is halved, effect is doubled, and at the same time, the smell is sealed, and Low Grade swords can no longer harm me!”
Xu Ning was also very satisfied with this improvement and couldn’t help but nod. This way, the speed of improving crops and similar things in the future would be much faster.
Afterward, Xu Ning used the hoe to dig out the tree roots, tied them to the well-fed Iron Egg, and then they headed home together.
Just as they arrived home, a pleasant voice suddenly rang out: “Iron Egg——”
Immediately, a graceful figure ran over.
Seeing the other party, Iron Egg immediately became excited and quickly ran up to her.
Moo, moo, moo, moo, moo——
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Iron Egg mooed excitedly, constantly bouncing and hopping around the graceful figure, and occasionally reaching out its head to rub against her, or sticking out its tongue to lick her.
That’s right, the person who came was Lin Er’s daughter, Lin Lu, who had specifically come to see Iron Egg.
Being rubbed and licked by Iron Egg made Lin Lu giggle.
After playing for a while, Lin Lu then looked at Xu Ning and smiled: “Hello, my name is Lin Lu.”
Xu Ning nodded: “Hello, my name is Xu Ning.”
Lin Lu turned to look at Iron Egg, who was still bouncing around, and then said: “Iron Egg seems very happy with you, so I’m relieved.”
She came to see if Xu Ning was abusing Iron Egg.
Xu Ning: “Don’t worry about that, all the work is done by me and it together. If I don’t do it, it can’t do it itself! I am also a work animal.”
Lin Lu couldn’t help but let out a snicker after hearing this: “Are you really slandering yourself like that?”
Xu Ning spread his hands: “We are born to be work animals; if we don’t work, we will starve to death!”
Lin Lu: “I feel like the way you speak is different from others.”
That feeling, how should I put it, gives people a very uninhibited feeling, detached from the mundane world.
Xu Ning: “Maybe it’s because I’m handsomer than others!”
Lin Lu was amused again after hearing this: “Then can I come to see Iron Egg often in the future?”
To be honest, Xu Ning really wanted to refuse, but refusing directly would be impolite, so in the end, he could only nod helplessly: “Of course you can! But let me say this first, if you want to freeload on meals, you need to help with work.”
Lin Lu: “Who wants to freeload on meals? I’ll just come over to visit occasionally.”
The two were not familiar, so after chatting casually for a couple more sentences, Lin Lu went home.
And next, spring plowing began, and Xu Ning entered a busy phase.
He woke up in the morning to practice martial arts, then took Iron Egg to plow and sow the fields.
To avoid attracting attention, Xu Ning still dared not upgrade the crops, but with the fertilizer from the mortal-grade high-rank dung bucket, even un-upgraded crops were much better than those of other households.
As for the excess fertilizer, Xu Ning used it to water saplings and grass.
This way, trees that reached mortal-grade mid-rank could be used to feed the dung bucket, and their branches and leaves could be fed to Iron Egg.
As for the upgraded grass, it was fed to Iron Egg, and the excess was used to upgrade the Thatched Hut.
Unconsciously, a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The Thatched Hut finally reached mortal-grade high-rank.
The current Thatched Hut not only has excellent insulation but also improved soundproofing, and it can control the indoor temperature, so even if there’s no fire in winter, one can still endure by staying indoors.
At the same time, Iron Egg also reached mortal-grade mid-rank, its size a full circle larger than before, its strength greatly increased, and it was full of energy every day, as if it had inexhaustible strength.
During this time, Lin Lu often came to visit Iron Egg, and she was also very surprised by Iron Egg’s changes.
Moreover, Lin Lu later discovered something special.
For example, compared to other oxen in the village, Iron Egg was never tied up or caged; every time she saw it, it was bouncing and hopping behind Xu Ning, looking very free and at ease.
Lin Lu could see a kind of radiance and spirit in Iron Egg that she couldn't see in other oxen in the village.
This also made Lin Lu curious about Xu Ning; she always felt that this person was very special, different from everyone she had ever met.
And Xu Ning, of course, also saw that Lin Lu’s gaze towards him began to change, and he couldn’t help but be wary. This woman wants to harm him, he must stay away.
If it weren’t for having to take care of Zhao Datou, Xu Ning might have already packed his bags and run away.
One day, Xu Ning curiously asked the Thatched Hut: “What effects and changes will you have when you reach mortal-grade high-rank?”
Thatched Hut: “mortal-grade high-rank? People living in the house can reduce the possibility of getting sick, while also improving their spirit and extending their lifespan.”
Xu Ning was surprised after hearing this: “Are the effects that Heaven-Defying?”
Thatched Hut: “mortal-grade high-rank is actually still within the mortal realm. Once it reaches High Grade, it transcends the mortal, so of course it will have functions that transcend the mortal!”
Xu Ning: “Then how big is the gap compared to a Spiritual Artifact of an Immortal Cultivator?”
Thatched Hut: “Spiritual Artifacts have completely transcended the mortal, so of course we cannot compare with them. However, in terms of certain functions, some Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts are actually not as good as us; this needs to be specifically compared.”
“I can also tell you this: Immortal Cultivators pursue Spiritual Qi and Cultivate, so Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts pursue Spiritual Qi and combat.”