Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

"As for that recipe, you don’t need to report its sales to me. I already told you, consider it my betrothal gift to you. I only provided the recipe; your mother is responsible for production, sales, and after-sales service. Whatever cut of the profits your mother gives you is what you’ll take. Just be clear on the numbers yourself." Ning Xuan had many things to do and no time to entertain people who weren’t part of her plans.

Chen Nan was a little disappointed to hear Ning Xuan say this. He knew his mother wanted to meet her, but he had already done his best and couldn’t say any more.

So, Chen Nan obediently agreed and excused himself.

Chen Nan had just seen the two Half-beastmen. The ones sent by the Protection Association were indeed different from those he had seen before. One look was enough to tell they had been carefully raised from a young age. They were young, good-looking, and very likable, which filled Chen Nan with a sense of insecurity.

The next day, Ning Xuan packed some personal belongings and headed to the villa that the Controller Protection Association had given her.

Ning Xuan took a Flying Car and quickly arrived at her destination. The villa was situated in a valley in the northern part of Qingluan Mountain. Qingluan Mountain boasted exceptionally beautiful natural scenery, and a massive Spirit Vein lay hidden beneath the mountain range, filling the air throughout the region with dense natural energy.

As Ning Xuan stepped out of the Flying Car’s cabin, the crisp scent of pine rushed to greet her. Inhaling the light, elegant fragrance, Ning Xuan looked around.

On the stone cliffs all around, pine trees grew in a myriad of fascinating shapes, creating an interesting vista from afar. The three-hectare courtyard before her was perfectly nestled within the natural gorge. Thousand-year-old vines cascaded down the eastern cliff, while a mountain stream to the west gave off a rising, light purple mist, making the courtyard look like a celestial paradise.

A mountain villa, especially one on Qingluan Mountain, was not something that could be bought with money alone.

Ning Xuan walked up to the large bronze gate outside the courtyard and saw that the entire estate was covered by a hemispherical, flowing barrier. This was the courtyard’s self-defense system, controlled by the house’s smart butler. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ning Xuan stood still directly in front of the gate. After a dozen or so seconds, a mechanical female voice sounded. "Iris scan verified. Esteemed master, welcome to Qingluan Mountain Villa No. 17."

After the mechanical voice faded, the seven-to-eight-meter-high bronze gate slowly swung open. Ning Xuan noticed a liquid metal-like sheen flowing across the gate’s surface. This material was both strong and resilient; even if it sustained a heavy impact, it would ripple like the surface of water before returning to its original state.

The courtyard’s interior was designed with a grand atmosphere, featuring winding corridors, pavilions, and terraces. Ning Xuan found herself somewhat mesmerized; she had only ever seen this style of architecture on Seven Star Divine Mountain.

The smart butler, "17," appeared as a holographic projection in the form of a Phoenix. It displayed a series of images to introduce the various areas of the courtyard to Ning Xuan.

The central courtyard was the living area, meant for rest. The outer areas contained functional zones like a martial arts training ground, a Cultivation Room, an Alchemy Room, a conference hall, and more.

Ning Xuan introduced Yan Fuzhen to the smart butler, letting it brief him while she walked toward the living area in the back. She needed to pick a room to her liking.

Ning Xuan pushed open a carved sandalwood door in the deepest part of the area. A faint, elegant fragrance that calmed the mind and spirit washed over her. ’This scent... it seems to be Soul Nourishing Wood.’

Soul Nourishing Wood was a soul-nurturing treasure even rarer than Concentration Wood. Ning Xuan was surprised to find a Soul Nourishing Wood tree actually growing in the main courtyard. Although it was just a half-meter-tall sapling and would take several hundred years to mature enough to be used in alchemy, it still had the effect of focusing the mind and calming one’s spirit, even if it couldn’t yet display its true value.

’Keeping it in the courtyard as a mere ornamental plant is a bit extravagant,’ she thought.

Ning Xuan only tidied up her own living courtyard, arranging her personal items. She left the organization of all other areas to Yan Fuzhen. The smart butler, 17, was primarily in charge of managing the defense system, including access control for the main gate and all the individual zones. Access to each zone required Ning Xuan’s authorization. She gave no one authorization for her personal courtyard or the Alchemy Room. This meant that the only way to enter these two areas was to be personally escorted by her; otherwise, no one could even get close.

Not only was the access control strict, but the defense system was also incredibly powerful. Even with Yan Fuzhen’s level of strength, he wouldn’t be able to breach the defenses in a short amount of time. Moreover, the system was layered; by the time one reached the main courtyard, they would have passed through seven layers of defense, making the security level extremely high.

This gave Ning Xuan a great sense of security.

Ning Xuan suddenly remembered that among the properties Ying Yaoshi had gifted her, there seemed to be a Lanshan Villa. She had never been there and wondered how the scenery compared to this place.

Moving into a new home was a joyous occasion. Plus, the two new little slaves were quite pleasing to the eye. So, Ning Xuan decided to hold a banquet at her new home that evening. But as she thought about hosting a banquet, she realized she didn’t seem to have any guests she wanted to invite.

Ning Xuan had always been focused on her Cultivation and never had time to make friends. Thinking back on it now, her past life had indeed been quite dull.

’Oh well,’ she thought. ’If I have no friends, I’ll just have fun on my own. In this courtyard, I am the master. Everyone has to cater to me anyway.’

As dusk fell, the reception hall was brightly lit. Outside, the Green Jade Lamps in the four corners of the courtyard lit up one by one. Seats were arranged in the hall, with an exquisite, carved Purple Sandalwood chair at the head.

Ning Xuan sat in the seat of honor at the head of the hall. Four low tables were placed on each side. Yan Fuzhen sat on one side with a few others, while the seats for Lin Mo, Chen Nan, Lan Xin, and Nine-tailed were set on the other.

Ning Xuan had told them in advance to have Lin Mo and the others prepare performances.

Nine-tailed eagerly volunteered to go first. He was dressed in a dancing costume with fluttering, colorful ribbons, an expectant look on his face.

The smart butler, 17, temporarily acted as the lighting technician and projector, casting a light-blue screen of light that hovered in mid-air, displaying the stage with perfect clarity.

A server placed the final dish, candied green plums, on the table. Yan Fuzhen rose and bowed to Ning Xuan. "Family Head, all the dishes have been served."

"Then let’s begin." Ning Xuan glanced at the performance list Yan Fuzhen had just handed her. To her surprise, even Yan Fuzhen had signed up for a performance: a sword dance.

The moment Ning Xuan’s words fell, half the lamps over the stage in the center of the hall extinguished. The lighting, once as bright as day, instantly dimmed. Just then, red silks cascaded down like a waterfall of blood. A barefooted youth stepped out from between the silks, his snow-white skin bewitchingly dazzling against the red. The smooth, delicate skin beneath his clothes rose and fell with each breath. As his movements quickened, crystalline beads of sweat trickled from his forehead, rolling down his collarbone and into his half-open robes.

When he raised his hand, a Silver Bell on his wrist chimed softly. When he spun, colorful ribbons fluttered around him. His amber eyes were filled with a captivating allure, which, in the flickering candlelight, became as tempting as a baited hook.