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Chapter 103: Skipping Classes to Farm
Chapter 103: Skipping Classes to Farm
After releasing the Cloud-stepping Lynx, the Grass Puppet, and the Iron Crab, Lu Chen quickly retrieved all the spirit herbs from his ring.
The Grade-2 Qingmiao Spirit Tea and Tonggu Bamboo, though they had been in the ring for over a month, still retained their vigor and vitality, appearing much the same as when they were first placed inside.
As for the Grade-3 Huanyuan Luogu fruit and Jiaoteng, perhaps due to their previous transplant experiences, or maybe because the Grade-3 ring was less effective on spirit herbs of the same grade, they seemed a bit less vibrant than when they were first collected.
Lu Chen's heart ached at the sight, and he quickly replanted the Huanyuan Luogu fruit and Jiaoteng into the spirit fields.
"In the past, there was Meng Mu, who moved three times to provide her child with a good educational environment. Now, I too have moved you twice, so that you may enjoy a pure and rich spiritual energy environment," Lu Chen said with a sigh as he nurtured the plants with the Spirit Rain Art.
"You must understand my good intentions. Please, grow well."
The Huanyuan Luogu fruit continued to secrete white smoke, the fog gradually thickening to hide the spirit fruit within.
Lu Chen then took out a bottle of Bishui Mang blood, pouring the red and green snake blood over the dry vines of the Jiaoteng.
Having gone some time without this nourishment, the Jiaoteng's appetite had increased significantly. It absorbed twice the usual amount of snake blood, only stopping once its vines were adorned with a lustrous red and green pattern.
Lu Chen then proceeded to plant the Qingmiao Spirit Tea and Tonggu Bamboo in their respective spots.
With the iron and copper mineral powders prepared by the Iron Crab, he sprinkled circles of the powder around the Tonggu Bamboo.
He also scooped a cup of well water, chilled with a subtle hint of frost, and poured it over the Qingmiao Spirit Tea.
The intricate roots of the tea tree quivered as the delicate green leaves were stimulated by the cold water.
After tending to these transplanted spirit herbs, Lu Chen took out the Mist-hiding Confusion Formation. With his spiritual energy, he manipulated the mist on the formation plate, enveloping the entire cave mansion in a thick fog.
With the formation in place, Lu Chen no longer worried about prying eyes from his fellow sect members.
The cave mansion he had chosen was on a mountain peak with few other occupants. There were only a handful of courtyards at the foot of the mountain and another cave mansion on the opposite side of the mountainside, but its owner was likely out on a training journey, as Lu Chen hadn't seen any signs of them during his visits.
While the Tianjian Sect was free from evil beasts and other dangers, setting up the formation might seem like an unnecessary precaution. However, Lu Chen was accustomed to his freedom and lax lifestyle, and the spirit fields were his means of survival, their importance went without saying. Thus, he decided to activate the formation to prevent any potential prying eyes.
After activating the Mist-hiding Confusion Formation, Lu Chen didn't rest. He used the Land Drawing Art to tidy up the remaining spirit fields, then took out two hundred seeds of the Lingying Grass, slender and dry, along with twenty-eight Grade-1 Blood Jade Ginseng seeds, and planted them all.
Only after finishing all these tasks did he finally take a moment to rest, sitting at his table and flipping through a handbook about the sect.
The handbook recorded the sect's organizational structure, various special treasure lands, and the sect's rules and disciplines.
"Lu Ge, I came to find you!"
A familiar voice rang out from outside the courtyard.
It was Baili Jianqing, with whom Lu Chen had established a good relationship in Jianmen Town.
Lu Chen controlled the formation, parting the mist to reveal the courtyard entrance, and Baili Jianqing quickly stepped inside.
Their cave mansions were less than twenty miles apart, a short distance for a high-level Qi Refinement cultivator.
"Lu Ge, there's a late-stage Foundation Establishment Shishu giving a lecture on cultivation techniques at Tianyin Peak later. Do you want to come and listen?" Baili Jianqing asked.
"I heard that Shishu has a profound understanding of various basic techniques in the sect. His explanations are easy to understand and well-received by many outer sect senior brothers and sisters.
"What about this afternoon? I heard that a master of the Sword Path will be teaching a sword practice session. That Shishu has devoted his life to the Sword Path and has profound insights. Just witnessing his moves and techniques can bring about enlightenment," Baili Jianqing said, his eyes shining with admiration.
"If we miss this opportunity, who knows when the next one will be."
Lu Chen shook his head in refusal.
Baili Jianqing's gaze swept across the clean and refurbished spirit fields, and a strange expression appeared on his face.
"Lu Ge, you're not planning to... stay in your cave mansion to cultivate spirit herbs, are you?"
"That is indeed my intention," Lu Chen admitted with a nod.
"You traveled thousands of miles and endured countless hardships to enter the Tianjian Sect, but instead of cultivating, practicing sword techniques, or attending lectures by the Foundation Establishment Shishu, you want to focus on farming?" Baili Jianqing couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead, his tone conveying a mixture of disbelief and astonishment.
To him, Lu Chen's dedication to spirit herbs seemed a bit incomprehensible, even bordering on obsession.
Where would one find a cultivator who forgoes cultivation and sword practice to devote themselves solely to nurturing spirit herbs?
Lu Chen chuckled at his friend's expression. "I'm just being realistic about my abilities. I know my talent is lacking, and even if I attend lectures by the Foundation Establishment Shishu on cultivation techniques and the intricacies of the Sword Path, it won't make much difference."
"You can understand and grasp concepts after hearing them once, but I need to hear them ten times or more to even begin to comprehend."
"The only thing I have some talent for is cultivating spirit herbs, so why not play to my strengths and focus on that?"
His tone was sincere, and his expression earnest, perfectly portraying the role of an ordinary cultivator who has given up on advancement and found solace in the path of spirit herb cultivation.
"If your talent isn't as good as others, you can make up for it by listening and practicing more, slowly accumulating knowledge so that you don't fall too far behind," Baili Jianqing suggested.
"Who wants to slowly accumulate and still lag behind? I want to overtake them!" Lu Chen thought to himself, looking at Baili Jianqing. He softly uttered two words, "Sword Grass."
Baili Jianqing's face immediately changed, his eyes narrowing to slits as he forced a smile. "If you're not willing to attend the lecture, I won't force you. I'll take detailed notes and bring them to you later. You can just stay in your cave mansion and focus on cultivating spirit herbs."
"Just remember my effort when you're able to cultivate Sword Grass," he added before taking his leave.
After Baili Jianqing departed, Lu Chen activated the formation and, following the instructions in the handbook, arrived at a grand hall called the Agricultural Hall.
The Agricultural Hall oversaw most of the Tianjian Sect's spirit herb supply, cultivation, and seed refining processes, especially the public herb gardens and spirit fields. It decided which types and grades of spirit herbs would be cultivated and in what quantities.
Most of the tasks related to spirit herbs within the sect were issued by the Agricultural Hall, and it was staffed by spirit herb cultivators who excelled in their field.
Lu Chen had come to see if he could find suitable spirit herbs to cultivate with the help of the hall.
(End of Chapter)
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