Chapter 140: The Inside Man
Chapter 140: The Inside Man
After discussing for a while, the group still couldn't find an effective solution and had no choice but to leave the Spirit Herb Garden one after another.
"Chengning, take me to find a dying Water Marsh Spirit Peach tree. As for these strange insects, I have some idea, but I still need to verify it."
After most people left, Lu Xuan said to the youthful-looking boy who was still following him.
"Oh? Alright, Senior Lu!"
Hearing Lu Xuan's words, the worried Zhang Chengning revealed a joyful expression and replied softly.
He led Lu Xuan through the mud and arrived in front of a Water Marsh Spirit Peach tree that was in a dire state.
"The core of this spirit herb has a lot of hollow areas, which has severely affected its growth. The spirit herb masters in the family have tried their best but couldn't save it, so they could only leave it to its fate."
Lu Xuan carefully examined the Water Marsh Spirit Peach tree, and indeed, just as Zhang Chengning had said, there were quite a few hollow areas in its trunk and branches.
Without hesitation, he directly pulled out the heavily diseased Spirit Peach tree, pretended to observe it for a while, and then replanted it in the mud.
After completing the 'planting' process, Lu Xuan focused his mind on the ailing Spirit Peach tree, and instantly, a piece of information flashed through his mind.
Water Marsh Spirit Peach: A first-rate spirit herb that usually grows in muddy marshes. The mature spirit peaches are rich in spiritual energy and can be consumed as spirit fruits or used as a main ingredient in refining certain pills.
It has been infested by Mimicry Insects, causing severe damage to its vitality. It can control fire-based spells to roast the surface of the Water Marsh Spirit Peach tree. Under the stimulation of fire-attribute spiritual energy, the Mimicry Insects will exhibit an instinctive reaction, thus distinguishing them from the normal branches of the spirit herb.
Requires fire spell control capability not lower than the Minor Accomplishment realm; otherwise, there is a possibility of damaging the spirit herb.
"Stimulation by fire-based spells... Both the Water Marsh Spirit Peach and the Mimicry Insects fear fire. While the spirit herb shows no reaction to the spiritual fire, the Mimicry Insects, despite having the same appearance as the spirit herb's branches, will exhibit different reactions to the flames."
"Being inherently a demonic insect, it will instinctively choose to seek benefit and avoid harm, thus allowing us to identify and separate them from the spirit herb."
"Normally, a spirit herb master wouldn't use this method as they would worry about the spirit herb getting scorched by the flames. That's why we need a cultivator with exquisite control over fire-based spells."
Lu Xuan thought to himself.
Turning to see Zhang Chengning looking at him expectantly, he said gently, "Don't worry. Regarding this infestation, I've already learned quite a bit, and I'll be able to help you eradicate it completely very soon."
After saying that, he took Zhang Chengning back to the Zhang family.
"Senior Sister Yao, it's me, Lu Xuan. Regarding the infestation of the Water Marsh Spirit Peach trees, I have made a discovery and would like to discuss it with you."
Upon returning to the Zhang family, Lu Xuan went straight to the residence of the graceful woman and knocked on the door.
"Please come in, Junior Brother Lu," Yao Qing said with a smile, sitting in a wooden chair.
"Have you found the source of those strange insects, Junior Brother?"
"Senior Sister Yao knows me well. I don't have any other hobbies; I only like all sorts of odd things related to spirit herbs and spirit beasts."
"After returning, I thought about it for a moment and finally recalled seeing information about those insects in one of the sect's classics."
"The insect is called the Mimicry Insect. Its eggs parasitize on spirit herbs, and during their growth, they gradually mimic the form of the spirit herb, making them extremely hard to detect as they appear to be one with the herb."
Although she managed a medicinal garden for her senior, her primary focus was still cultivation. Thus, she only knew a bit about cultivating spirit herbs and very little else.
However, she believed seven or eight out of ten of what Lu Xuan had said, as his improvement of the Monkey-faced Orchid had left a deep impression on her.
"The solution isn't too difficult. We just need a cultivator skilled in fire-attributed spell formulas. By roasting the spirit herb with a slow fire, we can observe its reactions and identify the hidden insects in its branches and trunk," Lu Xuan replied, then paused briefly before continuing.
"But there's one thing I want to mention, Senior Sister. These Mimicry Insects aren't very common, and they have low reproductive capabilities, so it's rare to find a large number of them in the same area."
Hearing Lu Xuan's words, Yao Qing's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her expression turned cold.
"Are you implying that there might be someone from the Zhang family involved in this theft, Junior Brother?"
"Of course, it's also possible that another cultivator infiltrated the spirit herb garden and placed the eggs of the Mimicry Insects on the Water Marsh Spirit Peach trees," Lu Xuan added.
"However, I believe that the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Yutang, is likely unaware of the situation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought help from the Celestial Sword Sect."
Yao Qing quickly understood the implications and turned to leave with a swift, decisive movement.
"I'll discuss this with the head of the Zhang family. Thank you for your help, Junior Brother Lu," she said.
As night fell, the vast spirit herb garden became quiet. The moonlight bathed the branches and fruits of the Water Marsh Spirit Peach trees, making them shimmer like water with faint ripples appearing and disappearing in the moonlight.
A dark figure took advantage of the hazy moonlight and nimbly entered the spirit herb garden.
He scanned the surroundings and, finding all quiet, relaxed a little. The monks patrolling the garden had retired for the night.
Relieved, the figure emitted a strange insect call, a sound as fine as a mosquito's buzz.
Soon after the call, the branches of the Water Marsh Spirit Peach trees began to shake, and segments of strange insects that resembled twigs fell from the trees and slowly crawled through the mud towards the dark figure.
"This insect-driving technique is indeed effective in attracting the mature Mimicry Insects. It's a pity that it only affects the adults and has little influence on the larvae still in the parasitic and mimicry stages," the figure thought to himself.
The arrival of the three Celestial Sword Sect monks had made him feel a strong sense of crisis, compelling him to take the risk of coming out and using the acquired insect-driving technique to gather the mature Mimicry Insects together.
Although he knew that the habits and forms of the Mimicry Insects were quite unusual, and the likelihood of them being discovered in large numbers was low, he couldn't rule out the possibility of the monks from the major sect finding a solution to deal with the insects.
If the number of insects parasitizing in the spirit herb garden was significantly reduced, his reward would also diminish.
"After collecting this batch, I'll need to come back a couple more times to get them all," the figure thought with a hint of greed.
"Hehe, that so-called Celestial Sword Sect, by planting so many Water Marsh Spirit Peach trees for the Zhang family, is unknowingly helping me."
The figure's heart swelled with pride at his cleverness.
Suddenly, a faint spiritual light illuminated the area, and several figures appeared in the light.
"I never expected that our Zhang family would have a despicable traitor like you," a cold voice, filled with suppressed anger, rang out. It was the head of the Zhang family.
(End of Chapter)
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