https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-20-Is-This-Freaking-Guy-Only-at-the-Second-Layer-of-Qi-Refining-/12543687/
Chapter 21: A Quiet Day of Spirit Herb Gardening
Chapter 21: A Quiet Day of Spirit Herb Gardening
Lu Chen watched from a distance as Qin Ming's corpse was torn apart, riddled with fragments of the Silver Splitting Blade.
Several gray grass ropes extended from the wooden bed, binding Qin Ming's remains.
Lu Chen couldn't help but feel amused and exasperated. He pulled back the blanket to reveal a grass puppet with a gaping hole in its chest, valiantly trying to restrain the intruder who had invaded the courtyard.
"Fortunately, this grass puppet has a certain regenerative ability. As long as I provide enough spirit stones, it will recover fully. I promise you that, considering you took a hit for me."
Lu Chen spoke reassuringly to the grass puppet, which seemed to be a few beats slower but was still diligently trying its best.
He channeled his spiritual energy, and a fireball the size of a fist landed on Qin Ming's remains.
The flames quickly engulfed the corpse, and before long, it turned into a pile of charred ash.
Then, he took out a talisman with bizarre runes along its edges and a suppressed evil spirit in the center.
He cast the talisman, and a white light swept through the entire house.
It was an Exorcism Talisman he had obtained earlier, capable of detecting and purifying low-level evil spirits.
Lu Chen was concerned that Qin Ming, having died at the hands of a mere Level 2 Spiritual Herbologist like himself, might leave behind a heavy grudge that could give rise to malevolent spirits.
After incinerating the corpse with the Fireball Technique, he still felt uneasy, so he decided to use the exorcism talisman as an extra precaution against any potential spiritual corruption.
After all, he had already expended so many Sword Qi Talismans; one more wouldn't make much difference.
As the white light faded, the house returned to darkness, except for the faint silver moonlight streaming in through the hole pierced by the ice spear.
Only then did Lu Chen truly relax. He lit a candle on the wooden table and swept the ashes together.
Using his spiritual energy, he guided the fragments of the Silver Splitting Blade, causing them to reassemble and reform into a silvery-white blade.
With the deadly weapon in hand, Lu Chen felt a surge of courage. He took the ashes to the spirit herb garden and scattered them on the spirit soil.
"This is fertilizer formed from a cultivator at the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement. You herbs must work hard and not waste the nourishment he provides."
He whispered to the myriad spirit herbs in the garden, his voice tinged with emotion.
The courtyard was bathed in the serene moonlight, enveloped in silence.
The intense battle that had just taken place seemed to have gone unnoticed by the surrounding cultivators.
The loose cultivators residing here had long cultivated the habit of minding their own business. They didn't meddle in others' affairs, nor did they have the resources to do so.
"Brother Lu Chen, Brother Lu Chen..."
A slightly anxious female voice called out from beyond the courtyard wall, belonging to Xu Wan, Zhang Xiuyuan's mother.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law Xu," Lu Chen replied, recognizing the familiar voice.
A warm feeling spread through Lu Chen's heart. Xu Wan was only a Level 2 cultivator, yet she dared to venture out and, from a distance, inquire about his well-being. Her courage and concern were commendable.
"I'm glad you're alright. I was worried you might have been injured, but my own strength is insufficient to offer any help, so I could only ask from a distance," Xu Wan explained, her voice drawing closer.
"It was just a petty thief who tried to sneak in and steal my spirit herbs. I discovered him and took care of the matter," Lu Chen said, fabricating a plausible reason to reassure Xu Wan.
"Please return home and rest, Sister-in-law Xu. Young Master Zhang must be alone at home, and you should be with him," Lu Chen said considerately.
"Your concern for my family won't be forgotten, Brother Lu," Xu Wan said gratefully.
"Take care, then. Be extra cautious," Xu Wan added before returning to her home, reassured that Lu Chen was unharmed.
"What a pity for this defensive formation. It didn't last long before Qin Ming forcibly broke it," Lu Chen lamented as he returned to the house, feeling a sense of loss.
Only after dealing with all the aftermath did Lu Chen finally relax completely, slumping exhausted into a wooden chair.
Although he had emerged from the encounter with Qin Ming unscathed, the reality was far more intense and less relaxed than it appeared on the surface.
With a cultivation base of the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, comparable to Qin Ming's, along with his minor achievement in the Metal-Managing Sword Technique and the abundant first-rate talismans he could use without spending spirit stones, the complete first-rate artifact, the Silver Splitting Blade, played a pivotal role in his victory.
Coupled with thorough preparation and an element of surprise, Lu Chen was able to emerge unscathed from this dangerous encounter.
Whether it was artifacts, spells, or talismans, Lu Chen's possessions outclassed Qin Ming's. There was no way he could have competed.
"I wonder how much this storage bag will compensate for my losses," Lu Chen mused as he held the gray storage bag he had taken from Qin Ming's waist, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
Having used up most of his talismans, he still felt a pang of regret and hoped that Qin Ming's belongings would make up for it.
"Thank you, my friend, for sending me this storage bag," he said, referring to the unknown sender of the bag.
Lu Chen had wanted to buy a storage bag for a while, and he never expected Qin Ming to be so thoughtful, providing him with one just in time.
The gray storage bag was of low quality and lacked any inscriptions or restrictions. Lu Chen easily probed it with his spiritual energy, revealing a spacious interior measuring about half a zhang in length, width, and height. Qin Ming's possessions were piled in one corner.
With a joyful expression, Lu Chen used his spiritual energy to levitate the items out of the bag.
A quick scan revealed around two hundred spirit stones.
There were also seven or eight bottles and jars, some made of jade and others of stone. Fearing they might contain poisonous substances, Lu Chen did not open them directly but set them aside for now.
Additionally, there was a manual that described the cultivation methods for several low-grade ice-based spells. However, it wasn't very useful to Lu Chen.
He also found three talismans—two Exorcism Talismans and one Swiftness Talisman.
Lastly, there was the flying sword artifact left outside, a grayish-white sword that emanated a chilling aura. Upon comparison, Lu Chen concluded that it was inferior to his Silver Splitting Blade.
"He truly is a great person. Knowing that I didn't have a storage bag, he sent me one," Lu Chen said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"And to think, he also provided the spirit stones I needed to rent this large courtyard."
"Even in death, he continues to contribute, using his own body to nourish the spirit plants in my spirit herb garden."
"He really is..."
As Lu Chen thought about Qin Ming's significant contributions, he felt a surge of sadness and bowed his head to mourn for a moment.
"Indeed, a man who kills and sets fires also has a golden waist," Lu Chen said, gazing at the pile of items on the wooden table.
The fruits of his labor from cultivating for so long couldn't compare to the harvest he gained from eliminating Qin Ming.
However, this thought quickly vanished.
Lu Chen was well aware that such substantial gains often came with greater risks. It was unrealistic to expect rewards without assuming any risks.
In the case of Qin Ming, it had appeared to be a low-risk endeavor, yet he had still met his end at Lu Chen's hands.
Therefore, Lu Chen concluded that it was best to stick to peaceful farming, which offered substantial returns with minimal risk.
After taking inventory, dawn broke.
Lu Chen stepped out of the house and approached his spirit herb garden.
The delicate spiritual rain permeated the remaining dozen or so Spirit Firefly Grasses, causing their lush green leaves to lazily stretch out. Lu Chen noticed that the leaves seemed even more plump and vibrant than the day before.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he cast a Fireball Spell, which transformed into fiery tendrils as it landed on the delicate red needles of the Red Cloud Pine, causing the pine to sizzle with excitement.
Golden sword qi descended upon the Straight Sword Grass, leaving a few golden streaks on its blades.
Beneath the Dark Marrow Mushroom, the decaying spiritual wood emitted an even richer aroma, encouraging the growth of more dark red fungal threads in the shadows.
With no other pressing matters for the day, Lu Chen decided to tend to his spirit herb garden.
(End of Chapter)
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