Chapter 229: The Demon Ghost Vine
Chapter 229: The Demon Ghost Vine
Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, the towering Ghostly Demon Vine, which had been showing signs of disintegration, suddenly froze, its massive form slowly turning.
Sensing the vine's hesitation, Lu Chen continued, "You must be aware that I share the same origins as the cultivators who entered this herb garden before. We all hail from the sect that oversees this blessed land."
"However, what sets me apart from them is my compassion. I do not view spirit herbs merely as tools for cultivation; instead, I treat them as equals, nurturing and caring for them to the best of my ability to ensure their robust growth."
"It is because of this attitude that I was able to obtain the extremely rare Primordial Green Qi."
His tone was sincere, and the faint greenish spiritual energy between his fingers swirled gently.
"If you still have doubts about my intentions, I am willing to swear an oath to assure you that I will treat the young Demon Ghost Vine sprout that you bear with the utmost care."
Hearing Lu Chen's words, the massive Ghostly Demon Vine, which had been wavering in uncertainty, finally made its decision.
Lu Chen's words rang true. Even if a new Demon Ghost Vine were to be born, its rank would still be inferior, and it would remain confined to this realm, merely an appendage of the sect that oversaw the blessed land.
Should it ever catch the attention of the Foundation Establishment cultivator who governed the blessed land, its existence could be instantly snuffed out.
The Primordial Green Qi that Lu Chen channeled made the vine feel an innate sense of closeness and a profound benefit to its spirit herb nature.
With these thoughts in mind, a new idea took root in the depths of the massive vine's consciousness.
"Very well."
Seeing the vine's nod of agreement, Lu Chen immediately swore an oath, promising to care for and cultivate the young Demon Ghost Vine sprout within the flower bud to the best of his ability.
As soon as he finished speaking, the numerous thick vines on the giant vine began to glow with a dusky light. The light converged into streams that flowed upwards, pouring into the flower bud at the vine's apex.
The flower bud regained stability, pulsating like a breath, expanding and contracting. The faint greenish spiritual energy emanating from Lu Chen's fingers grew more intense, and he continued to encourage the giant vine.
"Keep going! You're almost there! Just a little more effort!"
More and more greenish light emerged from the vines, streams converging into rivers, all flowing into the flower bud.
"In the past, I merely provided guidance for the Spiritual Crane and the Yin-Yang Kun Fish during their reproductive challenges. Now, I find myself assisting in the delivery process."
"My reputation as the Saint of Beast Medicine is well-deserved."
Lu Chen mused to himself.
Soon, the vines on the giant vine began to wither at a visible rate. Before long, pieces of bark, dry and brittle, fell to the ground.
A weak yet vibrant thought emanated from within the flower bud, and the black-green petals slowly opened to reveal a tiny vine, coiled like a small snake, resting quietly at the very center.
The new vine was dull and unremarkable, a stark contrast to the terrifying appearance of its parent.
The moment it appeared, the disintegration of the towering Ghostly Demon Vine accelerated tenfold, as if the final stages of an avalanche had been triggered. In the blink of an eye, it crumbled and turned to dust.
Only a single vine remained, supporting the fully bloomed flower bud as it presented the young vine to Lu Chen.
Then, the vine began to twist and coil around the new Demon Ghost Vine sprout, moving from the bottom up, disintegrating at a rapid pace.
In the final moments of its dissolution, Lu Chen sensed a strong hope and expectation emanating from the depths of the vine's consciousness.
After the giant vine had completely vanished, the tiny vine lying quietly in the flower bud suddenly sprang to life. A pale gray tendril emerged, as if exploring and observing the world before it.
"From now on, you'll follow me. I'll take you to see the wider world of the great sects."
"First, have some spirit fruit," Lu Chen said as he took out a spirit fruit from his storage bag and placed it before the ashen gray tendril.
The vine, enticed by the alluring fragrance emanating from the fruit, wasted no time in sinking its 'teeth' into the center of the fruit.
In just a few breaths, the spirit fruit, including its skin and core, had disappeared into the vine.
Lu Chen's consciousness, still focused on the seemingly insatiable ashen gray vine, suddenly had a realization.
Demon Ghost Vine, a fifth-grade Ya Bian Ling Zhi, evolved from countless generations of Strange Ghost Vines condensing their essence. It favors spirit seeds, various spirit plants, and even demonic beast flesh. It possesses an extremely keen perception of spirit seeds.
Proficient in various wood-based techniques and highly aggressive.
Different from my kind, its flavor is surely exquisite.
"A fifth-grade Ya Bian Ling Zhi!" The thoughts that appeared in Lu Chen's mind took him by surprise.
He hadn't expected that the Strange Ghost Vine, originally a fourth-grade spirit plant, could evolve and give rise to an even higher-grade Ya Bian Ling Zhi.
"Using its entire life force and essence, it finally managed to transcend its grade. If its spirit lingers, it would surely feel great comfort and solace," Lu Chen mused. He speculated that the transmission of the Green Wood Source Qi had played a significant role in this unexpected evolution.
After all, the Green Wood Source Qi came from the life essence of the fifth-grade Qing Xuan Lu just before its demise, and it was known to be highly beneficial to spirit plants.
"Even its name has changed to Demon Ghost Vine," Lu Chen said with satisfaction as he watched the small ashen gray tendril poking out from his sleeve.
Although it was a Ya Bian Ling Zhi with habits similar to ordinary demonic beasts, it was uniquely and entirely his first fifth-grade spirit plant.
The Saint Infant Fruit he had obtained earlier was also fifth-grade, but it was merely a sapling, and most of its ownership still lay with the mysterious cultivator.
"Now then, you all must have witnessed what just transpired," Lu Chen said, addressing the remaining Strange Ghost Vines. "The new life that emerged from your leader has been entrusted to my care, and I will take it away from this herb garden to another realm."
"If you wish to leave with me, I'll gladly take you along. But if you prefer to remain here, I won't force you."
Lu Chen transmitted his thoughts to the remaining Strange Ghost Vines, offering them a choice.
With the acquisition of a fifth-grade Ya Bian Ling Zhi, he was in high spirits and felt generous towards its kin.
He could easily take them away without any harm and place them in the sect's mountain peaks or the small courtyard in Jian Men Town. With the Living Pouch, he didn't have to worry about their vitality diminishing during the journey.
However, these Strange Ghost Vines didn't seem inclined to accept Lu Chen's offer. Silently, they retreated into the spirit soil and soon disappeared from his sight.
Lu Chen didn't insist. If they had been seedlings, he might have considered 'abducting' them and raising them to maturity to earn Light Spheres. But these vines were already mature, and nurturing them further wouldn't yield any Light Spheres, thus diminishing their value in his eyes.
With the Demon Ghost Vine seedling hidden in his sleeve, Lu Chen swiftly made his way towards the other side of the herb garden.
Moments later, the ashen gray vine poked out from his sleeve, eagerly extending towards the left front direction, as if eager to explore.
"Are you saying there's a high-grade spirit seed ahead?" Lu Chen asked the Demon Ghost Vine seedling, intrigued.
(End of Chapter)
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