Chapter 244: The Foul-Tainted Rotten Water Lotus
Chapter 244: The Foul-Tainted Rotten Water Lotus
Lu Chen patiently answered every question posed by the outer sect disciples, offering detailed explanations with ease. Having dedicated years to cultivating spirit herbs and diligently studying various related knowledge upon joining the sect, his understanding of the diverse categories of spirit plants was profound.
When faced with challenging problems, he either went straight to the heart of the matter or patiently untangled the complexities, always resolving the issues with their roots in mind.
This earned him admiration from the crowd, who now had a clearer understanding of Lu Chen's profound knowledge in the field of spirit plants.
After spending half a day answering questions, Lu Chen bade the crowd farewell and returned to the side hall to rest for a while.
When he reentered the main hall later, he was surprised to find that the number of cultivators present had increased by nearly half compared to the morning session. Among them were three additional early Foundation Establishment cultivators who had blended in with the outer sect disciples. They, too, looked at Lu Chen on the stage with anticipation.
"This afternoon, we will focus on discussing various spirit plants with complex problems," Lu Chen announced in a deep voice. "Fellow disciples, if you have encountered any issues that you find difficult to resolve, please bring them forward, and let us study and discuss them together."
A young cultivator stood up, cupped his fist in greeting, and walked onto the stage. "Please, Senior Brother Lu, help me take a look at this."
He channeled his spiritual energy, and a talisman shot out, projecting a large water screen in front of everyone. The screen displayed a clear image.
The talisman was a second-grade Water Mirror Talisman, capable of selecting and imprinting a target. Once activated, it could maintain a clear image on the water screen for a period.
In the cultivation world's entertainment venues, this type of water mirror talisman was highly sought-after.
At this moment, a clear image appeared on the water screen for all to see.
In a pool of black muddy water, a pristine white lotus grew, its petals faintly shrouded by a black aura.
"This lotus is called the Rotten Water Lotus, a second-grade spirit plant," the young cultivator explained. "As it is currently in a critical growth phase, I was afraid that transplanting it might have a significant impact. So, I used this water mirror talisman to capture its image."
"Recently, for some unknown reason, a faint black aura has appeared on the leaves of the Rotten Water Lotus," he continued. "I couldn't pinpoint the source, and even after managing to disperse it, it reappeared on the plant after a day or two. This lotus is of great importance to me, and this situation has me extremely worried. I would be most grateful if Senior Brother Lu and fellow disciples could help me understand what's happening."
"Could it be a mutation of the spirit plant?" someone asked.
"It doesn't seem like it," another cultivator replied. "The black aura is only on the surface of the lotus, so it's unlikely an internal mutation."
"Could it be infested by some kind of strange insect?" suggested another.
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
Lu Chen pondered for a moment before asking the young cultivator, "Do you still have the black mud from the pool?"
"Yes, I do," the young man replied, quickly taking out a small bottle from his storage bag. He opened the bottle, revealing that it was filled halfway with black mud.
Black bubbles occasionally formed and burst on the surface of the mud, and when the stopper was removed, a strong odor of rot permeated the air.
"Senior Brother Lu, do you suspect that there might be an issue with this black mud?"
Lu Chen nodded slightly and took out a Spirit Glowgrass seed from his storage bag.
He placed the seed into the black mud, and a faint green light fell upon it.
Spirit Glowgrass was a spirit plant without a grade. It had a short growth cycle and simple cultivation requirements. Under Lu Chen's Wood Birth Technique, perfected to the grand achievement realm, and with a hint of Green Wood Source Qi, a slender, tender green shoot of Spirit Glowgrass soon sprouted from the black mud.
Upon close inspection, one could see a very faint black aura lingering on the delicate leaves.
"Wh-what's going on here?" the young cultivator exclaimed in surprise, his voice echoing the curiosity of the crowd, who were now intently focused on Lu Chen's actions.
"If I'm not mistaken, there's a trace of foul aura within this black mud, which can be dispersed using the appropriate talismans or artifacts," Lu Chen explained.
As the Spirit Glowgrass grew taller and more robust, the black aura on its leaves became more pronounced.
Witnessing this, the crowd was now almost entirely convinced of Lu Chen's judgment.
"The environments in which spirit plants grow often contain various types of qi," Lu Chen lectured. "Apart from spiritual energy, there are also baleful, yin, and sinister qi, among others. These types of qi cannot be simply categorized as good or bad. The same qi can promote the growth of certain spirit plants while being detrimental to most others."
"Therefore, when cultivating spirit plants, it's crucial to accurately identify the surrounding qi and provide them with the best possible growing environment," he concluded.
The young cultivator expressed his gratitude and left the stage. Several other outer sect disciples then took turns coming up to the stage, some with spirit plants and others with questions, all of which Lu Chen patiently addressed.
"Senior Brother Lu, I've had this Purple Sun Flower spirit seed for two and a half years, but it hasn't grown into a spirit plant yet. I'm not sure what the problem is," a handsome young cultivator said anxiously as he stepped onto the stage, holding a deep purple spirit seed in his hand.
Lu Chen took the seed and placed it in the spirit soil, quickly identifying the issue. "Did this Purple Sun Flower spirit seed come from the depths of the earth, junior?"
"Yes, Senior Brother. I obtained it from a secret realm deep underground, reaching a thousand feet below the surface. Could that be the reason why it's unable to grow?" the young cultivator asked thoughtfully.
"Purple Sun Flowers usually grow in normal lighting conditions. The spirit seed you obtained has adapted to the underground environment over generations, so bringing it back to a normal environment prevents it from growing," Lu Chen explained. "To cultivate it successfully, you should plant it in a cool, dim cave, and bury it at a depth approximately twice as deep as usual."
After offering a detailed solution, Lu Chen turned to the audience. "This Purple Sun Flower spirit seed should provide a valuable lesson. When cultivating spirit plants, a tailored approach is necessary. You can't apply a fixed method to every plant."
"Try to develop a closer connection with your spirit plants, understand their needs, and adjust your cultivation methods accordingly, so they can maintain a healthy growth state," he advised the outer sect disciples.
"Senior Brother Lu, I have a third-grade Green Jade Branch, which has been acting very strangely these past few days. Could you please take a look at it?" Suddenly, a indifferent voice rang out, and Lu Chen turned to see a cultivator with a somber expression, who had reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm.
(End of Chapter)
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