Chapter 329: The Mutated Spirit Plant
Chapter 329: The Mutated Spirit Plant
After dealing with Ning Deshan, Lu Chen naturally acquired the old woman's storage bag along with his opponent's possessions, now in Lu Chen's possession.
In the end, Lu Chen found several artifacts, talismans, and pills among their belongings and bags.
There were three third-grade artifacts: the shuttle-shaped artifact from Ning Deshan, the elderly woman's long silk artifact, and a third-grade flying sword.
There was also a damaged third-grade protective armor, now pierced and torn beyond repair by the bone spurs of the White Bone Magic Puppet.
The rest were some second-grade artifacts.
A few third-grade talismans of average quality and several bottles of pills were also scavenged from the two storage bags. Lu Chen didn't have a deep understanding of pills, but he recognized three common types.
"These two solitary cultivators who've reached the Foundation Establishment stage are rather lacking in wealth," Lu Chen mused to himself.
"There's nothing here that's suitable for my use. I'll have to find an opportunity to sell these and exchange them for spirit stones."
Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for having the light group's rewards.
Even fellow disciples of the Tianjian Sect at the Foundation Establishment stage might not have their bodies fully equipped with third-grade and above artifacts and treasures. This was even less likely for solitary cultivators on the archipelago.
For cultivators like them, possessing one or two third-grade artifacts was extremely common. Thus, when this secret realm appeared, cultivators from the archipelago and its surrounding areas rushed in, all vying for that slim chance at opportunity.
With his current wealth, Lu Chen believed that even compared to the true disciples of the Tianjian Sect, he had a good chance of coming out on top.
While he might not have a vast collection of third or fourth-grade artifacts and treasures, he was confident that in terms of fifth-grade items, he could at least hold his own.
A thought flashed through Lu Chen's mind as he turned his attention to the Spirit Peach Tree before him.
Concealing his presence, Lu Chen learned from Ning Deshan that the spirit peach was called the "Longevity Gourd Peach," a fifth-grade spirit plant. Consuming it would increase one's lifespan by five to ten years.
Even though he now knew the origin of the spirit peach, Lu Chen did not dare to underestimate it. After all, the Immaculate Jade on his neck continued to infuse him with a cool and refreshing feeling.
Lu Chen stood up, and with a thought, the Void Nightmare's eyes appeared and disappeared around him, their movements mysterious and unpredictable.
The gray-white eye presented a clear view of everything the Void Nightmare saw.
Lu Chen extended his spiritual sense into the spirit soil and, with his Master-level expertise in Earth Drawing Technique, he caused subtle changes in the structure of the spirit soil around the Longevity Gourd Peach's roots, allowing him to understand its details.
Mutated Longevity Gourd Peach: A mutated fifth-grade spirit plant. The original Longevity Gourd Peach was unable to meet its cultivation conditions for an extended period, and under the constant invasion of sinister energy, it transformed into a new spirit plant.
Prior to its mutation, it required the nurturing of a vibrant cultivator or demon beast day and night. After the transformation, it will involuntarily absorb the vitality of surrounding cultivators and demon beasts, craving their flesh and blood essence.
Consuming a mature Mutated Longevity Gourd Peach will extend one's lifespan, but it will also accumulate sinister energy within the consumer's body. If this energy reaches a certain level, it may cause the cultivator or demon beast to mutate.
"So it's a mutated spirit plant, no wonder the Immaculate Jade reacted to it," Lu Chen whispered to himself.
"Both its cultivation method and its effects after consumption are a bit more bizarre than the original."
"However, as long as its grade remains unchanged, it's still a good spirit plant."
To him, whether it was normal or sinister in nature didn't matter as much as the fact that it was a fifth-grade spirit plant. This meant a generous reward from the light group, and the type of spirit plant was secondary.
"However, longevity is a precious commodity in the cultivation world. Ning Deshan probably thought he had stumbled upon a great opportunity, not realizing that this mutated peach is seven parts efficacy and three parts poison. It's like trying to quench your thirst with poison."
Now that he understood the true nature of the spirit peach tree, Lu Chen could finally relax. He carefully plucked the remaining five powdery-white peaches, their delicate fragrance filling the air with a fresh, creamy sweetness, and their vibrant vitality almost palpable.
To Lu Chen's surprise, as soon as the last peach was plucked, the tree began to wither, as if all its vitality had departed with the fruit.
"To have endured for so long in this herb garden is truly remarkable."
"Perhaps it was this very mutation into the Longevity Gourd Peach that offered it a chance at survival, allowing it to endure until now."
Lu Chen marveled to himself, calling forth the Demon Ghost Vine and establishing a mental connection with it.
"Try to sense if there's a spirit seed of the mutated peach hidden within the spirit soil."
The tip of the Demon Ghost Vine's tendril nodded excitedly, and soon its body split into numerous gray tendrils that extended in all directions.
Before long, one of the gray tendrils snaked around on the ground, sniffing curiously from time to time.
Then, with Lu Chen's permission, it plunged into the spirit soil.
Lu Chen's spiritual sense followed the vine as it burrowed five or six meters underground, retrieving a peculiar object.
It was a dark red peach pit, encased in a mass of solidified flesh. The grooves on its surface were filled with the essence of flesh and blood, slowly flowing like a river of life.
From within the peach pit, a powerful vitality pulsed like a beating heart.
"So this is how it maintained its existence," Lu Chen marveled.
The fifth-grade Mutated Longevity Gourd Peach, having accidentally formed a spirit seed, found itself unable to be cultivated. Driven by the instinct to perpetuate its lineage, it wrapped the spirit seed in the essence of flesh and blood, burying it deep within the spirit soil. This act both nurtured the seed and isolated it from spiritual energy, eliminating any chance of it growing or sprouting.
"But now that I've found it, you don't have to worry about your survival," Lu Chen said, addressing the peach pit in his hand. "I'll take care of you meticulously and ensure your swift maturation."
He placed the dark red peach pit into the Gluttonous Insect Pouch, satisfied with his harvest from the herb garden—the fifth-grade Mutated Longevity Gourd Peach's spirit seed, and the resolution of his conflict with Ning Deshan.
However, Lu Chen had no intention of stopping there and forgoing the opportunity to enter the mysterious palace.
After preparing for so long, breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, acquiring several high-grade spirit plants, and obtaining rare treasures like the Void Nightmare's eyes and the Pure Yang True Fire Manual, how could he resist the temptation of exploring the treasure-laden palace?
Though Lu Chen was usually cautious, the plethora of protective treasures he now possessed bolstered his confidence.
Thus, with the Void Nightmare's eyes constantly roaming and flickering into visibility, he kept a vigilant watch for any signs of movement in his surroundings.
At his waist hung the Yangxuanshen Sheath, containing the fourth-grade Wind and Thunder Sword, ready for any eventuality. Within his sleeves, the Howling Sea Sword Talisman, the Great Sun Sword Talisman, and the Star Falling Sword Talisman lay dormant, their soaring sword intents poised to unleash havoc at a moment's notice.
With these ample preparations, Lu Chen swiftly departed the abandoned herb garden and made his way toward the palace.
(End of Chapter)
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