Chapter 362: The Polluted Insect Grass
Chapter 362: The Polluted Insect Grass
"As for vaporizing spiritual energy, it might be a bit challenging for other cultivators, but it's a breeze for me."
Lu Chen's thoughts stirred, and the spirit seed of the Jade Dew Fruit above changed the clouds, causing strands of spiritual rain to fall. Just as the raindrops were about to fall onto the spirit soil, they turned into a thin mist, like a pale white veil, gently permeating into the interior of the Jade Dew Fruit spirit seed.
In order to refine his planting techniques, he had cast the Spirit Rain Art countless times and had already reached the level of a grandmaster in this basic spell. Vaporizing the spiritual rain was an easy task for him.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed since he had planted the Hidden Origin Grass and the Jade Dew Fruit.
The two spirit plants took root and sprouted. The Hidden Origin Grass looked ordinary, but once one sensed the wood and plant essence hidden deep within the stalks, they would be astonished by its richness and purity.
The Jade Dew Fruit grew to about three inches in height and appeared to be enveloped in a layer of silver-white gauze. Especially in the early morning, tiny beads of spiritual dew condensed on the plant, making it look even more vibrant and refreshing.
In the courtyard, the Hundred Poison Heartworm, after consuming a Corpse Flame Pill, dragged its corpse-ridden and deathly body over to the nearby hundred-year-old Ice Spirit, allowing the poison to freeze and waiting for Lu Chen to clean up the remaining toxins.
As the number of Corpse Flame Pills it consumed increased, the Heartworm's ability to resist this toxic pill grew stronger, and the backlash from the poison lessened. Now, it could actively go to the Ice Spirit to detoxify itself.
Of course, as the Heartworm's resistance to the Corpse Flame Pill increased, the pill's effectiveness in aiding its growth decreased. Lu Chen decided that after a while, he would find a new toxic creature for the Heartworm.
A flash of green light streaked across the sky, and the fat bird flew above the small lake, letting out a crisp cry. Below it, the three-zhang-long Fire Dragon Carp kept its head down obediently as the bird scolded it.
The troublemaking Rock-Armored Turtle looked on with schadenfreude, while the Blue-Horned Dragon Carp stayed at the bottom of the lake to avoid getting implicated.
Both the Fire Dragon Carp and the Rock-Armored Turtle were hatched by the Wind Falcon, and although she didn't give birth to them herself, she had a strong maternal instinct towards them, favoring the later-born Rock-Armored Turtle just like many human mothers.
Lu Chen paid no heed and focused his attention on the Sword Peacock in his hand.
A month had passed, and under the continuous effects of the Yunshan Jade Scroll and the Purity Chant, more than half of the black spots on the sword had disappeared.
Only one spot remained.
He placed the Yunshan Jade Scroll on the black spot and, with a thought, directed his spiritual sense to lead the black spot into the jade scroll. After it was absorbed, Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Finally, the mirage's filthy aura has been thoroughly purged. After nurturing it in the Yangxuan Sword Sheath for a few more days, the Sword Peacock will be completely back to normal."
He drew the ancient sword sheath from his waist and stabbed it fiercely, piercing through the layer of spiritual energy membrane and directly into the deepest part of the sheath.
As for the fourth-grade Yunshan Jade Scroll, after absorbing and digesting such a large amount of filthy aura from the mirage, it had lost its spirituality and was completely reduced to a useless piece of jade.
A few more days passed, and after inspecting the Sword Peacock and confirming that there were no issues, Lu Chen took out the message talisman left by Su Manman. He sent a message to her through the talisman.
After a moment, a rainbow light descended at the foot of the mountain, and a cold and elegant female cultivator appeared, curiously looking around at Lu Chen's cave abode.
"Brother Lu, your cave abode is filled with rich spiritual plants."
The cold and elegant female cultivator was indeed Su Manman, and she couldn't help but exclaim as Lu Chen led her into his abode.
"Sister Su, I don't have any other hobbies. I just like to fiddle with flowers and plants."
Entering the small courtyard, Lu Chen served spirit fruits and spirit tea.
"These spirit fruits and spirit brews taste wonderful. It's clear that you've put in a lot of effort, Brother Lu."
As the daughter of an elder who had formed a Golden Core, Su Manman had tasted countless rare spirit fruits and brews. But when she savored the combination of Lu Chen's Blazing Flame Fruit and Ice Rosette Fruit, along with the Hundred Spirit Elixir nurtured in the Drunken Immortal Gourd, she felt a sense of pleasant surprise.
She took the flying sword and, with a gentle wave of her hand, felt the sword's every inch. With a thought, the sword let out a crisp ring, and in an instant, it transformed. Hundreds of sharp sword lights burst forth, dancing and forming various sword formations, hinting at the beginnings of a sword array.
"Indeed, as Brother Lu said, the Sword Peacock has completely recovered," Su Manman said joyfully as she sensed the smooth and natural movement of the countless sword lights after their long stagnation.
With another thought, the hundreds of sword lights instantly retracted, like a peacock closing its feathers. The dazzling sword intent faded, and the sword returned to its ordinary appearance.
"I really must thank you, Brother Lu, for restoring my Sword Peacock to its former state. You must have put in a lot of effort and thought," she expressed her gratitude.
"Here are three thousand spirit stones as payment for your work on my Sword Peacock. I hope you don't think it's too little," Su Manman said solemnly, producing a heavy cloth bag.
"Sister Su, you're too kind. The gift of the Qingyun Token was already more than enough, and it was my duty to remove the pollution from your sword," Lu Chen replied, his heart stirring at the mention of three thousand spirit stones.
Three thousand spirit stones! With a little more, he could almost afford a new fourth-grade flying sword! He couldn't help but marvel at the generosity of the daughter of a Golden Core elder.
However, his primary motivation had been to repay Su Manman for her gift of the token, so he had no intention of accepting payment.
"Brother Lu, don't refuse. That Qingyun Token was just a casual gift, but as far as I know, it must have taken you a lot of time and effort to remove the pollution from my Sword Peacock. This compensation is well-deserved," she insisted.
But Lu Chen remained firm in his refusal.
"Brother Lu, you're being too stubborn. How about we compromise?" Su Manman suggested. "I'll take back the spirit stones, but I'll give you something else as compensation."
"When I was traveling, I encountered an evil cultivator who polluted my Sword Peacock. Although he died by my sword, I found a strange spirit seed in his storage bag," she explained. "I asked my fellow sect members about it, but no one knew what it was, so it's just taking up space. I might as well give it to you."
Su Manman took out a spirit seed from her storage bag.
As soon as the spirit seed appeared, a thick, foul odor assaulted their noses.
The spirit seed was finger-length and resembled a segment of a demonic insect's corpse, filled with black gas and seemingly mixed with countless impurities.
"Alright, then. I gratefully accept your offer," Lu Chen said, seeing Su Manman's insistence on giving him compensation.
The cold and elegant female cultivator, satisfied, took her leave with the Sword Peacock.
After her figure had completely disappeared, Lu Chen held the peculiar spirit seed in his hand, curiosity piqued. He made his way to the spirit field and planted the seed, focusing his mind on it...
A thought emerged:
[Polluted Insect Grass, a fourth-grade spirit plant. During its growth, it absorbs various impurities and filth, turning them into its nourishment. It has strong polluting properties, and prolonged exposure to it will gradually affect one's eyes, mind, and spirit.]
[When mature, it can be used to refine certain special toxic magical artifacts or to cultivate certain unorthodox cultivation techniques.]
(End of Chapter)
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