Chapter 373: A Strange Spirit Plant
Chapter 373: A Strange Spirit Plant
The moment Lu Chen laid eyes on the peculiar spirit plant, he was instantly reminded of the Grade 5 Demon Ghost Vine he possessed.
There were certain similarities between the two. Both possessed extremely strong offensive capabilities, but the Demon Ghost Vine, perhaps due to its higher grade, exhibited a certain level of spiritual intelligence. In contrast, the attacking behavior of this spirit plant seemed more instinctual.
"Elder Ge, where did you obtain this strange spirit plant?" Lu Chen asked curiously.
"Recently, our sect joined forces with several other sects to explore a newly discovered blessed land," Ge Pu replied briefly. "We found a large number of these spirit plants in that blessed land."
Lu Chen nodded and examined the plant carefully.
"Strange," he muttered. "This spirit plant has a very strong offensive nature, yet I can't detect any sinister energy on it."
Over the years, Lu Chen had cultivated a wide variety of spirit plants. A small number of them possessed aggressive tendencies, such as the Sword-Nurturing Gourd and various grades of Sword Grass currently growing in his cave abode. However, they only attacked passively and required a cultivator's control to be utilized.
Additionally, there were a few underworld spirit plants with proactive offensive capabilities, like the fully matured Hundred-Eyed Bizarre Tree, the Blood Spirit Palm currently in the cultivation stage, and the Holy Infant Fruit.
Although the spirit plant before him also exhibited proactive aggression, he couldn't sense any sinister energy within it. Even the Immaculate Jade around his neck remained still, and attempts to probe it with talismans like the Spirit-Purifying Talisman and the Exorcism Talisman yielded no abnormalities.
"I brought this peculiar spirit plant for you, Brother Lu, to see if you can discover anything about it," Ge Pu explained. "There are a large number of these plants in the blessed land. If we can find their origin, it might make things easier for our fellow sect members there."
Although Lu Chen kept a low profile and was not well-known in the Sky Sword Sect, those who knew him were aware of his profound knowledge in the ways of spirit plants. He had resolved several significant matters concerning spirit plants and beasts, even leaving a deep impression on two Core Formation elders.
Despite only being at the Foundation Establishment stage in terms of cultivation, his understanding of spirit plants and beasts might very well surpass that of Core Formation elders and direct disciples of the sect.
"Alright, I'll give it a try and see if I can find anything unusual about this spirit plant," Lu Chen agreed without hesitation, taking the plant from Ge Pu.
"Thank you, Brother Lu. Please let me know if you discover anything," Ge Pu said with a satisfied nod. He then bid Lu Chen farewell and, along with Zhang Jing Shan, stepped into a rapidly expanding black and white Tai Chi pattern that vanished from sight.
Lu Chen watched them leave before turning his attention back to the peculiar spirit plant in his hands.
"A spirit plant from a blessed land..." he mused softly.
There were all sorts of secret realms in the cultivation world, but blessed lands were few and far between. Blessed lands often existed in extremely dangerous places, sometimes even in the void, making them incredibly difficult to discover.
The Sky Sword Sect oversaw three blessed lands, and Lu Chen had entered one of them—the Lan Yue Blessed Land. There, he had obtained the Grade 5 Demon Ghost Vine, the Grade 4 Spirit-Infused Pine, and the Grade 6 Phoenix Wood, which could be considered a tremendous harvest.
According to Ge Pu, the blessed land where this spirit plant was found was a recent discovery, and the sect was currently exploring and developing it in collaboration with other sects. Lu Chen's heart stirred with excitement at the thought of the rare and precious treasures they might uncover there.
However, he quickly cooled his enthusiasm and regained his composure. A new blessed land meant not only abundant opportunities and treasures but also unknown dangers, which was why a Core Formation elder had been dispatched to lead the expedition.
As he thought this, he suddenly felt an itch on his finger.
Lowering his head, he saw that one of his fingers had been sucked into a crack on the spirit plant's trunk. The serrated edges chewed on his finger, and he could feel a strong suction from within the plant.
"This little thing sure knows how to bite."
Lu Chen, also known as Lu Xuan, allowed the peculiar spirit plant to gnaw on his finger.
Having cultivated the Luli Refining Bone Technique and the Tai Xu Transformation Dragon Chapter, and consumed rare spirit fruits like the Yulin Fruit and Jin Sui Jade Liquid to enhance his physical body, his flesh was now almost as tough as a third-grade spiritual artifact. So, the biting of this strange spirit plant felt more like a tickle.
He gazed at the peculiar spirit plant with its many cracks, a mischievous idea forming in his mind. He jammed his finger into the plant's trunk and stirred it around.
When he withdrew his finger, the serrated edges along the cracks had all fallen off, littering the ground.
After this disturbance, the strange spirit plant seemed to realize the extent of Lu Chen's strength, and even when he deliberately brought his finger close to the cracks, the plant remained still, showing no reaction.
"It doesn't seem to have any spiritual intelligence, but it does have the basic instinct of seeking benefit and avoiding harm."
Lu Chen made his assessment and continued to observe the now well-behaved spirit plant in his hand.
He examined it carefully but, aside from its unusual aggressiveness, he couldn't find anything new.
"When in doubt, feed it something."
"Whether it's a spirit plant, a demon beast, or something in between, I can make it reveal itself by feeding it something."
With that thought, Lu Chen's spiritual power stirred within him, and the clouds above the spirit plant shifted. A Spirit Rain Technique, like a slender waterfall, precisely irrigated the plant's trunk and branches.
After the strange spirit plant had absorbed the spiritual energy, Lu Chen focused his mind on it, and suddenly, a thought appeared in his mind.
Unknown spirit plant, third grade. Previously a third-grade Dragon Pattern Wood, it gradually mutated into a new variety of spirit plant due to long-term exposure to an unknown powerful fleshly influence.
As a result, it possesses enhanced vitality and aggressiveness and can pose a significant threat to cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage.
It can be used to refine pills that enhance the physical body, and with proper handling, it can also assist in cultivating certain body-refining techniques.
"A mutated spirit plant, previously a third-grade Dragon Pattern Wood..."
Lu Chen had once read about the Dragon Pattern Wood in the Scripture Pavilion. It was an extremely hard spirit plant, considered a superior material for refining spiritual artifacts and flying swords.
However, according to the records, the Dragon Pattern Wood bore little resemblance to the spirit plant he now held in his hand. They were like two completely different things.
"What kind of fleshly aura could transform a third-grade spirit plant into this?"
Lu Chen muttered to himself.
Although he now had a general understanding of the strange spirit plant, he decided to continue his research for a few more days.
Otherwise, if he reported his findings to Elder Ge right after the elder had left, it would attract too much attention.
While Lu Chen didn't mind revealing his 'talent' in spirit plants, he didn't want to make a big fuss. He preferred to make his fortune quietly.
"Now that I know the origin of this spirit plant, the next step is to observe its habits and preferences to find the best way to deal with it."
Lu Chen made his plans as he continued to examine the peculiar spirit plant in his hand.
(End of Chapter)
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