Chapter 381: You Might Make a Small Fortune
Chapter 381: You Might Make a Small Fortune
"Some of these mutated spirit herbs have already been studied and understood by our sect. Fellow seniors, you may want to take a look first."
Lu Chen approached a pitch-black lotus that stood half the height of a man. The lotus exuded an icy chill, as if it could erode even the toughest of bones.
"This is a mutated third-grade Ice Hades Lotus. It emits a wide-range freezing aura. Prolonged exposure to this aura will cause the physical body to slowly corrode and weaken. Additionally, when a cultivator or demonic beast approaches, it will automatically release ice and water spells."
"The mature lotus seeds and leaves of the Ice Hades Lotus can be used to refine restorative spirit pills. However, after mutation, due to the intense yin cold energy within, they can only be used to refine corresponding poison pills or related artifacts."
Lu Chen spoke confidently, explaining with ease.
Feng Yu and the other nodded from time to time, recording Lu Chen's words on a jade slip.
"This is a mutated third-grade Dragon Pattern Wood. After mutation, each part of the plant is enhanced and can even inflict damage on early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. It's extremely aggressive."
"According to our experiments, the mutated Dragon Pattern Wood can be used to refine spirit pills that strengthen the physical body. With proper handling, it can also assist in cultivating certain body-refining techniques."
Feng Yu and his companion kept recording, their gazes toward Lu Chen gradually changing.
At first, they were simply unwilling to submit. But after seeing the message talisman left by the ancient sword on Lu Chen's waist, they at least maintained a respectful attitude on the surface. And now, as Lu Chen displayed his profound understanding of these mutated spirit herbs, they were thoroughly convinced.
Although they rarely cultivated spirit herbs themselves, they knew that such an effortless understanding of numerous mutated spirit herbs required an extremely exquisite mastery of the art.
The two followed behind Lu Chen, fully entering an assistant state of mind, their hearts free from any distractions.
Lu Chen pointed out the known mutated spirit herbs, while for the remaining unknown ones, his special ability allowed him to instantly understand their origins and uses. However, to avoid attracting too much attention, he deliberately slowed down his pace.
Over the next few days, he and Feng Yu mostly stayed within the camp, continuously testing the unique functions and uses of each spirit herb.
Although the purposes of most mutated spirit herbs had changed, they still led to the same ultimate goal, with the overall direction remaining unchanged. However, a small number of mutated spirit herbs could have negative effects on cultivators and demonic beasts, so it was necessary to thoroughly understand them.
From time to time, fellow sect members would return to the camp to heal their wounds, restock their supplies, and bring new mutated spirit herbs. During this period, Lu Chen got to know the other two sect members who were left behind in the camp.
All three sects had realized the vast opportunities hidden within these mutated spirit herbs, so they sent spirit herb cultivators skilled in this area to research them.
"This must be Fellow Daoist Lu from the Celestial Sword Sect?"
One day, as Lu Chen strolled through the camp, he encountered a youth with a delicate and refined aura. At the late stage of Foundation Establishment, the youth exuded a subtle fragrance of flowers and grass, making people feel unconsciously friendly towards him.
"Indeed, it is me. May I ask how I should address you, Fellow Daoist?" Lu Chen replied with a faint smile.
"I am Fang Qing, a spirit herb cultivator from the Ling Xiao Sect." The delicate youth carried a hint of arrogance in his tone.
"So it's Senior Fang. I've heard of your name for a long time." Lu Chen responded politely.
"Forgive my boldness, but did your sect only send you, Fellow Daoist Lu, to research these mutated spirit herbs?" Fang Qing glanced at the Celestial Sword Sect's camp and asked tentatively.
"Yes, our sect is famous for its sword techniques, and we have far fewer cultivators skilled in spirit herbs compared to other sects. It was quite a challenge to send me here, but I wanted to give it a try nonetheless." Lu Chen smiled as he spoke.
"Fellow Daoist Lu is too humble. Researching mutated spirit herbs heavily relies on luck, and having more people doesn't necessarily mean better results."
"Do you also dislike that guy, Junior Brother Lu?"
Just as Lu Chen was about to return to the camp, a hearty voice rang out. A sturdy female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage emerged from the Wan Shou Gate camp.
The woman had delicate and refined features, but her build was robust, with broad shoulders and a sturdy waist. She walked with the confident stride of a tiger and a dragon, and at her waist hung two large spirit beast bags. Her exposed arms were adorned with intricate patterns of various magical beasts, so lifelike they seemed to move.
"Are you Lu Chen, the spirit herb cultivator from the Celestial Sword Sect? I'm Long Miaomiao, the spirit herb cultivator for the Wan Shou Gate on this trip to the blessed land. Nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Fellow Daoist Long. It seems you have some opinions about Fellow Daoist Fang from the Ling Xiao Sect?" Lu Chen asked directly, noticing the woman's frank and straightforward demeanor.
"Absolutely," Long Miaomiao affirmed.
"The Ling Xiao Sect is famous for their pill refining, and pill refining is closely related to spirit herbs. They have countless formidable spirit herb cultivators, and I've heard they sent five mid to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators on this trip, a much larger group than our two sects combined."
"The gap in strength has given them a sense of superiority. They look down on us," Long Miaomiao added, not caring if her words reached the Ling Xiao Sect cultivators nearby.
"Then we must work harder and not let them belittle us," Lu Chen said, a smile tugging at his lips.
However, Lu Chen didn't really care about the attitudes of the Ling Xiao Sect cultivators. With the external cause and effect affecting him, even if they sent more spirit herb cultivators, they wouldn't pose much of a threat.
He strolled around the perimeter of the camp and found a secluded spot to let out the Cloud-Treading Lynx and the Demon Ghost Vine to stretch their legs.
After returning to the camp and cultivating for less than an hour, Fang Qing, the Ling Xiao Sect cultivator he had met earlier, paid him a visit.
"What brings you here, Fellow Daoist Fang?" Lu Chen asked, offering a cup of steaming spirit tea.
"It's like this, Fellow Daoist Lu," Fang Qing began.
"Our sect's fellow disciples at the frontline blessed land brought back a large number of mutated spirit herbs, but there are too many of some varieties, and we can't research them all. So, I was wondering if we could exchange some mutated spirit herbs with the Celestial Sword Sect?"
The delicate youth spoke slowly, his voice calm.
"Exchange spirit herbs?" Lu Chen's expression turned puzzled. Was that even possible?
"That's right. Both sects can exchange spirit herbs, taking what they need and maximizing benefits for each other," Fang Qing explained.
"I wonder what type of mutated spirit herbs Fellow Daoist Fang needs and what you can offer in return?" Lu Chen asked, his interest piqued by the proposal.
"How many of these mutated spirit herbs do you have?" Fang Qing asked, taking out a peculiar-looking spirit herb from his storage bag. Its roots, stems, and leaves were all sharp and menacing, exuding a strong offensive aura. Faint patterns adorned its trunk.
It was the mutated Dragon Pattern Wood that Lu Chen was now intimately familiar with.
"Is Fellow Daoist Fang only interested in this type of spirit herb?" Lu Chen asked, a spark of suspicion in his heart.
"For now, yes. We didn't have enough of this particular herb for our experiments, so I wanted to exchange some with you," Fang Qing replied.
Lu Chen's heart stirred with silent laughter as he guessed at Fang Qing's intentions.
He had most likely discovered the usefulness of the mutated Dragon Pattern Wood and wanted to exchange it with the other two sects to obtain a large quantity of it, profiting from the information asymmetry.
"Too bad you met me," Lu Chen mused to himself.
"If you want to exchange spirit herbs with me, it depends on what you can offer," Lu Chen said aloud.
"You might make a small fortune, but I'll never be at a loss," he added with a hint of confidence.
(End of Chapter)
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