https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-481-The-Illuminating-Sword-Heart/12544573/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-483-Magic-Flame-Insect-Fire-Cloud-Cave/12544575/
Chapter 482: The Strange Fire Spirit Mushroom
Chapter 482: The Strange Fire Spirit Mushroom
"I've accumulated quite a fortune now."
Lu Chen marveled as he practiced several fourth-grade sword techniques and formations, momentarily distracted by the realization of his newfound wealth. Thanks to the rewards from the Underworld Spirit Plant's light sphere, he now possessed an impressive collection of fifth-grade magical artifacts and treasures.
The Hollow Nightmare Orb, the Pure Yang True Fire Manual, the Spirit Nurturing Scroll, the Divine Derivative Scripture, the Gluttonous Beast Pouch, the Saint Infant Pill, the Mirage Five Elements Formation, the God Piercing Spike, the Mirage Sound Treasure Pearl, the Clear Wing Feather Garment, and the recently acquired Clear Sword Heart—a grand total of eleven items. Even a Core Formation cultivator from a major sect like Tianjian might not have as many possessions as Lu Chen.
"Unfortunately, not many of these are suitable for direct combat. Only the Pure Yang True Fire Manual, the God Piercing Spike, the Mirage Sound Treasure Pearl, and the illusions created by the Hollow Nightmare Orb would be effective in a fight."
Lu Chen sighed. Previously, when he was at the early Qi Refining stage or even the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivating various fourth-grade spirit plants had granted him numerous bonuses from the light sphere. He had obtained many fifth-grade magical artifacts, treasures, and techniques by surpassing his level. Now that he had broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, he doubted that such generous rewards would continue.
"However, I still have plenty of fifth and sixth-grade spirit plants, and the light sphere rewards can only get better."
Lu Chen thought to himself, immensely grateful for his past efforts in acquiring high-grade spirit plants by any means necessary.
He returned to his small courtyard and tended to the spiritual beasts in his cave abode before entering the house to cultivate.
A few days later, curious about the latest developments in the Black Demon Abyss secret realm, Lu Chen made his way to the Mission Hall, where most of his fellow sect members gathered.
This place offered a glimpse into the invisible changes in the cultivation world through the various sect or personal missions posted on the walls. Additionally, with so many sect members around, one could gather all sorts of information about the sect and the cultivation world at large.
Lu Chen concealed his cultivation base and stood quietly in a corner of the Mission Hall's grand hall.
Looking up, he noticed that various missions were flashing across one of the walls. Sharply, he realized that many of these missions involved invitations to exterminate or hunt down demonic beasts and evil spirits. Moreover, there seemed to be a higher demand for healing, soul-calming pills, as well as magical artifacts and talismans, compared to usual.
"It seems the cultivation world is not as peaceful as it used to be."
Lu Chen mused to himself.
He channeled a thread of spiritual power into his ears, quietly listening in on the discussions of his fellow sect members.
"Have you heard? Something major happened recently. A highly destructive evil spirit wreaked havoc in a city under our sect's jurisdiction, but it was ultimately dealt with by several True Disciples working together."
"As expected of half-step Core Formation True Disciples. They managed to eliminate a calamity-level evil spirit."
"Yeah, the cultivation world hasn't been peaceful lately. When I returned to the sect recently, I heard that over a thousand rogue cultivators in a certain cultivator marketplace were sacrificed in a blood ritual. We don't know which evil spirit is responsible for this atrocity."
"That's not all. I have a friend whose senior is a Sword Hall uncle with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation base. Unfortunately, he perished unexpectedly during a mission to surround and exterminate an evil spirit."
"What?! A Sword Hall uncle at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage died?!"
"It's most likely true."
"Don't worry too much about it. If the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up. The cultivation world has long stagnated, and only a tremendous upheaval can give us a chance to seize opportunities and soar to greater heights."
"Makes sense. Many mediocre talents have seized similar opportunities to defy the heavens and change their fate..."
The crowd murmured in agreement.
Lu Chen remained calm and collected, having gained a better understanding of the current situation in the outside world.
"Defying the heavens and changing one's fate? If it were that easy, it wouldn't be considered defying the heavens."
He mused to himself, unconcerned by the aspirations of most of his fellow sect members.
"Thankfully, I have the light sphere, and I don't need to risk my life competing with countless cultivators for those fleeting opportunities."
With mixed emotions, Lu Chen returned to his cave abode.
"I must survive, no matter what."
"I'm just an ordinary spiritual herbologist. Slaying demonic beasts and evil spirits has nothing to do with me."
"As long as I stay within the sect, unless there's a crisis threatening our very existence, there's no need for me to go out and take risks."
Unfortunately, things didn't go as he wished. Even though Lu Chen wanted nothing more than to live a quiet life within the sect, trouble came knocking on his door.
Half a month later, a fiery red message talisman flew outside his cave abode.
Lu Chen activated his spiritual power, and a familiar voice echoed from within—it was Huo Lin'er.
"Brother Lu, are you in your cave abode? Elder Qing Xu has something to discuss with you."
Lu Chen frowned slightly. With no other choice, he made his way to Elder Qing Xu's cave abode.
Elder Qing Xu was a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator and the owner of the Clear Quiet Jade Green Tea spiritual herb. To focus on comprehending a powerful cultivation technique, he had entrusted the care of the spiritual tea to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen arrived at a majestic cave abode shrouded in ethereal energy.
Upon entering, he was led by an inner sect disciple to where Elder Qing Xu resided.
"Disciple Lu Chen, paying respects to Elder Qing Xu."
Lu Chen respectfully bowed to the elderly man with a long, neat beard, exuding a crisp aura.
"No need for formalities, Nephew Lu," the elderly man said with a slight smile.
Lu Chen looked up and gave a subtle nod to Huo Lin'er, who stood beside the elder, dressed in a fiery red robe.
"Nephew Lu, how is the Clear Quiet Jade Green Tea coming along?" the elder asked, his large sleeves billowing like waves as a gentle breeze seemed to emanate from within his body.
"I've placed the spiritual tea in a damaged secret realm for cultivation, and it's growing well, Uncle Master," Lu Chen replied.
"That's good to hear. You've done a splendid job, Nephew," the elder said, his expression softening.
"The reason I called you here is that we've encountered a matter that requires your expertise," he continued. "Recently, our sect discovered a mutated spiritual herb in a family that is affiliated with us."
"A few elders and I examined it, but we couldn't identify what it was. We heard that you have an extraordinary talent in spiritual herbs, so we summoned you to take a look."
"That family holds a significant position within our sect, producing a large amount of cultivation resources that we rely on. This matter is of great importance, so I ask that you observe and identify it carefully."
Elder Qing Xu spoke with a solemn expression.
"I will do my best, Uncle Master," Lu Chen assured.
Seeing this, the elder nodded to Huo Lin'er, who had been silent all this time.
Huo Lin'er quickly took out a spiritual herb from her storage bag.
The herb was a vivid crimson color, resembling flames dancing within its leaves and branches.
Lu Chen's sharp eyes noticed that on the surface of the herb, there were thin lines of blackish-red, like little fish swimming within the herb. Wherever these lines passed, strands of fiery energy converged and merged into them.
"This is a Fire Spirit Mushroom, a third-grade spiritual herb imbued with pure fire spirit energy. It's a primary ingredient in refining many third and fourth-grade pills and can also assist in cultivating fire-attributed techniques and supernatural abilities. It has a wide range of uses," Huo Lin'er explained.
"However, recently, the cultivators from that family discovered these mysterious blackish-red lines appearing within the Fire Spirit Mushroom, and their origin is unknown. They are slowly absorbing the vitality from the mushroom."
"Despite their best efforts, they couldn't remove these lines, so they sent it to our sect as soon as possible, seeking our help."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
