Chapter 49: Flaming Sword
Chapter 49: Flaming Sword
Hidden among the dense, fiery-red needles of the tall pine tree were five pine cones, partially obscured from view. One of them had already ripened to maturity.
The outer shell of the red pine cone resembled fish scales, layering and enveloping the pine nut within from bottom to top.
There weren't many pine nuts at the very center—only about two dozen, each the size of a fingertip, resembling translucent pomegranate arils.
They were a pale red, clear and fragrant, emitting a scent that was tantalizing and mouthwatering.
As Lu Chen focused his attention on the ripe pine cone of the Crimson Cloud Pine, he immediately gained detailed information about it.
"Crimson Cloud Pine Cone, derived from a top-grade spiritual plant, the Crimson Cloud Pine. It contains abundant spiritual energy and can slightly enhance one's cultivation for low to mid-level Qi Refining cultivators."
"Its taste is refreshing and sweet, lingering on the palate, and is deeply favored by many female cultivators."
Lu Chen plucked the ripe Crimson Cloud pine cone and placed it in a specially crafted vessel emblazoned with relevant talismans to ensure the freshness of the pine nut.
As he peeled away the cone, he also learned that the one he had harvested was of good quality.
At the spot where the Crimson Cloud Pine cone had been plucked, a white light orb appeared, flickering softly.
Lu Chen's heart stirred with excitement. This was the first time he had harvested a mature top-grade spiritual plant.
Previously, whether it was the Spirit Glow Grass or the Moon-Eclipsing Fruit, they had been ungraded spiritual plants, their value far inferior to that of the Crimson Cloud Pine.
"Harvest one Crimson Cloud Pine Cone and obtain the Flaming Sword, a second-grade flying sword."
The white light orb transformed into countless specks of light that surged into Lu Chen's body, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
A flying sword quietly appeared in his hand.
The sword was about three feet long, its body lightweight and fiery red. Dark red veins ran along the blade, and tiny flames flickered and danced along its edge.
"A second-grade flying sword!"
Lu Chen couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment. This was the first second-grade magical artifact he had obtained in his cultivation journey.
Before discovering the wonders of his spirit field, he would have had to save up for a long time just to afford a Sword Qi Talisman.
But now, he possessed not only the Split Silver Blade and the Thunderfire Pearl but also a plethora of talismans. The once-elusive Sword Qi Talisman and Exorcism Talisman were now stacked in abundance, and he even had two of the second-grade Thousand Sword Qi Talismans.
And now, he had acquired another second-grade artifact—the Flaming Sword.
"Planting a single spirit field has brought me so many opportunities."
"I prefer to stay away from secret realm explorations and treasure hunts, content with tending to my plants."
The appearance of the second-grade Flaming Sword only heightened Lu Chen's anticipation for the remaining four Crimson Cloud Pine cones, further solidifying his decision to focus on peaceful cultivation.
He kept the Flaming Sword in his storage bag and made his way to the area where the Spirit Glow Grass was growing.
Of the hundred Spirit Glow Grass plants, sixty-five remained, and they were rapidly maturing. The slender leaves glowed with specks of fluorescent light, drawing attention even in the daytime.
Lu Chen harvested fourteen fully mature Spirit Glow Grass plants in one go.
Among them, four were of good quality, seven were of superior quality, and the remaining three were of perfect quality; not a single one was of ordinary quality.
He carefully placed the fourteen mature Spirit Glow Grass plants into white jade boxes to preserve their vitality.
As he turned to look at the spirit field, fourteen white light orbs quietly appeared.
"Harvest one Spirit Glow Grass and obtain six months of cultivation." 2
"Harvest one Spirit Glow Grass and obtain nine months of cultivation."
"Harvest one Spirit Glow Grass and obtain one year of cultivation."
Four of the white light orbs brought cultivation bonuses, totaling three years' worth of cultivation.
Thoughts flashed through his mind, and wave after wave of dense spiritual energy surged within Lu Chen's body.
It raged through his dantian and meridians, causing him to clench his jaw as he struggled to circulate his cultivation technique to calm the rampant energy.
After a while, the spiritual energy within him finally settled down.
With his diligent cultivation over the past few days, along with the small cultivation bonuses he had received earlier, Lu Chen finally broke through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
"Harvesting one Spirit Glow Grass yields a top-grade Sword Qi Talisman." 3
"Harvesting one Spirit Glow Grass yields a top-grade Exorcism Talisman." 2
Among them, five white light orbs offered talismans, further increasing Lu Chen's collection of high-grade talismans in his storage bag.
"Harvesting one Spirit Glow Grass yields a top-grade Pill of Nourishment." 3
"Harvesting one Spirit Glow Grass yields the formula for the Pill of Nourishment."
"Harvesting one Spirit Glow Grass yields a drop of Grass Spirit Primal Essence."
The remaining five white light orbs presented three Pills of Nourishment. The other two, perhaps due to the perfect quality of the Spirit Glow Grass, offered a formula and a treasure—the Grass Spirit Primal Essence.
Lu Chen absorbed the formula for the Pill of Nourishment, and his understanding of its refinement deepened. The knowledge of ingredient handling, dosage, firing temperature, and timing of pill extraction improved significantly.
Although he hadn't put his knowledge to practical use yet, he was already a theoretical master when it came to refining the Pill of Nourishment.
A drop of semi-solid, emerald green liquid appeared in Lu Chen's hand—the Grass Spirit Primal Essence, brimming with the essence of countless grasses and trees.
Lu Chen summoned the Grass Puppet and placed the green liquid into the gray grass tumor on its head.
Soon after, the gray tumor transformed into a vibrant green, resembling an old tree sprouting new buds, pulsating with vigorous vitality.
"It's important to eat well and stay nourished to have the energy to guard the spirit field," Lu Chen said with a smile, looking at the Grass Puppet with its head now adorned with lush greenery.
"Lu, my friend! Are you there?"
A somewhat familiar voice called out from outside the house. Lu Chen racked his brains for a moment before recognizing it as belonging to a Wu-clan cultivator who lived nearby. The man was quite elderly and fond of drinking; he had even visited Lu Chen's yard once to inquire about cultivating spirits suitable for brewing.
"Senior Wu, I'm here. What can I do for you?" Lu Chen replied as he opened the gate.
"It's nothing major," the elderly Wu cultivator said. "I'm just glad those lackeys from the Enforcement Hall have finally left. I wanted to celebrate, and I thought of you, Lu."
"Very well, let me tidy up, and I'll join you for a drink," Lu Chen said with a smile as the old man nodded and left.
Lu Chen returned to his house and, out of caution, concealed the Thunderfire Pearl and the Sword Qi Thousand Talismans within his clothes.
The Wu-clan cultivator was at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, and Lu Chen wanted to be prepared in case the man harbored any ill intentions, even if he tried to conceal them. With the array of talismans and magical artifacts at his disposal, Lu Chen was confident he could handle any surprises.
After some thought, he also summoned the Cloud-stepping Lynx.
The lynx cub remained expressionless, its emerald eyes unblinking, but inwardly, it was thrilled to be summoned. It leaped onto Lu Chen's shoulder, its four cloud-like paws gripping his robe tightly.
Only then did Lu Chen feel completely at ease. With the Cloud-stepping Lynx's mystical eyes, even hidden evils that ordinary cultivators might miss would be exposed. His safety was further assured.
Accompanied by the lynx cub, Lu Chen activated the formation and made his way to the Wu-clan cultivator's residence.
Coincidentally, he also had some matters he wanted to discuss with the elderly Wu cultivator.
It had become increasingly difficult to find unknown spirit plants in the loose cultivator marketplace, and while the larger shops offered a variety of spirit plants, they tended to be expensive and of lower grades, mostly first-grade and ungraded. They no longer satisfied Lu Chen's increasingly refined tastes.
Thus, he contemplated visiting the mysterious black market in the market town and perhaps selling some of the items he had accumulated.
The Wu-clan cultivator, with his advanced cultivation and lengthy stay in the market town, would undoubtedly have valuable insights about the black market.
(End of Chapter)
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