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Chapter 616: The Nine Confucian Scholars' Treasured Tree
Chapter 616: The Nine Confucian Scholars' Treasured Tree
"Brother Lei, there's no need to worry about me," Lu Chen assured.
"Recently, I've acquired several high-level spirit herbs from the Hai Pavilion of the Xiexing Tower Merchant Association, and purchased a large number of pills to enhance my spiritual power. With their help, I was fortunate enough to break through to the perfect foundation establishment stage, so I have a bit more self-protection now." Lu Chen explained slowly.
"With my own cultivation, the protection of array formations, and some high-level talismans, I should be able to hold off any intruding evil cultivators," he added.
"Congratulations on breaking through to the perfect foundation establishment stage, Brother Lu!" Lei Zheng scanned Lu Chen's body with his spiritual sense and offered a smile of congratulations.
"It's all superficial progress, relying on pills. The prospect of further advancement is extremely slim, unlike your promising future, Brother Lei," Lu Chen said with a hint of helplessness.
"Regardless of the method, breaking through to the perfect foundation establishment stage is already quite remarkable. There's no need for you to belittle yourself, Brother Lu," Lei Zheng said indifferently.
"If you discover any traces of evil cultivators, you can use the communication talisman to seek my help. I'll come to assist you as soon as possible," Lei Zheng promised. He was grateful for Lu Chen's previous help in resolving the abnormality with the Lei Winged Bird at Thunder Fire Cave Star, and he had also witnessed Lu Chen's extraordinary skills with spirit herbs and beasts, so he was genuinely interested in getting to know Lu Chen better.
"Then I'll have to thank you in advance, Brother Lei," Lu Chen said, his face lighting up with genuine joy.
"With your mastery of the Thunder Arts and having reached the perfect foundation establishment stage, your promise is indeed reassuring. I have no fear of any evil cultivators now," Lu Chen added.
The two men chatted casually for a moment.
"By the way, Brother Lu, do you still remember what I mentioned to you about a spirit seed some time ago?" Lei Zheng asked casually.
How could I forget? I've been looking forward to it for a long time! Lu Chen exclaimed in his mind.
"I have a vague recollection," he replied nonchalantly, biding his time as he sensed that his 'fish' was about to take the bait.
"This spirit seed is rather special, not only in its origin but also in its rarity," Lei Zheng continued, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes before they steadied with determination.
"Have you ever heard of Confucian cultivators, Brother Lu?"
"I've heard a little about them. They seem quite rare, and they place great emphasis on nurturing their qi during their cultivation," Lu Chen nodded slightly. He had only learned about the existence of Confucian cultivators after arriving in the Central Continent.
Confucian cultivators were required to master the Hundred Schools of Thought, poetry, and literature. They cultivated their talent, literary air, and righteousness within their bodies, allowing them to control qi and face opponents. They often mingled in the mortal world.
"Among the Seven Realms of the Central Continent, there is a realm called the Daxia Realm, where the literary path thrives. Most cultivators who practice the Confucian path gather there, while the other six realms have only a small number," Lei Zheng explained.
"Several years ago, I ventured into the Daxia Realm and unexpectedly obtained a treasured inheritance from a major family—a special spirit seed," he continued.
"Since I didn't know the type of spirit seed it was, I naturally couldn't figure out how to cultivate it, so I've kept it stored in my storage bag," Lei Zheng said in a low voice.
The origin of this spirit seed was extraordinary, and he had originally intended to cultivate it himself. However, as he had never found a cultivation method, it had been sitting in his storage bag, unused.
The reason he had changed his mind and decided to hand over the spirit seed to Lu Chen for cultivation was twofold. Firstly, he had learned of Lu Chen's expertise in the way of spirit herbs and found him to be relatively trustworthy. Secondly, the spirit seed had started to show signs of withering, and he knew that he had to either sell it or find a way to cultivate it soon. Unwilling to let this rare and hard-won spirit seed go to waste, he had hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to trust Lu Chen.
"Brother Lu, do you have the confidence to cultivate it successfully?" Lei Zheng turned to Lu Chen and asked solemnly.
"I may not have confidence in other things, but when it comes to spirit herbs, I do have some talent," Lu Chen replied confidently.
"Your word is enough for me, Brother Lu," Lei Zheng nodded, reaching into his storage bag and producing a peculiarly shaped spirit seed.
The spirit seed was oval-shaped, slightly larger than an egg, and seemed to be formed from countless black lines of varying depths. It exuded a scent reminiscent of ink that wafted towards Lu Chen's nose.
Upon closer inspection, Lu Chen realized that the black lines were actually black characters, their font styles ever-changing, which was why he hadn't been able to recognize them at first glance.
"Is this the special spirit seed you mentioned, Brother Lei?" Lu Chen asked, his eyes glued to the seed as his spirits lifted.
"Indeed. What do you think of it?" Lei Zheng, usually calm and composed, couldn't hide his nervousness as he awaited Lu Chen's reaction.
"No problem, don't worry. I will definitely be able to cultivate it," Lu Chen replied with a triple assurance.
"Then, I shall leave this spirit seed in your care, Brother Lu," Lei Zheng said, relieved to hear Lu Chen's confident words.
The spirit seed appeared to be of a high grade and variety, and its implications were significant, so the two men established a mental demon oath. This oath was primarily meant to constrain Lu Chen, the recipient of the spirit seed, to prevent him from being tempted to abscond with it.
Of course, there were also some obligations on Lei Zheng's part. He was required to fulfill any special conditions necessary for the spirit plant's growth.
Lu Chen had no intention of reneging on their agreement. The light spheres he had obtained were already a huge windfall, and he saw no need to compromise his integrity and tarnish his reputation for more.
After producing the spirit seed, Lei Zheng did not linger and took his leave.
Lu Chen watched as Lei Zheng's figure disappeared amid the raging thunder, then hurried to his spirit field, eager to plant the black-letter spirit seed in the spirit soil.
He focused his attention on the spirit seed nestled in the shallow layer of spirit soil, and information about it immediately appeared in his mind.
Nine Confucian Scholars' Treasured Tree, a sixth-grade spirit plant. After a great Confucian cultivator sat in meditation and passed away, the literary energy within his body seeped into a spirit plant, condensing into the Nine Confucian Scholars' Treasured Tree spirit seed.
During its growth, the spirit plant requires a rich literary environment and exposure to poetry, literature, and Confucian classics. Once mature, its branches, stems, and leaves can be used to refine Confucian path magical artifacts and treasures, and the spirit fruit it bears can greatly enhance the literary energy within Confucian path cultivators.
When one's belly is filled with poetry and prose, one's aura naturally flourishes!
"A Confucian path spirit plant? I never knew such a spirit plant existed in this world..." Lu Chen was amazed and thrilled by this discovery.
Given his current level of being at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, obtaining a fifth-grade spirit seed would have been a stroke of immense luck. To come across this sixth-grade Nine Confucian Scholars' Treasured Tree was an even greater joy.
"I bet even Brother Lei never guessed that the special spirit seed he had was so incredibly rare," Lu Chen mused.
Despite the spirit seed's rarity, Lu Chen had no thoughts of greed. He knew that once the spirit plant matured, he would be handsomely rewarded, not to mention the appearance of the white light spheres.
Those were the true treasures, far more valuable than the spirit plant itself.
"I thought I was lucky enough to possess the fifth-grade Buddhist spirit plant, the Vajra Bodhi. But now, to obtain a higher-grade and even rarer spirit plant related to the Confucian path... I am truly blessed," Lu Chen couldn't help but smile broadly at the thought.
(End of Chapter)
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