https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-616-The-Nine-Confucian-Scholars-Treasured-Tree/12544786/
Chapter 617: Making a Tiger's Skin into a Banner
Chapter 617: Making a Tiger's Skin into a Banner
However, one problem that stood before Lu Chen was that this Six-Product Nine Confucian Treasure Tree was evidently much more difficult to cultivate.
"A cultured environment... listening to Confucian classics, poetry, and literature..."
"Could it be that I need to plant it near a cultivation academy? That way, both conditions would be met."
Lu Chen thought to himself, quickly dismissing the idea.
"Perhaps I can find a way to obtain some related treasures to create a cultured spiritual energy environment. As for the Confucian classics, I can hire a Confucian Dao cultivator to practice nearby."
He knew he wasn't cut out for studying the Confucian path, so he had to think of another way.
"Another Six-Product spirit plant..."
It took a while for his heart to calm down.
Having collected spirit plants for many years, he currently had only a handful of Six-Product spirit plants in his cave abode, which showed how rare they were.
Unexpectedly, he had obtained one so casually today; it was indeed a pleasant surprise.
However, fate had its plans, and this Nine Confucian Treasure Tree was extremely rare. If Lu Chen hadn't displayed his consummate skill in spirit plant cultivation earlier, he wouldn't have attracted Lei Zheng's attention and thus been given the spirit seed.
He hesitated for a moment but eventually planted the black-lettered spirit seed in the Earth spirit soil.
Even though he couldn't meet its growth conditions yet, the pure and rich spiritual energy environment, coupled with his careful care, would be enough to sustain the spirit seed's vitality.
After planting the Nine Confucian Treasure Tree, Lu Chen continued his inspection in the spirit fields.
The Ice Fireflies Grass, which had been planted for some time, had already taken root and sprouted. The tender sprouts glowed with a deep blue light, and one could feel the chill from a distance.
On the surface of the spirit soil near the spirit plant, a thin layer of frost had formed. Rather than giving off a sense of gloom and death, the frost seemed to accentuate the vibrant vitality of the young sprouts.
Lu Chen dared not neglect these Ice Fireflies Grass at all, as his hopes for advancing to the Golden Core realm and further improving his cultivation afterward rested on them.
After inspecting all the spirit plants in the fields, he returned to the courtyard.
With Lei Zheng's reminder, he intended to stay put in his cave abode for the time being and raised the alert status of his cave abode to the highest level, with the Void Nightmare patrolling within a radius of several dozen li, taking the cave abode as the center.
Even his previous idea of trading a Five-Product treasure for spirit stones was abandoned.
He planned to wait until he broke through to the Golden Core realm before trading away the Five-Product treasures he didn't need, as that would be a safer option.
One day, as he was playing with the chubby bird, a deep voice suddenly came from outside the cave abode.
"Is Fellow Daoist in the cave abode? We are the patrol cultivators from Tianxing Cave. Recently, Leihuodong Cave hasn't been very peaceful, so we're here to inspect each cave abode."
Upon hearing this, Lu Chen quickly went out to greet them.
As soon as he stepped out of the cave abode, he saw four cultivators standing quietly outside the formation.
The leader was a black-robed youth with a steady demeanor. With a quick sweep of his spiritual sense, Lu Chen immediately discovered that the youth had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm.
The other three wore custom-made armor adorned with intricate talismans, clearly no ordinary items.
All three of them had perfected their Foundation Establishment, standing in a triangular formation and faintly exuding the aura of an array.
"Greetings, Senior, and greetings to the three Fellow Daoists," Lu Chen said respectfully.
"You must be Fellow Daoist Lu," the black-robed youth said. "I am Shen Mingcheng, and I have been ordered by the Star Master to lead these three Fellow Daoists on a patrol of Leihuodong Cave."
"Please allow me to inspect your cave abode, Fellow Daoist Lu, to ensure that no evil creatures or heretical cultivators have intruded and contaminated your physical body without your knowledge.
"There's nothing unusual," Shen Mingcheng said to Lu Chen.
"May I ask if Fellow Daoist Lu is willing to let us inspect your cave abode?" Although no sinister aura was detected on Lu Chen, the Tianxing Cave patrol cultivators wanted to conduct a thorough search to be thorough.
"I'm afraid I cannot agree to that," Lu Chen replied firmly. "There are some secrets in my cave abode that I prefer to keep private, and I strongly dislike others prying into my life. I hope you can understand."
"Here are a few bottles of Jade Purifying Spirit Dew as a token of my appreciation for your hard work and dedication in patrolling, Senior and Fellow Daoists."
"This spirit brew has a delightful flavor. Star Master Qi Wuhedng couldn't stop praising it after tasting it."
Lu Chen presented the Jade Purifying Spirit Dew to the group, naturally bringing up Qi Wuhedng's name.
There were simply too many high-grade spirit plants in his cave abode, as well as some unorthodox ones that weren't meant to be seen. He didn't want word of them to spread.
"Do you know Star Master Qi?"
As expected, the calm youth's attention was completely captured by Qi Wuhedng's name.
"I wouldn't say we're very familiar, but recently I helped Star Master Qi resolve an issue with one of his spiritual beasts." Lu Chen smiled as he spoke.
"So, you're the spiritual herbologist who cured Star Master Qi's Thunderwing Bird spiritual beast." Shen Mingcheng looked enlightened, and his gaze toward Lu Chen immediately became more amiable.
He had heard about Qi Wuhedng's spiritual beast and knew that a long-standing problem had been resolved, but he didn't know who had done it.
Unexpectedly, he had encountered the very person responsible here.
Qi Wuhedng's cultivation was slightly higher than his, and his status was also much more exalted. Naturally, he would look favorably upon Lu Chen for being able to assist a star master at the middle stage of the Golden Core realm.
"That spiritual beast has accompanied Star Master Qi for many years, and they share a deep bond. I admire your ability to help Star Master Qi with his dilemma."
"It was just a stroke of luck," Lu Chen humbly replied.
"Then, I must thank you for this spirit brew, Fellow Daoist Lu. I shall savor it properly when I return," Shen Mingcheng said with a smile.
After accepting Lu Chen's gift of the Jade Purifying Spirit Dew and learning about his extraordinary connection to Star Master Qi Wuhedng, the calm youth no longer mentioned entering the cave abode for an inspection.
"If you discover anything unusual, Fellow Daoist Lu, please don't hesitate to call for me. I'll be patrolling this area for the foreseeable future."
Before leaving, Shen Mingcheng gave Lu Chen a communication talisman.
Lu Chen expressed his gratitude and saw them off until their figures completely disappeared from view. Only then did he return to his cave abode.
"It's a good thing I didn't let them inspect my cave abode. It would have been difficult to explain away the presence of so many high-grade spirit plants, not to mention those unorthodox ones."
"They might have even been tempted by greed, considering the immense value of those spirit plants. Additionally, spiritual herbologists are generally perceived as weaker in combat compared to cultivators of the same level, which could further increase the likelihood of arousing greed."
Lu Chen secretly sighed in relief. He had first bribed them with small favors and then invoked Star Master Qi Wuhedng's name to deter them from entering his cave abode.
(End of Chapter)
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