Chapter 665: The Tiger and Panther Grass
Chapter 665: The Tiger and Panther Grass
The higher-ups in the Chamber of Commerce unanimously approved of Lu Chen's conduct after he became an honorary member.
Lu Chen's expertise in spirit herbs was acknowledged by all, as he successfully identified and appraised numerous mutated and exotic spirit herbs with a higher success rate than the other spirit herb masters in the chamber.
Thus, when the fifth-grade spirit herb in the blessed land encountered a problem, the chamber's higher-ups immediately thought of Lu Chen.
"Very well, then, Fellow Zhang, please take me to that blessed land."
Lu Chen pondered for a moment before replying.
As an honorary member of the Hai Lou Chamber of Commerce, it was his duty to help the chamber with any issues related to spirit herbs. Moreover, this was also an opportunity for him to showcase his profound knowledge in this field, gaining the chamber's trust and acquiring a large number of high-grade spirit seeds.
Having finally grasped an opportunity to cling to a powerful organization like the Sea Sword Sect, Lu Chen was determined to make the most of it.
After making his decision, Lu Chen prepared himself, activated two grand formations, and instructed the grass puppets and the menagerie of spirit beasts to guard the cave abode. Then, he departed with Zhang Jiuzong.
High in the sky, dark winds howled and lightning flashed amidst rumbling thunder. Lu Chen stood on a treasure boat, his expression calm as he observed the strange phenomena outside the spirit energy barrier.
"Fellow Lu, come over and sit. Sample some of the spirit tea I've collected over the years. Although it's not as exquisite as your spirit brews, it has its unique flavor."
The elegant middle-aged cultivator called out to Lu Chen from a short distance away.
"Certainly."
Lu Chen readily agreed and took a sip of the steaming hot tea, rich with spirit energy.
"Mmm, robust and fragrant, with a long-lasting sweetness. It's delightful."
He offered a smile and his evaluation.
"It seems like Fellow Lu hasn't ventured into the high skies much, given your previous behavior."
Zhang Jiuzong asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"That's right. Most of the time, I remain in my cave abode, dedicated to cultivating spirit herbs. Even when I go out, it's just to explore the nearby areas. I've never ventured into the void before."
Lu Chen replied nonchalantly.
"After forming your core, you'll undoubtedly travel to various celestial domains numerous times, and traversing the void will be a necessity."
"The depths of the void are fraught with dangers, the most common being spatial rifts. There are also fierce winds, exotic lightning, and ancient beasts, among other perils. One must be well-prepared."
The elegant middle-aged cultivator spoke in a low voice, detailing the potential hazards lurking in the void.
"However, Fellow Lu need not worry about this trip."
"The chamber's blessed land isn't far from here, and there aren't many dangers along the way. Moreover, my fifth-grade treasure boat will provide ample protection, ensuring your safety."
A hint of pride crept into Zhang Jiuzong's voice as he mentioned the treasure boat beneath their feet.
"I admire your foundation, Fellow Zhang. I wonder how many spirit herbs I'd have to cultivate to possess a treasure boat like this."
Lu Chen's words were sincere.
Indeed, he had not come across a similar reward in the light groups he had opened so far, and it might be a long time before he obtained a high-grade speed-enhancing treasure.
However, Zhang Jiuzong misunderstood his intention and tried to reassure him, "Fellow Lu, there's no need to be anxious. With your expertise in spirit herbs, if you continue to accumulate resources for a few more years, you might be able to purchase a similar treasure boat."
Lu Chen sighed softly, his thoughts drifting to the high-grade spirit herbs required to craft such a boat.
After more than an hour, the treasure boat arrived at a large restriction.
The restriction blended seamlessly with its surroundings, exuding a powerful and dangerous aura. Lu Chen secretly activated his See-Through Pupil Technique but couldn't decipher the intricacies of the restriction, guessing that it was most likely sixth-grade or higher.
"This is the blessed land owned by the Chamber of Commerce."
What greeted their eyes was a grayish world, with shadowy beast silhouettes flashing by from time to time.
"Because it contains countless beast spirits, it is named the Xu Ling Blessed Land."
"The spirits within this blessed land are quite different from ordinary beast spirits. They are more solid in form and generally much stronger. Some have even developed a fair amount of spiritual intelligence."
"The chamber has explored this blessed land for many years but has never found the reason behind these peculiar spirits."
Zhang Jiuzong took out a flying sword and hovered in the low sky.
"Those beast spirits are everywhere, and if we encounter them head-on, they are likely to attack in swarms. Although it wouldn't be difficult to deal with them, it would waste our time, so it's best to avoid them."
Lu Chen nodded in agreement and, like Zhang Jiuzong, rode on his Wind and Thunder Sword, following closely behind.
"Due to the unique nature of this blessed land, some peculiar spirit herbs have gradually emerged, and the problematic spirit herb is one of them."
The two landed gently in a broad valley.
The valley was shrouded in thick gray mist, and from its depths came the occasional howl.
Zhang Jiuzong opened the formation outside the valley and led Lu Chen inside.
They arrived at a pure and lush spirit herb field, and Lu Chen noticed that many spirit herbs were growing there.
In the center were more than ten unusually tall spirit herbs that stood out.
The spirit herbs were entwined with gray grasses as thick as fingers, their twisted forms powerful and bizarre, giving the initial impression of a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, exuding a fierce and aggressive aura.
Without even inspecting them closely, Lu Chen could tell at a glance that the spirit herbs were not in a good state.
Black spots appeared on the gray stems, from which tendrils of black mist escaped, carrying with them a faintly putrid odor.
"This spirit herb is called Tiger and Panther Grass, and it's a fifth-grade herb. During its growth, it needs to absorb the spirits of tiger-like and panther-like beasts. Once mature, it can be refined into high-grade body-tempering pills or used directly for tempering the body.
The chamber has gone to great lengths to gather this many Tiger and Panther Grass plants, and if they all die, the loss would be significant."
Zhang Jiuzong's voice carried a hint of worry as he looked at the somewhat dilapidated Tiger and Panther Grass plants before him.
Lu Chen's face mirrored Zhang Jiuzong's concern. Even in his cave abode, he doubted he had more fifth-grade spirit herbs than what was presented here. It would indeed be a shame if they all perished.
"Lu, my friend, I'm counting on you for these spirit herbs. With your expertise in spirit herbs, I believe you can find the root cause of the problem with these Tiger and Panther Grass plants."
"You give me too much credit, Zhang. I can only promise to do my best, but I can't guarantee that I will definitely find the source of the problem."
Lu Chen replied calmly, his face expressionless.
With his unique ability to inspect the detailed status of spirit herbs, he only needed to go through the process of cultivating the Tiger and Panther Grass to identify the issue. However, he had no intention of revealing this ability just yet.
Firstly, such an ability was so extraordinary that it might arouse suspicion, which could bring him nothing but trouble. Secondly, if he solved the problem too smoothly, it wouldn't showcase his value and expertise.
Just as a locksmith who opens a door in seconds might be seen as a scam by the client, some added difficulty was necessary to demonstrate his worth.
(End of Chapter)
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