Chapter 666: The Mystical Treant
Chapter 666: The Mystical Treant
Lu Chen approached a tiger-shaped spirit herb and crouched down, carefully scanning the black spots on its surface with his spiritual sense.
As expected, even with his extensive knowledge of spirit herb manuals and countless years of cultivation, he couldn't identify the origin of these peculiar spots.
Without rushing to use his unique ability, Lu Chen furrowed his brows, alternating between scrutinizing the varying depths of the black spots and pondering deeply beside the spirit herb.
"Have you discovered anything, Fellow Lu?" Zhang Jiuzong asked impatiently.
"I have a slight inkling," Lu Chen slowly replied as he stood up. "I seem to recall seeing something similar in a rare manual, but I need to examine it further to confirm if it's the same condition."
"That's reassuring. Please, Fellow Lu, we are counting on you to resolve the issue with the Tiger-Panther Grass. Don't hesitate to ask if there's anything you need from me," Zhang Jiuzong said, his attitude softening slightly upon hearing Lu Chen's response.
Lu Chen nodded gently and continued to inspect the other Tiger-Panther Grass plants.
Just then, spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from outside the herb field, announcing the arrival of a sharp-looking, slender cultivator accompanied by a peculiar-looking fellow.
"Fellow Zhang, I didn't expect to find you here at the blessed land," the slender cultivator remarked.
"Is this the guest spirit herb master, Fellow Lu Chen, whom you specially invited?" he asked, his spiritual sense sweeping over Lu Chen with a hint of coldness in his voice.
"Indeed. Fellow Lu has been examining the Tiger-Panther Grass and has gained some understanding of the situation," Zhang Jiuzong quickly explained.
"Let's not waste any more time," the slender cultivator named Han Song urged. "With Wood Elder present, we can easily identify the problem with the Tiger-Panther Grass." There was a hint of disdain in his voice as he addressed Lu Chen.
"Is that Wood Elder from the Wood Mystical Realm?" Zhang Jiuzong asked, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.
"Indeed. The Tiger-Panther Grass matter is of great importance, so I made a special trip to the Wood Mystical Realm to invite Elder Wood," Han Song said proudly.
Lu Chen stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the group.
"Fellow Zhang, who are these two?" Lu Chen inquired.
"The one speaking is Han Song, one of the high-ranking members of the chamber of commerce. He usually stays in other realms, so it's rare to see him here. Our cultivations are on par," Zhang Jiuzong introduced.
"And the one hiding his figure is the Wood Elder that Han Song mentioned—the guardian treant of the Mu family, who has been with them for thousands of years. He's a powerful sixth-grade mystical beast with an unparalleled wood-based talent, capable of understanding the spirit of plants and controlling most spirit herbs," Zhang Jiuzong continued.
"With Elder Wood's talent, he is naturally the first choice to solve the Tiger-Panther Grass problem. However, he usually remains in the Wood Mystical Realm and rarely ventures out. I'm surprised that Han Song managed to invite him here," Zhang Jiuzong added.
"But Fellow Lu, you don't need to worry. Just proceed with your usual inspection of the Tiger-Panther Grass. With me here, any achievements will still be credited to you," Zhang Jiuzong assured Lu Chen through a sound transmission, emphasizing the last sentence to encourage Lu Chen to showcase his abilities without worry.
Lu Chen subtly nodded in understanding.
Just then, Han Song's sharp voice rang out. "Fellow Lu, have you found anything? If not, let's leave it to Elder Wood."
Lu Chen's heart stirred with displeasure, and he was about to retort when the peculiar cultivator hidden within the large black robe revealed himself and waved his hand, interrupting Lu Chen.
"It's fine. Let Fellow Lu examine the Tiger-Panther Grass with me," the treant said. His voice was slow and rough, as if his throat were blocked by wood, creating a raspy sound.
"Are you Guest Executive Lu Chen? I've heard Wood Junior mention you before; it's nice to finally meet you," the treant said, its vague features softening as it addressed Lu Chen.
"Wood Junior?" Lu Chen asked, his brow furrowing as the image of the eccentric Wood Daoist from the Chamber of Commerce popped into his mind.
He had heard that the Daoist came from one of the chamber's major families, but he hadn't realized the extent of the connection until now. It seemed that this sixth-grade mystical beast before him was no small acquaintance of the Wood Daoist.
"It's an honor to meet you, Elder Wood," Lu Chen replied politely, bowing slightly. While the treant's cultivation was only slightly higher than his own, it had undoubtedly lived for countless more years, earning it a high level of respect within the chamber.
"Please, no need for formalities, Fellow Lu. Let's work together to address the issue with these Tiger-Panther Grass plants," the treant said gently, moving towards several of the afflicted plants.
Lu Chen watched as specks of green light appeared on the treant's body, exuding a powerful and vibrant life force. These lights seemed like tiny sprites as they naturally merged with the black spots on the Tiger-Panther Grass.
The grass responded by releasing a surge of grass and wood spiritual energy, gently swaying towards the treant as if in greeting.
After a moment, a dazzling display of green lights, like a starry sky, burst forth from the black spots on the Tiger-Panther Grass. However, unlike before, these lights were now intertwined with faint traces of black mist, visible only to those with keen spiritual senses like the four cultivators present.
"Elder Wood, have you discovered anything? Can you pinpoint the cause of the Tiger-Panther Grass's condition?" Han Song asked eagerly, seeing that the treant had opened its eyes.
Having gone to great lengths to bring this sixth-grade mystical beast from another realm, he was anxious to know if the treant could resolve the issue with the grass.
"It appears to be a unique form of blight caused by some strange entity," the treant replied. "This entity is nearly invisible and colorless, unlike common pests or malevolent spirits."
Its vague features took on a thoughtful expression as it continued to study the grass.
"Elder Wood, can you determine the nature of the entity that has invaded the Tiger-Panther Grass?" The slender cultivator asked, a sense of foreboding growing in his heart. He took a deep breath and posed the question, hoping for some insight.
"I'm afraid I have no leads at the moment," the treant admitted. "It seems to be an extremely rare entity, and the grass itself cannot provide more information. We will have to experiment to find a solution."
As expected, the black-green treant shook its head.
"It's already impressive that we've discovered this much. At least now we can rule out some incorrect answers and have a direction to work towards," Zhang Jiuzong said, trying to lift Han Song's spirits.
Having pinned their hopes on the treant, he felt his confidence in Lu Chen waver as well. After all, Lu Chen's strength and talent with spirit plants were even lower than the treant's.
"Well, since we're here, we might as well give it a try," Han Song thought to himself, turning to Lu Chen.
"Fellow Lu, would you mind taking another look at these Tiger-Panther Grass plants?" he asked.
"Of course," Lu Chen replied softly, stepping forward.
(End of Chapter)
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