Chapter 67: For the Century-Long Legacy of the Hundred Grass Hall
Chapter 67: For the Century-Long Legacy of the Hundred Grass Hall
"Cooperation? What could an old coot like me possibly offer in collaboration with you?"
He GuanShi handed over twenty-five spirit stones to Lu Chen and asked curiously.
"There are about twenty to thirty Spirit Planters in the Hundred Grass Hall, which also means there are even more mutated Spirit Plants behind them."
"These Spirit Plants, invaded by aberrant demon insects and polluted by turbid spiritual energy, exhibit all sorts of bizarre symptoms."
Unless we can identify the problem, no matter how much time and energy we spend, we can only watch helplessly as they wither and die from the mutation."
"So, I had a vague idea. Instead of letting them wait for death, I thought it would be better to buy those mutated Spirit Plants from the Spirit Planters at a low price and try to save them."
"I don't know most of the Spirit Planters that Hundred Grass Hall collaborates with, so I was hoping Elder He could act as a bridge and help me acquire those mutated Spirit Plants at a low price."
The thin and elderly man, as the manager of the Hundred Grass Hall, was in charge of acquiring and inspecting various spiritual herbs and plants. He had close ties with both the full-time employed Spirit Planters and those who worked with them freely.
Not to mention, the old man himself was deeply grateful to Lu Chen, and he wanted to take this opportunity to repay him.
"Buy mutated Spirit Plants? I really don't know what you're thinking, coming up with such an absurd idea."
He GuanShi frowned, perplexed as to why Lu Chen would want to actively seek out mutated Spirit Plants when other Spirit Planters avoided them like the plague.
"Are you sure you can control and cure those mutated Spirit Plants? Don't you worry that your own Spirit Plants will be affected, and that buying them will be a loss?"
"I will definitely keep my own Spirit Plants isolated from the mutated ones to prevent any influence."
"As for buying the Spirit Plants at a low price, I'd like to get them for free, but I guess that's unlikely. After all, the Spirit Planters have spent a lot of time and energy cultivating them. Even if they mutate, they still hold on to a glimmer of hope and are unlikely to give them up."
"When it comes to treating mutated Spirit Plants, I can't guarantee a 100% success rate. There's only a certain possibility, but I think we can still make a profit."
Lu Chen explained.
"Helping you to liaise and contact those Spirit Planters is not a problem. Most of them probably want to get rid of the mutated Spirit Plants, and they would naturally be willing to cut their losses if someone buys them at a low price."
"But what do you consider a low price? And what's my cut?"
He GuanShi showed a keen interest and, after looking around, pulled Lu Chen into a corner.
"For the acquisition standard, it's probably about one-tenth of the value of a mature Spirit Plant, with some flexibility depending on the degree of mutation and growth state."
"As for your compensation, we'll calculate it directly based on the quantity. One spirit stone per first-grade Spirit Plant and four spirit stones per second-grade Spirit Plant. How does that sound?"
Lu Chen's primary acquisition targets were first or second-grade mutated Spirit Plants, as he estimated that even in the entire Hundred Grass Hall, there were only a handful of people cultivating third-grade Spirit Plants due to their rarity.
As for Spirit Plants without a grade, their intrinsic value was extremely low, and they didn't offer light sphere rewards. Relying solely on restoring them wouldn't earn many spirit stones, so they weren't within his consideration.
"One or four spirit stones per plant..."
He GuanShi pondered, stroking his chin.
"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony with you, young man. I guarantee to contact and persuade every Spirit Planter in the Hundred Grass Hall."
"It's not really about the few spirit stones, but I'm doing it out of concern for the Spirit Plants in their fields. After all, the Hundred Grass Hall has ownership or priority over those Spirit Plants."
"This concerns the century-long legacy of the Hundred Grass Hall, and we can't afford any negligence.
"Why don't you take a seat here while I go and check if there are any mutated Spirit Plants in the Hall's herb gardens?" He GuanShi suggested, suddenly energized by the prospect of easy spirit stones.
The Hundred Grass Hall owned several herb gardens, one of which was located not far from the hall itself. This particular garden boasted over ten different types of spirit herbs suitable for pill concoction.
Given his loose cooperative relationship with the Hundred Grass Hall, Lu Chen felt it inappropriate to follow He GuanShi into the gardens, so he sat in the main hall, quietly awaiting his return.
A young attendant with a keen eye for spirit herbs promptly served him a cup of steaming spirit tea and a small dish of spirit fruits.
The spirit fruits were the size of fingertips, with a dull purple color and a bumpy surface. They appeared ordinary, but their taste was exceptionally sweet and delicious.
Lu Chen popped them into his mouth one by one, quickly devouring more than half the dish.
In a vast herb garden...
This garden was dozens of times larger than Lu Chen's small courtyard. It boasted a towering peak hundreds of feet tall and a rivulet of spirit energy meandering at its base.
Above the garden, a white spirit energy barrier enveloped the entire area, with strands of spirit energy occasionally flashing across its surface.
The thin, elderly man took out a wooden plaque etched with bizarre talismans. The spirit energy in the barrier immediately converged toward the plaque, and a slit large enough for a person to pass through swiftly appeared as it responded to the plaque's aura.
Seizing the opportunity before the slit closed, He GuanShi sidled into the herb garden.
He scanned the area and soon locked onto a spirit field in the distance.
Three Spirit Planters stood around the field, engaged in a heated discussion, their faces clouded with worry.
"How has the situation been these past two days? Have there been any new cases of mutated Spirit Plants?" He GuanShi inquired as he approached them.
"With the protection of a second-grade peak formation running at full power, no new cases of mutated Spirit Plants have been discovered so far," one of them replied.
"However, this can't go on indefinitely," another added. "Maintaining a second-grade formation day and night to protect such a large herb garden consumes a significant amount of spirit stones."
A slightly plump Spirit Planter stepped forward and spoke up. "What about the mutated Spirit Plants we discovered earlier? Have we found a way to address them?"
He GuanShi nodded. "Those mutated Spirit Plants have been isolated, but the degree of mutation is deepening, and we haven't been able to identify the cause. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, relying purely on luck."
"That's understandable," one of the Spirit Planters said, nodding. "In the past, with the protection of Foundation Establishment cultivators and third-grade formations in the market, we never encountered such situations, so it's difficult to adapt immediately."
"Moreover, the way these demonic insects infiltrate is so bizarre and unpredictable. It's already impressive that we've managed to hold our ground," another added, his expression grave.
"I have a close friend who is also a Spirit Planter; you may know him. He wants to find a way to cure the mutated Spirit Plants, and he's willing to purchase some of the polluted plants at a low price," He GuanShi offered.
The three Spirit Planters' eyes lit up, their faces suddenly alight with interest.
The only reason they hesitated to let go of the mutated Spirit Plants was that they didn't want their previous efforts to go to waste. Now, with the prospect of someone wanting to buy those very plants, even at a low price, they had an additional option to consider.
(End of Chapter)
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