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Chapter 856: The Scarlet Flame Peach
Chapter 856: The Scarlet Flame Peach
As the evil intruder loomed, an aura of anxiety and unrest permeated throughout the Star Cave.
Many cultivators that Lu Chen had acquainted himself with were either secluded in closed-door cultivation, enhancing their own abilities, or venturing into secret realms in search of opportunities and treasures, hoping to gain a stronger footing before the arrival of chaos.
Lu Chen, who had been spending his days leisurely tending to his fields within the cave, stood out as a peculiar figure.
"I can't help it. With the light orb around, I can do as I please."
Lu Chen explained with a mischievous smile.
While the cultivators he had invited were all occupied, Wen Qian, who had been manning the shop in the Star Plucking Tower, suddenly paid him a visit.
"Senior, I managed to gather a few high-grade spirit seeds over the past few days. I humbly request your appraisal."
Wen Qian said excitedly, his eyes sparkling as he presented three fiery-red spirit seeds to Lu Chen.
Within each seed, a tiny speck of scarlet flame seemed to flicker, drawing the flame-like veins on the surface of the seeds towards it.
"Oh? How did you come across these?"
Lu Chen inquired, a smile spreading across his face as he examined the seeds.
"I heard from some sources within the Star Plucking Tower about a Core Formation cultivator who was selling these seeds," Wen Qian explained. "Upon further inquiry, I learned that the cultivator belonged to a declining cultivator family that had traditionally specialized in nurturing spirit plants. Out of necessity, they were selling off some of their treasures to sustain their cultivation, including these three Scarlet Flame Peach seeds of the fifth grade."
"I carefully examined the variety and vitality of the spirit seeds and, finding no issues, I purchased them privately."
Wen Qian provided a detailed account of his findings.
"You've done well," Lu Chen praised, his face reflecting his appreciation.
He hadn't expected that his instruction to Wen Qian to study spirit plants would bear fruit so soon.
With Wen Qian's increasing proficiency in spirit plants, he had managed to acquire these fifth-grade spirit seeds.
"It's my honor to be of service to you, Senior," Wen Qian replied respectfully.
As Wen Qian prepared to take his leave, Lu Chen added, "Before you go, see if that Core Formation cultivator is still in the Star Plucking Tower. On my behalf, ask them if they have any seed-nurturing techniques for sale. Assure them that the price will be more than satisfactory."
"I never thought there would be another way to obtain spirit seeds," Lu Chen mused to himself after Wen Qian's departure. "Although the probability of obtaining high-grade spirit seeds is minuscule, the advantage here is that Wen Qian, in a sense, represents me. He is more trusted and less likely to have other intentions."
With the three fiery-red spirit seeds in hand, Lu Chen made his way to an empty spirit field.
With a slight stir of his spiritual sense, the structure of the spirit field's soil subtly shifted, forming three slender fissures.
Placing one of the spirit seeds into a fissure, Lu Chen caused a gentle rain of spiritual energy to fall, permeating the seed.
Focusing his consciousness on the seed, he immediately gained a detailed understanding of it.
Scarlet Flame Peach, fifth-grade spirit plant. During cultivation, the plant absorbs various types of exotic flames. Upon maturity, it bears spirit fruits imbued with abundant fiery spiritual energy. The fruits are extremely delicious and can be used to feed high-grade fire-attributed spirit beasts. When consumed by cultivators, they enhance the speed of cultivating fire-attributed techniques and supernatural abilities. Prolonged ingestion of the fruits gradually transforms one's body into a fiery spiritual body.
"Finally, a new variety of high-grade spirit fruit," Lu Chen couldn't help but exclaim.
Currently, within the cave, the spirit fruits available in large quantities were mainly the Mystical Bewitching Peach, the Ice Flame Fruit, and the Pure Yang Golden Lotus seeds.
While the lotus seeds of the Pure Yang Golden Lotus could be directly consumed, they were valued more for their effects than their taste.
The Scarlet Flame Peach, however, caught Lu Chen's eye with its promise of exquisite flavor.
As for the need for various exotic flames during the fruit's growth, Lu Chen didn't foresee any issues.
A new batch of Ice Glow Grasses had already started to take form. Their long, indigo leaves had wisps of cold air rising from their edges, causing a thin layer of frost to form on the ground of the spirit field.
"My biggest reliance when I'm not in seclusion is these spirit plants," Lu Chen sighed.
The amount of cultivation improvement he could gain from the insight gained from a single batch of Ice Glow Grasses might even surpass what he would achieve after one or two years of seclusion.
How could Lu Chen bear to neglect these beloved spirit plants and focus solely on cultivation?
"I wonder if my cultivation will be able to reach the late Core Formation stage after this batch of Ice Glow Grasses mature," Lu Chen mused.
After tending to all his spirit plants with utmost care, Lu Chen returned to his courtyard.
Half a year passed.
On this day, he was inspecting each and every one of his spirit plants in the spirit field.
"The Yuan Magnet Spirit Tree is about to mature."
Lu Chen's eyes swept over the semi-transparent progress bar below the Yuan Magnet Spirit Tree, a sense of anticipation building within him.
This peculiar sixth-grade spirit plant had been in his possession for several decades, but due to his inability to meet its cultivation requirements, he had not attempted to cultivate it for a long time.
However, after obtaining sufficient Yuan Magnet Spirit Ore, its growth rate had been astonishing, and now it was finally nearing harvest.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Lu, I've finally emerged from seclusion! Prepare some fine spirit brew!"
A loud voice echoed from outside the cave abode.
"Is Fellow Daoist Mu out of seclusion?" Lu Chen asked, a smile tugging at his lips as he appeared outside his cave abode.
"Fellow Daoist Mu, we agreed to eat meat, drink wine, and indulge together. Why did you go into seclusion in secret?" Lu Chen chided playfully as he invited the tall, elderly man into his abode.
Like Lu Chen, Fellow Daoist Mu had given up hope of advancing in cultivation due to his old age when he broke through to the Core Formation stage. Instead, he turned his attention to collecting all sorts of oddities.
Unfazed by Lu Chen's teasing, the elderly man remained composed.
"I had no choice. It's this world that forced me to do so," Fellow Daoist Mu replied.
"I would love to go out and collect treasures every day, but my strength won't allow it," Lu Chen said.
"The evil demons are becoming more rampant. It's not very reassuring to stay in the Star Plucking Tower all the time," Fellow Daoist Mu added.
"So, I decided to grit my teeth and enter seclusion for a few years to refine a divine ability passed down in my family. This way, I can at least improve my strength a little and not be completely helpless if I encounter those evil demons," he explained to Lu Chen.
"It seems that your progress has been quite smooth. I'll have to rely on you even more from now on," Lu Chen said politely, sensing the increase in his companion's strength.
"Of course, of course. My cultivation has improved a bit. But Fellow Daoist Lu, you don't need to worry too much. With your expertise in spirit plants, the Commerce Guild will try their best to keep you out of dangerous situations," Fellow Daoist Mu reassured him.
"That's beyond my control," Lu Chen responded.
"All I can do is stay in my cave abode, cultivate my spirit plants, and if those evil demons dare to trespass into the Star Cave and come knocking on my door..."
"Then I can only rely on this meager strength and my collection of treasures to fight them to the death," Lu Chen said, a hint of helplessness in his expression as he contemplated the likely outcome of such an encounter.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Lu, you're thinking too far ahead. Come, let's drink!" Fellow Daoist Mu said, changing the subject.
"I don't want to think about anything else. Let's just get drunk today!"
"Yes, let's celebrate your emergence from seclusion and the great improvement in your cultivation!" Lu Chen laughed.
(End of Chapter)
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