Chapter 54: Revealing the Talent for Spiritual Plants

“Peiyuan Ginseng, a growth-oriented spiritual plant belonging to the Earth element. It thrives in shade and is typically grown under forest canopies. A ten-year specimen is a First-Tier Mid-Grade; fifty years makes it a First-Tier High-Grade; a century reaches First-Tier Peak-Grade; three hundred years makes it Second-Tier Low-Grade; five hundred years is Second-Tier Mid-Grade; eight hundred years is Second-Tier High-Grade; and a millennium reaches Second-Tier Peak-Grade. It is a premium herb for healing and restoring vital essence, and can also serve as an ingredient in longevity pills.”

Lin Donglai had already described seventy or eighty types of spiritual herbs.

He realized that most of them were listed in the *Green Wood Herbal Classic*. This book was located in the Library of the Spiritual Plant Hall and was the very first book Lin Donglai had borrowed; it contained an illustrated guide to over a hundred types of spiritual herbs.

“It seems the questions this time are quite fundamental,” Lin Donglai thought to himself.

In the next moment, a lingzhi mushroom appeared before him. It was a Golden Lingzhi, rooted upon a massive piece of jade marrow, emitting a faint spiritual glow from its entire body.

“Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi, also known as Gold-Jade Lingzhi or Jade-Patterned Golden Lingzhi. It is a spiritual medicine for breaking through barriers and overcoming tribulations, a growth-oriented spiritual plant.”

“To cultivate it, one must collect spores from a Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi aged over three hundred years, nourishing them with jade qi through the element of earth, using the momentum of 'Earth generating Gold' to trigger the germination of the spores.”

“Subsequently, it is planted in Second-Tier spiritual fields covered with Gold Essence Sand and jade marrow to cultivate the mycelium.”

...

This was not something found in the *Green Wood Herbal Classic*; rather, it was one of the treasures recorded in the *Chronicles of Cultivation* when mentioning celestial and earthly spiritual objects.

The Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi was the foremost spiritual medicine for breaking barriers and overcoming tribulations. For instance, the famous Foundation Establishment Pill required this specific Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi with at least three hundred years of maturity as its primary ingredient.

As for the cultivation method, he had seen that in the archives of the Spiritual Plant Hall. However, such information was rarely read by others; after all, most people only looked for First-Tier spiritual grains and herbs, especially during the Immortal Seed period, when they focused solely on First-Tier Low-Grade varieties.

When Lin Donglai was hunkered down in the Spiritual Field Valley, he had passed the time by reading various books and manuscripts out of sheer boredom.

He hadn't expected he would actually be able to guess the exam questions.

After the Jade Marrow Golden Lingzhi, another spiritual herb appeared, but Lin Donglai no longer recognized it; it was already a Second-Tier spiritual herb.

After failing to recognize three in a row, he was ejected from the illusion.

Lin Donglai discovered that he was actually the last one.

The Grand Elder nodded slightly toward Lin Donglai and then announced the results one by one: "Lin Donglai, an outer disciple of the Spiritual Plant Hall, identified seventy-eight types of First-Tier spiritual herbs and two types of Second-Tier spiritual herbs. His descriptions were detailed and substantive. He ranks first."

Nie Caixia’s face turned deathly pale as she stared fixedly at Lin Donglai. "You knew the questions in advance, didn't you!"

Lin Donglai frowned. "Is there something wrong with your brain? How can you say such things? You lack ability yourself, yet you question the fairness?"

He then cupped his hands and said, "This disciple requests a duel with him! He has insulted my integrity!"

"Do not cause trouble!" the Grand Elder of the Spiritual Plant Hall barked. "The questions for this assessment are as simple as can be, the very foundation. The knowledge involved can be found in both Immortal Seed Peak and the Spiritual Plant Hall. It is merely a test of rote memorization and whether one has applied themselves."

Lin Donglai nodded. "The library in the Immortal Seed Peak academy contains illustrated guides for spiritual plants, demonic beasts, and ores; I have read them all."

"The Spiritual Plant Hall archives contain the *Green Wood Herbal Classic*, which serves as a supplement; I have also committed it all to memory."

"As long as one is attentive, this knowledge is naturally not difficult."

Nie Caixia felt like crying. The outer elder he followed had told him that the most important thing was spiritual plant spells—that they were the key metric for judging talent—and, secondly, one's cultivation level.

Because of this, he had worked hard to reach the third level of Qi Refinement and practiced the Spirit-Casting Earth-Shaking Technique diligently, helping that outer elder till two hundred acres of land just to receive guidance.

However, because he was fundamentally intent on "using connections" and "taking shortcuts," he had ended up "taking the long way around."

The Grand Elder waved his hand. "The second item is a competition of spiritual plant spells. You shall each perform one. All the spiritual plants and fields from the previous Jia-Yi Treasure Mirror can be manifested for you!"

In the next moment, a flash of green light pulled Lin Donglai back into an illusion. Before him appeared a pack of seeds that could be freely chosen, a selectable spiritual plant tool, and a spiritual field of the same grade as the seeds. All other items, such as fertilizers, were absent.

This was likely not just a test of spells, but a direct experience of actual planting within the illusion to demonstrate one's ability.

After all, with five different types of planting spells, it would be difficult to judge fairly. Therefore, they would let the participants plant what they were most skilled at to produce the highest quality.

After thinking it over, Lin Donglai decided to take on the challenge. He would not plant a First-Tier Low-Grade herb; he would skip past Mid-Grade and go straight for a First-Tier High-Grade spiritual herb.

Regarding spells, he already possessed the Great Success stage of the Sprouting Gestation Technique and the Minor Success stage of the Dew-Rain Casting Incantation, supplemented by the Great Success stage of the Spiritual Eye Technique. It was more than enough.

As for the spiritual plant tool, Lin Donglai chose the Earth-Shaking Spirit Hoe. Having mastered three out of the five spiritual plant spells, how could he lose?

"Green Chime Flower!"

The Green Chime Flower was a type of creeping vine-like spiritual flower. The vines were covered in scales, mimicking a green snake.

In reality, it had nothing to do with snakes; it merely mimicked them to intimidate other creatures for self-preservation.

When mature, it would bloom with yellow flowers. The entire plant was poisonous, with only the flowers serving as a detoxification medicine.

Lin Donglai immediately began toiling at the soil. After all, this was a valuable way to accumulate experience.

Moreover, Lin Donglai was confident in himself. He wouldn't plant many; two plants would be enough. Planting only one carried the risk of it dying.

Outside, shadows of light flickered by, but they moved extremely fast; the sunrise and sunset within the illusion occurred in just a few breaths.

"He... how bold! He actually challenged himself to plant a First-Tier High-Grade spiritual plant."

"This one is more steady. He is planting the First-Tier Mid-Grade Jihuang Essence. Furthermore, his Spirit-Casting Earth-Shaking Technique has reached Great Success, allowing him to churn the spiritual and earth qi within the field. It is perfectly suited for Jihuang Essence. Combined with the Dew Gourd he chose, whether for seed nurturing or watering, it is all very stable!"

They were talking about Nie Caixia.

But in the next moment, they saw Lin Donglai's side. The vine seedlings were already crawling across the ground, growing incredibly fast. Two vines per acre quickly covered the entire plot, creating a lush green expanse of snake-like vines.

"How is he so fast?"

"He used two spells: one Great Success Sprouting Gestation Technique and one Dew-Rain Casting Incantation."

"For creeping vines, once they touch the ground, they grow roots. He pressed the vines against the ground at the bud points, first using the Dew-Rain Casting Incantation and then the Sprouting Gestation Technique. This rapid guidance allows a single vine to occupy an entire acre. However, he is still being cautious by planting an extra vine."

"An entire acre of spiritual field to nourish a single vine—no wonder!"

"Why did he pinch off the flower buds?"

"The earlier buds lacked sufficient medicinal potency and nutrition. Once the entire acre is covered, he will guide the energy so that each area nourishes only one spiritual flower, ensuring the quality of the flowers reaches the Superior Grade."