Chapter 56: Consuming the Azure Essence Fruit

Lin Donglai applied his Spiritual Eye technique and observed each of the spiritual plants one by one.

Most of the problems were at the roots, while a small portion were on the leaves.

The issues on the leaves were not so easy to resolve; some had developed reddish-yellow, rust-like spots, some withered directly, and others were infested with tiny insects that were almost invisible to the naked eye.

As for the root issues, some were easy to identify, such as something gnawing at the roots, while others appeared to be rot, though the cause of the decay was difficult to determine.

These required professional lineage and mentorship to be further clarified.

Nevertheless, based on his own experience, Lin Donglai wrote down diagnostic prescriptions for each, and for those he could attempt to treat, he handled them directly.

Even so, Lin Donglai still ranked first, because the others were worse; at the very least, Lin Donglai had read enough books so that even if he couldn't cure them completely, he could treat the symptoms or delay the decline, making his efforts meaningful.

After Elder Zhou Huaying made the announcement, Lin Donglai, the first place winner of the Spiritual Plant Three Trials, received the Azure Essence Fruit in front of everyone. As for a set of spiritual plant artifacts, the Weapon Refining Hall would deliver them directly to Lin Donglai after a period of time.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, Lin Donglai swallowed the Azure Essence Fruit on the spot.

The fruit was actually about the size of a large jujube, entirely the color of green jade, brimming with vitality. The moment Lin Donglai's Jianmu Spiritual Root touched it, a violent surge of longing surged through him.

After entering his stomach, an extremely gentle, cool sensation permeated his body.

Elder Zhou Huaying said, "The human body's spiritual roots are naturally composed of the Five Elements, anchored in the five viscera, though some are extremely weak and others are stronger. The essence of the Azure Essence Fruit's strengthening is to nourish the liver; it not only purifies the Wood Spiritual Root but also provides some benefits to your eyes, though it won't do much for your cultivation level."

Though she said it wouldn't do much, Lin Donglai naturally broke through to the third level of Qi Refinement. This spiritual energy was the energy he had previously stored within his spiritual root.

The spiritual root's seed automatically cultivated and fed back into his body, making it easy to break through to the third level of Qi Refinement, though this did not meet the qualification criteria for a low-grade Five-Element Spiritual Root.

Now, he had just barely reached 240 strands of spiritual energy within his body.

As for the power of the Azure Essence Fruit itself, much like how the life force of previous spiritual herbs and medicines had been absorbed, it was all taken by the Jianmu Spiritual Root.

Jianmu was the King of All Trees, known as the Azure Emperor.

A second pair of leaves grew out, and another drop of green dew condensed in the center of the leaf.

It seemed to be the spiritual essence produced by the Jianmu Spiritual Root as feedback after absorbing the Azure Essence Fruit.

This process did not take long, and Lin Donglai did not need to sit cross-legged to regulate his breathing; everything happened naturally.

Lin Donglai wanted to thank Zhou Huaying, but she had already left.

Xue Hong, Sang Qiao, and Li Yunze came forward first to offer their congratulations.

Lin Donglai responded to them accordingly.

He had originally intended to speak with Huang Yue to make arrangements with the others from the Spirit Field Valley, but he could not resist their enthusiastic hospitality.

"Brother Lin's talent and methods in the Way of Spiritual Plants are truly astonishing!" Xue Hong laughed loudly. "We were watching for a while just now; it was even more exciting than a combat duel!"

Sang Qiao also sighed, "Brother Lin is so amazing! Hehe, in the future, if I want to eat some rare spiritual fruits, I guess I'll have to trouble Brother Lin!"

Li Yunze said, "I will host this time. Junior Sister Jiang, who is receiving you, will also come."

He then said, half-joking and half-seriously, "Junior Brother Xue Hong and Junior Sister Sang Qiao have both entered the service of Inner Sect Elders. Since Junior Brother Lin is the first in this year's spiritual plant competition, the fact that Elder Zhou did not take you as a disciple—could it be that another Elder made arrangements in advance?"

Lin Donglai shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare deceive Senior Brother. This was all thanks to the support of Senior Sister Huang Yue from the Spiritual Plant Hall. Although Senior Sister Huang Yue is a disciple of the Fifth Elder, I have yet to catch the Fifth Elder's eye."

"Is that so? It is a pity; a piece of fine jade like you will surely join the Inner Sect sooner or later," Li Yunze said. "Daze County has suddenly produced three Inner Sect disciples; its luck is truly flourishing."

"It's no wonder. Years ago, the Supreme Elder said that even those with Five-Element Spiritual Root qualifications could break through to enter the sect. If they hadn't made an exception, we might have lost a genius of the Way of Spiritual Plants like Junior Brother Lin."

Xue Hong and Sang Qiao did not catch the underlying meaning, but Lin Donglai keenly sensed Li Yunze's intent.

Two years ago, Li Yunze had been searching for meteorite treasures in Lin Family Town. It was only because he had received a mission from the Supreme Elder that he tested spiritual roots in Lin Family Town.

Xue Hong was not actually considered a local from Lin Family Town; only Lin Donglai and Ding Zhen were locals, and both possessed low-grade Five-Element Spiritual Roots.

However, compared to Ding Zhen, Lin Donglai's performance was much more outstanding.

Perhaps in the eyes of the Supreme Elder, there was little difference between the second and third levels of Qi Refinement.

Regarding the Way of Spiritual Plants, a low-grade Jia Wood Body was not worth investigating.

Many things could be explained with logic and wouldn't be considered out of line, and combined with the Jianmu Spiritual Root's innate ability to obscure heavenly secrets, Lin Donglai was not afraid of facing those at higher levels whom he did not come into direct contact with.

But as the saying goes, the King of Hell is easy to deal with, but the little ghosts are troublesome.

As long as Li Yunze harbored suspicion, it would be a massive risk.

However, Lin Donglai naturally did not let it show. He only showed a look of distress and sighed, "If I truly had such luck, I wouldn't have almost failed to enter the sect and almost died back then."

He shifted the attention by being honest with his Senior Brother: "I am actually a bit worried right now. That Ding Suo, who ranked tenth in the combat duel, has some grievances with me. Even if I am the number one spiritual plant seedling, what good is it? Without the protection of an Inner Sect Elder, I fear my life will be difficult."

Once Lin Donglai said this, Li Yunze and Xue Hong stopped following up.

Instead, Sang Qiao, who was naive, hurriedly asked, "Brother Lin, what happened?"

Lin Donglai then explained the incident from when he first entered the sect, where someone had pushed a person off a cliff, causing them to fall to their death, and clarified his conflict with Ding Suo.

"Although I have no intention of making an enemy of him, he is, after all, a sword cultivator. Setting aside everything else, he only cares about a clear sword heart. If I were unremarkable, it would be fine, but as the number one in spiritual plants, if I happen to catch his eye, I might end up with a miserable fate."

After hearing this, Xue Hong thought for a while. He felt that if it were him, one could be a thief for a thousand days, but one could not guard against a thief for a thousand days. If one had offended someone, even if they were unremarkable at first, the moment they showed even a hint of rising, they would surely be suppressed.

However, no matter how formidable Ding Suo was, he was currently only tenth in the combat duel, while Xue Hong was sixth; there were several ranks between them.

But he certainly wouldn't guarantee someone for no reason. Furthermore, Li Yunze had the highest cultivation here and had proposed this gathering; if he didn't speak, Xue Hong naturally wouldn't either.

Being number one in spiritual plants meant he was only in the Immortal Seed stage. Once past the Immortal Seed stage, without an Elder taking him as a disciple or a background to rely on, it would be very difficult to progress further.

It wasn't worth offending people for him.

That Ding Suo had Water, Fire, and Metal spiritual roots. Although he initially faced the "incompatibility of water and fire" and only practiced Metal-attribute techniques, after the middle stage of Qi Refinement, he began attempting to temper metal with water and fire, practicing both Water and Fire techniques. He had great prospects in the Way of the Sword and even had a chance at Foundation Establishment.

Sang Qiao, however, wanted to fight for justice: "How can that man surnamed Ding be like that?"

Lin Donglai instead held her back from speaking: "Senior Sister Sang, you don't need to stand up for me. I only intend to focus on farming and do not wish to cause trouble for no reason."

"I still have some matters in the Spiritual Plant Hall that I need to ask Senior Sister Huang Yue about, so I won't be joining you. My apologies... Next time, I will host, and I hope you all will grace me with your presence!"

"Eh?" Sang Qiao wanted to say more.

Xue Hong, however, said, "Your own matters are more important, Junior Brother Lin."

Lin Donglai bowed and went to find Huang Yue.

Li Yunze said, "He definitely wants to apprentice under the Fifth Elder of the Spiritual Plant Hall to have a backer, which is why he rushed to find Huang Yue. We can't help him. Come! Let's go to Tiansheng Restaurant! I've already booked the private rooms."

(End of Chapter)