You have successfully cultivated a Tier-2 spiritual plant, "Bloodmelt Flower", with exquisite technique, maximizing its vitality. EXP+1...
You have successfully cultivated a Tier-2 spiritual plant, "Bloodmelt Flower", with exquisite technique, maximizing its vitality. EXP +1...
...
You have successfully cultivated a Tier-2 spiritual plant, "Witherbones Grass", with exquisite technique, maximizing its vitality.EXP+1...
You have successfully cultivated a Tier-2 spiritual plant, "Witherbones Grass", with exquisite technique, maximizing its vitality. EXP +1...
...
System prompts floated before his eyes. Li Ye remained calm and composed, his movements smooth and practiced.
Since Deng Tiancheng's recent visit, even though he still worked in the fields, with his current cultivation, many tasks could now be replaced by spells. There was no need for him to stoop and toil like a mere mortal during his Qi Refining days.
At long last, he had gained a hint of that graceful ease so often associated with the Immortal Dao.
But while Li Ye moved with ease, the group of Qi Refining cultivators watching from a distance without his permission to approach wore uneasy expressions.
Their eyes held a trace of fear as they looked toward the crops.
The Bloodmelt Flower was brilliantly crimson, appearing as though it had been soaked in blood despite being just a seedling. A faint bloody mist wafted from it, and when it touched the formation's barriers, it sizzled with a faint corrosive effect.
The Witherbones Grass, though less striking in appearance, resembled clusters of pale white bones poking from the soil, surrounded by a chilling yin aura.
These weren't your average spiritual plants they looked like dangerously poisonous herbs!
Originally, many had hoped to curry favor with the alliance leader and maybe earn a better position.
But now that he was planting such deadly herbs, what if something went wrong? Wouldn't they be the ones to suffer the consequences?
Not that it mattered this wasn't something they had any say in.
The cultivator who'd sold these herbs to Li Ye only had a few hundred of each, and their condition varied wildly.
It seemed likely they'd been hastily picked from somewhere perhaps looted along with a pill formula from an ancient senior's cave abode.
Just like the other spiritual plants already in the field, these would need careful nurturing and several rounds of propagation before they could fill out a full plot.
"But these poisonous flowers and herbs are much tougher than regular spiritual plants. They don't need daily attention just periodic checks and occasional replenishment…"
Dusting off his hands, Li Ye walked out of the field and adjusted the protective formation covering the two-acre plot.
He then turned his gaze to the group of Qi Refining cultivators watching him nervously from a distance.
"Who among you has the best skill in spiritual plant cultivation?"
They all glanced at one another, but not a single person stepped forward.
Tending normal plants would've been a huge opportunity, but these two were dangerous poisonous, and even fatal.
For Qi Refining cultivators like them, one misstep could mean instant death from Tier-2 toxins!
A chance like this was only valuable if you lived to enjoy it.
Their hesitation caused the steward responsible for managing the Ling Fields on Mount Dengjin to grow anxious.
He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said,
"Reporting to the alliance leader among these cultivators, Niu Hai possesses the deepest knowledge of spiritual plant cultivation. He's nearly reached Tier-2 proficiency!"
As he spoke, he gestured toward a middle-aged man who looked a bit anxious.
Niu Hai wore a conflicted expression but quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Li Ye.
Among the other cultivators, some looked worried for him, others smirked in schadenfreude, and a few even had jealous glints in their eyes.
They had feared the poisonous plants too much to speak up yet now they resented Niu Hai for getting a chance to impress Li Ye.
"Niu Hai, I'll ask you a few questions. Answer them truthfully."
Li Ye swept his gaze across the group, easily reading the mix of emotions. His voice was calm and steady.
Niu Hai immediately responded, "I will answer to the best of my knowledge, sir!"
Li Ye then posed several questions about the care of top-tier Tier-1 and early Tier-2 spiritual plants.
Though Niu Hai was frightened and worried Li Ye might assign him to care for these poisonous crops he dared not hide anything.
He answered each question with all the knowledge he had.
"Your cultivation in this field is indeed approaching Tier-2…"
Li Ye nodded in satisfaction and handed Niu Hai a jade slip.
"This contains care instructions for Bloodmelt Flowers and Witherbones Grass. Study it well."
"These are poisonous plants. You won't need to directly tend to them just observe their condition from outside the formation each day. If anything seems off, report it to me immediately. Consider this an added duty with added compensation."
"But if anything happens due to your negligence, I will hold you accountable."
Niu Hai had initially felt bitter upon receiving the jade slip, unsure if the risks of tending such dangerous plants were worth any benefits.
A few malicious cultivators smirked even wider, their jealousy replaced by glee at what they assumed would be his misfortune.
But when they heard he wouldn't even need to enter the field only monitor it from afar all of them were stunned.
What? A job this easy?!
Joy bloomed on Niu Hai's face. He dropped to his knees and shouted,
"Niu Hai shall not fail the alliance leader's trust!"
Those who'd been laughing at him moments ago could hardly keep their expressions in check their faces were practically twisted.
Li Ye, naturally, didn't bother with these petty squabbles among the spiritual farmers.
After giving a few final instructions to the steward, he drifted away like a cloud, vanishing into the sky.
And Niu Hai was left grinning like a fool, surrounded by a chorus of congratulations some heartfelt, some clearly not.
........
Your bonded Tier−4 spiritual plant - Jianmu Subspecies - Offshoot of the Voidrealm Tree - has grown slightly. Understanding deepened Spiritual essence solidification +0.1%...
Your bonded Tier−4 spiritual plant - Jianmu Subspecies - Offshoot of the Voidrealm Tree - has grown slightly. Understanding deepened Spiritual essence solidification +0.1%...
...
Seated cross-legged beneath the tree, Li Ye savored the fleeting yet profound experience of perceiving all things through the eyes of the Voidrealm Tree as their connection strengthened.
His consciousness soon withdrew, returning to normal.
Li Ye's expression was unreadable.
"Hmm... So even Quan Chaoliang's remnants have been fully digested now?"
He had grown quite accustomed to using Foundation Establishment cultivators as fertilizer feeding them to the Voidrealm Tree to boost its heritage and, in turn, enhance the pace of his spiritual essence solidification.
As his mind stirred, the cultivation power he had long accumulated finally showed signs of tangible progress.
He circulated his mana, summoning two spirit stones into his hands. Pure spiritual energy streamed into him.
Within his dantian, ten droplets of liquid mana quivered faintly. As spiritual energy flowed around them, it transformed gradually, eventually condensing into a new droplet of liquid mana.
"With cultivation now on the right track even without resorting to pills or alchemy this marks true advancement."
A smile of satisfaction appeared on Li Ye's face as he sank back into cultivation, intent on stabilizing this new gain.
....
Several days later.
A humanoid puppet stood tall and straight. Its body bore a vivid red-yellow hue, and every one of its components had clearly been significantly upgraded compared to earlier versions.
A faint, searing heat radiated from within its frame.
"Didn't expect I'd max out the remaining proficiency of puppet crafting to Tier-2 level just by refining my technique without even spending experience points."
Li Ye's gaze lingered on the freshly completed puppet, a sense of accomplishment welling up in his chest.
"With a Foundation Establishment-grade fire beast core at its heart, this puppet will be able to unleash its full strength in the lava palace.
Its structure can also withstand the force of battle formations…"
"Once I upgrade the remaining auxiliary puppet components to Tier-2 as well…
I'll be able to form a team far stronger than before and finally delve deeper into the lava palace!"
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