"Bring the elders to excavate it later. This item must not be kept privately. If anything happens, you will bear the consequences yourselves." The Peak Lord glanced at the disciples present, his expression stern, his eyes carrying a faint warning.
Chen Jinshu remained unfazed at his words. This Moon-Devouring Demon Lotus was something she had painstakingly cultivated—why should she hand it over?
She stepped forward leisurely and, like the others, placed her yet-to-be-cultivated spiritual seed into the embroidered pouch before the Peak Lord.
Half a moment later, seeing no one else coming forward, the Peak Lord tallied the seeds. Including the two who had just planted the demon lotus seeds into the spiritual field, there were eight in total.
If these spiritual seeds were successfully cultivated into demon lotuses, it would be a massive blow to Medicine King Peak, potentially affecting the Xuanming Sect's development for years.
Cultivators could not advance without the aid of spiritual pills and materials. Disciples of the sect were issued spiritual pills monthly. If that supply were cut off, it could throw entire peaks into chaos.
"The number is sufficient! The task of cultivating spiritual seeds is meant to support growth—not to cause problems. I hereby promise that each disciple will receive an extra stipend next month as compensation for the fright."
"For those who submitted their seeds and lotuses, I will distribute some spirit stones as compensation." The Peak Lord announced this loudly to the silent disciples.
"Thank you, Peak Lord!" they responded in unison.
Moments later, the Peak Lord dismissed everyone. Those who had possessed the demon lotus seeds, including Chen Jinshu, received two hundred spirit stones in compensation. Though two hundred might not seem like much, for Qi Condensation cultivators like them, it could fund an entire year's worth of cultivation—a sign of how seriously the Peak Lord took the matter.
Soon after, the Peak Lord received a transmission and left in haste, while Chen Jinshu was taken away by her master, Shui Huanmeng.
"This Moon-Devouring Demon Lotus must be kept safe. No outsiders can know of it. When you are close to forming your Golden Core, I can use it to refine a breakthrough pill for you. Though it's about twenty percent less effective than the Sect's official Golden Core Pill, it's still a viable way to ascend."
"Of course, this demon lotus is most effective for refining late Foundation Establishment pills. That's my top recommendation for you." Shui Huanmeng reminded her.
"I understand, Master. But… is the sect's Golden Core Pill really that rare?"
"Rare is an understatement. They are almost impossible to come by. Back then, I fought and defeated twenty elite disciples just to obtain a single one. That's how I became the only female Jīndān Zhēnrén of Medicine King Peak."
Shui Huanmeng's eyes shimmered with a hint of pride. She often reminisced about the time she gave her all to achieve her goal.
"But in recent years, spiritual energy has recovered somewhat, and the sect's materials for refining Golden Core Pills are nearly mature. You must strive to grow stronger in the next few years."
Hearing this, Chen Jinshu couldn't help but feel admiration. Rising above twenty others must have taken tremendous effort.
Indeed, no one's success happens overnight.
She had known the sect's Golden Core Pills were rare. Even on Medicine King Peak, which specialized in alchemy, there were fewer than twenty Golden Core elders.
Although the peak was responsible for refining the pills, they typically received only one or two of them at the end.
Other main peaks needed their share too—just because Medicine King Peak refined them didn't mean they got extras.
Still, they were guaranteed at least one each time. Before long, her master brought her back to Biyi Palace.
Last time, Shui Huanmeng had only taught her a musical cultivation technique, barely touching on other topics. This time, she came bearing new knowledge.
Inside the main hall of Biyi Palace, the two sat facing each other. Chen Jinshu sat upright, ready to listen to her master's teachings.
"Jinshu, have you heard of Spiritual Plant Healers?"
As she lit an incense stick, Shui Huanmeng asked.
"I've heard a little, but I don't know much," Chen Jinshu replied.
Spiritual Plant Healers specialized in treating rare and difficult ailments in spiritual plants. They were even rarer than spiritual beast healers. Almost every spiritual plant cultivator was half a healer, but the two were quite different.
Spiritual plant cultivators could only handle ordinary plant issues. For more complex conditions, specialized healers were required.
"As a sound cultivator, you must be familiar with instruments, and adept at capturing and understanding sound. Sound should become part of your cultivation."
"Diagnosing spiritual plants is another form of listening. You have an affinity with wood—so you must learn to listen to what plants are saying. Learn what they like…"
Shui Huanmeng explained many things, clearly intending for Chen Jinshu to become a Spiritual Plant Healer.
She even passed on a technique called "Pulse Listening through Sound", a method allowing the practitioner to use their hearing to pick up subtle sounds others could not—like the heartbeat, breathing, even stomach sounds of a person…
Or the inner workings of spiritual plants.
"I am a Spiritual Plant Healer myself. Many elders come to me when they can't resolve their plants' ailments. I've earned quite a bit of extra income from that."
"There are many spiritual plant cultivators on Medicine King Peak, but very few healers. As far as I know, only three elders are certified Spiritual Plant Healers."
"That's why this is both a chance for you to enhance your sound cultivation and earn additional income." Shui Huanmeng smiled kindly at her, the meaning behind her words clear.
Chen Jinshu straightened up, taking her words to heart.
Sound cultivation, like regular cultivation, had defined stages: Sound Sensitivity, Entry, Soundwave Shaping, Mastery of Melody, Sound Domain, Sound Deity, and Sound Dao.
She currently hovered between Entry and Soundwave Shaping, able to release soundwaves while playing the zither to channel spiritual energy.
But she was still far from true sound-shaping mastery. Shui Huanmeng must have noticed her disciple had reached a bottleneck and decided to guide her along.
"But I have no experience as a healer," Chen Jinshu admitted.
"No matter. Becoming a Spiritual Plant Healer is not easy. In time, you'll accompany me on house calls. This is a collection of my medical notes over the years. It contains many healing cases for plants. Read it whenever you have the time."
"Thank you, Master!" Chen Jinshu took the notebook. The handwriting was elegant and pleasing to the eye.
"For now, focus on improving your cultivation. If any healing opportunities arise, I'll let you know in advance."
"I happen to have a few ailing Ziyun Ginsengs. Take some time to treat them. Your payment will be the plants themselves."
As she spoke, Shui Huanmeng casually took out several ginseng roots with yellowing leaves and discolored purple tendrils.
"Master, these ginsengs are quite valuable. Are you really offering them to me as payment?"
"They were already marked for disposal. If you can cure them, they're yours."
Chen Jinshu was quietly pleased. Ziyun Ginseng was a primary ingredient in Marrow Cleansing pills. Buying even one at the task hall could cost nearly a hundred spirit stones. Of course, a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't be lacking in them.
"I'll be checking your treatment results. These ginsengs are also your healing exam. The goal is to improve your medical skills."
"I understand!" Chen Jinshu cupped her hands in acknowledgment, feeling a wave of pressure rise in her chest.
This was both an assessment and a sign of high expectation from her master.