Chapter 620: The Opportunity of the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Root

Soon, three individuals were chosen. The remaining thirty-three Divine Wood Sect cultivators all descended the mountain, their faces etched with disappointment.

Han Zhiling, Song Huangda, and a former true disciple from the Spirit Plant Department named Pang Xigu, remained in the tea garden. Among the three, Pang Xigu was naturally the most outstanding; his professional expertise far surpassed that of all other Qi Condensation disciples in this group. However, the only concern was Pang Xigu's advanced age; he was already over a hundred. Although full of vigor, his white hair and wrinkled face made Liu Wenbo deeply concerned about how many more years he could continue to work.

"Nephew Pang," Liu Wenbo began, "our Little Nanshan Shop is undertaking a long-term project to find suitable tea trees across the entire Eastern Desolation to brew a new type of wine. This process could take decades, even centuries..." Liu Wenbo had recruited skilled tea tree experts at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion under the pretext of brewing wine. Zhuo Ming did indeed possess a tea tree flower wine, and although its flavor was light, sustained consumption was said to enhance one's mental clarity.

"Elder Liu, please rest assured," Pang Xigu replied. "I also have a son with spiritual roots. Once I become an employee of your shop, I intend to take him with me whenever I go out to search for tea trees. Should I pass away from old age, I hope my son may be permitted to succeed me in my position, thereby granting him a means to earn a living." As Pang Xigu spoke, he also handed Liu Wenbo his son's information: he possessed a four-attribute mixed spiritual root. Though he had gained entry into the Divine Wood Sect through his father's influence, decades of cultivation had only brought him to the fourth level of Qi Condensation, making it virtually impossible for him to achieve Foundation Establishment. With such cultivation and spiritual roots, it was naturally impossible to join the Three Palaces and Seventeen Departments.

"Alright then, you may begin your work. Little Nanshan Shop does not consider cultivation level when recruiting staff; as long as your son is capable, he will eventually be permitted to succeed you in your position." Fortunately, although his son's attribute was unremarkable, his character was tenacious. Having been immersed in spirit plants since childhood, he could be considered to have gained foundational knowledge. If he were to specialize in tea trees in the future, becoming a Rank 7 spirit plant cultivator would not be an issue. However, if he could secure a position at the Da Nanshan Shop, at the very least, he would be able to live out the remainder of his life in comfort. Da Nanshan, already advanced in age, sought employment primarily for the sake of his son. Chen Mobai and Linggen discussed the matter. Upon confirming that Da Nanshan's knowledge of tea trees was among the best in their field, they nodded and granted him an opportunity.

A flash of spiritual light ascended, and a celestial maiden, clad in palace attire with snow-white skin and exquisite beauty, swept across the sky.

"Well..." Consequently, while Elder Liu was meticulously studying the pill formulas, he entrusted the task of extracting dragon vein essence to his disciple.

Han Zhiling's expression shifted as she took the map and token. At that time, Si Shulun, who had gone to pick up his son, also returned to Great Nanshan.

"Given his cultivation level, he should be able to extract one tube of essence in approximately eight months. As this process will undoubtedly impede his cultivation, I will provide him with an additional 40 spirit stones as compensation." Chen Mobai offered Da Nanshan an annual remuneration of 100 high-grade spirit stones, whereas Han Zhiling and Zhuo Ming Xiao, who were tasked with tending to the Green Cicada Spirit Tree, received 60 high-grade spirit stones annually.

The centipede puppet burrowed from the ground halfway up the mountain, continuing its ascent until it was near the summit. Just as it calculated it was almost time to emerge, a colossal surge of earth spiritual energy, which filled it with dread, swept over it. The centipede puppet seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. However, as soon as Luo Yixuan departed, it immediately seized the opportunity to burrow into the ground and make its way towards the mountain peak. This fellow indeed possessed some talent in the art of geomancy.

Linggen imparted the method for extracting dragon vein essence, posing a question to Si Shu Xiao, who immediately nodded in affirmation. Linggen, however, was rather surprised by this, as even the true disciples of the Spirit Vein Department couldn't necessarily master this method in a single attempt. She then proceeded to inquire about some crucial nodes and techniques. Witnessing this scene, Chen Mobai couldn't help but nod slightly. He then proceeded to teach Si Shu Xiao the methods for using spirit-sealing tubes and spirit-condensing talismans. However, Si Shu Xiao appeared to lack proficiency with talismans, only achieving success once after a good number of spirit-condensing talismans were rendered useless. Fortunately, Elder Liu had drawn eighty talismans in one go, a considerable number. Si Shu Xiao spoke, his face brimming with gratitude and tears, but Chen Mobai merely shook his head. Following this, Linggen produced a wooden box and opened it. Inside the box were numerous thumb-sized, palm-long, translucent glass-jade tubes. But to his surprise, Si Shu Xiao remained silent, his face showing a simple honesty as he accepted the other drawing and token Chen Mobai handed him.

After Elder Liu arranged a small formation around the Flying Dragon Pond, the dragon vein spiritual energy ceased to dissipate. Although a small portion of this energy was channeled to the Rank 8 Green Cicada Spirit Tree, the pond remained an invaluable cultivation treasure for Qi Condensation cultivators.

After instructing Da Nanshan to ascend the mountain and bring his son, Chen Mobai then beckoned to Han Zhiling and Zhuo Ming Xiao, who were standing nearby. However, the centipede it consumed today tasted awful, like rotten wood, and was as bland as chewing wax.

She couldn't help but glance at Zhuo Ming Xiao, eager to see what this fellow student, who aspired to become Chen Mobai's disciple, would say.

Wen Ren Xuewei was able to elevate her Earth Attribute to above 80 points; in addition to consuming four Earth Vein Pills, she also cultivated the Earth Gathering Art. The objective was to extract and preserve the dragon vein essence. This was a pill refined by condensing the spiritual energy of both earth veins and dragon veins. After consumption, it could enhance one's Earth Attribute. Each pill provided an increase of between 1 and 5 points. The luckiest individuals could see their Earth Attribute increase by 45 points, while the less fortunate only saw a 9-point increase. Regarding this, the Immortal Sect also had some studies. Some posited it depended on the cultivator's fortune, others on the proportion of dragon vein essence integrated during the pill's refinement, and still others claimed it was related to the profoundness of the civilization that nurtured the dragon vein essence.

Previously, he had considered it almost impossible to raise his Earth Attribute to 80 points, hence he hadn't given it much thought. As a result, his subsequent Myriad Dharma Body automatically refined the Creation Qi into earth-attribute spleen and stomach organs, causing him to miss an opportunity to enhance his Earth Attribute.

This time, taking Linggen out, Si Shulun observed her effortlessly locate two strands of Creation Qi, and his ambition for the Hunyuan Dao Fruit resurfaced within him. After all, the Hunyuan Dao Fruit's assistance in achieving Nascent Soul formation was truly heaven-defying in its efficacy. However, the first time yielded 8 points, and the second yielded 6 points. This indicated that the effectiveness of this Creation Qi, much like other spiritual items he had consumed to enhance his cultivation, would gradually diminish until it had no further effect. This time, however, it could only increase by 6 points. If the effect continued to decay by 2 points each time, then this strand of Creation Qi could only, at most, increase the Earth Attribute by 20 points.

"No, no, thank you immensely, Si Shulun, and thank you, Elder Zhuo. I will certainly instruct him well."

Si Shulun produced a map and another wooden token, handing them to Han Zhiling and instructing her to tend to the Rank 8 Green Cicada Spirit Tree cultivated within the Flying Dragon Pond. As Chen Mobai spoke, he also retrieved a stack of talisman paper from his storage pouch.

"Nephew Song," he began, "your understanding of tea trees can only be described as barely adequate. Yet, do you know why my Junior Sister Zhuo and I selected you?"

"It is also because the Divine Wood Sect was aware of my solitary and unfortunate background and took pity on me."

"Since he is the chief graduate personally selected by Master, I shall assign him the most crucial task. The Flying Dragon Pond, in particular, was breathtakingly beautiful, with scenic lakes and mountains. Compared to Dragon Horn Gully, where Si Shu Xiao was headed — a place where zombies had been interred — the pond was nothing short of a poetic, picturesque immortal realm."

"Now, considering that Zhuo Ming Xiao's task of extracting dragon vein essence would prevent him from focusing on cultivation, I also raised his remuneration to 100 pieces."

Linggen established rules for it: it was forbidden from consuming spiritual plants and their root systems on the ground. However, all other spiritual-energy-infused miscellaneous stones, pests, and the like were designated as its food. It consistently roamed across Da Nanshan and the hundreds of acres of spiritual fields in the vicinity. Indeed, those spiritual-energy-infused pests tasted quite good; they were crunchy and rich in nutrients. The puppet's eyes appeared to be carved from rubies, gleaming with a faint red light. After a subtle, human-like fluctuation emerged, it raised its head and gazed towards the mountain peak.

"Thank you profusely, Si Shulun. I assure you, I will not disappoint you."

The summit of Little Nanshan was the cultivation ground of Elder Chen, Si Shulun, from before he formed his Core. It was rumored that the secret to his remarkably swift cultivation could be discovered there.

Luo Yixuan did not linger in the tea garden; she flew directly to the foot of the mountain, landing beside Linggen. Soon, the two were engaged in cheerful conversation.

Si Shulun's Earth Attribute currently stood at 20 points. The last time Linggen utilized the Myriad Things Thick Virtue Cauldron to extract Creation Qi, he had, out of caution, shunted all that entered his own body into his Myriad Dharma Body. Elder Liu recalled how last time he had claimed forty percent of the Creation Qi, yet it hadn't hindered Linggen's Earth Attribute from still increasing by 8 points. Thus, this time, he brazenly requested one-tenth of those two strands of Creation Qi from Si Shu. After refining one-tenth of the Creation Qi from the Flying Dragon Pond, Elder Liu's Earth Attribute indeed increased by 8 points, just as expected. However, these two instances of refinement also unveiled to Elder Liu the profound secret behind Creation Qi's ability to enhance the Earth Attribute. These strands of Creation Qi were the accumulated essence of mountains and land over countless millennia. Even a mere tenth of them contained the profound and fragmented Earth Dao韵 of that vast expanse, and simply by refining it, one could enhance their attribute. Elder Liu only took one-tenth of the two strands, yet his Earth Attribute successfully increased each time, which served as the best proof.

Thus, he opted for Wen Ren Xuewei's method. This, of course, was also something Elder Liu had specifically instructed. "Nephew Song, have you remembered it?"

But those were minor concerns. This time, while out with Si Shu, he again discovered two strands of Creation Qi. After all, he could still consume four Earth Vein Pills, and even with slightly poorer luck, he could directly use the Creation Qi and Earth Vein Pills to raise his Earth Attribute to over 80 points. The Immortal Sect also possessed numerous methods to enhance the Earth Attribute, but all of them necessitated cultivation. What was particularly interesting was that the degree to which one's Earth Attribute could be enhanced depended on the cultivator's luck.

However, this Earth Vein Pill was a Rank 8 low-grade pill formula. Although he could have asked Zeng Woyou to assist with its refinement, he felt it was also an excellent opportunity to improve his own alchemy skills. Furthermore, he was reluctant for this pill formula to proliferate across the Eastern Desolation. This was because, if cultivators in the Tianhe Realm learned it could enhance their Earth Attribute, given their nature, they would undoubtedly drain all available dragon vein essence to further their own cultivation. Such a short-sighted and unsustainable practice is unacceptable. Now that Linggen could refine Creation Qi, and he was the overlord of the Eastern Desolation, no one dared to object to him extracting dragon vein essence from his own territory to refine pills. Thus, he commenced operations. Linggen, as a geomancer, naturally understood that extracting dragon vein essence would cause the Green Cicada Tea Tree planted above it to become undernourished and consequently drop in grade. And as for the Flying Dragon Pond, because she had obtained a wisp of Creation Qi there and found its scenery utterly charming, she decided to designate the Dragon Horn Gully — a place where zombies had once been buried and which had a less favorable reputation — as the site for extracting the dragon vein essence. However, due to resource scarcity within the Immortal Sect, its refinement had been prohibited eight thousand years prior. Afterward, he made a trip to the Divine Tree Secret Realm, and upon his return, promptly refined one-tenth of the second strand.

"Junior Sister," he said, "I shall take them and depart now. If Master arrives, please report these matters to him." Han Zhiling, standing nearby, seemed on the verge of speaking but hesitated. She appeared to desire that assignment as well, yet, facing the oppressive aura of two Foundation Establishment cultivators, she ultimately dared not voice her thoughts, instead lowering her head sullenly.

After seeing them off, Si Shu picked up his bamboo basket and walked up the mountain. She had not yet finished observing the one mu of newly hybridized spiritual rice.