Tantai Chan

For now, the herbal knowledge he had crammed by rote was enough. Wang Yu was just about to report to the Medicine Garden, and it would be good to integrate what he had learned through practice.

If he could bring the Night Concealment Spell to perfection, others would find it difficult to locate him, and he would not end up being ambushed by Mi Shen as he had four days ago.

A gentleman hides his tools upon his person and waits for the right moment to act!

Only by hiding well could he have a future.

After packing his belongings, Wang Yu set out, not to return for another half year.

Steward Tantai's private Medicine Garden was located within Evil God Ward, whose owner was backed by the territory of the Ninth Peak, Evil God Peak.

This branch had no Nascent Soul True Lord. Its strongest cultivator was merely at Peak Core Formation, placing it near the bottom of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect. As a result, the situation in Evil God Ward was rather chaotic; people from the other eight peaks had all established roots here, seeking a share of the spoils.

Tantai Chan belonged to Cold Blood Peak, yet her Medicine Garden had been established in Evil God Ward. This showed just how powerful the Cold Blood branch was. After all, a Medicine Garden was no minor facility—its growth required the absorption of vast amounts of spiritual energy.

They were often built directly atop spirit veins, with various formations set up to simulate the growing environments required by different spirit herbs.

First Tier Spirit Herbs did not have excessively demanding environmental requirements, so they should not be too difficult to tend.

He went straight down the main street, following the task scroll's directions, and only reached the main entrance two hours later.

From the outside, it was simply a large courtyard situated near the outer-middle area of Evil God Ward. The spiritual energy within was exceptionally dense, almost condensing into a thin mist.

Walls two men tall enclosed it on all four sides. Only the gate was built in the form of a ceremonial archway, with soaring eaves and upturned corners, carved with unknown little beasts.

The gate had bat-shaped ring knockers. He lightly rapped them.

The Copper Headed Beast's eyes released two beams of light. Only after they swept over the task scroll in his hand did the gate open in response.

Wang Yu entered at once, and the sight that greeted him was a garden full of spirit herbs.

On the left were First Tier Spirit Herbs—Five Essence Grass, one of the main ingredients for refining Fasting Pills.

On the right were First Tier Spirit Herbs—Bone Strengthening Flowers, one of the main ingredients for refining Body Tempering Pills.

Spirit herbs were not divided into lower, middle, upper, and supreme grades. There were only distinctions such as ordinary, rare, and so on. However, the pills refined from them did have such grades, determined by the Alchemist's skill.

Steward Tantai's Medicine Garden was planted on a large scale, which put Wang Yu considerably at ease. At the very least, it would not be too troublesome.

This was only the front courtyard, yet the two herb fields together already contained over a thousand spirit herbs, worth no small sum.

In the middle stood a Wind Piercing Hall, open from front to back, with only a few curtains of thin gauze and wind chimes hanging within. As the breeze stirred, accompanied by the fragrance of herbs filling the garden, it left one refreshed and relaxed.

Connected to the Wind Piercing Hall was a line of buildings that neatly split the entire Medicine Garden in two. The rear courtyard was divided into four herb fields, planted with comparatively rare spirit herbs.

Yellow Lotus Ganoderma, Cold Ice Nine Leaf Grass, Jade Dragon Orchid... as well as two Second Tier spirit trees—Moonlight Trees. Their fruit, Moonlight Fruit, could both beautify one's complexion and improve the True Essence of Foundation Establishment Cultivators who practiced Yin-Cold Attribute Cultivation Methods.

They bore fruit only once every ten years. Even among Second Tier Spirit Herbs, they counted as rare varieties. Since they were fruit trees, they could produce continuously, making them more valuable than ordinary spirit herbs.

As Wang Yu looked around, his nostrils twitched. Suddenly, a fragrant breeze drifted over from the right. He focused his eyes and looked.

He saw a woman clad in a pale blue, waist-cinching dress, her hair arranged in an exquisite cloud-like bun adorned with a golden dangling hairpin. Between her brows was a fish-shaped forehead ornament set with a blue-green gemstone.

Two strands of floating gauze looped around her arms and shoulders as her long legs swayed toward him.

Her features were delicate, her brows and eyes narrow and long, carrying an unusual air of youthful allure. Only the chill in her eyes seeped straight to the bone.

Though Wang Yu was stunned by her beauty, he was not bewitched by it.

"Ice Snow Tower cultivator Wang Yu greets Senior Tantai."

Tantai Chan gave a slight nod, looking over Wang Yu's white hair and that visibly aged face. The next moment, she could no longer be bothered to look at him.

"Are you confident you can take care of my Medicine Garden?"

Wang Yu nodded, then shook his head.

"Other than these two Moonlight Trees, which I am not confident about, I can tend the rest of the spirit herbs for half a year without issue."

"That makes sense."

When Tantai Chan saw the Black Blood Disciple Token at Wang Yu's waist, she immediately understood. Knowing that he was merely an Outer Disciple, she handed him a Jade Slip.

"It records the methods for tending Moonlight Trees, as well as ways to deal with insect infestations and disease. For the next half year, I must enter seclusion to refine a batch of spirit pills. Whether I emerge early or late, you must ensure that not a shred is missing from the Medicine Garden."

"This disciple accepts the order."

"Very good. The rooms on the right are for you to live in, along with the tools and seeds needed to tend the herb fields. If any spirit herbs mature, remember to harvest them and replant. Begin work today."

"Yes—"

For the following period, Wang Yu became a farmer in the fields, weeding and catching insects, inspecting the fields three times a day. He was nothing if not diligent and responsible.

Tantai Chan observed him for several days. Only after confirming there were no problems did she head to the Secluded Room on the left side of the Wind Piercing Hall to enter seclusion.

Although Wang Yu knew she was an Alchemist, they had no real friendship between them, so it was not appropriate to ask too much. He only needed to work honestly in the fields.

Amid his busy days, he also cultivated diligently.

After all, at this stage, the effect of the Placement Slot could be summed up in four words: diligence makes up for inadequacy. He needed to circulate his cultivation method himself to compress his spiritual power, complete his first Spirit Refining, and improve the quality of his spiritual power.

The difficulty of turning ten into one was no small matter.

After cultivating until his meridians reached their limit and his mind grew weary, he would continue studying the Ice Shield Technique until midnight before sleeping to rest.

When life was fulfilling, time seemed to pass quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the thirty-fifth day of Wang Yu's life as an Outer Disciple. He had been at this private Medicine Garden for a full month.

This day.

The gates of Tantai Medicine Garden were knocked upon. Wang Yu carried his medicinal hoe to open them.

Standing outside was an elegant man in blue robes and a cloud-patterned crown. Two long silver-white beards hung from his temples. Though his face appeared young, he was likely quite advanced in years.

The aura emanating from him was immensely vast to Wang Yu—a Foundation Establishment Stage powerhouse. Wang Yu hurriedly bowed. "Outer Disciple Wang Yu of Cold Blood Peak pays respects to Senior of the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"Rise. You are...?"

"A medicine farmer."

Wang Yu waved his little medicinal hoe a few times. The cloud-crowned cultivator showed a look of realization. "This Seat has business with Junior Sister Tantai. Is Junior Sister at home?"

"Senior Tantai is currently in secluded cultivation, refining pills. She should not be disturbed, and it will be at least half a year before she emerges," Wang Yu answered swiftly.

"In that case, deliver this Invitation Letter to Junior Sister Tantai on This Seat's behalf."

"Yes!"

After watching him leave, Wang Yu shut the gates and looked at the red Invitation Letter in his hand. The date was roughly eight months away.

"Xu's Pill Shop is opening, and they're inviting Senior Tantai to attend the ceremony?"

"Xu's Pill Shop..."

Wang Yu had some thoughts in his heart. He still held a few aspirations toward the Dao of alchemy; otherwise, he would not be working here. He was laying the foundation, after all.

Otherwise, should he use the token worth one thousand Contribution Points to exchange for an Alchemy Inheritance?

After asking himself that question, Wang Yu did not rush to decide.

Learning alchemy was extremely costly. Aside from taking shortcuts with the Placement Slot, he had no capital to study it. He would wait a little longer.

Once his spell cultivation was more or less up to par, he would go exchange for it.