The Herb Garden Defense Battle and Senior Brother's Approval

"What the hell! Is there no law anymore?! I just tidied up this dump and made it somewhat presentable, and you vermin show up smelling the scent?" Xuanwei watched the streaks of light, radiating undisguised malice, and felt incredibly angry.

The streaks of light landed, revealing four figures. Leading them was a Thorn Vine Demon that had achieved sentience, covered in sharp thorns and emanating the aura of an early True Immortal. Beside it was a Poison Mushroom Spirit with a mushroom cap for a head. Its cultivation was weaker, but the paralyzing toxic gas surrounding it made it impossible to underestimate. The remaining two were Wolf Demons with mixed auras and fierce eyes, drooling uncontrollably – clearly the muscle.

"Halt! What little thief dares to trespass on our territory!" The Thorn Vine Demon brandished its thorny vine whip, its voice sharp and grating.

Xuanwei was stunned, almost laughing in anger. "Your territory? This medicinal garden has been abandoned for who knows how many years. Is your name written on it?"

The Poison Mushroom Spirit said sinisterly, "Hmph! The spiritual energy in this valley has always been absorbed by us brothers! You've disturbed our cultivation by tidying up the earth veins and drawing spiritual energy here, and you still dare to argue?"

Well, so they were rogue cultivators who were used to occupying mountains and absorbing spiritual energy! Seeing him turn a wasteland into a treasure trove, they wanted to reap the rewards!

"Disturbed your cultivation?" Xuanwei, in his chubby earth-person body (which he'd grudgingly conjured again to maintain appearances), put his hands on his hips, trying his best to look fierce. "I think it's cut off your path of 'free-loading'! This is the back mountain medicinal garden of Golden Ao Island, a Saint's Dojo of the Supreme Pure! Since when did it become your territory? If you know what's good for you, scram! Otherwise, I'll clean house for my master!"

He directly invoked Sect Master Tongtian's banner, hoping to scare them off.

However, the Thorn Vine Demon was clearly either a hothead or thought Xuanwei's cultivation was too low to be a threat. It sneered, "What status do the Saints hold? Why would they care about this desolate corner? Boy, stop trying to bluff us with big talk! Hand over the treasure you used to activate the earth veins, and then give us brothers the right to supply the spiritual energy from this medicinal garden, or today, your wisp of immortal energy will dissipate completely!"

Without waiting for Xuanwei's response, the vine demon swung its thorny whip! The whip's shadow was heavy, carrying the sound of breaking air and a binding force! The Poison Mushroom Spirit beside it also spewed a cloud of pink paralyzing spores, while the two Wolf Demons lunged from the sides with bared teeth!

"Holy crap! No martial ethics! A group attack!" Xuanwei yelped, but his mind quickly calmed down. Although they had numbers, only the vine demon was a True Immortal; the other three were at the Earth Immortal level. Moreover, they didn't seem to have much coordination, fighting purely on instinct.

He didn't dare to meet the attack head-on. His chubby body ducked nimbly, evading the vine whip. At the same time, he opened his mouth (simulating the action) and spewed a stream of pure immortal energy, like a whirlwind, scattering most of the paralyzing spore mist.

Immediately after, he activated the Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body. The yellow light of his temporary body flashed, becoming a bit more robust. He took a claw strike from the left Wolf Demon head-on, emitting a muffled "bang." The Wolf Demon's claw ached from the recoil. Simultaneously, he swung his right "hand," and a prepared block of Wutu Essence, the size of a brick, precisely smacked the right Wolf Demon on the nose!

"Awooo~!" The Wolf Demon cried out in pain, tears streaming down its face, instantly losing its combat effectiveness.

"Tough opponent! Attack together!" The Thorn Vine Demon, seeing one of their own taken down in the first exchange, was both shocked and enraged. It swung its vine whip even more ferociously, and the thorns on its body shot out like flying needles!

The Poison Mushroom Spirit spewed toxic mist again, and the remaining Wolf Demon circled around for a sneak attack from behind.

Xuanwei's pressure increased dramatically! His cultivation was, after all, lower than the vine demon's. His temporary body began to show cracks under the attacks of the vine whip and thorns, and the toxic mist made his consciousness feel hazy.

"No, I need to find a way to break this!" he dodged with difficulty, observing his surroundings. His advantage lay in his pure energy and his stronger control over life force and earth elements!

He suddenly injected most of his immortal energy into the ground beneath his feet, communicating with the part of the earth vein he had just tidied up!

"Earth Vein · Mud Swamp!"

Instantly, the ground within a radius of several feet around him became as muddy and viscous as a swamp! The Thorn Vine Demon's roots, the Poison Mushroom Spirit's mycelia, and the Wolf Demon's claws were instantly trapped, their movements suddenly sluggish!

"Now!" A sharp light flashed in Xuanwei's eyes. Disregarding his own consumption, he pushed the power of the Wutu Source Core to its limit, mixing it with the life-force sword energy of the Supreme Pure Immortal Method (simulated). It transformed into dozens of pale yellow earth spikes, imbued with a sense of weight and sharpness, that suddenly erupted from the mud swamp!

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The Thorn Vine Demon was pierced by several earth spikes, letting out a shrill scream as its demonic energy dispersed. The Poison Mushroom Spirit's cap was pierced, its toxic fluid flowing out. The Wolf Demon fared even worse, being impaled from bottom to top!

The battle ended in a flash. Of the four demons who came looking for trouble, three were dead and one was seriously injured (the one whose nose was smashed).

Xuanwei dispersed his spiritual power. His chubby earth-person body swayed, his energy level dropping directly to 15%. The temporary body was also covered in cracks and almost collapsed. He quickly absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy to recover, feeling lingering fear.

"Damn, fighting a group brawl is exhausting... Luckily, I'm more skilled," he panted, looking at the devastated battlefield. Just as he was about to tidy up, he suddenly sensed something and looked up sharply.

In the sky above the valley, Daoist Duobao's ancient and stern figure had quietly appeared at some point, calmly looking down at him.

Xuanwei's heart tightened. Damn, I got caught red-handed by the disciplinary head while fighting! Will he say I damaged public property? Or that I was too ruthless?

He quickly bowed. "Senior Brother."

Daoist Duobao slowly descended, his gaze sweeping over the demon corpses on the ground, then at the revitalized spiritual field and the few tender, green spirit grass seedlings. Finally, his eyes fell on Xuanwei's damaged earth-person body, his expression complex.

"Calm in the face of danger, good use of terrain, decisive action." Daoist Duobao spoke slowly, his tone still flat, but the sense of scrutiny and rejection seemed to have weakened considerably. "What you said earlier, about tempering spiritual energy control with this method, was not in vain."

Xuanwei was taken aback. Was this... a compliment?

"However, the killing was excessive, harming the harmony of nature." Daoist Duobao changed the subject. "Although my Intercepting Sect accepts all disciples regardless of background, we must also guide them towards goodness, not indiscriminate killing."

"Senior Brother, please understand!" Xuanwei quickly explained, "They attacked first, intending to shatter my spiritual consciousness and seize the medicinal garden! I had no choice but to fight back to protect myself! I couldn't just stand there and let them kill me, could I?"

Daoist Duobao was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, you are not at fault in this matter. Your ability to communicate with the earth veins and draw upon the Wood element spiritual energy to aid in battle the moment you were attacked shows a deep understanding of the Supreme Pure Immortal Method and your own origin, far surpassing ordinary Earth Immortals."

He flicked his finger, and a stream of clear light entered Xuanwei's body. Xuanwei immediately felt his depleted immortal energy rapidly recover, and the cracks in his body healed by more than half. His energy level stabilized at 16%.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Xuanwei said sincerely. This Senior Brother, though outwardly cold, was warm-hearted!

"You have done well in clearing the medicinal garden and cultivating the spirit herbs." Daoist Duobao looked at the spiritual field, a hint of approval, almost imperceptible, finally flashing in his eyes. "It far exceeded my expectations. Now that this matter is concluded, you may use this token to freely enter and exit the medicinal garden. For ordinary spirit grass seeds, you can collect them at the Outer Sect Steward Hall."

Just like that... it was approved? Not only approved, but he was also given procurement authority?

Xuanwei was overjoyed. "Your disciple will surely not fail Senior Brother's trust and will diligently manage the medicinal garden!"

Daoist Duobao nodded slightly, seeming to hesitate before speaking. "In three days, at Yuxu Palace on Kunlun Mountain, my second senior uncle, Primordial Lord of Heaven, will lecture on the Jade Pure Immortal Method. Disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect are all welcome to attend. By the master's decree, disciples of the Intercepting Sect, if they are inclined, are also welcome to attend, to uphold the unity of the Three Pure Ones."

Primordial Lord of Heaven lecturing? Xuanwei's scalp tingled upon hearing this. That venerable one had a strong dislike for him!

"Of course," Daoist Duobao glanced at him meaningfully. "I heard that my second senior uncle will focus on explaining the principles of 'origin and destiny,' and 'fortune and luck' during this lecture. If you feel... your foundation is shallow, you need not go. Peacefully managing the medicinal garden is also cultivation."

Hearing this, Xuanwei's competitive spirit flared up again. This was a goad! It was clearly telling him that Uncle-Master Primordial might use the lecture to put him in his place, and asking if he dared to go?

Go! Why wouldn't he go! At worst, he'd debate him again! It was also a good opportunity to hear the profound mysteries of the Jade Pure Immortal Method. Know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat!

"Senior Brother, your disciple wishes to attend!" Xuanwei puffed out his chest (the chest of his earth-person form). "It will be a good opportunity to listen to Second Uncle-Master's great teachings and broaden my horizons!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Daoist Duobao's eyes, then transformed into a very faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Good. In three days, you will accompany us."

With that, his figure vanished from the spot.

Xuanwei looked at the place where Daoist Duobao had disappeared, stroking (mentally stroking) his non-existent chin.

"Tsk tsk, this senior disciple is quite cunning... testing me and provoking me at the same time," he clicked his tongue. "But at least I got my 'hiring certificate' from him."

He happily looked at the spiritual field that belonged to him, as if he saw countless spiritual herbs waving at him, and countless Intercepting Sect disciples bringing him resources to ask him to accelerate their growth...

"First, I'll get this land completely ready and plant the first batch of spiritual herbs! Then... I'll go to Yuxu Palace and meet that senior uncle Yuanshi!"

Full of energy, he was about to dive back into the great pioneering endeavor when the familiar system notification chimed again:

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully gained the initial recognition of Daoist Duobao, a core disciple of the Intercepting Sect (attitude changed from 'rejection' to 'observation and limited recognition').]

[Main Quest - Stage 1: "Gain the recognition of three core disciples", Progress: (1/3).]

[Reward Issued: Chaos Heaven-Opening Art - Body Tempering Chapter (Prerequisite) unlocked! You can now preliminarily refine your immortal energy origin with chaotic energy, enhancing your origin/lineage potential!]

[New Challenge Triggered: "Listening to the Dao at Yuxu Palace". Please successfully listen to the Dao at Primordial Lord of Heaven's dojo and gain some enlightenment, without being expelled or suppressed. Reward: To be determined based on performance.]

Xuanwei's eyes widened as he looked at the words "Body Tempering Chapter" and "enhancing origin/lineage potential"!

"The Body Tempering Chapter! It's finally here! And it even has this heaven-defying function of enhancing origin/lineage!" He was so excited that his immortal energy rippled. "Even if Yuxu Palace is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, this young master is going to charge in!"

He could already picture the beautiful future where, relying on chaotic body tempering, his origin/lineage would continuously improve, eventually blinding Senior Uncle Yuanshi's titanium alloy dog eyes...

However, he had no idea that his trip to Yuxu Palace would bring him far more than just Primordial Lord of Heaven's "special attention." A greater storm was quietly brewing, targeting him, the "anomaly."