Three Months Later, Lu Nan's Astonishment

After leaving the Mission Hall, Lu Nan followed the instructions on his Identity Token and headed straight for the Herb Garden.

"This is an important sect site. If you have no business here, leave at once."

Before the Herb Garden's gates, a white-haired old man scrutinized Lu Nan with an unfriendly expression.

Seeing the old man's displeased look, Lu Nan hurriedly pulled out his Mission Token. "Please calm your anger, Senior! This disciple accepted a Herb Garden mission. This is proof from the Mission Hall!"

"You're only at Body Tempering Layer One. Why are you taking missions instead of cultivating properly?"

The old man took the Mission Token and looked him over from head to toe.

Before Lu Nan could speak, he added, "Though with your talent, it really is rather low."

"Follow me!" With that, the old man took the lead into the Herb Garden.

After passing through layers upon layers of formations, a vibrant Spiritual Herb Field appeared before them.

"This is District 9, Class D, which you'll be responsible for from now on."

As he spoke, he tossed Lu Nan a Jade Slip. "The Herb Garden's precautions are all inside. Focus your mind, and you can examine it!"

As soon as his words fell, he had already vanished.

Watching Steward Liu come and go like a ghost, Lu Nan could not help sighing. "When will I be able to come and go so freely too?!"

Lowering his head to inspect the Jade Slip in his hand, he calmed his breath and focused his mind.

A stream of information instantly appeared in his mind. Only after a long while did Lu Nan open his eyes.

"Whew, good thing I didn't act rashly!!"

According to the Jade Slip, the seemingly vibrant Herb Garden before him was covered by no fewer than ten formations of all kinds.

Without the corresponding token, anyone who entered rashly would be crippled at best and killed at worst.

After taking a deep breath, Lu Nan followed the method described in the Jade Slip.

He attached his blood essence to the Mission Token. As a flash of light flickered past,

Lu Nan then strode toward the planting area. Most of the plants there were unfamiliar to him.

Only a few were species whose descriptions he had seen while browsing books in the Book Collection Pavilion.

"I'll have to find time to visit the Book Collection Pavilion again."

Having made up his mind, Lu Nan immediately began the day's work.

"Whew... I finally finished!!!"

As the sun set in the west, Lu Nan finally relaxed.

He glanced over the numerous spiritual plants and followed the information in the Jade Slip.

He arrived at a wooden cabin in the Herb Garden's southwest corner. For the next three months, he would cultivate here.

"Creak..."

Pushing open the door, he looked around.

It was fairly clean. One bed and one table were all the room contained.

Lu Nan did not mind this and shut the door behind him.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he was just about to enter the Mysterious Space

when Steward Liu suddenly came to mind, and he immediately dismissed the idea.

He could not be sure whether Steward Liu was watching him.

If he suddenly vanished, then mysteriously reappeared,

it would surely bring unnecessary trouble. He did not want to die before achieving anything.

With that thought, Lu Nan suppressed the restless stirring in his heart and took out the Qi Condensation Art and Basic Sword Art to study.

"Old Liu, today's work has been completed!!

This disciple's mission term has also ended!"

Hearing this, Steward Liu turned around. When he saw Lu Nan, a smile immediately appeared on his face. "It's you, kid!"

As he spoke, he examined Lu Nan. "Body Tempering Layer Three? That won't do. If this continues,

you might be in trouble during the assessment a year from now."

Lu Nan gave a bitter smile. "It can't be helped. This kid's talent is what it is!"

"Sigh!! Your talent really is..."

At the mention of Lu Nan's talent, Steward Liu also let out a sigh.

Seeing this, Lu Nan chuckled. "Old Liu, I'll go submit the mission first!!!"

With that, he respectfully bowed to him, turned, and left.

"Wait!!!"

Lu Nan halted. The moment he turned back, he saw two streaks of light flying toward him.

His heart leaped, and he instinctively raised his hands to block them.

"These two bottles of Body Tempering Pills are for you!"

Lu Nan froze at those words, then hurriedly reached out to catch them.

As the streaks of light landed in his hands, he looked closely and found that they were indeed two porcelain bottles.

"Old Liu..."

Looking at the empty spot, Lu Nan murmured and gave a respectful bow.

After taking one deep look at the Herb Garden, he turned and rushed toward the Mission Hall.

"Senior Brother, I'm here to submit my mission!!"

"Give me the Mission Token..."

"It's done! The Sect Contribution Points have been transferred to your Identity Token!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!!"

Lu Nan hurriedly picked up his Identity Token to inspect it, infusing it with blood essence.

The number thirty appeared on the back of the token,

meaning that his three-month mission had earned him thirty Sect Contribution Points.

Thinking of everything he had gained over those three months, a smile could not help appearing on Lu Nan's face.

After tidying himself up, he hurried toward his residence.

Before long, he arrived at the residence he had been away from for three months.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Lu Nan sorted through his gains from the past three months.

First, his cultivation had risen to Layer Three. Next, he had acquired quite a few Spiritual Plant Seeds.

Speaking of those seeds, Lu Nan had initially planned to secretly take some from the Herb Garden.

But the moment he made his move, Steward Liu discovered him. Just as Lu Nan's heart was pounding in terror,

Steward Liu generously gave him some instead, saying, "A spiritual plant is only called a spiritual plant once it matures.

Seeds may be hard to come by, but they aren't anything rare."

Fortunately, Lu Nan's target had been seeds. If it had been the spiritual plants themselves,

he might already have been dead by now!

Lastly, there were the Qi Condensation Art and the Basic Sword Art. The Qi Condensation Art had not improved much.

The Basic Sword Art, however, had improved considerably.

But without anything for comparison, Lu Nan had no idea what level he had reached.

Finally, there were the two bottles of Body Tempering Pills Steward Liu had given him before he left.

Looking at the two bottles of pills before him, a fiery glint flashed through Lu Nan's eyes.

"With these two bottles of Body Tempering Pills, I'll definitely break through to Layer Five!!"

On his way back, he had roughly sensed the others.

Most of those who had entered the sect alongside him had auras stronger than his.

There was no need to think about it—they had surely all entered the middle stage. Some might even have reached the late stage.

A sense of urgency rose in his heart. "Today, I'll break through to Layer Five in one vigorous push!!!"

Having made up his mind, Lu Nan immediately began circulating the Qi Condensation Art.

The Body Tempering Pills vanished at an astonishing speed as well. One pill... two pills... one bottle... two bottles.

Who knew how long passed before Lu Nan slowly opened his eyes.

"Layer Five!!! I finally made it!!!"

"It's time to check the Mysterious Space. I haven't gone in for three months—I wonder what that peach tree has become!"

While at the Herb Garden, Lu Nan had never entered it for fear of attracting Steward Liu's attention.

Now that he had returned to his room, he planned to go in.

First, he could plant the Spiritual Plant Seeds he had acquired. Second, he could check on the peach tree's growth.

After probing slightly, a thought crossed his mind, and he vanished from where he stood.

The moment Lu Nan entered the Mysterious Space, he smelled a rich peach fragrance.

He could not help looking up, only for his mouth to suddenly fall open. "Th-this... is this a peach tree???"

Looking at the towering verdant branches and the bright, luscious peaches hanging from them,

Lu Nan stood dumbfounded...