Dark Green Seed Emerges

Not many disciples participated in the Minor Competition. By evening, Luo Hong had reached the final match, and this time, his opponent was someone unexpected.

"Junior Brother Luo, I've long heard of your reputation. I had only heard before that you were quite talented in spiritual plants, but I never expected you to be so skilled in spells as well. If not for Senior Brother here taking an interest this time, the top spot in today's Minor Competition might really have gone to you."

The speaker was about twenty, handsome and tall, wearing the smug, punchable expression of someone certain of victory and contemptuous of others.

With the rare Wind Spirit Qi swirling around him, Luo Hong would have found it hard not to recognize him.

As this was the final round, many disciples were watching below, and the protective formation did not block sound. Senior Brother Lu's words allowed most of the disciples to recognize Luo Hong's identity.

"So he's Senior Brother Luo from Fanghua Garden. I've been hearing people mention him so often lately, but this is my first time seeing him in person!"

"Senior Brother Luo is so handsome!"

"Senior Brother Luo, this junior brother has a big deal he'd like to discuss with you!"

Listening to the chatter of his fellow disciples, Han Li appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was astonished.

Senior Brother Luo was actually this famous? Could he be among the strongest Qi Refining Stage disciples in the sect?

As he was puzzling over this, Han Li's ears twitched, catching the private conversation of two nearby female disciples.

"Senior Sister, although this Senior Brother Luo has fair skin, his looks are really quite ordinary. Why did you call him handsome?"

"What do you know, you little girl? What use is being good-looking alone? The Fanghua Garden managed by Senior Brother Luo brings him more than three thousand jin of Spirit Grain in profit every year!"

"Ah! Wouldn't that mean more than three hundred Spirit Stones coming in every year? Hehe, now that I've taken a closer look, Senior Brother Luo really is quite handsome."

Han Li froze for a moment. He had originally thought that disciples of major sects were all as generous as Senior Brother Luo. Only now did he realize that Senior Brother Luo was an exception among exceptions.

In the arena, Luo Hong's expression was complicated. He had long anticipated today's scene; it had merely come a little sooner than expected. After all, Fanghua Garden's profits were simply too great, yet it was controlled by a Qi Refining Stage disciple. It was inevitable that it would arouse envy.

Even as a fellow cautious cultivator, Luo Hong could not completely imitate Old Demon Han. He did not possess the Sky Controlling Bottle and had no way to hole up in a Medicine Garden for years at a time.

On the contrary, because of his various research projects, Luo Hong used Spirit Stones far more frequently than ordinary Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. He could not disguise himself and change identities every time he went to the market. If he did so too often, he would surely be exposed, and besides, he did not have that many chances to visit the market.

Thus, after careful consideration, Luo Hong decided to get rich through farming. In any case, no one was keeping his accounts. On the Surface, he earned more than three hundred Spirit Stones a year, but he could spend them as if he had over a thousand.

As for the negative consequences of Doing So, Luo Hong had long prepared countermeasures. His dedicated study of brewing Spirit Wine and refining Secret Patterns onto the Jade Dragon Gourd had not been mere whims.

His goal was to obtain Spirit Wine valuable enough to move a Core Formation stage cultivator. As Long As he could gain Li Huayuan's support, he would no longer need to be overly restrained within Yellow Maple Valley.

This was the same principle behind Old Demon Han abandoning his low profile during the demon sect invasion after becoming Li Huayuan's formal disciple, slaughtering Demon Cultivators on a grand scale in exchange for Ancient Pill Recipes.

One was because of need, while the other was because his strength allowed it.

There is already news from Zhong Weiniang. In half a month, I'll have a chance to meet Li Huayuan. By then, every problem will be easily resolved.

But before that, I need to deal with Senior Brother Lu, who has been pushed out as the vanguard.

Perfect. I'll use him to test the new method I've learned.

The Cultivation World respected strength above all else. If Luo Hong wanted to live peacefully through the coming half-month gap, he had to thoroughly "kill" Senior Brother Lu, this monkey, to warn the others.

"Junior Brother Luo, I don't think there's much point in continuing. Why not surrender early, So As Not To have Senior Brother here lose control later and injure you?"

Senior Brother Lu produced the Green Flood Dragon Banner and gave a crooked smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Lu. Defeating you truly will give this junior brother a bit of a headache."

Luo Hong retorted, produced the Azure Water Pearl, and began layering shields.

Within his divine soul, the three newly inscribed Silver Runes shone brilliantly. The spherical water shield Luo Hong conjured changed from its usual pale blue to a pale green.

The magic power consumption is more than three times that of casting the spell normally, but the weight of the conjured spirit water has increased by about five times. Compared to the increase in power, this expenditure is absolutely worthwhile!

Seeing the actual effect of his new technique, Luo Hong's confidence grew further. Whatever demons or monsters you are, break my Absolute Defense first!

"Hmph! You won't give up until you see the coffin!"

Senior Brother Lu spread his hands, and two curved green Wind Blades immediately formed.

"Take my Green Arc Slash!"

The two green arcs closed in from both sides. Without even looking, Luo Hong cast a Vajra Technique as usual.

After two soft bangs, the two Green Arc Slashes caused only slight ripples on Luo Hong's golden-green water shield. They appeared utterly incapable of shaking it.

"Senior Brother Lu's spells are rather weak."

Luo Hong wanted to test the defensive strength of the golden-green water shield, so he was in no hurry to counterattack.

"You're only relying on a top-grade Magic Artifact! Let me show you the might of my Green Flood Dragon Banner!"

Senior Brother Lu's magic power crazily Poured Into the Green Flood Dragon Banner above his head. Immediately afterward, more than ten green Wind Blades shot forth with howling force. They were incomparably fast, reaching Luo Hong in an instant.

However, compared to before, this attack was merely a quantitative change. The power of each Wind Blade had not increased by much.

The greatest advantage of the Absolute Defense Luo Hong had designed was its ability to rapidly distribute an attack suffered at a single point throughout the entire defensive system. Only an absolutely powerful strike exceeding the carrying limit of the entire defensive system could possibly break through it.

Thus, Luo Hong felt no pressure at all. Instead, he had the leisure to evaluate his magic power consumption.

It took 120 magic power merely to cast it, but if it only has to withstand attacks of this level, maintaining it costs just 20 magic power per shichen. That is completely acceptable.

He had gathered more or less enough data. It was time to strike back.

Luo Hong curled his middle finger, and a dark green water bullet, not even as large as an egg, instantly condensed.

With a snap of his finger, the dark green water bullet tore through the air. It forcefully broke through the Wind Blades' obstruction, pierced Senior Brother Lu's protective green light, and struck his hair crown beneath his horrified gaze!

This sudden turn of events halted Senior Brother Lu's offensive. Soon, the whispers of his fellow disciples below made his face flush red with anger.

"You ambushed me!"

Luo Hong merely smiled and could not be bothered to respond.

What he had cast Just now was indeed the Water Bullet Technique, but after incorporating part of the might of Primordial Heavy Water, the Water Bullet Technique broke through its original magic power carrying constraints. Coupled with the increase in its Base Number of power, it had directly reached the level of an elementary mid-grade spell.

Not only was it highly penetrating, but Luo Hong could cast it instantly just as he could an elementary low-grade spell.

This attack method, which Luo Hong had named [Dark Green Seed], was the greatest gain from his first cultivation of the Jade Talisman Meditation Method!