Su Ling'er's heart pounded. The dark purple evil flower left her in turmoil.
What should she do?
What was she supposed to do?
Deny it?
Or make an excuse?
Or turn and run?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, only to be rejected one by one.
Besides, making such an unusual move in front of Senior Disciple Brother, whose cultivation she couldn't see through, would be no different from hastening her own death.
The wind in the valley was cold and harsh, catching in her throat.
She had to calm down!
What should she do?
What was she supposed to do?
Her thoughts raced. Then she suddenly remembered Senior Disciple Brother's earlier praise of her "insight."
In that case...
Su Ling'er had a sudden inspiration. She knew what to do.
Then, with a resolute expression, she said to Senior Disciple Brother:
"Senior Disciple Brother, it's not that I don't dare. I simply have no regard for it."
Lin Qingfeng was somewhat surprised to hear his junior sister say this, so he asked:
"Oh? And what do you mean by that?"
Su Ling'er looked straight at Senior Disciple Brother, hiding all her fear and timidity deep within herself.
"Everything Senior Disciple Brother has taught me is the supreme Dao of relying on nothing external and seeking only within oneself. That is the Dao our Gui Xi Sect pursues!
"Whether it's the Sword Refining Art or the idea that the fittest survive and the victor becomes king, the core of both is using one's own will to oppose Heaven and Earth.
"Though this flower can reveal the human heart and is wondrous beyond compare, in the end, it is still an external thing."
"We cultivators have firm Dao hearts. How could we lose the courage to face our true selves just because an evil flower toys with us?
"If we must rely on an external thing to peer into ourselves, then our hearts have something to lean on, and our Dao will be flawed."
"If I step forward today and let it reveal my fear, then even if I overcome that fear someday, I will have done so under the guidance of this evil flower, rather than through my own realization. My Dao heart would no longer be pure.
"If I step forward and it reveals nothing, wouldn't that prove this flower is nothing special after all?
"Why should cultivators like us waste our thoughts on such a thing?"
"My inner demons are for me to cut down with my own hands!
"My fears are for me to overcome with my own hands!
"My Dao is for me to tread, step by step, with my own feet!
"This is the true meaning of the 'Shedding Sect' that I have understood from Senior Disciple Brother's teachings!
"So it's not that I don't dare. I simply have no regard for it!"
When she finished speaking, a gentle breeze passed by. Lin Qingfeng looked at her, somewhat astonished.
Holy crap, this girl really knows how to string a speech together. Damn, that was impressive!
So she's accepted the Sword Refining Art?
Looks like my junior sister will have to handle the ideological groundwork and indoctrination when the sect recruits new disciples in the future.
What a talent!
He looked at his junior sister and clapped.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The crisp applause made some passing disciples glance over.
When they saw Senior Disciple Brother instructing his junior sister, they didn't pay it much mind, since they had already met her.
They just hoped their junior sister would contribute more to the sect so they could go out and explore sooner. Being stuck in the sect all the time wasn't ideal.
"Good! Well said!" Senior Disciple Brother called out.
But Su Ling'er's heart was still hanging in the balance.
She saw that Senior Disciple Brother's gaze hadn't left her, so she bowed slightly, hoping to change the subject.
"Senior Disciple Brother, you flatter me.
"All the little insight I have comes from your earlier teachings.
"If you hadn't guided me every step of the way and helped me reach one realization after another, how could I have achieved such understanding? I owe it all to you, Senior Disciple Brother."
Su Ling'er took the opportunity to change the subject:
"The Hundred Herbs Valley is so vast. I imagine there are even more mysterious places here. I hope you can take me to see them, Senior Disciple Brother."
Lin Qingfeng nodded. He was quite pleased by what his junior sister had said.
"Since you have such an understanding, I won't force you."
He turned around and strode off, calling to his junior sister,
"Come on, keep up. We've seen enough of the scenery here. There's a 'Samadhi Study House' farther in. It's more interesting."
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother!"
Su Ling'er hurried after him.
But as she passed the evil flower, her body tensed up all over again.
Still... she'd made it through.
The two continued farther into the valley.
The deeper they went, the denser the spiritual energy became. The scenery grew increasingly strange, its beauty tinged with an eerie quality.
There were oddly shaped trees, as well as Spiritual Grass that looked like red coral.
In some parts of the fields, spirit beasts stood guard, holding hoes or pitchforks.
Su Ling'er didn't understand what they were doing. Were they having spirit beasts guard the medicinal fields for them?
Surely not?
She shook her head, unable to make sense of it.
After walking for who knew how long, the path opened up ahead.
There stood a study house, built from dark red spiritwood in a somewhat antique style.
Compared with the lush medicinal fields all around it, it seemed out of place, as if it occupied a quiet world of its own.
A plaque hung above the doorway, bearing the words "Samadhi Study House."
Su Ling'er saw disciples constantly coming and going. Those entering were chatting and laughing.
But the disciples who came out wore all sorts of expressions. Some were beaming, while others hung their heads in disappointment.
They were muttering things like, "I didn't draw anything this time either," though she couldn't quite make out what they were saying.
Some even walked along, cursing under their breath.
Curious, Su Ling'er asked, "Senior Disciple Brother, what is this place?"
Lin Qingfeng pointed to the Samadhi Study House and said:
"This is where our sect's disciples study plants and medicinal properties. They can also learn to comprehend the interactions and conflicts among the five elements."
"You've met Elder Qian, haven't you?
"Our elder is very capable, so he's stationed here in person to teach the art of cultivation.
"You can even ask him questions about cultivating in the earth, wood, or water elements, and he'll give you some guidance."
He glanced at Su Ling'er and continued:
"Though you have a four-element Pseudo Spiritual Root, at least three of your elements can still be discussed with Elder Qian here.
"Sometimes, Elder Qian will also teach you related cultivation methods, spells, or ways to grow spirit plants, depending on his mood."
Put simply, it was like drawing a card. You learned whatever Elder Qian happened to teach you.
"Of course, there are conditions. I'll explain them to you later."
Just then, a figure came walking along a narrow path beside the study house.
His hair was a mess, with several unidentified leaves sticking out of it. It was Shen Nong, the creator of the evil flower from earlier.
He was something like a half-time life-sim player, and he loved researching how to grow spirit plants.
He spotted Su Ling'er at once.
Yesterday, he'd been busy researching a new spirit plant and hadn't had time to join the excitement. Now his curiosity was piqued.
So he spent a long while circling Su Ling'er.
"You're the new junior sister?
"Sorry, I was a little busy yesterday and didn't get a chance to meet you.
"Your bones look remarkable... uh... poor, your forehead is shadowed, and your aura is in disarray...
"Tsk, your aptitude is a bit too poor."
"Ah, forget it,"
Shen Nong waved his hand,
"I'll just get straight to the point."
He carefully took a jade box from his robes.
Inside lay a pitch-black seed.
It was a new variety of spirit plant he'd just developed.
"I have a newly developed 'Mysterious Seed' here."
"Junior Sister, would you like to try planting it yourself?"
"Maybe... it'll bring you a surprise?"
Before you continue