From Hundred Herbs Garden to Samadhi Study House

Su Ling'er's heart pounded. That dark purple evil flower made her thoughts a mess.

What should I do?

What should I do?

Deny it?

Or explain?

Or just turn and run?

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, but she rejected them one by one.

Moreover, in front of Senior Disciple Brother, whose cultivation she couldn't see through, acting so strangely would be no different than accelerating her own death.

The wind in the valley was cold and harsh, pouring into her throat.

I must calm down!

What should I do?

What to do?

Her mind raced, and she suddenly remembered Senior Disciple Brother's earlier praise of her "comprehension."

Since that's the case...

Su Ling'er's spirit stirred. She knew what to do.

Then, with a determined expression, she said to Senior Disciple Brother:

"Senior Disciple Brother, it's not that I dare not, but that I disdain it."

Lin Qingfeng heard his junior disciple sister's words and was somewhat surprised, so he asked:

"Oh? How do you disdain it?"

Su Ling'er looked directly at Senior Disciple Brother, hiding all her timidity and cowardice deep in her heart.

"Senior Disciple Brother has always taught Ling'er that one should not rely on external things, but only seek the supreme Great Dao within oneself. What our Gui Xi Sect seeks is this Dao!

Whether it's the Sword Refining Art or the survival of the fittest, the core is to resist heaven and earth with one's own will.

Although this flower can illuminate the human heart and is extraordinary, it is still an external object in the final analysis."

"How can we cultivators, with our firm Dao hearts, lose the courage to even face our own hearts because of a mere evil flower?

If we must rely on external objects to glimpse ourselves, and our hearts have support, then our Dao will have flaws."

"If I step forward today and let it reveal my fear, then when I overcome that fear in the future, it will be because I overcame it under the guidance of this evil flower, not through my own enlightenment. My Dao heart will no longer be pure.

If I step forward and it reveals nothing, wouldn't that mean this flower is nothing special?

Why should we cultivators waste our energy on such matters?"

"My Inner Demons shall be slain by my own hands!

My fears shall be overcome by my own hands!

My Dao shall be forged by my own steps, one by one!

This, this is the true meaning of 'Shedding Sect' that Ling'er has understood from Senior Disciple Brother's teachings!

Therefore, it's not that I dare not, but that I disdain it!"

As her voice fell, the wind blew gently. Lin Qingfeng looked at her, somewhat surprised.

Damn, what a smooth talker, amazing!

So, she has accepted the Sword Refining Art?

It seems that in the future, when the sect recruits externally, the work of ideological construction and indoctrination will fall solely on junior disciple sister.

What a talent!

He looked at his junior disciple sister and clapped! Clapped! Clapped!

The applause was crisp, causing some passing disciples to glance over.

Seeing that it was Senior Disciple Brother instructing junior disciple sister, they didn't pay much attention, as they had already seen her.

They just hoped that junior disciple sister could contribute more to the sect so that they could go out and explore sooner. Being stuck in the sect for too long wasn't ideal.

"Good! Well said!" Senior Disciple Brother shouted.

Su Ling'er's heart was still in suspense.

Seeing that Senior Disciple Brother's gaze had not left her, she bowed slightly to him, hoping to change the subject.

"Senior Disciple Brother is too kind.

Ling'er's humble opinion is entirely due to Senior Disciple Brother's previous teachings.

If Senior Disciple Brother hadn't guided me all along, allowing Ling'er to constantly gain enlightenment, how could Ling'er have had such awareness? It's all thanks to Senior Disciple Brother."

Su Ling'er seized the opportunity to change the subject:

"This Hundred Herbs Valley is so vast; I imagine there are many more mysterious places. Please, Senior Disciple Brother, could you take me to see them."

Lin Qingfeng nodded; he found his junior sister's words quite insightful.

"Since you have this realization, Senior Disciple Brother won't force you."

He turned around, took a step, and said loudly to his junior sister, "Hurry and catch up. We've seen enough of the scenery here. Inside, there's the 'Samadhi Study House,' which is even more interesting."

"Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother!"

Su Ling'er quickly followed.

However, as she passed by that evil flower, her body instantly tensed up.

But she managed... to get through it.

The two continued walking deeper into the valley.

The further in they went, the denser the spiritual energy became, and the scenery grew more peculiar, exuding a strange aesthetic everywhere.

There were strangely shaped trees and Spiritual Grass that resembled red coral.

In the fields, some areas were being watched over by spirit beasts holding hoes or pitchforks.

Su Ling'er didn't understand what they were doing. Were they letting spirit beasts guard the medicinal fields for them?

That couldn't be right?

She shook her head, unable to figure it out.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the area ahead suddenly opened up.

It was a study house, built from dark red spiritual wood with a somewhat ancient style.

Compared to the vibrant medicinal fields surrounding it, it seemed out of place, possessing a sense of tranquility all its own.

A plaque hung above the door, bearing the four characters "Samadhi Study House."

Su Ling'er saw disciples constantly entering and exiting the study house. Those who went in were chatting and laughing.

However, the disciples who came out had varied expressions; some were beaming with joy, while others were dejected.

They were muttering things like, "Didn't get anything good again this time," which she couldn't quite make out clearly.

Some even walked away cursing.

Su Ling'er curiously 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 meticulously study the principles of herbs and medicine. They can also comprehend the principles of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint."

"Elder Qian, you should have met him.

Our elders are quite capable, so he personally oversees this place, teaching the way of cultivation.

You can even ask him questions about earth, wood, and water element cultivation; he will offer you some guidance."

He glanced at Su Ling'er and continued, "However, even though you have a four-element Pseudo Spiritual Root, at least three elements can be discussed with Elder Qian here.

Elder Qian will sometimes, depending on his mood, teach you some related cultivation methods, techniques, or methods for cultivating spiritual plants."

In essence, it was like a gacha pull; you learned whatever Elder Qian randomly decided to teach you.

"Of course, there are conditions for this, which I'll explain to you later."

Just then, a figure walked over from a small path next to the study house.

The person had messy hair, with a few unknown leaves stuck in it. It was Shen Nong, the creator of that evil flower from before.

He was somewhat of a half-life skill player who enjoyed researching the cultivation of spiritual plants.

He spotted Su Ling'er at a glance.

Yesterday, he had been busy researching new spiritual plants and didn't have time to watch the commotion. Now, his curiosity was finally piqued.

So, he circled Su Ling'er for a long time.

"You're the new junior sister?

Sorry, I was a bit busy yesterday and didn't get a chance to meet you.

I see your bone structure is... ah... poor, your complexion is dark, your aura is chaotic...

Tsk, your aptitude is really quite terrible."

"Sigh, forget it, forget it,"

Shen Nong waved his hand.

"I'll get straight to the point."

He carefully took out a jade box from his embrace.

Opening it, a seed, completely black, lay quietly inside.

This was a new spiritual plant variety he had just researched.

"I have a newly researched 'Mysterious Seed' here."

"Junior Sister, would you like to try planting it yourself?"

"Perhaps... there will be a surprise?"