Chasing and Racing for Sprouting

"A polite greeting deserves a polite response," Li Jing said with a gentle smile and such courteous words. Qin Haoxuan couldn't afford to be impolite. He immediately smiled back and said, "Senior Brother Li, you're too kind. I appreciate your sentiment, but it's just rooting. It's not worth congratulating me repeatedly or for you to give such a generous gift!"

"What are you saying, Junior Brother Qin! Please, accept this small token of my sincerity. Otherwise, you're looking down on me as your senior brother!" Li Jing said with a smile, placing the exquisitely wrapped gift in his hand on Xu Yu's table. "I heard that these past few days, Junior Brother Qin has been tempering his will and honing his Dao Heart by carrying water. I can't even dream of such perseverance and effort."

Facing Li Jing's praise, Qin Haoxuan merely smiled faintly. He detected a hidden meaning in Li Jing's words and chuckled, "Senior Brother Li, you are too modest."

As they were exchanging pleasantries, a knock sounded at the door. A voice whispered from outside, "Senior Sister Xu, I wish to pledge my allegiance to your faction and serve you diligently."

Seeing no response from inside, the voice quickly added, "Senior Sister Xu, I was previously in Senior Brother Li Jing's faction and got along very well with Senior Brother Murong. Later, when Senior Brother Murong joined you, I thought about it for a long time and decided to come over with him today. I hope Senior Sister Xu will accept me."

His last sentence caused the expressions of the three people inside to freeze. Although Murong Chao had left Li Jing's faction to form a 'Three Musketeers' alliance with Qin Haoxuan and Xu Yu, Li Jing had deliberately ignored this, never mentioning it in front of them to avoid jeopardizing his plans to win over Xu Yu. It was as if he had tacitly acknowledged Murong Chao's defection.

However, the words of the person outside not only made Li Jing look awkward, but even Xu Yu felt embarrassed. Many people usually came to her door to pledge their loyalty, but today, in front of Li Jing, someone from Li Jing's own faction expressed a desire to defect. This made it seem like they were poaching from Li Jing's ranks.

Seeing that Xu Yu did not respond, the person outside said in a low voice, "Then I will come back tomorrow to plead with Senior Sister."

Listening to the sound of him leaving, Li Jing suddenly put on a smile and said, half-jokingly, "Junior Sister Xu's reputation is growing stronger and stronger, and with the strong support of Junior Brother Qin, even I, your senior brother, have to step aside!"

Xu Yu smiled and said nothing, but how could Qin Haoxuan not understand Li Jing's meaning? In that instant, he suddenly understood the purpose of Li Jing's visit. It was definitely because there had been too much gossip lately, and Li Jing could no longer sit still, coming to test his attitude.

Although they were just a small group of three, with Xu Yu, a Supreme Purple Seed, leading the way, Murong Chao, a Gray Seed, assisting, and Qin Haoxuan's formidable reputation outside, coupled with the title of the strongest Weak Seed obtained after twenty days of rooting, their exceptionally formidable trio was gradually increasing their influence in Spirit Field Valley and was highly regarded. Disciples who came to join them were usually rejected.

Zhang Kuang and Li Jing, who had initially dismissed them, were both becoming worried. Li Jing's subordinates repeatedly advised him that the current situation was unstable, with many people in his faction wavering and secretly contacting Qin Haoxuan. If Qin Haoxuan hadn't refused, many people would have already defected along with Murong Chao.

This led to Li Jing's visit to Qin Haoxuan. He hadn't expected to actually run into his own subordinate coming to join their trio.

One had to admit that Li Jing's cultivated demeanor was quite good. Even after this incident, his expression froze for a moment before he regained his confident smile, appearing calm, composed, and unfazed.

Qin Haoxuan could find no trace of any unusual emotion on his face. After organizing his thoughts, he said, "I believe Senior Brother Li also knows that such opportunists are fickle."

Li Jing smiled and nodded, his eyes, filled with confidence, politely fixed on Qin Haoxuan, who was speaking.

Qin Haoxuan paused and continued, "Let me put it this way: neither Xu Yu nor I, nor Murong Chao, have any interest in the position of Sect Master. We have no intention of gathering followers. If we wanted to, we would have done so long ago and wouldn't have waited until now."

"Since Junior Brother Qin is straightforward and has clarified this, I am relieved," Li Jing said with a slight smile, cupping his hands. However, the flicker of doubt in his eyes showed that he did not believe Qin Haoxuan's words.

Even Xu Yu noticed this obvious doubt, so how could Qin Haoxuan not? He also smiled faintly and said, "Xu Yu, Murong Chao, and I get along well due to our similar personalities. Murong Chao is also tired of the constant strife, which is why he has become closer to us. Senior Brother Li also knows that Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang and I have old grievances. If your factions clash, I will absolutely not help them. On the other hand, Senior Brother Li has helped us a lot recently. Please let me know if you need anything, and we will do our best to assist!"

With Qin Haoxuan's assurance, Li Jing felt slightly more at ease. Although he still harbored some suspicion, Qin Haoxuan had gone this far, and further entanglement would be pointless. It was better to form a temporary alliance, at least ensuring that they wouldn't be swayed to Zhang Kuang or Zhang Yang's side.

Don't underestimate their small group of three; their influence and appeal were no less than his own.

"In that case, Li Jing thanks Junior Brother Qin and Junior Sister Xu," Li Jing said, cupping his hands. "It's getting late, I'll take my leave."

"Farewell, Senior Brother Li," Qin Haoxuan replied with a slight bow.

As Li Jing left Xu Yu's room, his peripheral vision caught sight of a dark figure hiding in the corner of the wall quickly departing towards Zhang Kuang's room. It was undoubtedly an informant Zhang Kuang had planted there.

The informant, realizing they had been discovered by Li Jing, ran frantically to Zhang Kuang's room and reported breathlessly, "Boss, I did as you instructed. Xu Yu, Li Jing, and Qin Haoxuan inside didn't say anything. Now Li Jing has left Xu Yu's room. Judging by his expression, they must have reached some agreement."

The voice belonged to the person who had claimed to be from Li Jing's faction and wanted to defect to Xu Yu.

Zhang Kuang, lost in thought, grunted and waved his hand, signaling him to leave. He sneered and muttered to himself, "Li Jing, Li Jing, you finally couldn't hold back."

Ever since news of Qin Haoxuan's rooting spread, busybodies had bestowed upon him the title of the strongest Weak Seed. In the past few days, opportunists who recognized the strength of their 'Three Musketeers' had been flocking to join them. Although they were all rejected, it had still infuriated Zhang Kuang, and Li Jing was filled with worry.

The moment Li Jing entered Xu Yu's room, Zhang Kuang, who had already set up numerous informants there, received the news immediately. To disrupt their relationship, he had a sudden inspiration and sent someone to impersonate a member of Li Jing's faction, claiming to want to defect to Xu Yu.

"Qin Haoxuan, Qin Haoxuan, don't think that just because you're close to Li Jing, I can't deal with you," Zhang Kuang muttered to himself, quite pleased with his actions. However, when his gaze fell upon the character '忍' (endure) carved into the headboard of his bed, his heart trembled slightly, and he thought to himself, Forgive me, I've let hatred control my mind again.

Ever since that night he returned from Hidden Dragon Temple and was enlightened by Sect Master True Lord Huang Long, Zhang Kuang had carved the character '忍' on his headboard as a reminder to endure at all times, whether it was his hatred for Qin Haoxuan or the future struggle for the position of Sect Master against Li Jing. Rashness would lead to nothing significant.

"Even Qin Haoxuan has rooted. I must seize this opportunity to cultivate and sprout before everyone else!" He traced the character 'endure' with his finger, vowing silently. Then, casting aside his hatred, he picked up a book from his bedside table and began to read.

The realization that dawned on Zhang Kuang soon occurred to Li Jing as well. Back in his own room, he also thought about Qin Haoxuan rooting in twenty days. A wave of unease washed over Li Jing. He hadn't felt this uneasy even when Zhang Kuang and Xu Yu rooted.

"I need to hurry up and cultivate. If Zhang Kuang sprouts before me again, I don't know where I'll put my face!" Li Jing sat cross-legged on his bed. Just as he was about to calm his mind and meditate, a strange thought flashed through his mind: What if Qin Haoxuan sprouts before everyone else?

The thought vanished as quickly as it came. Even Li Jing chuckled at himself, Why would I have such a thought? That's completely impossible.

Over the next two days, the two Purple Seed disciples resumed their diligent studies with renewed vigor. The competitive glint in their eyes had faded considerably. This greatly relieved Elder Chu, who had been worried for days. If the two of them only focused on competing and neglected their primary tasks of learning and cultivation, it would be a case of misplaced priorities. Fortunately, both of them had good aptitude and understanding. Now that they had figured this out, it was fine.

At this moment, Elder Chu once again felt a genuine liking for Qin Haoxuan. The appearance of such a Weak Seed could actually motivate the Purple Seeds to cultivate diligently. What a good thing, what a good thing!

Without their secret machinations, Qin Haoxuan had a much quieter two days. After classes at the academy, he would go with Xu Yu and Murong Chao to water the crops in the fields. Watching the corn seedlings grow taller day by day, under their careful tending and the effect of the Spirit Spring land, the corn seedlings in their plot were one-third taller than those of others. The water in the iron vat was also nearly full. Qin Haoxuan felt that he would soon be ready to cause trouble and head to Solitary Confinement Mountain.

As the saying goes, "The tree may wish for stillness, but the wind will not cease." Zhang Kuang and Li Jing, who had been competing with each other, now both fell silent and focused on their studies. From Zhang Yang's perspective, they were afraid of Qin Haoxuan's cultivation catching up to them. Since they couldn't do anything about Qin Haoxuan for the moment, they had temporarily quieted down.

"Heh, still Purple Seeds?" Looking at the diligently studying Zhang Kuang and Li Jing, Zhang Yang scoffed. "Since you two don't have the ability, I'll take on the task of dealing with Qin Haoxuan! It's a good opportunity to curb Qin Haoxuan's arrogance, prove that I'm better than you, and make a name for myself!"

No sooner said than done, since his current strength was far from enough to deal with Qin Haoxuan, Zhang Yang immediately went to find Gu Xiaoyun.

At this moment, Gu Xiaoyun was directing his subordinate to water and fertilize the first-class Spirit Land he had been given. He was holding a spirit incantation, and after casting the Spirit Rain Technique, he then applied the Spirit Infusion Technique to the Spirit Medicine planted in the field.

"Senior Brother Gu is working hard?" Zhang Yang called out with a smile from a distance. "Is there anything Junior Brother can help with?"

Gu Xiaoyun glanced at him sideways, rolled his eyes, and asked, "Can you use the Spirit Rain Technique? Can you apply the Spirit Infusion Technique to my precious Spirit Medicine?"

Zhang Yang shook his head with a wry smile. "My cultivation is still shallow, I can't use these Spirit Techniques yet."

"Then that settles it," Gu Xiaoyun rolled his eyes again and continued to apply the Spirit Infusion Technique to the Spirit Medicine.

Although Zhang Yang felt that Gu Xiaoyun was much colder to him today, he couldn't be bothered to delve into the reason. He sighed regretfully, "What a shame, Senior Brother Gu couldn't exchange for Qin Haoxuan's Spirit Spring land. Otherwise, with Senior Brother's hard work and the effect of the Spirit Spring land, a batch of Spirit Medicine could be harvested soon after planting, and its potency would be much better."

This sentence indeed struck a nerve with Gu Xiaoyun. He, who had been applying spirit infusions to his crops, suddenly jumped up like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, cursing, "Sooner or later, I'll make him regret it deeply."

Zhang Yang shook his head slightly and sighed again, "Senior Brother Gu, you don't know, this Qin Haoxuan is extremely arrogant now. Last time in the classroom, he even publicly declared..."

Stirred up by Zhang Yang's words, Gu Xiaoyun, who had been indifferent just moments ago, immediately interrupted, "What did he declare in the classroom?"