Upon hearing this, the newly recruited outer disciples around them exchanged glances, none of them willing to step forward.
Managing the Herb Garden sounds like a leisurely job, but it is actually one of the most tedious and cumbersome tasks in the outer sect. Not only do you have to water the spiritual fields regularly every day, remove insects and weeds, and protect the spiritual herbs from being eaten by birds and beasts, but you also have to endure the remoteness and loneliness of the Herb Garden.
It's far less prestigious than joining the Law Enforcement Hall, and even less glamorous than being accepted as a personal disciple by an elder.
Moreover, spiritual herbs are delicate and precious. If they wither and are damaged by the slightest carelessness, the sect will punish them. Naturally, none of the proud and ambitious young cultivators who wanted to make a name for themselves as soon as possible were willing to take on such a difficult task.
For a moment, the square fell silent. Everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, avoiding the gaze of the female cultivator in green robes, afraid of being called out by name.
The female cultivator frowned slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She was originally a disciple in charge of the Herb Garden, and she had come here to select a few honest and dutiful newcomers to manage the Herb Garden, but she did not expect that no one was willing to take the job.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, a calm and gentle voice slowly rang out from the edge of the crowd.
"I can."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the boy, dressed in tattered clothes and the one who had been looked down upon by everyone earlier, slowly walking out from the crowd.
Luo Chuan agreed, and the reason was simple.
The Herb Garden is located deep within the Yuntian Sect, secluded and tranquil, far from the hustle and bustle. It is conveniently located near the quiet courtyard where the female cultivator who was nurturing Xue'er's remnant soul resides. It is the perfect place to stay in the sect peacefully while also being able to protect her nearby.
The female cultivator in the green robe was slightly taken aback. She looked Luo Chuan up and down and saw that although his clothes were shabby, his eyes were clean and clear, and he was calm, composed, and not arrogant or impatient. He was much more pleasing to the eye than the timid disciples beside him, and she immediately felt more approval for him.
She nodded slightly and asked in a gentle voice, "What's your name? Now that you've agreed, you must be conscientious and responsible, and not slack off."
Luo Chuan lowered his eyes, his tone calm and even, and slowly uttered the name he had just changed. "Disciple Lin Mu."
The female cultivator noted down the name, waved her hand, and said, "Come with me. From now on, you will be on duty in the Herb Garden. I will teach you the basic methods of cultivation. You will receive a low-grade spirit stone and spirit rice every month. If you work diligently, the sect will not mistreat you."
"Yes."
Luo Chuan bowed slightly and followed behind the female cultivator in the green robe, slowly walking towards the Herb Garden deep within the Yuntian Sect.
After about half a day, the female cultivator in the green robe led Luo Chuan to the Herb Garden on the back mountain, but still wanted to ask for his opinion.
" Lin Mu, I'm giving you two choices. First, follow me to cultivate immortal arts; second, stay here and look after the Herb Garden."
Luo Chuan glanced at the abundant spiritual energy in the area, cupped his hands, and replied, "This disciple is dull-witted and probably not suited for cultivating immortality. I should stay here and look after the Herb Garden."
Upon hearing this, the female cultivator in the green robe raised an eyebrow and looked at Luo Chuan with a face full of surprise. After all, in this world, no one could resist the temptation of cultivating immortality.
The little guy in front of her actually refused, and instead wanted to look after the Herb Garden, which naturally surprised her.
The female cultivator in the green robe waved her right hand forward, and some pills and cultivation techniques appeared in front of Luo Chuan. She said softly, "Since that's the case, you will stay here to guard the herbs from now on."
"These are cultivation techniques and pills for the Qi Condensation Realm stage. You haven't yet embarked on the path of immortality, so these pills are perfect for opening up your Ren and Du meridians."
"If you have any questions about your cultivation path in the future, you can come to me. Although I am not your master, I am still your senior. From now on, you can call me senior."
"Thank you, senior."
The female cultivator in the green robe nodded, gave some instructions, and then turned and left. As for the rules of this place, she had already left it to Luo Chuan to handle.
Luo Chuan wiped the sweat from his cheeks, breathed in the fresh air, and said softly, "Thinking about it, I don't know how many years it's been since I last came to the Herb Garden."
The Herb Garden garden is not large, but it is full of spiritual energy. Rows of spiritual herbs are neatly arranged, lush and green. A faint fragrance of herbs wafts in the air, mixed with the damp smell of the soil. It is so peaceful that you can hear the sound of the wind passing through the branches and leaves.
Luo Chuan casually placed the Qi Condensation Realm Technique manual and the pills on the corner of the table in the stone house—things that ordinary disciples would desperately want but could not obtain.
In his eyes, it was no different from dust.
Luo Chuan rolled up his tattered sleeves, picked up the wooden ladle and small hoe leaning against the wall, and slowly walked into the spirit field.
His movements were natural and skillful; pulling weeds, loosening the soil, and watering—each step was gentle and steady, as if he had done it a thousand times before.
As his fingertips brushed against the dewdrops on the leaves, spiritual energy naturally flowed through the plants, and the slightly wilted herbs quietly unfurled their branches and leaves the moment he touched them.
Even the tiny insects hiding at the roots obediently crawled away. Without using any cultivation, he simply relied on his control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to take perfect care of this Herb Garden.
As Luo Chuan tended the Herb Garden, he glanced up at the small courtyard with green tiles not far away. Green vines climbed the courtyard wall, and he could faintly hear soft footsteps coming from inside.
That was a female cultivator carrying the remnant soul of Xue'er taking a walk.
Each time he heard that sound, the coldness in his eyes would soften slightly, leaving only an unyielding tenderness.
As the sun rose higher, he sat down to rest on the edge of the field, casually picking a spirit leaf and putting it in his mouth, the cool fragrance filling his mouth.
In the distance came the shouts of outer disciples practicing their swords, the footsteps of disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall patrolling, and the hurried footsteps of servants from the miscellaneous quarters. All that noise was kept out by the spiritual energy barrier of the Herb Garden, as if they were two different worlds.
He couldn't remember the last time he stood so quietly in the sunlight, without fighting, cultivating, or defying fate.
He once shattered galaxies, defied the laws of heaven, and could destroy stars with a mere wave of his hand. But all that unparalleled glory paled in comparison to the gentle breeze and warm sunshine in the Herb Garden at this moment.
In the afternoon, Luo Chuan carried a wooden bucket to the stream to fetch water. The stream was crystal clear, reflecting his young and ordinary face.
With black hair hanging down to his shoulders and tattered clothes, he had no Ancient God's true form, no Sunie Realm Shattering cultivation, and no Nine-Colored Ultimate Realm; he was just an ordinary young mortal.
Sweep away the dust, lay out some dry grass, and plant a few ordinary wildflowers in the corner of the house. They're not particularly pretty, but they add a touch of warmth and life to the place.
As evening fell, a young disciple sent by the female cultivator in green robes brought spirit rice and simple cooking utensils. Luo Chuan lit a fire and cooked, living an extremely simple life.
Time flies, and eight months have passed in the blink of an eye. The female cultivator in the Nascent Yingbian Realm stage is now due to give birth.
The once quiet and elegant courtyard with its blue tiles was now under tight guard by the disciples of the Yuntian Sect. Several elders skilled in medicine were personally overseeing the operation, and layers of spiritual energy enveloped the area, in case of any accident.