The Joy of Rewards, Spirit Plant Task

Lu Qing merely placed the items into the Jade Token Space. After choosing to submit them, white mist quickly spread over them, clearly indicating that the jade token had reclaimed them.

At the same time, word of yesterday's unexpected incident had already spread. Yet despite the twists and turns, the small competition had come to an end.

Beside the name he had imprinted within the Jade Token Space, a ranking had appeared.

[Outer Academy disciple Lu Qing: 12th in the small competition]

Lu Qing looked somewhat surprised. He had estimated that he would rank around fifteenth or sixteenth. He had roughly been able to identify those with Heaven-grade Aptitude and Earth-grade Aptitude; setting aside the Heaven-grade Aptitude holders, there had been more than a dozen with Earth-grade Aptitude.

"But it isn't strange. With yesterday's incident, some people were bound to have been injured. Besides, after that incident, rankings were no longer measured by cultivation realm and strength alone."

Lu Qing quickly reined in his emotions. Compared to this ranking, the rewards that had been issued mattered more.

"Disciple Lu Qing, receive your three rewards. Please inspect them promptly." A message entered his mind, and the details of all three rewards appeared in his thoughts at once.

"There are three rewards in total. Let's see what they are."

The items he had submitted in exchange for points were all things of no use to him.

For now, Spirit Stones could at least ease the necessities of his cultivation and daily life.

He still held some expectations. His ranking was fairly high, and he possessed Superior Aptitude. He wondered what the rewards would be.

"I can select a cultivation technique from the Disciple Treasury?"

Lu Qing examined the first reward first, and a trace of delight appeared on his face. The Profound Heaven Origin Scripture was undoubtedly an excellent foundational cultivation method, but what Lu Qing lacked now was a means to protect himself.

This reward had arrived at just the right time. However, Lu Qing had not yet made up his mind. He still needed to visit the Spirit Plant Garden today, so there was no need to choose in such a rush.

"One thousand Spirit Stones." Well, that was within his expectations and could be considered a timely remedy. Without Spirit Stones on hand, he always felt somewhat unsettled.

Then he looked at the final reward. Lu Qing's pupils widened slightly. "A Foundation Establishment Spirit Item."

He looked into his space. Beside the Spirit Stones lay a piece of milky-white gemstone shaped like an incomplete crescent moon.

Faint Moon Essence flowed across the gemstone, and a thread of clear, refreshing aura entered his nose.

This was unmistakably a Foundation Establishment Spirit Item.

The message explained it clearly.

"A Crescent Spirit Item from the Moonlight Stone Realm, broad and gentle, suitable for use in Foundation Establishment."

Even though Lu Qing had remained calm until now, a ripple still rose in his heart at that brief description.

"It is a Crescent Spirit Item, and a rare Foundation Establishment Spirit Item at that. Because of its properties, even those whose natures are incompatible can still step into Foundation Establishment."

"The Dao Academy is truly generous."

Lu Qing had previously been pondering his own Foundation Establishment Spirit Item. He knew the sect treasury certainly held many precious things, but those all required Dao Academy contribution points to exchange for.

Although they could be converted from Spirit Stones, the conversion rate was extremely poor, hardly a worthwhile arrangement.

"I'll save it for another day. It can be used for cultivation."

"The foundation I choose must be steady and far-reaching. I cannot be impatient. What I need to do now is go to the Spirit Plant Garden first."

Lu Qing had always been clear about the larger goals in his plans for the future.

Indeed, upon seeing the Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, he could not help indulging in wishful thoughts, imagining that he could refine it in a single step and thus enter the ranks of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But his calm Spiritual Power soothed the faint agitation rising within him. Clarity flashed through his eyes.

"There are still half an hour until seven. It's time to set out."

Lu Qing silently activated the Cloud Mist Formation incantation here, dispersing the clouds and mist shrouding the Dao Peak and revealing a road down the mountain.

He was now a cultivator. With Spiritual Power beneath his feet, although he still could not freely roam the heavens and earth to his heart's content, he could swiftly drift through the low air for short distances. After entering the Middle Qi Nourishment Realm, his Spiritual Power had become clearer and denser, and he spent very little time on the road.

Before long, he arrived at the indicated destination.

The lake was within sight of the Dao Peak.

Lu Qing therefore did not need to worry about heading in the wrong direction.

Shallowwater Lake was like a piece of emerald-green jade. Only upon arriving beside it did one discover that it truly resembled a shallow sea, its end impossible to see from afar. Jade-white immortal cranes played in the water, carefree and content.

Lu Qing did not see the White Crane Boy. Having met him several times, Lu Qing would have recognized him.

The Spirit Plant Garden lay in a valley on a small mountain. Water from the lake wound into the Earth Vein, gathering into another lake within the Spirit Plant Garden.

Lu Qing headed over according to his task instructions.

A gray-robed disciple received him.

Lu Qing wore the light-blue disciple robes of the Outer Academy.

"Senior Brother, are you here to...?"

The gray-robed disciple from the Servant Academy asked respectfully.

"I've come to take the Water Lotus irrigation task."

Upon hearing this, the gray-robed disciple looked enlightened. "Senior Brother, please follow me."

Lu Qing entered the Spirit Plant Garden, though he remained in its outer perimeter.

The moment he stepped into the garden, an invisible ripple swept across him. Lu Qing steadied his mind.

It was likely a supervising elder stationed here.

"Senior Brother, the Water Lotus is not far ahead. I can only guide you this far."

He spoke apologetically.

Clearly, the area ahead was off-limits to Servant Academy disciples.

Lu Qing thanked him and quickly reached the site of his task.

It was a pond situated at the end of the mountain range. Blood-red lotuses shimmered atop its surface, swaying in the breeze, and the surroundings were not entirely empty.

However, after Lu Qing approached and saw more clearly, he discovered that the pond's water level was somewhat low. A crimson line also floated beneath the surface.

No wonder disciples were needed to come irrigate it.

Even more baffling was that there was no one here, only a signboard covered in task information. Judging from the writing, the handwriting was messy and unrestrained.

"Water Lotuses require plant water to survive at all times. Deprive them of water for a single moment, and they will surely die."

"Irrigating disciples must monitor the water level. When it falls to the red marked line, replenish the water source promptly."

So that blood-red line was the marker.

Lu Qing could not help thinking, Is this what efficient cultivation looks like?

Since arriving at the Spirit Plant Garden, the only living person he had seen was the disciple who had guided him.

Now that he had reached this place, located at the foot of the mountains and at the very end, apart from this pond, there was not a soul in sight.

It was so quiet that even the cries of birds, beasts, and insects were rarely heard.

Clearly, the Spirit Plant Garden was extraordinary, different from the outside world.

Thinking of the Teleportation Array beneath the Mission Hall that he used to enter and leave, there was surely a formation covering this place as well.

"The spiritual energy is quite dense."

Water Lotuses needed water. What these Spirit Plants required was spiritual water of heaven and earth, or the cloud-and-rain spells cultivators could employ. Lu Qing glanced at the pond's surface, immersed his mind, and moved his Spiritual Power as he wished.

He formed a hand seal and calmed his mind into Spirit Condensation. Above the pond, mist first gathered, then slowly condensed into a cloud. The cloud was not large; Lu Qing was only using the Minor Cloud Rain Technique.

Drizzle began to fall from the cloud. Then, as he continued pouring in Spiritual Power, the fine rain became wind-driven rain, its irrigation range entirely confined to the pond.

Cluster after cluster of Water Lotuses unfurled their petals and drank in the rainwater.

The pond's water level also continued to rise.

After several dozen breaths, the pond was full.

Lu Qing withdrew the spell, looking somewhat satisfied. Unlike rain from heaven and earth, he had concentrated an entire stretch of wind and rain upon this single pond. Completing the task did not take much time at all.