Since beginning his grand undertaking of studying Spirit Plants, Lu Qing no longer cultivated in the cultivation chamber atop the pavilion after completing his daily round of training.
In any case, he had now gained an initial grasp of the Spirit-Gathering Formation, something Lu Qing himself had not expected before.
Still, this was a good thing.
Using formation disks, he simply inscribed several small Spirit-Gathering Formations around the Spirit Field, inside and out.
If the first successful formation Lu Qing had prepared before covered only an area the size of a meditation cushion,
then now it covered an area as vast as several large ponds.
He cultivated Moonblade Spirit Rice while sitting cross-legged in the rear courtyard's Spirit Field to train.
Every day was full and fulfilling, and cultivating in such a fine state of mind allowed him to advance by leaps and bounds.
It was precisely because of this that, after successfully harvesting his Spirit Plants for the first time,
Lu Qing's leisurely and abundant life was interrupted by a sudden divination that surfaced in his mind.
Moreover, unlike before, this divination did not allow him to choose a Calming Hexagram and simply remain behind the mountain gates to ensure peace and safety.
An additional annotation had appeared at the very top.
[Demonic Path forces have weakened and are making a final desperate counterattack. As this is connected to a certain Minor Realm, the Profound Heaven Dao Academy has decided to dispatch disciples to the Demonic Path's lair, kill their disciples, and locate the Minor Realm.] [Greatly Ominous Hexagram: Reaching into a fire for chestnuts, seeking one's own destruction. Accept the Demon-Slaying Mission, leave the mountain gates, and perish body and soul. Greatly ominous.] [Slightly Ominous Hexagram: Shut the mountain gates tight and ignore outside affairs. Yet demon slaying is a secret assessment by the Dao Academy's higher-ups. Those seen hiding behind closed doors will be judged as having a temperament unfit for great responsibility, leaving lingering future troubles. Slightly ominous.] [Calming Hexagram: Remain in the rear, accept a mission—accept the supply mission from the Spirit Plant Academy, plant Spirit Plants within the mountain gates. There will be slight disturbances, but all will be calm.]
Lu Qing's expression was truly a sight to behold. Previously, he had always escaped dangerous situations by hiding within the mountain gates and refusing to emerge.
But clearly, that approach would not work this time.
And what exactly was this Demon-Slaying Mission?
He thought of that old Demonic Path thief.
The Profound Heaven Domain was a regional overlord. Naturally, the Demonic Path forces within its territory were not powerful.
But evidently, the Minor Realm mentioned in the divination was the key reason the Dao Academy had issued this mission.
Resources—once again, it was resources.
The Dao Academy had great wealth and vast holdings, but its expenditures were equally immense. A Minor Realm was no mere fragmentary Trial Micro-Realm.
Furthermore, the divination had mentioned that this was a secret assessment. Although he did not know what exactly the lingering future troubles indicated by the Slightly Ominous Hexagram were, Lu Qing acted cautiously and would not test such a possibility.
The Slightly Ominous Hexagram itself posed no danger to his life in this situation, but with those lingering future troubles present, there would surely be many consecutive dangerous situations ahead.
"I thought I could cultivate quietly within the mountain gates. Looks like that's impossible."
Lu Qing swept his gaze over the Jade Slip and found not the slightest trace of anything related to the Demon-Slaying Mission.
"So is it already underway? Or has it not happened yet? Or is it simply something I'm not qualified to know at present?"
Lu Qing withdrew his aura, then looked at the Spirit Plants he had harvested today.
"Since I've finished harvesting today, I can make a trip to the Spirit Plant Academy."
"I wonder where these slight disturbances will manifest. Judging by the sentences before and after, it should be after I accept the mission and return to the mountain peak," Lu Qing speculated.
Keeping his doors shut would not work, while leaving the mountain gates was even more suicidal.
Then it was absolutely necessary for him to head to the Spirit Plant Academy and register as an entry-level Spirit Planter Master.
This sudden accident disrupted Lu Qing's plans.
Fortunately, Lu Qing was able to endure loneliness and cultivate, so he did not find it troubling.
"A Minor Realm... If it can be successfully taken, I imagine many disciples will go there of their own accord."
Fortune, resources, and benefits—those were the things that most deeply stirred people's hearts.
This Minor Realm was surely extremely important. Otherwise, disciples who avoided this mission would not be judged unfit for great responsibility and left with future troubles.
Perhaps it was also because Lu Qing's current strength was insufficient, insufficient to resolve this danger.
"Going to the Spirit Plant Academy comes first."
He placed every grain of plump, snow-white rice into his storage pouch.
After maturing successfully, each stalk of Moonblade Spirit Rice grew only a single blade-like leaf, shimmering like snow and pale as paper.
"This can be used to make talisman paper."
Lu Qing did not become greedy.
He had not even entered the Talisman Dao yet, and for the time being, he could not afford to divide his attention and study other things.
He already had a good destination for these items.
The Spirit Plant Academy possessed beautiful scenery, situated upon a range of lush green mountains.
Wind seemed to gather beneath Lu Qing's feet, and his movement technique had improved enormously compared to before.
Once he reached a flat expanse and looked into the distance, his expression could not help but turn astonished.
Beneath drifting white clouds in the distance, pavilions and towers rose amid misty vapors. Several floating islands connected high in the sky, arching around the central city, while emerald vines climbed the outer walls.
Clear, verdant green; scenery beyond compare.
The moment he landed here, a rush of fresh air washed over him, making Lu Qing feel as though his mind had been cleansed.
This sensation became even more pronounced after he displayed his Disciple Token and entered the city cradled by the floating islands.
The scenery of the Spirit Plant Academy differed from the other Dao Peaks he had seen.
Most of those inside were disciples. They wore robes of every color rather than uniform disciple garments.
The pure spiritual aura radiating from them made Lu Qing realize, with a glance down the streets, that nearly all were related to Spirit Planter Masters.
At that moment, a young disciple approached with a smile.
"Senior Brother, you're new to the Spirit Plant Academy, aren't you? I know every corner of this place. Would you like me to show you around? Just one Spirit Stone, and the price is fair."
Several disciples behind him revealed annoyed expressions, as though he had beaten them to the punch.
The others scattered in search of different targets.
Lu Qing understood that he was a guide. He was not stingy; he truly was unfamiliar with this place, and having someone lead the way would be much more convenient.
He immediately took out a Spirit Stone. "All right, Junior Brother. Please introduce the Spirit Plant Academy to me."
"Heh, Senior Brother is generous." Xu Qing accepted the Spirit Stone with beaming eyes. Another Spirit Stone added to his earnings.
He was not a genuine Outer Academy disciple, but had risen from the Servant Academy many years ago. His prospects were dim, and even now, his cultivation was only around the First Layer of the Qi Nourishment Realm. Before many disciples, he addressed them all as Senior Brother.
As for who had entered first, that meant nothing.
"The Spirit Plant Academy stands alongside the Painting Academy, Artifact Refining Academy, Alchemy Academy, Formation Academy, and several other academies of the ten great cultivation arts within our Dao Academy. This city is the outer city of the Spirit Plant Academy. The outer city has four major districts: the Market District, Cultivation District, Living District, and Spirit Plant District. The place beneath your feet, Senior Brother, is the Market District."
The Market District was filled with a dazzling array of cultivation treasures.
Some vendors displayed all manner of spiritual rice, some laid out treasures whose purpose could not be discerned, while others sold Spirit Plant seeds...
As Lu Qing walked between the stalls, he found that many vendors on either side sold items related to Spirit Planter Masters—seeds, treasure manuals, Jade Slips, and more.
"Take me to where I can register as a Spirit Planter Master."
Xu Qing had been speaking fluently and confidently, but when Lu Qing stated that he wished to register as a Spirit Planter Master, realization dawned on him.
"I've been to the registration site in the Spirit Plant District many times. I know it very well. Senior Brother, please come this way."
Because the city covered such a vast area,
there was more than one registration site in the Spirit Plant District.
"Steward Luo is on duty today. He's very easy to talk to, so Senior Brother arrived at just the right time. Oh, and if anyone asks you questions when we get there, it would be best if you reveal your Spirit Plant aura."
Clearly, Xu Qing had not lied when he said he was very familiar with this place.
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