Bloodline Heirs of Immortal Masters, Listed as a Second-Class Seed!

Following the directions, Lu He made his way up to the third floor of the Miscellaneous Affairs Building.

There was only one room on the third floor. Aside from a broad, slightly raised platform and the hundred-odd meditation cushions atop it, there were no other furnishings.

The floor was covered in thick wooden planks, and more than a dozen figures had already arrived early and sat waiting.

They were all familiar young faces.

"Brother Chen, Brother Wan, Miss Jin..."

Lu He greeted them with practiced ease.

His gaze swept quickly over them, and he soon noticed something unusual.

"The stronger they are, the farther forward they sit..."

Lu He was faintly surprised, but his steps did not slow. He went straight to a spot in the rear corner and sat down.

During that time, several dozen more figures filed in one after another.

The once-quiet room grew lively.

Within the crowd.

Zheng Jingren smiled at Lu He, then went straight to sit near the front.

Bai Hao entered after him.

He had originally intended to find a seat somewhere in the middle toward the back, but just as he was about to sit down, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of a familiar figure behind him.

His face immediately fell for no apparent reason.

He promptly walked over to Lu He.

Just as he was about to greet him.

He saw Lu He staring keenly at somewhere ahead.

Unable to resist, Bai Hao followed his gaze, and a look of realization soon rose on his face.

"Those ten are the bloodline descendants of the Medicine Garden managers, first-class seeds. They disdain to compete for the Spirit-Slaying Envoy positions and do not usually come to the Medicine Garden either. It is perfectly normal that you have never seen them, Brother Lu."

He spoke in a low voice to remind him.

"So that is how it is. The bloodline descendants of the managers are extraordinary by birth. No wonder their auras are so overbearing."

Only then did Lu He withdraw his gaze and sigh in understanding.

The moment those people had entered, he had sensed an intense feeling of danger.

He had instinctively activated the White Ape Dao Diagram.

Yet he found that although the Scarlet Horned Dragon True Intent entwining and permeating their bodies was dense, by Lu He's estimation, they had at most condensed three or four Red Qiu True Talismans.

But the auras they gave off were unbelievably powerful.

Beside him.

Bai Hao sighed as well.

"They truly are strong—favored by heaven itself."

"Fortunately, there is that monster Qin Lie, who can firmly suppress them by a notch. Otherwise, in the monthly Tea Gathering Rankings, people like us would not even have a single place in the top ten. We would be a laughingstock if word got out."

"The Tea Gathering Rankings?"

Lu He looked puzzled.

He had been in the Medicine Garden for quite some time, yet he had never heard of any Tea Gathering Rankings.

"It is like this."

Bai Hao explained.

"After cultivating, the many seeds in the Medicine Garden gather once every month for a tea gathering, where they verify their insights, exchange what they have, and learn from one another. Sparring is naturally unavoidable, and once people compete to determine superiority, the Tea Gathering Rankings came into being.

"It can also be considered, in a roundabout way, a ranking of the seeds' strength.

"Sometimes the managers provide prizes as well. The higher one ranks, the richer the prize."

As he spoke, Bai Hao could not help flicking the longsword on his back, showing it off proudly.

"Hehe, this sword was the prize I won when I luckily fought my way to nineteenth place on the Tea Gathering Rankings three months ago!"

Three months ago...

At that time, he had probably still been working from dawn till dusk. Yet these people had been holding tea gatherings, sparring, and competing for prizes?

They were all in the Medicine Garden.

Yet it was as though they lived in two entirely different worlds!

Lu He sighed softly.

But beside him, Bai Hao was still lamenting to himself.

"I reckon that when the Inner Garden recruits disciples next March, among us seeds, only that bunch and Qin Lie will pass smoothly.

"Brother Zheng does not have much hope either. He will probably have to wait another three years."

"By then, perhaps Brother Lu, you will have a chance as well!"

As though he had suddenly realized something, Bai Hao turned to look at Lu He. The envy in his eyes nearly overflowed.

Even at the very worst, seven years from now, he would still be under thirty!

Coming back to himself.

"The Inner Garden recruits disciples once every three years, and the next recruitment is next March?" A strange gleam flashed through Lu He's eyes.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

Amid a jumble of footsteps.

Twenty-seven managers appeared atop the platform directly ahead.

Manager Lu was among them.

One elderly-looking manager stepped forward and swiftly swept his gaze over the young figures below.

His voice carried a trace of sternness.

"The path of immortality is like rowing upstream—if you do not advance, you fall back! Since you have received the care of our resources, you ought to know that greater demands await you. There can be no trace of slackness in between! Otherwise, do you take us for a charity hall?"

"Now, I will announce those who have failed this year's assessment. Those whose names are called may leave!"

As his words fell.

The previously lively room instantly became so quiet that a needle dropping could be heard.

Below, some people's expressions had turned incomparably ugly. Others could not stop dense despair and pleading from surfacing in their eyes.

"Cao Shen, Yu Jingyi..."

One name after another rang beside everyone's ears from the elderly manager's emotionless voice.

Before long, seventeen people had left the room.

Beside Lu He.

"Whew, I am not on it."

Bai Hao abruptly relaxed, letting out a long breath with a face full of relief.

"The managers truly have discerning eyes. They must have seen that the reason I lost to Brother Lu was purely because I was careless, not because of my strength—"

However.

"Next, we will announce those being demoted in the seed registry. Bai Hao, Pu Yuanxun..."

As the manager's voice rang out once more.

Bai Hao's expression froze abruptly.

The next instant.

A resentful gaze shot over from beside him, making Lu He's scalp tingle.

Who knew how much time had passed.

"Next, we will begin determining the newly admitted seed registry!"

The elderly manager stepped down, and a woman in a light-blue palace dress walked to the front. With a bright smile, she spoke.

The oppressive atmosphere in the room instantly eased.

Several dozen curious and probing gazes turned toward the rear, landing on thirteen unfamiliar-looking figures, including Lu He.

"Xu Nong."

"Here, Manager!"

The instant the voice rang out, a small, thin man not far from Lu He sprang straight up from the floor.

"Qu Xiaoxing."

"Here!"

Time passed slowly.

The remaining eleven people waiting behind were successively granted seed positions, but nearly all were fourth-class positions. The managers seemed particularly strict in this regard.

But there were exceptions.

Lu He unconsciously glanced at a pair of siblings seated to his left.

Up to this point, the managers had granted only two third-class seed positions, and both had gone to those two.

Lu He remembered the siblings deeply.

There was no other reason.

When they had competed for the Spirit-Slaying Envoy positions yesterday, the siblings had gone on stage not long before or after Lu He. Though they had not won in the end, the strength they displayed had been formidable.

Lu He had originally thought they were seeds. Who could have expected that they were ordinary tenant farmers just like him?

Withdrawing his gaze.

"It seems I should receive a third-class seed position this time as well. Not bad."

Lu He mused inwardly, a faint trace of anticipation flashing through his eyes.

Third-class seeds could freely comprehend the Vermilion Horn Stele at the Enlightenment Pavilion five times a month, as well as receive one Black Jade Pill every half year...

Together with what he had gained during this window period.

If his luck was good, he was confident that before the window period ended, he could completely cultivate the body-transformation stage to perfection.

As for the Red Qiu True Talismans of the intent-transformation stage—

A faint golden radiance flashed in Lu He's eyes.

[Name: Lu He]

[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment · Late Body-Transformation Stage (1,021 jin in one arm)]

[Method: Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Fourth Layer (53%)

Scarlet Horned Dragon True Intent Rune (Complete)]

[Current Innate Dao Diagram: White Ape Child Cave-Evolution Diagram]

[Level: 2 (233/300)]

[Grade: White]

[Innate Talent:

Immaculate Heart Ape (Second Tier) [Note: Upon entering the state of comprehending the Dao, comprehension is additionally increased by 80%]]

"The Innate Dao Diagram is about to level up. Judging by the previous pattern, the third-tier Immaculate Heart Ape should raise comprehension by another level."

"Next March..."

A sharp gleam flashed in the depths of his eyes.

His attention focused on the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram, which had already reached the fourth layer at 53%.

Six months, thirty free comprehensions of the Vermilion Horn Stele at the Enlightenment Pavilion—

Condensing the remaining six Red Qiu True Talismans and opening an immaculate Vermilion Essence Spring was not necessarily impossible!

Clearly, Lu He had never even considered the option Bai Hao had mentioned: entering the Inner Garden with merely three Red Qiu True Talismans to open a Vermilion Essence Spring.

Having learned about the Vermilion Essence Spring.

Lu He naturally understood its importance as the foundation of the immortal path.

Moreover—

His gaze flickered toward his Innate Dao Diagram, and a thought faintly emerged in his mind.

Would seven Red Qiu True Talismans be a little too few?

Just then.

"Lu He!"

A gentle voice rang beside his ear, directly pulling Lu He's thoughts back to reality.

He slowly rose to his feet.

The woman in the palace dress who had just called his name blinked. "I happen to have one third-class position remaining. Would you be willing to accept it?"

As her words fell.

The other managers immediately could not sit still and began extending invitations as well.

"I have a third-class position here too."

"A third-class position can be given to you."

"..."

Even Manager Liu, who had always remained composed and unruffled, could not help looking at Lu He with blazing eyes.

"Lu He, you have always worked in the spirit fields under my charge, so you should not be unfamiliar with me. I know that your talent is not poor, and that you have always been diligent."

He paused, then actually made a promise.

"I have a third-class position in hand, and I can give it to you first. If your performance is acceptable within three years, I will promote you from a third-class seed to a second-class seed. What do you say?"

As his words fell.

Envious and jealous gazes immediately converged from all around.

It was the first time they had ever seen a manager publicly offer such a guarantee to raise someone's seed registry rank in the future.

What extraordinary regard was this?

On the spot.

Just as Lu He was about to respond, he suddenly saw that Manager Lu, who had remained silent all this time, had risen to his feet at some point, a faint smile spreading across his face.

"It's only a few resources. Why is Senior Brother Liu being so stingy?"

With that, he met Lu He's gaze directly, his eyes blazing like torches.

"Kid Lu, I can give you a second-class quota. But if you enter the Inner Garden in the future, you'll need to do me a small favor."

The moment those words fell.

The room first went silent, then erupted into a sky-piercing uproar.

Up ahead.

"Brother Zheng, did you know some inside information? He really got a second-class quota?"

A man stared wide-eyed at Zheng Jingren beside him, his face full of disbelief.

At this moment, Zheng Jingren's mind was just as muddled.

Heaven bear witness, he had merely tossed it out as a joke yesterday.

After all, on his very first attempt to compete for a Spirit-Slaying Envoy quota, to win a steward's favor and be directly granted a second-class seed quota—the difficulty of such a thing was clearer to Zheng Jingren than anyone.

And what he understood even more clearly was this.

Although Brother Lu's performance had been gifted, he still had not yet reached the level of a second-class seed.

After thinking it over and over.

Zheng Jingren unconsciously glanced at Steward Lu on the platform and sighed with genuine admiration.

"Brother Lu is lucky. The right time, the right place, and the right people all happened to come together for him. We have no choice but to be convinced."

At the same time.

Several first-class seeds sitting at the very front with their eyes closed in quiet repose, Qin Lie among them, all glanced at Lu He.

Interesting. A second Qin Lie?

Someone thought secretly.

On the platform, the stewards were likewise discussing it heatedly.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is being muddle-headed.

"The first talisman of the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram is scattered among three Scarlet Horned-Dragon illustrations, making it relatively easy to comprehend and condense. The later six illustrations are what truly test one's comprehension and aptitude.

"We should wait and see how that boy fares when he condenses his second Red Qiu True Talisman before deciding whether to grant him a second-class seed quota. That would be the proper course."

One of the stewards could not help but offer advice.

"Indeed, that was precisely what I had in mind."

Steward Liu took over with a beaming smile.

"It wasn't as though no genius in the Medicine Garden had ever condensed a Red Qiu True Talisman before turning twenty, only to ultimately fail to enter the Medicine Garden."

"It would be better to follow the old rules."

At those words.

"The old rules... hadn't you already set a precedent before?"

Steward Lu sneered.

"You mean Qin Lie..."

Steward Liu turned to glance at Qin Lie, who sat upright below the platform, his expression turning solemn.

"Qin Lie is different."

"When he first competed for a Spirit-Slaying Envoy quota, he was about the same age as Kid Lu. But Fellow Daoist Lu, do you know how many Red Qiu True Talismans Qin Lie had already condensed at the time?"

"How many?"

"A full two and a half! That was why we dared to directly give him a second-class seed quota. Fellow Daoist Lu, if you do this, how are the rest of us supposed to—"

Steward Liu still wanted to persuade him.

But Steward Lu across from him repeatedly waved his hand.

"Enough, enough. Stop trying to persuade me. How many resources can a mere second-class seed quota consume?"

"You—"

The other stewards were all furious.

Not long after.

Only Lu He and Steward Lu remained in the room.

"You saw what happened just now as well. Don't slack off and make me lose face."

Steward Lu took out a jade talisman and handed it to Lu He, instructing him with a smile.

"This is proof of your second-class seed quota."

"With this jade talisman, you may visit the Enlightenment Pavilion free of charge seven times a month. In addition, you can collect one Black Jade Pill from the Miscellaneous Affairs Building every two months. Don't lose it."

"Lu He will remember this. Thank you, sir, for your cultivation."

Lu He clenched the jade talisman tightly, his voice filled with gratitude.

"Why are you spouting such nonsense? When can you go tidy up those spiritual things in my spirit field? They're irritating as hell."

"Right now!"

Lu He answered with a smile.

"Tomorrow."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Steward Lu left. After taking only a few steps, he stopped again.

"Oh, right. You can collect the Black Jade Pill today. It's on the second floor of the Miscellaneous Affairs Building. Don't forget before you leave."