"Master Wen, these are all the spirit plants you needed. I heard you mention them several times before, and I happened to find them in the secret realm. Thank you for teaching me these past days."
As soon as Jiang Lu returned to the herb garden, she carried the spirit plants over to Master Wen, grinning at him.
Master Wen froze. He looked at the spirit plants before him, then at Jiang Lu. Smiling, he lightly tapped her on the head, his tone fond.
"You silly girl, I don't need these. Keep them for yourself."
"Master Wen, I regard you as an elder. As a junior, isn't it only right for me to show filial respect to an elder?"
Jiang Lu looked at him, her eyes brimming with sincerity.
Master Wen was stunned by the sight. Then his heart softened. This girl had a conscience.
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll accept them."
He waved a hand and put the spirit plants into his storage pouch. Then he noticed the demonic beast behind her.
"What's this?"
Jiang Lu immediately lifted the demonic beast—the Swift-Running Chicken. Her eyes sparkled.
"Master Wen, didn't you say your roasted meat was unmatched? I wonder whether I'll have the good fortune to taste it."
Master Wen burst into laughter.
This girl really knew how to enjoy herself. If this Swift-Running Chicken were sold, it would fetch quite a few spirit stones, yet she was willing to eat it.
Still, at the thought of its delicious flesh, he became a little hungry too.
"Hehe, you little girl. Fine, today I'll let you taste my cooking."
As he spoke, he took the Swift-Running Chicken from Jiang Lu and weighed it in his hand a few times. It was quite heavy.
"Then I really am in for a treat."
Jiang Lu grinned as she placed the remaining spirit plants into Master Wen's basket. With a sweep of spiritual power, the basket followed them back to the courtyard.
"Girl Jiang, it seems you gained quite a few fortuitous opportunities this time. Your cultivation has already reached Qi Refinement, Fourth Level."
"Yes, I did encounter some opportunities this time."
Jiang Lu nodded, wondering what medicine Master Wen was selling from his gourd.
"Mm, not bad. With your strength, if the Alchemy Institute takes a liking to you, you may have a chance to become a disciple there. I've seen how well you work in the herb garden. You're clever, and you won't remain like this for the rest of your life. Perhaps opportunity will come by such a coincidence. If it truly does, go give it a try."
Jiang Lu was taken aback. The Alchemy Institute?
Then she pursed her lips in a smile, a trace of teasing in her voice.
"Master Wen, you think too highly of me. My talent is ordinary, and I have a Mixed Spiritual Root. I only reached Qi Refinement, Fourth Level because of fortuitous opportunities. How could I dare reach above myself and aspire to the Alchemy Institute?"
Master Wen shook his head at that. This girl was said to have come from the Mortal Realm, so there were clearly things she did not understand. Those with good talent had the opportunities of good talent, while those with poor talent had the ingenious uses of poor talent. Why belittle herself?
He did not believe that her leap from Qi Refinement First Layer to Qi Refinement, Fourth Level in a mere few months had gone unnoticed by those elders. It was only a matter of time.
Even if her strength truly went no further, even if her talent could only be this much, plenty of people would still want her based on her skill at sorting spirit plants.
He said no more afterward. It was best to let nature take its course. Too many words would create pressure and might even have the opposite effect. Things were quite good as they were.
"Master Wen, this is delicious."
Jiang Lu swallowed the last bite of chicken, tossed the bone in her hand into the fire before her, and let out a satisfied burp.
Chi Li and Cangchen nodded fiercely as well. A large chunk of meat lay before each of them, and they ate with utmost satisfaction.
They had not eaten such fragrant food in a long time. After all, people of the Upper Realm could drink nectar and jade dew and had long abstained from food. Why would they care about such fare?
Unless they truly loved it and made it themselves, such spirit cuisine was rarely seen.
Now that they had eaten it, their appetites were truly satisfied.
Jiang Lu rubbed her stomach and felt warmth in her dantian. This was the spiritual power contained within demonic beast meat.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm had spirit cuisine, made by spirit cuisine masters. After eating it, one could increase one's spiritual power. The stronger the spirit cuisine master, the better they preserved spiritual power while cooking, and the better the effects after consumption.
It was also a type of Dao technique much sought after by food lovers in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
"Of course. My cooking was honed since childhood. It's only that the ingredients are lacking now. Otherwise, I'd make you swallow even the bones."
Master Wen laughed and teased her. After speaking, he lay contentedly upon the haystack, crossing his left leg over his right, clasping his hands beneath his head, and quietly gazing at the full moon in the sky.
He was already over sixty, yet he had only reached the Qi Refinement Middle Stage. Foundation Establishment was hopeless for him in this life. This was how ordinary cultivators were. Some, like him, accepted their fate, while others refused to accept it and insisted on going out to make a venture of it.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm's prodigies were as numerous as carp crossing a river. They had neither talent nor connections—what did they have to venture with? It was only the unwillingness in their hearts that kept them from facing reality.
He looked toward Jiang Lu. Although this girl had a Mixed Spiritual Root, he saw things clearly.
Though she possessed a Mixed Spiritual Root, the purity of her Spiritual Roots was far from ordinary. Even with further fortuitous opportunities, leaping three levels within a month was no simple matter.
If she had the chance, it would be worth seeing just how far she could go. In the end, she was different from ordinary people like them.
After consuming demonic beast meat, lying down in the most relaxed posture or meditating would allow one to swiftly absorb the spiritual power in the spirit cuisine.
The two of them spoke no more. Only the sounds of Chi Li and Cangchen chewing remained.
A few days later, a disciple dressed in red came looking for Jiang Lu. He walked up to Master Wen and asked,
"Master Wen, is Junior Sister Lu here?"
"She is, she is. She's in that Spirit Plant Garden. Are you looking for her because of something?"
A flash of inspiration struck Master Wen's mind, and he suddenly asked.
The disciple chuckled. "Master Wen, don't worry. It's a good thing."
At this, Master Wen felt a faint premonition. It seemed they had come for Girl Jiang. Perhaps it would not be impossible for her to enter the Alchemy Institute directly.
Then he happily led the way. "Girl Jiang, come over quickly."
Jiang Lu heard Master Wen's voice from far away. She turned and looked at the two approaching figures.
"Master Wen, Senior Brother."
She stood and greeted them.
"Girl Jiang, he's here for you."
After saying that, Master Wen stepped aside and fell silent.
"Junior Sister Lu, do you still remember me? I'm Chen Qi from Alchemy Institute No. 1. You can call me Senior Brother Chen or Senior Brother Qi."
Jiang Lu nodded. She had some impression of him. A trace of doubt colored her voice as she quickly recalled whether there had been any issues with the spirit plants recently. After thinking it over, she could not figure out why he had come, so she asked.
"Senior Brother Qi, did you need something from me?"
Seeing the doubt on Jiang Lu's face, he chuckled softly, his tone reassuring.
"Rest assured, Junior Sister Lu. It's a good thing. People outside have noticed your extraordinary talent for classifying spirit plants during this time. Previously, your cultivation was insufficient, but now that you have reached the Qi Refinement Middle Stage, would you be willing to come to Alchemy Courtyard One? Disciples who enter the courtyard have the chance to refine pills. You possess a Fire Spirit Root, Junior Sister, so you should be able to give it a try as well."
After saying that, he waited for Jiang Lu's answer. No normal cultivator with ambition would pass up such an opportunity.
Before you continue