Liu Xianzong's words sent cold sweat pouring down Lin Mo's back.
The very reason he had kicked that spirit plant several times yesterday was that he feared Liu Xianzong would notice its unusual condition.
But he had never imagined Liu Xianzong knew these spirit plants so well that he could detect even the slightest improvement.
"I didn't really do anything. I just watered them, removed pests, and wiped down the branches and leaves, as you told me to, Senior Brother Liu. At most, I paid a little extra attention to a few Spirit Plants that looked listless. I'm new here, and I was afraid I'd kill them, so I didn't dare do anything more."
Lin Mo put on an expression that said he had no idea what had happened either.
Liu Xianzong nodded, evidently giving it little further thought, and began offering advice with a rather pleased expression.
"Spirit plants have always grown like this. They wilt for no apparent reason, then recover just as inexplicably."
"We only need to do our part. Leave the rest to fate."
That was how it worked?
Born into a farming family, Lin Mo had never expected spirit plants to grow so... casually. Relieved that his secret had not been exposed, he grew even more wary.
Thankfully, Senior Brother Liu hadn't become suspicious.
He would have to be especially careful in everything he did from now on.
Liu Xianzong made a circuit of the spirit field. Finding that Lin Mo had tended everything thoroughly, he was quite satisfied with this new Servant Disciple.
He just did not know how long that meticulousness would last.
Then he remembered Lin Mo's current circumstances and smiled helplessly.
"Little Lin, the Sect Examination is in half a month. I'm afraid you have little chance of making it through the usual cultivation route now. Have you made any other plans?"
If cultivation fell short, money could make up the difference.
At the Azure Cloud Sect, a thousand spirit stones could buy a place as an Outer Sect Disciple outright.
Those who lacked that many spirit stones could spend a hundred to buy another year of cultivation on the mountain.
Unfortunately, Lin Mo could not scrape together even that amount.
Previously, he would clearly have been at his wits' end. But with his Treasure Gourd, he was no longer the man he had been. He grinned at those words and said, "Senior Brother Liu, I feel I'm only one step away from condensing a Spiritual Qi Vortex. I'm certain I can enter the Qi Refining Realm before the Sect Examination."
Liu Xianzong sat straight down on the ground and leisurely beckoned Lin Mo over.
"Actually, many formal disciples enter the outer sect directly. They either have outstanding talent or pay an enormous price."
"In short, they're the sect's true disciples. Those of us promoted from Servant Disciples mostly still do things they don't want to do, such as tending spirit plants."
"Personally, I don't think failing the Sect Examination as a Servant Disciple is necessarily a bad thing. At least you can leave the mountain and carve out a place in the world with your strong body. But if an Outer Sect Disciple gets expelled, that's a miserable fate..."
Outer Sect Disciples who failed to earn enough sect contribution for two consecutive years would have their cultivation crippled.
The stated reason was to prevent them from using their cultivation to wreak havoc in the mortal world, but no one knew the true motive.
Having one's cultivation crippled gravely damaged one's vitality. Forget becoming a mortal martial artist like a former Servant Disciple—even carrying things by hand or on one's shoulders would likely become a struggle.
This truly was a world that devoured people.
Liu Xianzong smiled, his expression betraying no emotion.
So that was how it was?
Lin Mo was somewhat surprised.
He had always thought everything would be fine once he entered the outer sect. There was actually another hurdle like this?
The path of cultivation truly was fraught with hardship at every step.
Liu Xianzong had also risen from the ranks of Servant Disciples, so he was relatively understanding.
"Since you think you can pass the assessment, apply to become a spirit plant farmer afterward. That way, you can have a spirit field of your own, and you'll only need to hand over a fixed amount of spirit fruit or spirit grain each year."
"That's all I have to say. Oh, someone will come this afternoon to inspect that spirit plant beyond saving. If it really is useless, wait for him to register it, then mash it up and bury it in the field."
"Ah, spirit plants are just like us. Once they're useless, all they can do is become fertilizer."
After saying those few words, Liu Xianzong stood, dusted off his backside, and left.
Were they finally giving up on that spirit plant?
Lin Mo had set his sights on that short, drooping spirit plant in the corner yesterday. He had not expected that someone from the sect would have to come and confirm its condition.
The procedure was meticulous. They held every resource firmly in their grasp, cutting off any chance for ordinary disciples to skim benefits.
There was truly no way out for those at the very bottom.
They spent all day running about for sect contribution, saved hardly any spirit stones over an entire year, and even delayed their cultivation in the process.
Lin Mo shook his head.
Still, dwelling on these things served no purpose now. All he could do was diligently attend to his own work.
About six hours later, Lin Mo straightened up and looked over the spirit field he had tidied until it was spotless, nodding in satisfaction.
Suddenly, he jolted in alarm. A figure riding a longsword appeared before him in the blink of an eye.
The man was young, yet a terrifying aura radiated from him, and his eyes resembled those of a hawk.
"Hey, where's that spirit plant that's nearly withered to death?"
His voice was hoarse and seemed devoid of emotion.
This was a disciple from the inner sect!
Emptying chamber pots might not have been a glorious job, but it had given Lin Mo opportunities to encounter quite a few important people.
Lin Mo had seen many Inner Sect Disciples before, and this young man looked somewhat familiar.
"Senior Brother, please follow me."
He immediately bowed and led the young man toward the dying spirit plant.
Whatever technique the young man had cultivated, he only appeared to be walking. In reality, his feet floated above the ground, filling Lin Mo with envy.
The young man reached out and brushed a hand over the yellowing spirit plant. Then, without saying anything, he merely nodded, rode his sword straight into the air, and vanished.
That was it?
Lin Mo was rather baffled.
Hah, these important people all wore such lofty expressions, unwilling to speak.
More likely, the young man had simply paid no mind to a Servant Disciple like Lin Mo, so naturally there was no need to speak.
Before long, the sound of running footsteps approached again.
Liu Xianzong came running over, panting. Seeing only Lin Mo standing there looking slightly bewildered, he stopped at once and asked with a hint of disappointment, "Did someone just come here?"
Lin Mo nodded and described the young man he had seen.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xianzong slapped his thigh repeatedly in regret.
"Ah, if I'd known he was coming in person, I wouldn't have left."
According to him, that young man was not merely an Inner Sect Disciple; he also possessed a Three-Element Spiritual Root of water, fire, and wood.
He was a born talent for becoming an alchemist, apprenticed to the master of the sect's Pill Hall. He was already an apprentice alchemist, and even among the sect's entire younger generation, he was someone of note.
"If I could have exchanged a few words with him and asked about some cultivation problems, perhaps I could have advanced another step."
Liu Xianzong sighed and grumbled for a while before stepping forward and reaching into an inconspicuous little pouch at his waist.
He pulled out an emerald-green seed, uprooted the spirit plant that had already been sentenced to death, then carefully planted the seed.
"All right. Give this seed extra water over the next few days and take good care of it. I'll be off."
Before you continue