Life in Hundred Fragrance Valley was as plain as tea.
Xu Xuan was fifty now, his temples slightly white, yet his back remained straight as he spent his days working among the paths of the spirit fields.
In others' eyes, he was merely a highly skilled, taciturn spirit plant cultivator.
A son-in-law the Yuan Household relied upon.
Only he himself knew.
Every swaying spirit herb in the valley, every change in the scent of the soil, was helping him cultivate.
Nearly twenty years had passed since he took that Yellow Bud Pill and first sensed qi.
With his previous life's experience and the aid of the Earth Spirit of the Eight Directions, Xu Xuan had finally broken the shackles of his aptitude and set foot on the path of cultivation again.
In this life, his spiritual roots encompassed all five elements.
Though his progress was slow, his foundation was even more solid than in his previous life.
Nourished day after day by spiritual energy, his false spiritual roots had actually improved in quality.
They were still of the lowest grade, but they were considerably better than at the beginning.
Within his dantian, that wisp of spiritual power grew increasingly solid.
It allowed him to sense the vitality of plants more clearly and perform a few simple nourishing spells to help spirit plants grow.
Still, he knew very well that he was only a son-in-law of the Yuan Household and would find it difficult to enter its inner circle.
With only the resources he obtained in the valley, achieving anything in this life before his lifespan ran out would be as hard as ascending to heaven.
He would be better off putting his efforts into his connection with the Azure Wood Sect.
As long as he could find a way into the Azure Wood Sect, even at its very bottom, he would be better off than in Hundred Fragrance Valley.
After twenty years of lying low in Hundred Fragrance Valley, his opportunity finally arrived.
One day, an outer disciple of the Azure Wood Sect came to Hundred Fragrance Valley on orders to collect a batch of urgently needed Heart-Clearing Grass.
Unfortunately, the valley's weather had been abnormal lately.
Much of the Heart-Clearing Grass had contracted a rare blight.
Its leaves had withered and yellowed, and its spiritual energy was severely depleted.
The amount that met the requirements fell far short.
Yuan Hongyi, who was responsible for receiving the disciple, was pacing in frantic circles.
The outer disciple's expression was also extremely grim.
If he failed to complete his assignment, he would certainly be punished upon his return.
"Please calm down, Senior Brother Li. This truly was an unforeseen natural disaster. We have done everything we can to remedy it..."
Yuan Hongyi apologized repeatedly, but he had no solution either.
The disciple surnamed Li waved irritably.
"What good does saying all that do!"
"The sect urgently needs this herb for pill refinement. If we delay, neither you nor I can bear the consequences!"
Just as everyone was at a loss, Xu Xuan, who had been silently observing from the side, slowly stepped forward.
He cupped his hands to Yuan Hongyi and the disciple surnamed Li.
"Steward, Immortal Master."
"May I examine the diseased Heart-Clearing Grass?"
Knowing he had some ability, Yuan Hongyi said to the disciple surnamed Li:
"He is a spirit plant cultivator in our valley. Perhaps he can find a way."
"Let's hope so..."
The disciple looked Xu Xuan over. Seeing his unremarkable cultivation, he held little hope.
Yuan Hongyi hurriedly said, "Quickly, Wang Tong, see whether there's anything you can do."
Xu Xuan immediately examined several diseased plants carefully, then pinched up a little of the affected soil and sniffed it. After a moment's contemplation, he said:
"This disease is not incurable."
"It is caused by stagnant earth qi, compounded by an invasion of damp toxins."
"We can mix three parts crimson sun grass ash with seven parts aged lime and scatter it around the diseased plants."
"Then lightly sprinkle rainwater collected in a sunny spot over them morning and evening, isolating the affected soil."
"This may curb the disease and restore vitality to the hearts of the remaining plants that have not completely died."
"But recovery will take two or three days."
Xu Xuan dusted off his hands and laid out the solution.
The disciple surnamed Li was dubious. "Will this crude remedy of yours work?"
"From what I can see, even the sect's spirit plant tenders might not be able to cure this disease."
Xu Xuan remained calm. "If you do not mind, Immortal Master, you could set aside a small patch of diseased field and allow me to try."
Yuan Hongyi pulled Xu Xuan aside and whispered:
"Wang Tong, are you completely confident about this?"
"How could I be completely confident?" Xu Xuan shook his head.
"We have no other option now. We can only treat a dead horse as though it were still alive."
"You can also look for another solution in the meantime, Steward."
At this, Yuan Hongyi's face turned ashen.
Only after a long while did he sigh and say:
"Very well. Go ahead and do what you must. Whatever happens, you won't be blamed."
Desperate illness left them grasping at any physician.
The disciple surnamed Li could only nod his agreement as well.
Thus, Yuan Hongyi sent people to the market to seek a solution while helping Xu Xuan treat the diseased herbs.
Xu Xuan remained perfectly composed, without the slightest panic.
Once everything was ready, he deftly mixed the treatment, scattered ash to isolate the plants, and watered them while channeling the runoff.
Every step was just right.
More subtly still, he secretly circulated that faint thread of spiritual power.
Wherever his fingertips passed, he quietly guided the yang qi of the earth veins to dispel the damp toxins.
All of this was done with extreme discretion.
To outsiders, he merely seemed experienced and practiced.
And so, the treatment continued for two days.
Sure enough, a miracle appeared!
The outer leaves of the treated herbs remained withered and yellow, but fresh green actually showed at their centers, and their spiritual energy began slowly recovering.
Though they could not yet be picked for use, the source of the disease had clearly been removed and their roots preserved. They would be ready for harvest after a little more time!
Seeing this change, the sect disciple was overjoyed and saw Xu Xuan in an entirely new light.
"To think a spirit plant cultivator from the secular world could have such skills. We truly owe you for this!"
Yuan Hongyi let out a long breath of relief, immensely grateful to Xu Xuan.
Xu Xuan said modestly, "It was only thanks to your good fortune, Immortal Master, and the steward's trust that we achieved these results."
With his assignment now accounted for, the disciple surnamed Li was in excellent spirits. Seeing that Xu Xuan also had a way with words, he asked a few more questions about spirit plants.
Naturally, Xu Xuan answered fluently.
None of his answers were profound, but they were all principles he had distilled from practice, often striking at the heart of the matter, as precisely as a needle drawing blood.
The disciple surnamed Li found them quite illuminating and felt he had gained a great deal.
Once the spirit herbs had been harvested, just before his departure.
The disciple surnamed Li took Xu Xuan's hand and said:
"Brother Wang, with your skill at tending spirit herbs, staying in Hundred Fragrance Valley really is a waste of your talents."
"If an opportunity arises, I will certainly recommend you to the medicinal garden's overseer for a position as a menial worker."
"The work may be hard, but you would see more spirit plants and might even be taught an immortal sect art or two, far more powerful than that inferior 'Green Grain Art.'"
Xu Xuan's brows lifted at these words.
This was precisely the opportunity he had been waiting for!
And so, he bowed deeply and said:
"If you would recommend me, Immortal Master, I, Wang Tong, would be endlessly grateful and would certainly devote myself wholeheartedly!"
The disciple surnamed Li could not help smiling at his words, then took his leave.
After seeing him off, Xu Xuan returned to the little medicinal field he tended. As he gazed at the flourishing herbs, his eyes grew deep.
Li Jiangping may only be an outer disciple of the Azure Wood Sect, with cultivation no higher than Spiritual Treasury, but he is the most crucial piece I have placed on the board in this life.
Using him as a stepping stone, I can enter the Greenwood Immortal Sect.
With my experience and methods, and the fortune brought by the Earth Spirit of the Eight Directions, establishing a firm foothold will not be difficult.
He raised his head and looked above Hundred Fragrance Valley.
At the faint glow formed by the thin spiritual energy gathered by the formation.
Then I can find a way to bring the Xu Household's children into the immortal sect, and everything will fall naturally into place...
At fifty, Wang Tong was like a dragon lying hidden in the valley, finally beginning to stretch his limbs, ready to soar into the heavens.
The immortal sect's gates had already begun slowly opening to him.
Mornings in Hundred Fragrance Valley were always filled with the fresh scent of vegetation and damp earth.
As usual, Xu Xuan rose just as the horizon began to turn the pale white of a fish's belly.
Without disturbing his still-sleeping wife, Yuan Zhilan, he quietly made his way to the small medicinal garden outside to cultivate.
After twenty years of cultivation.
His spiritual power had now returned to the Meridian Opening Pinnacle, only one step away from Spiritual Treasury.
His affinity with plants and spirit herbs in particular had reached an astonishing level.
Without deliberately circulating his cultivation art, he could stand quietly for a moment and vaguely sense the fertility or barrenness of the soil beneath his feet, and even the "moods" of the spirit herbs around him.
Whether they feared cold or disliked heat, whether they needed watering or shade.
This ability far exceeded the "experience" of an ordinary spirit plant tender.
It was more like an innate talent or a divine ability.
Xu Xuan incorporated this perception into his daily work, keeping the yield and quality of the spirit fields he tended consistently among the best in Hundred Fragrance Valley, always avoiding certain inexplicable diseases and pests.
The valley's people, including Steward Yuan Hongyi, merely thought him exceptionally gifted and seasoned.
Not one person glimpsed the hidden secret behind it.