Chapter 20

Shan Heyuan sighed. "If only I could buy some high-grade spirit tree seeds."

Zhong Shuran said, "You're not the only one. I want to buy some too. Good wooden talismans cost more than jade ones. If I could grow a decent spirit tree, I'd have enough raw material for talisman slips to last half my life."

The two sighed at each other, both lost in beautiful dreams.

Suddenly, Zhong Shuran said with a subtle smile, "Speaking of high-grade spirit trees, I actually know of one."

Shan Heyuan immediately perked up. "Where?"

Zhong Shuran said, "Do you know the Black She Temple?"

Shan Heyuan thought back. "Didn't the Black She Temple collapse ages ago?"

Before the Supreme Harmony Sect rose to prominence, the Black She Temple had been the sect in charge of the local area.

The sect followed an unorthodox path. It was said to cultivate "Shamanism," borrowing the power of ghosts and gods to cultivate.

Most sects actually cultivated "spiritual power." Cultivating "Shamanism" was an obscure and mysterious method, but that did nothing to diminish the Black She Temple's strength.

At one point, it had grown powerful enough to brush the threshold of a first-rank sect. Later, for some unknown reason, it had suddenly fallen into decline.

If Shan Heyuan hadn't read so widely, he might not even have known such a sect existed.

Zhong Shuran said, "The Black She Temple fell, but its ruins are still there. I've heard there's a Core Formation Stage spirit tree at its old site."

Shan Heyuan's eyes lit up. "Really?"

A Core Formation Stage spirit tree!

Forget the marketplace-even a major sect like the Supreme Harmony Sect, a hegemon of its region, had only a handful of Core Formation Stage Spirit Plants!

Zhong Shuran shrugged. "Just hearsay. I heard that the spirit tree has some self-awareness, but it also suffered Qi Deviation during the Black She Temple's decline."

Shan Heyuan couldn't imagine it. "A Core Formation Stage spirit tree that suffered Qi Deviation? What would that even be like?"

Zhong Shuran laughed. "Crazy, I guess."

Shan Heyuan said, "Huh?"

Zhong Shuran gestured. "I mean it literally. The things that spirit tree does are pretty crazy."

Shan Heyuan put down the wooden talisman in his hand. "What do you mean?"

Zhong Shuran said, "The Black She Temple had its glory days, didn't it? And its decline came suddenly. Every few decades, cultivators go there to see if they can dig up any treasures, and quite a few of them are Core Formation Stage cultivators."

At this point, Zhong Shuran paused. "They're fine on the outskirts of the Black She Temple ruins, but once they head toward the center, that spirit tree appears and disappears like a ghost, coming out to whip anyone who has designs on the Black She Temple."

Shan Heyuan found it even harder to imagine. "Is it protecting its old home? Sounds like it has a pretty good temper. It doesn't kill people, does it?"

"A good temper?" Zhong Shuran smiled. "They say everyone it whips is left covered in welts that never fade until the day they die. No medicine or pill has any effect."

Shan Heyuan sucked in a breath of cold air. "Does it do that on purpose?"

Zhong Shuran spread his hands. "Why else would people say the tree's crazy?"

After hearing the story, Shan Heyuan imagined what it would be like to provoke the tree and spend the rest of his life covered in welts. He couldn't help shuddering.

Still, it was a Core Formation Stage spirit tree. Just how good was its aptitude?

Spirit Plants were different from cultivators. Unless they underwent a major mutation, the grade they could reach when grown was basically determined while they were still seeds.

For example, a Qi Refining-grade Earth Spirit Ginseng seed was at the Qi Refining First Stage. No matter how much it grew, unless it mutated, the mature plant would reach Qi Refining Great Perfection at most.

The legendary Nine Heavens Mysterious Ginseng, on the other hand, was already at the Nascent Soul grade as a seed. If nothing went wrong, the mature plant would also be at the Nascent Soul grade or above. If something did go wrong, it usually ended in death rather than a drop in grade.

Core Formation-grade Spirit Plants were quite rare. In all his time as a planter, Shan Heyuan had never seen a Spirit Plant of such a high grade.

The Supreme Harmony Sect did have a few, but treasures like those were kept under lock and key, surrounded by layers of formations. Forget being put in charge of them—he couldn't even get a glimpse.

Shan Heyuan was afraid of the spirit tree, yet he couldn't help yearning for it.

For a planter, nothing was more enticing than a high-grade Spirit Plant.

To him, a spirit tree of such fine quality meant more than spirit beads; it also concerned his cultivation.

Shan Heyuan asked, "It really doesn't kill people?"

Zhong Shuran said, "I haven't heard of it killing anyone, but ordinary people get whipped half to death before they even catch a glimpse of it. What, are you really thinking of going after it?"

Shan Heyuan said longingly, "That's a Core Formation-grade spirit tree we're talking about."

Zhong Shuran smiled faintly. "With a grade that high, the marks it leaves when it whips people are especially distinctive and long-lasting. It doesn't have the virtue of sparing someone's face when it hits them."

Shan Heyuan said, "If only it weren't so crazy. Maybe then we could talk."

Zhong Shuran glanced at him. "The Supreme Harmony Sect's strength may be nothing special, but it still has elders above the Nascent Soul stage. Even if its people can't subdue that spirit tree, there are plenty of other powers interested in a Core Formation-grade spirit tree. The fact that it's still there says enough."

That was true. Shan Heyuan said, "I'm just talking. I haven't even reached Foundation Establishment yet. Even if I wanted to go after it, I might not be able to get close."

Zhong Shuran said, "As long as you know your limits."

Having learned such major news, Shan Heyuan made a point of sharing it with Shen Duheng at the dinner table that evening.

After listening, Shen Duheng said, "You'd be better off stealing a Core Formation-grade Spirit Plant from the Supreme Harmony Sect than seeking out that spirit tree."

Shan Heyuan was shocked. "Why? Because it whips people?"

Shen Duheng said, "It's a mutated spirit tree, skilled in spatial Secret Methods, and it also carries the traces of 'Shamanism.' It can easily trigger a person's inner demons. Do you know why the marks it leaves never fade in a person's lifetime?"

Shan Heyuan said, "Because it's powerful?"

Shen Duheng said calmly, "It can trigger inner demons. Anyone it whips will die from an invasion of inner demons before they reach two hundred."

Shan Heyuan's heart leaped. "Doesn't that also indirectly show that its strength is far beyond the Core Formation grade?"

Shen Duheng said, "You're not allowed to go after that spirit tree."

Under his sharp gaze, Shan Heyuan waved his hands repeatedly. "With my paltry cultivation, I couldn't go even if I wanted to. Don't worry, I'm not that unreliable. I'm just daydreaming."

Chapter 20

After winter set in, snow fell and melted again.

Things were fine in the villages and towns, where everyone promptly shoveled the snow away. In the mountains, a silver mantle wrapped everything in white.

Even cultivators could feel cold and heat.

In weather this cold, people didn't like staying outside. Most shut themselves up at home to cultivate.

Shan Heyuan had taken a job with the Supreme Harmony Sect and went up the mountain once every five days, come hell or high water.

When it was cold, he simply stuck on a couple of extra talismans for warmth and protection from the wind.

A fierce wind was blowing today, making sword flight somewhat difficult. Shan Heyuan's Qi Refining Eighth Stage cultivation wasn't enough to carry him all the way to the Supreme Harmony Sect in one flight, so he had to stop and rest midway.

As a result, he arrived on the mountain later than usual.

Qi Yuanbai was pacing outside the Spirit Plant garden. When Shan Heyuan finally came flying slowly over, Qi Yuanbai jogged up to greet him, bumped into him, and complained, "Why are you so slow today? My legs went stiff waiting for you."

Shan Heyuan smiled. "It's cold, so I got up late and flew slowly. In weather this cold, why didn't you wait inside?"

The talisman formations in the Spirit Plant garden kept out the wind and cold, making it much more comfortable inside than out.

Qi Yuanbai said, "I was waiting for you."

Shan Heyuan studied his expression. "Did something good happen that I don't know about?"

Qi Yuanbai said, "Guess!"

Shan Heyuan said, "You waited for me before saying anything, and you look so excited, so it must have something to do with me. I'm guessing it's good news about the Spirit Plants—the Spirit Plants sold for a high price?"

Qi Yuanbai said, "The first part's right, but the second part's wrong. We finally got in touch with Master!"

Shan Heyuan said, "Congratulations! That really wasn't easy."

Qi Yuanbai burst out laughing. "That's what we said too. My master and senior sister were trapped in a small secret realm before. They didn't receive the communication talisman until they got out. They were startled to learn something had gone wrong with the Spirit Plant garden, but when they saw it had been saved, their alarm turned to joy. Master even praised me and my senior brother."