Chapter 368: You Shouldn’t Look for Junior Sister Anymore
Standing inside the Spirit Plant Cabin, Ning Zhuo first activated the array formation within the cabin.
This array was originally a part of the Wanli Dragon's built-in formations, quite basic, mainly providing mana with added Yu Dao power, capable of folding vast amounts of space.
On the foundation of this array, Ning Zhuo began setting up a new array formation.
He arranged numerous Bagua stones as the array’s foundation, then inscribed multiple array patterns with a hard pen, eventually placing a Tianxuan Stone at the center and forming the array eye with several spirit jades.
This was the Bagua Returning Wind Array.
The spirit jades were arranged according to the positions of the Bagua, and once the array was activated, it immediately created a whirlwind of spiritual energy.
From now on, Ning Zhuo could control the flow of spiritual energy within the cabin.
He operated the array, adjusting it for a while until he reached a satisfactory state. Several streams of spiritual energy circulated within the cabin. The spiritual energy was quite stable, not shifting erratically.
“This is the prototype of a man-made spiritual vein, haha.” Ning Zhuo felt quite accomplished.
He continued building.
He took out a large amount of Xuanhuang Earth and filled the Spirit Plant Cabin with it.
The soil quickly piled up to his waist. Ning Zhuo activated the basic array formation in the Spirit Plant Cabin, folding and compressing the space within the soil.
The height of the soil soon dropped to Ning Zhuo’s ankle.
Ning Zhuo paused the basic array formation’s folding, continued to pour soil, and repeated the process three times until the soil reached the standard level.
He took out the Three-Treasure Spirit Soil.
This soil was quite special, composed of items from the Heavenly Treasure, Earthly Treasure, and Human Treasure, complementing each other with the blending of the three essences.
For instance, the Three-Treasure Spirit Soil he held was made from the Heavenly Treasure Zixia Wind, the Earthly Treasure Lava Blood, and the Human Treasure Heroic Bone Ash, carefully mixed and refined.
Such spirit soil was incredibly precious even within the Myriad Medicine Sect, only required by certain top-tier medicinal plants.
Thanks to Lin Shanshan, Ning Zhuo, an outsider, managed to acquire such a fine item.
In regular immortal city markets, this was very hard to come by.
Ning Zhuo first dug a pit, placing all the Three-Treasure Spirit Soil inside, and then sprinkled it evenly with Five-Colored Divine Sand.
He took out a magic artifact bottle from his robe, slowly pouring out Starlight Spirit Liquid.
The flowing liquid shimmered with starlight, drawing much attention.
The spirit liquid moistened the soil.
Ning Zhuo waited quietly.
After a while, he crouched down, using his spiritual sense to permeate the soil, carefully observing the quality.
Finding it somewhat dry, he poured a little more Starlight Spirit Liquid.
Each time, he poured only a small amount, carefully and meticulously, eventually reaching the desired standard.
Ning Zhuo had Sun Lingtong come over to inspect, to ensure he hadn’t missed anything or made a first-time mistake.
Sun Lingtong didn’t have a deep understanding of these matters. He could only rely on his past experience in stealing spirit plants, carefully observing the pit, and thinking it resembled the holes left after uprooting spirit plants.
“I feel it’s about right!” he told the returning Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo knew that Sun Lingtong’s affirmation was more of a reassurance than genuine certainty.
He checked once more, confirming that everything was up to standard, before planting the Lingyin Willow in the pit.
Afterward, Ning Zhuo filled and compacted the pit.
He then activated the Bagua Returning Wind Array, carefully adjusting the previously arranged streams of spiritual energy to flow around the Lingyin Willow.
Three streams of spiritual energy were buried within the soil, weaving between the roots of the Lingyin Willow. Two more streams—one passed through the tree crown, and the other hovered around the middle of the trunk.
At this point, the Lingyin Willow was able to absorb far richer spiritual energy than before.
But it still wasn’t natural enough.
A key point in cultivating spirit plants was to mimic nature. The initial stage was to replicate a natural growth environment.
Since the streams of spiritual energy were too concentrated, they couldn’t naturally dissipate.
Thus, Ning Zhuo needed to set up a second array.
Soon enough, the second and third arrays were successfully arranged. Once activated, a spring breeze began to swirl, hastening the dissipation of the streams of spiritual energy. The sound was as pleasing as birdsong, crisp and delightful.
The arrays consumed the power of Three-Mile Spring Wind and Melodious Sounds.
The Lingyin Willow's branches gently swayed in the wind, as if enjoying this rare peace and comfort.
Under the nourishment of abundant spiritual energy, the willow leaves appeared even more lustrous and jade-like than before.
Sun Lingtong marveled, “This environment is so nice, I almost want to move here to sleep.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head. “Let’s leave this place for the Lingyin Willow.”
“These past days, we’ve drained it quite a bit. Let it quietly recuperate here, and hopefully, it will soon regain its full vitality.”
After finishing these tasks, Ning Zhuo was quite exhausted as well.
He slept soundly, and the next day, he went to Yuanlai Mountain to find Lin Shanshan.
However, at the foot of the mountain, he was stopped.
“You’re Ning Zhuo, right?” The Foundation Establishment cultivator who blocked him was a short man named Lao De.
“So it’s Senior Brother Lao. I am indeed Ning Zhuo!” Ning Zhuo smiled and greeted him politely.
Lao De crossed his arms, looking down at Ning Zhuo with a hostile gaze. “Who gave you the right to call me Senior Brother? You’re not even from the Myriad Medicine Sect.”
“Daoist Lao,” Ning Zhuo corrected with a smile, remaining calm and composed.
Lao De snorted coldly. “I am Shanshan’s third senior brother. Do you know that recently, Shanshan has been running around for your sake, even neglecting her daily cultivation?”
Ning Zhuo immediately straightened his expression. “I am deeply grateful for Miss Lin’s efforts on my behalf, and I will always remember it. I will repay her in the future.”
Lao De waved his hand dismissively. “Spare me your promises of future repayment. Shanshan has already been caught by the sect master for slacking in her cultivation and has been punished with confinement.”
“You don’t need to look for her today.”
“Is that so! Miss Lin has sacrificed too much for me.” Ning Zhuo’s expression changed.
It was clear that Lao De was here specifically to intercept Ning Zhuo.
“If you’ve got nothing else, you should leave,” Lao De issued a blunt dismissal.
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, inquiring about Lin Shanshan’s current situation, only to be met with Lao De’s cold sneers.
With no other choice, he could only return home.
Many eyes were on Ning Zhuo as he left. Only when his figure completely disappeared from Yuanlai Mountain did those cultivators slowly withdraw their gazes.
“This guy is so ordinary. Why is Junior Sister so infatuated? I can’t figure it out.”
“Hmph, what I hate most in life is this kind of pretty face. No real skills, but always good with words.”
“Enough. Junior Sister has already been confined. Let’s calculate how much debt she incurred gathering treasures for that brat Ning Zhuo. As her senior brothers, we should pool our resources and pay off her debts to the elders.”
“Doing this leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Yeah, it feels like we’re taking the hit for Ning Zhuo.”
“Call him over and make him pay!”
“Forget it. He’s not just some random village boy. He has the backing of a cultivation family and is highly favored by his family’s Golden Core Ancestor. If we make a move, what happens when the Ning family collaborates with the Myriad Medicine Sect in the future?”
“But swallowing this bitter pill just feels too hard.”
“Who isn’t feeling that way? But she’s our Junior Sister.”
“Ah, Junior Sister really lost her mind this time.”
“I think she’s been completely bewitched by that Ning Zhuo. I feel so bad for Senior Brother!”
“If it weren’t for Senior Brother being punished to guard the Myriad Beast Cave, how could Ning Zhuo have taken advantage?”
The more the senior brothers discussed, the more indignant they became.
“No, Ning Zhuo needs to be taught a lesson, or I won’t be able to sleep.”
“Yeah, even if he has the Ning family behind him, that’s far away at Huoshi Mountain.”
“We can’t do it ourselves, but we can stir up trouble and let the external cultivators do the job.”
“Great idea, great idea!”
After returning to his cave, Ning Zhuo quickly received Sun Lingtong’s report.
Sun Lingtong recounted every word of the conversation between Lin Shanshan’s senior brothers to Ning Zhuo.
As it turned out, Ning Zhuo had only pretended to leave, secretly making a small move by casually throwing the Wanli Dragon coiled around his waist into the mountains.
Sun Lingtong then controlled the Wanli Dragon to track Lao De, eventually overhearing the entire conversation.
Ning Zhuo sighed. “Miss Lin has indeed sacrificed a lot for me. I will repay her someday.”
Sun Lingtong, with his hands behind his head, pondered the current situation. “Those cultivators
want to come after us. How should we handle it?”
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly. “Their idea of using external cultivators to suppress me is actually pretty clever.”
“On top of that, I didn’t win over everyone after quickly defeating Chang Yan.”
“So, it’s likely that a large number of external cultivators or strong individuals will come to challenge me.”
“This is actually a good thing.”
“It will give me a chance to refine my combat skills.”
“The only downside is having no one to spar with. It’s a bit frustrating.”
At this point, Ning Zhuo glanced at Sun Lingtong. “Boss Sun, what do you think of Han Zhou?”
Sun Lingtong replied, “His martial arts are quite fierce, and they align well with his cultivation technique.”
“Let’s go talk to him,” Ning Zhuo said with a smile, standing up.
Moments later, he met with Han Zhou.
Han Zhou was puzzled by his visit.
“Brother Han Zhou, how about we go inside and talk?” Ning Zhuo suggested.
Han Zhou had no objections and invited Ning Zhuo into his cave.
Ning Zhuo exchanged insights with him, sharing his understanding of the Bitter Cold Sutra.
Han Zhou's eyes widened, delighted. “Ning Zhuo’s comprehension is truly remarkable. He’s grasped many aspects of the Bitter Cold Sutra.”
“This is fantastic.”
“If I can enlighten him further, my contract will be greatly fulfilled.”
Seeing the time was right, Ning Zhuo proposed that he and Han Zhou spar at the martial arena.
Han Zhou agreed without hesitation!
(End of Chapter)