Chen Ye pushed away the young female cultivator in his arms.
Under Lin Qiongyu’s uneasy gaze, he stepped forward, his eyes falling on the ailing Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng.
The ginseng’s roots were gnarled, its leaves dull and lifeless, wrapped in dense Demonic Qi that emitted a nauseating stench of decay.
Even Zhou Mingyuan, a Spirit Plant Master, was at a loss.
Chen Ye stared at the ginseng for a moment, and a sharp, unmatched golden aura suddenly shone at his fingertips. It was Geng Metal Qi!
"Geng Metal Qi?"
Zhou Mingyuan frowned, his tone laced with incredulous anger,
"Taoist Friend Chen, are you kidding? Geng Metal Qi is sharp and overbearing, ordinary Loose Cultivators only use it to remove pests. How can such a delicate Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng withstand such torment?"
He had initially thought Chen Ye had some real skills to his earlier high-minded theory, but unexpectedly his first move was so reckless.
In the corner, Kong Hongxuan finally let go of his long-held breath.
He lowered his head and drank self-mockingly.
Did others not know, but did Kong Hongxuan not understand?
A month ago, this person was just a lowly ant in the shantytown, struggling to survive, at his mercy.
Could he ascend to the heavens in one step within such a short time? Foolish dreams!
As for that poisoned wine, it was merely to make Chen Ye humiliate himself, directly offending the Chairman... to avoid future troubles.
Moreover, even if Chen Ye claimed his Spiritual Power was sluggish, the Chairman would only see it as an excuse, possibly even abolishing Chen Ye out of fury.
Compared to these two, ginseng owner Luo Heng appeared much calmer.
He stroked his beard without speaking, letting Chen Ye work his magic.
The reason was simple, as long as Chen Ye was sane, he wouldn’t seek death by using Geng Metal Qi to ravage the ginseng.
This meant he was confident!
"This ginseng’s Demonic Qi is deeply entrenched, its foundation already damaged. Ordinary nourishing and purifying methods are just surface-level fixes."
Chen Ye spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but each word clearly heard by everyone present.
Steward Zhou heard this, and his face sank further, wasn’t this precisely why he was helpless earlier?
This Loose Cultivator, unbelievably, identified the crux of the problem at a glance!
Luo Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked, "Then what does Taoist Friend Chen suggest?"
"Severe diseases require potent medicine, chronic ailments need a sharp blade!"
Chen Ye’s tone shifted, decisive and firm,
"Only Geng Metal Qi can scrape the bones to cure the poison!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingyuan nearly laughed in anger, "Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"
Chen Ye paused, glanced at Luo Heng, "What does Chairman Luo think?"
"No harm!" Luo Heng immediately decided, "Taoist Friend Chen, please proceed! Even if you fail, you will not be blamed!"
Chen Ye inwardly scoffed, Luo Heng’s assurance was just noise. If truly he ruined this ginseng crucial to Luo Heng’s path, the old fox would be the first to skin him alive.
But what he wanted was Luo Heng’s current attitude, to prevent any complications midway.
Upon gaining approval, Chen Ye then confidently acted.
The next moment, Zhou Mingyuan’s eyes widened abruptly, exclaiming in astonishment, "No, this... this Geng Metal Qi... how could it be like this!"
Only to see the golden light at Chen Ye’s fingertips transform into a fine strand of gold wire rather than brutally piercing the ginseng.
Like the most agile carving knife, it precisely seeped and peeled along the seams between the Demonic Qi and Spirit Veins!
Luo Heng’s spirit lifted. He knew little about Geng Metal Qi and hurriedly asked, "Steward Zhou, this is...?"
"Converting Qi into a needle, entering the micro-level, the edge follows the heart! To remove such stubborn Demonic Qi, it couldn’t be more suitable!"
Zhou Mingyuan shook his head in amazement, sighing,
"Actually, Geng Metal Qi is now a Slaughter Technique, but initially it was a Spirit Plant Technique. True Man Baili had a young daughter who loved tending flowers, but suffered pest attacks. To win his daughter’s smile, he created this technique... it’s just that the world lacked True Man Baili’s mastery and hence used it mostly for slaughter."
Zhou Mingyuan was an outer sect steward of the Lingyin Sect with some knowledge of the tales involving True Man Baili.
Zhou Mingyuan nodded appreciatively, "It seems this person’s Spirit Plant Technique is not below mine... wait, what is this?"
Before finishing his sentence, Zhou Mingyuan widened his eyes again.
Chen Ye extended his finger, gently brushing the ginseng’s leaves, a Spiritual Light swirling at his fingertip, precisely the perfection-level Cloud Rain Technique.
The Spirit Rain, imbued with the overflowing vitality of Limit Break Evergreen Technique, quietly condensed like smoke and mist, gently enveloping the entire ginseng.
"Hmm? This Cloud Rain Technique..."
Zhou Mingyuan frowned slightly, sensing that the vitality within this Spirit Rain far surpassed the ordinary, pure, and refined, impossible for an average Medicinal Farmer to perform.
Next, after forcibly removing the entrenched blockage, Chen Ye then pinched out the Jade Saber.
After all, the Geng Metal Qi is too domineering, and the Gold Series Spiritual Qi also damages the Spirit Plant. Subsequent actions will still require the Disease Removal Saber.
...
One two-hour later.
Zhou Mingyuan went from initial shock to mid-way astonishment, and finally transformed into deep admiration and submission.
"Marvelous! Truly marvelous!"
Zhou Mingyuan couldn’t help but clap in praise, looking at Chen Ye with eyes full of respect,
"Taoist Friend Chen’s achievements in the Spirit Plant Technique might be on par with mine! Conducting acupuncture with the sharpness of the Geng Metal Qi, fortifying the foundation with the gentleness of the Cloud Rain Technique, mending the damage precisely with the Fostering Technique, and the Disease Removal Saber impeccable in excising the lesion! These Three Spirit Plant Skills, all fundamental, yet I have never heard nor seen anyone with such expertise! Remarkable! Truly remarkable!"
Zhou Mingyuan’s sincere admiration instantly changed the atmosphere within the Warm Pavilion.
Luo Heng’s eyes sparkled with brilliance, his delight evident.
Kong Hongxuan’s face turned ashen, fear spreading through his heart like a tide.
He knew he was finished!
But why?
A month ago, wasn’t Chen Ye merely a Loose Cultivator getting by in the slums?
No matter how he thought about it, Kong Hongxuan couldn’t foresee this outcome, exceeding common expectations!
After who knows how long, Chen Ye withdrew his hand, most of the Demonic Qi on the Mysterious Ginseng had been dispelled, and the leaves regained some luster. Although still withered, the vitality was now stable.
Wiping the fine sweat off his brow, he calmly stated, "This Mysterious Ginseng has harbored Demonic Qi deeply for a long time, the damage is severe. Today we can only stabilize the vitality temporarily; full recovery will require several more treatments."
In truth, Chen Ye had the ability to cure it completely.
But the afflicted Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng was equivalent to Chen Ye’s talisman of protection.
He had already decided that unless he was admitted into the Lingyin Sect, he would not completely heal it.
"Good, good, good! Taoist Friend Chen’s talent is extraordinary!"
Luo Heng clapped and laughed heartily, overflowing with delight,
"Someone come! Bring my treasure, present it to Taoist Friend Chen!"
He looked at Chen Ye with appreciation and eagerness, and seeing Chen Ye ignoring Lin Qiongyu, Luo Heng’s eyes twinkled as he clapped his hands.
Music started again, and several Female Cultivators dressed in thin veils with varying temperaments filed in, their figures enchanting and eyes sparkling, all possessing excellent features, and not low in cultivation.
"Taoist Friend Chen, after a tiring journey, why not let these beauties ease your fatigue?"
Luo Heng smiled warmly, his tone kind, like a sincere elder thinking of his friend’s well-being.
Chen Ye, however, was unmoved, clasped his hands, and said, "Chairman Luo’s kind offer, Chen appreciates. Although the beauties are fine, Chen is focused on the Dao and dares not indulge in pleasures."
His expression was composed, as if refusing an ordinary item.
Chen Ye shifted his tone, his gaze falling on the ashen-faced Kong Hongxuan: "Speaking of which, I have something to ask Chairman Luo today. Earlier during the banquet, there were some issues with the wine... perhaps it is related to your esteemed Taoist Friend Kong?"
With these words, the temperature in the pavilion abruptly dropped!
"Chairman! Wait... don’t listen to his nonsense! Moreover, Chen Ye was just a Loose Cultivator in the slums a month ago, how could he possess his current skills? It must be the Blinding Technique!"
Before Luo Heng could speak, Kong Hongxuan had already fallen to his knees, looking at Chen Ye with venomous eyes.
He knew he couldn’t deceive the chairman, so he could only divert the chairman’s attention.
Kong Hongxuan spoke anxiously again: "Or perhaps, he had some incredible encounter! Chairman! This person definitely harbors a great secret!"
Zhou Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, suddenly laughing:
"Taoist Friend Kong, your words are mistaken. How could I not know about the Spirit Plants? Taoist Friend Chen, your skills are indeed superb! Furthermore, Taoist Friend Kong has resolved my confusion."
"Taoist Friend Chen’s Three Skills are the most common Spirit Plant Techniques, experienced in execution, skilled in method. Only through years of diligent practice can they be acquired. I truly admire, Taoist Friend Chen is indeed resolute and unmovable by external influences, devotedly cultivating these Three Skills in the slums!"
In other words, he implied that Chen Ye’s Three Skills are ordinary.
However, it was Chen Ye’s dedicated practice, disregarding external matters, that led to today’s expertise.
"Chairman! Don’t believe him! This Steward Zhou must be in collusion with him!" Kong Hongxuan, desperate, spoke without thinking.
Unexpectedly, the benevolence and kindness on Luo Heng’s face vanished instantly, replaced by cold killing intent.
Without giving Kong Hongxuan any chance to argue, his withered hand struck out like lightning, pressing down directly on Kong Hongxuan’s Dantian!
"Crack!"
A crisp sound, Kong Hongxuan screamed miserably, his Dantian shattered, cultivation destroyed!
His entire being fell limp to the ground like mud, convulsing in pain.
This ruthless and decisive scene made Chen Ye’s eyelids twitch, cold sweat seeping down his back again.
This Luo Heng, truly ruthless and decisive, turning heartlessly!
Luo Heng withdrew his hand, a warm smile reappearing on his face:
"A small matter, sullied the eyes of Taoist Friend Chen. This vile and misguided individual is of no use to keep. Taoist Friend Chen, do you find this action satisfactory?"