In the evening, Meng Qinlin delivered the seeds of the Deity's Beard. It was a handful of seeds the size of rice, each crystal clear.
He reminded them that the time limit was one month. Whoever could grow the seeds would be the winner. The survival rate of the seeds would be determined. Everyone had the same number of seeds. No one dared to cheat.
Before Meng Qinlin left, he patted Chu Li's shoulder. "Young Chu, don't worry too much about this competition."
Chu Li glanced at him.
Meng Qinlin said, "This is a false reputation. If you want to achieve something, you can't be burdened by it. People like us have to calm down. If we can't calm down, we won't be able to go far!"
Chu Li smiled. "Thank you, Sir Meng."
These words came from the bottom of his heart. He did not treat himself as an outsider.
"Young Chu, you have talent. The most important thing now is to calm down and not fight for fame. You can't fight for the limelight when researching plants. You'll be impatient when you fight for the limelight. Don't be like Gu Litong!"
"Sir Meng, I'm young and energetic. I like fame too." Chu Li smiled.
Meng Qinlin shook his head. "Gu Litong loves fame. Fighting for it will stimulate his strength. You're different. You can't walk the same path."
Chu Li fist saluted. "Thank you, Sir Meng!"
He was no different from Gu Litong. They were both self-centered. It was only because he had lived two lives that he could control his emotions.
Gu Litong pursued fame and fortune. Chu Li pursued power. Fame and fortune could be put aside.
Meng Qinlin patted his shoulder and left.
Chu Li went to the lake to send him off. When he returned, he held the seeds and quietly felt their vitality. Half of them were full of vitality while the other half was dying.
He sat in the Moonlight Orchid parterre and transferred his energy to nourish the seeds. When they were full of vitality, he scattered them evenly on the ground and covered them with a shallow layer of mud.
He pressed his palm on the ground. Through the shallow mud, he could still feel the seeds. He was relieved. He suddenly realized that the mud could not isolate his connection with the plants.
He tried it. Within ten meters, he could use the earth to establish a connection with the seeds. He did not use his hands. Instead, he used his feet to exchange spiritual energy. It was no different than using his hands. In fact, any part of his body was the same. He could exchange spiritual energy with the earth even if he was lying down.
He tried it again. It was the same as the other flowers and plants. He didn't need to touch them within ten meters, and he could use the earth to conduct spiritual energy.
Night fell, the moonlight was like water, and the stars were dim.
Moonlight orchid garden.
Chu Li and Li Yue sat at the stone table, drinking tea. The red clay stove beside them was bubbling and emitting white steam. The fragrance of tea wafted through the air.
The lantern was not lit, but it did not hinder his eyes.
There was moonlight in the surroundings, and the three Moonlight Orchids emitted a watery brilliance. With the addition of the Snow Orchids in the surroundings, the light in the flower garden was soft and dreamy.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Xiao Qi and Su Ru walked over gracefully as if they were floating on clouds. They were indescribably graceful.
Li Yue hurriedly stood up. The two women were dressed in white. It was as if they had been standing there all along, hidden in the darkness. Suddenly, they were revealed by the light.
Chu Li stood up to greet him.
Xiao Qi's body exuded a warm luster, making her look like an otherworldly fairy. She gently waved her hand. "Sit down."
Li Yue respectfully set up two wooden stools and invited the two ladies to take a seat. He was worried that the stone stools would be too cold for them to sit on.
Su Ru held a small box in her hand. She opened it and took out a tea set made of Sheep-Fat White Jade.
Her slender hands and the Sheep-Fat White Jade tea set complemented each other. It was breathtaking.
Su Ru elegantly washed the pot and cup, then poured tea for Xiao Qi. She then looked up at Chu Li. "Chu Li, can it really bloom at night?"
Chu Li nodded. "Yes."
"If you're wrong, I won't forgive you!" Su Ru rolled her eyes at him.
Chu Li smiled. "Don't worry, Chief. It will bloom tonight. After tonight, it will turn into mud."
"That's good …" Su Ru nodded and scoffed. "Are you confident that you can grow the Deity's Beard?"
"No problem."
"Hmph, you're quite arrogant!" Su Ru squinted her eyes and rolled her eyes at him. You really don't know how to count! No matter what, you should at least leave some leeway, right? Aren't you afraid that something unexpected might happen?
Chu Li said, "The Deity's Beard has already sprouted. It will only break through the soil in two days."
"Oh?" Su Ru was surprised. "So soon? This thing doesn't sprout easily. "
Chu Li smiled and did not say anything.
They needed enough spiritual energy to germinate, so they had a high requirement for the environment. If they were left to their own devices, they would need to absorb spiritual energy for many years before germinating. Most of the time, they would rot before germinating.
"So you're saying that you can win against Gu Litong?" Su Ru asked.
Chu Li smiled. "No problem."
"I'd like to see what you'll do if you lose!" Su Ru scoffed. "Gu Litong is not someone to be trifled with. Be careful!"
Chu Li said, "As long as he doesn't play any tricks, he won't win!"
Su Ru pouted and rolled her eyes at him.
Li Yue kept signaling him to watch his words. Chief Su Ru was not someone he could afford to offend.
Xiao Qi quietly drank her tea and did not say a word.
Chu Li suddenly pointed at the Nightmare Flower that was as thick as a thumb. "It's starting!"
The Nightmare Flower was growing rapidly. After a month, it was as thick as a thumb. There were two flower buds hanging on its branches. The strangest thing was that it had no leaves, only bare branches and flower buds.
As soon as Chu Li finished speaking, the flower bud trembled and slowly opened up. Xiao Qi and Su Ru were surprised.
The flower bud bloomed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Ten minutes later, it was completely bloomed. The snow-white petals seemed to be shining.
Su Ru murmured, "So beautiful …"
Chu Li had read the introduction of the Nightmare Flower before. This was the first time he saw it bloom. It was indescribably beautiful and he was inexplicably touched.
An hour later, the petals began to change color. They were dyed a layer of pink. Another hour passed, and the petals turned crimson. The petals changed color every hour.
In the end, they became colorless again. They looked like two peony flowers carved from ice.
Chu Li stretched out his hand and pinched, picking the two flowers with ease.
Xiao Qi, Su Ru, and Li Yue stared at him angrily.
Chu Li put the two flowers into the jade box and gently closed it. He let out a long sigh of relief. In the blink of an eye, the flower withered and turned yellow.
Chu Li blew on it, and the flower turned into dust that was blown away by the wind.
The three of them then came back to their senses. The Nightmare Flower seemed to have an incredible power. It made people love and cherish it.
"Lady Xiao, it's done." Chu Li pushed the jade box in front of Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi looked at the jade box and nodded.
Su Ru asked, "Lady Xiao, do you want to try it?"
"Yes, I have to." Xiao Qi nodded.
"Let me do it!" Su Ru was eager to try.
Xiao Qi glared at her. Su Ru smiled to please her.
Chu Li said, "If I'm not mistaken, one flower can maintain one's youth for sixty years. Two flowers can maintain one's youth for ninety years. It's a pity there are no more seeds."
"There's one more," Su Ru said.
Xiao Qi thought for a moment. "Su Ru, go get it."
"Yes!" Su Ru answered excitedly and fluttered away.
Not long after, she returned with a small box in her hand. She presented it to Xiao Qi with both hands.
Xiao Qi opened it and pushed it in front of Chu Li.
Chu Li took out the seed and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Qi asked.
Chu Li shook his head. "This seed is dead."
"Dead?" Li Yue was shocked. "It can't grow anymore?"
Chu Li nodded slowly and looked at Xiao Qi helplessly. "There's no vitality left. Lady Xiao, forgive me for not being able to help!"
Xiao Qi smiled faintly. "Forget it then. Chu Li, this matter will not spread and your rank will not be raised."
"Yes." Chu Li nodded.
Li Yue looked at Xiao Qi curiously.
Su Ru chuckled. "Chu Li, aren't you angry?"
Chu Li smiled. "As a Scribe of the Garden, this is what I should do."
"It's rare for you to have such awareness." Su Ru smiled. "Don't worry, Lady Xiao will not mistreat you!"
Chu Li said, "I'm grateful that Lady Xiao thinks so highly of me."
Su Ru rolled her eyes at him. "Lady Xiao is preparing to open up a spiritual land in the East Garden. I'll leave this matter to you!"
"A spiritual land?!" Chu Li was shocked.
The soil of the Herb Garden was different from that of a normal garden. It was obtained at a high price.
It was said that the method of producing spiritual land had been lost. Only the royal family had it, but it was kept a secret.
The books in the library did not have a complete method. Chu Li compared more than ten books and found the method of producing spiritual land.
He mentioned to Su Ru that he found the method of producing spiritual land. Su Ru did not pay much attention to it at that time. She did not expect him to take it seriously!
An inch of spiritual land was worth an inch of gold. It was even more expensive than gold.
Even if a normal person knew the method of producing spiritual land, it would be useless. It required spirit herbs and decaying soil to be mixed together. This spirit herb was not something that a normal rich family could afford.
Xiao Qi asked, "You can't do it?"
Chu Li said, "Lady Xiao is really bold!"
"This spiritual land won't be too big. Try to plant some rare spirit herbs," Xiao Qi said.
Chu Li fist saluted. "I won't let you down!"
With a spiritual land, he would not have to go to the Herb Garden to suffer from the smoke. With his own cultivation land, he could cultivate in peace.
"The matter of the spiritual land is already being handled." Xiao Qi said. "Keep it a secret."
Chu Li nodded slowly.
Xiao Qi said, "Logically, you should find someone with experience to help you, but …"
"Lady Xiao, I can do it alone. I'll give it a try," Chu Li said.
"That's good." Xiao Qi nodded and stood up. "It's late. You should rest."
Su Ru picked up the jade box. "Chu Li, behave yourself for the next few days. Don't cause any more trouble!"
"… I will admit defeat to Gu Litong," Chu Li said.
Xiao Qi looked at him deeply and turned to leave.
Su Ru smiled and rolled her eyes. She waved her hand to indicate that she did not need to send him off and left.
Li Yue stared at Chu Li with his eyes wide open. Chu Li was deep in thought.
"You really want to admit defeat?" Li Yue could not help but ask.
Chu Li nodded.
"Why?" Li Yue scoffed. "I can't stand Gu Litong's face. I really want to slap him!"
Chu Li said, "A little impatience will spoil the big plan. Alright, you better keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone else!"
Li Yue understood. "Lady Xiao wants to build a Herb Garden in secret?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
