65: Chapter 65 Spirit Field Planning and Thunder Element Fruit Tree

Deep winter at Emerald Bamboo Peak, cold winds swept through the bamboo forest, emitting a sound like sobbing.

Lin Xuan pushed open the window of the Quiet Room, and the white breath he exhaled condensed into a mist in the cold air.

It had been over half a month since he discovered the underground Alchemy room.

During these days, aside from his daily, unwavering routine of Cultivating, making Talismans, and tending to the herb garden, most of his attention had been focused on the half-mu of newly cleared spirit field within the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

The soil had already been turned and repeatedly soaked with Thunder Spiritual Energy, so the soil contained vibrant, thunder-attribute vitality.

However, Lin Xuan was in no rush to sow seeds.

He sat cross-legged in the Quiet Room with three items spread out before him: the copy of "introduction to hundreds of herbs" with its edges frayed from use, the handwritten copy of Deacon Wu's personal notes on spirit plants that he had borrowed, and his own insights recorded from the herb garden.

"The Dao of spirit planting is thirty percent planting and seventy percent management. Selecting seeds and raising seedlings, adapting to local conditions, is the most critical part."

This opening sentence of Deacon Wu's notes was something Lin Xuan had long memorized.

He picked up his brush and wrote down the planning points on a blank sheet of paper.

Goal: Balance short-term gains with long-term value; it must be adaptable to the environment within the space, which is dominated by Spiritual Qi.

Optional spirit plant:

1. thunder-pattern grass (First Order Medium Grade)

· Advantages: Already have mature planting experience.

Growth cycle is 8-10 months; the whole plant can be used as medicine, it is an auxiliary material for various thunder-attribute Medicinal Pill, demand is stable, and it is easy to sell.

· Disadvantages: Value is relatively ordinary, and it has limited improvement on the Spiritual Qi of the space.

· Plan: Plant two fen of land as a source of stable output and for practice.

2. thunder spirit flower (First Order High Grade)

· Advantages: The flowers contain pure Thunder Spiritual Energy and can be used directly to assist in Cultivation or as an ingredient for high-level Medicinal Pill.

The flowering period is long, it has good ornamental value, and it can beautify the environment of the space to a certain extent.

· Disadvantages: Cultivation requires precision and is sensitive to soil and fluctuations in Spiritual Qi.

The price of seeds or seedlings is relatively high.

· Plan: Plant one fen of land, attempt cultivation, and accumulate experience.

3. shocking thunder flower (First Order High Grade)

· Advantages: Medicinal efficacy is stronger than thunder-pattern grass; it is one of the main ingredients for refining the First Order High Grade "shocking thunder pill," which is beneficial for breaking through the small Bottleneck of the Qi Refinement Stage.

If successfully grown, it would be of great value.

· Disadvantages: The growth environment requirements are extremely harsh; it requires stable and dense Thunder Spiritual Energy and must avoid damp, shady conditions.

High risk of failure.

· Plan: Plant one fen of land, adjacent to the thunder spirit flower, and observe carefully.

4. thunder essence fruit tree (First Order Top Grade) — Core Goal

· Advantages: The "thunder essence fruit" it bears upon maturity is a First Order Top Grade spirit fruit; consuming it directly can advance one's Cultivation, with effects far exceeding the qi gathering pill; it is also one of the main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Stage auxiliary Medicinal Pill, "thunder essence pill."

The bark and leaves can be used to make "thunder essence Talisman paper," which provides a success rate bonus for thunder-attribute Talisman.

It has extremely high long-term value.

· Disadvantages: The price of seedlings is extremely expensive, growth is extremely slow (first harvest expected to take three to five years), and it requires a large amount of Thunder Spiritual Energy for daily nourishment, posing a huge test to the planter's patience and resources.

· Plan: If a seedling can be purchased, place it in the best position of the spirit field (directly below the thunder-attracting vine, in the area where the Thunder-Light Bug resides) and provide dedicated care.

After writing all this down, Lin Xuan carefully reviewed it.

"thunder-pattern grass as a baseline, thunder spirit flower and shocking thunder flower as attempts to improve, and the thunder essence fruit tree... a gamble on the future."

He muttered to himself, "But the stakes are not small."

Putting down the pen, he looked out the window.

The sky was just beginning to brighten; it was time to go to the market.

The market in deep winter was even more desolate than in autumn.

Many stalls were completely empty, hanging wooden signs that read, "Owner has business, temporarily closed."

In the shops that were still open, the shopkeepers and assistants were all behind the counters, rarely calling out to customers.

Lin Xuan first went to two spirit plant shops with good reputations.

"thunder-pattern grass seeds? Yes, yes, yes!" The shopkeeper of the first shop was a chubby middle-aged man.

Seeing Lin Xuan enter, he quickly stood up, "How many does Junior Brother need?"

"Two hundred grains." Lin Xuan stated the number.

Two hundred seeds were more than enough to plant two fen of land, and he needed to reserve some for losses and subsequent replanting.

"Alright! thunder-pattern grass seeds, one and a half contribution points per grain, two hundred grains for three hundred points.

I'll give you a discount, let's say two hundred and eighty!" The shopkeeper said readily.

Lin Xuan paid the contribution points, put away the seeds packed in a jade bottle, and asked casually: "Shopkeeper, do you have seeds for the thunder spirit flower or the shocking thunder flower? Or even better, seedlings."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper looked troubled: "We do have some stock of thunder spirit flower seeds, but the shocking thunder flower... that thing is delicate, the seed survival rate is low, so our small shop usually doesn't stock it.

As for thunder spirit flower seeds, ten grains per portion, fifty contribution points per portion.

For seedlings, you have to go to 'Hundred Herbs Pavilion' to ask; they specialize in medium and High Grade spirit plants."

Lin Xuan made a note of it, went to the second shop, and purchased some basic auxiliary materials for blending spirit soil, which cost him thirty points.

Finally, he arrived at the east side of the market, at "Hundred Herbs Pavilion," which had the largest storefront and the most sophisticated decor.

The shop was as warm as spring, filled with a faint, fresh fragrance of plants.

Dozens of jade pots and jade boxes were displayed on the counter, with various spirit plant seedlings planted inside, glowing with spiritual light; one could tell at a glance that they were not ordinary items.

There were few customers in the shop, only two or three Disciple wearing the Dharma robes of various peaks quietly selecting items.

A female cultivator in a pale green dress with a gentle temperament approached: "What does this Junior Brother need?"

"I would like to see some thunder-attribute spirit plants, preferably seedlings." Lin Xuan said.

The female cultivator led him to an area on the west side.

Most of the spirit plants displayed here had purple or silver patterns on their leaves, clearly indicating they were thunder-attribute.

Lin Xuan spotted the thunder spirit flower at a glance—three-inch-tall seedlings with slender leaves, their edges shimmering with silver electric light, planted in a palm-sized white jade pot, priced at "fifty contribution points per plant."

"thunder spirit flower seedlings, they can bloom after three years of cultivation.

This batch was newly raised this autumn, and their vitality is very good." The female cultivator introduced.

"I want five." Lin Xuan said.

Five plants were enough for one fen of land, as he needed to leave enough space for growth.

"Alright.

In addition, for the shocking thunder flower, we only have seeds, ten grains per portion, sixty points per portion.

The survival rate... is less than thirty percent, Junior Brother should be mentally prepared." The female cultivator said honestly.

"I'll take one portion." Lin Xuan nodded.

He knew the shocking thunder flower was hard to grow, but it was worth a try.

The female cultivator noted it down and asked again: "Does Junior Brother need anything else? We have some rare thunder-attribute spirit plants here."

Lin Xuan took a deep breath: "Do you have... thunder essence fruit tree seedlings?"

Hearing this, the female cultivator's expression became serious.

She looked Lin Xuan over carefully before saying: "Junior Brother, please wait a moment."

She turned and walked into the inner room.

A moment later, she returned holding a dark purple jade box about a foot long and half a foot wide.

The surface of the jade box was engraved with spirit-sealing array patterns, clearly indicating that what was inside was of great importance.

Placing the jade box on a specially made stone table, the female cultivator carefully opened the lid.

Inside the box lay thick moss soaked in spirit liquid.

In the center of the moss was planted a small sapling about a foot tall.

The main trunk of the sapling was only as thick as a thumb, dark purple in color, and covered with dense, silver scale-like patterns on the surface.

The top was divided into three branches, each with seven or eight long, narrow leaves.

The leaves were deep purple, but the veins were bright silver.

Even inside the box, faint electric sparks jumped silently at the edges of the leaves.

Just by looking at it, one could feel the pure and vibrant thunder-attribute vitality contained within.

"thunder essence fruit tree, First Order Top Grade spirit plant seedling.

Three years old, cultivated from a cutting of a three-hundred-year-old mother tree, with excellent vitality." The female cultivator lowered her voice, "The price... is six hundred contribution points."

Even though Lin Xuan was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the price.

Six hundred points!

That was equivalent to six hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone, enough to buy a high-quality High Grade Magical Artifact.

"Too expensive." Lin Xuan shook his head, "Five hundred points, and I'll take it."

The female cultivator looked troubled: "Junior Brother, this price really cannot be lowered.

The thunder essence fruit tree is extremely difficult to Cultivate, and the survival rate is low, so our cost to acquire it is very high.

Five hundred and eighty points, that is the bottom line.

Any lower, and the shopkeeper will scold me."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment.

He knew that what the other party said was true; the thunder essence fruit tree was indeed rare.

But five hundred and eighty points was still an astronomical figure.

"How about this," he said, "five hundred and twenty points, and I will buy this seedling.

If I am fortunate enough to harvest fruit in the future, I can promise that if I sell any, I will prioritize supplying your shop with a portion of the thunder essence fruit, at a price ten percent lower than the market price.

How about that?"

The female cultivator's eyes lit up.

The thunder essence fruit was rare; if a stable supply channel could be established, it would be of great significance to the shop.

She thought for a moment: "Junior Brother, please wait, I will go ask the shopkeeper."

A moment later, the female cultivator returned with a smile on her face: "The shopkeeper agreed.

Five hundred and twenty points, plus the future priority supply agreement.

Junior Brother, please sign this spirit contract."

Lin Xuan took the pale gold silk scroll handed to him by the female cultivator, on which the transaction details and priority supply terms were written in spirit script.

After reading it carefully and confirming it was correct, he left his mark using his Divine Sense.

His identity jade token swiped, and his contribution points plummeted from "one thousand and twenty-seven" to "five hundred and seven."

Including the previous expenses, the contribution points he had on hand fell back below the five hundred mark.

But as he carefully held the dark purple jade box, he felt it was worth it.