19: Sword Grass

The Sword Pavilion is a vast orthodoxy with a clear hierarchy.

The Spirit Herb Hall is a base-level organization, while the Wood Lineage is a higher-level existence.

Disciples of the Spirit Herb Hall, whether ordinary or elite, are all Outer Sect Disciples of the Sword Pavilion.

Disciples of the Wood Lineage are Inner Sect Disciples of the Sword Pavilion.

Similarly, if a Disciple of the Spirit Herb Hall is appointed as a steward in the future, they remain a steward of the Spirit Herb Hall.

Even promotions to managers or Elders only make them managers or Elders of the Spirit Herb Hall.

The two are at completely different levels.

Whether Disciples or Elders, there is a huge gap in talent and strength.

It is extremely rare for an Elder of the Wood Lineage to come to the Spirit Herb Hall to preach.

By the time the five arrived at the side hall, the lecture had already begun.

The side hall was packed, and they could only sit on the floor in the aisles.

"There are so many people," Lu Zhengfeng said.

"I think I just saw Zhao Qiyang."

"This guy actually came to listen to the lecture in secret without telling us."

"That's very unkind."

As they whispered, a woman in a white dress sitting next to them reminded them:

"Junior Brothers, please do not make noise. It is rare for Elder Xuan Mu to come to our Spirit Herb Hall to preach, so listen attentively..."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."

The woman in the white dress spoke in a kind tone, and the group immediately quieted down to listen.

Members of the Sword Pavilion's Wood Lineage are all Cultivators with Wood Spiritual Roots, and their personalities are generally very easygoing.

Of course, there are some exceptions, such as Zhao Qiyang.

Lin Yan and Xu Shuangyuan sometimes did not understand why a Cultivator with a Wood Spiritual Root could have such an irritable temper.

On the high platform sat an old man with white hair and a white beard, wearing a turquoise robe with lifelike vine patterns embroidered on the hem.

This was Elder Xuan Mu of the Wood Lineage.

Hovering in front of him was a three-foot-tall spirit plant, its leaves opening and closing with the old man's breath, as if it were breathing in sync with him.

"The catalytic Mind-Cultivation Technique emphasizes spiritual connection and interconnected Qi channels; only by treating the spirit plant with sincerity can one elicit a response."

Lin Yan and the others were very familiar with this scene; this was a live demonstration of catalyzing a spirit plant.

The spirit plant being catalyzed was a high-level spirit bamboo, the Psychic Emerald Bamboo.

"The method of catalysis prioritizes one's state of mind above all else," Elder Xuan Mu continued:

"spirit plants are extremely sensitive. If a Cultivator is impetuous or harbors utilitarian intentions, even the most profound Cultivation Technique will be in vain. Only by treating them as equals can a true connection be established."

Elder Xuan Mu spoke eloquently, and everyone listened, enthralled, unknowingly gaining a deeper understanding of catalyzing spirit plants.

Before long, he ceased the catalysis.

His gaze swept over the audience, and his voice was gentle yet clearly audible to everyone present: "What I wish to speak of next is the foundation of my Wood Lineage: the development of the Dao of spirit plants."

Elder Xuan Mu tapped his withered finger lightly, and the Psychic Emerald Bamboo grew rapidly, standing before everyone.

"Do you know that ten thousand years ago, spirit plants were merely objects for healing and Alchemy to Cultivators?"

As he spoke, a faint halo appeared on the surface of the emerald bamboo, transforming into a flowing phantom that displayed scenes from the past.

"It was not until the Ancestral Master Green Emperor emerged and created the spirit plant catalytic Mind-Cultivation Technique that my Wood Lineage truly rose to prominence."

In the phantom, a handsome man in green robes sat cross-legged beneath an ancient tree, his hands forming seals. The branches and leaves of the ancient tree swayed gently with his gestures, and mysterious runes appeared on the trunk.

"Ancestral Master Green Emperor discovered that spirit plants are not unconscious objects, but living beings that resonate with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."

"The catalytic Mind-Cultivation Technique he created allows Cultivators to establish a spiritual connection with spirit plants, and subsequently Dual Cultivate and progress together."

Elder Xuan Mu's voice carried a sense of awe: "Since then, countless heroes have followed in his footsteps to perfect this Dao."

The phantom shifted, displaying the great achievements of the Wood Lineage's masters throughout the ages.

Some could make spirit plants mature instantly, some could make withered wood bloom in spring, and some could even merge with spirit plants to command ten thousand trees as an army.

"And today, the burden of this Legacy falls upon your shoulders." Elder Xuan Mu retracted the illusion and looked at the young faces in the audience with affectionate eyes:

"The future of the Dao of spirit plants lies with all of you!"

The audience was silent, and all the Disciples held their breath.

No one dared to respond to Elder Xuan Mu's words.

Suddenly, a young man in a green robe stood up and broke the silence.

The young man bowed to Elder Xuan Mu and said respectfully:

"Elder, this Disciple dares to ask: how should the Dao of spirit plants develop in the future?"

The people offstage whispered amongst themselves upon hearing this.

Lin Yan and the others also looked curiously at the young man who had stood up.

Daring to respond to Elder Xuan Mu, he was likely no ordinary person.

"Senior Sister, who is this Senior Brother speaking?" Lu Zhengfeng asked the woman in the white dress next to him curiously.

"You don't even recognize him? This is our Spirit Herb Hall's contemporary Chief Senior Brother, Xiao Songlan."

"He is a Genius capable of being promoted to the Wood Lineage to become an Inner Sect Disciple," the woman in the white dress said in a low voice.

Her eyes were filled with a trace of admiration as she looked at Xiao Songlan.

"Thank you for the answer, Senior Sister," Lu Zhengfeng said.

"You're welcome. Judging by your age, you must have just entered the Spirit Herb Hall."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

The woman in the white dress continued: "My name is Ye Wangshu. You can just call me Senior Sister Ye."

Upon hearing this, the group quickly introduced themselves, hoping to familiarize themselves with Senior Sister Ye.

Elder Xuan Mu looked at Xiao Songlan with appreciation, then said: "The Dao of spirit plants is broad and profound."

He tapped his fingertips, and lines of golden text appeared on the leaves of the Psychic Emerald Bamboo:

"I shall speak to you about the future development direction of the Dao of spirit plants."

"Of course, these are merely my personal opinions. There are thousands of Daos, and I, too, am a seeker, so you need not believe them all."

Elder Xuan Mu's voice was not loud, and his tone was very humble, yet it made all the Disciples present straighten their backs.

He grasped the void, and the Psychic Emerald Bamboo trembled, shrank, and vanished.

In its place was a small blade of grass, three inches long.

Its leaves were long and narrow like swords, and the tips of the leaves had a metallic luster.

"Sword Grass!"

"That is a precious Sword Grass."

Some sharp-eyed Disciples of the Spirit Herb Hall recognized this spirit plant.

"This is a special spirit plant cultivated by the predecessors of our Sword Pavilion. Sword Grass, though not high in grade, contains a trace of Sword Intent," Elder Xuan Mu said softly:

"According to traditional cultivation methods, a Cultivator must pull the Sword Grass out by its roots, refine it using secret methods, and then extract that trace of Sword Intent to integrate into themselves."

The Disciples offstage nodded. This was the most common way to utilize spirit plants: refining and extracting.

The Sword Pavilion's five lineages of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth each have different cultivation methods, but they all revere the Dao of the Sword.

Cultivators of the Wood Lineage can also achieve impressive accomplishments in the Dao of the Sword by relying on special spirit plants like Sword Grass.

Not only the Wood Lineage, but elite Disciples of the other four lineages will also refine spirit plants like Sword Grass to enhance their Sword Dao cultivation.