89: Dragon Blood Grass

As the night deepened, the colorful lights outside the Glazed Pavilion gradually dimmed, and the guests began to depart one after another.

Lin Yan and Ye Wangshu stood not far from the entrance, waiting quietly.

"Junior Brother Lin, Junior Sister Ye." A joyful voice came from behind them.

The two turned around to see Su Wan Yue, dressed in a pale green gown, standing at the entrance of the pavilion.

Her aura was more restrained and steady than it had been half a year ago, and with every gesture, a faint Sword Intent circulated, clearly indicating she had stabilized her Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation.

"Senior Sister Su." Lin Yan and Ye Wangshu quickly bowed in greeting.

Su Wan Yue nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on them for a moment before finally settling on Lin Yan:

"You came to the banquet today, but I didn't have time to speak with you. I would like to invite you to my Immortal Cave for some simple tea to express my gratitude."

Lin Yan and Ye Wangshu happily accepted.

Su Wan Yue's Immortal Cave was located in a quiet bamboo forest on the main mountain of the Sword Pavilion, named "Tingfeng Lu."

The Immortal Cave was not large, but it was decorated with great elegance. Various swords were displayed around the room, and in the center sat a green jade tea table surrounded by a few cushions—simple, yet tasteful.

The three sat down, and Su Wan Yue personally poured tea for them.

The tea was as green as jade and emitted a faint fragrance. Upon drinking it, the spiritual energy gently nourished their Meridians.

Although it was not tea like the zhenyang spirit tea that possessed special effects, it was still considered a fine tea.

"Senior Sister's tea brewing skills have improved even further." Ye Wangshu held the teacup, took a light sip, and praised.

Su Wan Yue smiled slightly: "It is merely something to pass the time when I am idle."

She turned to Lin Yan, her gaze filled with a touch of seriousness: "Junior Brother Lin, I have been wanting to properly thank you for these past few days."

Lin Yan set down his teacup, puzzled: "Thank me? Why do you say that, Senior Sister?"

Su Wan Yue took a green jade box from her sleeve, placed it gently on the tea table, and pushed it toward Lin Yan:

"The contents of this box are a small token of my appreciation, thanking you for the Sword Grass you cultivated for me."

"Senior Sister, you are too kind; you have already paid the reward." Lin Yan declined.

Su Wan Yue shook her head and lightly tapped the green jade box with her fingertip: "Junior Brother Lin, there is no need to be so modest."

"The value of the Sword Grass is extraordinary; how could it be repaid with mere merit points?"

She smiled slightly, her eyes flashing with admiration: "Although I am also a Spirit Plant Master, I primarily focus on the Dao of the sword, so my level of spirit plant cultivation is average. With your talent for spirit plants, your future achievements will surely be limitless."

Lin Yan was about to be humble, but he saw that Su Wan Yue had already opened the lid of the green jade box.

Inside the box lay three Spiritual Plants, blood-red all over with leaves like sharp swords. Set against the green jade box, they emitted a dazzling red light.

"This... this is Dragon Blood Grass!" Ye Wangshu exclaimed, nearly dropping her teacup.

Su Wan Yue nodded calmly: "That's right, it is indeed Dragon Blood Grass."

"I heard that the True Dragons Nest Secret Realm in the Southern Ridge has appeared, and under the influence of Dragon Qi, some Spiritual Plants mutated into Dragon Blood Grass."

"There happened to be a few among the congratulatory gifts sent by the Ten Thousand Beast Sect. I thought that since Junior Brother Lin has such a talent for cultivating spirit plants, you would be interested in them."

An expression of great interest appeared on Lin Yan's face.

This type of spirit plant could not only improve one's Qi cultivation but also strengthen the human body's blood and Qi, making it a treasure that Body Cultivators dreamed of.

For a Sword Cultivator, physical strength is a weakness, making Dragon Blood Grass exceptionally precious.

"Senior Sister, this is too valuable!" Lin Yan quickly declined, "Dragon Blood Grass is priceless and would be of great help to you as well. How can I accept this..."

"Junior Brother Lin, there is no need to decline." Su Wan Yue's tone was firm, "My mind is made up."

"There were over ten stalks of Dragon Blood Grass sent by the Ten Thousand Beast Sect this time."

"I noticed some were too small, and since they still possess vitality and can continue to be cultivated, it would be a waste to just refine them now."

"So I selected them to give to you. Perhaps you can Cultivate them to maturity, and then their value will be even greater."

She looked at Lin Yan, her gaze sincere: "I hear that Dragon Blood Grass is extremely difficult to Cultivate and has very high requirements for its growth environment, but I believe that with your talent, Junior Brother Lin, these Dragon Blood Grass will surely realize their greater value in your hands."

Ye Wangshu nodded repeatedly from the side: "This is Senior Sister's kind intention; just accept it, Junior Brother."

Seeing this, Lin Yan stopped pretending: "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

He solemnly took the green jade box and put it away carefully.

Su Wan Yue nodded with satisfaction and picked up her teacup: "Today, I only wish to taste tea and discuss the Dao with you both; let us not talk of other things. Although Tingfeng Lu is simple, the environment is quiet and suitable for a night conversation."

As the night deepened, the three sat around the tea table, chatting about everything from spirit plant cultivation to Sword Cultivator practice, and then to their respective experiences within the Sect.

Lin Yan learned many details about Foundation Establishment from Su Wan Yue and benefited greatly.

That night, Lin Yan returned to his Small Valley.

The next day, the Grand Elder's crane brought a message that the Hall Master, Bai He, summoned Lin Yan.

"The Hall Master... my Master wants to see me?" Lin Yan was not surprised.

Bai He had been in seclusion before, and now that he had emerged, they had to meet.

Immediately, he steered his flying boat and followed the crane.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

Deep within the Spirit Herb Hall, inside an unremarkable mountain peak.

Lin Yan stood respectfully before a white-haired Sword Cultivator.

This was the Spirit Herb Hall Master, Bai He, and also his nominal Master.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Sword Qi crisscrossed, yet it strangely maintained a delicate balance.

Bai He was dressed in white as snow, his face gaunt but full of vigor, and a stern Sword Intent lay between his brows.

He silently sized up Lin Yan, his gaze like lightning, as if he could see through the Soul of this young Disciple.

"Disciple Lin Yan greets Revered Master!" Lin Yan bowed, feeling both nervous and expectant.

Bai He nodded slightly and suddenly pointed a finger, sending an invisible Sword Qi straight toward the center of Lin Yan's brow.

Lin Yan instinctively wanted to dodge, but found he could not move, and could only watch as the Sword Qi drew closer and closer.

At the critical moment, something inside Lin Yan seemed to be activated.

He instinctively circulated his Qi, and a faint Sword Intent surged from his Sea of Consciousness, colliding with the Sword Qi.

With a soft "bang," the Sword Qi dissipated into nothingness.

"A nascent Sword Intent, not bad." Bai He nodded slightly.

Lin Yan looked at Bai He in surprise; the Wood Spirit Concealment Technique he had been cultivating had already reached the entry level, and he had not expected to be seen through by Bai He at a glance.

"Do not be surprised; your concealment technique is still too unrefined; you must have just reached the entry level."

"If you had reached the Minor Achievement level, I would not have been able to see through it so easily, and if you had reached the Major Achievement level, you would have been able to hide it from me completely," Bai He explained.

"Revered Master is perceptive!" Lin Yan cupped his hands: "Disciple realized the nascent Sword Intent a few days ago, and I was just planning to tell you this news today!"

He meant this sincerely.

Realizing a nascent Sword Intent in the Refining Qi Realm was not something difficult to understand.

It was impossible for him to hide it forever; he should reveal it at an appropriate time.