105: Morning dew congeals and stagnates seedlings, awakens insects to remove obstacles, and builds new habitats for them.

Morning mist wrapped around Shengxi Academy. The Kite nests on the vine walls were damp with dew, and Little Kite shook its feathers, sending dew drops falling onto the seedling protection grass leaves.

Nian Xue carried a jar of nectar as Little Color rubbed against her pant leg. "Feed the butterflies some nectar, then we'll check the seedlings in the shed; they should be waking up."

A Qing walked with light steps, his dragon claws avoiding the grass sprouts. "This morning's dew is a bit heavy; it doesn't feel as moisturizing as usual on the body."

Entering the cultivation shed, they saw the dew on the seedling leaves had condensed into clumps. It was a pale white, sticky to the touch, and the gold patterns on the seedlings had dimmed.

"This dew isn't right! It's sticking to the leaves, and the Life-Breathing Qi can't disperse." A Spirit Plant Clan Seedling Cultivation Master touched the dew and frowned.

A Star Spirit Clan student held up a crystal stone, which glowed a pale white. "It's 'stagnant seedling dew.' It congeals on the leaves and clogs the pores; the seedlings can't breathe."

Clear Snow reached out and gathered a clump of dew, wrapping it in icy Qi. "The dew contains Stagnant Qi. We need to get it off the leaves without harming the seedlings."

Lin Chen gathered Life-Breathing Qi in his palm and lightly swept it over the leaves. "The Qi won't blow it away; it's stuck tight. We need to find something that can absorb Astringent Dew."

The Dao Source Clan Leader had just entered the shed when he suddenly stopped. "Listen, there's a faint sound in the corner of the shed, like small insects moving."

Everyone looked toward the sound. Under a shengxi vine in the corner, several small silver-white insects were crawling, nibbling on the Astringent Dew on the leaves. The leaves they nibbled became bright again.

"It's Dew Cleansing Worms! They specialize in absorbing stagnant seedling dew. Wherever the worms crawl, the leaves immediately become fresh." The Seedling Cultivation Master clapped in surprise.

The Dew Cleansing Worms were as small as grains of rice, with silver-white shells and gold patterns. As they crawled over the leaves, the Astringent Dew was absorbed completely, and the leaf patterns brightened once more.

Nian Xue squatted down and said softly, "They're so small! And they crawl so fast, like silver rice grains scattered on the leaves."

Little Color leaned in, his crystal claw hovering over a worm, not daring to touch it. "They're so soft, will I break them if I touch them?"

A Qing lowered his head and sniffed, his Dragon Breath extremely light. "No strange smell, just the scent of Life-Breathing Qi. They're on the same side as the seedlings."

After a while, the stagnant seedling dew in the shed was completely absorbed. The Dew Cleansing Worms crawled back under the vine and curled into small balls, seemingly resting.

"They want to stay under the vine!" The students gathered around. "Let's use shengxi leaves to weave little nests for them to live in."

The Spirit Plant Clan students picked soft, tender shengxi leaves and folded them into little nests, placing them at the base of the vine. The Dew Cleansing Worms quickly crawled inside.

During the morning 'Dew Identification Class,' Nian Xue pointed to the new dew on the leaves. "Good dew is transparent and has a golden glow. Astringent dew is white and sticky."

She pointed to the worm nests in the corner. "Dew Cleansing Worms can distinguish between good and bad dew and only absorb the astringent kind. Everyone, don't touch them; they're easily startled."

A small Earth Spirit Clan student asked, "If stagnant seedling dew grows in other realms, will the worms go there?"

Lin Chen smiled and nodded. "They follow the shengxi vines. Wherever there are vines and Astringent Dew, they can find their way there."

In the afternoon, the Spirit Plant Clan Seedling Cultivation Master taught the students how to make 'Dew Inducers.' "Weave small nets with shengxi vines and hang them from the shed roof to catch the good dew."

Nian Xue wove the fastest. After the small net was hung, transparent dew drops actually dripped into the net. She happily called Little Color over to see.

Little Color touched the dew in the net with his crystal claw. A drop rolled down and landed on a seedling leaf; the leaf swayed as if saying thank you.

A Qing helped carry shengxi vine branches, his Dragon Breath softening the vines to make weaving easier for the students. Soon, the shed roof was filled with small nets.

Suddenly, the Kites outside began to cry, and the Seedling-Urging Butterflies flapped their wings. The Dew Cleansing Worms inside the shed crawled out of the soil and headed toward the entrance.

"There's stagnant seedling dew outside! More than in the shed!" The Star Spirit Clan student's crystal stone glowed even whiter.

Everyone ran out of the shed and saw the life-breathing flowers in the corner of the courtyard were covered in astringent dew. The petals were drooping and tinged with a pale white.

The Dew Cleansing Worms crawled toward the flower bushes, their small silver-white figures darting between the blossoms. The astringent dew was absorbed rapidly, and the petals gradually straightened up.

The Seedling-Urging Butterflies flapped their wings to scatter powder, helping the flowers disperse the Stagnant Qi. Little Kite dove down, using its beak to peck away clumps of astringent dew from the flower hearts.

"We should help too! Use the Dew Inducers to catch the astringent dew!" Nian Xue shouted, and the students ran toward the flower bushes holding their small nets.

Lin Chen and Clear Snow set up a Life-Breathing Zone around the bushes. The Life-Breathing Qi blocked the source of the astringent dew, preventing it from condensing on the flowers anymore.

Half an hour later, the stagnant seedling dew was cleared. The life-breathing flowers bloomed once more, their gold-tinged petals swaying in the wind as their fragrance filled the courtyard.

Nian Xue squatted by the flower bushes, watching the Dew Cleansing Worms crawl back to the vines. "They must be tired. Let's find some tender vine leaves for them."

Little Color brought over a few soft leaves and placed them by the worm nest. The Dew Cleansing Worms crawled out and nibbled on the leaves, seemingly replenishing their strength.

In the evening, as the students were leaving school, they all went to see the Dew Cleansing Worms' little nest. Some even found smooth small pebbles to place around the nest.

A small Spirit Plant Clan student said, "I'm going to take some Shengxi Vine Seeds back and plant them in my clan's garden to attract Dew Cleansing Worms."

Nian Xue gave her the small net she had woven. "Take this too. It can catch good dew and help the flowers grow better."

The setting sun fell upon the academy. The Kites on the vine walls, the butterflies in the shed, the worms in the corner, and the seedlings and flowers everywhere were all bathed in a golden glow.

Lin Chen and Clear Snow stood in the center of the courtyard. The marks on their palms flashed with golden light, intertwining with the academy's Life Qi in a warm embrace.

Nian Xue lay on A Qing's back with Little Color curled in her arms. A Dew Cleansing Worm crawled over A Qing's dragon claw, and he remained perfectly still, afraid of startling it.

The guardian team of Shengxi Academy had added the silver-white Dew Cleansing Worms. These tiny creatures, with their ability to absorb astringent dew, worked alongside the Kites and butterflies to guard the seedlings in the shed and the flowers in the yard, ensuring every inch of life could grow fresh in the morning dew, unburdened by Stagnant Qi.