59: Chapter 59 Successful Harvest

Under the moonlight, three figures slowly approached the Jade Dew Ginseng from three different directions.

Qi Refining Level 3, Qi Refining Level 4, Qi Refining Level 4.

He stood up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, walked over to the Jade Dew Ginseng, and stood there quietly.

The three figures stopped simultaneously, facing off against him from about a hundred feet away.

"Step aside."

The Disciple at Qi Refining Level 4 in the center spoke coldly.

"There are three Jade Dew Ginseng plants; we only want two. You keep one, so you won't lose out."

Li Changsheng did not move.

"Can't you understand human speech?"

The Disciple at Qi Refining Level 3 on the left said impatiently.

"You're just a Qi Refining Level 2 who's been guarding this for half a month; that's enough. Step aside now, and we can all go our separate ways in peace. If you don't..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Li Changsheng looked at them and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it caused an inexplicable chill to run through the three of them simultaneously.

"Do you know,"

He began slowly.

"How many people have come here during these past two weeks?"

The three of them exchanged glances.

"Thirteen groups."

Li Changsheng continued.

"From Qi Refining Level 2 to Qi Refining Level 4, some came alone, some in groups, some wanted to steal, some wanted to rob. They all left."

His gaze swept over the three of them, frighteningly calm.

"Do you want to know why they left?"

The three of them involuntarily took a step back.

The man in the center gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak.

"Bluffing! You're just a Qi Refining Level 2; what kind of ability could you possibly have?"

Li Changsheng did not answer.

He simply raised his hand and pointed toward the east.

"The sky is about to brighten."

The three of them reflexively looked in the direction he was pointing.

On the eastern horizon, a sliver of dawn was indeed appearing.

In that instant, Li Changsheng moved.

He didn't charge at the three men but instead crouched down, pressing both hands onto the soil beside two of the Jade Dew Ginseng plants.

Qi activation!

In the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture, there was a method of "Accelerated Ripening" that could consume a large amount of one's own Qi to speed up the maturation of spiritual plants in a very short time.

This method severely depleted one's Origin Qi and was generally only used as a last resort.

But right now, it was a last resort.

The two Jade Dew Ginseng plants trembled slightly at the same time. The yellow tint at the edges of the leaves spread rapidly, and the stalks became plump and full at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Three breaths.

Only three breaths.

The two Jade Dew Ginseng plants had completely matured!

Li Changsheng scooped them up with both hands, pulling the two Jade Dew Ginseng out by their roots and tucking them into his robe!

The entire process was so fast that the three Disciples had no time to react at all.

By the time they regained their senses, Li Changsheng had already stood up. His face was slightly pale, but his eyes remained calm.

"Two are gone."

Li Changsheng said.

"One is left. If you want to rob me, then come."

The three of them looked at each other.

One plant, three people—how would they divide it?

The man in the center gritted his teeth.

"Grab it first, then we'll talk!"

The three of them lunged forward simultaneously!

Li Changsheng did not run.

He just stood there, watching them quietly.

In the next instant, a sword light descended from the sky, barring the way in front of the three men!

"Enough."

A cold, clear voice rang out.

The three of them stopped abruptly and looked up.

Under the moonlight, a figure in white slowly landed, an ancient sword on his back and a cold expression on his face.

Liu Qingchen.

"S-Senior Brother Liu..."

The voice of the Disciple in the center changed.

Liu Qingchen didn't even give them a glance, only saying indifferently.

"Stealing Spirit Medicine within the Hundred Herb Garden—what should the punishment be according to the sect rules?"

The faces of the three turned pale simultaneously.

"Considering this is your first offense, get out now."

Liu Qingchen said.

"If I see you again, go to the Hall of Law Enforcement to receive your punishment yourself."

As if granted a grand amnesty, the three of them scrambled and disappeared into the night.

Li Changsheng stood where he was, looked at Liu Qingchen, and suddenly asked.

"Why did Senior Brother Liu come?"

Liu Qingchen turned his head, his gaze falling on Li Changsheng's pale face, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes.

"Passing by."

He said.

Li Changsheng did not press further.

He knew that this "passing by" had likely begun from the very first night.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu Qingchen waved his hand, his gaze landing on the two Jade Dew Ginseng in Li Changsheng's arms.

"The method of Accelerated Ripening harms one's Origin Qi. Go back and recover for a few days."

He paused.

"Keep the remaining one. I'll guard it for you."

Li Changsheng was startled, then solemnly cupped his fists.

"Thank you."

Liu Qingchen said no more. He simply walked to the edge of the field and sat cross-legged in the spot where Li Changsheng had sat before.

The moonlight spilled onto his white robes, like frost and snow.

Li Changsheng glanced at him, then turned and walked back to the tool storehouse.

He lit a lamp and took out that small Pill Furnace.

He looked at the remaining Jade Dew Ginseng, then at the two in his arms.

Sell two, use one for himself.

This was what he had planned all along.

He took out one Jade Dew Ginseng from his robe and placed it carefully in a wooden box.

This was to be sold to Meng Qing.

The other one he held in his hand, examining it closely against the lamplight.

The stalk was plump, the leaves thick, and the roots complete.

Although it was only five months old, its medicinal efficacy was comparable to twenty years of growth.

He took a deep breath, placed the Jade Dew Ginseng into the small Pill Furnace, and closed the lid.

Pressing both hands against the furnace walls, he slowly activated his Qi.

The "Cold Extraction Method" in the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture used Qi as fire and the Pill Furnace as a vessel to slowly force out the essence of the spiritual plant and condense it into liquid.

This was his first attempt, and he wasn't certain of success.

But he had to try.

His Qi, like a trickling stream, seeped into the Pill Furnace and enveloped the Jade Dew Ginseng.

Time passed minute by minute.

Half an hour later, a drop of emerald-green liquid appeared at the bottom of the furnace, crystal clear and emitting a rich medicinal fragrance.

Another drop.

And another.

By the time the horizon began to brighten, a small pool of emerald-green Spirit Liquid had accumulated at the bottom of the furnace, about three mace in volume.

Li Changsheng ceased his work. His face was even paler than before, but his eyes held a hint of joy.

He carefully poured the Spirit Liquid into an empty small jade bottle and plugged it tightly.

Three drops of Spirit Liquid contained the essence of an entire Jade Dew Ginseng plant.

He picked up the jade bottle and examined it closely against the morning light coming through the window.

The emerald-green liquid flowed gently in the light, breathtakingly beautiful.

This was the result of his first "refining."

No pill fire, no Pill Formula, no talent for Alchemy.

Only a copy of the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture, a battered Pill Furnace, and a Jade Dew Ginseng he had grown himself.

He carefully put away the jade bottle, pushed open the door, and walked out of the storehouse.

By the field, Liu Qingchen was still sitting cross-legged, motionless.

Before him, the remaining Jade Dew Ginseng was bathed in the morning light, the dew on its leaves crystal clear, refracting the seven colors of light.

"It's dawn."

Liu Qingchen said indifferently.

Li Changsheng walked to his side and looked at the Jade Dew Ginseng.

"Senior Brother Liu," he said, "I want to save this Jade Dew Ginseng for someone."

Liu Qingchen looked at him from the corner of his eye.

"The person who gave me the seeds."

Li Changsheng smiled.

"She's still young and doesn't need something so valuable."

"But I want to tell her that I grew the seeds she gave me."

Liu Qingchen was silent for a moment, then stood up.

"As you wish," he said. "I'm leaving."

The white-clad figure transformed into a sword light and streaked away through the air.

Li Changsheng stood where he was, watching the receding sword light.

The morning light shone on his face, warm and cozy.

He looked down at the wooden box and the small jade bottle in his arms.

Sell two, keep one.

Before him, the Jade Dew Ginseng swayed gently in the morning light.

The dew on the leaves sparkled, looking very much like a certain little girl's eyes.

"Next, I'll use the extracted Spirit Liquid to achieve a Breakthrough in my cultivation as soon as possible."

Li Changsheng thought to himself.

He had been polishing his skills at Qi Refining Level 2 for more than half a year and had already reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 2.

Strength is the foundation of everything.

"If it weren't for Senior Brother Liu's protection this time, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to keep a single one of these Spirit Medicines in the end."

"And there's also this medicine; I've agreed to sell it to Meng Qing."

Li Changsheng had already made up his mind to first increase his strength.

He put away the Spirit Medicine and walked along the ridge toward the storehouse.