Chapter 30, Seventh Layer of Spell – Thick Earth Technique: Mountain Suppression and Spirit Return!

Three days later, the Sect's Spirit Plant Trial Platform was bustling with noise.

This trial platform was originally built for assessing Medicinal Plant Disciples. The platform's surface was divided into five exclusive spirit fields according to the Five Elements. Beneath each spirit field lay corresponding elemental Earth Vein Nodes, which could accurately carry and reflect the effects of medicinal plant arts.

The high platform was equipped with specialized talisman arrays to monitor the flow of Spiritual Qi and the state of the spirit plants in real-time. Even the spectator stands were surrounded by a translucent Spirit-Gathering Barrier, which allowed the Disciples to see the details clearly without interfering with the execution of techniques.

At this moment, the Elders sat on the high platform, while Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples crowded the circular stands. Even many Core Disciples, who usually Cultivate behind closed doors, had come — everyone wanted to see what the outcome of this duel between the "Trash counterattacker" and the "Medicinal Plant Prodigy" would be.

Serving as the chief judge, Wang Badan stood on the stone platform in the center of the trial platform and announced loudly: "There will be five matches in total, all of which are medicinal plant art duels. The events and the rules for winning or losing will be decided by Ren Yanran. Do either of the parties have any objections?"

Ren Yanran said coldly, "No objections. The first match: Wood-attribute Wither and Bloom Art. The content of the competition — ripening a Thousand-Year purple pill ginseng using the wood-attribute spirit field on the east side. The winner will be determined by the integrity of the ginseng's spiritual patterns and the speed of maturation. The first to reach the standard wins!"

Before her voice had even faded, she leaped to the side of the eastern spirit field. The dark green soil of that spirit field shimmered with a faint wood Spiritual Qi, and spiritual pattern scales were embedded between the ridges. Deep green Spiritual Qi surged from Ren Yanran's fingertips as the pressure of the sixth level of the Wither and Bloom Art instantly spread. The Earth Vein Nodes beneath the spirit field seemed to sense it, emitting a faint green light.

Spiritual Qi poured into the soil like a waterfall. The Thousand-Year purple pill ginseng in the field extended its roots at a speed visible to the naked eye. The dark red body of the ginseng gradually became lustrous, and the spiritual patterns on its leaves went from blurry to clear, slowly climbing along the scales on the ridges. In less than half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it reached ninety percent integrity, and the ginseng body was completely undamaged.

"So fast! This is the sixth level of the Wither and Bloom Art! Even the Earth Vein Spiritual Qi has been drawn out!" A burst of exclamation erupted from the stands. The Spiritual Vein Monitor on the high platform lit up with a pale green light, showing that the Spiritual Qi conversion rate was stable at eighty-five percent. The Elders nodded one after another, their eyes full of admiration.

Ren Yanran finished her move, turned to look at Lin Yue, and curled her lips into a sneer: "It's your turn."

Lin Yue walked slowly to the other side of the eastern spirit field and also extended his finger. Everyone saw deep green Spiritual Qi also emanate from his fingertips, exactly the same as Ren Yanran's. Even the green light drawn from the earth veins was identical — it was the Hundred Meridians Unblocked Saintly Physique in action, perfectly replicating the sixth level of the Wither and Bloom Art!

Spiritual Qi seeped into the soil, and the changes in the purple pill ginseng were exactly the same as in Ren Yanran's field. The maturation speed and spiritual pattern integrity were not off by a single bit. At the final moment, the light of the Spiritual Vein Monitor flickered, the spiritual pattern scale lit up a bit more, and the Spiritual Qi conversion rate rose to eighty-six percent.

"This... a draw?!" Wang Badan stepped forward to inspect, his voice filled with shock. "The state of the two purple pill ginseng is identical, and the Spiritual Qi feedback is exactly the same. The first match is a draw!"

Ren Yanran's smile froze on her face. She stared fixedly at Lin Yue's fingertips — that was clearly her own Wither and Bloom Art, even the rhythm of drawing from the earth veins was identical!

But she had no evidence, so she could only grit her teeth and say, "The second match: Water-attribute Spirit Rain Art! The content of the competition — nourishing ice heart grass using the water-attribute spirit field on the north side. The winner will be determined by the thickness of the white frost on the ice heart grass and the brightness of its spiritual patterns. The superior one wins!"

The northern water-attribute spirit field was covered with snow-white Ning Shuang soil, and secret channels were embedded by the field to draw from a spiritual spring. It was the perfect environment for nourishing ice heart grass. Ren Yanran directly performed the Spirit Rain Art at the sixth level of Perfection. The silver-blue raindrops were mixed with fine golden threads. When they fell on the ice heart grass, the spiritual spring in the secret channels actually rippled along with it. The white frost instantly thickened several times, and the spiritual patterns flickered like stars, even reflecting a layer of cold light onto the Spirit-Gathering Barrier.

"The sixth level of Perfection of the Spirit Rain Art! It can even link with the Spiritual Qi of the spiritual spring!" The discussions in the stands grew more intense. The monitor showed that the Spiritual Qi absorption efficiency of the ice heart grass reached ninety percent, and the gazes of the Elders became a bit more solemn.

But Lin Yue remained as composed as ever. Silver-blue raindrops fell from his fingertips, also carrying golden threads. The rhythm of the ripples in the spiritual spring's secret channel was exactly the same as on Ren Yanran's side. The thickness of the white frost and the brightness of the spiritual patterns on the ice heart grass were identical, and the monitor data also stopped steadily at ninety percent.

After checking, Wang Badan announced again: "A draw!"

The stands fell completely silent, then erupted into even more intense discussion:

"How is it possible? Even the spiritual spring linkage can be performed exactly the same way?"

"When did this Lin Yue become so powerful? Could it be that he has been hiding his strength all along?"

Cold sweat broke out on Ren Yanran's forehead; she was starting to panic.

The third match pointed directly to the fire-attribute spirit field on the west side: "The third match: Fire-attribute Burning Wither Art! Using the western spirit field, precisely burn away the withered vines around the Nine-Leaf Mysterious Ginseng without harming the ginseng in the slightest. The one whose ginseng's spiritual patterns are undamaged wins!"

As she spoke, she unleashed the Burning Wither Art at the middle stage of the sixth level. Pale red Spiritual Qi, carrying fine sparks, bypassed the roots of the ginseng and burned the withered vines into nothing but ash. The fire vein node beneath the spirit field only heated up slightly, not affecting the ginseng at all.

For the fourth match, she chose the metal-attribute spirit field on the south side. The soil of that field was mixed with Gold-Veined Stones, requiring the use of the Sharp Gold Art to cut precise planting slots.

Ren Yanran used the Sharp Gold Art at the high stage of the sixth level. Her Spiritual Qi transformed into golden blades as thin as hair. The edges of the planting slots she cut were smooth and perfectly fitted the roots of the Purple Reishi, without even damaging the patterns of the Gold-Veined Stones.

But no matter what attribute of spirit field she used or how exquisite the sixth-level technique she performed, Lin Yue could replicate it perfectly. Even the feedback from the Earth Vein Nodes and the linkage with the spirit field environment were identical. After two more matches, it was still a draw.

After four draws, the Spirit Plant Trial Platform was silent.

Wang Badan sat up straight, his eyes fixed on Lin Yue, and his Spiritual Vein Record Book was filled with notes.

Ren Yanran's face was as pale as paper. The four types of sixth-level Five Elements medicinal plant arts she took pride in actually failed to give her any advantage.

What she didn't know was that on this trial platform specifically built for medicinal plants, every Five Elements spirit plant technique she performed had actually become a "replication template" for Lin Yue.

"The fifth match..." Ren Yanran suddenly looked up, a fierce look flashing in her eyes — she was going to use her trump card, the seventh level of the Thick Earth Art!

For the content of this round's competition — she chose to stabilize the roots of the Earth Vein Ginseng and increase the conversion rate of the Earth Vein Spiritual Qi using the central earth-attribute spirit field! The one with the higher conversion rate wins!

She wanted to see if Lin Yue could still use such a high-level earth-attribute Thick Earth Art. Moreover, the central earth-attribute spirit field was the core of the trial platform. The soil was deep ochre, and three main Earth Vein Nodes were buried beneath it, making it the most suitable for demonstrating the power of the Thick Earth Art.

As soon as her voice fell, an uproar instantly broke out on the trial platform. The Elders on the high platform all suddenly gripped their armrests: "The seventh level?! Ren Yanran has actually cultivated the Thick Earth Art to the seventh level?"

The ochre-colored Spiritual Qi around Ren Yanran suddenly surged, its pressure several times stronger than all the previous techniques. The three Earth Vein Nodes beneath the central spirit field lit up with golden light simultaneously. A translucent phantom of a mountain actually condensed within the Spiritual Qi, with golden patterns flowing around the edges of the phantom — this was the "Earth Vein Manifestation" phenomenon that only appeared with seventh-level techniques! "Thick Earth Art: Mountain-Suppressing Spirit Return! Early stage of the seventh level!"

Spiritual Qi seeped into the soil like a torrent. The roots of the Earth Vein Ginseng extended frantically, its fibrous roots penetrating deep into the soil. One could even see the roots wrapping around the Earth Vein Nodes through the Spirit-Gathering Barrier. The Spiritual Qi conversion rate soared on the monitor, finally stopping steadily at one hundred percent!

Wang Badan staggered forward to inspect, then looked at the root distribution map on the monitor, his voice trembling: "One hundred percent! A full Earth Vein Spiritual Qi conversion rate! The root extension is at one hundred percent, and even the three main earth veins have been completely activated!"

The exclamations from the stands almost blew off the Spirit-Gathering Barrier. Countless people let out a gasp of surprise: "This time, Lin Yue is definitely going to lose! A seventh-level technique can even manifest the earth veins; how could he possibly perform it?"

Ren Yanran looked at Lin Yue, her eyes full of frantic provocation: "It's your turn! Lin Yue! Aren't you capable? If you have the guts, perform an earth-attribute technique stronger than my seventh-level Thick Earth Art!"