CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 393 LI SHISHI

"Ruoruo, watch me!"

Taking the spiritual scythe from Zhang Ruoruo’s hands, Zhang Baodian couldn’t help but say, "This can’t be that hard to cut."

Lu Yuanshan and She Qingqing watched from the side with mixed feelings, wanting to explain but seeing Zhang Baodian full of enthusiasm, they decided to see if the boy could really cut through those spirit rice roots.

Zhang Baodian wielded the spiritual scythe, and after several attempts to cut the spirit rice roots and failing, a look of amazement crossed his face.

"This..."

"See, it’s not like I’m weak."

Zhang Ruoruo muttered, "Still said I was bad."

"Hahaha, I... I just wasn’t using my strength, let me try again!"

With a smile and a scratch on his head, Zhang Baodian tried again with more force, only to end up in the same situation, managing to only scratch the surface with an awkward look.

"Sect Leader, why is this Spirit Rice so tough?"

He couldn’t help but ask, "It’s nothing like the crops in my family’s fields."

"Hehe, I told you two little kids would find it hard, now you must believe me."

Lu Yuanshan lightly smiled and explained, "To harvest Spirit Rice with the spiritual scythe, you need to use a bit of magical power. Since you both haven’t started cultivating, you naturally don’t possess magical power, so you can’t wield the spiritual scythe effectively."

"Without a Vajra drill, don’t undertake porcelain work. I hope you understand this principle today."

Zhang Ruoruo and Zhang Baodian listened quietly, looking as if they were thoroughly educated.

Lu Yuanshan pointed at the Spirit Field and then briefly explained some knowledge about Spirit Field harvesting, which the two listened to very intently.

"Alright, although there isn’t much you can help with here, you can help the other senior brothers and sisters. Assist them in stacking the harvested spirit rice or driving away the wandering yellow-striped ducks in the Spirit Field."

Lu Yuanshan pointed to the yellow-striped ducks in the Spirit Field and then comforted them.

"Even without magical power, don’t be discouraged. Once you officially start cultivating and develop magical power, you’ll be able to contribute to the sect by harvesting Spirit Rice."

Under Lu Yuanshan’s guidance, the two little ones went on to do tasks they were capable of, such as transporting spirit rice, tidying the field, drawing water from the Spiritual Well, and gathering fruits.

After the sect was busy for two to three days, the Spirit Field harvest was completed.

Following the Spirit Field harvest, two days later, the Medicinal Garden at the Water and Wood Cave Heaven had its harvest.

Ever since the sect relocated the Medicinal Garden to Water and Wood Cave Heaven, spirit medicines like Clear Heart Grass, Moon Grass, Spirit Void Vine, Nine-Curves Reishi, and even Jade Marrow Grass have shortened their growth periods and improved in quality once mature.

The price of these spirit medicines increases significantly when sold outside.

The elixirs refined from these herbs are also more effective, with a higher success rate.

Besides accelerating growth and improving the quality of Spirit Plants, Water and Wood Cave Heaven also boosts the cultivation speed of cultivators with Water Element and Wood Element spirit roots.

For instance, Lu Yuanshan and Lu Xuelian often cultivate within the Water and Wood Cave Heaven, greatly enhancing their cultivation efficiency.

This time, as always, with the Medicinal Garden harvest, Lu Yuanshan personally stepped in, along with She Qingqing and Li Weixiao, to pick the spirit medicines.

They had long been partners, able to complete the harvesting of matured spirit medicines quickly.

It’s worth mentioning that during the harvesting process, Lu Yuanshan and She Qingqing discussed an important matter.

Given the shortage of alchemists within the Cyan Mountain Sect, with only She Qingqing and Li Weixiao, Lu Yuanshan proposed adding a few alchemy apprentices in the coming days for She Qingqing to teach the Dao of Alchemy to.

"Training apprentices isn’t hard, but learning alchemy isn’t just about hard work; the key issue is having a talent for alchemy."

"Alchemy is not easy to study; it requires investment in spiritual herbal resources, which is quite expensive, and a detailed mind. Without meticulousness, mistakes during alchemy can lead to wasted resources."

She Qingqing wasn’t against taking on apprentices and expressed it this way.

Li Weixiao listened quietly, already envisioning having junior brothers and sisters, and he slowed down his pace in picking spirit medicines to listen more attentively.

"Yes, alchemy talent is necessary. This Medicinal Garden is invaluable to the sect; the spirit medicines are akin to piles of Spirit Stones."

"Becoming an alchemy apprentice requires some evaluation."

Lu Yuanshan had his own insights.

Asking now was to understand She Qingqing’s response. Since She Qingqing was willing to take on apprentices, they could begin selecting candidates from within the sect.

He hoped there would be talent in this area.

She Qingqing nodded after hearing this: "It might as well be in the next couple of days. Let’s see which senior brothers and sisters are interested in alchemy and whether they have the talent; I can test them."

"Hehe, I’ve been waiting for you to say that."

While discussing, the three continued picking the spirit medicines one by one.

After the harvest, She Qingqing took the Spirit Void Vine, Nine-Curves Reishi, Jade Marrow Grass, among others, and began secluded cultivation to refine Spirit Void Pills, Reishi Powder, and Golden Marrow Pills.

Once these elixirs are successfully refined, they will be supplied for the sect disciples’ cultivation.

Li Weixiao’s current artifact refining mastery allows him to refine Tier One Middle Grade Elixirs and can help reduce She Qingqing’s burden in alchemy.

The master and apprentice duo have been working together in alchemy for years, with a very harmonious cooperation.

The refinement of these elixirs takes only about a day.

While She Qingqing was in secluded cultivation for alchemy, Lu Yuanshan announced the intention to train alchemy apprentices for the sect, inviting interested disciples to sign up.

Following the announcement, a wave of discussion arose within the Cyan Mountain Sect, and soon disciples began to sign up.

When She Qingqing emerged from seclusion, twelve disciples had signed up.

After all, being an alchemist is highly desirable in the Cultivation Realm, especially in the Chu Kingdom, where it is sought after by cultivators and factions alike.

Even though She Qingqing’s cultivation level is not high, reaching the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation, her Tier Three Middle Grade Alchemy Mastery ranks her among the top alchemists within Lushan County.

With She Qingqing involved, the talent testing among the twelve disciples lasted a whole day.

Among them, Zhang Ruoruo, Zhang Baodian, and Zhang Li also signed up after hearing the news, wanting to give it a try.

Ultimately, only one candidate with alchemy talent emerged.

It was a female disciple named Li Shishi.

Li Shishi’s cultivation level reached Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation, with Fire, Wood, and Earth Three Spirit Roots, with Fire Attribute being the main spirit root, allowing her to aptly learn certain alchemy techniques like the Wood and Fire Technique.

This type of spirit root is also well-suited for alchemy.