In the narrow utility room.
Chen Ye clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly to the nearly lifeless Silver Scale Flower on the table:
"Amitabha, God, Supreme Lord Laojun, Lord Guan... please bless me to successfully heal the Silver Scale Flower!"
Chen Ye's expression was solemn, and he prayed wholeheartedly regardless of anything else.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
Chen Ye couldn't afford not to be nervous.
The Silver Scale Flower cost him eight Spirit Stones, which was most of his savings.
If something went wrong, those eight Spirit Stones would be wasted.
He took several deep breaths, focusing his gaze on the panel:
[Name: Chen Ye]
[Lifespan: 40/62]
[Spiritual Root: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Fourth-Layer]
[Cultivation Technique: Evergreen Technique Minor Achievement: 40/100]
[Skills: Disease Removal Saber Technique Great Success: 170/200; Bone-Scraping Whip Minor Achievement: 30/100; Culinary Skill Great Success: 15/200; Fostering Technique Just Started: 2/10, Cloud Rain Technique Just Started: 2/10]
"Alas, theory always feels shallow in practice."
Chen Ye shook his head, realizing that after half a day's practice, the proficiency in Fostering Technique and Cloud Rain Technique had only increased by two points.
But when he treated the Cyan Luo Grass before, the Disease Removal Saber Technique increased by a full twenty points.
This kind of Spirit Plant Technique still requires practice with actual Spirit Plants.
Fortunately, he had just begun to grasp it, so simply being able to perform the techniques was fine.
He had a proficiency panel, and seven days was enough time to significantly increase his proficiency!
Chen Ye picked up the Jade Saber, his wrist trembling slightly, the blade hovering three inches above the leaf vein without daring to cut down.
He held his breath, focusing his spirit unprecedentedly, concentrating on the tip of the blade.
Thin threads of cyan Spiritual Qi twirled around the blade's tip, carefully tracing the stem of the Silver Scale Flower, which had turned black.
Just when the Jade Saber was about to remove the diseased tissue, the Silver Scale Flower suddenly shuddered.
"This Demonic Qi can actually spread along the meridians!"
Chen Ye wiped his forehead as the damaged leaf oozed purplish-black liquid, corroding tiny holes on the table.
He had no choice but to execute the Cloud Rain Technique, conjuring a mist infused with Wood Spiritual Qi to wash the wound.
A faint cyan mist enveloped the Silver Scale Flower, and an anomaly occurred!
The previously wilted bud suddenly opened its tooth-like sepals, pouncing towards Chen Ye's wrist.
Chen Ye shuddered, instinctively pulling his neck back, as a flash of insight made him wield the Jade Saber. The Disease Removal Saber Technique at its pinnacle turned into a precise ray of light, slicing through the nerve-rich vein filled with Demonic Qi.
The bud weakly opened and closed its sepals, then drooped.
Chen Ye wiped away the sweat blurring his vision, still shaken:
"No wonder it's called Demonic Qi; it's mutated. Even a flower can bite people."
If it had bitten his wrist, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He had no time to rest, continuing to employ the Fostering Technique, attempting to regenerate the severed leaf vein.
The Fostering Technique, only recently studied, showed minimal effect with slow progress.
Fortunately, the proficiency was increasing every moment, giving Chen Ye a bit of solace.
Half a day passed.
Chen Ye spent all his Spiritual Power, just managing to repair the leaf vein.
He conjured a ball of cyan mist, carefully nurturing the Silver Scale Flower.
The previously drooping Silver Scale Flower regained a bit of vitality, and the pervasive Demonic Qi visibly weakened.
Chen Ye let out a long breath, collapsing into a chair, soaked in cold sweat.
There's hope!
Luckily, his Disease Removal Saber Technique had already reached Great Success, giving him confidence in dealing with the most troublesome Demonic Qi.
Once he advances his Fostering Technique and Cloud Rain Technique, treating the Silver Scale Flower will be easy.
Based on the memories of the predecessor, Chen Ye deduced that once these Three Spirit Plant Skills reached Great Success, he would pass the test of the Lingyin Sect and become a legitimate Spirit Plant Master.
In the vast market, there were very few who could be called Spirit Plant Masters; others, like his predecessor, were amateur Spirit Plant Masters, also known as Medicinal Farmers.
"The minor Disease Removal Saber Technique was a bit excessive."
Chen Ye lit an oil lamp, the drooping leaves of the Silver Scale Flower reflecting a cyan-black hue in the dim glow, a chill penetrating his marrow as his fingertip touched the stem.
A conspicuous break could be seen on the leaf vein.
If he always used excessive force while removing Demonic Qi, he would end up cutting the Silver Scale Flower to death.
But having several breaks was quite normal; even official Spirit Plant Masters couldn't claim perfect cuts every time.
"However, such issues shouldn't occur next time."
A hint of a smile appeared on Chen Ye's solemn face as he glanced at the panel.
The proficiency in the Three Spirit Plant Skills had increased significantly!
And the Disease Removal Saber Technique had surprisingly reached the Realm of Perfection!
Chen Ye could boast that his Disease Removal Saber Technique ranked first in the Yunxi District!
[Fostering Technique: Just Started 8/10 → Minor Achievement 38/100; Cloud Rain Technique: Just Started 8/10 → Minor Achievement 20/100; Disease Removal Saber Technique: Great Success 170/200 → Perfection 20/400]
The minor Disease Removal Saber Technique will undergo a qualitative transformation at the next stage.
Although nearly four hundred proficiency points were needed, Chen Ye already looked forward to the changes ahead.
It's about time to eat!
Chen Ye feeling utterly exhausted, his Spiritual Power at the Qi Cultivation Fourth-Layer was like a drying stream, quickly depleting after performing some techniques.
After intense concentration, once he loosened up, the fatigue he had previously ignored overwhelmed him.
He was too tired to even get up.
"Master…"
The White Furred Ball timidly stood at the doorway, holding a steaming bowl of rice, seemingly there to bring him food.
Chen Ye looked joyful: "Qing Jun, quickly bring it to Master, Master is starving."
The little girl gulped, then hurried to Chen Ye's side, head bowed, holding the bowl high.
"Good girl."
Chen Ye couldn't help but rub the little girl's fluffy head, praising her.
The White Furred Ball didn't dare breathe, trembling as she was patted on the head, her toes constantly scuffing the ground.
Seeing this, Chen Ye smiled awkwardly, took the bowl, sniffed it, and after confirming it was safe, ate with great enjoyment.
Delicious!
Chen Ye wiped his mouth.
"Master, do you need more rice?" the White Furred Ball asked, twisting her fingers, quickly glancing up at her master.
After excessive mental and spiritual exertion, the man's face became even more haggard, with his cheeks deeply sunken.
Terrifying!
The White Furred Ball held her breath.
Chen Ye shook his head, handing the bowl back to Qing Jun's small hands,
not forgetting to instruct:
"Master will be in seclusion for the next few days. If there isn't enough food, you can cook in the kitchen. If the food runs out, just inform Master."
"Okay!"
The White Furred Ball nodded vigorously, staring at her toes.
Receiving Chen Ye's approval, she fled the utility room as if escaping.
Chen Ye turned his gaze back, hesitantly taking a pill wrapped in gold foil from his bag.
A Qi Recovery Pill!
A market price of one Spirit Stone, it quickly restores a cultivator's Spiritual Power.
Expensive, yet effective!
The Silver Scale Flower is the main ingredient in the Qi Recovery Pill; an adept alchemist can refine twelve Qi Recovery Pills from one Silver Scale Flower, potentially yielding one Upper Grade, four Middle Grade, and seven Lower Grade pills.
An Upper Grade Qi Recovery Pill sells for six Spirit Stones, a Middle Grade for three Spirit Stones, and a Lower Grade for one Spirit Stone.
A Silver Scale Flower worth eighteen Spirit Stones generally yields Qi Recovery Pills worth twenty-five Spirit Stones!
Although there are other secondary materials, their costs are low, with a profit of at least five Spirit Stones.
Of course, that's just the minimum!
If an extra Upper Grade Qi Recovery Pill is refined, the profit directly doubles!
And the Qi Recovery Pill is merely one of the most common low-tier elixirs in the Cultivation Realm.
"Healing five Spirit Grasses for someone just matches the profit from casually refining elixirs."
Chen Ye sighed, trying to cheer himself up,
"But alchemy is costly too; not to mention the Pill Furnace price far exceeds my Jade Saber."
Chen Ye caressed the pill, reluctant to consume the Qi Recovery Pill.
Taking one is like consuming one Spirit Stone.
But no pain, no gain!
He braced himself!
Chen Ye closed his eyes and swallowed the pill.
The long-dried Spiritual Power, like spring grass after rain, revitalized once more.