Chapter 016: Blossoms and Greenery

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Ever since the spiritual energy had been infused into Lin Zhan’s body through the pattern, the lines upon that badge had grown increasingly distinct. Not only did it become clear that this was an ancient brand, but there were also the traces of nine stars upon it, flickering in and out of sight.

Thus, Lin Zhan named the emblem’s pattern the “Nine-Star Diagram.”

Whenever spiritual energy transformed into spiritual power and coursed through his body, the nine stars on the diagram would also revolve along the emblem’s outline.

Lin Zhan had become more and more adept at absorbing spiritual energy, drawing in greater quantities each time. The fluctuations of air around his body became clearly perceptible.

Fortunately, in this outer region of the Crimson Refinement Valley, each menial disciple was responsible for their own section, with no outsiders present. Moreover, the spiritual energy here was abundant; Lin Zhan’s absorption would hardly be noticed.

One day passed, then two, then ten—Lin Zhan devoted himself wholly to the process of channeling spiritual energy and refining it into spiritual power.

Gradually, the veins, blood vessels, and muscles throughout his body grew tougher and more robust under the influence of this energy circulation.

When his body was finally saturated with spiritual power, the new spiritual energy entering him no longer circulated throughout his body but was stored within the Nine-Star Diagram.

Once the Nine-Star Diagram began storing spiritual energy transformed into spiritual power, the commotion was far greater than before.

Lin Zhan seemed to hear the hissing of a pressure cooker after rice porridge finishes cooking—a dramatic escalation, startling even himself.

In an instant, the spiritual energy around his body was swept clean, and the spirit herbs, flowers, and grasses shivered in the wind—several weaker plants withered on the spot!

These plants had relied on the spiritual energy to nourish themselves, and now, deprived, it was as if they were suffocating; naturally, disaster followed.

With a thought, Lin Zhan quickly stopped.

Deeper within the Crimson Refinement Valley, atop a lotus platform in the Crimson Refinement Palace, a seemingly insubstantial figure began to coalesce.

“Hmm? How could there be such a violent fluctuation?”

A wisp of this figure split off, taking the form of a graceful phantom, which shot upward, pierced the palace roof, and strode out.

Moments later, the phantom returned and melded back into place.

“How interesting. With no cultivation method at all, he was able to draw in energy and establish his foundation. But now, the energy within those three unopened century-old Icy Spirit Flowers has been completely drained by him. He’s in for a stroke of bad luck, hee hee…”

The lotus platform returned to stillness, and the figure once again became ethereal and indistinct.

Lin Zhan paused his energy refinement, stood up, and stretched luxuriously atop the icy stone. Twisting his body, he surveyed his surroundings. His vision was now sharp as a blade—everything within sight appeared in crisp detail. His whole being surged with exhilaration, as if his chest were filled with boundless heroic spirit.

The spiritual energy that had just been depleted by his absorption was now gradually replenishing from the surroundings, and once more he could bask in its abundance.

“Oh no!” he exclaimed.

Leaping down from the several-zhang-high icy stone, he dashed into the medicinal field.

The withered spirit grasses stood out conspicuously. “What happened?” Lin Zhan muttered to himself. They had been perfectly healthy moments ago—could his frenzied absorption of spiritual energy have deprived the spirit herbs, causing their withering?

He touched the roots of one; it seemed there might still be hope. Focusing his will, he grasped a stalk with his right hand and guided a trace of power from the Nine-Star Diagram into the herb.

A miraculous thing occurred—the nearly dead stalk began to revive before his eyes, and before long had returned to robust health.

Using the same method, Lin Zhan busied himself throughout the field, restoring each dying spirit herb and medicinal plant.

“Haha, wonderful! Lucky I have this secret skill, or I’d be in big trouble. I might even have dragged my teammates down with me!”

Wiping sweat from his brow, Lin Zhan grinned with satisfaction.

Finally, he paused to inspect the Icy Spirit Grass, murmuring, “Century-old Icy Spirit Grass—truly brimming with spiritual energy, completely unaffected!”

Continuing to refine his cultivation, Lin Zhan had learned his lesson. He now controlled the rate at which the Nine-Star Diagram absorbed energy, making the fluctuations in the area barely perceptible and maintaining a balance of spiritual energy in and out, so as not to harm the plants.

What Lin Zhan didn’t know was that the three seemingly intact Icy Spirit Flowers had, in fact, been robbed of nearly all the spiritual energy accumulated over a century—less than a year’s worth remained, though outwardly, nothing appeared amiss.

Of course, his current ability wasn’t enough to notice this; a more capable person—someone at the level of Attendant Ten, for example—could see through it at a glance. It was said that, before his cultivation was sealed, Attendant Ten had been at the peak of the Human Realm.

Because of his spectacular victory over Wei Qinglong, Attendant One had assigned him an easy task: no watering, no fertilizing, no weeding—he only needed to patrol.

Every morning at a set time, Attendant Ten would arrive punctually in Lin Zhan’s area.

Lin Zhan was the first to stand up to Attendant Ten, earning his particular respect.

Now, Attendant Ten got along well with everyone. As the saying goes, “No fight, no friendship”—now they were all as thick as thieves. He no longer insisted on being the boss, for whenever he raised his voice, “Let me be your leader!” Attendants One through Nine would straighten their backs and glance at him sideways, “Aren’t you tired yet?”

Unable to beat them to death or terrify them, Attendant Ten was left with no recourse.

“Hey, kid—catch!”

Lin Zhan raised his hand and caught the flying bundle.

Unwrapping it, he found roast meat wrapped in a lotus leaf.

“Mmm, smells delicious!” Regardless of what meat it was, Lin Zhan didn’t stand on ceremony and tore into it enthusiastically.

Attendant Ten had already hopped onto the icy stone, sitting beside Lin Zhan with a jar of wine in his hand. He broke the seal and took a hearty swig.

“Sigh, born lacking—eat more!”

Lin Zhan wiped the grease from his lips, took the wine jar, and drank several mouthfuls himself.

“Good wine—satisfying!” he mumbled, his mouth full.

Meat and wine each morning had become Lin Zhan’s special treatment these days.

Of course, the one who provided such enjoyment was the notorious Attendant Ten.

“With skills like yours, in my village you’d definitely be the Grand Elder of the Sacred Order of the Eastern Dawn!” Lin Zhan joked.

“What Sacred Order, old or new? My ambition is the stars and the sea—how could I care for the position of Elder?”

Punished with three years of hard labor, he still boasted shamelessly. But perhaps that was why Lin Zhan found him more agreeable by the day—and the roast meat and fine wine surely played a part as well.