As Mao Jianbi waved his hand, someone below the platform left.
Before long, several people carried a small tree as wide as an adult person’s arm to the square. There were many cracks on the small tree’s bark. While there were a few split branches on it, they had withered, making the tree look like it was lifeless from afar.
At this moment, the spiritual tree’s roots were being wrapped with thick layers of gauze. When it was brought to the square, the people and beasts near it even picked up a vague fragrance.
The scholar from the Liu family took a deep breath and remarked, “Senior Mao, the Beast King Sect’s really particular.”
On the other side, the 2 other candidates nodded as well and commented, “The Beast King Sect’s going to sell the Interspatial Spiritual Tree, but you still cultivate it with the best soil and spiritual liquids to prolong its life as much as possible. This can only be done by a supreme sect.”
Ou Yangming twitched his mouth. He kept quiet when he looked at how the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s roots were wrapped up.
Liquids produced by qualified spiritual flowers and herbs were known as immortal liquids in the Spiritual Realm. As for secondary flowers and herbs with certain spiritual powers in them, they could refine spiritual liquids.
Spiritual liquids were far from immortal liquids, but they were also incredibly rare treasures. If they were used by alchemists, the qualities of pills could be increased to another level. At this moment, spiritual liquids were dropped into the soil so that they would release rich nutrients for the Interspatial Spiritual Tree. With that, the spiritual tree managed to live as though ginseng was used to prolong a person’s life.
As said by the others, only a supreme sect could pay such a high price on a tree that was going to be sold.
“I’ll try first,” the ratman from the Jade Rats expressed eagerly.
Mao Jianbi nodded. He did not mind whoever went first.
The ratman circled the Interspatial Spiritual Tree several times, and its eyes lit up when it confirmed its identity. It was true that the spiritual tree was dying, but its aura still moved the ratman.
In fact, the Interspatial Spiritual Tree had a more important use for the ratman’s race.
At this point, the ratman decided to bring the spiritual tree back to its race regardless of the cost.
With a grave look on its face, it retrieved an interspatial bag and carefully retrieved a jade stone, then it squeezed the stone hard.
Ou Yangming suddenly widened his eyes. He clearly saw that the jade stone deflated like a sponge, whereas drops of a milky liquid dripped on the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s trunk.
Before this, large gaps were already seen on the spiritual tree’s trunk. The openings were dark and hollow, making one shudder with fear.
When the jade stone’s liquid penetrated the spiritual tree’s bark, the withered opening somehow became moist.
The jade stone’s liquid could not save the Interspatial Spiritual Tree, but everyone could tell that the liquid was beneficial for it. At the very least, its outer appearance changed for the better.
Mao Jianbi smiled and remarked, “The Jade Rats have a well-deserved reputation.”
“Hmph, let me try.” The second person on the high platform was a tall and thin man. He stepped forward and cupped his hands at the ratman. “I’m Gao Yi from the Jade Pill Sect. Please don’t hesitate to give me any advice.” Subsequently, he retrieved a jade bottle from his interspatial bag and poured out the pill inside. He later crushed it in his hand and sprinkled it on the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s cracks bit by bit.
Nobody knew what power the pill had, but its effect was eye-catching and not inferior to that of the jade stone’s liquid at all.
Furthermore, the pill’s powder covered a wide range, causing half of the spiritual tree to be nourished.
In terms of the effect on its outer appearance, Gao Yi was undoubtedly better.
The scholar from the Liu family raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “Liu Xiangrong,” he uttered calmly, then he reached out to explore the Interspatial Spiritual Tree. As his palm moved, a surging wave was vaguely sensed, where it enveloped the entire spiritual tree.
At this moment, Liu Xiangrong seemed to have turned into a clear spring that gave the spiritual tree a strong vitality.
Chapter 690 - A Powerful Backstage Supporter
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ou Yangming had been watching quietly on the side. He could not help but praise internally when he saw the unordinary effects that were caused by the 3 candidates.
As said by Mao Jianbi, some unique skills in the world that could be extremely effective during crucial moments.
Nonetheless, nobody knew that Mao Jianbi was deep down disappointed although he nodded. This was because he could tell that the 3 methods performed by the candidates were considered cheap tricks.
Whether it was the jade stone’s liquid, the pill powder, or Liu Xiangrong, they only affected the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s outer appearance.
It seemed like the spiritual tree looked better and regained energy, but it was merely on the surface as nothing inside changed.
Taking a terminally ill person as an example, one would surely have a terrible complexion. One could look like one was glowing with health again through makeup but in reality, the makeup would not help one’s condition at all no matter how brilliant it was.
Nevertheless, Mao Jianbi was disappointed but not surprised.
If those 3 candidates could find a way to save the Interspatial Spiritual Tree in such a short time, the planting masters from the Beast King Sect would seem too useless.
Mao Jianbi nodded and remarked, “You did quite well, so you’re qualified to compete for the spiritual tree.” He later turned to look at Ou Yangming and asked, “How about you? Do you still want to give it a go?”
Ou Yangming nodded and answered, “Yes.”
He went forward and walked around the Interspatial Spiritual Tree, then he fixed his gaze on its roots.
The spiritual tree’s roots were being tightly wrapped at the moment, by which it was nourished with fertile soil and spiritual liquid.
Ou Yangming reached out and placed his hands gently on the wrapper as he wanted to open it.
It was then when Liu Xiangrong, Gao Yi, and the ratman shouted at the same time, “You mustn’t!”
Ou Yangming was slightly stunned. He withdrew his hands and asked in shock, “Why?”
Liu Xiangrong questioned with a grave look on his face, “Lil’ brother, do you know why the Beast King Sect’s planting masters wrapped the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s roots?”
“I have no idea.” Ou Yangming blinked and smiled bitterly.
Liu Xiangrong’s face darkened. He scoffed angrily and explained, “A tree’s vitality would be damaged each time it’s shifted. Given how weak the Interspatial Spiritual Tree is, it mustn’t go through something like that anymore!” He turned around and cupped his hands at Mao Jianbi, “Senior, this lil’ brother doesn’t even know such a basic theory, so I don’t think he’s qualified to join the competition.”
Gao Yi and the ratman nodded in agreement. They would not object to the idea if Ou Yangming had an ultimate trick to heal the Interspatial Spiritual Tree, but they could tell from how reckless he was that he was an amateur.
If that was the case, it would only be right for them to crowd him out.
Mao Jianbi looked grim. He asked Ou Yangming, “What do you say?”
He was rather enraged at this moment. If it was not for the sake of Peng Yanbing, he would have kicked the young fellow off the stage long ago.
“Senior, I don’t know much about planting, but I do have a way to save the Interspatial Spiritual Tree.” Ou Yangming forced a smile and pleaded with the great elder sincerely, “Please allow me to try.”
Liu Xiangrong sneered. “I’m afraid that the spiritual tree will die right after you make you
r attempt.”
Gao Yi went along with him. “Yes, how can an outsider be allowed to save the Interspatial Spiritual Tree when it’s such a professional task?”
The ratman squeaked several times. It did not say a word, but its attitude was enough to express its standpoint.
Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows. Whether the 3 candidates were concerned about the Interspatial Spiritual Tree or were simply selfish, he was infuriated because of how they targeted him.
Seeing as Moa Jianbi was looking more unfriendly and was about to say something, Ou Yangming decided to retrieve the jade pendant that represented Yuqi the Venerable One.
Mao Jianbi was about to reprimand Ou Yangming and shoo him away when he was shocked by the unique item that was held by the young fellow. He widened his eyes and stared at the jade pendant.
Being one of the countable sect leaders in the Beast King Sect, he could not be more familiar with the jade pendant.
Even so, his first reaction after seeing it out of the blue was that it was fake…
‘Yuqi the Venerable One carries that with him everywhere, so why would he give it to someone else?’
After looking closely at the jade pendant for some time, Mao Jianbi finally confirmed that it belonged to Yuqi the Venerable One. Not only was the pattern the same, but a vague aura could also be sensed from the pendant.
It was Yuqi the Venerable One’s aura. He could not have been mistaken.
Even if someone dared to carve a fake jade pendant, one could not attach Yuqi the Venerable One’s aura to it. More importantly, they were in the Beast King Sect. If someone made a counterfeit of the pendant, one could imagine the consequences.
Mao Jianbi glanced at the calm Peng Yanbing below the platform. He somehow broke out in a cold sweat.
‘What will Sir Venerable One do if he finds out that I kicked someone with his jade pendant off the platform?’
He cursed Peng Yanbing internally at this time, ‘That old fella clearly knew but didn’t warn me at all. Is he trying to harm me?’
Mao Jianbi took a deep breath and waved his hand. “Since they’ve all tried, you may try too for the sake of fairness.”
Ou Yangming grinned and turned his wrist to put the jade pendant away. He bowed at the great elder and expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, senior.”
He knew very well that it was not for the sake of fairness; the so-called fairness was only because of the jade pendant in his hand.
The faces of Liu Xiangrong and the others changed. Earlier on, they chose to use their tricks on the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s bark because they did not know it well, and they were afraid of causing negative effects if they acted rashly.
Therefore, they were shocked when Mao Jianbi allowed an amateur to open up the wrapper around the roots.
They dared not disobey Mao Jianbi, but they were pessimistic. If the amateur messed things up, the Interspatial Spiritual Tree would probably lose the bit of vitality that it had left.
Despite that, they noticed how Mao Jianbi’s face changed, hence they knew there must be a reason behind it. If they tried to stop him at this time, their efforts would likely be to no avail.
Therefore, the 3 candidates glared at Ou Yangming. If angry looks could kill, the young fellow’s body would have been covered in holes already.
They kept cursing internally and even complained about Mao Jianbi for not having a firm standpoint. However, they did not know that after Mao Jianbi saw Yuqi the Venerable One’s jade pendant, he had decided that he would not stop Ou Yangming even if he killed the Interspatial Spiritual Tree on the spot.
Since nobody got in the way anymore, Ou Yangming opened up the big wrapper successfully.
Sure enough, soil was filled inside the wrapper, and the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s roots were surrounded by the soil. When the wrapper was opened, the spiritual liquid’s unique fragrance became richer.
Ou Yangming sniffed a few times but did not react to it at all. The spiritual liquid was a little fragrant, but it could not be compared with the immortal liquid. As for their effects, there was no need to compare at all.
Spiritualists would be moved if they stumbled upon spiritual flowers and herbs, but definitely not ordinary flowers and herbs with spiritual powers. There were huge disparities between the difficulties of nurturing them, as well as the effects of the liquids that they produced.
Everyone focused on Ou Yangming at this time as they were curious about what the young fellow planned to do.
Ou Yangming could not perceive anything even after he studied the spiritual tree carefully. He simply turned his wrist to retrieve a jade bottle, which he had prepared in advance.
The liquid stored inside the bottle was not the ordinary immortal liquid, but the superb immortal liquid that was concentrated by the lazy turtle. Ever since Ou Yangming’s trip to the secret realm, where he sent plenty of spiritual flowers and herbs to the lazy turtle, it had been providing 2 drops of the concentrated immortal liquid a day.
There was not much of the concentrated immortal liquid inside the jade bottle but according to the Wutong Tree, a drop of it a day would be enough to maintain and prolong the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s life.
Ou Yangming removed the bottle cap gently. Once the immortal liquid was concentrated, its essences were concentrated in a single drop. Great art concealed itself—the immortal liquid regained its natural state and did not give off any fragrance. Following that, the young fellow carefully dropped a drop of the liquid on the soil according to what he was told by the Wutong Tree. Once he was done, he wrapped up the spiritual tree’s roots again.
Liu Xiangtong and the others tried hard to identify the drop of liquid, but they could not tell what exactly it was.
Having said that, seeing as Ou Yangming simply dropped a drop of the liquid without doing anything big, they were relieved.
If that was all Ou Yangming was going to do, the Interspatial Spiritual Tree would not be too affected as long as the liquid was not poison. Needless to say, given the candidates’ visions and knowledge, they would have known if it was poison.
Ou Yangming took 3 steps back and looked quietly at the Interspatial Spiritual Tree.
Liu Xiangrong suddenly went forward and asked, “Brother Ou, what exactly did you drop on the soil just now? Can I take a look at it?”
“No,” Ou Yangming responded with a smile. He was smiling, but he was brutally frank when he rejected Liu XIangrong.
Liu Xiangrong flushed, and he was slightly mad. “Brother Ou, why are you being so stingy? I won’t steal your treasure anyway!”
Ou Yangming laughed and said, “We’re using our tricks for the same goal. Since we’re competitors, I can’t show you my treasure.”
Liu Xiangrong was struck dumb, and he was instantly speechless. After hearing what Ou Yangming said, even Gao Yi and the ratman gave up wanting to ask him.
“Very well. How long more will your trick show its effect, Brother Ou?” Liu Xiangrong questioned after a brief moment.
Ou Yangming answered after some thought, “It shouldn’t take too long.”
“Heh, Brother Ou, are you asking us to wait here for a few days with you just because you dropped a drop of liquid on the soil?” Liu Xiangrong spoke sternly, “For the sake of the Interspatial Spiritual Tree’s health, it’s best to treat it as soon as possible.”
“Hey, this is…” All of a sudden, Gao Yi’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed.
Chapter 691 - The Concentrated Immortal Liquid
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Gao Yi’s voice spread far and wide. He sounded surprised as though he was in disbelief.
Liu Xiangrong was slightly stunned, and he thought, ‘How can a cultivator from the Golden Pill Sect make a fuss about nothing? He doesn’t know the rules at all.’ Nonetheless, his head thudded when he turned to look where Gao Yi was looking, and he could not help but gasp.
If he was not holding it in, he would h
ave screamed as well.
This was because something unimaginable was happening in front of him.
The vitality of the Interspatial Spiritual Tree—the small tree that he and the other candidates had been fighting for—seemed to have improved at this moment.
It was not a significant improvement as the spiritual tree was still far from living again and growing sturdily. Even so, there was a drastic change from when it was half-dead earlier.
If something like that happened to a human, other people would suspect if it was a momentary recovery of consciousness just before death.
When the sudden change happened to the Interspatial Spiritual Tree, the professionals were extremely boggled.
“Th-this…” Liu Xiangtong’s mind was blank. He glanced at Ou Yangming and did not believe that this was the contribution of that drop of unknown liquid just now. He stammered and questioned curiously, “Is this a sudden sign of prosperity before its death?”
Gao Yi was startled, then he remarked snappily, “Brother Liu, please forgive me for being ill-informed, but I’ve never heard of medicine that can make a plant flourish in such a short time.”
Plants and humans had vastly different lives. They would also undergo a final bloom before they died, but no medicine had been so effective before.
Liu Xiangrong’s face reddened a little. He had only blurted earlier because he was too shocked, hence he had not thought it through. On second thought, he sounded quite unreasonable indeed.
Nevertheless, he could not imagine what the drop of liquid was for it to benefit the Interspatial Spiritual Tree so much.
There was not too much of a difference in terms of the spiritual tree’s outer appearance, but cultivators like them with in-depth knowledge about plants could sense the change in it.
In particular, they were in awe of the enormous change in the spiritual tree’s breath of life.
Before this, the Interspatial Spiritual Tree was similar to a dying old man; now, the old man suddenly gained energy for a new life, which allowed him to prolong his life.
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