Chapter 179: Kindling Golden Lotus in Fire

"This is the Level-Two Superior Herbalist promotion: Class-A Plant Illusion Trial."

"Requirement: Within the illusion's ten years, cultivate the legendary Level-Three spiritual plant—the Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus."

"The illusion provides only eight spiritual seeds; if after consuming all eight the herbalist still fails to grow the Golden Lotus, the trial is deemed a failure."

"No wonder the difficulty is rated Class-A—no one has ever succeeded. It demands a Level-Two Herbalist cultivate a Level-Three spiritual plant."

That was no ordinary challenge.

Qin Ming stepped forward into the outside world.

Before him stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested a withered, yellow lotus pod, embedded with eight golden seeds brimming with astonishing spiritual aura, a thread of Daoic resonance swirling around them.

"These are the spiritual seeds of the Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus!"

Qin Ming picked up the lotus pod and carefully observed and sensed it; every detail within the Plant Illusion felt utterly real.

Fortunately, he had studied the inheritance of Level-Three Herbalists.

Information regarding the 'Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus' automatically surfaced in Qin Ming's mind.

Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus: a Level-Three Inferior spiritual plant, exceedingly rare, one of the two primary ingredients for refining Golden Core pills.

Of course, the true main ingredient must be over five hundred years old; the illusion's ten years merely suffice to preliminarily cultivate the plant.

Such a rare celestial treasure was nearly impossible to find anywhere in the Wei Kingdom's cultivation world.

This Golden Lotus demanded extremely high conditions for its spiritual vein: it required not only a Level-Three spiritual vein environment, but also nourishment from celestial fire essence, growing only at the heart of extreme-temperature magma.

Ordinary spiritual plants could not survive in such an environment—even approaching it would turn them to ash.

Qin Ming tucked the spiritual seeds away and flew toward the distant flame mountains.

He first needed to locate a suitable magma site before beginning cultivation.

After searching the illusion for over half a month, Qin Ming finally found a magma cave halfway up a mountain range, where a small pool of molten lava churned continuously, and tiny specks of fire essence drifted in the air.

The moment Qin Ming entered, he instantly felt a heat far more terrifying than outside.

Fortunately, his physical body was incredibly robust, and his Glass Armor possessed the property of repelling magical forces, shielding him from such intense heat.

Ordinary herbalists could not even enter to cultivate, let alone withstand the scorching heat without sufficient cultivation base.

Next, Qin Ming followed the cultivation method from the herbalist inheritance: he first retrieved a lump of black spiritual soil, obtained from nearby Flameheart Mountain.

Called 'Central Yellow Spiritual Soil,' this soil was peculiar—ordinary cultivators struggled to identify it, its greatest function being the harmonization of yin and yang.

The Golden Lotus seeds were still fragile at first; placing them directly into magma would burn them to ash.

Thus, during initial cultivation, Central Yellow Spiritual Soil must encase the seeds to ensure their growth.

Once all preparations were complete, Qin Ming wrapped one Golden Lotus seed in spiritual soil and began his first cultivation attempt.

He used his spiritual sense to guide the soil into the heart of the magma.

BOOM! A burst of crimson flame erupted; the soil exploded into gray smoke. Qin Ming's lips twitched, his expression darkening.

After so much preparation, he had failed the moment he began.

He quickly withdrew the soil, peeled it open—and saw the Golden Lotus seed had been reduced to ash.

Even if he wished to revive it using the 【Regenerate Seed】 term, it was clearly impossible. "Where did I go wrong?"

"Was the procedure incorrect?"

…

The second cultivation attempt began.

This time, Qin Ming did not rush to place the soil into the magma; instead, he extended his spiritual sense to capture the drifting fire essence, then infused it into the soil.

He then consumed one 【Strong Adaptation】 term, applying it to the seed.

He closed his eyes and sensed it: a slender crimson-gold sprout within the seed greedily absorbed the fire energy.

Gradually, it began to grow.

Qin Ming's eyes brightened; his spirit surged.

"It's working!" He continued, mimicking the same method, capturing fire essence endlessly to nurture the seed.

One year later.

The Golden Lotus seed had devoured vast amounts of fire essence, radiating a crimson-gold aura, fully adapted to its scorching surroundings.

Qin Ming then placed the soil-wrapped seed back into the heart of the magma.

This time, the seed was not burned—it began autonomously absorbing nearby fire essence.

The internal sprout slowly emerged; Qin Ming immediately activated the Ancient Wood Longevity Art, channeling emerald Longevity magic power into the seed.

The Golden Lotus seed absorbed the plant essence Qin Ming transmitted, taking root within the soil.

Qin Ming followed this method to cultivate all remaining seeds.

He then planted them atop the magma heart.

Time within the illusion slowly passed.

In the blink of an eye, five more years had gone by.

With such an ideal opportunity for practical spiritual plant cultivation, Qin Ming did not use the 【Ripen】 term to forcibly accelerate the Golden Lotus.

Instead, he continuously explored, researched, and learned—gaining immense experience and insight for his future path in herbalism.

By the sixth year, within the magma before him, the Golden Lotus wrapped in Central Yellow Spiritual Soil began forming buds.

The Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus, from leaf to stem, glowed a fiery crimson-gold, the entire plant appearing translucent.

After this long period, Qin Ming had successfully cultivated five seeds.

Countless fire essences swirled in vortexes, pouring into the soil; the buds trembled, on the verge of blooming.

Qin Ming's expression grew tense.

At that moment.

BOOM! The five Golden Lotus plants suddenly ignited, turning instantly into piles of black ash.

Qin Ming's face showed stunned disbelief.

Then he recalled something, murmuring: "Rebirth through Flame."

No sooner had the words left his lips.

From the black ash, five crimson-gold specks emerged; the surrounding red mist-like fire qi flowed like tassels into them.

The specks rapidly expanded, sprouting roots and shoots at incredible speed—shedding all dross, each crimson-gold spiritual lotus sank deep into the magma below, thriving vigorously.

At this point, Qin Ming knew he had successfully cultivated the Flame-Bathed Golden Lotus.

What remained was merely waiting for maturity—a matter of time.

He felt it was sufficient, and immediately consumed one 【Ripen】 term. In the next instant, the five spiritual lotuses surged upward, blooming into five crimson-gold flowers.

A radiant five-colored aura swirled through the entire magma cave, releasing a soul-stirring wave of spiritual energy.

"Level-Two Superior, Class-A Plant Illusion Trial: Passed!"

A notification echoed in Qin Ming's mind.

His expression brightened; he prepared, as usual, to receive the Ten Thousand Trees Mother Qi.

But—

Within the Plant Illusion, an anomaly began to unfold!

…

Meanwhile,

In Canghai Xiancheng, within the Herbalist Guild, the ancient wooden array began to tremble.

The wooden tablet representing Qin Ming's entry emitted a dazzling light, piercing the sky, forming the shape of a peculiar spiritual lotus plant in the heavens.

(End of Chapter)