Chapter 59

After one incense stick's time.

Accompanied by Gu Qingzhao, Qin Ming arrived at the Executive Hall of Qingyang Marketplace.

"Chief Gu, Friend Qin, please wait a moment! Several elders are currently in discussion inside."

The duty official, seeing that Gu Qingzhao had come in person, hurried inside to report.

Inside the Executive Hall.

Four senior elders of the Qingfei Sect were in discussion.

"Who would have thought this young man's mastery in plant cultivation has reached such heights—clearly an extraordinary talent."

"Indeed, he even successfully cultivated premium beast-tooth rice, surpassing several of our own unworthy disciples."

"Pity he isn't one of our Qingfei Sect disciples—he was conscripted from a cultivator family to serve corvée labor."

"Hmm, I intend to take him as my final disciple and exempt him from corvée."

"Such a fine talent—I too am tempted. But I fear he won't accept. Zhuang, you know how strongly these farm cultivators resist joining sects."

"What if he only wants the recommendation slot and has no intention of becoming your disciple? How should we handle it?"

"Are you suggesting this boy aims to become a second-rank plant cultivator, then break free from our control?"

"Precisely. With his talent, he may very well reach that level."

"What then is your collective opinion?"

"First, probe his intentions. If he refuses to join our sect, then raise the difficulty of the examination."

"It's not so bad to remain a mid-rank plant cultivator for life, growing spirit rice for our sect."

"…"

Not long after.

An old man in gray Daoist robes stepped out from the inner chamber, white-haired and ruddy-faced, radiating the aura of Foundation Establishment cultivation.

It was none other than Senior Elder Zhuang Xiran of the inner sect! "Chief Gu, what brings you here today? Please, come in!"

Gu Qingzhao's voice was clear as a spring: "I've come today to witness Qin's promotion to top-rank plant cultivator."

"Heh, that's not certain yet. The top-rank plant cultivator examination is no easy matter." Senior Elder Zhuang Xiran smiled, stroking his beard.

He then turned to Qin Ming and said:

"Qin boy, after a year's absence, I never imagined I'd be your examiner—fate truly works in strange ways."

Qin Ming hadn't expected Senior Elder Zhuang to be the chief examiner; he quickly bowed deeply: "Senior Elder Zhuang."

"No need for formalities. Come with me."

Senior Elder Zhuang Xiran led Qin Ming to the innermost courtyard of the Executive Hall.

Then, suddenly stopping, he turned to Qin Ming with a kind expression: "Qin Ming, I wish to take you as my final disciple. Will you accept?"

At this question,

Qin Ming froze, pondering long and hard.

He answered seriously: "Thank you for your generous offer, Senior Elder Zhuang, but I must decline your kindness."

In the past, if Senior Elder Zhuang had asked him this, he would have immediately knelt and begged to become his disciple.

But now, with his golden finger in hand, becoming a second-rank plant cultivator is merely a matter of time—even third-rank is possible.

Qin Ming has already planned: once free of the Qingfei Sect, he will find a lush, qi-rich mountain peak and cultivate his own fields in peace, with no desire to be entangled in sect politics.

All he needs is the recommendation slot to enter the plant illusion realm—not to become their disciple.

"Hmm. Since your mind is made up, I won't force you." Senior Elder Zhuang Xiran replied, his expression unreadable.

The two walked through the courtyard.

Senior Elder Zhuang brought Qin Ming before a small plot of spirit medicinal herbs.

The plot contained a variety of spirit plants.

Senior Elder Zhuang led him to a small, stunted spirit tree.

Qin Ming looked up and saw the tree was on the verge of death—its leaves all yellowed and wilted, listless, with parts of its trunk already dried and cracked.

Its vitality was clearly draining away.

"This is the task of this examination: within half a month, by any means necessary, revive this dying top-rank spirit tree—the Golden Sun Tree."

"And during these half-months, you must remain within this courtyard."

"If you need materials or items, you may ask the Executive Hall officials to purchase them for you."

"If you fail to revive the tree within the time limit—or fail entirely—it counts as failure."

"Do you have any questions?"

Qin Ming replied: "All is clear."

"Do you think this examination is too difficult?" Senior Elder Zhuang asked again.

Qin Ming silently thought: to others, this would be extremely difficult—but for him, it was nearly effortless.

As he knew,

the top-rank spirit tree known as the Golden Sun Tree was exceptionally delicate; even slight deviations in its growing environment or qi conditions caused it to wither easily. Worse still, once signs of decay appeared, revival became nearly impossible—almost irreversible.

After giving his instructions, Senior Elder Zhuang left with a stern face.

Only Qin Ming remained alone.

Setting such a difficult task to test him—he didn't need to guess: his earlier refusal had deeply displeased Senior Elder Zhuang.

"Hmm. Still half a month left. No rush. I'll wait ten or so days before acting."

Elsewhere.

After returning to the inner chamber, Senior Elder Zhuang.

The other elders immediately asked: "Zhuang, how did it go?"

"Sigh~ Just as you predicted. Although this boy's talent with spirit plants is high, his heart isn't with the sect."

"Then for the examination, Old Zhuang, what question did you give him?"

"Revive the Golden Sun Tree."

"Mm, in that case, barring any accidents, he won't pass this round of the examination."

……

The reception side-room of the Deacon Hall.

Gu Qingzhao and Shopkeeper Liao were drinking tea and waiting when they saw Elder Zhuang come in.

She rose and asked, "May I ask, what is the subject of the Upper-Grade Spirit Gu Zhishi's examination?"

Elder Zhuang gave a faint smile. "Upper-Grade Spirit Plant Masters are extremely rare, and the examination topic differs every year."

"This year, the question I gave the boy Qin is to revive the Golden Sun Tree. The difficulty is no small matter."

"There's still half a month to go. Gu Gezhu Gu need not stay here keeping watch every day. Once the results are out, I'll have someone come notify you."

Gu Qingzhao's star-bright eyes flickered with a trace of surprise at his words, and her brows knit slightly. "It's actually the Golden Sun Tree? Is the Upper-Grade Spirit Gu Zhishi's examination really that difficult?"

She began to worry whether Qin Ming could pass this round at all.

Inside the herb field.

Qin Ming, paying no heed to anything, swallowed a Gathering Spirit Pill and began to sit in meditation and cultivate on the spot.

Three days later.

Elder Zhuang came in to check the progress and saw that the Golden Sun Tree was nearly dead, while Qin Ming still looked utterly at a loss.

He could not help but sigh and shake his head.

The fifth day.

Qin Ming asked the people of the Deacon Hall to purchase a large pile of miscellaneous spirit materials and other things.

Elder Zhuang looked on and had no idea either, unable to figure out what he intended to use them for.

However, what surprised him was that Qin Ming began tinkering on the Golden Sun Tree, and he had no idea what he was doing.

But that Golden Sun Tree still showed no sign of reviving.

The tenth day. The half-month deadline was nearly up.

Qin Ming felt it was about time and tapped his intent on the 【Regeneration Spirit Seed】 entry.

The instant the entry was used.

At the roots of the Golden Sun Tree, which was on the verge of death, a purple spore suddenly grew out and wrapped around the tree roots.

Very quickly, the purple spore was absorbed by the Golden Sun Tree and vanished.

The once sickly Golden Sun Tree, at this moment, gradually began to regain vitality.

Elder Zhuang came by as usual to take a look.

The moment he looked, he saw that the withered Golden Sun Tree had actually sprouted fresh green leaves again that very day.

His face was full of disbelief: "Th-this, how did it come back to life?"

……

Half an incense stick's time later.

Qin Ming walked out of the inner courtyard with Elder Zhuang.

The moment he came out, he saw that Gu Qingzhao and Shopkeeper Liao were actually still there.

Gu Qingzhao saw he had come out five days early and assumed he had failed the examination. After all, reviving a Golden Sun Tree was simply too difficult a test.

Qin Ming walked over and greeted her: "Fellow Daoist Gu, why are you two still here?"

"It's nothing, I just happened to be free today and came by to look." Gu Qingzhao's star-bright eyes held a smile. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin, how did this promotion examination turn out?"

Shopkeeper Liao also showed a curious expression beside her.

Before Qin Ming could answer.

Elder Zhuang Xiran beside him spoke up first.

"Qin Xiaoyou has already passed the examination and been promoted to Upper-Grade Spirit Gu Zhishi."

(End of this chapter)