[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-treasure-immortal-basin":3,"chapter-the-treasure-immortal-basin-the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-28":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Treasure Immortal Basin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2355211,4608,"Chapter 28: Elder Withered Wood","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>After about an hour, a stout disciple clad in a green Daoist robe arrived at the Outer Gate Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wang has come… I’ve found you a disciple whose main elemental affinity is Fire Spirit Root—take a look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine,” Brother Wang’s expression was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at He Pingsheng and said, “Just Foundation Establishment fourth stage? Can he handle it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple’s face twisted in distress: “Brother Wang, how long has it been? No one’s shown interest at all—you know the condition of your Spirit Herb Valley yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let him try first. If it doesn’t work, we’ll keep waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Wang’s name is Wang Dun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foundation Establishment sixth stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the green-robed disciple’s words, Wang Dun took a deep breath and said, “Enough… let it be this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…” Wang Dun stared at He Pingsheng. “Release some of your internal Fire spiritual power—I’ll check its quality first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s seven or eight tenths, I’ll take you into the valley for further testing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” He Pingsheng didn’t dare delay. Slowly extending his right hand, he activated the True Law of Discharge Fire. Instantly, a cluster of Fire-affinity spiritual power surged from his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame was crimson, streaked with traces of white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…” Wang Dun was slightly startled. “Not bad—this Fire spiritual power is extremely pure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on—retract your power and follow me to the Spirit Herb Valley for further testing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then followed Wang Dun up the mountain again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Inner Gate of Grand Void Gate lies atop the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, He Pingsheng had climbed up and down this mountain several times, each time exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with his Foundation Establishment fourth stage cultivation base, ascending the mountain was far easier—he could leap dozens of zhang in a single bound, scaling eaves and cliffs as if walking on flat ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By mortal standards, he was already a confirmed martial master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about half an hour, Wang Dun and He Pingsheng arrived at a valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a deep breath, He Pingsheng felt the spiritual energy here was more than ten times denser than outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, for him, it was of little use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a weak Spirit Root, even the finest spiritual energy was useless—he couldn’t refine it fast enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re He Pingsheng, right? Follow me—watch your step, don’t wander off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dun led He Pingsheng through the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both sides of the valley were rows of Spirit Fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fields were planted with various plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most were Spirit Rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few were medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deeper they went, the denser the spiritual energy became; by the valley’s innermost point, the plants in the Spirit Fields had all become Spirit Herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven-leaf Spirit Herb, Spirit Apricot, Vermilion Fruit, Immortal Bamboo Shoots—everything was present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all were merely first-grade herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng recognized them all—he had thoroughly read the [Thirty-Six Alchemical Formulas], and knew every herb listed within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the valley’s deepest point lay a patch of crimson plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are Flame Sun Flowers!” Wang Dun pointed to the crimson plants. “They’re in full bloom now—there are five hundred and sixty plants here, a second-grade Spirit Herb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the Flame Sun Flowers stood a massive stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dun said, “Release some of your spiritual power onto this stone—it will automatically display the purity of your spiritual power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you pass, you can stay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” He Pingsheng took a deep breath and activated his internal spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire spiritual power was drawn from his dantian, channeled through his meridians, and finally erupted from his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, He Pingsheng was cautious—he didn’t unleash full power, only about half, then directed it toward the stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hummm…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone, as if enchanted, instantly changed color as He Pingsheng’s Fire spiritual power struck it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From gray to crimson, then crimson to yellow, yellow to gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Wang Dun’s stunned gaze, He Pingsheng retracted his Fire spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive…” Wang Dun clapped his hands. “Impressive, impressive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Younger brother, you’re only Foundation Establishment fourth stage—yet your Fire spiritual power quality has reached Upper Grade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your cultivation technique must be extraordinary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng’s heart jolted: Dammit—I’ve exposed myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Wang Dun added, “Previous disciples—even those at Foundation Establishment seventh or eighth stage—couldn’t reach Upper Grade. Of course, here, Mid Grade is sufficient!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Younger brother… come with me to meet Elder Withered Wood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s the Elder of our Grand Void Gate’s Spirit Herb Valley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” He Pingsheng hurried behind Wang Dun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two continued deeper into the Spirit Valley; a misty haze had silently risen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The valley’s deepest point appeared dreamlike, illusory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dun explained, “Elder Withered Wood has set up an array here—hence these illusions. You don’t need to come here for routine duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t dare wander in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng said, “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, they suddenly arrived at a cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Withered Wood!” Wang Dun bowed respectfully before the cave. “I’ve found the one to tend the Flame Sun Flowers—please grant your command!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Wang Dun finished than the thin mist at the cave’s entrance vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out stepped a frail, short old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin was like withered wood; his hair and beard were pure white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at He Pingsheng and said, “Foundation Establishment fourth stage? Can you endure it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dun gave a bitter smile. “Elder, I’ve searched for days—this is the only one who qualifies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.” Elder Withered Wood pulled out a black token and handed it to He Pingsheng. “This is the Spirit Herb Valley token. With it, you may enter or leave the valley and Grand Void Gate at will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But remember—don’t wander off. If you get beaten up for trespassing on another peak, don’t blame me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng took the token. “Yes… I shall remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Elder Withered Wood continued. “The previous boy did well enough—but he died fighting recklessly outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Flame Sun Flowers’ bloom period still has three months left—you’ll complete the rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do it well, and I’ll reward you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you slack off or make mistakes… hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Withered Wood stared at He Pingsheng, sneered twice, then waved his hand. “Go—Wang Dun will teach you how to tend and harvest the Flame Sun Flower pollen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for He Pingsheng to reply, the old man turned and reentered the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>",1054,"2026-06-21T04:08:57.694Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","96639fc25647e3e77f93fc3cbe1400f61aa9be53420c712f929c2c6a269cd499","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-29","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-27",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-treasure-immortal-basin-cover.jpg"]