Chapter 593: Divine Wood Sect (2)

Their cultivation resources could, at most, support three Nascent Soul Seeds at the same time.

When it came to the final step of forming a Nascent Soul, they could only provide a guarantee of a Nascent Soul Pill for a single person.

As the Divine Wood Sect continued to weaken, they had no choice but to resort to the very methods they once disdained: trading Spirit Plants for cultivation resources.

With their legacy from the Upper Realm, they could almost be called the strongest of the second-tier sects in the art of Spirit Plants, second only to the Moral Sect.

Bai Zichen’s choice of the Divine Wood Sect was, of course, a calculated one.

The sect’s Spirit Plant Skill was impressive; under their care, even Spirit Seeds that seemed completely dead had shown signs of life after several centuries.

At the same time, their recent circumstances had grown even worse, to the point where they could barely maintain their status as a Nascent Soul Major Sect.

There were even hundred-year periods where the sect didn’t have a single Nascent Soul True Monarch.

The destruction of the Taibai Sword Sect did nothing to halt the Divine Wood Sect’s steady decline.

If not for their remaining Divine Tree Array, which could still maintain its power at the Tier Four Peak, they would have long since been unable to fend off the powers coveting Wuzhong Ridge.

A Tier Four Top-Grade Spirit Vein, whose core could condense into a Tier Five Spirit Land, was not something the current Divine Wood Sect could protect.

In an effort to turn enemies into friends, the Divine Wood Sect had even voluntarily ceded parts of Wuzhong Ridge to become the abodes of two Nascent Soul Loose Cultivators.

They themselves had mostly withdrawn to the area of East Peak.

Under these circumstances, the disciples of the Divine Wood Sect were not averse to going out to earn Spirit Stones, so they were not difficult to hire, as long as one was willing to pay.

“Bai Zichen of the Northern Domain has come to pay his respects to the friends of the Divine Wood Sect.”

‘It’s best not to expose the Ziwei Star Lord identity anytime soon. The mask is useless in this case, so it’s a good time to visit using my real name.’

The title of Nascent Soul True Monarch was a pass to go almost anywhere in the Central Domain, not to mention the name of the Time God Sword was now resounding throughout the Cultivation Realm.

Bai Zichen submitted a formal visiting request according to custom and waited below East Peak.

Before long, a group of Cultivators descended from the ridge, arranging themselves in a solemn formation.

“Gu Jue, Interim Sect Leader of the Divine Wood Sect, along with my fellow sect members, pays respects to the Time Sword Monarch.”

The group prostrated themselves in a synchronized bow, their voices unified. They were giving him the utmost respect—a reception befitting a Great True Monarch.

Gu Jue, the leader of the group, secretly sized up the Cultivator before him. Handsome and elegant, with an otherworldly air, he perfectly matched the circulated portraits of Bai Zichen.

This Sword Cultivator had stirred up a rare storm in the Central Domain. It had been a long time since a Cultivator from outside the Central Domain was widely acknowledged as having the potential to reach the Divinity Transformation Realm.

If it hadn’t coincided with the war between the two races, the attention he garnered would have been even more intense.

After defeating Xiang Banshan, Bai Zichen had gone quiet.

Gu Jue never expected him to appear at Wuzhong Ridge today. While he felt greatly honored, he was also somewhat embarrassed.

The Divine Wood Sect’s only Nascent Soul True Monarch had left the sect a hundred years ago and hadn’t even sent a letter back since.

After the original Sect Leader disappeared, Gu Jue was the one pushed forward by his sect members to manage the situation.

But in a situation like today, without even a single Nascent Soul True Monarch to act as an equal, the Divine Wood Sect would surely be at a great disadvantage in any negotiation.

“There’s no need for such ceremony. I’ve come here to ask your sect for help.”

Bai Zichen could sense their apprehension and fear. The emotions reflected in their eyes were timid and shrinking.

However, the so-called Interim Sect Leader only had a Late-Stage Core Formation cultivation, and the people behind him were mostly at the Early-Stage and Mid-Stage Core Formation.

For a lineup like this to remain calm and composed in front of a Nascent Soul Cultivator whose strength was comparable to a Great True Monarch was indeed asking too much.

After a few simple pleasantries in a side hall, he cut straight to the chase.

“I have a type of Tier Four Spirit Rice that must be grown in the Northern Domain’s Black Mountain. Currently, it’s only a Spirit Seed. Therefore, I would like to invite the most skilled Spirit Plant Master from the Divine Wood Sect to make a trip with me to cultivate this Spirit Rice together. As for compensation, it will certainly far exceed the standard payment for a Spirit Plant Master of the same level. I will not disappoint you.”

Bai Zichen glanced at their cultivation levels, a faint worry about their Spirit Plant Techniques surfacing in his mind.

“I wonder who among you can help me with this?”

“Senior, our Sect will certainly do everything in our power to fulfill your request. However, Spirit Rice cultivation involves many aspects. Every Spirit Plant Master has their own area of expertise, and a higher Tier doesn’t necessarily mean they are the most suitable for your Tier Four Spirit Rice.”

Gu Jue sighed inwardly. He could feel the scorching gazes of the sect brothers behind him, so intense they felt like they could pierce right through him.

An opportunity to have the Time Sword Monarch owe them a favor was something countless people would swarm to sign up for, even without any reward.

The current Divine Wood Sect was certainly in no position to be choosy.

Successfully completing this task and forging a good relationship with the Time Sword Monarch was far more important than a few Spirit Stones.

It would be useless even if he disagreed. Afterwards, a large group of Divine Wood Sect Cultivators would surely take their credentials and pounce on the opportunity like hungry dogs.

Since that was the case, there was no need for him to play the villain.

“Senior Brother Baii, a Tier Four Mid Grade Spirit Plant Master, has nearly two hundred years of experience as a Spirit Farmer. He has cultivated over thirty types of Spirit Rice in his lifetime, covering a wide range of attributes. I believe that no matter what category your Spirit Rice falls into, Senior, he can provide the most appropriate advice.”

Gu Jue called a man forward and introduced him with a half-bow.

‘Since I can’t stop it, I might as well proactively recommend a candidate. At least my own people can get some benefits.’

This Senior Brother Baii had graying hair and a weathered face. His hands were large-knuckled, and his attire was no different from that of an ordinary Spirit Farmer.

He wore no shoes, his bare feet planted on the ground, and there even seemed to be clumps of dirt on his insteps.

‘A hands-on practitioner, a Spirit Plant Master who actually gets his hands dirty, not a theoretical type who’s oblivious to the world outside his study…’

Bai Zichen sized him up. The man’s appearance and demeanor seemed good, faintly reminding him of the Elder Tong he once knew.

Their cultivation levels were worlds apart, and their temperaments were completely different.

But in some subtle, unnoticeable ways, they were indeed similar. Both were Spirit Farmers wholeheartedly devoted to their Spirit Fields.

“There is also Lin Shan. He was just promoted to Tier Four Spirit Plant Master not long ago… but he has a quick mind. It’s not just Spirit Rice; in recent years, several extinct Spirit Fruits were successfully revived by following his ideas.”

At Gu Jue’s call, a fair-faced Cultivator with youthful features, who looked as if he hadn’t even come of age, stepped forward.

However, this person lacked the air of a Spirit Farmer; he didn’t look like the type to work in a Spirit Field.

Gu Jue was extremely solicitous toward him, a doting look in his eyes. This person had to be either his descendant or his disciple.

“Good. I’ll ask you two to assist. I will entrust my Spirit Rice to you both.”

The pairing of one old and one young was exactly what Bai Zichen had in mind.

It would be difficult to hire a stronger Spirit Plant Master, and more importantly, he had to consider the need to conceal this information later. These two from the Divine Wood Sect were a perfect match.

“Tell me what you want for compensation. I’m not a stingy person…”

“To be able to plant rice for Senior is a fortune of three lifetimes, how could we speak of compensation… If you could offer us a little guidance in our cultivation, we would be endlessly grateful.”

Elder Baii’s posture was even more humble. This wasn’t just due to the gap in their status; he also held another, perhaps unrealistic, aspiration regarding Bai Zichen.

He was not young and was still at the Early-Stage Core Formation. He had originally given up hope on the cruel path of cultivation.

He had planned only to tend to his Spirit Rice, and after another century when his True Essence began to decay, he would step down from his duties and use his remaining time to compile a book on the insights of a Spirit Farmer. That way, his life of cultivation wouldn’t have been in vain.

However, Bai Zichen’s appearance had allowed Elder Baii to see a glimmer of hope once more.

Aside from his Sword Dao Talent, this Time Sword Monarch’s cultivation aptitude was also world-shaking.

According to the information from the Northern Domain, Bai Zichen’s age when he formed his Nascent Soul would make him a peerless genius not seen in ten thousand years, even in the Central Domain.

Compared to the most prosperous and magnificent periods in history, the age at which those Great Powers who eventually achieved Ascension to the Upper Realm and left their names permanently in the Cultivation Realm entered the Nascent Soul Stage was, at best, on par with his.

Even if they were faster, it wasn’t by much.

Only the Innate Divine People from even more ancient times would have formed their Nascent Soul at a significantly earlier age.

By being able to follow such a figure, perhaps a few casual words of advice could allow him to break through the Realm he had been stuck in for so long.

Elder Baii was holding onto this thought; otherwise, with his seniority in the Divine Wood Sect, he really wouldn’t have needed to compete for this opportunity.

“I won’t set a yearly salary in Spirit Stones. As long as you can cultivate the Spirit Rice I require, the reward I give you will absolutely exceed your imagination.”

Bai Zichen didn’t know how many years it would take to cultivate the Cyan Dragon Spirit Rice, or if he would still need a High-Tier Spirit Plant Master after the process was on the right track.

However, if what they sought was guidance in cultivation, that was even simpler for him than a reward of Spirit Stones.