Bamboo Mound

It now seems that the Blood Plant still regards the Spirit Core as a product, subtly influencing its mind during the connection period, like a poison, penetrating deep into its thoughts!

As for why the effects have only become apparent now, he thinks it's probably because the connection time wasn't long, and he didn't actually consume any bamboo seeds that could be used as a product.

Even so, I was still affected, which shows how malevolent the effects of the blood plant are!

Fortunately, the growth of the green bamboo induced by the blood plant cannot be controlled by the spirit core, otherwise, given its own nature, it would have already grown into a clump!

Realizing this, he quickly destroyed the spirit core he was currently using again, then took a Mind-Concentrating Pill and began to circulate his senses, intending to calm his mind and eliminate the side effects of the blood plant.

Even so, the restlessness persisted for a long time before it finally subsided!

"It is truly an evil technique that can bring disaster to the world. I wonder how that senior figure came up with it."

This turn of events made him deeply wary, and from then on, unless absolutely necessary, he would no longer use Blood Plants, or rather, he would not use Blood Plants on any plant other than Green Spirit Bamboo.

"Now this is truly over. Withered growth and blood plants, I can't think of anything else. It's time to start cultivating."

Thinking about it carefully, his cultivation had been neglected for a long time. If it weren't for the slight feedback from the connection with the Azure Spirit Bamboo, which allowed him to reach the ninth level of the Spirit Platform, his cultivation would have made no progress at all!

"Learn the Herb and Tree Longevity Technique first. The Azure Cloud Technique has no special effects and is going to be phased out."

He didn't plan to study it in depth for the time being. He simply followed the method recorded in the Hidden Knowledge Stone a few times to familiarize himself with the path, and then devoted himself to cultivation.

Almost instantly, he noticed the anomaly that had not been there before!

Through the darkness behind his closed eyes, he could easily see the faint light in the environment. Every blade of grass, every tree, and even every tender leaf on the branches emitted a soft glow!

As the technique was activated, these light spots became brighter and brighter in his "eyes," and each of them was tinged with color. It was clearly a monotonous green, yet it was as colorful as a rainbow!

Under the illumination of these spots of light, his soul seemed to detach from his body. Although his body was not moving and all he could see was darkness and countless spots of light, his consciousness seemed to be able to leave his body at will and move freely!

Slightly curious, he slowly floated to the side and reached out to touch the nearest spot of light.

This was a weed, a weed whose name he didn't know. It had leaves that resembled foxtail grass, but it wasn't tall and had almost no stem. At the core of the plant grew clusters of tiny stamens, which were still a tender green at this time of year, and it was impossible to tell what color flowers it would bloom.

That pale spot of light, belonging to the weeds, passed straight through Ning Chang's fingertip when he pointed at it, as if it never existed, or as if it remained motionless in the same spot...

But the unique, fresh scent of grass penetrated the ethereal space and reached every pore of his body!

The roots and stems, devoid of any earthy smell, the fine hairs on the underside of the leaves, and the sap flowing gently from within the stems and leaves...

In that instant, Ning Chang felt as if she were a blade of grass, needing to think of nothing more, simply unconsciously capturing sunlight, absorbing air and dew, blooming into a flower unique to grass, and then, when autumn arrives, reclaiming the nutrients from her veins, hiding deep underground, waiting for the next spring...

But he was not a blade of grass after all. After the purification caused by that instant contact, the brief moment of stunned silence brought his consciousness back into his body.

It was at this moment that he realized that the ability to communicate with plants and trees and the ability to sense things were already actively operating within his body!

"Sigh, I thought this herbal longevity technique was something amazing, but it turns out these two are here too."

Because of distracting thoughts, the operation of the two techniques came to an abrupt halt, and the light spots also disappeared completely. Ning Chang then realized that the appearance of the light spots was just the effect of the three techniques being linked together.

"However, it would be good if both of these techniques would run automatically when practicing the Herbs and Trees Longevity Technique."

"Then let's break through to the fetal heart state in one go."

After all, when he touched the light spot just now, he noticed that his divine sense had been enhanced slightly. Although it was only a drop in the ocean, it was still much faster than simply using his senses!

Another factor is that breaking through the fetal heart realm requires almost no requirement for spiritual power intensity or quantity. As long as the spiritual power is strong enough, one can advance to the fetal heart realm by concentrating the mind.

As for the process and methods of concentration, he had already learned about them in advance. In any case, this was a rare opportunity for a breakthrough!

But things don't always go as planned. Just as he had familiarized himself with the operation using a few small grasses and was preparing to sense the consciousness of the Green Spirit Bamboo, a vague yet loud call exploded in his mind, forcibly pulling his consciousness back into his body and causing a slight backlash.

Suddenly, I felt dizzy and weak, and my body had no response to movement!

"Uh..."

If the voice hadn't been so familiar, he would have disregarded his dizziness and sprang into action to defend himself.

I was also fortunate that my consciousness did not stray too far from my body in that state, and I recovered in just over ten breaths.

"Brother Tongyu, is there something urgent you need to see me about?"

He squinted to adjust to the bright sunlight, then pushed himself up to stand, looking at Ning Tongyu, who had a worried and apologetic expression on his face.

"It was truly unavoidable to interrupt Changdi's cultivation. Right now, there is a secret realm that I need you to visit."

"...The sect's trial realm? You want me to go to the Ascension Gate?"

Of the three secret realms that Ning Chang currently knows, the secret realm for cultivating spirit beasts and spirit plants definitely doesn't need someone like him at the Spirit Platform Realm. The remaining ones are nothing more than a few trial secret realms. There's no reason for him to go to the smallest inner sect trial and sect master trial. In the end, he can only consider them as prerequisite trials for entering the Ascension Gate.

However, he himself felt that the problem was unlikely to be resolved, as he couldn't be so eager as to interrupt his breakthrough just to have him participate in a trial.

"That's not the case. Besides, Brother Chang doesn't need to undergo any further trials before going to the Ascension Gate for cultivation. He can go there on his own."

"But this place is quite desolate, let's talk somewhere else."

Ning Tongyu shook his head and instantly led Ning Chang to the courtyard where he lived in Medicine King Valley.

Compared to when Ning Chang first joined the sect, Ning Tongyu's courtyard has now expanded several times over, with far fewer trees and plants. There's even a one-meter-wide stream in the center, with a few wooden planks forming an "arched bridge" without any eaves.

"I recently had a sudden urge to renovate my place, but it's not finished yet. Please don't laugh at me, Changdi."

"It's probably because the original spot was overgrown by the Green Spirit Bamboo."

Sensing the lingering aura of the Azure Bamboo in the surroundings, Ning Chang's lips involuntarily curled upwards.