Chapter 24: The Ring Glows

Thus, Ji Jiuxuan’s morning routine of reading in the courtyard was replaced by her trips to the Spiritual Herb Garden to learn about cultivating spiritual herbs.

Riding her moon-white rabbit, Ji Jiuxuan hopped toward the Spiritual Herb Garden.

Unlike the bustling atmosphere of the Spirit Beast Peak, the Spiritual Herb Garden was a picture of harmony.

Standing amidst the endless fields, she was enveloped by a refreshing fragrance that lifted her spirit.

“Child, who are you looking for?”

Hearing a voice, Ji Jiuxuan looked up to see a middle-aged man walking toward her from beneath a large tree not far away. He wore simple work clothes, his trouser legs slightly rolled up, and carried a hoe across his shoulder.

The man’s demeanor exuded a kind of natural simplicity. Though his looks were not remarkable by the standards of the cultivation world, he had a certain enduring appeal, his aura gentle and unassuming. In some ways, he reminded her of her master, Zhou Guangsheng.

Before coming, her master had shown her the portrait of the Spiritual Herb Garden’s elder, so Ji Jiuxuan recognized at once that this was the person she sought.

“I’m here to see you.” Ji Jiuxuan gave the elder a respectful bow. “Disciple Ji Jiuxuan greets Elder. My master sent me to learn cultivation techniques from you.”

Fearing he might not recognize her, she added, “My master is Elder Zhou Guangsheng.”

Guo Lianghong looked at the tiny figure before him and smiled. “Your master mentioned you. Come, I’ll take you inside.”

Happily, Ji Jiuxuan followed Guo Lianghong deeper into the garden.

Reaching a clearing, Guo Lianghong asked, “Your master says you’re familiar with the basics. Is there anything you’re particularly interested in growing? You can start by choosing a low-grade herb.”

Running through the list of first-grade herbs in her mind, Ji Jiuxuan finally answered, “I’d like to try growing Spring Herb first.”

Spring Herb was sweet and delicious, good for the spleen and appetite, and could stop bleeding—it was a main ingredient in Hemostatic Pills.

The others didn’t matter much; as soon as she saw “sweet and delicious,” Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but want to taste it.

“Very well, I’ll teach you how to plant it.”

From that day on, Ji Jiuxuan visited the Spiritual Herb Garden every day. She had expected only plants here, but there were also spiritual birds, fish and shrimp in the river, and even wild game in the woods.

Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t have been happier.

Elder Guo eventually allotted her a plot of land to tend on her own each day.

In truth, cultivating spiritual plants was simple; as long as you paid attention to the amount of spiritual rain, everything thrived.

With little else to do, Ji Jiuxuan set her sights on the wild creatures and the fish and shrimp.

Worried about improper use of fire, she specially went to the Forging Hall to have a stove made, along with a complete set of pots, bowls, and utensils.

The senior sister at the Forging Hall hesitated as she handed over the finished goods.

“Junior, are you making food for your contracted spirit beast? This pot might be a bit small—most spirit beasts have hearty appetites.”

Ji Jiuxuan paused, realizing her senior sister had misunderstood.

Indeed, in the entire sect, only the Spirit Beast Peak disciples would normally have such items made—not for themselves, but as a necessity for raising spirit beasts.

“You’ve misunderstood, Senior Sister. This is for my own meals. But if I get a spirit beast in the future, I’ll come to you for a special set.”

Her answer left the senior sister momentarily speechless.

Meals for herself?

Normally, disciples only ordered cookware for feeding spirit beasts, rarely for themselves.

The senior sister soon smiled and said, “All right, when you get your spirit beast, be sure to come back to me.”

With her new cookware in hand, Ji Jiuxuan made her way excitedly to the Spiritual Herb Garden. Gourmet food, here she comes!

On the way, a deep green figure approached from the opposite direction. Ji Jiuxuan stopped and faced him.

Yu Heng?

Even before cultivating, her memory was above average. Now, with her enhanced abilities, she never forgot a face.

He looked haggard, his cold eyes like poisoned blades as they landed on her, making her blood seem to freeze.

Ji Jiuxuan stood there dazed, a glow emanating from the ring on her finger. Suddenly she snapped out of it.

Strange—what had just happened? She was about to investigate when, from the other side, Feng Hanxiao and her senior sister approached.

Turning back, Ji Jiuxuan realized Yu Heng had vanished.

“Xuanxuan, why were you just standing there like that?” Feng Hanxiao ran over.

Jiyue followed, frowning. “You were caught in an illusion spell.”

Ji Jiuxuan was surprised. She’d read about this in the books her master had given her recently; the greater the disparity in cultivation, the harder it was to break free. Sensing the lingering aura on her body, she realized she had indeed been under an illusion spell—but how had she managed to escape?

“I saw Yu Heng,” Ji Jiuxuan confessed.

Feng Hanxiao was shocked at the mention of the name. “He’s out?”

Ji Jiuxuan nodded, equally surprised.

Feng Hanxiao immediately sent a message to Feng Chen; the reply she received was that Yu Heng did not dare do anything.

This answer left Ji Jiuxuan with an inexplicable sense of unease.

If he dared not act, what about the illusion spell just now?

Feng Hanxiao and Ji Jiuxuan exchanged uneasy glances.

Then Ji Jiuxuan smiled. “I’m going to the Spiritual Herb Garden to catch wild game—Hanxiao, want to come?”

Seeing Ji Jiuxuan’s casual demeanor, Feng Hanxiao decided to ask her father for details later. Yu Heng’s presence was like a ticking bomb—far too dangerous.

“Of course!”

Jiyue, however, disapproved. “Morning is the best time for cultivation. You’re wasting precious hours.”

“Oh, Senior Sister, just this once! I promise I’ll make up the missed practice as soon as I get back,” Feng Hanxiao wheedled until Jiyue finally relented, but only on the condition they return to Wangchen Peak on time.

This made Ji Jiuxuan feel a twinge of guilt.

Her inability to cultivate in the mornings was due to system restrictions; otherwise, she too would practice day and night.

Recently, she’d learned to balance her restricted hours with her free time, so occasional outings posed no problem.

But just because she could didn’t mean others could.

Before leaving, Jiyue gave her a look reserved for wayward children, as if she was leading Feng Hanxiao astray. There was even a trace of disdain—no matter how gifted, without diligence in cultivation, one would inevitably fall behind.

Ji Jiuxuan was unmoved by Jiyue’s disapproving back. The opinions of irrelevant people did not trouble her. As long as she was at ease, that was enough. Still, to avoid unnecessary trouble for Feng Hanxiao, she decided to invite her out less often.

This brief episode did nothing to dampen the girls’ spirits, and they soon reached the Spiritual Herb Garden.

“Xuanxuan, did you plant all of these yourself? That’s amazing!” Feng Hanxiao was astonished by the vast fields of spiritual plants.

Ji Jiuxuan was only at the third level of the Refining stage, and as far as Feng Hanxiao knew, disciples at the Spiritual Herb Garden could only tend small plots at this level—never such an expanse.

Ji Jiuxuan was aware it was a bit excessive. The fields stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Yes, I planted them all,” she replied with a smile, then explained, “The main reason I have so much planted is because I have more free time. Most other disciples spend the majority of their time cultivating.”

Feng Hanxiao was puzzled. “Xuanxuan, don’t you usually practice cultivation?”