Chapter 10

In the evening, Meng Qinglin brought the seeds of the Immortal Beard, a handful of seeds as fine as grains of rice, each crystal clear and translucent.

He gave some instructions, setting a one-month deadline. Whoever could grow the plant would win. If everyone managed to grow it, the survival rate would determine the winner. Each person received the same number of seeds, not a single one more or less, and no one dared to tamper with them.

Meng Qinglin patted Chu Li's shoulder as he was about to leave, "Little Chu, don't take this competition too seriously."

Chu Li glanced at him.

Meng Qinglin said, "This is just a hollow reputation. If you want to achieve something, you can't be weighed down by it. In our line of work, you need to calm your mind. If you can't, you won't go far!"

Chu Li smiled, "Thank you, Old Meng."

These words were heartfelt, treating him like family.

"Little Chu, you have talent. The most important thing now is to calm your mind, not to vie for fame and profit. Studying flowers isn't about short-term glory. Once you start competing, you'll become restless. Don't be like Gu Li!"

"Old Meng, I'm young, ambitious, and I like fame too," Chu Li said with a smile.

Meng Qinglin shook his head, "Gu Li is fundamentally driven by fame and profit. Competing for them brings out his strength. You are different, so you can't follow the same path."

Chu Li clasped his hands and said solemnly, "Thank you, Old Meng!"

In his heart, he wasn't much different from Gu Li, both being self-centered. But because of his two lifetimes, he could control himself and not show it.

Gu Li pursued fame and profit, while he pursued power. He could let the fame and profit go for now.

Meng Qinglin patted his shoulder and turned to leave.

Chu Li saw him off by the lake, then returned and held the seeds, quietly sensing their vitality. Half of them were full of life, while the other half were barely alive.

He sat in the Moonlight Orchid Garden, using his qi to nourish the seeds. Once they were all vibrant, he evenly scattered them on the ground and covered them with a thin layer of soil.

Placing his palm on the ground, he could still sense the seeds through the thin layer of soil. He breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing that the soil couldn't block his connection to the plants.

He tried it out and found that within ten meters, he could establish a connection with the seeds through the earth. He tried using his feet to exchange qi, and it worked just as well as his hands. In fact, any part of his body could do it. He could even lie down and use his back to exchange qi with the earth.

He tried it with other plants and found the same result. Within ten meters, he could transmit qi through the earth without direct contact.

As night fell, the moonlight was like water, and the stars were dim.

In the Moonlight Orchid Garden, Chu Li and Li Yue sat by a stone table, drinking tea. A small red clay stove nearby bubbled, emitting white steam, and the fragrance of the tea wafted through the air.

There were no lanterns, but it didn't affect their vision. The moonlight and the three Moonlight Orchids, which emitted a watery glow, along with the surrounding Snow Orchids, created a soft, dreamlike light.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and Xiao Qi and Su Ru approached, light as if they were walking on clouds, graceful and elegant.

Li Yue quickly stood up. Both women were dressed in white, as if they had been standing there all along, hidden in the darkness, and suddenly revealed by the light.

Chu Li stood up to greet them.

Xiao Qi, radiating a warm glow, like a fairy untouched by the world, gently waved her hand, "Sit down."

Li Yue respectfully placed two embroidered stools for the two women, showing his thoughtfulness and attention to detail, afraid that the stone benches might be too cold.

Su Ru held a small box, opened it, and took out the tea set, all made of white jade.

Her delicate hands and the white jade tea set complemented each other, a sight that was breathtakingly beautiful.

She elegantly washed the teapot and cups, brewed the tea, and served it to Xiao Qi. Then she looked up at Chu Li, "Chu Li, will the flowers really bloom tonight?"

Chu Li nodded, "Yes."

"If you're wrong, I won't let you off!" Su Ru gave him a stern look.

Chu Li smiled, "Don't worry, the flowers will bloom tonight. After tonight, they will turn to mud."

"That's good..." Su Ru nodded lightly, then said, "Are you confident you can grow the Immortal Beard?"

"No problem."

"Hmph, you sure have a big mouth!" Su Ru gave him a sidelong glance, "You really don't know your limits! You should leave some room for error. How can you be so sure?"

Chu Li said, "The Immortal Beard has already sprouted. It will break through the soil in a couple of days."

"Oh—?" Su Ru was surprised, "So fast?... This plant is not easy to sprout."

Chu Li smiled but didn't say anything.

The seeds needed sufficient qi to sprout, so the environment was crucial. If left to grow on their own, it would take years to sprout, and they would often rot before they could.

"Does that mean you can beat Gu Li?" Su Ru asked.

"No problem."

"I'll see what you do if you lose!" Su Ru said, "Gu Li isn't someone to be underestimated. Be careful!"

"He can't win if he doesn't cheat!" Chu Li said.

Su Ru pouted and gave him a stern look.

Li Yue kept giving him warning glances, signaling him to be careful. Offending Su Manager was not something to be taken lightly.

Xiao Qi quietly drank her tea, saying nothing.

Chu Li suddenly pointed to the small thumb-thick Night Dream Flower, "It's starting!"

The Night Dream Flower grew rapidly, reaching thumb thickness in a month, with two flower buds on the branch. The most peculiar thing was that it had no leaves, only bare branches and flower buds.

As Chu Li spoke, the flower buds trembled slightly and slowly opened a bit, surprising Xiao Qi and Su Ru.

The flower buds bloomed at a visible speed. Ten minutes later, they were fully open, with snow-white, flawless petals that seemed to glow.

Su Ru murmured, "So beautiful..."

Chu Li had read about the Night Dream Flower and was seeing it bloom for the first time. Its beauty was indescribable, and he felt a deep sense of emotion.

An hour later, the petals began to change color, turning a light pink. Another hour, and they were a deep, vivid red, changing color every hour.

In the end, they turned back to colorless, like two ice-carved peonies, with a faint glow.

Chu Li reached out and deftly plucked the two flowers.

Xiao Qi, Su Ru, and Li Yue all glared at him.

Chu Li placed the two flowers in a jade box, closed it gently, and sighed with relief. The flower branches turned yellow in an instant.

Chu Li blew a breath, and the branches turned to dust and drifted away with the wind.

The three of them finally came to their senses. The Night Dream Flower seemed to have an inexplicable power, making people involuntarily love and cherish it.

"Miss, it's done," Chu Li pushed the jade box to Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi looked at the jade box and nodded lightly.

Su Ru asked, "Miss, should we test the effects?"

"Yes, we should," Xiao Qi nodded.

"I'll do it!" Su Ru volunteered eagerly.

Xiao Qi gave her a stern look, and Su Ru smiled sweetly.

Chu Li said, "If I'm not mistaken, one flower can preserve youth for sixty years, and two can preserve it for ninety years. Unfortunately, there are no more seeds."

"There's one more," Su Ru said.

Xiao Qi thought for a moment, "Xiao Ru, go get it."

"Yes!" Su Ru agreed excitedly and floated away.

Soon, she returned, light as a cloud, holding a small box and presenting it to Xiao Qi with both hands.

Xiao Qi opened it and pushed it to Chu Li.

Chu Li took the seed and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Qi asked.

Chu Li shook his head, "This seed is dead."

"Dead?" Li Yue was surprised, "It can't be grown?"

Chu Li nodded slowly, looking at Xiao Qi helplessly, "It has completely lost its vitality. Miss, I'm sorry, but I can't do anything."

Xiao Qi smiled faintly, "That's fine. Chu Li, this won't be publicized, and you won't be promoted because of it."

"Yes," Chu Li nodded.

Li Yue looked at Xiao Qi curiously.

Su Ru laughed lightly, "Chu Li, aren't you angry?"

Chu Li smiled, "As a garden guard, this is what I should do."

"Rare to see such awareness," Su Ru said with a smile, "Don't worry, Miss won't treat you unfairly!"

Chu Li said, "To be trusted by Miss is already a great honor."

Su Ru gave him a stern look, "Miss plans to create a spiritual land in the East Garden. This task will be given to you!"

" Spiritual land?!" Chu Li was surprised.

The soil in the medicinal garden was different from ordinary gardens, made from expensive spiritual soil.

It was said that the method to make spiritual soil had been lost, and only the royal family still possessed it, keeping it a secret.

The books in the library didn't have a complete method, but Chu Li had compared dozens of books, synthesized the information, and found the method to make spiritual soil.

He had mentioned it to Su Ru once, but she had seemed indifferent at the time. He didn't expect her to take it to heart and believe it!

Spiritual soil was worth its weight in gold, even more valuable than gold.

Even if someone knew the method, it was useless without the necessary ingredients, which were not affordable for ordinary wealthy families or forces.

Xiao Qi asked, "Can't you do it?"

Chu Li said, "Miss, you have great courage!"

"This spiritual land won't be too large," Xiao Qi said, "We'll try growing some rare spiritual herbs."

Chu Li clasped his hands, "I won't let you down, Miss!"

With a spiritual land, he wouldn't have to go to the medicinal garden to be exposed to the fumes. Having his own cultivation treasure land would allow him to practice in peace.

"The preparation for the spiritual soil is already underway," Xiao Qi said, "Keep it confidential."

Chu Li nodded slowly.

Xiao Qi said, "Ideally, we should find someone experienced to help you, but..."

"Miss, I can handle it alone. Let's give it a try," Chu Li said.

"That's good," Xiao Qi nodded lightly and stood up, "It's late. You should rest."

Su Ru picked up the jade box, "Chu Li, behave yourself these few days and don't cause any more trouble!"

"…I'll admit defeat to Gu Li," Chu Li said.

Xiao Qi looked at him deeply and turned to leave.

Su Ru smiled and gave him a stern look, waving to indicate he didn't need to see her off, and then floated away.

Li Yue stared at Chu Li with wide eyes, looking puzzled. Chu Li was deep in thought.

"Are you really going to admit defeat?" Li Yue couldn't help but ask.

Chu Li nodded.

"Why?" Li Yue huffed, "I can't stand Gu Li's face. I really want to slap him!"

Chu Li said, "If you can't endure small things, you'll ruin big plans. Come on, keep your mouth shut and don't say anything outside!"

Li Yue began to understand, "Miss is planning to secretly build a medicinal garden?"

"Good, you understand!" Chu Li turned and left the garden.

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