12: First-level spiritual plant master assessment

“This Formation has no offensive or defensive capabilities, so its practicality isn't strong; that’s one reason.”

“Secondly, although it can cover an extremely wide range, the wider the coverage, the more Spirit Stones it consumes. I’m afraid no Family has enough foundation to use it to cover an entire mountain!”

Lin Yucheng immediately saw the crux of the problem.

“One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If Shopkeeper Xu is willing, I’ll take this set of Formations.”

Shopkeeper Xu Lizhi said with a smile, “Brother Lin is a distinguished guest of our Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Since you’ve said so, even if I don’t make a profit, I must sell this illusion Formation to you!”

Lin Yucheng smiled knowingly; the most important task his son gave him was finally complete.

Immediately, Shopkeeper Xu Lizhi displayed several more Magical Artifacts, and Lin Yucheng also chose one for himself.

He spent eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase a High Grade Flying Sword, which was a High Grade Magical Artifact.

As the captain of a Hunting Demon Team, he lived a life on the edge, and having a handy weapon was especially important.

This High Grade Magical Artifact Flying Sword came with the sharp attribute of the metal element, which also perfectly matched the metal-element Cultivation Technique he Cultivated.

Note: Magical Artifacts are divided into Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and Top Grade. Above Magical Artifacts are Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Treasures.

“I’m sure my son won’t mind me using his Spirit Stones!” Lin Yucheng thought to himself.

After leaving Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Lin Yucheng went to a shop specializing in Talismans and purchased a large batch of First-Order Talismans.

With this batch of Talismans, even if his son encountered an opponent three or four minor stages higher than himself, he would have the power to fight!

If he encountered danger, all he had to do was desperately throw Talismans.

Lin Yucheng only left Yang City after almost exhausting all his Spirit Stones.

Of course, no incidents of murder and treasure snatching occurred on the way out.

Lin Yucheng’s Cultivation had already reached Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection, and those Loose Cultivators who committed murder and snatched treasures would have to be blind to target such an unmanageable existence.

Don’t underestimate Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection; within the Qingyang Mountain Range, it was considered a big shot.

…

Lin Yongmao returned home with Han Yuying. He stayed at home for one night, reviewing the Elementary Spiritual Plant Compendium until late.

His mother, Han Yuying, also stayed with him, occasionally answering his questions and explaining the precautions needed when taking the First-Order Spiritual Planter Aptitude test.

Although both conditions had been met, Lin Yongmao was still a little nervous.

There was nothing he could do; getting nervous when facing exams was a habit ingrained in him as a poor student.

During this time, Lin Yucheng returned and handed the First-Order illusion Formation deployment tools and a large bundle of Talismans to Lin Yongmao.

At the same time, he also showed his newly bought High Grade Flying Sword to the mother and son, looking like a happy child.

…

The next day.

On the main peak square of Cloud Mist Mountain, people had already gathered.

These were all the Cultivators of the Lin Family. Except for those on missions or in seclusion, everyone else had gathered here.

The Lin Family Clan Head, Lin Yuheng, stood at the head, while other Family members stood in order of seniority.

The focus of attention was on two people.

One of them was Lin Yongmao.

The other person standing beside Lin Yongmao was Lin Yulian, Lin Yongmao’s paternal aunt.

This First-Order Spiritual Planter qualification assessment was not only for Lin Yongmao alone; Lin Yulian was also a participant.

In the square, the Lin Family Cultivators discussed animatedly.

“Aunt Lin Yulian will definitely be fine. She has been preparing diligently for two years,” a younger generation member said with anticipation.

“Our Family will have another First-Order Spiritual Planter. The growth and strengthening of the Lin Family are just around the corner!”

“Is Yongmao, who just came back, also going to participate in the First-Order Spiritual Planter assessment? Isn’t that too rash?”

“Anyway, if you don’t pass the assessment, you won’t lose a piece of flesh. Just give it a try.”

Most of the people present did not think highly of Lin Yongmao.

Lin Yongrong also came to watch. He cast a malicious glance at Lin Yongmao, then remembered he was within the Family and quickly reined in his fierce expression, feigning a benevolent appearance.

Lin Yukai looked at Lin Yongmao for a long time. He couldn't understand why Lu Dawei and his group hadn't succeeded and why Lin Yongmao was still standing here perfectly fine.

Furthermore, the three of them hadn't sent him any messages.

…

Lin Yuheng coughed, and the originally noisy square quieted down.

“Today, we are holding a First-Order Spiritual Planter qualification assessment. The participants are Lin Yulian and Lin Yongmao, and the examiner will be Han Yuying…”

Lin Yuheng carefully explained the rules of the qualification assessment, and the Family disciples listened attentively, as they might also participate in such assessments in the future.

Although Han Yuying served as the chief examiner, there was more than one examiner, and the chief examiner did not have the final say, which eliminated the possibility of favoritism.

“The first stage of the assessment is identifying a hundred herbs.”

“Next, the examiners will select five spiritual plants from the Elementary Spiritual Plant Compendium, and you must state their names, habits, and medicinal properties. If even one is not identified, the assessment will be considered a failure.”

The difficulty of the first stage was neither too great nor too small.

This was because the selected spiritual plants could be in seed form, or in the seedling or growth stages.

If the spiritual plants were in these stages, identifying them would require some effort.

This required a comprehensive grasp of the Elementary Spiritual Plant Compendium.

Soon, five jade boxes were delivered to Lin Yulian and Lin Yongmao.

Lin Yongmao casually glanced at them and began writing on a wooden table.

“Number one, Snow Lotus Grass. It prefers shade and moisture, and abundant water-element Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi can accelerate its growth; it can accelerate the recovery of Cultivators’ spiritual power and has a slight effect of improving the Cultivation of Cultivators who Cultivate water-element Cultivation Techniques.”

“Number two, blood-stopping vine. A climbing spiritual plant, its growth environment must require abundant Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, otherwise it is extremely prone to wilting; it likes to cling to rock walls; it can treat external injuries, and its medicinal properties are stronger with age.”

“Number three, Silver Thread Mulberry…”

“…”

Lin Yongmao’s speed was three or four times faster than Lin Yulian’s. He quickly recorded all the information of the five spiritual plants with pen and paper, then handed it to Clan Chief Lin Yuheng.

Lin Yongmao remained calm, silently standing aside and waiting.

Only after both had submitted their papers did Lin Yuheng hand the two papers to the five judges.

The five judges passed around the information on the papers, and each judge’s expression was different.

Some were in disbelief.

Some were beaming with smiles.

And some had solemn expressions.

…

Although Lin Yuheng also looked at the information on the papers, he was not a Spiritual Plant Master and only had a superficial understanding of many spiritual plant knowledge.

He said to Han Yuying, “Yuying, you shall announce their final scores!”

Among the five judges, the most influential was Han Yuying, the Second-Order Spiritual Planter. She was the Lin Family’s only Second-Order Spiritual Planter.