usatvline Chapter 71 Planting Vegetables and Reaching for the Stars
Chapter 71 Planting Vegetables and Reaching for the Stars
Among the mountains where Zhaixinglou (Star-Picking Tower) is located, on the highest peak, lush ancient trees surround the tallest tower.
That was the real Star-Picking Tower.
The exact date of its construction is unknown. It is said that when the Star-Picking Tower appeared, the landscape of the Mosan continent was not what it is today.
As the first rays of dawn shone on its summit, there were already scattered signs of human activity on the surrounding peaks. Cultivators sometimes needed to collect morning dew for medicinal refining, and sometimes they would ride the wind down the mountain.
Thanks to the Star-Picking Tower's loose management and relatively lenient requirements for its disciples, most cultivators do not choose to venture out in the early morning.
When night falls, the Star-Picking Tower reveals its mystical nature.
Under the starlight and moonlight, purple energy gathered on the rooftop, slowly evolving into different shapes. Some said they were simplified characters of birds and beasts, while others felt they contained the mysteries of array runes.
Some people believe that these mysterious symbols possess a mystical power.
If it is engraved on the body, it will receive a mysterious blessing.
Some cultivators said with great seriousness that since they had engraved that mysterious symbol on their bodies, their cultivation speed seemed to have increased.
Zhu Wuyao had some doubts about the veracity of this claim.
This behavior always reminded her of the silly thing people from other countries did before she traveled through time: tattooing Chinese characters on their bodies.
In the large open space in front of it, there are always a few scattered cultivators gathering.
They either set up stalls to sell their unused items, or exchanged cultivation insights that they could share, but more often than not, they were trying to understand those mysterious symbols.
Of course, if you want to complain about the elders being strict or how hard it is to earn spirit stones, you should do it in secret behind closed doors.
Many cultivators, after passing the assessment, will live for a long time in the mountains covered by the sect's protective array.
They went to the affairs hall to accept tasks, such as planting medicinal herbs, searching for treasures in the mountains, or slaying demonic beasts...
Earn contribution points and exchange them for the supplies needed for cultivation at the Affairs Hall.
After improving their cultivation, during the generational change at the Star-Picking Tower, those with good cultivation can secure a position as a steward elder, watching the new batch of disciples repeat their cultivation path.
Until new disciples grow up and take over their duties.
Some of them choose to live in seclusion in the shrine, practicing meditation to break through their limitations; some travel the world; and others venture to other continents to explore dangerous secret realms.
These highly skilled predecessors, with their profound cultivation and extensive knowledge, would attempt to repair the incomplete manuals in the library, or search for forging materials and restore magical artifacts.
But many more will die on their quest for the Way.
The disciples of the Star-Picking Tower are few, and among those who are able to enter, few are cowardly.
Therefore, the Star-Picking Tower always has to put in some effort to curb their exploratory desires, so that by the time the next generation of disciples grows up and can uphold the reputation of the Star-Picking Tower—
Go ahead and court death.
Zhu Wu has been here for more than ten days and has roughly figured out the structure of the Star-Picking Tower.
What pleased her most was the accommodations provided for her disciples.
Perhaps because there were so few people, each person actually had a small courtyard, and inside there were even five elements energy gathering rings... spirit gathering arrays.
Once spirit stones and materials of the corresponding attributes are installed, the formation will begin to operate, increasing the concentration of spiritual energy in the courtyard.
Five spirit stones are enough for half a year.
That sounds wonderful.
The monthly stipend for inner disciples of the Star-Picking Tower is only two spirit stones!
Zhu Wuyao is diligently farming.
"Three-heart grass, diamond wood... um, and some of the most basic crimson flowers..."
In a secluded, barren medicinal herb field in the courtyard, she diligently planted rice seedlings.
"Alright, just wait another ten years and you'll be fully grown. Then you can go to the Affairs Hall to exchange for contribution points..."
I hope I'm still alive then, and that I haven't accidentally died.
Zhu Wuyao looked at the somewhat wilted medicinal herbs in the courtyard and felt a headache coming on. Sigh…
Let's water it.
She wasn't planning on getting rich through farming, but since the yard was just sitting empty anyway, she figured she might as well plant something. Maybe she'd still be alive in ten years and could harvest some contribution points.
Zhu Wuyao carried the water bottle, looking somewhat dejected.
If she transmigrates to the world of cultivation, shouldn't she be given a magical little green bottle?
A single drop can accelerate the growth of herbs by ten years...
She couldn't even imagine how optimistic and wealthy she would be if she could own a magical little green bottle.
You need contribution points to enter the library of Zhaixing Tower and select cultivation techniques.
The required contribution value is not low.
Zhu Wuyao had looked at the tasks in the Affairs Hall, and besides these leisure and wellness activities, there were many other types.
Those profitable activities include slaying demonic beasts, capturing evil cultivators, guarding borders, going on expeditions into the mountains in groups, and patrolling the territory of the Star-Picking Tower...
Seeing this, a sudden realization welled up in my mind: the more you earn, the faster you die.
She roughly calculated that if she took a laissez-faire approach and didn't do any dangerous missions, she could probably save up enough time to visit the library once every thirty years.
Participating in sparring matches within the sect occasionally might speed things up.
The fact that it's best not to say anything at all allows lazy cultivators who don't practice in real-world situations to gradually master the techniques they're cultivating, avoiding the risks of being too eager for quick results.
Just as he was about to put down the kettle, there was a knock on the courtyard gate, and Hua Yingting and Xu San'er came over.
"Ah Yao, hurry up and get ready, we're going to the lecture hall!"
Hua Yingting walked into the courtyard, where the branches were covered in blooming flowers.
As she entered the courtyard, Zhu Wuyao gripped the watering can tightly, and black mist seemed to swirl around her.
"Why don't you... look down and see if my crimson flower died peacefully?"
Hua Yingting lifted her skirt and, sure enough, saw a blade of grass that hadn't yet bloomed.
She was startled and stepped back.
"My drinking spring grass!"
Zhu Wuyao stepped forward and dragged Hua Yingting out of the vegetable garden that hadn't yet been fenced off.
Heartache!
Hua Ying stopped, rubbed her forehead, sighed softly, and said:
"Let's go to the teaching hall first, A-Yao. Hurry up and pack your things. Later, I'll go buy two more plants and plant them for you myself."
She pulled Zhu Wuyao up, carefully avoiding the vegetable garden, and pushed her into the house to tidy up her things.
"I have a wood elemental root. I'll add some spiritual energy to your little vegetable garden, and I guarantee that each one will thrive."
The three of them naturally became acquainted after the Star-Picking Tower assessment.
Although Zhu Wuyao was the weakest among them, and even his spiritual root aptitude was inferior to some outer disciples, how could someone who could break the deadlock be simple?
Not to mention that Hua Ying had interacted with her before the assessment and had a good impression of her, just take Xu San'er for example. He is always smooth and tactful. He is too busy making friends to risk offending people.
On the way to the teaching hall, Xu San'er interjected with a smile:
"Sisters, I saw a mission in the Affairs Hall. The contribution points are pretty good, and it just so happens that it requires a team. Why don't the three of us give it a try?"