Tree Planting Art

"This is the ancient tome Eldest Senior Sister asked me to give you." Lu Yang dropped the subject of his master and produced the cultivation insights for the Immaculate Immortal Physique. The Sixth Elder looked at the ancient tome in surprise. "Xiaoyun is truly thoughtful, to actually find such a fine treasure." Cultivation insights for Immortal Physiques were few and far between, and those matching one's own were even rarer. The Sixth Elder smiled happily, like someone who had just bought a long-coveted book and couldn't wait to read it at home. *Chi Qianqian's Cultivation Diary* "Year one of cultivation: Master told me I possess an Immaculate Immortal Physique, one in a thousand. My cultivation speed far outstrips my peers. What wonderful news! I must cultivate diligently..." "Year two of cultivation: My cultivation speed is truly so fast. Others are only at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, yet I've already reached Foundation Establishment. The traits of the Immaculate Immortal Physique are gradually manifesting as well. I cannot disappoint Master's expectations. I must cultivate diligently..." "Year three of cultivation: Advancing realms is faster than drinking water. I've reached the Golden Core stage, and it's even an Immaculate Golden Core among first-grade Golden Cores, untouched by a speck of dust. Master says cultivation knows no end and I cannot slack off. I must cultivate diligently..." "Year seven of cultivation: Nascent Soul stage..." The Sixth Elder turned page after page. The book chronicled the life of Chi Qianqian, a cultivator from Great Yu, which could truly be described as magnificent and eventful. The Sixth Elder became utterly engrossed. Finally, she turned to the last page, and her heart gave a jolt. The previous page had only reached the peak of the Void Refining stage, so the next page would surely be about the Body Integration stage. Why was there only a single page documenting her Body Integration experiences? Had she met with some misfortune? Suppressing the unease in her heart, the Sixth Elder turned to the final page. "Year six hundred of cultivation: Finally broke through to the Body Integration stage. Well, I'm never reaching Tribulation Transcendence anyway. Time to slack off!" The diary ended. The Sixth Elder: "..." She rubbed her temples, trying to comprehend what in the world she had just read. It couldn't be called useless, either. The journey from Foundation Establishment to Void Refining was recorded in great detail, offering her considerable reference value. "Thank Xiaoyun for her kind intentions on my behalf. Xiaoyun oversees the Dao Seeking Sect, so even if I wanted to thank her, there isn't much here that would catch her eye. I heard from Xiaoyun that your talent for spells is quite unique, enough to establish a sect of your own. How about this: I'll give you a spell scroll, what do you say?" the Sixth Elder offered with a gentle smile, transmitting her voice to Lu Yang through divine sense. A vacuum domain formed around the Sixth Elder, making divine sense the only way to communicate. Lu Yang agreed. "However, my offensive methods rely on the might of an Immortal Physique, so I have no spells suited to you." The Sixth Elder fell into thought, wondering what kind of spell would be best for Lu Yang. "Ah, right. How about I give you a copy of the *Tree Planting Art*?" "*Tree Planting Art*?" Lu Yang wore a bizarre expression. The name sounded so mundane. What was he supposed to do after learning it—plant trees all over barren mountains and help the cultivation world foster a new green development paradigm? Or if he planted enough trees, would Eldest Senior Sister award him a little red flower and confer the title of 'Little Environmental Protector'? How could the Sixth Elder fail to see what Lu Yang was thinking? "Don't look down on it just because the name is plain. This is a spell countless spiritual plant cultivators yearn for. If mastered, it can promote the growth of spiritual plants, and major sects will revere you like a treasure. "Look at Second Senior Brother. The reason he can watch over the Herb Garden is because he has mastered our sect's *Tree Planting Art* better than anyone else." Lu Yang thought about it and realized it made sense. Master this spell, and you would never have to worry about food or drink for life. Major sects all had their own plantations and would fight to recruit you. The Sixth Elder added, "You can also practice this spell in your leisure time. It calms the mind and cultivates moral character. "Yaoye has learned the *Tree Planting Art* quite well. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask her." Lu Yang accepted the manual, thanked the Sixth Elder, and left her cave dwelling together with Tao Yaoye. Once outside, the two resumed breathing. "It's still early. Why don't you study at my place? I can teach you," Tao Yaoye suggested. Lu Yang thought that was a fine idea. The *Tree Planting Art*, a high-difficulty wood-element spell that used one's own spiritual energy to stimulate the growth of spiritual plants, was difficult to initiate, difficult to achieve minor accomplishment in, and even more difficult to master. To initiate into the Tree Planting Art, one first had to quiet the heart like an ancient well, entering a state akin to the unity of heaven and man to perceive the spiritual plant, understand it, and conform to its natural laws of growth, thereby allowing it to mature swiftly and naturally. "For a first-time practice, mortal seeds are the most suitable. Our spiritual energy can easily make a seed grow into a tree. Legendary cultivation prodigies could even achieve tree growth, flowering, and fruiting in one go on their very first attempt, completing the entire process without a hitch. "Willow trees possess a spiritual nature and are best suited for practicing the Tree Planting Art. This is a willow seed. Take it, Senior Brother Lu, close your eyes, and see if you can achieve resonance with it." Tao Yaoye handed Lu Yang a strand of willow catkin. Following the method recorded in the Tree Planting Art and combining it with Tao Yaoye's cultivation experience, Lu Yang perceived it with all his heart. A gentle breeze brushed against his face, sweeping across the lawn. The sunlight was not intense, offering a deeply comfortable sensation. Lu Yang gradually emptied his mind. He felt himself drifting between heaven and earth, faintly grasping the life patterns of the catkin. Sensing the shift in Lu Yang, Tao Yaoye's expression turned astonished. Back then, it had taken her three days to reach this step, and Master had even praised her comprehension ability as something noteworthy in history. Yet Senior Brother Lu had managed it in half an hour! *I've long heard that Senior Brother Lu's talent for Daoist spells is matchless, surpassing even his swordsmanship.* Yet Tao Yaoye never expected Lu Yang's talent for Daoist spells to be so absurdly high. *No wonder Eldest Senior Sister teaches him personally. With this kind of talent, anyone else probably couldn't teach him.* Hearing Tao Yaoye's murmurs, the Immortal Fairy agreed deeply. *Isn't that the truth? Even this Immortal couldn't teach him!* At this moment, Lu Yang gained a new insight into the Tree Planting Art. He placed the willow catkin on the ground, tapped a finger onto it, and channeled his spiritual energy as the driving force for its growth. "Grow!" Lu Yang shouted. A long moment passed, and nothing happened. From the side, Tao Yaoye offered a meek reminder: "Um, Senior Brother Lu... people usually bury seeds in the soil when planting trees." "Makes sense." Lu Yang picked up the willow seed, circulated the spell "Shrinking the Earth," and whoosh—sank straight into the dirt. Tao Yaoye's beautiful eyes widened. Who would have thought Senior Brother Lu also knew the Earth Escape Art from the Five Elements Escape Arts? The Earth Escape Art was the most convenient among the Five Elements Escape Arts; whether for attacking, fleeing, or hiding, it was an exceptional choice. Tao Yaoye had wanted to learn the Earth Escape Art, but it was too difficult, and after failing repeatedly, she had simply given up. *Though why does Senior Brother Lu's Earth Escape Art seem a bit different from what I studied?* As Tao Yaoye muttered to herself, a willow tree suddenly shot up from the ground. "He succeeded on the first try?!" Tao Yaoye gasped. When she had practiced, she had ruined four willow seeds before finally succeeding. "Huh?" Tao Yaoye rubbed her eyes, thinking she had seen wrong. The willow tree had risen from the ground, and hanging from two sides of the branches were two Senior Brother Lus. Lu Yang hung from the willow tree with a dead heart, swaying back and forth. Where did he go wrong this time? Why did planting a single willow seed make two of him grow on the tree?