You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 668: Soul Devouring Strange Fungus

He approached a Tiger Leopard Grass that had quite a few black spots and scrutinized every tiny area of the Spirit Plant meticulously.

On the side, the thin cultivator, seeing his serious demeanor, couldn’t help but mutter softly,

“If Elder Mu couldn’t find the crux of the Spirit Plant’s disease, what can a Spirit Plant Master who is just a Loose Cultivator and only achieved Core Formation a few years ago possibly do?”

“On the other hand, if Friend Lu could become a Guest Elder of the Commerce Association during his “Early Core Formation stage” and was personally appointed by the Spirit of Treasure Tower, then his mastery over Spirit Plants must be profoundly deep.”

The tree monster said with a voice as resonant as from within a jar.

Hearing this, Zhang Jiuzong beside it nodded slightly, his tone carrying a touch of confidence.

“Friend Lu had already had some clues when he inspected the Tiger Leopard Grass just now, just give him enough time, and he might find out the issue with the Spirit Plant.”

“Foolish daydreams.”

Han Song shook his head as his gaze casually swept over the surrounding area.

After a moment, Lu Xuan felt the timing was ripe and employed the Earth Pulling Technique, now perfected to the Transformation Stage, to uproot the Tiger Leopard Grass entirely.

“Friend Lu, why have you pulled the Spirit Plant out directly?”

Zhang Jiuzong asked with a puzzled look.

“Many spirit plants begin to mutate from the roots deep in the Spirit Soil, and to prevent any oversight by Spiritual Sense, I need to thoroughly check the root part of the Spirit Plant.”

Lu Xuan improvised a reason in response.

He pretended to examine it for a while, then replanted the Tiger Leopard Grass back into the Spirit Soil.

“The Spirit Plant is already in a phase of decline; your actions will only speed up this process and lead it to die faster.”

The thin cultivator, seeing Lu Xuan’s action, said coldly.

Lu Xuan did not take the disdain in his words to heart, stood up, and concentrated his mind on the Spirit Plant in front of him, shaped like a tiger and a leopard.

Immediately after, details about the Tiger Leopard Grass surfaced in his mind.

[Tiger Leopard Grass, a Fifth-Quality Spirit Plant, needs to absorb the essence of Monster Beast Spirit Souls during growth, and once mature, it can be used as a primary material for high-rank Body Refinement Core Pills or for direct body tempering.]

[Parasitized by Soul Devouring Strange Fungus, its vitality is draining.]

[Soul Devouring Strange Fungus, a type of bizarre fungal mycelium, suppressed by Powers of Thunder Fire and other Supreme Yang Firmly Spiritual Powers, occasionally sprouts in areas buried with large amounts of Demon Beast Skeletons, extremely rare, invisible and colorless, easily attracted by Monster Beast Spirit Souls.]

[Parasitized within the Tiger Leopard Grass, as the Spirit Plant digests the Monster Beast Spirit Soul, the Soul Devouring Strange Fungus secretly snatches the vitality stored in the plant. The vitality extinguishes, and parts of the Spirit Plant will form patches of black, until it finally dies.]

“Soul Devouring Strange Fungus… there is such an odd fungal mycelium. From its description, its method of infecting Spirit Plants is rather unusual and bizarre, but its own strength is not strong.”

“Just not sure whether it naturally occurred in this Blessed Land or if it was deliberately introduced.”

Lu Xuan thought quietly to himself.

“Friend Lu, have you found something?”

Zhang Jiuzong asked him, sounding a bit anxious, seeing his manner.

These more than ten Tiger Leopard Grasses are valuable; it would truly be a pity if they all died.

More importantly, if the crux of the Spirit Plant disease couldn’t be found, it would mean this Blessed Land capable of cultivating a large number of Fifth-Quality Spirit Plants would be greatly devalued, and the Commerce Association would hesitate to plant Tiger Leopard Grasses here anymore.

“I have found something, it seems I saw it once in some damaged book, though I can’t be certain.”

Lu Xuan said calmly.

“Oh? Friend Lu, have you identified the strange entity invading the Tiger Leopard Grass?”

The nearby tree spirit asked in astonishment.

It had lived for thousands of years and possessed an exceptional talent in understanding the spiritual nature of Spirit Plants, yet it still could not find the source of the unusual changes in the Tiger Leopard Grass, nor did it anticipate Lu Xuan could resolve this issue.

“If my guess is correct, the trouble with the Tiger Leopard Grass is caused by a rare and strange fungus called Soul Devouring Strange Fungus, which parasitizes the interior of the Spirit Plant because the Tiger Leopard Grass feeds on spiritual souls.”

“How then should we deal with this so-called Soul Devouring Strange Fungus?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiuzong partly believed what Lu Xuan had said.

“This type of fungal mycelium fears the Power of Thunder Fire. Without damaging the Spirit Plant, one can force it out by using Thunderfire Technique.”

Lu Xuan said in a grave tone.

“Therefore, the Thunderfire Formula Methods you need to master must be fairly skilled, and the rank must not be too low, otherwise it won’t threaten the fungal mycelium effectively.”

“In addition, another point to note is that the black spots on the Spirit Plant are already necrotic areas, irreparable, and must be directly excised.”

“In doing so, although it will damage the quality after the Spirit Plant matures, it can also save most of the losses.”

“Good, thank you for the warning, Friend Lu.”

Zhang Jiuzong said solemnly.

He approached the Tiger Leopard Grass, hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Lu Xuan.

“Friend Lu, Han Song and I are not good at the Divine Skills of Thunderfire Formula, and the few Formula Methods we command are from the Foundation Establishment Realm. Besides, we have little understanding of Spirit Plants, so I wonder if you can drive out that Soul Devouring Strange Fungus on our behalf?”

“Usually, my heart is all set on cultivating Spirit Plants…”

“Friend Lu, if you can eliminate those strange fungi, I will, on behalf of the Commerce Association, entrust you with the cultivation of some Fifth-Quality Spirit Plants, and we will increase the reward considerably.”

“In addition, the Secret Lands controlled by the Commerce Association will also include Friend Lu in the selection range.”

Zhang Jiuzong directly interrupted Lu Xuan.

“Having occasionally learned a method of controlling fire, I’ll grudgingly give it a try.”

Lu Xuan shifted his tone naturally.

Initially, he intended to only exhibit his talent in Spirit Plants, but after hearing that Zhang Jiuzong could decide the fate of several Fifth-Quality Spirit Plants, he immediately changed his mind, planning to utilize the Pure Yang True Fire he mastered from contemplating the “Pure Yang True Fire Talisman” to resolve the Soul Devouring Strange Fungus.

He had planned to refuse, but Zhang Jiuzong’s offer was simply too generous.

“So many Fifth and Sixth Grade Treasure Items, Formula Methods, showing off just a little bit should be no harm.”

He thought very cautiously.

Approaching the Tiger Leopard Grass, he envisioned a Barefoot Golden Crow in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, with the Golden Crow’s body flaming with a faint platinum fire, filling the entire Sea of Consciousness with a scorching aura.

With a thought, a strand of platinum fire flowed from his fingertips, burning quietly.

“Pure Yang True Fire” had been obtained for many years, and Lu Xuan had consistently practiced it, and recently after consuming such a rare treasure as Pure Lustrous Tea Leaves, his comprehension greatly improved, and he could control the Pure Yang True Fire effortlessly.

“Is this… Pure Yang True Fire?”

The tree spirit asked somewhat doubtfully.

“Correct, after many years of dedicated cultivation, it is also Lu Mou’s life-saving measure.”

Lu Xuan answered truthfully, only not confessing that he had increased his life-saving measures a bit.

Pure Yang True Fire is inherently the Supreme Yang Firm Fire, naturally restraining demons and evil spirits, perfectly suited to deal with those surreptitiously moving Soul Devouring Strange Fungi.

He controlled the strand of Pure Yang True Fire, closed in on a Tiger Leopard Grass, and the platinum flame divided into strands as fine as hair, forming a tight fire net, encircling the Tiger Leopard Grass and gently contracting.