Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 43 The Highly Anticipated Selection of Spirit Plants

"Actually, it's not that safe. In recent years, the sects have been getting stricter and stricter."

Qi Wei sighed.

If it were decades ago, Meng Kaizhou's father was a mid-Foundation Establishment stage manager, and he could have joined the Spirit Plant Peak when he first entered the sect and was still a trial cultivator.

Unlike now, where everyone else has to go through the same process, from probationary laborer to full-time laborer, and then to the outer mountain forest farm, going through the selection process at Lingzhi Peak...

"Even if the rules are strict, with my Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation and the aid of a mid-grade spiritual weapon, can't I stand out among the menial disciples?"

Meng Kaizhou broke through to the third level of Qi Refining two months ago, a month earlier than Wang Yarong.

To his father, what did buying the Yuntian Pill and the Kuohai Pill mean? Just a pittance.

Let alone the third level of Qi Refining, if his father were willing, three years would be enough to train him to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

However, considering that Meng Kaizhou only has a lower-grade spiritual root, it is not advisable to force his growth, so the speed of his improvement has been slowed down.

Another reason is that the selection process at Lingzhi Peak involves competition between miscellaneous disciples and between outer disciples.

The competition among outer disciples is even more intense.

"The selection process at the Spirit Plant Peak places greater emphasis on talent, particularly the level of one's spiritual root and the talent of one's spiritual body. Cultivation level is also considered, but external resources such as elixirs have a significant impact, so it is a comprehensive evaluation."

In each selection, there are quite a few geniuses with medium spiritual roots and spiritual talents among the servants, and they occupy most of the spots.

The remaining people are competing for the last one or two spots.

The person in charge of selecting the menial disciples this time is Steward Yin Zhi of the Spirit Plant Peak. Don't underestimate him just because he's a Steward in the early Foundation Establishment stage. Since he's not from the Spirit Wood Garden, he won't have to give you face because of your father. He might even be stricter with you because of your status.

Qi Wei wasn't trying to discourage Meng Kaizhou, but rather to make him realize the harshness of competition and to get him to take things seriously.

He remembered that "Yin Zhi" steward; he was straightforward and honest, and would certainly not favor Meng Kaizhou just because of his identity.

"Is the competition that fierce?"

Meng Kaizhou knew that Lingzhi Peak was a place that everyone was desperate to get into, but he didn't realize how fierce the competition was.

"Of course. You're in the outer mountain forest farm, so you should know which geniuses are guaranteed to enter the Spirit Plant Peak."

Besides them, there are also the group of menial disciples who joined the sect three years ago; they will compete with you.

The brilliance of a genius cannot be concealed.

In the outer mountain forest farm, Wang Yarong's reputation as a cultivation genius was already well-known.

"Alas, it's a pity I only have an ordinary, low-grade spiritual root."

Meng Kaizhou felt regret.

Compared to his father, his talent was too ordinary. His father had a medium-level spiritual root and also had spiritual body talent.

However, when he thought of his older brother, he felt lucky.

He has an older brother who is thirty years older than him. He doesn't even have spiritual roots and was settled by his father in the mortal world to marry, have children, and live as an ordinary person.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Kaizhou, let's continue. What I'm about to tell you is the important part."

What Qi Wei was about to tell Meng Kaizhou was the most important part of this trip.

"What's the key point?"

Amid Meng Kaizhou's confusion, Qi Wei led him to a phoenix-leaf parasol tree.

What's wrong with this Chinese parasol tree?

Qi Wei asked him to observe carefully.

After observing the tree for a while, Meng Kaizhou noticed that some of its branches and leaves were withered. He used his "wood diagnosis technique" twice to examine it before discovering a tiny, almost imperceptible hole in the trunk.

"There's a tiny hole in the trunk here, where there are woodworms."

"What kind of woodworms?"

"have no idea."

Meng Kaizhou shook his head. He only found holes eaten by termites, but no trace of the termites.

"It is the larva of the Silver Star Green Wood Longhorn Beetle. It can disguise itself as the aura of spirit wood and is extremely good at hiding, making it difficult to be detected."

These larvae can remain dormant in the tree for up to five years and generally do not endanger the life of the sacred tree.

However, it is often only when using spirit wood that many borer holes are discovered inside, which seriously affects the price of spirit wood.

If it were you, how would you solve it?

Qi Wei asked another question.

Without hesitation, Meng Kaizhou blurted out, "Use the insect-repelling spell."

Which insect repellent method should be used?

The Silver Star Green Wood Longhorn Beetle larvae are quite resistant to spiritual energy; a general insect-repelling technique won't kill it with your Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation. Besides, you haven't even found where it is.

At this point, Qi Wei directly told Meng Kaizhou the answer: "Their larvae are not afraid of wood-type magic, but they are afraid of other types of magic."

You can first use earth-based insect-repelling spells to drive it away until you find its exact location, then use ice-based insect-repelling spells from the water element to kill it...

For those in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining, these longhorn beetle larvae are easy to deal with.

However, it is very difficult in the early stages of Qi cultivation.

Meng Kaizhou kept these things in mind.

"Pest control is an important part of the selection process for Lingzhi Peak. What I'm about to tell you is very likely to be a test question."

Qi Wei lowered his voice.

He's revealing the exam questions in advance!

There are many kinds of questions for the selection of Lingzhi Peak, but the "questions" in Lingmu Garden are prepared by them inside Lingmu Garden.

"Let's continue."

Qi Wei led Meng Kaizhou to the next spirit tree.

Meng Kaizhou became serious, as it concerned whether he could join the Spirit Plant Peak.

Whether it's a spiritual flower or a spiritual herb, or a spiritual medicine or a spiritual tree, pests are unavoidable.

Although they are all spiritual plants, "the devil is always one step ahead of the saint," and those spiritual insects that feed on spiritual plants are also very capable and difficult to deal with.

"Pest control" is a very important part of Lingzhi Peak's work.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

the other side.

Outer mountain forest farm, ant nest.

Liu He recently took the Expansion Pill again and successfully broke through to the third level of Qi Refining.

Among Wu Shao's menial disciples, Meng Kaizhou was the first to reach the third level of Qi Refining, followed by Wang Yarong, and then Liu He.

At this moment, he is "practicing" magic in the ant nest.

On the ground near the ant nest, a group of ants are hunting an earthworm.

From Liu He's perspective, the earthworm resembled a giant python, coiling, struggling, and twisting its body, making a deafening roar.

The withered branches and leaves beneath it were crushed, making a crunching sound.

Dozens of ant soldiers were attacking the giant python earthworm, tearing it apart and leaving it covered in wounds, with viscous fluid seeping from its rough surface.

"Make way, I'll handle this."

Liu He held a hard stone the size of a fist in his hand.

He released pheromones to alert the ant soldiers to his attack.

However, to the ant soldiers, his identity was the most special in the ant colony and he should be heavily protected. How could he go to the "battlefield" in person?

Several ant soldiers blocked Liu He's way, separating him from the earthworm.

"Let me test the power of the Flying Stone Technique."

Liu He used his lightness technique to leap onto a distant mound, getting closer to the giant python.

"Stone-throwing technique!"

He poured 30% of the spiritual energy from his dantian into the stone in his palm, and it flew out with a "whoosh".

"puff!"

The stone hit the giant python-earthworm, slightly off-target than Liu He's aim.

The giant python's rough exterior suddenly burst open, revealing a fleshy hole and bloody flesh inside.

"Having broken through to the third level of Qi Refining, the Flying Stone Technique is now even more powerful."

Liu He thought to himself.