Chapter 88: Seeking Spirits Amid the Sea of Flowers

At the command, the cultivators scattered, racing against time to search every corner. The once crowded area beneath Butterfly Spring suddenly became deserted. Since only individual contributions would be counted in the end, there was no talk of forming teams.

Song Yan did not hurry to set out, but pondered quietly for a moment. Spiritual flowers and seeds should possess a unique wood-based spiritual energy. If he could store such energy in the Profound Calamity Spirit Mask, might it not slightly increase his efficiency in searching for seeds?

The cultivators of Wandering Valley were all in the Qi Refining stage. Without any special means, most could only rely on their divine sense to search. If the mask could be of some use, it would provide him with a distinct advantage.

Song Yan walked slowly to the stone platform by Butterfly Spring, where seeds had been placed. These were the same seeds used in the rules demonstration by the cultivators of Linghua Valley.

“Forgive my intrusion,” he said, bowing politely. “May I take a closer look at these spiritual seeds?”

The Linghua Valley cultivator saw he was from the Cave Abyss Sect and dared not neglect him. “Of course,” he replied, for all participants in the Wandering Valley event were permitted to do so.

There were many types of seeds, ranging from common to rare, and the contribution gained from cultivating them varied accordingly. The trouble was, the mask could only store one type of spiritual energy. If multiple energies were mixed, its effect would be lost. Helpless, he chose the most abundant, moderately valued kind. A wisp of spiritual energy was quietly stored in the mask.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a jet-black seed at the end of the stone platform.

“Hmm? Fellow Daoist, I don’t recall you mentioning this type of seed earlier,” Song Yan remarked.

The cultivator glanced at what Song Yan indicated and suddenly understood. “You may not know, but that seed is the Ancient Moon Lotus. It’s not counted toward this event’s contribution points. Its rarity and age mean it cannot be cultivated by ordinary spiritual power. Linghua Valley has tried for years with little success. Moreover, it doesn’t grow naturally—once it blooms, it quickly withers, its spiritual energy disperses, and even a spatial pouch cannot preserve it.”

Song Yan understood then. In short, it was not impossible to make the Ancient Moon Lotus bloom, but the effort required was immense, and it could not be stored. Other spiritual plants could be harvested in bulk for pill refining, artifact forging, talisman crafting, or array drawing. By comparison, the Ancient Moon Lotus was rather useless.

“When the mountain folk hid seeds, a few ancient lotus husks were mixed in, so they were placed here as a reference for everyone,” the cultivator explained.

Song Yan nodded, asked no more, and turned to leave.

Stepping out from Butterfly Spring, he activated the mask, and immediately the spiritual energy of the valley spread out before him like ink.

“It really works…” Song Yan had tested the mask before, but only within his sect, where the traces of spiritual energy were chaotic and the results unsatisfactory.

Here, though other plants and spiritual creatures left their marks, the traces were faint and did not impede his search. He infused his spiritual power and vaulted up the rocky walls, leaping toward the western cliff of Linghua Valley. The mask’s ink-like aura grew stronger.

He saw three peach pit-shaped seeds embedded in the cracks of the rock wall, concealed by some illusion to appear as ordinary moss.

“Linghua Valley is truly cunning, hiding several seeds together. Some cultivators are destined to find nothing,” he muttered.

He formed his fingers into a sword to collect them, when a crimson fire serpent suddenly attacked from behind. Song Yan dodged swiftly and looked back, seeing Cheng Yu emerge from the forest with a faint smile.

“Fellow Cheng… what is the meaning of this?” Song Yan asked.

Cheng Yu’s smile was cold. “Forgive me. I searched everywhere for flower seeds but found none. Happened upon you finding some here… Since we discovered them together, perhaps you could share?”

The rules did state that if two cultivators found a seed simultaneously, they could duel for it. Yet the Wandering Valley gathering was meant to be friendly and playful. Song Yan had assumed everyone would be courteous and yield to one another, forgetting that the lure of supreme artifacts dangled before them all.

Song Yan squinted. Before he could respond, the crimson blaze surged in, his toes tapping the rock. The fire serpent grazed his robe and struck the cliff, making the vines smoke and jolting the three seeds loose.

Cheng Yu darted forward, spiritual power reaching for the seeds. Song Yan immediately formed a seal with his left hand, and his “Unmoored Boat” sword technique shot toward Cheng Yu’s face like a streak of light.

A clear sword cry rang out.

“So fast…” Cheng Yu’s pupils contracted, his waist jade pendant glowing red and forming a translucent fire shield before him. He retreated three meters, a talisman between his fingers igniting and releasing a dozen fire arrows from all directions, sealing Song Yan’s escape.

The heat distorted the air, even the rock wall glowed orange-red. Refusing to let up, Cheng Yu summoned a longbow phantom, spiritual light forming the arrow.

Cheng Yu snorted inwardly, feeling pleased. Where did this nobody come from to earn such concern from Sister Yun’er? The fire arrow talisman and metal spirit arrows weren’t lethal, but they’d make him suffer enough.

But Song Yan did not dodge or retreat. From his “Unmoored Boat” technique, several white sword shadows split off, slicing down all the fire arrows. He was now thoroughly adept at the Cloud Sword, able to manipulate sword shadows and sword energy independently.

The metal spirit arrow was released, but Song Yan’s sword tip struck it precisely, dispersing its energy in an instant. White sword shadows circled Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu’s expression changed; he was about to act again when he felt a chill on the back of his neck. He realized the “Unmoored Boat” sword had somehow circled behind him.

Song Yan summoned his spiritual power, and with a single hand, vines swept the three seeds back into his palm, storing them in his spatial pouch. It all happened in a flash.

The dust settled.

“Fellow Cheng, the scenery here in Linghua Valley is intoxicating. Fighting ruins the mood,” Song Yan said. He had no intention of truly harming anyone. Killing an inner disciple of Sheyang Sect at their own Flower Festival? Song Yan still wished to live a few more years. He’d leave this person for Ah Nian to deal with—after all, Cheng Yu was a “demonic cultivator.”

“Thank you for yielding.”

Cheng Yu’s face darkened, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, then his expression changed to a gentle smile.

“Ha, Song Yan, your swordsmanship is impressive… I admit defeat. Let us enjoy the flowers and keep the peace.”

Song Yan gave a cold laugh. “Naturally.” He dismissed his flying sword, showing no courtesy. “Please, after you.”

Cheng Yu stared at him deeply, then slowly retreated, vanishing into the dense forest.

Truly baffling.

Song Yan cursed inwardly. Why were there so many lunatics, ready to draw swords at the slightest provocation?

“Better warn Yun’er to be careful,” he thought.

Wasn’t the Wandering Valley meant to be lighthearted and friendly? Must even the seeds be fought over?

Really…

“Hm?” Cursing under his breath, he glanced back casually. Something black caught his eye.

Perhaps it had been hidden in the crack with the three seeds, tucked away and unnoticed until now. The vibrations had shaken it loose.

“An Ancient Moon Lotus husk?”

Song Yan picked it up, turning it over in his hand.

“Which lazy mountain folk just stuffed seeds here at random?” he mused, fiddling with it as he continued his search elsewhere.

Aside from the ancient sword, Song Yan cared little for the prizes, but his cultivation was not wood-based, so he had no confidence in making the top three. Gathering more seeds could only help.

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