Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 43: Checking the spiritual medicines one by one, Lin Fan's breakthrough attracted attention

"Then let's do as usual and start with the Yanyue Sect." The Jindan stage cultivator from the Qingxu Sect looked calm. With a command, these brief words were like a sharp blade, instantly cutting through the tense and expectant silence at the scene.

Everyone's eyes were instantly drawn to the Yanyue Sect's team, as if a fierce competition was about to begin in the next second.

The nine disciples of the Yanyue Sect who had survived the ordeal in the forbidden area marched forward in steady steps. The first disciple, a hint of nervousness permeated his expression, slowly reached into his storage bag, his movements gentle and cautious, as if he feared disturbing the treasures within.

Then, he pulled out a magical herb. This herb looked as if it had just been transplanted from a fairyland. Its leaves were emerald green, as if they were dripping with life juice. The roots glowed with a soft and mysterious light. It was obvious at a glance that it was of extraordinary quality, and definitely not an ordinary thing.

Immediately, the second disciple stepped forward, his movements even more agile than the first. He reached into his storage bag and pulled out four or five spiritual herbs in quick succession. These herbs varied in form. Some resembled Ganoderma lucidum, their caps delicately textured, as if etched with the marks of time, radiating a warm luster. Others resembled slender, winding vines, dotted with tiny flowers. Wisps of spiritual energy lingered from the stamens, as if telling of their extraordinary origins.

When it was the turn of a disciple dressed in light blue, he walked briskly, his expression brimming with confidence. He reached into his storage bag and, in the blink of an eye, pulled out a dozen spiritual herbs. This action instantly drew astonishment from the crowd around him. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the spiritual herbs, their eyes filled with envy and admiration.

As the disciples of the Yanyue Sect came forward one by one to display their spiritual herbs, the cultivator in charge of counting them immediately fell into a frenzy. His gaze was as sharp as lightning, rapidly scanning each herb, his spiritual pen scribbling information on a specially crafted jade slip like flowing water. Sometimes he would lean in to examine the herb's appearance closely, and sometimes he would mutter to himself, calculating its potency and age.

Finally, the Yanyue Sect's harvest of spiritual herbs was complete, totaling forty-nine plants. Some had leaves spread out, as if enjoying the sun's gentle caress; some had thick roots, like solid pillars of the earth; and some had plump fruits, as if brimming with endless vitality.

They were piled together, emitting a rich spiritual energy, forming faint wisps of spiritual mist in the air. Everyone's eyes, drawn as if by a magnet, fell on this pile of spiritual herbs. They secretly estimated the value of these spiritual herbs. Some frowned slightly, wondering how many spiritual stones they could be converted into. Others, with a flickering look in their eyes, silently compared their reserves with those of their own sects.

At the same time, everyone was secretly wondering whether the gains of other sects could surpass that of the Yanyue Sect. The atmosphere on the scene became increasingly tense, as if the air was filled with an invisible atmosphere of competition.

As the Yanyue Sect disciples laid out their elixirs, the "Spirit-Sniffing Rat" was brought to them. Its body was as white as a ball of snow, its round eyes darting around like animated stars. Its nose moved constantly, like a highly accurate detector, carefully sniffing each disciple.

Every slight movement makes its snow-white fur tremble gently, like ripples caused by the breeze blowing through the snow, and its ruby-like eyes always reveal a sense of concentration, as if nothing in the world can distract its attention.

Although this "Spirit-Sniffing Rat" does not have powerful magical powers in defending against enemies or attacking, and is unlikely to play a key role in fierce battles, it is extremely talented in the field of spiritual medicine detection and is truly unique.

No matter how cleverly the disciples hid the elixir in an airtight jade box in an attempt to isolate the scent, or concealed it in a storage bag with spiritual power shielding function in an attempt to deceive the world, it was all useless in front of the "Spirit-Sniffing Rat".

With its extraordinary sense of smell, it could always locate hidden elixirs one by one, as if possessing clairvoyant eyes. For this reason, whenever the seven major sects conducted similar elixirs inventory, they would solemnly activate this "Sniffing Rat," having it carefully check each disciple.

In this way, the possibility of any disciple hoarding spiritual medicines privately is eliminated, and the fairness and justice of the entire spiritual medicine inventory process is effectively ensured, so that every sect can participate in this competition concerning honor and interests with a wholehearted attitude.

After the Yanyue Sect methodically completed the tallying process, it was Spirit Beast Mountain's turn. The eight disciples from Spirit Beast Mountain who had survived the journey to the forbidden land stepped forward one after another. Their expressions varied. Some wore a look of assured confidence, as if they were certain of their gains; others appeared slightly nervous, their slightly clenched fists betraying their inner uneasiness.

The first disciple, with a focused expression, carefully pulled three spiritual herbs from his storage bag. Their leaves curled slightly, like a shy girl covering her face. A faint scent of medicinal herbs emanated from the leaves, drifting gently around. This delicate aroma elicited subtle nods from those around him, expressing their approval of its quality.

Immediately afterwards, the second disciple stepped forward and pulled two spiritual herbs from his storage bag. The roots of these two spiritual herbs were thick and powerful, like the twisted roots of an ancient tree rooted in the earth. A rich spiritual energy lingered on their surfaces like a veil, adding a touch of mystery, as if silently revealing their extraordinary origins. The third disciple approached slowly, holding only one spiritual herb. However, this herb was of exceptional quality, its spiritual energy as rich as a substance, like a spiritual spring with a restrained light, continuously radiating powerful spiritual energy. It was obvious that it was a rare treasure in the world, drawing astonishment from the crowd.

Then, the fourth disciple quickly stepped forward and took out five spiritual herbs from his storage bag...

As the disciples came forward one by one to display their harvest, the cultivator in charge of counting remained vigilant, his spiritual pen daring across the jade slips like a whirlwind, rapidly recording the information of each spiritual herb. Finally, after an intense and meticulous count, the total number of spiritual herbs collected by the Spiritual Beast Mountain disciples was tallied: a staggering forty-one. Everyone's gaze lingered involuntarily on the pile of spiritual herbs, their eyes filled with thought as they silently compared the harvests of Spiritual Beast Mountain with those of the Moon-Shattering Sect. At this moment, everyone's hearts were filled with anticipation for the performances of the other sects, as if a spectacular drama were reaching its climax.

Seven disciples of Tianque Fort stepped forward one by one, removing the spiritual herbs from their storage bags one by one. These herbs, some with strange shapes, some emitting unique aromas, attracted everyone's attention. After a frantic count, Tianque Fort's harvest was complete—thirty-nine plants.

Following closely behind, eight disciples from Huadaowu took the stage. With swift movements, they neatly arranged the spiritual herbs one by one on the table. As the number accumulated, they finally reached forty-two, a figure that intensified the atmosphere.

Ten disciples of the Qingxu Sect stepped forward confidently. The spiritual herbs they produced were dazzling in both quality and the richness of their spiritual energy. The final tally came to forty-five, instantly making them the current leader.

Not to be outdone, the eight disciples of the Giant Sword Sect were equally impressive. Each of their displayed spiritual herbs possessed unique characteristics, some shimmering with light, as if imbued with boundless power. A careful count settled on forty-three plants. By this point, the harvests of each sect were clearly visible, with subtle differences between them. Who would emerge victorious in this spiritual herb competition remained a matter of suspense, and everyone's gazes were filled with nervous anticipation.

Finally, it was the turn of the Yellow Maple Valley disciples to take the stage. The nine disciples, who had survived the ordeal in the forbidden area, stepped forward steadily one by one, their expressions mixed, ranging from trepidation to confidence.

The first disciple, looking slightly nervous, slowly walked to the designated location, reached into his storage bag, and carefully pulled out three spiritual herbs. Wisps of spiritual energy lingered on the stems and leaves of these spiritual herbs, and in the sunlight, they shimmered with tiny, enchanting glimmers, like stars scattered across the world.

Seeing this, the second disciple, unwilling to be outdone, quickly stepped forward and pulled out five spiritual herbs from his storage bag. These herbs were brightly colored, like the gorgeous sunset glow on the horizon. The rich aroma of the herbs filled the air, causing everyone to take a deep breath and indulge in the refreshing fragrance.

The third disciple calmly and leisurely produced a spiritual herb. Although there was only one, the spiritual energy contained in it was extremely rich, like a treasure trove of spiritual power ready to be unleashed. This attracted everyone's silent amazement, their eyes filled with curiosity and admiration for this spiritual herb.

One by one, the disciples stepped forward in an orderly fashion, each displaying their findings from the forbidden area. Soon, it was Lin Fan's turn. Lin Fan's expression was as calm as water, as if he had anticipated this. He calmly tapped his storage bag, and with a clatter, approximately thirty exquisitely carved jade boxes instantly appeared on the ground before everyone's eyes. Each jade box resembled a fine work of art, its body intricately carved with delicate patterns. A faint aura quietly emanated from the cracks, as if telling everyone of the extraordinary treasures within.

As Lin Fan opened the jade boxes one by one, the spiritual herbs within finally revealed their true appearance. Each one was of exceptional quality, brimming with spiritual energy, as if transplanted from a fairyland. The rich spiritual energy spread outward like surging waves, drawing the attention of everyone present. The cultivator in charge of the tally was now furiously busy, his counting instrument spinning rapidly, muttering to himself. Finally, the total number of spiritual herbs in Yellow Maple Valley was complete—sixty-one!
This figure, like a bombshell, instantly caused a stir in the crowd. Everyone cast their gazes towards the disciples of the Yellow Maple Valley, their eyes filled with undisguised surprise and admiration. They marveled at the Yellow Maple Valley disciples' bountiful harvest, and were filled with curiosity and anticipation for the outcome of this suspenseful gambling game, as if a spectacular drama was about to reach its most thrilling climax.

In an instant, Lin Fan seemed to have become the brightest star in the night sky, unsurprisingly the absolute focus of everyone's attention. The gazes from all directions were like tangible beams of light, interwoven with wonder, envy, and curiosity. Those who marveled at his bountiful harvest, those who envied him admired his wealth, and those who inquired sought to glimpse the secrets behind his serene expression.

However, at this moment, Lin Fan felt a mixture of emotions, a complex and indescribable feeling, filled with discomfort. For a long time, he had always adhered to the principle of being low-key and reserved, never liking to show off. He always avoided being the center of public scrutiny like the spotlight.

But this time, Lin Fan was merely assisting Elder Chen Minghui. Originally, he had simply wished to cultivate peacefully within the sect, keeping a low profile and adhering to his usual principles. However, Elder Chen Minghui personally entrusted him with this, and it was difficult for him to refuse.

(End of this chapter)