Cultivation begins with the Druid panel

Everyone left one after another, but Lu Lin remained, carefully examining the flowerpot with a look of curiosity on his face. The scholar walked over and, seeing Lu Lin's attention focused on the flowerpot, couldn't help but ask, "Is there something wrong with this flowerpot?"

Lu Lin shook his head: "It's not that there's anything wrong with the flowerpot, it's just that I'm very curious about what kind of restriction is on it, and why there's no spiritual energy fluctuation at all?"

The scholar was stunned when he heard Lu Lin's words. A look of astonishment and surprise flashed in his eyes. He seemed not to have expected that Lu Lin could detect the restriction on the flowerpot. That was the method of the Foundation Establishment expert of the Cliff Academy. Even ordinary high-level Qi Refining cultivators might not be able to detect it. Lu Lin actually noticed it.

"There are fluctuations of spiritual energy, but your cultivation level is too low right now, so it's normal that you can't detect them. That's a technique used by those in the Foundation Establishment stage. It's mainly to prevent someone from switching the flowerpots," the scholar said with a smile.

Lu Lin suddenly realized why he couldn't see through the true nature of the restriction; it turned out to be the work of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

"You don't need to worry about these things. Instead, you should use this time to learn more about spiritual plant cultivation." The scholar said to Lu Lin, "The spiritual plant cultivation exam is quite difficult, with a pass rate of less than 10%. Those who pass on their first attempt are one in ten thousand. Moreover, those who pass are usually around thirty years old. You are still too young, so don't be greedy for success or failure."

Lu Lin understood the scholar's meaning, but he still wanted to give it a try: "Thank you for the reminder, senior. I will go back and study hard."

"Okay, go ahead." The scholar nodded and smiled, but just as Lu Lin was about to turn and leave, the scholar suddenly called out to Lu Lin again, saying, "By the way, we've found out who's behind the human blood spirit plant. It's the Kirito Escort Agency. Those bandits are also from the Kirito Escort Agency."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lin's expression changed immediately, and he turned around in astonishment: "Senior, you must be joking."

The scholar chuckled, "Young master, I cultivate the ways of a gentleman and would not speak falsely. Moreover, this matter is insignificant to the Cliff Academy, so why would I deceive you?"

Whether it's human blood and spiritual plants, or interception along the way, it's all a minor matter for the Cliff Academy. In fact, if Lu Lin hadn't mentioned it to the scholar in the library yesterday, the scholar probably wouldn't have bothered to tell Lu Lin about it.

Lu Lin looked at the scholar and asked, "So, what are the plans for the Cliffside Academy?"

The scholar didn't actually know how to resolve the matter, as he never got involved in such trivial matters, but since Lu Lin had asked, he still gave a response:

"Based on the previous practices of the Cliff Academy, they will seek reimbursement from the black market for the losses. However, the Cliff Academy will not concern itself with the Kirito Escort Agency. It's just a matter of a few people dying and a batch of goods being lost; it's not enough to make the Cliff Academy lower its status."

Of course, the Kirito Escort Agency defied the rules and touched the property of the Cliff Academy, so its fate shouldn't be too good. Young Master, you've been at the Cliff Academy for a few days now, so you should know its strength and its standing among independent cultivators. The Kirito Escort Agency grew by accepting independent cultivators, so a backlash is inevitable.

Furthermore, there's never a shortage of cultivators in this world willing to curry favor with the Cliffside Academy.

Lu Lin could sense the arrogance of the Cliff Academy from the scholar's words; this was the pride and confidence of a sacred place of cultivation.

"But the Ketong Escort Agency treats human life like dirt, and the Cliff Academy doesn't care either?" Lu Lin asked.

But the scholar found this question very naive. However, he could understand it. From his interactions with Lu Lin, he had long seen that Lu Lin had a very smooth life in his early years, and could even be said to have grown up in a gentle and loving environment. Although he had experienced some cruelty, he had never realized the true nature of the cultivation world.

"The underlying logic of this world is the survival of the fittest, and people are driven by profit. Where there is profit to be made, there will always be people willing to take risks. It is true that the Cliff Academy is very strong, but its abilities are ultimately limited. It cannot control the entire cultivation world, nor can it save all living beings... Of course, there are a few Buddhist cultivators among the current generation of geniuses of Ancient Spirit Mountain. They may have different opinions. After all... those Buddhist cultivators prefer to take the path of great vows to build their foundation."

The scholar's mindset and knowledge far surpassed Lu Lin's. Lu Lin didn't quite understand the scholar's answer, but he couldn't refute it.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?" the scholar asked.

"That's all, I'll take my leave now," Lu Lin said.

The scholar nodded slightly, watching Lu Lin leave.

Actually, he didn't say everything he wanted to say just now.

According to the investigation by the Cliff Academy, the Kirito Escort Agency was actually just an empty shell. Its mission was to take in those rogue cultivators who had no background and fought alone, and then divide these rogue cultivators into two groups: one group to protect the goods and the other group to rob the goods.

During this process, the captured镖人 (body guards) and 劫匪 (bandits) were used to feed the human blood spirit plant, while the sacrificed were left by the roadside.

As for the intercepted goods, they were naturally pocketed.

"To be honest, there are still many talented people in the world... I couldn't have come up with such a way to make money from both sides." The scholar recalled the specific details he had investigated at the Cliff Academy and sighed inwardly.

……

Not long after Lu Lin left the main hall, he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his chest. He immediately found a corner, tore open his clothes, and exposed the skin of his chest. He saw that the blood patterns were emitting a scarlet light, clearly indicating that they had been activated remotely.

It's the Zhou family... But that shouldn't be the case! Last time, the young master Su and the eldest sister of the Su family already warned the Zhou family, and there's no reason for the young master Zhou to suddenly attack him now. Lu Lin sat cross-legged in the corner and began to circulate his internal energy, using the spiritual power in his dantian to suppress the blood marks on his chest.

Soon, the crimson light on the blood pattern dimmed, and the burning sensation disappeared, but Lu Lin's expression remained grave. He knew his location had been exposed.

The mastermind behind this blood-stained pattern will definitely look for an opportunity to strike him.

After suppressing the blood marks, Lu Lin left the corner and carried the flowerpot all the way back to the pavilion at the cliff lake.

The bookshelves in the attic contained various books related to the upcoming Spirit Plant Master assessment. Lu Lin had browsed through them a couple of days ago, so he was quite familiar with the contents.

After finding the books, Lu Lin tossed them onto the bed and brewed himself a pot of tea—the very Xiling Dragon Tea that Senior Shuilong had given him. After drinking a cup, Lu Lin felt noticeably better.

Once he got into the zone, Lu Lin picked up the book and started reading.

[You have completed a reading session, gaining a deeper understanding of the knowledge related to Spirit Plant Masters. Heart of Nature experience points +3, Divine Intervention experience points +3]

[As you continue this behavior, your experience points will continue to increase...]

The panel refreshed steadily in front of Lu Lin, and the experience points for the Heart of Nature and the Divine Enlightenment continued to increase.

But Lu Lin didn't care about any of that. He was completely absorbed in the book in his hands and had even forgotten about the time.