After binding with a genius, I became an immortal by exploiting loopholes.

Chapter 118 Sharing an Award

"Who is it?"

Wang Ming turned to Zhao Ming, "Zhao Ming, aren't you also a spirit plant cultivator? Do you know the inside story?"

Zhao Ming shook his head: "There are so many spirit plant growers in the Spirit Plant Hall, how could I possibly know them all? But I heard that person isn't in the sect anymore, it seems he was sent to some farm."

Wang Ming then looked at Lu Qingchen: "Qingchen, what about you? You're in Qingmu Village, which is close to those farms. Have you heard of them?"

Lu Qingchen's lips curled up slightly, then he shook his head: "I don't know."

"You don't know either?"

Zhao Ming was somewhat surprised, "Aren't you a plant grower? You haven't heard about such a big event?"

"Qingmu Village is far away."

Lu Qingchen said, "I only found out afterward."

Li Si leaned against the railing, glanced thoughtfully at Lu Qingchen, but did not speak.

He thought more deeply than Wang Ming. Lu Qingchen farmed in Qingmu Village, a place where information was scarce, so it was normal for him not to know.

But the calm look in those eyes made him feel that it was more than just "not knowing".

On the high platform, several disciples were setting up tables and cushions.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people gathered in the square, and disciples from various peaks and halls took their places one after another.

Lu Qingchen looked towards the direction of the Spirit Plant Hall. Shen Yao was standing in the crowd, talking to the female cultivator next to her. Gu Qingyi was sitting in a more forward position, her expression calm.

Further away, Old Sun, with a pipe in his mouth, squatted in a corner, looking like he was there to join in the fun, or perhaps waiting for something.

At three quarters past Chen hour, the bell rang.

On the high platform, an old man dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe had appeared there at some point. His hair and beard were all white, his face was thin and refined, and his aura was as deep as an abyss.

Many disciples below the stage fell silent—this was one of the few Spirit Mansion True Persons in the sect, who was in seclusion most of the year and rarely showed his face.

"Today, the sect is recognizing this year's outstanding disciples."

The old man's voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the entire square: "First place—Chu Yunfeng, first place in the rookie assessment, dual-elemental superior spiritual roots, sharp swordsmanship, he will become a pillar of the Qingxuan Sect in the future."

Chu Yunfeng stepped out from the crowd, dressed in white, with a handsome face.

He walked up to the old man, accepted the jade plaque symbolizing the top rookie with both hands, then turned to face the audience and bowed.

A cheer erupted in the square, mostly from the female disciples.

Chu Yunfeng remained calm and stepped aside.

The audience looked on with envy.

When the results of this year's rookie assessment came out, everyone knew that Chu Yunfeng would definitely be number one, but when he actually stood on this high platform and received the attention of thousands of people, the glory that belonged to the number one was still enough to make people's hearts surge.

"Second place—Su Qingxue, second place in the rookie assessment, dual spiritual roots of water and wood, Qingling Body, her Azure Water Technique has reached perfection, her future is limitless."

Su Qingxue stepped out from the crowd, wearing a moon-white long dress, her steps graceful.

She walked up to the old man, took the jade pendant with both hands, bowed, and then turned to face the audience.

A low murmur of admiration rose from the square. She remained calm and stepped aside.

The old man continued, his voice still unhurried: "The third one—"

'

His gaze swept across the audience and finally landed on the edge of the square.

"Lu Qingchen".

The square fell silent for a moment.

Many people looked at each other blankly; they had never heard of this name before.

He is not a prodigy, not a prominent figure on any peak, and not a name that has been discussed.

The old man's voice continued: "The Spirit Plant Master of the Spirit Plant Hall, the steward of Qingmu Manor, this year the Spirit Corrosion Disease has spread to seven manors, the sect is helpless, and the spirit fields are in danger."

"The jade-green spirit rice planted in its fields mutated on its own, developing disease resistance. The Spirit Plant Hall took this sample and was able to formulate a good medicine, saving the spirit fields of the Seven Villages from destruction and preventing the sect from losing tens of thousands of catties of spirit rice. This is a real achievement and deserves recognition."

The audience first fell silent, then erupted into an even bigger uproar.

"Lu Qingchen? Who's that?"

"I know about the Soul-Eating Disease! So it was him!"

"Really? I heard he's only a low-grade five-elemental-root?"

Wang Ming was the first to react, and he suddenly turned to look at Lu Qingchen beside him, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it.

His lips trembled several times before he managed to squeeze out a complete sentence: "Qingchen? It's you?! Didn't you say you didn't know either?"

Li Si, who was leaning against the railing, suddenly straightened up. He stared at Lu Qingchen's face for a long time, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, before he let out a long breath.

His tone was one of relief, yet tinged with an indescribable sense of感慨: "I knew it. I felt something was off when you helped Sun Han last time. An outer disciple, pulling a menial servant out of the spirit mine and doing it so easily. You're different now."

Qian Wanliang and Zhao Ming looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhao Ming opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Qian Wanliang scratched his head and muttered under his breath, "Good heavens, we were just guessing who it was, and then the person was standing right next to us! But Qingchen, you're really not being fair, keeping it a secret until now—"

Lu Qingchen smiled as the group stared at him, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the high platform.

He walked through the crowd, and countless gazes fell on him from both sides, like lanterns that suddenly lit up, illuminating this unknown plant grower as he stepped from the shadows into the light.

People were whispering – Is this the one with five spiritual roots?

He didn't seem particularly special; a mere second-level Qi Refining cultivator with an unremarkable aura, standing next to Chu Yunfeng was simply...

But most people just watched in silence.

Regardless of his talent, he is the person who is receiving an award on the same stage as Chu Yunfeng today.

Lu Qingchen walked up to the platform, accepted the jade tablet with both hands, bowed, and then turned to face the audience.

The square was packed with people, and countless eyes were fixed on him. Some were curious, some were surprised, some were skeptical, some were envious, and many simply wanted to see what this "person who made great contributions with five spiritual roots" looked like.

He didn't say anything, but simply bowed with his hands clasped as usual, his expression calm.

But as those calm eyes swept over the diverse reactions of the crowd below, he thought to himself—this time, he couldn't hide it anymore.

In the future, when he moves around the sect, there will be no shortage of people who will recognize him.

We must be more careful with the Hidden Spirit Technique, and the things in the Spirit Field must be hidden even deeper.

Fourth place—

'

The old man's voice continued to ring out.

The commendation ceremony ended at noon.

At the edge of the platform, Chu Yunfeng was putting away the jade token and preparing to leave.

As he passed by Lu Qingchen, he paused slightly and nodded.

Lu Qingchen nodded in return.

The two did not speak, but simply nodded to each other before turning and leaving.

Lu Qingchen came down from the platform, and Shen Yao and Gu Qingyi walked towards him.

"Congratulations."

Gu Qingyi's words were still brief, but her tone was gentler than usual.

Shen Yao's gaze shifted and landed on Gu Qingyi, and she was slightly taken aback: "Senior Sister Gu, do you know Junior Brother Lu?"

"I've seen it a few times before at the Spirit Plant Hall."

Gu Qingyi spoke in a flat tone, glossing over the matter casually.

Shen Yao didn't press the matter. The Spirit Plant Palace wasn't very big, and it wasn't surprising that Gu Qingyi had seen Lu Qingchen when she occasionally went there on business.

She then turned to Lu Qingchen and said with a grin, "Junior Brother Lu, you're famous now."

Li Si, Wang Ming, and a few others squeezed in as well.

"Wow, you're something else! Such a big thing, and you didn't mention a word about it when you were having dinner with us! I was guessing and guessing all along, but it turned out I was just guessing for nothing!"

Li Si stood to the side, a rare smile on his face.

Qian Wanliang winked at him from behind, "Qingchen, you'll have to treat us this time."

Lu Qingchen took half a step back: "Please, I'll treat you to several meals."

......