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

Zhou Ping quickened his pace.

His sacred field, about five acres, was located east of the estate and was planted entirely with red-veined ginseng.

From a distance, the leaves of the red-veined ginseng are originally dark green, with pale red veins, as if inlaid with red threads.

But as he got closer, Lu Qingchen could see that the leaves were covered with grayish-white spots of all sizes, as if they had been corroded by something.

In some severe cases, the spots have merged into one, the edges of the leaves have turned yellow and curled up, and the entire red-striped ginseng droops listlessly on the soil, as if its vitality has been drained.

Several herbalists, all from Cuiping Village, had already gathered by the field.

When they saw Zhou Ping leading his men over, they all made way for him, their eyes fixed on Ma Wenyuan with a hint of anticipation.

"Senior Brother Ma, this is it."

Zhou Ping stood on the edge of the field and pointed to the patch of red ginseng.

Ma Wenyuan didn't say anything. He squatted down, reached out and picked up a leaf of a red ginseng, turned it over to look at the back, and then brought it close to smell it.

Then he put down the leaf, dug away the soil to look at the roots, rubbed the soil around the roots with his fingers, and smelled it.

Everyone around held their breath and dared not make a sound.

Ma Wenyuan stood up, walked around the field ridge, and squatted down from time to time to check, his brows furrowing more and more.

When he reached the edge of the field, he stopped, squatted down, and looked at it for a long time.

"It's not a pest infestation."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone around him could hear him clearly, "It's not fertilizer damage. There are no insect eggs in the soil, and the roots show no signs of being gnawed."

Zhou Ping hurriedly asked, "What is that?"

Ma Wenyuan remained silent for a few moments before slowly uttering a few words: "It seems to be the Soul-Eating Disease."

The surrounding plant cultivators exchanged bewildered glances, and one of them asked in a low voice, "What is the Spirit-Eating Disease?"

Ma Wenyuan did not answer immediately, but squatted down again and pointed to the leaves of a red-striped ginseng, saying, "Look at these spots—starting from the leaf tip, they spread along the veins to the petiole. The center of the spots is grayish-white, and the edges are yellowish. These are traces of spiritual energy being eroded."

He stood up, his face grave: "The Soul-Eating Disease is not an ordinary disease. It is caused by an extremely tiny thing—called 'Soul-Eating Insects' in ancient books. It is invisible to the naked eye, but it does exist."

"They live parasitically in the bodies of spiritual plants, feeding on their spiritual energy. Once the spiritual energy of the plants is drained, they naturally wither and die."

"Moreover, the term 'Eating Spirit Disease' is just a general term. Different types of Eating Spirit Insects are not entirely the same, and their habits and weaknesses also vary."

"A remedy that worked last time might not be effective here."

"Then...how do we treat it?"

Zhou Ping's voice sounded a little strained.

Ma Wenyuan was silent for a while, then shook his head: "I can't come up with a solution for the time being. The Soul-Eating Disease is not common. I have been farming for ten years and have only seen it recorded in ancient books. This is the first time I have seen it with my own eyes."

He paused, then said, "I need to collect some samples to study and check the classics to see if I can find a suitable prescription. This is not something that can be resolved in a day or two."

Zhou Ping's face was a little pale, but he still nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Ma Wenyuan picked a few diseased plants, wrapped them in oil paper, and put them in his pocket.

He stood by the field for a while longer, said a few words of comfort to Zhou Ping, and then took his leave.

He left in a hurry, clearly finding the matter troublesome.

Several of the spiritual plant growers from Cuiping Village also dispersed one after another. Some sighed, some patted Zhou Ping on the shoulder, but no one could say anything useful.

Only Zhou Ping and Lu Qingchen remained by the field.

Zhou Ping squatted on the edge of the field, looking at the sickly red ginseng, and remained silent for a long time.

Lu Qingchen stood beside him without saying a word.

"Junior Brother Lu."

Zhou Ping suddenly spoke up, "Tell me, what if this disease can't be cured..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Lu Qingchen understood what he meant.

If a spiritual plant grower ruins everything he grows, he won't pass the year-end evaluation, his posting qualification might be revoked, or he might even be sent back to the sect to become an ordinary spiritual plant grower again—that would mean he'd wasted all those years.

"Didn't Senior Brother Ma say he would find a way?" Lu Qingchen said. "He's been farming for ten years, he'll surely find a way. Besides, there are so many people in the Spirit Plant Hall, they're bound to come up with something."

Zhou Ping gave a wry smile, stood up, and patted the dirt off his knees: "Yeah, let's go, I'll see you out."

The two walked back the way they came.

Upon reaching the village entrance, Zhou Ping looked up at the sky and forced a smile. "It's getting late. You should head back now. The mountain path will be difficult to traverse any later."

"Then take care of yourself, senior brother."

Um."

Zhou Ping nodded and turned to walk back.

Lu Qingchen stood at the entrance of the village for a while, until Zhou Ping's figure disappeared into the alley, before turning around and leaving.

It was already night when we returned to Aoki Village.

Lu Qingchen ate a little something, then sat cross-legged on the bed and began his cultivation for the night.

The Soul-Eating Disease—this was the first time he had ever heard of it today.

Ma Wenyuan said that this thing was caused by the Eating Spirit Insects, and different Eating Spirit Insects required different medicinal solutions, so there was no fixed formula.

That does sound tricky.

Then Lu Qingchen suddenly thought of a question: Could the Spirit Pointing Technique cure it?

The essence of the Spirit Infusion Technique is to inject the pure cultivation essence transformed from the Dao Stele into the body of the spiritual plant, nourishing it and improving its quality.

The Spirit-Eating Insects live by absorbing the spiritual energy of spiritual plants. Will they also consume the cultivation power injected by spiritual techniques?

Or is it that the Dao Stele's cultivation level is enough to kill the Spirit-Eating Insects?

He hasn't tried it, so he doesn't know the answer.

However, the thought only flashed through my mind.

He shook his head, suppressing the thought. Ma Wenyuan had already said he would go back to check the classics; why should he, a newcomer who had never even heard of the name of the disease before, worry about it?

Besides, with so many experts in the Spirit Plant Hall, this disease will be resolved sooner or later.

He stopped thinking about it, closed his eyes and focused his mind, and began to circulate the "Azure Wood Spirit Condensation Technique".

......

On the third day after Lu Qingchen returned to Qingmu Manor, the people sent by Elder Sun arrived.

Upon arriving at Qingmu Manor, he immediately went to pay his respects to the manor owner, Zhao Demao.

This is the rule—any visiting spiritual plant grower, no matter what they are doing, must first inform the manor lord.

Zhao Demao was drinking tea in the main room, where Zhou Ming, Sun Zhiyuan, Liu Wenhua, and Wang Youde were also present. The group was discussing the spiritual fields on the estate.

Wang Fu came in to report that a steward named He had come to the Lingzhi Hall on the orders of Elder Sun.

Zhao Demao put down his teacup and invited someone in.

Senior Brother He carried the cloth bag into the main room and cupped his hands to Zhao Demao: "I am He Mingyuan, a first-grade high-level spirit plant master of the Spirit Plant Hall. I have come to your manor on the orders of Elder Sun to help Junior Brother Lu Qingchen set up his own spirit field. I apologize for disturbing you, Manor Lord."

The main room fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Demao paused slightly, holding his teacup. He looked up at Senior Brother He, his brows furrowing. "A dedicated spirit field? For Lu Qingchen?"

"Exactly."

He Mingyuan nodded.