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

He stood up and glanced at everyone present: "This time, the Spirit Corrosion Disease has spread to seven farms. The Spirit Plant Hall has tried more than a dozen prescriptions, but none of them can cure it."

"If it weren't for the mutated spiritual rice in this disciple's spiritual field providing disease-resistant samples, the medicinal liquid would never have been developed! The losses of the seven villages would have been far more than this. In terms of merit and reward, he should be the one to deserve the greatest credit."

A deputy hall master surnamed Zhang spoke up unhurriedly: "Elder Zheng, your words are a bit too much."

"That mutated spirit rice is a natural mutation of the plant itself. What does it have to do with that disciple? He was just lucky that it happened to be planted in his field. If we reward him handsomely for that, what about those who truly dedicate themselves to studying spirit plants?"

Elder Zheng frowned: "Vice Hall Master Zhang, you can't say that."

"Although the mutation of the spiritual plant was accidental, if he hadn't carefully observed and reported it in time, those mutated spiritual rice plants would have been pulled up as ordinary diseased plants long ago. How can his merit in discovering and reporting it be erased?"

"Observe carefully?"

Vice Hall Master Zhang shook his head. "I heard that the disciple himself said that he thought he was seeing things and didn't pay attention."

"If Zhao Demao hadn't noticed the anomaly during his field inspection, he wouldn't have paid any attention to it. What kind of careful observation is that?"

Elder Zheng's voice deepened: "Even so, the sample came from his field, and that can't be faked."

"Without his few spirit rice plants, the medicinal liquid could not be prepared. His contribution is his contribution, and we cannot erase it just because he was lucky."

Another deputy hall master sitting next to Deputy Hall Master Zhang, surnamed Ma, also spoke up at this moment: "Elder Zheng, what you said makes sense, but there should always be a limit to rewards."

"If a disciple who has been in the sect for less than a year, with low-grade five spiritual roots, is rewarded handsomely because of a single stroke of luck, what will those spiritual plant growers who have toiled for over a decade in the Spirit Plant Hall think?"

"I cannot agree with what Vice Hall Master Ma said."

Elder Meng put down his teacup and slowly spoke, "The sect's rewards and punishments are based on merit, not seniority. Although he has only been a member for a short time, his contributions are genuine. If he is lightly rewarded because of his lack of seniority, who will be willing to work hard in the future?"

With both sides sticking to their own arguments, the atmosphere in the council chamber gradually became tense.

Su Mingyuan remained silent throughout, simply listening without making any comment.

Elder Zheng took a deep breath and softened his tone: "Palace Master, I'm not asking for any extravagant rewards."

"But at least we can't discourage people. As for spirit stones and pills, we can just follow the rules."

"However, when I visited Qingmu Manor, I saw his protective spirit field—it was completely empty, without any decent spirit plants. It's not a good thing that a spirit plant grower can't even grow a few decent spirit plants."

"Don't we still have a few mutated spiritual plant seeds that have been cultivated for many years in our Spiritual Plant Hall's seed bank? Vermilion Fruit, Jade Marrow Fungus, Golden Leaf Orchid, etc. Give him a few seeds and let him try to cultivate them."

"If he grows it well, it's his skill; if he grows it poorly, he doesn't lose anything. This way, the reward is given in a respectable manner, and the criticism is silenced."

Su Mingyuan's brow twitched slightly: "Protecting the spirit field? That disciple isn't a spirit plant cultivator who's only been practicing for less than a year, so where did he get a protecting spirit field from?"

Elder Zheng glanced at Elder Sun: "Elder Sun applied for it for him."

Su Mingyuan's gaze shifted to Old Sun, who was sitting in the corner.

Old Sun leaned back in his chair. He hadn't said much during the entire meeting, but now that everyone was looking at him, he slowly put down his teacup.

Yes, that's true.

He said in a calm tone, "That kid accidentally obtained two mutated spiritual plants in Qingmu Manor. I found them interesting, so I kept them to study. In exchange, I helped him apply for a protective spiritual field."

He paused, then said, "Palace Master, this kid does have some talent in spiritual plants. It's true that he has low-grade five spiritual roots, but the things he grows are not bad. Giving him the protective spiritual field is not a waste."

Su Mingyuan nodded, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Sun Zhengyuan, that old guy, has quite a high standard. For him to praise the kid as having "some talent," that kid is indeed extraordinary.

Vice Hall Master Zhang frowned, about to say something, but Su Mingyuan raised his hand to stop him.

"Alright."

The council chamber fell silent.

Su Mingyuan's gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Elder Zheng, where he nodded slightly.

"Elder Zheng is right. The sect's rewards and punishments are based on merit, not seniority. Although this young man has not been a disciple for long, he has indeed made real contributions this time. He should be rewarded, but there should be limits."

He pondered for a moment and then decided: "Five hundred spirit stones, plus a copy of 'The Spirit Plant Handbook,' which contains some cultivation tips that I jotted down in my early years. Let him take it and study it."

"Since his spiritual root aptitude is a bit lacking, let's give him two more Qi-Nourishing Pills to improve his cultivation."

"Furthermore, since the protective spirit field has already been built, it can't be left empty. Elder Zheng mentioned three seeds of each of the mutated spirit plants: Vermilion Fruit, Jade Marrow Fungus, and Golden Leaf Orchid. Let him cultivate them on his own. If he can grow them successfully, he will be rewarded separately."

Deputy Hall Master Zhang frowned, but since the Hall Master had already made the decision, he said no more.

Su Mingyuan glanced at everyone present, his gaze settling on Zhou Yuandao.

"Vice Hall Master Zhou, you will be in charge of this matter. Have that disciple come to the Spirit Plant Hall to collect his reward."

Zhou Yuandao remained calm and replied, "Yes."

......

The next day, a message from the Spirit Plant Palace arrived at Aoki Manor.

At noon that day, Lu Qingchen had just returned from the fields when Wang Fu came running over, panting, saying that the manor lord wanted him to go to the main room.

Zhao Demao was already waiting at the door, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw him coming.

"The sect has sent word that your reward has been decided, and you are to return to the Spirit Plant Hall to collect it."

Lu Qingchen paused.

"Five hundred spirit stones, two Qi-cultivating pills, a copy of the 'Spirit Plant Handbook' written by Palace Master Su, and three kinds of mutated spirit plant seeds."

Zhao Demao patted his shoulder, a little harder than usual.

"Manager Lu, you've really done a great service this time. I heard that Vice Hall Master Zhou personally summoned you to receive your reward."

Five hundred spirit stones.

Lu Qingchen's heart skipped a beat. He had saved up his fortune at Qingmu Manor for several months, and at most, he had only accumulated fifty spirit stones.

Five hundred yuan is an astronomical figure for an ordinary spiritual plant grower!

Moreover, there is also Palace Master Su's handwritten record and the seeds of mutated spirit plants—these two things cannot be bought with spirit stones alone.

He only showed a shy smile: "Thank you for informing me, Master."

After leaving the main hall, Lu Qingchen immediately took a spirit horse carriage back to the sect.

When they arrived at the sect, it wasn't too late yet.

He walked along the bluestone path toward the Lingzhi Hall, when a person came towards him.

He walked hurriedly, head down, brows furrowed.

The gray outer disciple's robe was wrinkled, with several ink stains on the cuffs.

"Li Si?"

Li Si suddenly stopped in his tracks, looked up, and paused for a moment in surprise.

He almost bumped into Lu Qingchen without even noticing.

"Qingchen? Why are you back?" Li Si looked him up and down, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Weren't you at Qingmu Manor?"