The six plants in their pots were about the height of his palm, and Zahar was halfway there. Once they reached the height of a regular head, that was when their qi generation and qi consumption stabilized. Anything before that, the plant dies.
It was incredibly intense work, but if he wanted to do a small, private herbal garden to make incredibly powerful pills, he needed high quality materials. Higher quality materials had significantly higher multiplier effects when combined. Herbs from the merchants could only go so far.
These six plants, the ‘Setting Herbs’. They were created from just regular herbs, modified through Zahar’s qi, to generate Qi in its immediate surrounding, and to amplify the density. Each of the six plants were slightly different, their modification method a different frequency. When the six work together, they’d be able to generate significantly higher yield for the plant located within the six setting plant’s range.
A master in the Agricultivation arts would often have large formations to amplify the effects of a large number of herbs at the same time, control the surrounding environment, and pack more amplification herbs into a small area, all just to produce an even more powerful super-herb.
He would need another day.
***
“I was summoned?” Sana was fairly surprised to see the Outer Disciple come and talk to her. The outer disciple was probably Sana’s senior by two or three years.
“Yes. Elder Fongshan wishes to speak to you.”
“Oh.”
She was led to what was nothing short of a palace, and it was the grandest of those she had been to so far. It was where the Roaring Dragon Sect first received distinguished guests from abroad, and from within. This was where the City Lord, Elder Fongshan, resided.
The outer disciple had no idea why, and certainly, for junior disciples like them, they had no reason to ask. If an elder had a wish, the outer disciple’s task is to see it done.
Elder Fongshan sat in his throne room like an Emperor. In many ways, the 8th realm cultivator had every right to be an Emperor. He was one of the few Core Elders of the Roaring Dragon Sect.
A dragon was at his side, a giant creature likely of the similar realm as the Elder. Combined, their strength was so powerful that even those in a realm above them would take them seriously.
“Young Eshtar.”
Sana kneeled. For someone in the first steps of the 3rd realm to meet someone so high up, it was pretty much the relations between a dragon and an ant. Kneeling was proper.
“I humbly greet the Elder Fongshan.”
“Rise. You must wonder why I called for you, and not anyone else.”
Sana didn’t say a word, she stood, and waited.
“How did your father ascend to the 5th realm? In normal times, ascending to the 5th realm is nothing unusual, but the stories speak of the presence of Bloodfire Pills. Tell me how he came to possess Bloodfire Pills, when the Bloodfire Wyrm’s Heart is impossible to get? The Night’s Moon Temple hoarded and prevented all access to the Swamp of Everburning Flames for the last six decades.”
Sana didn’t know that. She gulped. Here, there really was no room to lie. The elder could crush her like an ant and there’s nothing her father could do. “He- a man came to our home. He asked for my hand, as his concubine. He promised my father six Bloodfire pills and he made them before our eyes by substituting his Heart Energy for the Bloodfire Heart.”
Elder Fongshan’s eyes widened at the thought of substituting Heart Energy for Bloodfire Heart. He didn’t even know that was one way around the limitations, but it was so obvious in hindsight. “So this man, where is he now?”
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“He is my partner, Zahar. He joined as an outer disciple with me.”
Elder Fongshan’s mind swirled, and Sana panicked. She’d have to warn Zahar that an elder has taken interest in them. “I see.”
Sana waited, still kneeling.
The elder’s presence was so overwhelming that Sana needed all of her willpower just to stay conscious. It felt like an eternity as she waited. “Your honesty is appreciated, young Sana. It certainly made the declaration of your concubinage more sensible.”
Sana merely nodded. The less she said, the less she could offend someone of this power.
“You may leave.”
She did. Quickly.
***
Sana returned home to find Zahar still meditating over his plants. She sat opposite him.
“You met someone. I feel the whiff of his energies swirling around you.”
Sana’s face paled, she didn’t even realize something like that happened. “He followed me?”
“A marker.”
“Elder Fongshan. He’s an 8th realm cultivator.” Sana repeated the entire exchange, word for word. Zahar merely nodded, as if it didn’t matter.
“I’ll be alright, my dear.” Zahar said. “You did the right thing.”
“Is it?” Sana wasn’t sure. Someone in that level of power still very much felt like dealing with gods.
Zahar nodded. “Don’t worry. Go get your merit points. We’ll talk once I’m done with my plants. This weekend.”
***
Elder Fongshan’s senses washed through the entire city, and it wasn’t hard for him to realize the person named Zahar wasn’t in the city at all. Instead, he soon suspected Zahar was still in his assigned unit, and so immediately flew there.
Elder Fongshan was recognized everywhere he went, and so, he wore a robe and mask which hid his presence from everyone else.
The door opened, and he walked in to see Zahar still cultivating with his plants. “Are you the one that goes by the name Zahar?”
Zahar didn’t move, his concentration still focused on the six herbs in front of him. With his Mask of Invisible Moon and robe of the Shadow Dragon, Elder Fongshan right now emitted absolutely no presence. It was a powerful artifact that master spies used to infiltrate their enemies, and was Elder Fongshan’s favourite tool to engage those with unusual legacies.
“Yes. It seems I have attracted the attention of those in power. I believe you are Elder Fongshan?”
Elder Fongshan felt the emptiness of his cultivation, it was as if he stared at a white wall. Nothing, and yet he was certain there was something. “You were expecting me.” He sat opposite him, watching him work with the plants.
“My concubine, Sana, told me of the meeting. I expected you to visit me.”
He tried to look into them, and yet, the plants all seemed absolutely ordinary. “Then I shall get right to it. I heard you could make Bloodfire Pills with your heart energy.”
Zahar didn’t answer.
“Show me.”
“Not now. I could show it to you in two months. When I’m done.”
The elder’s eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed, but he didn’t take offense. Right now, in the entirety of the Outer Disciples, there are at least three hundred individuals with some kind of inheritance or some unique private guardian spirit, most of them the remaining form or inheritance of someone in the 8th or 9th realms. He already suspected Zahar was one of them, just from the way City Lord Eshtar worded his letter.
Despite what everyone thinks, the City Lord’s role, first and foremost, is to ensure the safety of New Ring City. That meant he needed to have his reading on every potentially erratic character in his city.
He understood most of them, but decided to go for the blunt approach. It was something that worked with others. Honesty was pretty effective with such old monsters. “That is fine. But let me be blunt. What are you, and what do you want to do in this sect?”
“I’m just a reincarnated cultivator.” Zahar said frankly. “I’m here to grow my harem, and I’ve also just decided to cultivate some plants. I’d like to build a herbal farm, a tea farm, and a beautiful garden filled with flowers of all kinds.”
Flowers. Elder Fongshan felt a sigh of relief. That was a relief. If this man was merely seeking carnal pleasures, that made him a lot easier to deal with. There were plenty of beauties in the Roaring Dragon Sect. “That’s all? No ancient grudges to resolve?”
“Yes. I have no grudge with your sect or anyone in it.”
Fongshan genuinely smiled. He hated crushing young, high potential individuals. “Then this meeting has been fruitful. I look forward to meeting you again, Zahar. Shall we set our demonstration meeting to two months?”
“Certainly.”
“I will send someone for you when the time comes, and have the materials ready.”
“You will keep me a secret?”
Elder Fongshan laughed. “Do you know every one of them says that?”
“I expected as much.” Zahar nodded in return.
Elder Fongshan laughed heartily, and walked out. He had more suspects to talk to.