Chapter 269: 268: Long Planned_1
In his knowledge, there were two instances where a spiritual plant could develop intelligence. One was living long enough to gradually gain intelligence, similar to the Little Medicinal Kings in the medicinal garden.
The Little Medicinal Kings had lived for at least one hundred thousand years. To picture a spiritual medicine living for one hundred thousand years without being harvested attests to astonishing luck.
The other scenario involved many coincidences, such as living long-term in a top quality spirit stone mine, absorbing spiritual energy day and night, or being exposed to some Heavenly Dao, receiving its grace. Sometimes it was due to a Great Power’s enlightenment and so on.
The number of intelligent spiritual plants was scarce, and their understanding among people was limited. Even if the Seek Dao Sect’s medicinal garden housed several Little Medicinal Kings, it would still be difficult to research thoroughly.
All spiritual plants varied tremendously in characteristics; the lack of comparative standards made it impossible to study them.
However, one thing could be confirmed; the intelligent spiritual plants’ capabilities were hundreds of times higher than those without intelligence.
Take the current Herbal Celestial Grass for example. It controlled at least fifty to sixty Golden Core Stages, and it was uncertain whether there were more hidden.
“If Time Immortal heard you, he wouldn’t be pleased. How could the Herbal Celestial Grass be compared to him?”
“Time Immortal’s body is a Firmament Tree that stretches from the heavens to the earth. Even without intelligence, it is a celestial tree that is rarely seen throughout the ages. Before it gained intelligence, its branches grew from one planet to another, enormously large.”
“After it developed intelligence, it was still weak. Fearing attention from malicious individuals, it snapped off a branch, took on a human appearance and walked the world for cultivation. The results of this cultivation would feedback to the main body.”
“At the time of its ascension, its power was overbearing and could not be concealed. There was no longer a need to hide. Only then did people realize that the peerless genius, master of time, was not a human, but a tree.”
“Perhaps because the Firmament Tree lived long enough, Time Immortal was especially talented in the aspect of time, using ‘Suiyue’ as his Dao Fruit to achieve immortality.”
Without Fairy Eternity stating this, Lu Yang had indeed thought that Time Immortal had gained the power of time from eating the meals cooked by Fairy Eternity.
Lu Yang didn’t listen further to Fairy Eternity’s discussion about the ancient secrets. The current circumstances were extremely urgent. As the leader, he needed to make a decision quickly on whether to fight or return to the Demon Suppressing Pass.
Lu Yang sent a message to Meng Jingzhou and the other two: “Prepare the Directional Teleportation Talismans. Take the Song Family with you and return to the Demon Suppressing Pass!”
Lu Yang quickly made a decision. They can’t stay in this situation.
Not to even mention about the burden of having the Song Family with them, the sixty Golden Core Stages wrapped in mud alone was more than enough for Lu Yang and the others to handle.
Four cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment defeating sixty Golden Core Stages?
It was an impossible task; the enemy could simply exhaust them to death.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had twelve Directional Teleportation Talismans between them, more than enough to transport everyone.
Removing Song Wuguo, there were still three people from the Song Family remaining. Along with the two bodyguards, there were five from the Song Family camp they needed to save.
Lu Yang, holding the Green Peak Sword, stood at the forefront, eyeing cautiously at the Golden Core Stages emerging from the swamp. He signaled Meng Jingzhou to distribute the Directional Teleportation Talismans quickly before the Herbal Celestial Grass launched their attack.
The two Golden Core Stages covered in mud made their move. Both were from the Human Race. Their faces were plastered with mud, making their features hard to see.
Lu Yang met their blows with his sword, cutting off their arms. Despite the pain, these two relentlessly attacked Lu Yang.
These two were only at the mid-stage Golden Core Stage, but by virtue of a fighting style that disregarded bodily harm, they temporarily held off Lu Yang.
“Don’t get tangled up with them! Once the talismans are distributed, run!” Meng Jingzhou transmitted via Spiritual Sense.
“Okay!”
With great effort, Lu Yang swung his sword and repelled the two assailants. Together with everyone else, he took out a Directional Teleportation Talisman.
The Directional Teleportation Talisman automatically ignited, transporting everyone to the Demon Suppressing Pass.
Suddenly, a light laughter echoed, “All of you can escape, except for you, Lu Yang.”
Lu Yang’s expression changed, sensing trouble.
The source of the voice came from the center of the swamp, it was the Herbal Celestial Grass speaking!
The Herbal Celestial Grass gently swayed. All the spirit stones buried underground quickly depleted of their spiritual energy, turning back into transparent crystals.
The concealed grand array surrounding them was activated, casting spots of light that converged on Lu Yang and interrupted his transmission.
“Lu Yang!”
“Senior Brother Lu!”
“Brother Lu!”
Meng Jingzhou and the two others cried out involuntarily after seeing this scene right before the teleportation.
No one had expected that the Herbal Celestial Grass would specifically target Lu Yang, let alone prepare an array to interrupt his transmission in advance.
Everything changed within an instant; by the time everyone realized something unexpected had occurred, they were already back at Demon Suppressing Pass.
“What should we do?” Song Hua and others were at a loss. Although they had been saved, Lu Yang was still back there, needing rescue.
Without hesitation, Meng Jingzhou rushed towards Demon Suppressing Pass, preparing to disclose his identity and rescue Lu Yang.
…
“I certainly didn’t expect to be targeted like this.” Lu Yang stared at the Herbal Celestial Grass while the corners of his mouth did not curve upwards into a smile.
The Herbal Celestial Grass spoke again, its voice young, reminiscent of a graceful and elegant young master.
“Lu Yang, I have had my eye on you for two months, you have finally stepped into my trap, how could I let you go?”
Lu Yang felt a chill in his heart. Does that mean the Herbal Celestial Grass was watching him ever since he set foot into the depths of the dense forest?
He remembered the Golden Core Stage cultivators he encountered over the past couple of months, could they have been under the control of the Herbal Celestial Grass?
“Judging from the powers you’ve demonstrated, you must possess the Sword Spirit Root, right?”
“We spiritual plants have plenty of life-saving measures but not many offensive methods. What I hope for the most is to absorb cultivators with Golden Spirit Root or Sword Spirit Root. It can enhance my offensive abilities. I initially thought I would have no chance of encountering these two types of spirit roots before maturing, but here you are, arriving at my doorstep.”
“Of course, that’s not the most crucial part; the most vital is your clone technique!”
“Hand over your clone technique; perhaps I might spare your life!”
The Golden Core Stage cultivator, controlled by the Herbal Celestial Grass, observed Lu Yang from afar. Lu Yang’s use of the Wooden Avatar made it itch with desire.
Spiritual plants cannot move until a specific age is reached. The Herbal Celestial Grass desires nothing more than the clone technique. It can use this to control the clones and perform tasks it wishes to do.
Additionally, the clone technique used by Lu Yang was one that involved wood, which matches the best with spiritual plants.
It was determined to get this clone technique no matter what!
For this reason, it meticulously designed the trap, luring Lu Yang step by step. Even though Song Wuguo was exposed, the overall plan remained unaffected.
As long as they reach the swamp, Lu Yang is as good as dead!
“You wouldn’t be able to learn it even if I handed it over.” Lu Yang shook his head. If he could make a mess of “Tree-Planting Sutra,” he didn’t believe that Herbal Celestial Grass could do the same.
“Why don’t we sit down and have a nice chat? You can return to the sect with me. The sect has a wealth of resources to nurture you, and you won’t need to make painstaking efforts to collect nutrients here. It would be beneficial for both of us.”
The Herbal Celestial Grass chuckled coldly, “I know what you’re trying to do. You just want to stall for time, hoping that your companions will go to Demon Suppressing Pass and bring back help. Do you think I’m unprepared?”
“Mountain Moving Array, activate!”
The leaf surface of the Herbal Celestial Grass rhythmically swayed as the Golden Core Stage cultivators lifted their hands simultaneously to activate another concealed array.
Lu Yang felt the ground beneath him shake, after which it stabilized.
“We have been transported to another location. The high-ups of Demon Suppressing Pass won’t be able to locate this place.”
“Now, are you ready to provide nourishment for me?”
Lu Yang looked serious, “So, you’re pushing me to summon Eldest Senior Sister, is that it?”