Chapter 27: Cultivating Plants
The morning dew still clung to the grass as I made my way through the Outer Sect training grounds, searching for somewhere quiet to practice.
Most disciples preferred the maintained areas near the main courtyard, with their perfectly level ground and regularly renewed formation arrays. But those spots required spirit stone reservations, and my cultivation resources were... limited.
"There has to be a usable space somewhere," I muttered, pushing through another patch of overgrown bushes. The back area of the training grounds had been partially reclaimed by nature, creating a maze of old practice fields separated by vegetation. Not ideal for most cultivation methods, but maybe...
I finally found what I was looking for - a small clearing tucked away behind a cluster of ancient trees. The ground was uneven and scattered with fallen leaves, but the space was open enough for practice. More importantly, it was well-hidden from the main paths.
"This should work," I said, setting down my water flask and cultivation manual. "At least until..."
"Until Wu Lihua finds you?" Azure suggested. "I estimate we have approximately six hours before she tracks down your location."
I sighed. The Core Disciple's habit of "observing" my practice sessions was becoming a real problem. She never did anything overtly inappropriate - just watched from a distance with that weird smile. But try explaining to sect elders why you're uncomfortable with a beautiful senior sister taking an interest in your cultivation. Especially when you're just an Outer Disciple.
"Six hours is better than nothing," I said, settling into a cross-legged position. "So, Azure... now that we've stabilized the Genesis Seed, what combat techniques does the World Tree Sutra actually teach?"
"Most of the advanced techniques are either beyond your current cultivation level or lost to time," Azure replied. "However, there are a few fundamental arts that should be accessible at Qi Condensation. The most immediately useful would be the Primordial Wood Arts."