You Cultivate, I Farm

Chapter 140

After discussing for a while, they couldn't find an effective solution and reluctantly left the spirit plant garden one by one.

"Cheng Ning, take me to find a dying Water Marsh Spirit Peach. I have some clues about these strange bugs, but I need to confirm," Lu Xuan said to the fair-looking young man trailing behind him.

"Ah? Alright, Senior Lu!" Cheng Ning, already troubled, brightened at Lu Xuan's words and replied softly.

Guiding Lu Xuan through the marsh, Cheng Ning led him to a concerning Water Marsh Spirit Peach.

"The core of this plant has several hollow parts, severely affecting its growth. Despite the efforts of our clan's plant experts, they couldn't save it, so they let it be," Cheng Ning explained as Lu Xuan inspected the plant and confirmed the hollow areas.

Without hesitation, Lu Xuan pulled out the ailing plant, observed it briefly, and replanted it in the marsh.

After completing the planting process, Lu Xuan focused on the peach. Suddenly, information flashed through his mind.

"The Water Marsh Spirit Peach, a top-grade spirit plant, usually resides in marshy areas. When mature, it holds abundant spiritual energy, used as a spiritual fruit or a key ingredient in some elixirs."

"Infested by mimicry Insects, the plant's vitality is greatly reduced. Heating the peach's surface with fire elemental energy prompts a distinct reaction from the insects, differentiating them from the plant's normal areas."

"Requires control over fire elemental techniques at least at an intermediate level; otherwise, it might harm the plant."

"Fire elemental techniques... Both the plant and the mimicry Insects fear fire. However, while the plant shows no response to flames, the insects, despite their similar appearance to the plant's branches, react differently," Lu Xuan pondered silently.

"Normally, plant experts wouldn't resort to this method due to the risk of harming the plant. So, it requires a practitioner skilled in precise control of fire elemental techniques," Lu Xuan concluded in his mind.

Turning to Cheng Ning, Lu Xuan assured him, "Don't worry. I've learned quite a bit about this infestation. I'll help you resolve it soon."

With that, Lu Xuan returned to Zhang's residence with Cheng Ning.

"Senior Sister Yao, I'm Lu Xuan. Regarding the Water Marsh Spirit Peach infestation, I've made some discoveries and wanted to discuss it with you," Lu Xuan said upon reaching Zhang's place.

Once inside, Yao Qing, a graceful woman, welcomed him warmly. "Please, come in, Junior Brother Lu."

As they spoke, Lu Xuan revealed, "You know me well. I'm fond of various things related to spirit plants and beasts. After returning, I recollected seeing information about these strange bugs in a certain sect document."

"Named mimicry Insects, their eggs parasitize plants. During their growth, they gradually mimic the plant's form, making it nearly impossible to detect their presence."

"Upon maturity, they extract enough vitality from the plant and leave to breed elsewhere," Lu Xuan explained, and Yao Qing, impressed by his past work, listened attentively.

"It's not too difficult to deal with. We only need a practitioner skilled in fire elemental techniques to expose the hidden insects by gently heating the plant and observing its changes," Lu Xuan continued.

"But there's one thing I want to mention. These insects are uncommon, with low reproductive capabilities. They rarely appear in the same area," Lu Xuan warned, leading Yao Qing to contemplate the situation seriously.

"Are you suggesting that someone from the Zhang family might be involved in this infestation?" she asked, a coldness in her tone.

"It's possible that it's someone else sneaking into the plant garden and placing the mimicry Insects on the Water Marsh Spirit Peach," Lu Xuan speculated. "But I doubt Zhang Yutang, the family head, knows about this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought help from Sky Sword Sect."

Quickly grasping the implications, Yao Qing left promptly. "I'll discuss this with Zhang Yutang. Thank you for your help, Junior Brother Lu."

As night fell, the vast plant garden became eerily quiet. Moonlight shimmered on the Water Marsh Spirit Peach's branches and fruits, resembling gentle ripples on a serene lake.

A shadow, moving agilely in the moonlight, entered the garden. Surveying the surroundings and noticing the resting guards, the shadow relaxed. Emitting faint insect-like chirps, almost imperceptible, the figure triggered a reaction from the peach branches, causing strange insect-like creatures to crawl toward it.

"This method of luring insects indeed works, attracting mature ones. Unfortunately, it has little effect on the larvae still in their parasitic or mimicking phase," the figure thought, feeling the imminent threat from the arrival of three Sky Sword Sect practitioners and the need to risk exposure to gather the mature mimicry Insects.

Though aware of their bizarre traits and low possibility of widespread detection, the intruder felt the pressure of skilled practitioners from a major sect potentially uncovering a solution to the Mimicry Insects.

If too many insects were lost from the garden, his rewards would decrease significantly. "After collecting this batch, maybe two or three more times, I'll have them all," the shadow gloated, considering the Zhang family's unwitting assistance in cultivating Water Marsh Spirit Peach as a boon.

Suddenly, a faint spiritual light illuminated the area, revealing several figures.

"I didn't expect someone as despicable as you in my Zhang family," the family head's voice, cold and composed, echoed, simmering with contained fury.

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