Chapter 191: Seeds Are Even Harder to Obtain

Wan CuiLin and Ren Qingsong chatted while eating, with Lin Dong occasionally interjecting a few words. Yet his mind was constantly pondering how to achieve the goal of this trip.
Judging from Wan CuiLin’s previous reactions, it was clearly an unrealistic dream. If there was no feasible plan, it would be a miracle to obtain even one or two fifth-tier spiritual fruits or herbs, let alone high-tier spiritual material seeds that the Gu Huan Sect had not collected.
Fine wine clearly held little appeal for Wan CuiLin and Ren Qingsong, as their enthusiasm for drinking was low, and the meal ended quickly.
“Now that we’re full, young Lin…” Wan CuiLin said with a smile, “are you interested in taking another look around my Wan Family Estate?”
“I’d be delighted!” Lin Dong nodded eagerly.
The three of them got up. The Wan Family Estate was vast, and due to the different growing conditions for spiritual materials, it wasn’t as ordinary as other estates. Under Wan CuiLin’s guidance, they stopped here and there, learning about the origins of the spiritual flowers and herbs, their growing environments, and medicinal properties. Although Lin Dong was a bit distracted, he found it still interesting to listen.
As the sky gradually darkened, they hadn’t even managed to see everything. Wan CuiLin said with a laugh, “Let’s call it a day for now. We’ll go back for dinner first and arrange accommodations for you. We can continue exploring tomorrow. In my Wan Family Estate, I can’t promise much, but even within the Qiufeng Mansion’s plantation areas, there might not be as many varieties of spiritual materials as here.”
Lin Dong finally couldn’t hold back anymore and gently nudged Ren Qingsong’s back. If they really stayed, an entire night of cultivation would be wasted. If they rushed back now, they might still make it into the city before the gates closed.
Ren Qingsong helplessly bowed to Wan CuiLin and said, “Dean Wan, I brought Lin Dong here this time, not just for a quick look.”
Wan CuiLin’s face darkened instantly as he frowned and said, “Old Ren, I’ve already said it—high-tier spiritual materials? Even if my own father came, he can’t expect to get them.”
“Well…” Ren Qingsong turned to look at Lin Dong.
Lin Dong bowed to Wan CuiLin and said, “Dean Wan, since high-tier spiritual materials aren’t an option, what about their seeds…”
“Seeds of high-tier spiritual materials?”
Not only Wan CuiLin but even Ren Qingsong stared at Lin Dong in surprise.
Lin Dong, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ren Qingsong sighed bitterly, “I thought you wanted me to bring you here to get some Wan Hong fruits. Why did you suddenly think of high-tier spiritual material seeds?”
“Of course to plant them myself,” Lin Dong replied without hesitation.
Pfft…
Wan CuiLin couldn’t catch his breath and turned red in the face from choking.

Ren Qingsong said helplessly, “You really have strange ideas—planting spiritual materials by yourself? Do you know that Wan Family’s success today is thanks to Dean Wan’s years of hard work?”
Lin Dong nodded in confusion.
“Dean Wan is a warrior loyal to the Great Han Nation, the head of the prefectural-level martial assessment institute, and was also the young master of a prominent family. Leveraging his status, it took him thirty years to build Wan Family into something significant,” Ren Qingsong said helplessly. “Although you have a considerable fortune, your status as just a loyal warrior is far from enough. Even if I gave you a seed of a high-grade spiritual material, you wouldn’t have the conditions to grow it. Not to mention anything else—take the Wan Hong Fruit for example.”
“The Wan Hong Tree requires red soil unique to Qingbei Commandery, which is controlled by the Fiery Flame Sect. There isn’t much of this red soil even in the Tianwei Pavilion’s plantations. Dean Wan managed to get some after much persuasion. Moreover, the nutrients the Wan Hong Tree needs daily are made from various herbs, including some low-grade spiritual materials—so the cost is quite high. Additionally, it takes seventy years for the Wan Hong Tree to mature once. If it starts from a seed, it will take at least a hundred or two hundred years to grow. At best, your grandson might see the Wan Hong Fruit.”
Lin Dong opened his mouth, wanting to explain but unable to find the right words. With no other choice, he shook his head and said, “Dean Ren, what if I had a way to speed up its growth?”
“Speed up its growth?” Wan Cuilin and Ren Qingsong were stunned, then shook their heads together. “If you rush the maturation of a spiritual material, its medicinal effects will be greatly reduced—it’s not worth it.”
Lin Dong gritted his teeth and asked, “What if the medicinal effects aren’t reduced?”
Wan Cuilin replied bluntly, “If there really were a drug that could accelerate the maturation of a spiritual material without reducing its effects, it would have to be made from an even higher-grade spiritual herb, and the cost would only be higher.”
Lin Dong had nothing to say. If he were to claim confidently that he had such a drug, he might not only fail to get the seeds but also incur trouble.
“Also…” Ren Qingsong patted Lin Dong’s shoulder and said, “You’re underestimating spiritual material seeds. Take the Wan Hong Tree, for example. You’ve eaten Wan Hong Fruit before—have you ever noticed seeds inside?”
Lin Dong was surprised. It seemed he hadn’t noticed any seeds before.
Ren Qingsong explained, “For high-grade spiritual trees like the Wan Hong Tree, only branches can be used for transplantation. The success rate is extremely low, and cutting off branches could even cause the entire tree to die. Spiritual flowers are planted by harvesting their buds before they bloom. As for spiritual herb seeds, there’s no certainty—seeds might appear after ten or even a hundred cycles.”

Lin Dong was stunned. Last time, Yun Cangqiong had snatched hundreds of Grade 7 Wind Spirit Grass plants from the Wan Dan Sect in one go. He had seen quite a few seeds among them and thought the seeds of these spiritual materials were easy to find. He never expected it to be this difficult. If that were the case, even if forced, Wan Cuilin would never risk killing an entire tree just to give a few branches. As for spiritual flowers, giving them would be equivalent to giving away a harvest at its mature stage. Given the scale of the Wan family’s estate, there must be very few high-grade spiritual grasses, and since their maturity period lasts decades, the possibility of having seeds is extremely low. It seemed this trip was almost a waste of time. Not to mention getting a large number of seeds, even just one or two, Wan Cuilin would likely refuse firmly. “Dean Wan, I was wondering if you have two identical high-grade spiritual trees or flowers?” Lin Dong asked, still holding onto a glimmer of hope. Wan Cuilin shook his head. “Cultivating high-grade spiritual materials is extremely difficult, and their maturity period lasts decades. Aside from those alchemy sects with hundreds of years of history, who could have two identical high-grade spiritual trees or flowers…” Lin Dong, clinging to his last hope, said, “Dean Wan, I was wondering if you could spare a high-grade spiritual tree branch whose medicinal properties aren’t commonly used?” Wan Cuilin stiffened, then, like a cannonball, shot away hundreds of meters in an instant. “Lao Ren, Brother Lin, I suddenly remembered there’s still a spiritual grass that needs care. You two go back to the courtyard first. I’ll arrange accommodation for you later.” Lin Dong was speechless. Running away at the mention of high-grade spiritual materials—how could this be proper hospitality? Ren Qingsong looked up at the sky and said helplessly, “Lin Dong, should we go back or stay here?” “Let’s stay!” After traveling all this way just to get dozens of useless fasting fruits, Lin Dong would never be satisfied. He had no choice but to try again. Ren Qingsong nodded, and the two returned to the main hall. The butler of the Wan family’s estate came over to greet them, clearly instructed by Wan Cuilin, and led them to a side room for dinner. The request for high-grade spiritual tree branches had clearly shocked Wan Cuilin greatly. Even after dinner, when it was completely dark, he still hadn’t shown up. With no other choice, the two had to rest in the guest rooms arranged by the butler. When visiting someone else’s place, one couldn’t be too casual about their schedule. As dawn broke, Lin Dong ended his meditation. The Wan family’s estate in the early morning was shrouded in a thin mist, and a faint fragrance seeped through it, refreshing the mind. After staying in the courtyard for a while, Ren Qingsong also came out. Soon, the butler appeared to invite them for breakfast. Wan Cuilin still hadn’t shown up, so the two had no choice but to explore the estate further in search of him.

On a small hillside, the two finally found Wan Cui Lin. Seeming to sense someone approaching, Wan Cui Lin took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and stood up barefoot in the wind. “Lao Ren, Brother Lin, did you sleep well last night?” Lin Dong nodded, while Ren Qing Song bowed and said, “Thank you for your concern, President Wan. I slept well.” “That’s good. Have you had breakfast?” Wan Cui Lin said with a smile. “I already instructed Butler Chen last night to prepare double-seed porridge for you this morning. After drinking it, you’ll definitely feel refreshed and full of energy throughout the day.” Ren Qing Song nodded, his expression respectful though his tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. “I wanted to wait for President Wan, but since I couldn’t wait any longer, I had no choice but to drink it first.” Wan Cui Lin descended the hillside, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and said helplessly, “It’s not that I deliberately neglect my guests. It’s just… Lao Ren, we’ve known each other for decades. Don’t you know my temper? I’ve gone through great hardships to obtain these high-grade spiritual materials, and I value them more than my own life. It’s one thing if you want some low-grade ones, but high-grade ones…” Ren Qing Song smiled bitterly. Of course he was aware of Wan Cui Lin’s temper. But since Lin Dong had come to him, he had no choice but to give it a try. After all, it was his last chance to advance. To him, Lin Dong was equally precious as his own life. If Lin Dong became dissatisfied in the next few months and suddenly moved to another county to register there, it would be an unforgivable injustice for Ren Qing Song. “President Wan, what if I borrow it?” Lin Dong suddenly said. “Borrow?” Both Wan Cui Lin and Ren Qing Song were a bit confused by Lin Dong’s meaning. Lin Dong nodded. “If President Wan is willing to lend me a branch from a high-grade spiritual tree, I promise to return two identical high-grade spiritual trees to you within a year.” Wan Cui Lin was stunned for a moment before shaking his head vigorously. If it weren’t for the fact that Lin Dong was brought by Ren Qing Song, he would have kicked them out on the spot. Borrowing a branch from a high-grade spiritual tree and promising to return two identical ones within a year—such a request was absurd even for deceiving children. In Wan Cui Lin’s eyes, it was an insult to his intelligence. Nearby, Ren Qing Song also thought Lin Dong was going too far. Although Wan Cui Lin was so obsessed with spiritual materials that he ignored everything else, that didn’t mean he was stupid. Making such a demand was equivalent to slapping someone in the face. Seeing their expressions, Lin Dong realized that this visit to Wan’s family would definitely end without him getting any high-grade spiritual materials.

Since forcing it wasn’t possible, there was no choice but to wait until the inn was upgraded, then transplant the high-grade spiritual materials owned by Gu Huanzong, before finding a way to exchange them with Wan Cuilin. In that case, due to the planting conditions, Wan Cuilin might still be too cautious to take risks, but it wouldn’t be completely hopeless like today.

Lin Dong hesitated for a moment before bowing and saying, “Dean Wan, I was wondering if you could show us all the high-grade spiritual materials in Wan Family Village? Lin Dong promises not to make any further unreasonable requests.”

“Of course!” Wan Cuilin nodded repeatedly. Although he felt somewhat uncomfortable at Lin Dong’s request, he couldn’t be too picky since it was someone brought by an old friend. With the chance to obtain high-grade spiritual materials, there was no reason to refuse.

The three of them, guided by Wan Cuilin, toured Wan Family Village one by one. It wasn’t until sunset that Lin Dong had seen all 36 high-grade spiritual materials of level five or above in Wan Family Village and memorized them all.