Chapter 15: Mechanism-Devouring Bug!

Inside the Medicine Hall, Lu Qingyang and Old Huang stood alone beside the medicinal fields.

Looking at the sparse few seedlings of spiritual medicine, a bitter smile appeared on Lu Qingyang's face.

He truly did not know whether he should thank that Zhang Luanfeng, or resent him.

What he had taken over was nothing short of a massive mess.

"Enough. Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. I'll take it one step at a time."

Lu Qingyang took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and began to observe the medicinal seedlings in the garden.

"Old Huang, which type of spiritual medicine in the Medicine Hall is closest to maturing right now?"

Lu Qingyang raised his head and asked.

"The earliest to mature would naturally be the older seedlings. Among them, the Sky Star Grass stands out…"

Old Huang introduced them one by one while observing the changes in Lu Qingyang's expression.

Lu Qingyang nodded slightly at his words, indicating he understood.

Sky Star Grass was the primary ingredient for refining the first-tier Qi-Nourishing Pill. If spiritual qi was abundant, it normally took only ten years to mature.

Though this medicine could not be called expensive, it was still an essential item for low-level cultivators.

"How many Sky Star Grass are there in total?"

"Five mu, fifty-two plants…"

As Old Huang spoke, he had already led Lu Qingyang to a medicinal plot.

What was planted before them were stalks of Sky Star Grass seedlings in excellent condition.

Each was as thick as a thumb, with dense branches and leaves, glittering with specks of silver light…

"These are the batch in our Medicine Hall most likely to mature for pill refinement."

"However, because Sky Star Grass is the easiest to infest with Mechanism-Devouring Bugs, caring for them day to day is quite a struggle."

Old Huang's face carried a trace of regret, along with a hint of exhaustion.

And just as Lu Qingyang was about to speak, sure enough, on the roots and leaves of one Sky Star Grass, a small black shadow could be seen wriggling…

That black shadow was a Mechanism-Devouring Bug.

"Deacon, look quickly, that is a Mechanism-Devouring Bug!"

Old Huang's expression changed. As he spoke, he formed hand seals and released a beam of wind blades, shooting it toward the Mechanism-Devouring Bug…

The Mechanism-Devouring Bug was struck by the wind blade, yet remained completely unharmed.

It merely trembled twice, then continued lying on the Sky Star Grass's roots and leaves, sucking greedily…

"Uh…"

Old Huang was stunned, somewhat embarrassed and somewhat angered.

Losing face in front of his superior on the very first day left Old Huang feeling extremely uncomfortable.

He immediately waved both hands, clearly preparing to form an even more powerful seal.

"Wait!"

Lu Qingyang stopped him.

"Deacon Lu?"

Old Huang looked at Lu Qingyang in bewilderment.

"We can't harm the spiritual medicine. Let me handle it."

As Lu Qingyang spoke, he formed the Wind-Thunder Art with one hand.

A wind vortex the size of a thumb swirled around his finger, spinning rapidly.

"Go!"

Lu Qingyang gave a low shout, his finger aimed at the Mechanism-Devouring Bug as he flicked it out.

The wind vortex flew at high speed through the air, directly striking the Mechanism-Devouring Bug's body.

With a muffled thud, the wind vortex actually penetrated through the Mechanism-Devouring Bug's body, drilling straight into its interior.

"Crack, crack, crack…"

The Mechanism-Devouring Bug, which had been resting comfortably, suddenly began to struggle violently.

Its scales peeled off layer by layer, revealing a body of mangled flesh and blood.

"Pfft."

With a soft sound.

The Mechanism-Devouring Bug's body burst apart, transforming into a cloud of blood mist that floated among the Sky Star Grass, absorbed one by one like nutrients…

"Hiss!"

Seeing this, Old Huang could not help but draw a sharp breath.

Lu Qingyang's strength could not be called especially powerful.

But the technique he deployed was exquisite beyond compare!

This kind of comprehension of arts, this kind of control over spiritual power — he only remembered having seen it in a True Person.

"Deacon Lu, your… your technique, exactly what level has it reached?"

Old Huang could not hold back his shock and asked somewhat abruptly.

"It's merely first-tier high-grade."

That was right. After Lu Qingyang returned to the sect, not only had his cultivation broken through and he learned the Object-Commanding Art.

He had even raised his comprehension of the Wind-Thunder Art again and again!

Now, when he deployed the Wind-Thunder Art, its power already surpassed ordinary first-tier techniques.

It had almost reached the level only second-tier techniques possessed.

"Hiss…"

Hearing this, Old Huang could not help but draw another sharp breath.

There were indeed people in the Chaotian Sect who could comprehend a killing technique to the intermediate level.

But those people were without exception the top existences of their respective bureaus.

Thinking of this, Old Huang suddenly felt that this parachuted officer before him might truly be able to save the Medicine Hall…

"How many of these Mechanism-Devouring Bugs are born per mu each day?"

Lu Qingyang continued asking.

"Not as many as daily, but there are always two or three a month…"

Old Huang answered hesitantly.

"Two or three a month?"

Hearing this, Lu Qingyang could not help but frown again.

Though the Mechanism-Devouring Bug was not an especially powerful demon beast.

Because it belonged to the crustacean insect category, its defense was not weak.

An ordinary Qi Refining fourth or fifth layer disciple who wanted to kill one had to deploy a high-power technique.

But doing so easily damaged the spiritual medicine.

Under normal circumstances, only late-stage Qi Refining cultivators could rely on their powerful spiritual power to kill them with minimal disturbance…

"Old Huang, I need you to make a trip to the bureau."

Lu Qingyang thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice.

"To the bureau?"

Old Huang was stunned at his words.

What exactly was Lu Qingyang's purpose in doing this?

Could it be he wanted to go to the bureau himself to request support?

But among the bureau's disciples, who did not know the Medicine Hall was a rotten pot these days, unable to even pay contribution points…

"Yes. Go to the bureau and recruit some late-stage Qi Refining disciples for me. Just say the Medicine Hall needs people."

"Late-stage Qi Refining?! Needs people?"

Hearing this, Old Huang was somewhat dazed.

The Spirit Field Bureau did have some late-stage Qi Refining disciples, but such disciples were the backbone of the Spirit Field Bureau.

How could they possibly come to the Medicine Hall for duty, especially when they could not even pay contribution points?

"Deacon Lu, it's not that I don't want to help you. The main issue is that these late-stage Qi Refining Senior Brothers… their monthly salary is not low."

"Our Medicine Hall may not have enough savings to invite them."

"You don't need to worry about that…"

"When you go, just explain that anyone who comes to our Medicine Hall for duty can observe a first-tier high-grade killing technique once every month!"

"Right, not just killing techniques. The hundred-arts technique, the Minor Rain-Cloud Art, is also available!"

After Lu Qingyang finished speaking, he smiled faintly and turned to leave.

Leaving behind a dumbfounded Old Huang, who did not react for quite a while.

"Observe… a first-tier high-grade technique!"

"Deacon Lu, you really do have a way…"

Old Huang watched Lu Qingyang's departing figure, unable to help but murmur to himself.

He was no fool. Naturally, he understood the significance of this.

A first-tier high-grade technique — listening to a single lecture at the Spell Art Bureau cost at least several dozen contribution points!

To actually observe it in practice was even more expensive!

Perhaps Lu Qingyang's move truly had hope of revitalizing the Medicine Hall.

Though it might be premature to say that.

At the very least, the other party was genuinely working to improve the Medicine Hall's current situation…

"Deacon Lu, rest assured, Old Huang will definitely get it done!"

Old Huang took a deep breath, suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, and shouted toward Lu Qingyang's departing figure.

Then he turned and strode swiftly toward the Spirit Field Bureau…