Chapter 176
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Chapter 176: Herb Garden
It must be said—a Nascent Soul True Immortal remained a Nascent Soul True Immortal. Every displayed item here used materials of at least Fifth Rank or higher.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Shadow Wood, a fifth-rank top-quality material, perfect for crafting sinister treasures.
The Ice Soul Crystal, a low-grade Sixth-rank material, essential for forging cold-element treasures.
There was also a Nascent Yang Gem, duck-egg-sized, warm to the touch, swirling with mist inside like the fleeting glimpse of a divine dragon—utterly marvelous.
This was a Seventh-rank material with countless uses. Even without refining, wearing it could ward off evil, nurture the body and Nascent Yang, strengthening both. Nearly every Cultivator coveted such a gem, yet few existed—priceless beyond measure!
How this mere Nascent Soul True Immortal obtained such an item remained baffling.
Without wasting words, Fang Lie swept all these treasures into his possession and turned to leave with a grin.
But Old Bird suddenly snarled, "Blind fool! You abandon true treasures while clutching garbage?"
"Huh?" Fang Lie froze, then exclaimed eagerly, "Where?!"
Whirling around, his gaze landed on a dull black clay jar—the sole remaining item on the antique shelf. Everything else had been taken. This unremarkable object resembled a wine flask, palm-sized and featureless, lacking patterns or divine scripts.
Earlier, Fang Lie’s divine sense had easily pierced through it, revealing even the texture of its inner walls. He’d dismissed it as a mundane trinket the black-armored man kept for aesthetics.
Now, under Old Bird’s scorn, Fang Lie lifted the jar cautiously. His divine sense still detected nothing. Peering inside, he saw only endless darkness—a shock for any Cultivator whose eyes could pierce shadows. In this lit room, even a narrow-mouthed jar’s bottom should be visible. Yet this three-inch vessel appeared bottomless.
Puzzled, Fang Lie asked, "Bird Bro, what is this? My divine sense finds nothing, yet my eyes see only void."
"Special crafting techniques deceive divine sense," Old Bird explained. "Only physical inspection reveals its secret. Most Cultivators rely on divine sense—making this jar’s concealment perfect."
"Then… what treasure is this?"
"Herb Garden," Old Bird intoned gravely.
"What?!" Fang Lie gaped. "The legendary Herb Garden?!"
This spatial treasure served two purposes: preserving delicate Spirit Plants that died outside native environments by replicating their conditions, and storing fragile spirit pills requiring immediate use after harvest. With Herb Garden, one could carry such perishables effortlessly—revolutionizing alchemy and Spirit Plant cultivation.
For an alchemist, a portable Herb Garden was undoubtedly a crucial treasure.
However, crafting Herb Gardens proved extremely difficult. Unlike ordinary space devices like Sumeru Bags that only stored lifeless objects—any living thing placed inside would perish instantly—these gardens could sustain life.
The materials required to forge a Herb Garden needed to be at least Fifth Rank, with some specialized spatial materials demanding Seventh or Eighth Rank qualifications. Moreover, the refining techniques involved were extraordinarily complex. Even a master of refining techniques couldn’t guarantee success, as failure remained a real possibility.
This scarcity meant Herb Gardens were exceptionally rare. Even the mighty Mo Sect, a major sect, possessed fewer than ten.
As a Great Pill Master, Fang Lie naturally yearned for his own Herb Garden. Yet he knew such treasures rivaled Seventh-rank Treasures in value—utterly beyond his reach for at least two decades.
Never had he imagined finding one aboard this derelict treasure ship. The discovery left him breathless with excitement.
The old bird chuckled at Fang Lie’s exhilaration. "It’s genuine. The Mo Sect’s refining techniques were used here, and its age explains the crude pottery jar appearance."
"Exactly!" Fang Lie blurted. "Sect records describe Herb Gardens as exquisite miniature landscapes. This ugly thing completely fooled me!"
"Appearances deceive," the old bird countered. "This jar’s made from Ten-Thousand-Spirit Soil—precious material lost to modern refining techniques. Current gardens pale in comparison despite their prettier forms."
"Ten-Thousand-Spirit Soil?" Fang Lie scratched his head.
"You fool!" The old bird sighed. "Hundreds of Spiritual Soil varieties fused through ancient methods. It adapts to any Spirit Plant’s needs. Now treasure this relic—modern alchemists can’t replicate it."
Fang Lie’s eyes gleamed. "How do I activate it?"
"Blood essence consecration followed by standard treasure refinement. Store it for now—we’ve pressing matters."
Nodding, Fang Lie secured the jar. "What next?"
"Salvage key components. Start with the Nascent Soul Furnace in the lower hold."
As they descended through shattered decks, Fang Lie asked, "What’s a Nascent Soul Furnace?"
"Power core for large treasures like this ship," the old bird explained. "Cultivators can’t sustain such vessels alone, and spirit stone consumption proves prohibitive. Ancient Nascent Soul Furnaces convert natural energy into Spiritual Energy—far faster than Spirit Marrow, enabling prolonged operation."
"Why use Spirit Marrow at all then?"
"Furnace energy’s tainted!" the old bird snapped. "Impurities risk meridian collapse during cultivation. Only machines tolerate it."
Reaching the lower hold’s maze-like passages, the old bird warned, "Caution! This furnace’s defenses surpass the captain’s quarters. Mechanical Traps and Magic restrictions abound—one misstep means death."
Guided through twisting corridors, they finally entered a thirty-zhang chamber. At its center stood a three-zhang crimson furnace adorned with glowing sigils. The intricate patterns made Fang Lie’s head spin.
"Third-rate scrap," the old bird sneered. "Weak, impure output—barely kept this hulk afloat."
"Just junk?" Fang Lie’s shoulders slumped.
"Sixth-rank Treasure junk!" the old bird retorted. "An Enormous Bargain! Now claim it before—"
Fang Lie lunged forward. Golden light erupted from the furnace, unleashing crushing Spiritual Pressure that hurled him backward, blood spraying from his lips.
