Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 590: Seed
Unaware of what had transpired in the outside world, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou continued masquerading as demon prodigies and formally stepped into the second level.
The second floor was suffused with floral fragrance, presenting a picturesque scene of flowers in full bloom. It was a seemingly boundless parterre. Within it, a graceful figure knelt, gently smelling the flowers.
Noting everyone’s arrival at the second level, the figure rose, offering a smile and a round of applause in welcome.
“Everyone, welcome to the second floor. I am the spirit of this secret domain. You may address me as Luo Hong.”
A secret domain spirit was an entity that existed only within secret domains created by Transcendent Tribulation cultivators. It was not truly alive but functioned more like a pre-programmed spell. However, this spell had accumulated sufficient experience to mimic the thought process of a living being.
The Creation Ancient Domain was an ancient secret domain. The rules on the first level had been announced in the modern language because the secret domain spirit, Luo Hong, was learning it. In the absence of the secret domain’s master, the secret domain spirit wielded the highest authority within it.
“Greetings, Senior.” Although everyone knew she was essentially a spell, none dared treat Luo Hong as such, bowing to her respectfully.
“It seems this cohort is somewhat polite.” However, such courtesy toward Luo Hong wouldn’t earn them any leniency.
She clapped her hands gently, and a flowerpot and a seed dropped from above each participant.
“The first level tested one’s martial prowess. The second level tests one’s character.
“The trial for this level is simple: grow a flower.
“In your hands is a seed of the Moonshadow Flower. When it blooms, it resembles a peerless beauty dancing under the moonlight—an enchantingly beautiful sight.
“The Moonshadow Flower’s growth cycle is fifteen days. Your task is to have a flower growing within your flowerpot within these fifteen days. Achieve that, and it will be considered a pass. I will not be supervising you all during this period.
“The more luxuriant the flower blooms, the higher your evaluation will be. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
“Do note that you are forbidden from using any cultivation methods, such as spells or spirit treasures, during this time.
“In addition, you are not allowed to converse with each other. You must grow your flower independently.”
Sensing everyone’s unease, Luo Hong added with a smile. “There’s no need to be overly nervous. Moonshadow Flowers are quite easy to nurture. They will take root and sprout upon contact with soil.”
Lu Yang secretly asked, “Immortal Fairy, have you heard of the Moonshadow Flower?”
“Of course. It’s a pretty flower and very popular. Since you haven’t heard of it, it’s likely because it’s extinct now.”
The rules for the second level sound straightforward, but it’s unfortunate I can’t discuss anything with Old Meng.
Jiang Shishi carefully held her flowerpot. She buried the seed, loosened the soil, watered it, and tended to the seed with meticulous care. Yet, the Moonshadow Flower showed no signs of sprouting.
Her brows furrowed. Jiang Shishi instinctively wanted to consult Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, but she could only abandon the idea upon recalling the rules forbade them from doing so.
She began to replay the rules in her mind, pondering whether she had missed something crucial.
If it were Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, how would he approach this...
~~~
The fifteen days passed swiftly, and the day of inspection arrived.
The demon prodigies and two pure-blooded humans stood in a line, awaiting Luo Hong’s evaluation.
First in line was Su Lian’er of the Nine-Tailed Fox Tribe.
She was dressed in white robes and exceptionally beautiful. Hugging the flowerpot, she appeared pitiable and vulnerable.
The flowerpot was empty.
Luo Hong knitted her brows. “Where is your flower?”
Large tears rolled down Su Lian’er’s cheeks, evoking an urge in others to wipe her tears away. “The flower was growing well, but I have inherited my old ancestor’s legacy, possessing beauty that makes fish sink and geese fall, and eclipses the moon and shames the flowers. The moment the Moonshadow flower bloomed and saw me, it wilted.”
Luo Hong stared at Su Lian’er for a long while before finally letting out a slow breath. “Never mind, I’ll count it as a pass.”
Second in line was Jiang Shishi.
In her flowerpot, the Moonshadow Flower was in full, magnificent bloom.
Luo Hong nodded, signaling Jiang Shishi had passed.
Next was Ao Yue.
His flowerpot was similarly empty.
Luo Hong asked, “Where is your flower?”
Ao Yue cupped his fists and replied with deference, “Senior, I didn’t grow the flower.”
“Give me a reason.”
Hearing this, Ao Yue straightened his back and smiled. “Senior, you stated at the beginning that the second level tests character. In my opinion, the seeds you gave us cannot actually grow Moonshadow Flowers. This trial tests our honesty!”
“...You are eliminated.”
“Why?!” Ao Yue exclaimed anxiously. He was certain he could pass.
Luo Hong sneered. “You have the nerve to ask why? I indeed gave you all seeds that had been thoroughly boiled and couldn’t grow flowers. But who told you this trial tests honesty? Humans are cunning and thick-skinned. Why do demons need honesty? You think you can rely on your honesty to defeat humans?
“This trial tests the ability to lie.
“That little Nine-Tailed Fox lass’ lie was crude, but she still lied, so I let her pass.”
Ao Yue protested. “Then what about Jiang Shishi? How did she grow a Moonshadow Flower?”
Luo Hong sneered again. “Weren’t you listening when I stated the rules? I said, ‘Have a flower growing within your flowerpot.’ When did I ever say you had to plant the seed I gave you all?”
Ao Yue was rendered speechless. Upon closer reflection, it was indeed the case.
It wasn’t just Ao Yue. The demon prodigies behind him, also holding empty pots, hung their heads in shame. They had all assumed Luo Hong’s trial tested honesty.
Jiang Shishi exhaled a sigh of relief. Luckily, I emulated Lu Yang’s thought process, scrutinizing the rules to deduce what Luo Hong truly desired.
The prodigies lining up behind Ao Yue were unsurprisingly eliminated. Luo Hong kept walking until she reached Meng Jingzhou.
She sized him up, his active performance in the first trial having caught her attention. “Where is your flowerpot?”
Meng Jingzhou’s hands were empty—he had no flowerpot, much less a flower.
“Please follow me.” Meng Jingzhou gestured, leading Luo Hong to an area overflowing with vibrant Moonshadow Flowers. The bottom of his flowerpot was completely removed, encircling the most luxuriant Moonshadow Flower cluster like a perimeter wall.
Meng Jingzhou scratched the back of his head with embarrassment, though his grin stretched ear to ear. “Aiya, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what happened with the flower I planted. It grew so much that it burst right through the bottom of the flowerpot. As you can see, it ended up like this.
“Senior, I remember you said that the more luxuriant the flower blooms, the higher the evaluation will be, right?”
Luo Hong, “...”
I did say that, but this is just ridiculous. He clearly figured out that this trial tests one’s lying ability and is now just making things up on the spot.
“Pass.”
The last was Lu Yang. His flowerpot was empty—there was no soil, much less a flower.
“Empty. You have not pa—”
“Wait a moment.” Lu Yang raised a hand to stop her. “The condition for passing is to have a flower growing in the pot within these fifteen days, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Then I have passed.”
“Where is your flower?”
Lu Yang pointed to the vast parterre surrounding them and declared with confidence. “Throughout these fifteen days, I have been continuously planting flowers from this garden into my flowerpot, then moving them out, then planting another batch in, and then moving them out again.
“Therefore, all the flowers in this parterre are considered to have grown from my flowerpot.
“If you don’t believe me, Senior, you can check the root systems of all the flowers here. They will definitely still bear traces of the soil from my flowerpot.”
Luo Hong, “...”
The passing condition didn’t specify that it must be on the fifteenth day, but rather within these fifteen days of the trial.
Even Luo Hong herself hadn’t discovered this loophole in the rules.
“That’s not right. The second trial tests whether you possess the character to lie,” Luo Hong countered, attempting to turn the tables and reclaim her dignity.
“That’s right. Everything I just said was a complete fabrication.”
