Chapter 34: Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade. The First Spell
Feeling the Hundred Flowers Palace Fairy in his arms, Chen Han’s heart really trembled at her words.
She really was very good.
After letting her hug him for a while, Chen Han finally spoke. “Can you let me go first? I still need to add water.”
“You’re still so good at ruining the mood!” Xiao Mi’s tone carried some grievance, but she still released him and then followed him as he walked toward a courtyard.
Chen Han went into Uncle’s Kitchen, started boiling water, and prepared to add water to the medicinal cuisine.
Xiao Mi first silently watched his movements. A moment later, with a slight tremor in her voice, she asked, “So there’s no hope?”
Chen Han was actually quite open-minded about this question now. He joked, “If there was hope, would I have left? You’re a little rich woman. I’d definitely scam your money to treat myself.”
Xiao Mi hurriedly said, “Go get treated again, please? I still have some deposit!”
Chen Han was genuinely a bit moved when he heard this, then shook his head and said, “I won’t waste that money. Right, don’t tell my junior sister. I don’t want people around me to worry.”
These words made Xiao Mi’s eyes turn even redder. She wanted to cry, but did not want him to see it, so tears just hung on her lashes.
“Don’t look like that.” Seeing her like this, Chen Han gently raised his hand this time to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, without the awkwardness and misgivings of last night.
Xiao Mi suddenly remembered something and hurriedly took a jade pendant from around her neck and handed it to him. “This is the birthday gift I previously customized for you. Your name is carved on the back. Wear it from now on, okay?”
Chen Han was surprised. He had not expected that she had been wearing the gift meant for him close to her body. He nodded and took the jade pendant. On the front was the orchid she liked, and on the back, sure enough, his name was carved.
Almost at the same time, a game prompt appeared:
【Congratulations, because you luckily kept the spirit disease diagnosis disc prescribed by the Hundred Herbs Valley elder, allowing the Hundred Flowers Palace Fairy to learn the truth and resolve her resentment, and also picked up a Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade dropped by the Hundred Flowers Palace Fairy during the battle. Something like a spell seems to be engraved on it.】
【Congratulations, you have obtained a Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade!】
Chen Han looked at the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade in the warehouse, surprise on his face, then looked at the jade pendant in his hand.
They were exactly the same.
The carved patterns, and the name engraved on the back, were identical.
Did the game system just copy and paste this?
However, he also noticed a difference from the jade pendant rewarded by the game system. On the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade there were some very fine lines. These lines seemed to form mysterious runes. If one did not look closely, they would not notice.
At the same time, he also saw the remark information for the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade in the warehouse:
【Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade: this is a special Spirit Jade crafted by disciples of the Hundred Flowers Palace. The Hundred Flowers Palace excels at cultivating all kinds of spirit grass and spiritual medicine. They engrave the spells for cultivating various spiritual plants and medicines onto the Spirit Jade. On this Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade is engraved a special spell: Spirit Plant Dew!】
【Spirit Plant Dew: this is a spell unique to the Hundred Flowers Palace. It can be cast on spiritual flowers and herbs to achieve a nurturing effect. However, because the runes engraved on the Spirit Jade were damaged during battle, the effect has already weakened:
Usable times: 1/1（after use, it needs to absorb enough spiritual energy again before it can be cast!）
Because the runes are damaged, the current Spirit Plant Dew must rely on clean water to be cast and is only effective when used to water flower-type plants.
When used to water flower-type plants, before maturity it grants growth speed +Long-term watering will also give flower-type plants some wondrous effects: ornamental value +2, enchanting flower fragrance +2, vigorous vitality +2!
Restriction: long-term watering is required to maintain the attributes. Once watering stops, as time passes, the effects of Spirit Plant Dew will degrade!】
Chen Han looked at this remark information for the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade with some surprise. He had not expected that Xiao Mi’s sudden arrival would actually send him his first spell.
Although this spell did not belong to him innately, it was definitely an unexpected surprise.
From the remark information it could be seen that this “Spirit Plant Dew” should be a very important spell used by the Hundred Flowers Palace to cultivate spiritual plants and medicines.
After all, even with damaged runes it still had very strong effects. Although it only targeted flower-type plants, just the growth speed +2 attribute alone was remarkable, not to mention the vigorous vitality +2 attribute.
Even if it required long-term watering to take effect, it was already somewhat against normal plant growth patterns.
Not to mention the ornamental value +2 and enchanting flower fragrance +2 attributes.
A scene from the Daoist Sect Universal Teaching Anthology he had read floated into his mind, describing a famous Daoist sight: “Offering flowers give rise to fragrance, radiance blazing, illuminating the ten directions!”
It meant that the offering flowers of the Daoist sect had enchanting fragrance and outstanding ornamental value, capable of improving the mood of visitors from all directions.
But that definitely was not something ordinary fragrance and ordinary ornamental value could achieve.
Now, although many Daoist temples planted offering flowers in many places, they had not reached the degree of fragrant, blazing, illuminating the ten directions.
So what if there was ornamental value +2 and enchanting flower fragrance +2?
A plan immediately formed in Chen Han’s mind.
Flowers had always been one of the key elements for attracting tourists.
If flowers of the Daoist five offerings were planted in various places of the Chen Clan, and combined with the “Spirit Plant Dew” spell on this Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade, then perhaps they really could “have offering flowers give rise to fragrance, radiance blazing, illuminating the ten directions”?
By then, there would be no fear of failing to attract people.
The problem now was that this Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade could only cast Spirit Plant Dew once. After that it would need to reabsorb sufficient spiritual energy, so he had to study how effective this one casting of Spirit Plant Dew would be.
After all, there was also the restriction that it needed long-term watering, and once watering stopped, the effects produced by Spirit Plant Dew would degrade.
Another point was that planting offering flowers all over the Chen Clan Ancient Architectural Complex would definitely not be cheap.
He had no money now. Previously he had given Uncle 50,000 to plant that entire courtyard full of orchids. Although there had been some income from the few tourists who came afterward, he only had 52,600 now.
This made him look over at the rich lady from the Hundred Flowers Palace beside him, Fairy Xiao Mi.
“Senior brother, I knew you were cooking medicinal cuisine from this medicinal fragrance.” Xiao Yu’s voice came from outside as she appeared at the kitchen door.
Xiao Mi quickly wiped her eyes, adjusted her expression, and made herself look as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Yu came in and took Xiao Mi’s arm. “Sister Xiao Mi, you’re lucky. You came and can immediately eat the medicinal cuisine made by senior brother. It smells wonderful, right?”
Xiao Mi had already smelled this rich, pleasant medicinal fragrance earlier, but all her attention had been on him.
By the time the medicinal cuisine was ready, it was noon.
Uncle came back. Uncle Dagou and Uncle Shuisheng were also called over.
When they saw Xiao Mi, they were all very surprised. After all, such a beautiful girl was rare.
Xiao Yu immediately introduced, “Uncle, Uncle Shuisheng, Uncle Dagou, this is Sister Xiao Mi, a very good friend of mine. She has more than 3 million fans and has great influence in the national style category on Douyin.”
When Chen Lin heard this, he thought, she has many fans and can help promote the Chen Clan. He immediately became very enthusiastic. “Miss Xiao Mi, welcome, welcome. I hope you have fun here at the Chen Clan.”
When the medicinal cuisine was brought to the table, Xiao Yu immediately served a bowl for Xiao Mi and said, “Sister Xiao Mi, taste this medicinal cuisine.”
Xiao Mi nodded, took the bowl, and began to drink.
She had already been captivated by the medicinal fragrance just now, making her mouth water.
In no time, just like the others on their first time, she exclaimed in surprise, “Xiao Yu, this medicinal cuisine is amazing. After drinking it, my whole body feels warm and comfortable. Your Chen Clan actually has this kind of medicinal cuisine.”
After Chen Han had “heartlessly abandoned” her, she had suffered from severe insomnia, which caused her physical condition to worsen and she lost a lot of weight. She had pushed off many offline activities because she did not have the energy.
Now, after drinking this medicinal cuisine, she felt her physical condition suddenly improve a lot.
It was too miraculous.
Xiao Yu said proudly, “It’s all thanks to senior brother. After he came back, he developed this by studying the Chen Clan’s books. Before, he would sit there dazing for a long time every day thinking about this medicinal cuisine. He’s amazing, right?”
Xiao Mi subconsciously looked at Chen Han, but in her mind a different scene appeared.
After late-stage lung cancer was confirmed and the hospital had effectively pronounced a death sentence, he had returned home unwilling to accept it and tried to save himself by studying traditional medicine and medicinal cuisine. Every day he faced the threat of death yet still worked hard to study ancient books. It must have been very hard.
She suddenly felt a deep ache for him.
Compared to what he had endured, what was all the resentment she had harbored because of a misunderstanding?
Chen Han did not know what she was thinking. Instead, remembering the serious matter, he instructed Uncle, “Uncle, I have to trouble you to go buy 100 adult lion head geese, the fiercer kind. I’ll transfer the money to you in a bit.”
“Huh? What are you buying so many lion head geese for?” Chen Lin asked in puzzlement.
Chen Han really could not explain; he could not talk about the tasks the game system gave him. So he simply said, “I need them for filming Douyin videos.”
“Filming videos, got it.” Chen Lin nodded.
Using Douyin for promotion had already shown results with Xiao Yu, so he could understand this. He just did not know what kind of videos his nephew planned to shoot with 100 lion head geese.
But he added, “It’s just that lion head geese aren’t cheap. For adults, even wholesale, it should be more than 300 each.”
Chen Han nodded. “Mm, Uncle, contact a farm. I’ll transfer you the money then.”
The issue was not the price per goose, but completing the task of purchasing 100 Mysterious Frost Lion Head Geese from the spirit beast breeding family to enhance the family’s strength.
Hearing his nephew speak like this, Chen Lin finished his bowl of congee and hurried out to find a farm.
“Xiao Han, we’re going to pick bamboo leaves too.” Chen Dagou called out, and left with Chen Shuisheng.
“What about you two? If you’re free, I’m heading back.” Chen Han glanced at his junior sister and Xiao Mi. Mainly, he wanted to go experiment with the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade.
“Senior brother, I’ll go prepare some tools later and film videos in your courtyard.” Xiao Yu said happily, “I love those orchids so much.”
At these words, Chen Han subconsciously looked at Xiao Mi.
There was no way to explain this misunderstanding.
Then he received a Weixin message from Xiao Mi: “I know those orchids weren’t planted for Xiao Yu. Otherwise, you would have planted them directly in her courtyard. And they’re obviously newly planted at the last minute. Did you think covering them with a layer of old soil would hide that?”
Clearly, she had removed the block on Weixin.
Chen Han just felt awkward reading it.
Master Li and the others were not very competent at their work.
They had been seen through so easily.
“Sister Xiao Mi, let’s film together later. I’m sure we’ll get lots of traffic.” Xiao Yu immediately invited her.
“Okay, then I’ll bask in your popularity.” Xiao Mi said with a bright smile.
Given his situation, there was no need for her to fuss over that kind of thing.
As long as Xiao Yu was happy.
She followed Xiao Yu out of the kitchen. When they reached Xiao Yu’s courtyard, she tentatively asked, “Xiao Yu, don’t you like your senior brother? Do you know if he has any wishes? Maybe if we help him fulfill them, we can move him!”
Xiao Yu said in strong agreement, “Mm. After master and mistress had their accident and passed away, their dying wish was to develop Chen Clan tourism and lead the clan members to prosperity. Senior brother is shouldering this alone now, so I’m working hard filming videos to help promote the Chen Clan for him.”
“In the past, senior brother never filmed videos, but now, to attract attention, such a handsome, dashing person is trying so hard to film those silly videos. I feel really bad for him.”
Silently, Xiao Mi thought, “I feel even worse.”
Because in her mind there was yet another scene: even with his lifespan nearly exhausted, even with how hard things already were, he was still burning his last energy for his parents’ dying wish.
Chen Han had already returned to his own courtyard. Taking advantage of the time before his junior sister and Xiao Mi arrived, he went over to the water reservoir in one corner of the courtyard.
This kind of water reservoir was something every household in the countryside built. Water was clean spring water drawn down from the mountain, first settled and filtered in a large reservoir, then diverted into smaller reservoirs at each household.
Daily water use for each household relied on this water, though for drinking they would usually first boil it and store it in a dedicated large iron pot.
The water reservoir in Chen Han’s courtyard had the same standard 12-cubic-meter capacity as those in the other Chen Clan courtyards.
With a thought, he took out the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade from the warehouse. The Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method recorded methods for using various inscribed spells.
He extended the Hundred Flowers Palace Spirit Jade into the water reservoir, calmed his mind, and focused his spirit on it. After a moment, he saw the fine runes on the Spirit Jade light up with a special glow. As that radiance spread out, ripples began to expand through the reservoir.
Chen Han stared, eyes wide, as the water in the reservoir underwent an incredible change.
