Chapter 148: Vegetative Person

Legend has it that at the dawn of the Great Yu Dynasty, there emerged a genius with an innate affinity for spells. He could master any spell with astonishing speed, his talent bordering on the divine.

This genius's growth rate surpassed all expectations. He swiftly attained realms that other cultivators strove for their entire lives, eventually reaching the Tribulation Transcending Stage and earning the Daoist title, Myriad Laws True Monarch.

Ancient texts record that in his youth, Myriad Laws True Monarch practiced the Tree Planting Art. He mastered the spell in just half an hour, a feat that would take others days, or even months, to accomplish.

Myriad Laws True Monarch planted a willow seed, which immediately took root, grew into a robust tree, blossomed, and bore fruit. This remarkable event became a legendary tale, echoing through the ages and still widely recounted today.

Tao Yaoye compared Myriad Laws True Monarch with Lu Yang and concluded that Lu Yang was even more impressive.

Lu Yang, after half an hour of enlightenment, used the Earth Escape spell to plant a tree. The willow tree rapidly grew, blossomed, and bore two Lu Yangs.

"Senior Brother Lu is indeed more formidable."

Two figures hung from the willow tree: one was Lu Yang, and the other was also Lu Yang.

One Lu Yang was his true self, while the other wore garments woven from willow leaves. The cost of this attire was that the entire willow tree was stripped bare, all its leaves having been used for the clone's clothing.

"Which step did I get wrong?" Lu Yang relentlessly searched for the error.

As before, he couldn't find the reason.

"Lu Yang, you've turned into a human plant!" Immortal Fairy shrieked, gloating.

"Silence," Lu Yang said, his face darkening. "Never mind, I'll come down first."

Lu Yang stretched his body, finding no ill effects. He then severed the willow branch behind his neck and landed with a grunt.

He looked at his other self and attempted to control it with his spiritual power. To his surprise, the clone's finger actually twitched.

Under Lu Yang's control, the plant-clone also severed the willow branch behind its neck and successfully landed.

As the two Lu Yangs detached from the willow tree, it rapidly withered, shrinking back into a lifeless willow seed, incapable of further growth.

Lu Yang practiced controlling his clone's movements. Though clumsy at first, he gradually became proficient, learning to manage both his own actions and the clone's simultaneously.

"Heh heh, you have me to thank for this!" Immortal Fairy boasted, taking credit.

"You can control the other clone because you opened a spiritual space, making your spiritual power much stronger than that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Think back: how did you first open your spiritual space?"

Lu Yang pondered for a moment, then stated earnestly, "It was you, Fairy, who tried to possess me. By forcibly entering my body, you opened my spiritual space."

Immortal Fairy's pretty face darkened. "It was an act!" she emphasized. "I told you it was just an act!"

Given Immortal Fairy's intellect, Lu Yang mused that it probably had been an act after all.

Lu Yang continued experimenting with the clone. He discovered it could only move within a twenty-meter radius; beyond that, he lost all sensation of its presence.

This twenty-meter range precisely matched the reach of Lu Yang's spiritual power.

Within the twenty-meter range, precise control was only possible within the first ten meters. Beyond that, from ten to twenty meters, control gradually diminished with increasing distance.

Lu Yang's clone was also not very robust, possessing the same durability as willow wood.

"Is it because willow wood is a common material, making it not strong enough?"

Lu Yang wished to experiment with genuine spiritual plants, but he hadn't collected any tree seeds previously and lacked suitable materials.

"Senior Brother Lu, try this peach tree seed. It's not an ordinary one," Tao Yaoye offered kindly, noticing Lu Yang's predicament.

Tao Yaoye observed Lu Yang with keen interest. She delighted in exploring new things and unsolved mysteries, and at the moment, Lu Yang was the most intriguing enigma she encountered.

"Oh, no, I couldn't possibly accept it for free. How many contribution points would it cost? I'll buy it." Being an undercover agent for the demonic sect had earned him a substantial amount of contribution points, which Lu Yang still hadn't fully spent.

"No need. This is a peach tree seed from Wuchen Peak; it costs nothing."

Lu Yang remembered Tao Yaoye's generosity and proceeded to plant the peach tree.

He buried the peach tree seed in the soil and activated the Tree Planting Art, but nothing happened.

"Does it have to be planted with the Earth Shrinking spell?" Lu Yang wondered suspiciously, recalling that he had used it when planting the willow seed.

"Earth Shrinking!"

Lu Yang then shrank into the soil and activated the Tree Planting Art. This time, it worked.

A thick peach tree burst forth from the earth before Tao Yaoye, bearing two Lu Yangs. One was the genuine Lu Yang, and the other, the plant-clone, now sported pink blush on its cheeks.

Lu Yang's eye twitched. "Why does this peach tree come with dye?" he muttered.

"Never mind, as long as it works."

Lu Yang controlled his plant-clone, feeling a surge of delight. He could distinctly sense that the plant-clone's physical strength had improved, now possessing approximately seventy to eighty percent of his own.

This was already a remarkable improvement.

Imagine, during combat, using the Tree Planting Art to conjure two copies of himself, each possessing seventy to eighty percent of his strength and coordinating flawlessly. His combat power would instantly skyrocket, catching enemies completely off guard.

Tao Yaoye also noticed this, and her admiration for Senior Brother Lu grew.

Myriad Laws True Monarch might have been a genius, but he merely followed the established path, diligently mastering the Tree Planting Art without any innovation. Yet, look at Senior Brother Lu! He managed to cultivate it into a powerful offensive spell, with incredibly potent destructive capabilities!

Meanwhile, the Sixth Elder, observing Lu Yang from above, quietly turned and departed.

She had originally planned to descend and assist if Lu Yang encountered any difficulties that Tao Yaoye couldn't explain, fulfilling her duty as an elder.

But upon seeing this, she decided against it. It was better to leave the task of explaining to Xiao Yun; she wouldn't interfere.

"Xiao Yun said Lu Yang's Daoist talent is sufficient to found his own sect..."

The Sixth Elder remained skeptical.

While his talent was undeniable, founding a sect implied that disciples could also learn his methods. Could they truly grasp them?

Lu Yang became engrossed in his cultivation, becoming increasingly skilled at using his plant-clone. Observing him, Tao Yaoye gained a deeper insight into the Tree Planting Art.

This, of course, referred to the *normal* Tree Planting Art.

As dusk approached, Lu Yang felt it was improper to remain on Wuchen Peak. He bid farewell to Tao Yaoye and headed to the Mission Hall to exchange for some items. He couldn't keep relying on Tao Yaoye's seeds; he needed to purchase some for himself as a backup.

Immortal Fairy wholeheartedly approved, as she could finally indulge in a shopping spree.

After Lu Yang left, Tao Yaoye's expression shifted. She felt an inexplicable, suffocating pressure.

Danger!

With a resigned sigh, she turned and sent a mental message to her master: "Master, could you please give me a heads-up when you arrive? It's really hard for me to hold my breath every time."

The Sixth Elder stood behind Tao Yaoye, wearing an innocent expression.

"I forgot you're not at the Golden Core stage yet," the Sixth Elder said, having subconsciously assumed all her disciples had reached that level.

Tao Yaoye was speechless.

Was this karma?

She had teased Senior Brother Lu about his low cultivation this morning, and now it was her turn in the evening.

The Sixth Elder hadn't forgotten her purpose in coming. "Do you have feelings for Lu Yang?" she asked.

Tao Yaoye's cheeks quickly flushed. Though usually carefree, she was unwilling to discuss this topic with her master, regardless of her feelings. "Master, what are you talking about? Senior Brother Lu and I just have normal interactions," she stammered.

The Sixth Elder continued her mental message: "A few days ago, Hongxia kept inquiring about what kind of person Lu Yang is. I suspect she heard he's an excellent young man and wants to introduce her talented disciple, Lanting, to him. If you have feelings for him, you should be careful."

The Sixth Elder looked certain, convinced her suspicions were correct.

Luo Hongxia, the Palace Master of the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace.

Tao Yaoye rolled her eyes but remained silent.

To an outsider, the sight of master and disciple silently staring at each other for an extended period would have seemed very peculiar.

However, from another perspective, it could also be interpreted as a silent understanding between them, where words were unnecessary.