By the time the group arrived at the spiritual plant garden, a large crowd had already gathered inside.
Among them were the manager in charge of the garden, the young disciples dedicated to tending the plants, and an alchemy master invited from Chiyang Hall, Mo Shoudan.
At this moment, the alchemy master was pointing and gesturing at a field of medicinal herbs.
Have you tested the spiritual liquid used for watering? How was the recent pest control handled? And have you properly controlled the soil's moisture levels lately?
Such large-scale withering of medicinal plants is generally related to these few factors.
You need to investigate yourselves, do not just go running for help the moment something happens!
Answering Master Mo, we have already checked all the things you mentioned, and there are no issues! Moreover, the young disciples taking care of this patch of Mystic Frost Purple Grass have always been the same group, and their cultivation methods are identical!
Listening to Mo Shoudan's scolding, fine sweat broke out on the garden manager's forehead as he could not help but offer a quiet defense.
Mo Shoudan's cold gaze landed on the manager, his expression clearly carrying a bit of anger.
It was obvious he viewed the manager as someone lazy and trying to shirk responsibility.
If everything was checked, why is this still happening? I think you simply did not investigate carefully enough!
The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead twice, not daring to retort further, and could only nod and bow in agreement.
Who could blame him? This Mo Shoudan was a highly esteemed alchemy master from Chiyang Hall.
Even the Peak Master usually had to give him some face.
A young disciple to the side casually looked up and saw Ji Qingyan approaching from outside the garden, prompting him to tug at the manager's sleeve.
Seeing him, the manager's eyes lit up, and he quickly hurried toward the garden entrance to welcome him.
Deacon Ji, you are here.
Tell me, what exactly is going on?
Ji Qingyan nodded casually, raised his eyes to sweep a glance over the garden, nodded in greeting to Mo Shoudan, and then asked about the specific situation.
The manager hurriedly explained, This morning, the Mystic Frost Purple Grass planted in the garden began to show large-scale signs of withering and drooping leaves.
Starting at noon, the Mystic Frost Purple Grass began to wither entirely, and up to now, several stalks are already on the verge of death.
If it were not for the disciples with wood spiritual roots transferring wood elemental spiritual energy to these spiritual plants, I am afraid these Mystic Frost Purple Grasses would have died long ago!
I had people check the spiritual liquid used for watering and the caretaking methods, but we could not find the cause, which is why I sent someone to invite you.
Please hurry and take a look, what on earth is going on?
The manager led Ji Qingyan into the garden to see the Mystic Frost Purple Grass.
As far as the eye could see, the Mystic Frost Purple Grass was drooping and listless. The occasional one or two stalks that still stood upright only did so because they had absorbed more of the wood elemental energy.
It was truly a total wipeout!
No wonder the manager was so anxious.
This Mystic Frost Purple Grass was the main ingredient for refining Spirit Recovery Pills. If so many died at once...
Not only would the pill supply for the disciples of Yaoyun Peak itself be affected, but even the pills sold externally would suffer.
Furthermore, Yaoyun Peak had recently reached a medicinal plant trade agreement with the Xuanhuo Sect, which included this Mystic Frost Purple Grass.
If these plants really died, they would end up breaching the contract!
Out of sheer desperation, the manager had sent someone to invite the alchemy master Mo Shoudan from Chiyang Hall.
But unexpectedly, after being here for half the day, he had not offered a single piece of substantial advice and instead gave him a harsh scolding.
The manager held back his frustration, still forcing himself to greet the man with a smiling face.
Mo Shoudan also noticed Ji Qingyan and Yuan Shu.
Ji Qingyan went without saying; he was a deacon of Chiyang Hall and deeply trusted by the Peak Master. Mo Shoudan's gaze mainly fell on Yuan Shu, who stood beside him.
He had met Yuan Shu briefly when she came to Chiyang Hall that morning, and he knew she was the guest elder of Yaoyun Peak personally appointed by the Peak Master!
She was indeed just a wet-behind-the-ears little girl. Someone like her could become a guest elder of Yaoyun Peak?
A mocking sneer appeared on Mo Shoudan's face. If I could not even figure out the cause of the issue with this Mystic Frost Purple Grass, could they possibly see it?
A deacon who manages internal affairs, and a useless guest elder with nothing but a title?
Master Mo, please calm down. After all, if you were capable enough, no one would have gone out of their way to invite us.
Ji Qingyan's expression was indifferent. With one light and airy sentence, he made Mo Shoudan's chest heave with anger.
Watching from the side, Yuan Shu could not help but let her eyes curve into a smile.
She had not expected that Ji Qingyan, who looked so gentle and proper, could speak words that hit the nail right on the head.
Mo Shoudan's face darkened. Flying into a rage from humiliation, he flicked his sleeves and said, Then I would like to see just how capable you are. Let us see if you have the ability to solve this problem first!
Hmph! What is the point of just having a sharp tongue?
After speaking, Mo Shoudan actually sat down under a nearby shed, staring coldly in their direction.
Ji Qingyan ignored this petty alchemy master and led Yuan Shu toward the spiritual field.
The spiritual field had just been watered with spiritual liquid. The liquid's essence wafted up from the soil, enveloping the entire field.
This kind of environment was the most suitable for the growth of Mystic Frost Purple Grass.
Ji Qingyan bent down, pinched some of the spiritual soil, brought it to his nose to sniff, and felt its moisture level.
There was nothing abnormal.
Furthermore, the recent temperature and weather had been quite good, so there were no adverse effects from the natural environment.
Ji Qingyan's gaze fell on the dirt at his toes. He looked up, just in time to meet Yuan Shu's meaningful gaze.
If there are no issues where we can see, then we need to check if there are any issues where we cannot see.
Hearing this, Ji Qingyan raised his eyebrows slightly and nodded in deep agreement. He then waved his hand, instructing people to come over and dig up the soil.
The manager did not doubt him and quickly called people over to dig.
Conversely, Mo Shoudan let out a mocking laugh, his tone carrying a hint of gloating.
I have already inspected it carefully. There is absolutely no problem within a depth of thirty feet in the spiritual field. What you are doing is nothing but a waste of effort!
Neither Ji Qingyan nor Yuan Shu paid him any attention, and the manager merely urged the young disciples to dig faster.
Having been snubbed, Mo Shoudan gnashed his teeth in resentment and fell silent.
Sure enough, after digging for quite a while, the deep pit looked to be about thirty feet deep, yet they still had not found anything unusual.
Deacon Ji, this...
The manager scratched his head and could not help but step forward to speak, but before he could finish, Ji Qingyan raised a hand to stop him.
Do not rush.
After saying this, he reminded the young disciples to be careful with their digging from here on out.
Seeing this, although the manager was full of questions, he held them back.
Time ticked by, minute by minute, and still, no good news came.
Having watched the spectacle for a long time, Mo Shoudan could not hold back anymore. He stepped forward and coldly scolded them.
Instead of hurrying to figure out how to save those Mystic Frost Purple Grasses, you are digging a hole here? What are you trying to do?
Ji Qingyan looked up at him, but before he could speak, Yuan Shu opened her mouth first.
This... alchemy master? Since alchemy is your strong suit, you should just focus on your alchemy. Why must you be so controlling over other people's actions?
Her eyes were calm, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she spoke without the slightest trace of politeness.
