Ever since learning from Second Elder Brother Luo Feng about the astonishing value of "Clearheart Grass," Xiao Qi's perception of that abandoned herb garden had undergone a complete transformation. It was no longer merely a chance discovery of a place harboring rare spirit plants; it had now become a stronghold intimately tied to his greatest secret, one that must be strictly guarded. And that intelligent rabbit spirit had also been elevated from their initial "exchange of fruits and vegetables" to a comrade-in-arms jointly safeguarding their secret.
A few days later, on a certain morning, Xiao Qi once again arrived before that thicket of crimson thorns. Just as he parted the branches, a white shadow swiftly darted out, affectionately rubbing against his pant leg—it was none other than the rabbit spirit. It seemed to have anticipated Xiao Qi's arrival long ago, its red eyes sparkling with delight.
Following the rabbit spirit, Xiao Qi stepped once more into that desolate garden. Sunlight filtered through the sparse forest canopy, casting scattered rays upon the dilapidated stone walls and lush weeds. The Clearheart Grass (Xiao Qi now knew its name) stood quietly at the center of the garden, its crown bearing the "Pure White Jade Fruit" that emitted a gentle, moist luster in the morning light, brimming with vitality—a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation. The rabbit spirit, like the most loyal guardian, remained steadfastly by its side.
Gazing upon this forgotten corner, a notion crystallized in Xiao Qi's heart: This place could serve as his secret base. Within Qingxu Temple, there were too many people and prying eyes; when cultivating, he dared not casually attempt to channel the power of the jade pendant, fearing it might attract attention. But here, secluded and quiet, with the rabbit spirit helping keep watch (it seemed extremely familiar with this area and possessed keen senses), it was the perfect testing ground.
He crouched down, gently stroking the cool leaves of the Clearheart Grass, sensing the tranquil aura contained within. Then, he stood up, his gaze sweeping over the other corners of the herb garden. Aside from the dense weeds, scattered remnants of other plants lay here and there—some long withered, others entangled by weeds and vines, barely clinging to life. Most of these plants were unfamiliar to him, but given that they grew in this former herb garden, they were likely not ordinary either.
A bold idea sprouted in his heart: If the power of the jade pendant could revive the Clearheart Grass that had been ensnared by demonic plants, then could it also nourish other dying plants?
He walked over to a stunted shrub whose leaves had turned scorched yellow, its trunk shriveled, barely recognizable. This shrub was tightly wrapped by a tenacious ivy, with only a few leaves at its tip still holding a faint hint of green. Xiao Qi took a deep breath, recalling the sensation from the last time he had channeled the jade pendant's power. Focusing his mind, he gently placed his palm on the shrub's trunk, which still harbored a trace of vitality, and concentrated his will, sinking into his chest as he attempted to communicate with the dormant "Purification Source."
At first, there was no response. The jade pendant remained warm, and the spiritual energy within his body remained calm as usual. Undeterred, he continued to concentrate, clearing his thoughts. In his mind, he repeatedly visualized the milky-white purifying glow, imagining it infusing life into the withered plant. At the same time, he mobilized that faint thread of energy within him—the one that faintly resonated with the jade pendant and originated from his bloodline—guiding it slowly toward the palm pressed against the plant.
Time passed bit by bit. Just as Xiao Qi felt his mental energy waning and was almost about to give up—the jade pendant at his chest once again transmitted that familiar, concentrated warmth! Though much weaker than when he had saved the Clearheart Grass last time, the sensation was clearer and more responsive to his will! A thread of milky-white glow, finer than a strand of hair, slowly seeped from his palm like a trickling stream, infusing into the dying shrub.
Wherever the faint light flowed, the tightly entwining ivy seemed to encounter its nemesis, rapidly turning yellow and loosening. The shrub's scorched leaves, at a pace barely discernible to the naked eye, gradually regained a hint of green, and its shriveled trunk seemed to fill out slightly.
However, this process lasted less than three breaths before the milky-white glow faltered and abruptly ceased. The warmth from the jade pendant also vanished. Xiao Qi withdrew his hand, panting slightly, feeling mentally drained. He examined closely: Although the shrub had not fully recovered, the ivy that had ensnared it had withered and fallen away. The few leaves at its top, which had been barely clinging to life earlier, now clearly radiated vitality, lush and green—a stark contrast to the still-yellowed parts below.
It worked! Though the effect was far less significant than when he had saved the Clearheart Grass, only restoring partial vitality, this proved his idea was feasible! The purifying power of the jade pendant could indeed be used to nourish dying plants, expelling "impurities" harmful to them!
The rabbit spirit curiously scampered over, sniffing the partially revived shrub with its nose, then looked up at Xiao Qi, its red eyes filled with astonishment.
Xiao Qi's heart swelled with excitement. This attempt, though limited in effect and consuming much of his mental energy, was of tremendous significance. He was no longer passively waiting for the jade pendant to react on its own; he had begun to actively, albeit modestly, guide and utilize this power! This shifted his understanding of the "Purification Source" from a vague concept to a tangible, repeatable experience.
From then on, Xiao Qi frequently slipped away to this abandoned herb garden during breaks from cultivation, evading prying eyes. The rabbit spirit seemed to have tacitly accepted this as their shared "territory," either waiting in advance each time or quickly appearing upon his arrival.
He attempted again and again, selecting the garden's plant remnants that had not completely perished, those still harboring a sliver of vitality. The process was not smooth sailing; failures far outnumbered successes. Often, he exhausted his mental energy only to summon an extremely faint purifying force that had no effect on the plants. Sometimes, improper control of the power even slightly scorched the plants themselves. Yet each successful nourishment—even if it merely turned a withered leaf green or restored a bit of vitality to a dried branch—deepened his insight into the nature of that power, his control over his own mental energy, and his sensitivity to the plants' vitality.
He discovered that guiding this power not only consumed mental energy but also seemed closely related to his state of mind. The clearer and more focused his mind, the easier it was to channel, and the better the effect.
This abandoned herb garden became his unique "laboratory" and "training ground." Here, he need not conceal his peculiarities; he could freely explore the mysteries of the jade pendant and hone his mastery over the purifying power. And the rabbit spirit became his most devoted audience and companion, occasionally bringing some "shiny" stones (still useless) as "tuition" or "encouragement."
Establishing the secret base allowed Xiao Qi to find a space where he could breathe freely and explore his own path, beyond the regimented and stifling cultivation life within Qingxu Temple. Though the road ahead remained shrouded in mist, here at least, he held a unique key, gradually attempting to unlock the door to an unknown world.