C5 The Herbal Garden Opened

Time slipped through our fingers like sand, and before we knew it, five days had flown by.

The herbal garden—an essential place within the Astral Conclave—opened its gates every six months.

For the disciples, particularly those of the Outer Sect, the herbal garden was a boon to their cultivation.

Unlike their counterparts in the Inner Sect and the core disciples, they lacked the advanced Aura Converger to aid their training. They also didn't receive the generous monthly cultivation resources from the sect.

Outer Sect disciples had to make do with the meager resources provided by the sect each month, which were woefully insufficient.

Thus, the biannual opening of the herbal garden drew hundreds of Outer Sect disciples, eager for a chance to gather their own resources.

The sect had a rule: whatever the disciples found in the herbal garden was theirs to keep, with no obligation to surrender it to the sect.

This policy made the opening of the herbal garden a hotly anticipated event, as opportunities to gain cultivation resources were rare in the Outer Sect. And with the annual Inner Sect Assessment looming, no one wanted to miss out on this chance.

The opening of the herbal garden represented a golden opportunity for the Outer Sect disciples—an opportunity to acquire cultivation resources, to enhance their strength, and to potentially ascend to the Inner Sect through the assessment.

Dawn broke, tearing through the night sky and bathing the land in a warm glow.

A throng of disciples had gathered in the Outer Sect Square of the Astral Conclave, all awaiting the elders to unlock the herbal garden.

As time ticked by, the crowd swelled, and the once-spacious square felt increasingly cramped.

Ye Xuan made his way there, finding a spot in a less crowded corner of the square where there was a bit more breathing room.

He gazed at the thick mass of people ahead and rubbed his forehead in resignation. Each year, many disciples entered the herbal garden, but not all would leave with something to show for it.

The Mana Herbs within possessed a faint spiritual wisdom, and if they sensed danger, they would burrow into the earth to escape. Those with slightly higher spiritual wisdom could detect the presence of humans early on. By the time you approached, they would have already vanished without a trace.

Despite the large number of people entering the herbal garden each year, many still left empty-handed, without having picked a single Mana Herb. At that moment, the square was bustling with individuals weaving through the crowd, seeking partners. The odds of finding a Mana Herb were always better with more people. Once found, they would divide the herbs based on contribution or share them equally.

Ye Xuan had been standing alone for quite some time, attracting no attention. Everyone was on the lookout for disciples with greater strength to increase their chances of harvesting more Mana Herbs. Someone at the first level of the Whispering Souls, like Ye Xuan, was easily overlooked. However, he had recently advanced to the third level.

Among the Outer Sect disciples, Ye Xuan's strength was now considered top-tier, but others still assumed he was at the same level as before. After all, who would believe that someone could jump two levels in their cultivation after a simple trip home? Ye Xuan, known for his modesty, wasn't the type to boast about such achievements.

"Ye Xuan!" Mu Hua called out from a distance, beckoning him over. A number of disciples followed Mu Hua, some of whom Ye Xuan recognized, while many others were new faces, likely hoping to team up with Mu Hua for the venture into the herbal garden. With Mu Hua's formidable strength and his reputation for being approachable, he was an ideal ally for many disciples.

As Mu Hua approached, Ye Xuan greeted him in return. Mu Hua couldn't help but notice a change in Ye Xuan's demeanor since his return home; he seemed more self-assured, a quality Mu Hua hadn't perceived in him before.

Standing beside Ye Xuan, Mu Hua smiled and suggested, "Why don't you join us? It's always good to have someone watching your back."

Mu Hua genuinely wanted to assist Ye Xuan, but before Ye Xuan could respond, a voice dripping with contempt interrupted from beside Mu Hua.

"Mu Hua, our group is already quite large. Taking on another liability might mean we end up with too few Mana Herbs to go around," complained a young girl standing next to Mu Hua.

The girl donned a pink dress and wore a touch of makeup, accentuating her delicate features and slim waist. Her oval face was attractive, but her somewhat sharp lips lent her an air of snobbery.

"Yeah, Mu Hua, we're already a sizable group. Bringing in another person means there won't be enough Mana Herbs for all of us to cultivate with."

"If the newcomer is strong, then it's no issue for them to join. But let's not bother with him... We'll be lucky if he doesn't end up holding us back."

"Mu Hua, if you're looking to recruit, shouldn't you aim for someone strong? I know a few capable disciples. How about I invite them instead?"

The disciples around Mu Hua were quick to oppose Ye Xuan's inclusion, although some who knew Ye Xuan spoke in his favor.

But as the saying goes, it's hard for one to stand against many, and the voices of dissent soon overwhelmed the support.

Mu Hua's face soured. He had genuinely wanted to assist Ye Xuan, knowing that with his support, Ye Xuan could harvest more Mana Herbs from the herbal garden.

Now, with the others' objections, it appeared as though he had come to insult Ye Xuan instead!

Mu Hua tried to clear the air, but Ye Xuan cut him off.

"Thank you for your good intentions, Mu Hua, but I think I'm better off on my own," Ye Xuan said, his face etched with regret.

Ye Xuan clearly recognized Mu Hua's attempt to help, but it was evident that the other disciples were not keen on him joining their group. To spare Mu Hua any further difficulty, Ye Xuan chose to decline. He was confident that, even without joining their ranks, his current abilities would suffice to gather Mana Herbs.

Despite Ye Xuan's perspective, the other disciples misread his intentions, believing he looked down on their team. A few of them gave Ye Xuan a mocking smile and said, "Oh, so you think you can collect more Mana Herbs on your own than all of us combined?"

The disciples around him burst into laughter.

"Enough! Stop talking," Mu Hua barked with fury.

The laughter ceased abruptly, and even the girl in the pink dress dared not utter another word.

They had never seen Mu Hua this angry before, and a wave of fear washed over them.

"Ye Xuan, I apologize for causing you trouble," Mu Hua said with a look of regret.

"It's no big deal, Mu Hua. It's all trivial, and I haven't dwelled on it," Ye Xuan replied, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand.

Mu Hua wasn't one to fuss over things. After exchanging a few words with Ye Xuan, he led the group forward. Before departing, Mu Hua mentioned he would give Ye Xuan some Mana Herbs. Ye Xuan tried to decline, but ultimately accepted the offer.

Watching Mu Hua walk away, Ye Xuan smiled with a sense of appreciation in his heart.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The resonant and uplifting sound of a bell signaled the opening of the herbal garden.

At the garden's entrance, a throng of people rushed in, quickly clearing the once-crowded plaza.

Ye Xuan made his way toward the gate, eager for his adventure in the herbal garden.

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