Ever since Jiang Hao met Senior Sister Yun Ruo, he had been eager to identify others who seemed remarkable. He often felt they were all spies.
Soon enough, the appraisal of a junior brother standing before him appeared in Jiang Hao's mind.
[Han Ming: True disciple of the Heavenly Sound Sect's Broken Hearts Cliff, with exceptional talent. At eighteen, he's at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, favored by mountain and river spirits.]
True disciple? A rank higher than me, Jiang Hao thought, feeling a bit emotional.
Thankfully, there wasn't a rule to call true disciples 'senior brother' here; otherwise, it might be awkward.
However, within the sect, there was mention of the top ten disciples, and once someone became one of them, most had to address them differently.
Despite the other's outstanding talent and the special favor from the spirits, Jiang Hao wasn't overly concerned.
As long as they weren't a spy, he was at ease. The spies who approached him always had clear intentions, hard to shake.
If all spies were like Liu Xingchen, he wouldn't mind having more.
Though they would eventually turn against him, before that moment, he just needed to become stronger than them.
After all, no matter how dangerous a betrayal could be, it wouldn't be as threatening as "that woman."
Besides, he needn't worry about implicating these people.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang. I’m Han Ming, hoping for your guidance," Han Ming said politely, then with curiosity, added, "Is it true you're nineteen?"
"Yes," Jiang Hao nodded.
"I hope one day to surpass you," Han Ming declared with a smile.
"You will," Jiang Hao replied with a nod.
Han Ming was indeed a genius. In their master's eyes, Jiang Hao's own progress seemed like mere luck.
"Let's take a walk. There's no need for you to come here often. I can manage this place just fine. You should focus on your cultivation," Jiang Hao kindly suggested.
Being a true disciple, Han Ming didn't need to frequent this place. Coming here was merely a waste of time.
Most likely, his master just wanted him to familiarize himself with the place.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Han Ming smiled.
Jiang Hao nodded, spending some time showing Han Ming around the Spirit Herb Garden.
"Do you always manage things here, Senior Brother? Isn't it a waste of time?" Han Ming asked, sitting under a simple wooden house.
"It's alright," Jiang Hao replied slowly.
Han Ming disagreed, "I feel spending time here doesn't benefit our cultivation much. My goal is to become... no, to be among the strongest in the sect. I aim to be one of the top ten disciples."
Jiang Hao didn't discourage him. With a smile and a serious tone, he said, "Then may you achieve that soon, Junior Brother."
"Senior Brother, how long do you think it will take for me to surpass you?" Han Ming asked again.
"Probably just a few years," Jiang Hao answered without hesitation, as that was the usual case.
In a few years, Han Ming would advance to the mid-stage, while Jiang Hao might still be at the initial stage.
Unless another miraculous opportunity arose.
Afterward, Han Ming left. It seemed he just wanted Jiang Hao to acknowledge his greater potential.
To this, Jiang Hao merely smiled.
Others don't wish to stay here because they don't see any benefit, but Jiang Hao differed. He could gather many bubbles here.
Leaving would be a significant loss.
Don’t underestimate those white bubbles. They add up over time, and learning the methods of concealment and control, Jiang Hao could feel his daily improvements.
"He probably just wanted to see what a nineteen-year-old at the initial Foundation Establishment stage is like. No danger for now. A few years later, he probably won't care about me."
Jiang Hao mused silently and began tending to the spirit herbs around him.
By midday, he set up a stall to sell some talismans.
In the afternoon, he returned to his residence to continue drawing talismans.
Occasionally, he would study that manual to hone his skills and understanding further.
The next day,
[Cultivation power +1]
[Cultivation power +1]
After collecting two bubbles, Jiang Hao returned to the Spirit Herb Garden to gather more.
[Mental power +1]
[Mental power +1]
[Strength +1]
[Vital Qi +1]
...
He felt quite invigorated...
At noon, Jiang Hao sold some more talismans.
He currently held a significant amount of 135 spirit stones.
He considered using them to buy a seed, though he had no idea what kind.
Not buying it yesterday wasn’t due to insufficient spirit stones, but because there was no divine ability, and he wished to appraise it before buying.
At least get a proper understanding.
At the Snow Lotus Pavilion.
Standing in the sect's largest spirit herb sales area, Jiang Hao walked in.
They sold spirit herbs and pills here.
Some spirit herbs came from Broken Hearts Cliff; he had handled orders for them before.
Surely, he could search other stalls, but it was too time-consuming.
It was better to purchase from a specialized place.
He wasn’t sure what a hundred spirit stones would get him.
“Looking for seeds?” a guide fairy in uniform with twin ponytails asked Jiang Hao politely.
“What kind are you looking to buy?” she asked.
“Hard to grow, not due to the environment but the spirit herb itself,” Jiang Hao replied.
“And the price range?” she asked again.
“Around a hundred spirit stones,” Jiang Hao said.
“Well, with a hundred, you can find some nice seeds. I have just the right one for you, Senior Brother,” the guide fairy gestured invitingly, “Please, follow me.”
A customer with a hundred spirit stones was not too common but respectable for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Soon enough, at the seed counter, Jiang Hao noticed a snow-white seed resting quietly in a box.
“A Snow Lotus Seed, an excellent spirit herb for healing and enhancing cultivation. It grows best in snowy environments but can still grow elsewhere—just slower. Priced at ninety-nine spirit stones. Does this meet your requirements, Senior Brother?” the guide fairy introduced.
Appraising, Jiang Hao activated his divine ability.
He had more faith in the results from his divine ability.