Chapter 60: Two Dragon Blood Orchids
Song Changsheng understood he had hit another bottleneck. Continuing further would be futile, so he decided to pause refining artifacts and instead imrsed himself in the Scripture Pavilion, studying the family's artifact refining heritage to find a thod for breaking through.
He spent over ten days engrossed in studying, forgetting food and sleep, yet still found no clue. However, a piece of good news arrived from the Contribution Hall: the Dragon Blood Orchid he had been searching for over a year finally had a lead.
Song Changsheng was ecstatic and imdiately rushed to the Contribution Hall. He walked straight to the counter and cupped his hands in greeting to a white-haired clan elder, asking, “Elder, may I ask where is the person who accepted the Dragon Blood Orchid mission?”
The elder looked up, glanced at him, and after confirming his identity, said, “The person who accepted this mission is a leader of the Monster Hunter Squad.”
“Which leader, may I ask?” Song Changsheng was taken aback. The Monster Hunter Squad, as a subordinate force of the family, was allowed to accept family missions to earn extra inco, but it was rare to encounter them personally.
“It's Shangguan Jian. His Monster Hunter Squad accidentally discovered a Dragon Blood Orchid a few days ago. Upon seeing your posted mission, he accepted it. You're quite lucky,” the elder said with a smile.
“So it was him.” As it happened, Song Changsheng had t this Shangguan leader once before. What a coincidence.
“If you're looking for him, you might be out of luck. He's probably already left the mountain. This is the Dragon Blood Orchid he submitted for the mission. See if it's to your liking.”
The elder said, taking out a purple jade box from under the counter and opening it in front of Song Changsheng.
Inside the box lay a plant about a foot long, remarkably similar in appearance to a "moth orchid," but its overall color was a crimson like blood and dragon-like patterns slowly flowed like blood on its leaves.
This was an exceptionally well-preserved Dragon Blood Orchid, likely nearly a hundred years old. Both its leaves and roots were perfectly intact, without the slightest damage, fitting Song Changsheng's requirents perfectly.
“This item is excellent. Many thanks, Elder,” Song Changsheng said with a joyful smile, cupping his hands.
“No trouble at all. Since you're satisfied, the mission is complete,” the elder responded with a chuckle, reaching out to mark the Dragon Blood Orchid mission as finished.
Unexpectedly, a panting chubby youth suddenly entered from outside, raising his hand and shouting, “Wait, wait a minute!”
The elder paused his hand, looking at him displeased, and said, “What's with all the fuss? Are you here to accept a mission or submit one?”
The chubby youth quickly apologized with a smile, “Elder, I'm here to submit a mission. Here, it's that Dragon Blood Orchid mission.”
The elder was montarily stunned upon hearing this, instinctively glancing at Song Changsheng.
Song Changsheng was also sowhat surprised. His posted mission could indeed be accepted by multiple people, and many had accepted it over the days, but he truly hadn't expected two people to complete it.
After all, Dragon Blood Orchids were rare, with only a few appearing each year.
The chubby youth was unaware that soone had already submitted the mission before him. He excitedly raised the jade box in his hand and opened it. Inside, there was indeed a well-preserved Dragon Blood Orchid. Although not as good as Shangguan Jian's, it still t Song Changsheng's requirents.
The elder said, sowhat awkwardly, “It's quite a coincidence today, child. Soone has already submitted this mission, so it's already completed.”
“Ah?”
The chubby youth instantly froze in place, then anxiously said, “Then, then, what about my Dragon Blood Orchid?”
Song Changsheng shook his head slightly. He hadn't expected such a coincidence, but he only needed one Dragon Blood Orchid, so he could only apologize to this person.
Nodding to the elder, Song Changsheng prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, the chubby youth suddenly blocked his path and said in surprise, “Are you Clan Uncle Changsheng? You're the one who posted the mission, right? Please, take a look at this one in my hand. It's of very good quality.”
Song Changsheng looked at the chubby youth with so surprise. He was actually from the “Qing” generation. Looking at him, he seed to be only seventeen or eighteen, likely one of the oldest in that generation.
He felt a pang of emotion. The clan mbers of the “Qing” generation were actually starting to contribute to the family. Ti truly passed quickly.
“Uncle, just take a look. It’s really good,” the chubby youth held up the jade box, a hint of pleading in his eyes.
Song Changsheng shook his head and said, “I only need one. I apologize.”
Upon hearing this, a misty sheen appeared in the chubby youth's eyes. He lowered his head and said nothing more, but Song Changsheng could vaguely hear faint sobs.
This made Song Changsheng sowhat puzzled. Even if he didn't want it, there was no need to act like this. After all, Dragon Blood Orchids never lacked buyers. Although the price might not be as high as Song Changsheng offered, it wouldn't be unsellable. What was there to cry about?
“If you have no market for it, I might be able to help you think of sothing,” Song Changsheng thought he was worried about selling it.
The chubby youth wiped his eyes, his eyes red and full of disappointnt, saying, “I don't want to exchange it for spirit stones. I originally wanted to exchange it with you for a copy of your insights into the Dao of formations.”
Song Changsheng was imdiately surprised and said, “You're also a formation master?”
The chubby youth nodded and said, “I am a low-grade first rank formation master, about to break through to mid-grade, but I've encountered a bottleneck. So I wanted to exchange for a copy of your insights into the Dao of formations.”
“I see, but why did you seek out? Doesn't the family's Scripture Pavilion have many formation dao insights left by our predecessors? If you sold the Dragon Blood Orchid, you could exchange for many copies.”
The chubby youth shook his head like a rattle-drum, then mustered his courage and said, “You are my idol. I only want yours.”
Song Changsheng's eyes widened. Had he heard correctly? Idol?
Although he was a bit narcissistic at tis, he had never imagined that one day soone would consider him an idol, especially soone not much different in age.
“Uh, I'm just an ordinary person. You really don't need to be like this,” Song Changsheng said, scratching his head.
The chubby youth imdiately retorted, “You are not an ordinary person! You are the youngest second rank formation master in the family's history, the idol in the hearts of all the young generation's formation masters!”
Song Changsheng was a little bewildered. When did he gain such imnse charisma?
Looking at the chubby youth's determined gaze, Song Changsheng sowhat believed him for a mont.
After a mont of thought, Song Changsheng said to the chubby youth, “I can give you the formation dao insights, but this Dragon Blood Orchid is too valuable. You should keep it yourself.”
A set of insights was just a simple task for him. It was rare to et a young admirer, so giving him a copy was no harm, considering it ntoring a junior.
The chubby youth imdiately shed his previous gloom, his eyes shining as he looked at Song Changsheng.
Song Changsheng took out a jade slip, inscribed so of his formation deploynt insights into it, and handed it to him.
The chubby youth treasured it like a priceless gem. After carefully putting away the jade slip, he quickly shoved the jade box into Song Changsheng's arms and then ran off.
Song Changsheng was stunned and called out, “What's your na?”
The chubby youth replied without looking back, “Song Qinghong!”
(Chapter End)
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