Chapter 1634 (1/2)

Chapter 1634: Jewel Blood Jade Orchid

Long Chen was startled. So there were further tests to attend the Jade Lake Pageant other than registering?

However, seeing the other disciples’ calm expressions, it seemed they had long since known about this.

“Each time the Jade Lake Pageant occurs, the rules are different. This is to prevent other people from cheating and preparing ahead of time. This time, the test isn’t very difficult. Within this flouris.h.i.+ng field, simply collect one flower that you recognize. As long as you can say its name and origin, you’ll pa.s.s. However, I should warn you that you only have one chance per flower. Once one person picks a flower, no one else will be able to use that flower to pa.s.s,” announced the Skywood Divine Palace disciple.

Hearing that, everyone’s expressions changed. There were hundreds of thousands of experts present. Even if there were that many flowers present, who could possibly recognize that many?

“This is clearly nonsense! We cultivators care about martial power! When did recognizing flowers become a mark of heroism? If that was the case, what would be the point of martial arts?! We’d just spend all day reading!” roared a man with thick facial hair.

He was clearly a coa.r.s.e man who probably didn’t recognize any flowers, which was why he was so angry. Quite a few people joined in.

“He’s right, this is unfair. Recognizing flowers? That’s too laughable. Why not ask us to sew or cook?”

Everyone here was a cultivator and was busy with cultivating. Who had time to go study flowers? This was clearly making things hard on them for no reason.

“The Jade Lake Pageant is not a compet.i.tion of martial power. In all previous openings of it, the trials and barriers have all been like this. You’re not the only generation to run into bizarre and difficult tests. Complaining doesn’t have any use. If you have the time, you should instead search for a flower that you can recognize. I hereby announce that the trial begins.” That disciple paid no mind to the complaining and directly started the trial.

Countless experts immediately charged out, flying through the meadow. Some flew up the cliff looking for flowers that they recognize.

“I’ve found it! This is rainforest gra.s.s! It grows in the dark and will only come out of the earth when it’s raining! When the sun reappears, it will shrink back beneath the ground,” cried a female disciple, handing over a stalk of gra.s.s.

“Correct. Congratulations on pa.s.sing.” The Skywood Divine Palace disciple nodded.

“What? Didn’t you say it had to be a flower? How can gra.s.s count?!” raged an expert.

That Skywood Divine Palace disciple calmly said, “The rainforest gra.s.s also blossoms. This simply isn’t the season for it to bloom yet.”

Long Chen wasn’t quite able to understand what the Skywood Divine Palace was doing with this trial. It seemed like they were treating the Jade Lake Pageant as a game.

Looking at this group of heavenly geniuses scattering like sheep in search of flowers was truly an odd sight.

“Cloud, I’ll help you find a flower others won’t recognize.” Long Chen began leading Cloud into the distance.

“I don’t need it. I’m one with big sister Meng Qi, hehe,” laughed Cloud.

Long Chen came to a sudden comprehension. Cloud was Meng Qi’s housepet and could be drawn into her spiritual s.p.a.ce. The two of them could truly count as one.

“Then what is Meng Qi doing now? Why haven’t I seen any of them yet?” asked Long Chen.

“Sister Meng Qi, Chu Yao, and Wan-er are all waiting for you inside. You’ll see them in a bit. Sister Meng Qi said that the palace master only has a quota of three for letting disciples skip the first trial. I wanted to bring big sister Ruyan here to see you too, but she said she didn’t want to see you,” said Cloud happily.

Long Chen rolled his eyes. That Liu Ruyan really knew how to hold a grudge. Even now, she hadn’t forgotten about her disgrace of being captured.

Long Chen looked around and quickly saw a small flower poking out of the cliffside. He carefully dug it out of the earth. The entire plant was only the size of a fist.

It had seven leaves and sparkled like a jewel. It had a small flower with nine blood-red petals along with a dewdrop that was also blood-colored. It was filled with the flavor of poignant beauty.

“I didn’t expect to see this kind of flower here.” Long Chen couldn’t help being startled. He examined it carefully to confirm that it was really what he thought it was.

As an alchemist, he was naturally skilled in recognizing plants and flowers. That was why this trial could not be more simple to him.

He was in no rush. He looked at the others rus.h.i.+ng around like a swarm of bees. Some were lucky and instantly pa.s.sed.

However, some were unlucky. The common plants that they recognized had already been used by others to pa.s.s. They could only search for rare plants.