My Portable Spirit Farm: Rise of the Humble Servant

Chapter 188: Reward: Bodhi Seed

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Having adjusted his condition to its absolute peak, Chen Ping joined the others. Led by Headmaster Li Lingfeng, they crossed the broad cloud bridge connecting the floating peaks and stepped onto the Tianling Sect’s main peak.

There, the massive Martial Arts Plaza sprawled out before them.

The sheer scale of the plaza far exceeded Chen Ping’s imagination. The ground was paved with hard Azure Gang Stone, polished to a mirror finish that reflected the drifting clouds above.

At the center of this vast expanse stood a colossal arena, raised ten feet off the ground and spanning a hundred zhang in diameter. Its surface was etched with complex reinforcement and protective runes that shimmered with a faint, rhythmic light. It was clear that ordinary Foundation Establishment attacks would fail to leave even a scratch on this stage.

Surrounding the arena were massive, tiered spectator stands that rose from the ground like cliffs. They were already a sea of people.

The composition of the audience was complex. Aside from the accompanying Elders and non-participating disciples of the eight sects, there were hordes of Rogue Cultivators who had traveled from afar upon hearing the news, as well as representatives from other small and medium-sized sects invited to witness the spectacle.

Originally, the Qingyun Sect would have dispatched a large contingent of disciples to spectate and cheer. However, the recent discovery of a new Spirit Gold mine back home had required a massive mobilization of manpower. With almost every available hand sent to secure the mine, Li Lingfeng had brought no one else but the essential participants and Zhao Yuanqi.

Despite the multitude of people, order reigned. Under the guidance of Tianling Sect disciples, the crowd quietly took their seats in designated zones, creating a solemn rather than chaotic atmosphere.

The Qingyun Sect was seated in the front row near the arena, alongside the other seven participating sects. Each sect’s area was clearly marked with its insignia.

Chen Ping, Bai Yue, and Zhao Long—the three combatants—sat at the very front.

Not long after they settled, an old man with a thin, refined face drifted down from the sky, landing gently in the center of the arena. He wore the purple robes of a Tianling Sect Violet Palace Elder.

He did not deliberately release his Pressure, yet an invisible aura instantly weighed down upon the venue. The buzzing plaza fell into a hush.

The Elder’s voice was calm, yet it projected clearly into every ear.

“The Eight Sects Grand Competition, held once every sixty years, aims to foster exchange and hone the Dao. The rules are as follows!”

“This Grand Competition is divided into two segments: the Elite Battle and the Team Battle. For the Elite Battle, each of the eight sects will field three disciples. The Tianling Sect will also field three, making a total of twenty-seven participants.”

“The scoring for the Elite Battle is simple: Passing the first round earns two points. Failing earns one point.”

“Passing the second round earns an additional point. Entering the quarter-finals earns another point.”

“Entering the semi-finals earns another point.”

“The victor of the finals earns one final point. Furthermore, the champion of the Elite Battle will receive an additional reward: one ‘Bodhi Seed’!”

The phrase “Bodhi Seed” struck the crowd like a bolt of lightning.

Gasp—!

The spectator stands erupted with the sound of sharp intakes of breath and low, trembling exclamations.

Chen Ping’s pupils contracted abruptly, and his heart gave a violent, heavy thump against his ribs.

A Bodhi Seed!

A legendary treasure of heaven and earth!

Its effects were the stuff of myths in the cultivation world. It was said that consuming one could instantly grant twenty years of bitter cultivation progress, with absolutely no side effects or hidden dangers.

That alone was astonishing.

But even more heaven-defying was its nature: it was the seed of the Divine Bodhi Tree.

If one could find a suitable spiritual land to plant it, it would grow into a tree in a thousand years. Thereafter, every five hundred years, it would bear nine Bodhi Seeds!

This was no simple Reward. It was a Fated Chance capable of establishing the eternal foundation of a clan or a Sect!

Chen Ping’s breath hitched, a primal desire surging from the depths of his soul.

Twenty years of cultivation…

To be honest, that aspect didn’t tempt him much. With his Whale Swallowing Technique, his cultivation speed was already monstrous.

But…

If this Bodhi Seed could be grown into a Divine Bodhi Tree… the implications were sky-shattering.

He possessed the Black Earth within his Jade Pendant—the “Cradle of Life” that could nurture any spirit plant.

If he planted the Bodhi Seed in the Black Earth… he could harvest a continuous supply of Bodhi Seeds.

If that was truly feasible…

An endless supply of twenty-year cultivation boosts? How terrifying would his cultivation speed become?

Chen Ping’s eyes burned.

But just as quickly, his fervor was doused by the icy water of reality.

His gaze drifted across the arena to the area designated for the Tianling Sect disciples.

The three participants sat there, calm and composed. The weakest among them was at the third layer of Foundation Establishment.

Nominally, the Bodhi Seed was a reward for the champion. But everyone with a brain understood the truth: this was a treasure the Tianling Sect had prepared for its own genius, a prize they considered already in their pocket.

For a disciple of another sect to covet it?

First, the disparity in strength was vast. The Tianling Sect disciples far surpassed the eight sects in techniques, resources, and knowledge, not to mention their absolute advantage in cultivation base.

Second, the consequences were unthinkable.

Even if a miracle occurred—if a disciple from one of the eight sects defied the odds and snatched the Bodhi Seed—it would be tantamount to slapping the Tianling Sect across the face in public.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator from a fourth-rate sect, carrying such a heavy treasure… what would happen to him the moment he stepped out of the Tianling Sect’s gates?

Could the Qingyun Sect protect him?

Would the Tianling Sect vent its fury on his entire Sect?

Endless trouble. Enormous risk.

Chen Ping could vividy imagine the miserable fate of becoming an enemy of the world, hunted to the ends of the earth.

I can’t take it… at least, not openly…

Chen Ping weighed the pros and cons rapidly. The greed in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold, absolute clarity.

Exposing his full strength for this Bodhi Seed, inviting fatal disaster? It wasn’t worth it.

But just as he was about to abandon the thought, a more subtle, daring idea emerged from the shadows of his mind.

Wait.

Wait for the Grand Competition to end. Wait for the Bodhi Seed to fall into someone else’s hands… and then scheme for it in the dark.

The risk remained high, but at least the initiative would be his. He wouldn’t be a target standing in the spotlight.

The setup with the Han siblings and the ancient ruin was still in play. He could use that existing scheme as a cover to seize the Bodhi Seed!

Chen Ping analyzed the possibility and found it feasible.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulence in his heart. His eyes regained their customary calm indifference, as if the shock had never occurred.

He buried the desire deep within his heart.

Now was not the time.

Let the winner hold it for now. I will plan my move later.

On stage, the Violet Palace Elder continued his announcement.

“For the Team Battle, it will be three versus three. With nine teams total, winners of the first round earn two points. Winners of the second round earn another two points. Semi-final winners earn two points. Final winners earn two points. The Team Battle champions will be rewarded with three Top Grade Tier 2 Dharma Artifacts!”

“The final Sect ranking is determined by the combined points from the Elite Battle and Team Battle. The Sect ranked first will only be required to submit ten percent of their income as tribute for the next sixty years! The top three Sects will submit twenty percent! The top five Sects will submit twenty-five percent! The remaining Sects must submit thirty percent!”

After announcing the stakes, the Elder added a stern warning.

“During the Grand Competition, there are three prohibitions: No Talismans. No Pills that temporarily boost cultivation. No Secret Techniques that burn potential for temporary power! Violators will be disqualified and severely punished! Now, let the Grand Competition begin! Participants, step forward to test your bone age and receive your number plates!”

Chen Ping gathered his thoughts and stepped forward with the others.

He passed his hand over a warm Age-Testing Stone. A light flashed, displaying his bone age: Twenty-nine.

He received number plate “Twelve.” His opponent would be the cultivator holding plate “Eleven.”

Bai Yue drew number three. Zhao Long drew number twenty.

The Grand Competition had officially begun.