Cultivation begins with planting techniques

"This place is indeed somewhat special..."

Li Ye squatted down, picked up some blackish-yellow soil, and examined it carefully, seemingly lost in thought.

After obtaining information about the Demon Abyss from Elder Zheng and comparing it with what he had learned at the Heavenly Sword Sect, he immediately headed straight for the Demon Abyss.

Now we have crossed the border and truly set foot in this polluted land.

Once he passed through the blockade set up by the sects of this realm and entered the outer perimeter of the Demon Abyss, he clearly felt a change in the energy of heaven and earth.

The concentration of spiritual energy did not actually decrease; in fact, it even increased to some extent.

However, the turbid and impure energy mixed with spiritual energy is even more intense and has a more sinister aura. It is of no benefit to the vast majority of cultivators, even demonic cultivators!
If you rashly practice breathing exercises here, you will likely not only gain no benefit, but you will also be invaded by impure and evil energy, polluting the source of your cultivation.

As for the land, it was even worse. It had been tainted by turbid and evil energy, and its vitality was weak. It was as if it had been completely plundered. Apart from a few plants that were also distorted by the environment, almost any other spiritual plants that were planted died!
Looking around, most of the area was almost deserted, with only a few strangely shaped plants stubbornly surviving.

It was a vast, desolate region with no end in sight.

"But that's all, so it's not too much of a problem..."

Li Ye stood up, clapped his hands, and swept away the dirt.

"It's such a waste to leave such a vast land unused; it should be put to good use!"

He flicked his finger, and sword energy fell, blasting out a crater of just the right size.

Li Ye then took out a willow branch, inserted it into the soil, filled it with soil, and watered it. A green spiritual light, unlike ordinary magic, appeared in his hand and sprinkled onto the willow branch.

In just a few breaths, the willow branch sprouted roots and branches, and thus took root and survived.

A faint spiritual light rippled across the tree, but it was utterly inadequate for a place that was like a living hell for spiritual plants, and could not significantly alter the surrounding environment.

However, thanks to this supernatural power that dispels impurities, he was able to barely survive and was not in danger of being poisoned to death.

Hearing the feedback from this new plant, a smile appeared on Li Ye's lips.

"It's good to be alive, there's hope as long as you're alive..."

Compared to the Pure Spirit Willow he initially cultivated, the current tree species has been improved.

Although the supernatural power to purify impure energy has not improved much, the vitality has become more resilient, making it easier to survive in harsh environments.

As long as one survives, over time, with personal growth and the development of supernatural abilities, one will always be able to influence the surrounding situation.

When the scale reaches a certain level, such influences will naturally bear fruit, gradually returning this abyss to its state before it was tainted.

Of course, this is the best-case scenario.

It is also possible that the two sides will remain deadlocked, with only improvements but no way to completely change the situation.

Even if it reaches a certain scale, the Pure Spirit Willow's supernatural powers are insufficient, and it will only be a drop in the ocean, unable to change the world.

Regardless of the outcome, for Li Ye, it was merely an attempt to improve himself.

Whether it's good or bad, it's never wrong to take the first step!

Without lingering, he set off in a direction he had randomly chosen on the map.

Along the way, we walked and stopped frequently, planting a Pure Spirit Willow every so often.

Although he had stepped into this demonic abyss, Li Ye himself still did not experience any sensations. His immediate goal was to explore according to the map and plant the Purifying Willow.

In the vast, desolate abyss, a figure is as inconspicuous as a tiny insect, about to be swallowed up by this place at any moment.

But he strolled leisurely, unhurriedly, yet with unwavering determination, and began to carry out his plan.

Planting trees brought about change to this place for the first time.

Perhaps it was because the direction Li Ye chose to enter the Demon Abyss was the area that the Heavenly Sword Sect had already explored.

Only ten days after he entered this place, before the large-scale clearing of monsters had even begun, Li Ye unexpectedly encountered other cultivators active in this area.

Whoosh whoosh—

Eight sword lights crisscrossed, all in the shape of the Withering and Flourishing Sword, weaving through the monsters and easily dispatching the third-tier monsters in front of them with a single twist.

Li Ye glanced at the black-red blood flowing from the monster covered in black fur, with a strange and ferocious appearance that seemed both ape and leopard, and took out the Spirit Purifying Willow to prepare for planting.

Based on his research on the several monsters he encountered during this period, this thing, despite being filled with turbid and evil energy, has no materials that can be extracted and utilized.

However, its flesh and blood are full of vitality. With the help of supernatural powers such as [Plant Growth Promoter], it can be used as fertilizer to help the Pure Spirit Willow grow.

As for the turbid and evil energy, as long as the Pure Spirit Willow grows fast enough, it can naturally be digested without any problems.

He had just planted the willow branches when his expression shifted slightly, and he looked in a certain direction.

Soon, several streaks of light appeared on the horizon, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

In the blink of an eye, they were close to Li Ye, and their sword energy slowed down, revealing their figures.

There were two men and one woman. The middle-aged monk with a goatee stepped forward and bowed.

"This fellow Daoist... oh? So you're a junior brother from the same sect!"

He was about to greet him when his gaze swept over Li Ye's clothes and token, and he was slightly taken aback, his expression becoming even more delighted.

"What a coincidence!"

Behind him, the female cultivator looked somewhat surprised.

The three of them looked Li Ye up and down, finding his face unfamiliar. When they realized that his aura was only at the early stage of the Yuan Dan realm, they were even more surprised.

"My name is Li Ye. I greet you, senior brothers and sisters!"

They were sizing up Li Ye, and Li Ye was also observing them.

His mastery of martial arts and sword energy could not escape his judgment after practicing the Nine Heavens Sword Manual; he was undoubtedly a true elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

However, in this state... although he could barely maintain his composure, his magical aura was somewhat weak and mixed, perhaps due to the taint of the evil energy in this place.

However, it's not a big problem. Just leave this place, take some medicine, and meditate, and you will recover completely.

"So it's Junior Brother Li Ye. I am Gong Nuo, and this is Junior Brother Chu Baifeng and Junior Sister Tai Ling!"

The middle-aged man, Gong Nuo, introduced Li Ye without beating around the bush, saying directly:

"Does Junior Brother have any replenishing pills on him?"

"Our exploration deep into the Demon Abyss has exhausted all the various elixirs we brought. Although they are enough to return, they are insufficient to deal with unexpected situations. We are willing to exchange some of them for a higher price using magic talismans, in order to prepare for any eventuality!"

"Of course there is."

Li Ye smiled, patted his storage bag, took out several jade bottles, and handed them to the three of them.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the pill was of quite high quality. Gong Nuo and the other two were pleasantly surprised and immediately handed it over, showing a more friendly attitude towards Li Ye.

As Li Ye happened to be interested in learning about the recent situation in the Demon Abyss, the three of them quickly started chatting. (End of Chapter)