From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 24 Diagnosis and Treatment
Chunlai Teahouse is not a simple tea stall on the street.

The two-story building stands facing the street, possessing its own unique elegance.

"Fellow Daoist, do you have a reservation?" Upon seeing Qin Chuan dressed in a Daoist robe, the waiter immediately stepped forward to greet him, addressing him as "Fellow Daoist"—just like a certain way of addressing Qin Chuan in his previous life.

Although Qin Chuan did not hold a high position in Nongling Temple, in this world, Taoists who held secure jobs and ate stable wages were still a highly respected group in the eyes of ordinary people.

"Yes, I have an appointment with Fellow Daoist He Xingchen. I wonder if he has arrived yet?" Qin Chuan told the truth in a humble manner.

“He was originally a friend of Master He of Langyin Pavilion,” the waiter said, clearly familiar with He Xingchen and his fellow Daoists. “Master He is already waiting for us on the second floor at Tingyu Pavilion.”

Qin Chuan went straight upstairs, found the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" private room, and gently knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door was a young female cultivator, who appeared to be no more than twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. She had a refined and elegant appearance and an air of scholarly refinement. Seeing the unfamiliar face outside, she paused slightly, "You're looking for…"

Before the question could be finished, He Xingchen rushed forward in surprise from inside the room:

"Brother Qin, you've finally arrived!"

Then he ushered Qin Chuan inside.

"Everyone, this is Fellow Daoist Qin Chuan, who is currently working at Nongling Temple."

He Xingchen took the initiative to introduce herself to everyone in the room.

Qin Chuan's gaze quickly swept across the entire room. Including himself, there were seven Taoists in the private room, all of them quite young.

He then cupped his hands and said, "My name is Qin Chuan. I apologize for coming here and disturbing you fellow Daoists."

As he spoke, he keenly noticed that the Taoist priests sitting in the chairs against the wall didn't even lift their eyelids when they heard the words "Nongling Temple," clearly not taking it seriously.

Instead, a tall, handsome male cultivator dressed in an indigo Taoist robe stood up:

"Brother Qin, I have long admired you. I am Lin Xiaoheng."

"Brother Qin, this is Daoist Lin Xiaoheng, currently the head of the Third Spiritual Vein Management Temple of the County's Inner Vein Bureau," He Xingchen introduced.

Qin Chuan was secretly alarmed.

So young, and already at the level of a sect leader? Or perhaps in charge of a crucial department that controls the earth's spiritual vein resources?

The Earth Vein Bureau is a truly lucrative and powerful position.

"Just a junior observer, nothing more."

Lin Xiaoheng waved his hand and smiled, his attitude extremely approachable.

A secondary view is also a view.

Qin Chuan readily complied, already adept at omitting the word 'deputy' and addressing her directly:
"Lin Guan".

Although the other party was modest, it goes without saying that a vice-director of this age has immense potential.

Moreover, the Earth Vein Bureau is a celestial office with lucrative positions, much like Zhao Dehan's position in my previous life—even as a deputy, the resources that can be mobilized sometimes far exceed those of many regular temples in Nongling Temple, so much so that one wouldn't trade it for a regular temple position.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you are too kind. I troubled you to come here because of this item."

Lin Xiaoheng got straight to the point, reaching out from a brocade pouch at his waist and flicking his wrist—a faint light flashed, and a spiritual plant appeared in his palm.

This plant is entirely golden yellow, with leaves resembling dragon whiskers. Although it has not yet bloomed, the flower buds exude abundant vitality.

"Fellow Daoist Xingchen has surely already mentioned to Brother Qin that my Dragon Beard Orchid has encountered some problems. I wonder if you have any methods to treat it?"

He then placed the spiritual plant on the table.

Qin Chuan glanced at the brocade pouch again, and was secretly alarmed:
"Storage bag? This item is more expensive than a communication talisman, costing at least five or six thousand spirit coins... This Lin Guan must be very wealthy."

The other Taoists in the private room seemed to take it all in stride, their eyes all focused on the spiritual plants.

A young Taoist in black spoke up: "This must be the spiritual herb that Fellow Daoist Xiaoheng prepared for his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, right? It seems that his foundation is damaged."

It's actually a miraculous medicine that helps with foundation building!
Qin Chuan was also startled.

It should be understood that the Heavenly Court's bestowal of a title only grants one the qualification to break through to the next realm; whether one succeeds still depends on one's own destiny.

Most people still need elixirs and pills to help them break through their limits and increase their chances of success.

"May I take a closer look first?"

This was the first time Qin Chuan had ever seen such a precious medicinal herb.

In comparison, the other spiritual plants in the six acres of land he tended paled in comparison.

Lin Xiaoheng gestured, "Please."

Qin Chuan observed intently.

At this moment, someone quietly transmitted a message: "Fellow Daoist Xiaoheng, you have quite the nerve! You're just handing over the Foundation Establishment Elixir to a young man from Nongling Temple? Judging by his age, he's only seventeen or eighteen, and his cultivation is only at the third level of Qi Refining. He might not even have been ordained yet..."

Upon hearing that Qin Chuan might not have been granted the ordination, Lin Xiaoheng was secretly shocked, but in truth, he felt helpless.

He had consulted numerous herbal medicine doctors in the area, and they all said that if the root system was damaged, it was best to harvest the plant in advance to preserve five or six tenths of its medicinal efficacy.

If the dragon's beard orchid is harvested before it blooms, the success rate of establishing a foundation will be greatly reduced.

They had no choice but to seek out many good doctors, but all of them were helpless.

He originally wanted to see the master of the Nine Rivers Spirit Plants, but although Huo Yuanjue's rank was similar to his, his reputation was far superior.

Every year, countless people come to him seeking favors, but the old man has long been annoyed by them and refuses all such requests.

Just when he was almost in despair, He Xingchen claimed to know a fellow Daoist in Nongling Temple who boasted that his skills in cultivating spiritual plants were the best among his peers.

Only then, clinging to the hope of a miracle, did he bring the spiritual plant with him. At this moment, Qin Chuan stared intently at the Dragon Beard Orchid, a glint of silver light suddenly appearing in his eyes.

"A discerning eye for medicine? You've already reached this level... The brilliance in your silver eyes... Is this the third level?"

The black-clad Taoist who had just transmitted the message was secretly startled and immediately abandoned his underestimation.

The ability to discern subtle ailments is a fundamental technique of Nongling Temple, which can be learned at the second level of Qi Refining.

It is said that the first level manifests as gray eyes with a spiritual light, the second level as black eyes, the third level as silver eyes, and the fourth level, when fully mastered, results in golden eyes. Unexpectedly, this young Daoist Nongling has already reached the third level.

Although it is a basic spell, it takes an ordinary Taoist at least one or two years of hard work to cultivate it to the third level.

In an instant, his contempt for Qin Chuan vanished by more than half.

Little did he know that Qin Chuan had mastered this spell in a single day by expending 2 points of magical essence in order to make it easier for him to inspect the spirit orange fields.

Under the gaze of his silver eyes, Qin Chuan said slowly:

"Lin Guan, the roots of this dragon beard orchid are indeed rotten, which seems to be caused by excessive watering with spiritual water."

Lin Xiaoheng nodded:
"Other plant doctors have also made this diagnosis. I didn't take good care of this orchid when I first got it, watering it too frequently, which caused this problem. I wonder if there's any hope for it?"

“That’s only one reason.” Qin Chuan shook his head, his silver eyes focused. “The second reason is that there are pests lurking inside the flower buds, constantly draining the spiritual energy of the orchid. Attacks from both inside and outside are causing the orchid to gradually decline.”

"Pests? This... none of the other plant doctors mentioned this." Lin Xiaoheng's expression hardened, and he couldn't help but wonder—could the other party be bluffing?

He had visited an old plant expert with twenty years of experience; how could he not see it?
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan understood the situation and calmly said, "Some people don't speak up because they genuinely can't see it; others see it but don't say anything—because even if you point it out, it can't be cured, so they simply pretend not to know and only talk about the root cause of the problem."

Nongling Temple is, after all, a celestial palace of the Heavenly Court. Even the most basic spells, once cultivated to the third level, are far beyond the eyesight of ordinary cultivators.

Lin Xiaoheng's expression darkened slightly—those people…

"So, you can not only see the insects inside the flower buds, but also eliminate them?" someone at the table asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Since you can tell me, I can naturally cure you." Faced with the doubt, Qin Chuan revealed a gentle smile. "It will only take a moment."

"Don't boast!" The Taoist in black also became interested.

Lin Xiaoheng asked solemnly, "Can it truly be eliminated?"

"Ah."

Qin Chuan said no more and took the needle box from behind himself—knowing that he had come to treat spiritual plants, how could he not bring this handy tool?

In an instant, all eyes were focused on his hands.

Qin Chuan flicked his fingers, and eighteen flying needles in the box rose up like eighteen tiny flying swords, hovering around him.

buzz~
With a flick of his finger, a flying needle shot towards the dragon's beard orchid, landing steadily on the flower bud.

The next instant, a tiny glimmer of light, as fine as a cow's hair, appeared at the tip of the needle, precisely piercing the flower bud, and then flicking it outwards—and there was now an orchid louse on the table.

This insect is smaller than a flea and almost invisible, yet it can be picked out in an instant by a flying needle.

"Excellent acupuncture technique, excellent skill!"

Everyone was captivated, marveling at the exquisite control employed.

In terms of the art of manipulating objects, most of the people present were far more skilled than Qin Chuan. They could use their strength to control objects, like a brick flying with great force, but such exquisite and subtle control was like performing a ritual in a snail shell. It would take many years of immersion to achieve this.

He Xingchen remained silent, and although she had seen Qin Chuan's acupuncture technique before, she was still amazed when she saw it again.

Qin Chuan remained silent, focused as if performing a delicate surgery.

There are six adult insects and ten eggs inside the flower bud, all of which need to be picked out one by one.

This technique might be accomplished by some senior masters who are skilled in flying needles, but Qin Chuan has observed the needle techniques of the people in Nongling Temple and is confident that apart from the unfathomable Elder Huo, the only one in the temple who can remove insects without harming the flower buds is himself, who has pushed the White Light Silver Needle to an unprecedented sixth level.

After the needle flashed sixteen times, six tiny insects and ten white eggs fell onto the table.

Although subtle, it was clearly visible to the Taoist priests.

Qin Chuan put away the needle and stood up.

Lin Xiaoheng was the first to exclaim, "What superb acupuncture technique!"

Qin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief: "The pests have been eliminated, now only the roots remain a problem."

Lin Xiaoheng asked in a deep voice, "Can Brother Qin cure him?"

After a moment's thought, Qin Chuan finally decided to use that method and nodded, saying, "I'll give it a try."

After speaking, he pointed and was about to point at the orchid.

Just then, the door to the private room opened again, and two more people walked in.

Just as the others were about to step forward to greet him, Qin Chuan noticed that even Lin Xiaoheng had taken the initiative to stand up, indicating that the newcomer was of a higher status, at least a Zheng Guan level figure.

But no one knew who the visitor was.

He had no time to be distracted, focusing solely on mobilizing the internal energy within his body.

The two newcomers were also drawn to Qin Chuan's technique.

The man, clearly surrounded by many Taoists and exuding an extraordinary aura, was immediately astonished when he saw a stream of true energy, resembling a blue dragon and brimming with vitality like a spiritual root, emanating from Qin Chuan's fingertip:
"This...it's actually the Yi Wood Azure Sky Technique!"

　This one is being posted early, at noon, to meet the requirement of reaching 60,000 words and getting recommended ahead of schedule.

(End of this chapter)