Chapter 2: Withering and Flourishing

Using the bulldozer method of reading, I have read through one bookshelf after another. I have finished the first floor and completed half of the second floor.

"The Tree of Life and Death?" Granny Sun glanced over, stood up, and entered the building: "Wait a moment."

Hehe, do not hurt yourself, for I can defeat a Ninth-Rank Guardian!

Then each take ten trees and mix their sap

They are all highly toxic... I am at the ninth rank, and can only take ten of them

Observing all realms, pure and untainted, is referred to as the wisdom of the great round mirror

Everything suddenly came to a standstill, as if it were a moment yet felt like an eternity. The senses resumed their function, the pain vanished, leaving only a sense of ease and comfort

Thank you, Granny Sun! Chu Li politely rolled up the scroll and cupped his fists in salute

On the bluestone steps, there was a grandmaster chair, in which sat a silver-haired old woman, thin and short, joyfully reading a book. Her silver hair was neatly styled, clean and tidy.

The urgent task is to improve quality

The Autumn Leaf Temple possesses two major sacred texts, one being the Great Wisdom Source Sutra and the other the Withering and Flourishing Sutra. The Great Wisdom Source Sutra has been mastered, while the Withering and Flourishing Sutra cannot be practiced due to the absence of the Withering and Flourishing Tree diagram

With a loud rumble, the sky seemed to explode with thunder, and he was jolted as if struck by lightning, rendered completely immobile.

"Good... good!" Li Yue gritted his teeth

He is a tree, a gust of wind, a stone, a piece of land

Chu Li nodded: "You can give it a try."

As Li Yue ran back carrying two boxes, the five most severely affected snow orchids regained their vitality, and Chu Li also breathed a sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped death

Grandma Sun looked at him with a smile and said, "Quite interesting!"

Touching a plum tree, he was instantly filled with a profound sense of connection, as if his senses were intertwined. He seemed to transform into the plum tree itself, absorbing the warmth of the earth, the brightness of the sunlight, and the freshness of the air, all of which were converted into strength, nourishing his very being

Zhuo Feiyang ... ... "Chu Li had a faint cold smile at the corner of his mouth"

The snow orchids with black spots are severely weakened, drooping their heads, and some are even on the verge of death. If it were not for the presence of the withering and flourishing scripture, several of them would soon perish.

Li Yue maintained his composure, his face neither flushed nor his breath heavy, with a smile that did not wane: "Are we really going to compare?"

Zhuo Feiyang opposes him at every turn. If it were not for his two lifetimes of experience and great wisdom, he would have long since collapsed. Now that he has mastered the Breaking Illusion Sword Technique, he no longer needs to endure this frustration

Practice with the fragrance of the plum tree, it only takes four years

Grandma Sun fixed her gaze on the book and waved her hand

Early the next morning, he practiced the Breaking Illusion Sword Technique twice, then took a boat across the lake to the small island where the library was located. On the island stood only a magnificent bronze tower.

Chu Li lightly turned her wrist and made a thrust. Li Yue seemed to obediently bring his fist forward, only to let out a cry of agony, half of his body going numb and unresponsive.

The library sparkles with brilliance, and a person standing below appears as insignificant as an ant.

He flicked and struck with his sword sheath, precisely at the moment when Li Yue's new and old strength intersected, when his muscles were at their slowest point of movement, making it appear as though Li Yue was obediently waiting, offering no resistance

"What is it?" Chu Li asked casually, still immersed in the wonderful sensations and the aspirations for the future

In the snow orchid garden, there are a total of 120 snow orchids. Entering it feels like stepping into a flawless world, where the soul becomes clear, truly a great enjoyment

Ah... Li Yue cried out, rubbing his arm vigorously

The master used his connections to send him to the Duke's residence. Upon his arrival, he realized that he had not established a foundation and was lagging behind others, requiring several times the effort to catch up.

I hope that the Sutra of Withering and Flourishing can compensate for the foundation laid, allowing me to formally cultivate my internal energy

Chu Li smiled in the gentle breeze, filled with new hope, and everything became beautiful

"The Broken Illusion Sword, is it coming again?"

After a moment, there was a realization: "It is a dining insect!"

Chu Li exhaled a breath of frustration, returned to the west chamber, lay on the bed, and stared blankly at the coffered ceiling.

You cannot defeat me

Chu Li sat in the snow orchid garden, with each hand touching a snow orchid, transferring the healthy fragrance of the snow orchid into the one with black spots

"What illness is it?" Li Yue said anxiously, "This is a disaster!"

The green mulberry flower resembles a chrysanthemum, delicate and slender, yet its fragrance is pure and crisp, far surpassing that of various trees. It can take three years to cultivate the minor pulse-cleansing technique!

He is full of confidence, and those with inner strength are like adults compared to children

A small boat glides across the lake, where the bottom is composed of blue sand, making the water exceptionally clear. Fish swim leisurely, and clusters of lotus flowers sway gently in the breeze.

Opening this image without kneeling, Chu Li was the first. She chuckled to herself, this little Chu is indeed extraordinary

Brother, something bad has happened!" Li Yue hurriedly ran over, interrupting his daydream.

"Is the Broken Illusion Sword Technique really that powerful?" Li Yue said in disbelief, "Does it have such great power even without internal energy?"

It is the same no matter how many times, come on!

He felt a mix of regret and secret delight, as it was evident that they did not value the collection of miscellaneous books in the library, failing to understand that knowledge is power, and when transformed into wisdom, it is a formidable force that rivals martial prowess.

"Come on! ... ... I haven't even shown my ultimate move yet!" Li Yue said with a flushed face.

He was the only person in the building, as most people had gone to the training hall, which was dedicated to martial arts secrets, and very few came to the library.

Chu Li bid farewell and departed, sailing back to the East Garden

The Qing Sang flower is originally a ninth-grade spiritual herb. Due to its beauty, Miss Xiao Qi, the third young lady, took a liking to it, so some were planted in the East Garden

The snow orchid resembles an ordinary orchid, its leaves are crystal clear and translucent like ice and snow, a marvel of nature's creation

... ...

Upon activating the Great Round Mirror of Wisdom, Chu Li's surroundings transformed abruptly

The fragrance of the plum tree surged into his body, and he instinctively activated the minor washing pulse technique, completing a full circulation in an instant, with efficiency far surpassing that of the past

Chu Li snorted softly

Upon opening it, Chu Li immediately took a step back

Upon hearing that Xuelan was ill, Chu Li hurriedly made his way to the Xuelan Garden

He rose and walked to the center of the courtyard, looking up at the sky with a blissful smile.

"Take this punch!" Li Yue shouted

Chu Li followed the previous step, and the sword sheath pressed against his throat: "You are dead again!"

Chu Li said: "Brother Li, are you able to obtain the Heartbreak Grass and the Soul-Searching Grass?"

Upon thinking of this, he shook his head

Haha! Li Yue laughed heartily, and his fist wind became even more vigorous

The dew worm resembles a strand of hair, has a length comparable to a fingernail, enjoys consuming dew, possesses highly toxic saliva, and devours vitality

What is a "caterpillar"? Li Yue stared blankly with wide eyes

"Watch the fist!" Li Yue feared that if he did not take action soon, Chu Li would utter even more unpleasant words, and he immediately launched a Black Tiger Steals Heart attack.

Hehe... Li Yue was taken aback, then chuckled, feeling a sense of relief: "It's a pity you haven't established a foundation; otherwise, you would be another Zhuo Feiyang!"

Thus, he was filled with ambition, eager to fully enjoy the wealth and splendor of this world, to wield supreme power, and to possess beautiful women like clouds.

Sigh..." Granny Sun shook her head and said, "There are fewer and fewer young people who read books, each one is restless, their prospects are limited, it is rare to find someone who loves books like you!"

As soon as he stepped in, he felt a sense of temporal and spatial disorientation, as if he had returned to the library of his original world, where rows of bookshelves were suffused with the fragrance of ink

Oh? He suddenly stopped, took a deep breath to suppress his joy, and confirmed once again that this page indeed depicted a withered tree!

Chu Li lazily thrust out a sword, and Li Yue let out another "ah" of a miserable cry, staggering backward

Has my luck finally arrived? The withered and flourishing tree diagram that I never hoped for has truly appeared, which is akin to winning the lottery in terms of probability

Li Yue leaned closer and whispered, "Brother, what enmity do you have with Zhuo Feiyang?"

She entered the building and soon came out, handing him a scroll: "This is an authentic work by Li Yuming, a gift for you."

Two bronze giant tripods, each three stories high, stand at the entrance

"Forget it, I don't have the talent for swordsmanship." Li Yue hurriedly waved his hand: "Your sword technique will definitely allow you to pass through the Nine-Rank Tower."

"Drink!" Li Yue shouted loudly, like a thunderclap, and with that momentum, he threw a punch, employing all his skills.

Everything about Li Yue, the subtle movements of his muscles, the circulation of his internal energy, the changes in his thoughts, all appeared clearly before Chu Li, as if viewed through a mirror

The sword sheath of Chu Li stopped before his neck: "Brother Li, you are dead!"

The Withering and Flourishing Tree, a legendary entity, exists above the Thirty-Three Heavens, untainted and indestructible, permanently residing in the world, enduring countless eons, with an immeasurable lifespan

Alright! Li Yue hurriedly ran out

Having advanced in rank, I have come into contact with higher-grade spiritual herbs, allowing me to practice the Minor Pulse Technique more swiftly. I will establish my foundation early and surely seize Zhao Ying for myself

How could something from thirty-three days possibly appear in the mortal realm, so Chu Li did not pay much attention to it. The remnants of his previous life's habits—his strong curiosity—led him to comprehend the Sutra of Decay and Prosperity, after all, it is said that mastering this could grant one immortality

Chu Li did not pay attention; Li Yue was unaware of his own abilities, and Li Yue was also timid, always seeking stability in everything

In his eyes, Li Yue instantly transformed into a skeleton. As his thoughts stirred, the skeleton was immediately covered with muscles, white veins and green inner strength. Images appeared in Li Yue's mind: Chu Li receiving a punch to the chest, Chu Li falling to the ground, and with a pale face, conceding defeat.

He furrowed his brow in contemplation, searching within the palace of memory

The Great Round Mirror Wisdom is a combination of the Heavenly Eye and the Mind Reading

At this moment, one or two black spots on the leaves of the fifty snow orchids are particularly striking

The medicinal garden is divided into nine ranks, and the guards of the medicinal garden hold a much higher rank than those of the flower garden, at least at the eighth rank. Only those who are well-versed in flowers and plants are qualified to enter the ninth rank of the medicinal garden

Chu Li held a slender grass stick, carefully applying the grass juice, using poison to counteract poison, which could restore the black spots to their original whiteness, but would also cause the non-black areas to turn black

Nonsense

Xuelan sells each plant for ten taels outside. If they die, the household will impose a fine of fifteen taels. If more than fifty plants die, it will not only be a monetary penalty, but may also result in a reduction in quality and reassignment from the East Garden

He appeared on the steps at the door: "Grandma Sun, this picture is quite interesting, I would like to copy it."

Chu Li placed the Qingfeng Sword on the stone table and picked up the scabbard: "Do not injure yourself!"

He had practiced swordsmanship before, but it was worlds apart from this sword technique, and he could never match Zhuo Feiyang.

Having entered the palace for one year and having passed through two levels, Zhuo Feiyang is now an eighth-rank guard, a talented individual with boundless prospects

Chu Li bowed once more and quietly entered the building

He closed his eyes, his mind a blank slate, as an immeasurable force obstructed his memory of the withered and flourishing tree. How intriguing; it seems to be a true image

Chu Li huffed in annoyance: "Where are the hidden weapons!"

Chu Li extended his hand, connecting his senses with Xuelan, leaving nothing hidden from view

Brother, shall I invite Elder Meng to take a look?

He could not help but laugh heartily, what a remarkable text on the cycles of life and death, indeed impressive

Chu Li smiled and said, "Again?"

Alright, then let's compare.

He hung a scroll above the head of the bed, seated himself in the lotus position, glanced a few times, closed his eyes, opened them again for a while, then closed them once more, repeating this without end, attempting to construct a visualization

Grandma Sun! Chu Li stepped forward to pay her respects

Li Yue widened his eyes: "What kind of sword technique is this?"

Within the scope encompassed by the Great Circular Mirror of Wisdom, all things in heaven and earth are thoroughly understood, including both the internal and external aspects of the human body, such as bones, muscles, blood, meridians, vital energy, and internal strength, as well as the images within the mind

Chu Li retracted the sword sheath: "It is all the same regardless of the boxing technique."

"Xuelan is sick, hurry up and take a look!" Li Yue pulled him and ran.

Haha! Haha!" Li Yue laughed even louder

"This is really damn strange!" Li Yue rubbed his wrist, staring at Chu Li in confusion, "You shouldn't have seen my set of boxing techniques before."

He leaned over and sniffed, the stench was pungent, and he frowned, saying: "It is not rust spot disease"

A continuous rumbling echoed in his ears, everything before his eyes was shaking, and a fierce force drilled into his body, threatening to tear him apart

Chu Li flicked the sword sheath and said, "Come on!"

The Broken Illusion Sword Technique carries the essence of the Dugu Nine Swords, and when combined with his Great Round Mirror Wisdom, its power is extraordinarily formidable. It seems that I am now capable of battling Zhuo Feiyang!

Since Chu Li came to the library to study, he has only seen Granny Sun and has not encountered anyone else

Stop being so verbose, do you agree or not

The intangible shell surrounding the body was shattered, and the restrained senses were suddenly unbound, spreading freely and infinitely, merging seamlessly with the surroundings, indistinguishable from one another

After toiling for a long time without achieving anything, he gritted his teeth and activated the Great Round Mirror of Wisdom, observing the withering and flourishing of the tree

Chu Li waved his left hand

Li Yue scratched his head awkwardly, a gesture indicating his distrust of Chu Li, but given the gravity of the matter, it was prudent to be cautious

Li Yue did not dare to get involved; his hands were rough and clumsy, unable to achieve the precision and meticulousness of Chu Li.

After mastering the Great Wisdom Sutra, one achieves an extraordinary memory and intellect that far surpasses that of ordinary people

At the beginning of his entry into the mansion, he, along with other newcomers, underwent training in the mansion's regulations. He was unable to practice martial arts and faced disdain, ridicule, and humiliation. This led to the emergence of a formidable rival, Zhuo Feiyang—a martial arts prodigy. Zhuo Feiyang had already passed the Nine-Rank Tower and had become an Eighth-Rank Guard, while he remained a lowly servant without any rank.

Upon seeing the diagram of the withered and flourishing tree, one must ask oneself if it is time for a change in fortune

"What a joke!" Chu Li said irritably, "Are you afraid to compare?"

... ...

"Do not mention him, it is disheartening!" Chu Li waved his hand and sheathed the Qingfeng sword on the table

He felt as if he had delivered himself right to her door, and Chu Li knew his tricks, having cracked them in advance. This time, he would use a set of techniques he had never employed before

He released the plum tree and tried other trees, such as the willow, pine, and birch... After that, he explored various flowers and grasses, ultimately choosing the green mulberry flower

Currently, Zhuo Feiyang's reputation is soaring, while he remains an obscure servant, their statuses are worlds apart. Can Zhao Ying withstand Zhuo Feiyang's relentless pursuit? He cannot help but feel a sense of urgency

Li Yue curiously asked: "Aren't you classmates? Your relationship should be quite good."

This is also a depiction of a withered and flourishing tree, the towering giant tree seems to leap out of the painting, its immense and vast momentum feels almost tangible, evoking an impulse to prostrate oneself in reverence

In the East Garden, one enjoys a carefree life, and it is the garden of Miss Xiao Qi, being close to the water and the pavilion, appreciated by Miss Xiao, bringing endless benefits

Once you enter the gates of the Hou family, it is as deep as the sea; within the Duke of Yi's residence, it is not a harmonious atmosphere.