Chapter 9: Competition

Gu Li is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate others. He likes to use underhanded tactics. Such a person must be dealt with severely until he no longer dares to resist

"Truly worried for Brother Gu," Chu Li shook her head and laughed, "Do you think I would be unprepared for such a low-level trick? The Moonlight Orchid is not so easily nurtured!"

"You are looking for death!" shouted Zhou Yuting as he stood up abruptly, slamming the table with his hand.

"Brother Zhou, you might as well keep quiet!" Chu Li waved his hand and turned to Gu Li, saying, "Meeting in person is not as good as hearing about someone; I truly did not expect Brother Gu to be this kind of person. I am disappointed, very disappointed!"

Chu Li nodded

He despises it when others say that he owes his current success to his father. Every word from Chu Li is like a knife, piercing directly into his heart.

Zhou Yuting snorted: "Be careful, those with the surname Chu!"

Gu Litong coldly said: "Those with the surname Chu, do not be too complacent, such good fortune does not come every time!"

Zhou Yuting handed a packet of seeds to Chu Li, saying, "Take this, these seeds are quite precious!"

Chu Li set down his wine cup and leaned closer to Zhou Yuting, saying: "If I were to get hurt, the Moonlight Orchid would have no one to care for it, and it would surely die a lot. Just think about how great a loss that would be? ... Will the residence cover for you just because you are Zhou Lao's son?"

Chu Li smiled, finally feeling a bit more confident. If one wishes to leverage the influence of the Duke's residence, one must hold a considerable position and make contributions within the household. A mere servant, subjected to bullying, has no place to seek justice.

The two individuals walked back and arrived in front of the southern gate of the Duke's residence

"Fortuitous success." Gu Litong nodded proudly, having cultivated a seventh-grade spiritual herb as an eighth-grade guard, and it is a rare type of spiritual herb, truly a genius.

The two individuals drank to their heart's content, enjoyed a hearty meal, and then went downstairs to take a stroll around the city, eventually arriving in front of a towering building that reached the clouds.

On the second day, the winds were calm, and on the third morning, Chu Li was practicing the Xiaoxi Pulse Technique with the Dream Flower. The essence of the Dream Flower was even purer than that of the Moonlight Orchid.

Chuli said: "Then it is settled."

"Do you think the court will take you seriously?" Zhou Yuting said proudly, "I was just joking!"

Chu Li returned to the Moonlight Orchid Garden, where the Dream Flower held the utmost importance. The competition with Gu Li was merely a pastime, a way to refresh her spirit.

Chu Li revealed a smile: "What decision has the steward made?"

Then I shall wait and see

On the left side, Gu Litong and Zhou Yuting stand in front of the stone lion, waving to Li Yue from a distance.

Chu Li said: "Brother Gu, can you really support the Moonlight Orchid?"

Su Ru's gaze shifted away from the Dream Flower: "The competition over at the Herb Garden is intense, and they cannot decide what flowers you will plant."

More importantly, the Epiphyllum flower blooms at night, lasting only for one night. Even those who have seen it may think that it only bears fruit and does not bloom.

... ...

Has Brother Gu survived?

Chu Li waved his hand and did not respond, smiling as he said: "Brother Gu has calculated well... How about this, since we are competing, let the Baicao Academy set the questions!"

This is the Invitation Moon Tower; why not step inside and have a look? Li Yue warmly invited Chu Li to go in and broaden his horizons

This Chu Li is very insidious and cannot be outsmarted; one must win him in a fair and upright manner

"It is not your place to lecture me!" Zhou Yuting said with a cold smile, "As for you, Chu Li, have you gone mad in your quest for fame to dare to do such a thing!"

What does Brother Gu wish to discuss?

The growth of the Ephemeral Dream Flower is quite good

Chu Li waved his hand and shook his head, indicating that his martial arts skills were not yet complete, and it was not appropriate for him to expose himself.

Chu Li sighed softly; her lightness of foot was truly remarkable, evoking genuine admiration

He speculates that Moonlight Island cultivates Moonlight Orchids using a unique secret method; in the same environment, with the same soil and climate, it would be impossible to sustain them without this secret technique

Li Yue shook his head in frustration and said, "This Gu Litong is truly a petty person!"

It seems that you truly know.

Even with the "Book of Withering and Flourishing," he would not be arrogant, and naturally would not accept this

"Immortal must..." Chu Li searched in his mind

Detoxifying the body can enhance lightness skills cultivation. This rare spirit herb, is it considered seventh-grade?

He glanced at Gu Litong and Zhou Yuting, shaking his head: "You two are trying to rely on numbers to create a false impression of strength, making a mountain out of a molehill. Sigh... Instead of resorting to such despicable tactics, it would be better to focus on the right path!"

From the perspective of psychology and the proud technology of flora, it aims to comprehensively strike and destroy his courage to oppose.

Estimated to be around sixth rank.

Gu Litong hummed and said, "What do you want to say?"

Alright, it's settled then! Gu Litong said with a snort

Okay, it's settled then!Su Ru patted her jade palm and said, "Alright, that's settled. Let's go!"

Chu Li said, "Very well, I can provide you with Moonlight Orchids, one plant per month, totaling twelve plants in a year. I am curious to see if you can succeed, Brother Gu!"

Chu Li nodded

Then I must first report to the people at the Criminal Court!" Chu Li shook his head, truly, Zhou Yuting's methods are quite lowly and unscrupulous

"Brother Zhou," Chu Li looked at him in surprise, "If it weren't for Brother Zhou, what would you be? Do you think everything you have is earned by yourself?"

He entered the residence with Li Yue and took a small boat back to the East Garden

Gu Litong hurriedly got up and followed him out, fearing that Zhou Yuting might do something foolish. At this moment, Chu Li could not be provoked at all; if anything were to happen, the Duke's residence would certainly not let it go easily

Zhou Yuting snorted with a calm face.

Chu Li, can you keep it alive

Immortals must have it. Su Ru said, "It is the finest horse feed, which has been lost. There is still a batch of seeds in the mansion."

Brilliant and fleeting like fireworks.

The survival rate of immortals is inherently low, and only under the right combination of timing and conditions can a small patch grow. To this day, people have not explored their habits; some say they require blood for irrigation, others claim they need drastic temperature changes, and still others suggest the dung of wild stallions. There are various theories, but no definitive conclusion has been reached.

"That is true, we cannot let the momentum of our East Garden diminish," Su Ru furrowed her brows and said, "but your thoughts should be focused on the Tanmenghua now"

Chu Li shook his head and said, "Brother Gu, give you another year, can you research and develop Moonlight Orchid?"

"What a delight! Delightful, haha!" Li Yue burst into hearty laughter, raised his cup, and drank it all in one go, laughing joyfully.

Sigh... Li Yue shook his head and sighed, as if Chu Li had missed a timeless regret.

Chu Li sat up straight, took a sip of wine from his glass, and said leisurely, "Brother Zhou, it was just a few honest words. Compared to the false accusation you made earlier, it's not worth mentioning!"

To raise a moonlight orchid, one really needs luck. He has been researching for a year, but with little progress. He even bought soil from the Moonlight Island, but to no avail.

Shut up! Zhou Yuting shouted angrily, "Don't mention my father!"

Chu Li sighed, "Apart from having a good father, you are utterly lacking in merit. Being threatened by Gu Litong and still being so enthusiastic, if Old Zhou knew about this, he would probably be so angry that he would roll his eyes!"

Gu Litong looked at Chu Li's smiling face, secretly sighing at his deep and cunning city, very sinister, he is a formidable opponent.

Chu Li sighed softly and said, "I'll speak frankly with you, Brother Zhou."

Of course! Gu Litong snorted and said: "I will succeed soon, but there is no Moonlight Orchid at Qicao Xuan this year!"

She waved her hand and gracefully departed, appearing to move slowly, yet vanished in the blink of an eye

Zhou Yuting scoffed, "Are you afraid of losing?"

Gu Litong's expression turned unpleasant as he darkly questioned, "Haven't you adapted to the climate here?"

Chu Li looked at Gu Litong and said, "Since we are to compete, let us compete fairly and not resort to any underhanded tactics"

You can give it a try

Strive for excellence, ensuring that nothing is left to chance

What grade of spiritual herb is it?

Chu Li is confident in successfully establishing a foundation within three months

Zhou Yuting gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly: hypocritical scoundrel, damned, truly damned

Chu Li approached, smiling as he clasped his fists together: "Brother Gu, Brother Zhou, do you have any further instructions?"

Haha... Li Yue laughed heartily a couple of times, feeling utterly delighted

Even if he manages to grow these seeds, he is still on par with Gu Litong; if he fails to grow them, he is not as good as him

Chu Li nodded slightly

Gu Litong and Zhou Yuting wore grim expressions, glaring angrily at Chu Li.

The soft sound of footsteps approached, and Chu Li saw through the large round mirror that Su Ru was gracefully coming, her apricot-yellow silk robe fluttering.

Zhou Yuting looked at him impatiently

"Can you really make it bloom?" Su Ru hurriedly asked

A peculiar type of grass, somewhat of a nuisance, has little medicinal effect on humans but is a remarkable substance for horses, capable of enhancing their physical condition

Su Ru lightly waved her jade hand and said: "Forget it, did you bet with Gu Litong?"

Is the steward trying to remind me of the timing for harvesting

Chu Li nodded: "There is no way, he is aggressive, and not engaging in battle will make him underestimate the East Garden"

Indeed, the cloud herb is rarely seen. I have some seeds of the cloud herb here; Brother Chu may try planting them.

Chu Li stood up and clasped his fists: "Chief Steward Su."

Chu Li raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, "Brother Zhou, are you threatening me, intending to resort to violence?"

"... ... is." Chu Li slowly nodded

Li Yue snorted, "These two fellows, what tricks are they trying to play again"

"What does it mean?" Gu Litong frowned

I certainly would not violate the regulations of the residence!" Zhou Yuting smiled and said, "But those outside the residence may not show you any favor!

Such clumsy words are actually quite amusing!" Chu Li shook his head and said with a smile

Isn't it still not too intense? Su Ru shook her head and said: The young lady is a bit impatient, asking me to resolve this matter swiftly and decisively

Gu Litong sneered, "You, with the surname Chu, are quite insidious; you still have a hidden card up your sleeve!"

Born in a desolate place, where human presence is rare, it breaks through the soil within a month, blooms, bears fruit, and then decays into mud along with its branches and leaves, leaving no trace, much like the fleeting dream of an ephemeron.

"Oh, is this the Ephemeral Dream Flower?" Su Ruxing exclaimed with wide eyes in astonishment, "No way, it has grown so quickly?"

A string of lanterns illuminated the entrance as bright as day, while the palm-sized copper nails on the red door gleamed. The stone lions crouching on either side appeared fierce and menacing, exuding an intimidating presence as if they were about to pounce.

Gu Litong hummed, "Since you have already researched it, why bother putting in more effort"

The lights are dazzling, resembling the palaces in the heavens, while the sound of silk and bamboo instruments is ethereal, as if it comes from the clouds above

This should not pose a challenge to the Baicao Courtyard

Chu Li smiled and said: "It can adapt, but some personalities still need to be understood, after all, its nature is delicate and particular"

"Brother Gu, you seem to be feeling guilty," Chu Li said with a smile

I will do my best

Have you heard of Yun Yao Cao, Brother Chu?

"You wait!" Zhou Yuting gritted her teeth and turned to leave

I will keep a close watch, so as not to miss the blooming season

One may find seeds with good fortune, but such luck is rare; hence, the dream flower is extremely precious

Cough cough. Gu Litong cleared his throat and said with a smile: "Brother Chu, to be honest, I am still a bit unconvinced. I feel that you might have just been lucky, and I would like to have a serious sparring session with you."

If you can obtain the Dream Flower, you will have made a significant contribution, and the young lady will reward you handsomely