Chapter 85: Chapter 77: Mandala Grass & Recovery Potion_2
After passing the written exam, you will move on to the next round of practical operations.
After the practical results are out, a ranking will be compiled, combining the written scores.
The top ten ranked individuals can enter the provincial finals.
Following this pattern, the top three provincially can enter the Flame Country Competition.
This time, it’s actually equivalent to a preliminary test.
"By the way, Director Suna, I read in the library that Mandala Grass actually has a Mandala Grass King."
"I want to know what distinguishes the Mandala Grass King from the Mandala Grass."
"What are the specific effects of the Mandala Grass King?"
Upon hearing Ye Bai’s question, Suna slowly said, "Mandala Grass has quite a few effects – it’s both the main ingredient for crafting Recovery Potions and one of the materials for Awakening Potions."
"The Mandala Grass King is even more effective; the potions crafted from it are several times better than those made from ordinary Mandala Grass."
"As for distinguishing the Mandala Grass King, they actually look quite similar."
"However, the leaves of the Mandala Grass King have a faint golden line."
"From a grade perspective, the Mandala Grass King belongs to Tier Three herbs, but in terms of value, it can rival Tier Five treasures."
"Because the Mandala Grass King rarely appears, it’s essentially a genetic mutation of the Mandala Grass – out of a million plants, not even one Mandala Grass King might emerge."
Suna sighed slightly.
"Honestly, for healers like us, the Mandala Grass King is just a legend."
"If I could see a Mandala Grass King before I die, my life would be complete."
"My rival at First High School is skilled in cultivating Mandala Grass, but despite years of work, hasn’t even seen a shadow of the Mandala Grass King."
"Serves her right."
After hearing Suna’s words, Ye Bai’s mouth twitched.
Ye Bai didn’t know if she deserved it, but he did know that Suna’s rival had actually grown the Mandala Grass King.
She just wasn’t aware of it.
The Shen Mountain Middle School bus carried students to Jiaying First High School.
Jiaying First High School is located on the edge of the Old Town; the campus is quite old but covers a large area.
They also have a small Secret Realm for nurturing Pet Beasts, though not as comprehensive as Shen Mountain Middle School’s.
Twenty minutes later, the school bus arrived at the gate of Jiaying First High School.
"Suna, you’ve finally come."
At the school gate, a woman in a red dress, with a rose-head hat appeared.
Her right eye was covered by long hair, showing contempt in her left eye.
"Don’t bother looking. This time, Jiaying First High School will surely win. Our contestants have been nurtured meticulously by myself."
"Unlike you, with that director title yet not doing your job. If I were Principal Liu, I would’ve fired you long ago, rather than having you occupy a spot and do nothing."
This must be Director Suna’s rival, the students thought to themselves.
"Ha! Tiantian, are you afraid of losing to my students, hence resorting to words to provoke me?"
Suna sneered, knowing exactly her intentions.
"Come on, let’s not waste time. Let’s get this over quickly."
"However, this time, we didn’t prepare presedated Mandala Grass."
"You can personally pick from the garden and configure the herbs into potions."
"Friendly reminder: the better the quality of the Mandala Grass, the better the effect of the Recovery Potion."
Upon hearing Tiantian’s words, Suna’s face changed dramatically.
"Tiantian, the danger level of Mandala Grass is close to Tier Three. If a student gets hurt while pulling up Mandala Grass, can you bear the responsibility?"
When Mandala Grass is uprooted, it emits a sharp, shrill scream, capable of stimulating the heart, causing it to beat violently and leading to short-term cerebral ischemia, resulting in fainting.
Additionally, handling Mandala Grass includes an essential step: plucking the top leaves in sequence.
With each pluck, the Mandala Grass emits a sharp scream.
To prevent the Mandala Grass from affecting students, Jiaying First High School historically has had Tiantian sedate the grass before students perform experiments.
"No worries, I have noise-canceling earplugs here that completely block the sound of the Mandala Grass."
"Do you think I’d make arrangements without thorough preparations?"
"Suna, you’re just as timid as always."
Tiantian coldly mocked.
She led many students to the vast herbal fields, densely populated by countless Mandala Grass plants.
Their top leaves looked somewhat like radishes.
"The competition time is one hour."
"Including the time for searching Mandala Grass and configuring Recovery Potions."
"Besides Mandala Grass, the other ingredients for Recovery Potions and the experiment tables have already been prepared."
"Everyone, please be cautious."
"When picking Mandala Grass, make sure to put on the earplugs, and wear the health wristbands we’ve prepared."
The health wristbands can monitor your heart rate, and if abnormal, it will alert us and relay the signal to the wristband’s terminal. We will dispatch someone for emergency inspection."
Tiantian was also afraid students might get injured, so she made comprehensive preparations.
"Suna, my students have been cultivating Mandala Grass with me since entering school, and they have a keen intuition for the quality of Mandala Grass far beyond ordinary people."
"Haha, this time’s first place is definitely a student from Jiaying First High School."
"Thanks to your Shen Mountain Middle School’s Earth Puppets."
At this point, Ye Bai overheard classmates whispering among themselves.
"Our school rewards the Earth Puppets for first place; what does Jiaying First High School reward?"
"I heard Jiaying First High School rewards any herb from the herbal fields, along with a thumb-sized piece of Shennong Soil."
"This Shennong Soil and Earth Puppets are a perfect match."
"It’s like having a portable herb garden."
Shennong Soil is like a super fertile land in QQ Space, improving soil fertility and allowing seeds to rapidly root and sprout, shortening the planting time.
Once plants absorb Shennong Soil, the land returns to its original state.
"Alright, the contest is about to start, everyone get your protective gear on."
Ye Bai noticed that among the protective gear were steel wire gloves, showing thorough preparation.
Mandala Grass’s above-ground leaves resemble radishes, while the parts buried underground are like a newborn child.
It has sharp teeth, and once bitten, it doesn’t loosen its grip.
Ye Bai remembered the weak spot of Mandala Grass is in the center of its brow, and a sharp jab with a fingernail can paralyze it.
Mandala Grass quality is assessed by the part buried underground.
If it looks scrawny, it’s underdeveloped, with poor quality.
If it resembles a cartoon baby, nice and chubby, then it’s extremely high quality Mandala Grass.
Ye Bai, in rain boots, stepped into the muddy ground; the soil was exceedingly soft and fine, with not a single pebble – clear signs of meticulous care for these Mandala Grass plants.
Already, a student had grabbed a Mandala Grass leaf and was trying to pull it out as if it were a radish.
He exerted all his strength, face flushed red, yet it didn’t budge – seemingly united with the earth.
"Your method of pulling Mandala Grass is incorrect."
Ye Bai approached and patted the student’s shoulder, speaking loudly.
The student showed a puzzled expression – Ye Bai’s words were inaudible behind his super earplugs.
Ye Bai pointed at the Mandala Grass and demonstrated pulling it, gesturing a large X with his hands.
The student immediately understood what Ye Bai was trying to convey.
Ye Bai grasped one of the Mandala Grass leaves gently, pulling without effort, as the Mandala Grass easily lifted out of the earth.