High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1900: Chapter 121: Dew-Gathering Pan

Taking ash from the incense burner in front of the shrine through the archway, throwing it gently over the left shoulder, the young wizards of Astronomy Class 08-1 could proceed through the arched stone door and enter the Hundred Herb Gardens.

The scenery in the garden remains unchanged for thousands of years.

Sunshine shines brightly on the left, while mist envelops the right; magic divides the entire world into bizarre and colorful segments, with climate changing every five steps and environments transforming every ten steps. Occasionally, a Rabbit Master with legs would sprint past them, and from time to time, an Earth Dragon would swim by, stirring earth waves.

Professor Li, carrying a palm-sized dew collector tray, walked at the forefront of the team, leading the way while briefly introducing various knowledge related to White Dew. His voice was as gentle as ever, yet unaffected by the environment, allowing everyone to hear clearly:

”Autumn is metal, gold is white; at this time, grasses and trees condense smoke, humidity stagnates without flowing, and as yin grows heavier, dew condenses and is white, known as White Dew.”

”The ancients said ’White Dew, do not expose the body,’ based on the increasing yin during the White Dew season, when summer heat retreats and autumn cool arrives, exposing the body easily invites cold invasion... Here, ’exposing the body’ means its literal sense, baring the body. So, if some students liked to swim in Lin Zhong Lake during the summer, you must make all kinds of protections in this season before entering the water...”

Upon hearing this, Xin Fat Man couldn’t help but whisper in Zheng Qing’s ear: ”Just kidding, with so many Fishmen at the Lin Bell Lake bottom, anyone swimming in the lake would hang seven or eight amulets on them.”

Zheng Qing originally frowned, straining to memorize the professor’s words — without paper and pen, unable to take notes, he had to rely on this clumsy method — the relentless chatter of Fat Man, combined with recently passing a small area of thunderously booming fields, instantly shattered the knowledge he was hearing.

The young cost student immediately turned, glaring angrily at Fat Man.

The Fat Wizard, quite unaware, shrugged: ”Don’t look at me with that expression, it’s not like you’re going to remember much. I’m just helping you escape this pain sooner... After class, go find the professor for the handouts, or directly copy Doctor’s class notes, isn’t it more convenient? I bet half the class thinks this way.”

Zheng Qing looked around, indeed, aside from a few limited individuals, most of the class’s attention was on the magical plants with peculiar colors along the ridges and paths, even Jiang Yu split half her focus controlling Li Meng.

This made him silently breathe a sigh of relief.

Were it not for carrying the label ’cost student,’ he too wished to be as carefree as Fat Man.

Then he noticed Doctor Xiao engrossed in staring at a bush of Fox Gloves — a toxic magical plant that could treat cardiac exhaustion — worryingly nudging him.

”Don’t get distracted!” Zheng Qing kindly reminded: ”I’m relying on your notes to review the lessons. Fox Gloves aren’t as good-looking as foxes; I’ll get Poseidon to play with you later.”

The short Warlock glanced at the cost student speechlessly.

”Discussing pet care so artfully, you’ve really progressed this year.” Doctor Xiao retorted, then countered: ”You’re relying on my notes, then what about me? Who do I rely on?”

”Your brain.” Zheng Qing nodded, looking solemn.

Xiao Xiao rolled his eyes, snorted: ”The professor’s talks are old sayings, the knowledge points are scattered; I know every sentence, why listen so seriously?... Don’t worry, when we reach the reed marsh, I’ll pay attention.”

”Reed marsh?”

”Don’t you know where we collect White Dew?”

”Isn’t it from the plant leaves?” Zheng Qing scratched his head; the professor had seemed to mention it, but he zoned out at the time and didn’t record it.

He had thought any plant’s leaf could collect White Dew.

”Theoretically, that’s correct.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, habitually explained: ”Any plant’s leaf can collect White Dew, but the purest White Dew is still collected from reed leaves.”

”Sounds nice.” Zheng Qing smiled: ”I was always worried they’d assign me a toxic or cursed plant, like the Bowl Flower Fat Man encountered last year... I don’t want to snout around like a pig for a week for a few drops of White Dew.”

”Hey, hey, that sounds unpleasant now.” Xin grumbled from the side.

”...This isn’t something to worry about.” Xiao Xiao frowned, tugged at his wide robe hem, seemingly finding the dragon skin protective suit somewhat unsuitable, while pointing afar: ”White Dew is collected in the reed marsh, there’s no Bowl Flower over there.”

”Speaking of reed marsh,” Zheng Qing blinked, puzzled: ”Near Lin Zhong Lake are lots of reeds; why grow a large patch here for this... cheap stuff?”

He thought for a while before finding a fitting word.

”It’s also for the word ’pure.’” Xiao Xiao finally found the clasp on the dragon skin suit, tightened the protective clothing a bit, then breathed a sigh of relief: ”Compared to outside, the Hundred Herb Gardens simulate the most original growing environment for related magical plants, the herbs grown can be called ’authentic,’ naturally something outside subjected to varioius nameless pollution and influence cannot compare to.”

As they spoke, the group had reached the destination.

Their eyes met with verdant greenery; the young reeds did not yet sprout, each one clustered closely together, lush and dense, thin leaves easily surpassed the water, reaching above the ridges.

Professor Li QiHuang stopped, turning to look at the class, raised the small tray in his hand, signaling: ”Before receiving White Dew, you need to first grasp the skills of using the ’dewdrop tray’... Has everyone received their dewdrop tray?”

”Received!” A cacophony of voices responded.

Zheng Qing also raised the tray in his hand, closely inspecting it.

The dewdrop tray was made of copper, entirely golden, its surface smooth as the moon, without a trace of blemish; the back was engraved with dense runes, intermixed with various short and long spell formulas, as if the Alchemist who made it had imprinted a page of the Law book onto it entirely.

These dewdrop trays were uniformly provided by the Hundred Herb Gardens, not requiring students to bring their own, but in turn, the White Dew collected on this occasion, except for class and assignments required, must be handed over to the school.

One could not say who benefits more.

”As you can see, these dewdrop trays have collecting White Dew spells engraved on the back.”

Professor Li stroked the edge of the dewdrop tray, raising his voice slightly: ”Normally, in the Hundred Herb Gardens, in most cases magic is not allowed for collecting herbs, but White Dew is an exception. Because its collection process entails combining the yin energy of heaven and earth with plant essence, which belongs to the process of preparing Magic Potions.”

”Study the spell formulas on the back of these dewdrop trays briefly. The usage method is similar to the Law book... just consider it a special metallic page of the Law book.”