"No, it wouldn't be my students. I trust them, and besides, these flowers and plants were originally grown for them to use. If they wanted to use them, they could just apply to me."
The moment Xin finished speaking, his tone carried absolute certainty, as though he had already eliminated all internal possibilities through reasoning rather than emotion. His gaze remained steady, scanning the disturbed soil and faint residual spiritual traces scattered across the garden. Every broken stem, every displaced petal, and every irregular fluctuation in the surrounding energy field was silently recorded in his mind.
"It must have been a thief from outside. They took advantage of the time I took a few girls to Slaughter City, bypassed my Cherry Blossom Array, and came here. They originally wanted to take two immortal grade plants, but they didn't know how to pick immortal grade flowers and plants, so they settled for two sub-immortal grade ones."
As he continued analyzing, Xin's voice became more structured, almost like he was reconstructing the entire sequence of events. The Cherry Blossom Array he had set up was not something ordinary intruders could bypass easily. It responded to spiritual fluctuations, intent killing, and even subtle concealment techniques. For someone to pass through it unnoticed, their strength and concealment ability had to be exceptional.
"This person's strength should be above Level 95, and they are good at concealment and escape. It's understandable that Poison Guardian was momentarily careless."
Xin glanced at the remaining traces on the ground again, his brows faintly furrowing. The residual aura was extremely faint, almost deliberately erased, but not perfectly. That imperfection was what allowed him to reconstruct the intruder's general profile. A peak-level Spirit Master who specialized in stealth would not risk prolonged exposure, meaning their objective had been precise and time-limited.
Dugu Bo slapped his forehead: "Dean Xin is indeed intelligent! But who could be so bold as to sneak into Heart of Fire Academy to steal flowers and plants? It's also my fault for not paying attention, I deserve to be punished!"
His expression carried both admiration and frustration. Even for someone of his experience, the idea that someone had silently infiltrated the academy and stolen precious medicinal resources without triggering alarms was unsettling. The fact that Xin had deduced the situation so quickly only deepened his respect—and his concern about the unknown intruder.
Soon, Xin locked onto a Blue Silver Grass swaying with blue-gold light patterns in the flower garden.
The plant stood out subtly, not because it was visually striking, but because it seemed slightly out of place within the carefully cultivated spiritual ecosystem. The Blue Silver Grass was positioned in a central yet concealed location, partially hidden among taller, more vibrant medicinal herbs. At first glance, it appeared ordinary—but under closer inspection, its faint blue-gold veins pulsed with a rhythm that subtly resonated with the surrounding spiritual energy.
This Blue Silver Grass actually grew in a slightly central position of the treasure ground, and its planting location was very cunning, hidden among several taller flowers and plants. It was only with Xin's pair of spiritual immortal eyes that he saw its slightly emerging grass blades.
It seemed to sense the free and easy Immortal Mortal World aura on Xin, and the Blue Silver Grass swayed even more vividly.
A faint ripple of recognition passed through the plant as Xin approached, as if it were responding instinctively to his presence. The surrounding spiritual energy subtly converged toward it, not aggressively, but in a slow and continuous cycle, as though it had been silently adapting to the environment for some time.
"Poison Guardian, when was this Blue Silver Grass planted?" Xin asked.
Dugu Bo concentrated his gaze, also a little confused:
"It should also be about thirty days ago. I noticed this Blue Silver Grass some time ago and thought Dean Xin had returned and planted it, so I didn't pay attention. I was also wondering why there would be a somewhat unusual-looking Blue Silver Grass here."
Xin, however, smiled faintly, already knowing whose handiwork this was.
His good son, whom he had taken in, was truly a scoundrel, capable of even stealing flowers, and using the treasure ground to plant grass and steal nutrients.
Since it had been planted, it would be difficult to take it away again.
"One Blue Silver Emperor for two sub-immortal grade plants, and destroying one immortal grade plant. Although it's not a profit, it's barely acceptable. It's better than nothing, so let's consider it an exchange."
"Poison Guardian, you must watch over this Blue Silver Emperor carefully. It is even more precious than ordinary immortal grade plants. Help me find a spiritual pot to Cultivate it separately, and don't let anyone steal it again, otherwise, I really will punish you."
"Alright, once flowers and plants leave the ground, their vitality and medicinal properties weaken by a third. They need to be used promptly. I'll be leaving now."
After speaking, Xin took the flowers, plants, and medicinal herbs he needed, and his figure disappeared into the flower garden. After all, he still had important matters to attend to.
Dugu Bo was a bit bewildered. Immortal grade for Blue Silver Grass? Oh no, this Blue Silver Grass is called Blue Silver Emperor? And it's not a loss? He didn't know what Dean Xin was thinking.
But Dugu Bo still cupped his hands and promised:
"Dean Xin, rest assured. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. From now on, I will guard the flower garden to the death. If this Blue Silver Emperor is lost, I'll let people ride on my head like a butt!"