From the moment the demon beast ambushed Lin Feng to when Lin Feng slew it with his flying sword, less than ten breaths had passed. Yet, that fleeting moment was enough for Cheng Rong. Seizing the opportunity, he had already scrambled down the slope and vanished into the dense woods nearby. Without spiritual sense and hampered by the perpetual gloom of the Blackmist Herb Valley, Lin Feng scanned the surroundings but found no trace of the escapee…
Lin Feng's expression darkened as he stood in silence for a moment. Then, he turned and walked towards the cliff face. Retrieving his flying sword and the beast's carcass, he carefully plucked the two precious Bluebeard Fruits and stored them away. Returning to where Gu Liangyu had fallen, he incinerated the corpse with a swift burst of flame and collected a few items from the ashes. Without delay, he sped away from the scene.
He had no interest in chasing down the fleeing Cheng Rong. The man didn't know his identity, after all. Worst case, I'll just alter my appearance with the disguise mask when leaving the valley. However, considering the possibility that Cheng Rong might bring back reinforcements from Azure Wind Valley, lingering here was unwise. He promptly exited the area, continuing his exploration in a different direction.
...
Meanwhile, the terrified Cheng Rong stumbled and crawled through the undergrowth for over an hour. Only when exhaustion finally forced him to stop did he dare look back. Confirming Lin Feng hadn't pursued, he collapsed onto the dank ground, gasping for breath, his heart still pounding with terror.
"So terrifying… Senior Brother Gu… killed in a single exchange…" Cheng Rong trembled, muttering to himself. "A flying sword… that man was a Golden Core cultivator!! A Golden Core cultivator deliberately hiding his cultivation to lure us in… How treacherous… utterly treacherous…"
"ROAAAR!!"
While Cheng Rong's mind reeled, a resounding beast's roar suddenly exploded from behind a hillock to his left, startling him violently. He was as skittish as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring. Instinct screamed at him to flee, but then his eyes suddenly widened with recognition and dawning hope. He whipped his head towards the source of the sound.
"That aura… it feels like Senior Brother Chen!!" The faint but familiar pulse of true essence sent a surge of relief through him. After only a heartbeat's hesitation, he scrambled to his feet and ran towards the back of the small hill.
The sensation grew stronger as he neared. By the time he rounded the base of the hundred-meter-high outcrop, he was certain. Another agonized beastly shriek tore through the air just as Cheng Rong emerged into view.
He saw a shimmering azure flying sword plunge deep into the right eye socket of a creature resembling a lion-beast hybrid, delivering the killing blow. As the beast slumped lifelessly to the ground, the sword withdrew, slicing through the air to return to the side of a long-haired young man standing several dozen meters away.
"Senior Brother Chen!" Cheng Rong cried out, his voice thick with relief and urgency as he rushed forward.
The long-haired young man had sensed his approach even before he spoke, turning his head. A handsome face came into view, the sharp glint in his eyes softening slightly upon recognizing his fellow disciple.
"Cheng Rong?" Chen Tianxin asked, his tone laced with surprise and a faint edge of suspicion. "Why are you here alone? Weren't you supposed to rendezvous at Hoofprint Forest with the others?"
Reaching Chen Tianxin, Cheng Rong sagged as if finally finding solid ground. He drew a long, shuddering breath before answering, his voice thick with grief. "I… I was with Senior Brother Gu Liangyu. We were heading towards Hoofprint Forest… but… but something happened on the way… Senior Brother Gu… he was murdered!"
"What?!" Chen Tianxin's face hardened instantly, murderous intent erupting in his eyes like a sudden storm. "Gu Liangyu was killed?! By whom?! Tell me everything! Spare no detail!"
...
...
Finding two Bluebeard Fruits within barely ten hours of entering the valley had put Lin Feng in an excellent mood. This means all the ingredients needed to repair the Bluebeard Pills are finally gathered. Now, he just needed to acquire the pills themselves. When the time came for his Golden Core formation, he could use top-grade Bluebeard Pills with unparalleled efficacy.
After leaving the site of the Bluebeard Fruit discovery, he explored in one direction for several more hours. He noticed the ambient light within the Blackmist Herb Valley growing noticeably dimmer. Even during the height of day outside, only a feeble glow penetrated the pervasive murk. Calculating the time, night must have fallen in the outside world. Within the valley, this meant near-total darkness.
Recognizing this shift, Lin Feng decided against further exploration. Nightfall was universally the most active time for demon beasts, and within the treacherous confines of the Blackmist Herb Valley, caution was paramount. He found a suitable spot at the base of a small mountain, efficiently carved out a shallow cave using his true essence, and settled inside to rest and cultivate through the night.
The next day, his internal clock roused him from cultivation. Stepping outside his temporary shelter, he found the valley still cloaked in pre-dawn gloom. Outside, however, the sun must be well up. He resumed his treasure hunt.
With Xiao Qiu – his unparalleled 'Heaven-and-Earth Treasure Radar' – guiding him, Lin Feng wasted no effort navigating blind alleys. The squirrel-like creature pointed unerringly towards concentrations of spiritual energy. By the end of the day, he had harvested over a dozen more precious Grade 3 spirit herbs and collected over ten different Grade 2 and Grade 3 crafting materials.
However, as he ventured deeper, the encounters with demon beasts grew increasingly perilous. He even crossed paths with two early Grade 3 demon beasts. While he could likely kill such beasts using his White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman, the ensuing period of severe weakness deterred him. If danger struck during that vulnerable time… It wasn't worth the risk. He deliberately avoided confrontations with these formidable foes.
He confined his activities to the mapped regions he possessed, wary of venturing into the uncharted depths marked as perilous. The known territory still held abundant valuable herbs. His plan was simple: gather enough here first before contemplating the risks of the deeper reaches.
…
"Qiu!!!"
While traversing the outskirts of a particularly dense and shadowed forest, Xiao Qiu perched on Lin Feng's shoulder emitted a shrill cry of excitement unlike any before. This time, its chirps vibrated with an intensity far exceeding its previous discoveries.
Lin Feng's spirits soared. He instantly followed the direction of Xiao Qiu's insistent pointing paw. His initial elation, however, quickly gave way to a frown.
Xiao Qiu was indicating an area deep within the forest. Consulting his mental map, Lin Feng recognized it as uncharted territory, blank space devoid of any annotations. He had consistently avoided such zones. Yet, Xiao Qiu's unprecedented level of agitation signaled something extraordinary – a treasure vastly superior to the Grade 3 herbs he'd collected so far.
He hesitated, weighing risk against reward. The lure was potent. After a moment of deliberation, his ambition won out. He couldn't bear to simply walk away. I'll investigate cautiously. If the danger proves too great, I can always retreat.
This single decision led him deep into the woods. For over an hour, he pushed forward, Xiao Qiu continuously urging him onward, its paw unwavering. Finally, they emerged from the oppressive canopy onto a barren stretch of ground. Towering before them, vanishing into the perpetual mist above, was a sheer cliff face of colossal proportions.
The Blackmist Herb Valley lay between two towering, cloud-piercing mountains. While vast, filled with diverse landscapes – hills, rivers, small lakes – this particular cliff was not part of some minor valley feature. This was the eastern boundary wall of the valley itself, the base of one of those colossal peaks. Unintentionally, Lin Feng had traversed the valley floor right to its easternmost edge.
Following Xiao Qiu's persistent guidance, Lin Feng scanned the imposing rock face. About a hundred meters above the ground, nestled within the fissured stone, he spotted the dark maw of a cave entrance. He observed it from below for a long while, assessing potential dangers, before finally gathering his courage and beginning the ascent.
This must be the den of some powerful beast. Lin Feng braced himself, maintaining his golden energy shield as he entered the gloom. His Crimson Soul Flying Sword hovered ready in his hand, poised for instant combat. Yet, the deeper he ventured, the stranger it seemed. He walked nearly a hundred meters into the winding tunnel without encountering any resistance or sign of life. Could this cave be abandoned?
"Qiu! Qiu! Qiu!!!"
The further he went, the more frenzied Xiao Qiu became. It bounced excitedly on his shoulder, chattering incessantly, practically vibrating with eagerness, as if yearning to leap down and scamper ahead alone. Lin Feng's own curiosity and anticipation swelled, overriding his caution. He quickened his pace, striding rapidly down the smooth, unnaturally quiet passage.
Moments later, he reached a sharp bend that marked the tunnel's end. As he rounded the corner, he was momentarily blinded. A dazzling, pure golden radiance flooded his vision, emanating from the space ahead.
Blinking rapidly to adjust his eyes to the overwhelming brilliance, Lin Feng focused on the source. He found himself in a naturally formed cavern, roughly ten meters in diameter. The source of the blinding golden light wasn't a hoard of gold or jewels. Nor was it a vast quantity of anything. At the very center of the cavern floor, growing from a crack in the bare stone, was a single, delicate plant.
It stood less than three inches tall. A slender stem, barely the thickness of a little finger, supported a few leaves, each about two fingers wide. At its apex, barely larger than the pad of Lin Feng's thumb, was a tightly closed flower bud.
This minuscule bud pulsed with an inner light, radiating golden luminescence as brilliant as a captured miniature sun. Its sheer intensity seemed incongruous with its fragile form.
The moment Lin Feng's gaze fell upon this extraordinary plant, an indescribable sense of profound serenity washed over him. The very air seemed subtly perfumed with a delicate, invigorating floral scent. Drawing a single deep breath filled him with clarity and vitality. Remarkably, the flow of true essence within his meridians spontaneously accelerated. The sensation was uncannily familiar… It felt exactly like the effect of consuming a top-grade Spirit Nourishment Pill!
Lin Feng stared, transfixed. Then, a spark of realization ignited in his mind, connecting the description to a legendary entry in ancient herbology texts. His eyes widened to an impossible degree, disbelief warring with dawning awe.
"No… it can't be…" he breathed, his voice barely a whisper echoing in the golden-lit cavern. "Is this… the Ten-Breath Golden Epiphyllum?! It is the Ten-Breath Golden Epiphyllum!"
The Ten-Breath Golden Epiphyllum was counted among the rarest and most precious of all Grade 3 spirit herbs, its value often surpassing that of many common Grade 4 herbs. Its primary purpose was the refinement of a Grade 3 elixir known as the Golden Epiphyllum Pill. The effect of this pill mirrored that of the Snow Seed Pill, but its potency was reserved for those who had attained the Golden Core Stage. Consuming a single Golden Epiphyllum Pill could elevate a Golden Core cultivator's cultivation base by an entire layer!