The campfire blazed, the smell of wine and meat filled the air, and voices were lively. The light from the fire cast a stark contrast with the surrounding dark forest, making it seem like two different worlds.
Yu Ci grabbed the gourd of homemade wine from the herbalist beside him and took a hearty swig. This was a local brew made by the herbalist himself, spicy going down but with a distinct medicinal aroma, quite unique.
Lu Bing’s discernment proved reliable. Most of the people he had gathered were local herbalists from Cliff City, experienced in traversing between Sky Rift Valley and Cliff City for the past decade. They were experts in picking Shrimp Whisker Grass and had some knowledge about the Sun Light Sect.
Such a group was unlikely to engage in treachery, ensuring safety.
After a simple dinner, the twenty or so people on both sides, having nothing else to do, began to chat aimlessly. For some reason, both sides intentionally avoided discussing their findings, but it was impossible to ignore completely. Eventually, the conversation drifted to the secrets and anecdotes of the Sun Light Sect, and the atmosphere became lively with laughter.
As the topic shifted back to Shrimp Whisker Grass, the discussion turned to its medicinal value.
With many professional herbalists present, there was a mix of informed opinions and wild guesses. Various recipes and pill formulations were debated among the group of twenty or so, splitting into factions, leading to heated arguments and a charged atmosphere.
At a critical point, someone suddenly shouted, “All nonsense! It’s not that simple!”
Everyone turned their attention. The shout came from someone from Cliff City, presumably Li Hong, who was likely drunk and red-faced, probably unaware of what he had just said.
His companions, noticing his inebriation, nudged him to sober up. But Li Hong, proud and heavily intoxicated, seized the opportunity to reveal a supposed big secret he had overheard:
“Don’t believe me? The Shrimp Whisker Grass is just a common herb for curing minor ailments. But the Sun Light Sect, being so large, treats it like roadside weeds. Why would they go through the trouble of hiring us to collect it?
“Ultimately, to us, it’s just an herb, a remedy for minor issues. But to the Sun Light Sect, it’s as if it can turn stone into gold…”
At this point, he emphasized the secrecy dramatically but was cut off, leaving his statement shrouded in mystery. His drunken antics were annoying, but what could be done about a drunkard?
Nearby, the herbalist sharing the gourd with Yu Ci chuckled, “Li Lao Si has a sister who married a servant at the Sun Light Sect. He’s the one who hears these rumors most.”
Yu Ci, intrigued, was about to ask more when Li Hong, satisfied with the effect of his dramatic revelation, laughed heartily and said:
“Actually, there’s nothing much to it. The Sun Light Sect buys this Shrimp Whisker Grass because they use it to make a special potion. If you soak a large amount of Shrimp Whisker Grass in it for a while, the best-preserved, most complete herb may come back to life…”
At this moment, several people questioned, “Come back to life?”
“Heh, whether it truly comes back to life, I don’t know. What I do know is that my brother-in-law said that the revived Shrimp Whisker Grass absorbs the medicinal properties of other herbs. If the potency is sufficient, it will transform into a new herb, just like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. At that point, it’s no longer called Shrimp Whisker Grass but… Dragon Fish Grass!”
“Dragon Fish Grass?”
There was a brief silence by the fire, then the noise grew. People began asking Li Hong about the uses of Dragon Fish Grass. But by now, Li Hong had divulged most of what he knew, and his answers became incoherent. The heated atmosphere led people to imagine various magical properties for Dragon Fish Grass, fantasizing about the benefits of acquiring such a treasure.
At this moment, a drinking buddy passed the gourd to Yu Ci, inviting him to drink more, and playfully asked, “If you had this magical herb, what would you exchange for it?”
What magical herb? The man was almost completely drunk.
Yu Ci glanced at him and, ignoring his friend’s pained expression, drained the gourd of its strong liquor. The fiery alcohol mixed with medicinal aroma surged through him. Suddenly, Yu Ci was inspired and burst out laughing:
“I want immortality! Who can trade for that?”
There was a sudden quiet around the fire, then laughter and exclamations erupted. Most of the ten people thought Yu Ci was joking. Though they hadn’t known him long, Yu Ci was not only handsome and strong but also generous in manner. The crowd responded with good-natured laughter, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.
However, some sensed Yu Ci’s true intentions, recognizing that his ambitions were extraordinary. On the other side, Lu Bing raised his gourd in acknowledgment, and Yu Ci smiled in response, everything unspoken but understood.
The lively atmosphere continued, but Yu Ci detached from the scene, staring at the flickering flames, lost in thought. Was he truly drunk to speak the truth so easily?
Or had his inner desire reached such a level?
Yu Ci did not fully grasp the true meaning of “immortality” at that time, but he clearly understood the cost of it— the countless bones beneath the Twin Immortal Sect were the best illustration.
Initially, it was merely fear, but as he grew older and braver, the fear gradually faded, leaving behind deep scars etched in his heart. Additionally, the Twin Immortals’ miraculous powers, like summoning storms and flying, were like seeds buried in those scars, sprouting and growing into a towering tree deeply rooted in his heart.
Unconsciously, the concept of “immortality” had merged into his very blood, becoming an instinct. It was an instinct to pursue, without thinking of the so-called “meaning,” because immortality itself was the embodiment of all meanings.
That was Yu Ci’s understanding.
The strong liquor stirred his desires. He intensely wanted to break into that world, with his blood boiling and intentions to shatter the invisible barrier. Yet, he was still just short—he could already hear the lid rattling above him.
Since entering the upper stage of Enlightened Spirit and sensing his own soul, this feeling had been increasing day by day. During his time in Sky Rift Valley, it had reached the point of a cauldron boiling over, ready to burst.
Yu Ci knew this was a sign of a breakthrough but lacked the right opportunity. Despite his current power, he was still a bit short. Fortunately, he had ample patience and perseverance, accumulating strength until the moment of breaking through.
While he was lost in thought, the people around the campfire had moved on from his “immortality delusions” and returned to their main concern, but after heated discussion, they still couldn’t determine whether the Shrimp Whisker Grass or Dragon Fish Grass had a real use. As they struggled to come to a conclusion, their interest began to wane, and the atmosphere was about to turn cold when someone suddenly sneered:
“Who cares about its use? What matters is how much it’s worth.”
The words were straightforward. Yu Ci also came to his senses, initially thinking it was Li Hong speaking again, but soon realized something was amiss. This person spoke with a firm, resonant tone, unlike Li Hong’s previous ambiguous tone.
He looked over and quickly recognized it was Daoist Yan.
Daoist Yan was also from the group from Cliff City, but unlike the professional herbalists, he had joined midway and was somewhat similar to Yu Ci. Dressed in Daoist robes and claiming to be a Daoist, he had a rough appearance with a beard and sharp, piercing eyes. Yu Ci had previously estimated that among these herbalists, Daoist Yan’s cultivation was the most advanced, likely at the upper stage of Enlightened Spirit.
Everyone’s attention was now focused on him. Someone laughed and said, “Can this grass compare to the Three Yang Talisman Sword?”
During his self-introduction, Daoist Yan had mentioned that his goal was the Three Yang Talisman Sword, just like Yu Ci, which led to this comparison.
Daoist Yan grinned, “The Three Yang Talisman Sword? That’s hard to calculate. All I know is that ten Dragon Fish Grass can be exchanged for one Cold Jade Heart Cleansing Pill.”
The crowd was puzzled by this statement, feeling Daoist Yan’s words were nonsensical. Only Li Hong, seemingly sobered up from his intoxication, began to feign contemplation, “The Cold Jade Heart Cleansing Pill, where have I heard of that before?”
“That would certainly be at the Sun Light Sect,” Daoist Yan replied with a grin. “The Sun Light Sect produces hundreds or even thousands of Three Yang Talisman Swords every year, while the Cold Jade Heart Cleansing Pill is something the Sect Master holds only a few of, carefully guarded in a secret room to prevent theft… Heh, that’s the gist of it.”
A collective gasp arose from the crowd, but Yu Ci was somewhat distracted. For some reason, Daoist Yan’s smile unsettled him, and a peculiar smell began to emanate from his nose. Before he could identify it, Daoist Yan continued:
“However, as good as the Cold Jade Heart Cleansing Pill is, it’s still out of reach. Unlike the Three Yang Talisman Sword, which can be exchanged for just a thousand Shrimp Whisker Grass, I prefer to stay grounded and take it step by step.”
Hmm? What does he mean?
Yu Ci noticed the change in Daoist Yan’s tone, the sudden insertion of “I” seemed very suspicious. Other sharp-eyed individuals also noticed, including Lu Bing, who looked up with a puzzled expression.
At that moment, the smell at his nose intensified.
“Be careful!”
Yu Ci suddenly shouted. While the others were still confused, he fell backward, lying flat. A moment later, a searing red light flashed before his eyes, a wave of flames hit him, and his forehead felt like it was being scorched.
The next thing was a series of screams and Daoist Yan’s unrestrained, wild laughter.
“Damn it!” Lu Bing’s voice erupted, accompanied by the clash of swords.
Yu Ci rolled and leaped away, finally getting to his feet as he heard the continued screams behind him.
Looking up, he saw the horrifying scene of bodies scattered around the fire. Most of the people who had been discussing excitedly were now dead or severely injured. The herbalists he had shared drinks with were split in half, still alive but struggling and groaning on the ground. The massive, charred wounds were blackened as if scorched by coal, with no blood flowing, making the scene even more terrifying than a bloodbath.
The cause of all this was Daoist Yan.
Daoist Yan was laughing heartily, with a red glow emanating from his hand. The glow appeared like a glowing short staff, rounded and blunt, but on closer inspection, the light was condensed and as sharp as a sword. With the radiant light, torrents of fire surged out, setting the surrounding vegetation ablaze and quickly forming a fluctuating giant fire circle.
Inside the fire circle, Lu Bing’s face was twisted with rage as he attacked Daoist Yan fiercely. His long sword emitted a cold light, a formidable weapon with a powerful momentum. However, Daoist Yan seemed unconcerned, standing still while the red glow in his hand swayed slightly, effortlessly deflecting Lu Bing’s desperate sword strikes.
Moreover, Daoist Yan even took the time to turn and smile at Yu Ci, “You’re quite alert. Just a thought from me and you noticed it. Otherwise, that pretty face of yours would have been split in two…”
Yu Ci’s eyebrows shot up in anger. This villain was exceedingly arrogant.
Daoist Yan certainly had the arrogance to back up his behavior. His seemingly clumsy swordsmanship was clearly far superior to Lu Bing’s. However, Yu Ci was undeterred. With a cold expression, he, though unarmed, channeled his spiritual energy into a blue glow, preparing to rely on talismans and join forces with Lu Bing to tackle the threat.
Seeing Yu Ci’s calm demeanor, Daoist Yan laughed ominously and suddenly shouted, “Cut him down!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yu Ci saw a red line extend from the void. He opened his mouth but didn’t have time to make a sound before the dazzling sword light shattered, and both Lu Bing and his treasured sword cracked and fell onto the burning grass, their lives extinguished.
Yu Ci’s hand, which had been drawing talismans, suddenly froze.
The screams and groans had ceased. Aside from Yu Ci, all the remaining twenty-odd herbalists had died at Daoist Yan’s hands, and the murderer, not yet satisfied, turned his now-red eyes toward Yu Ci, fixing him with a penetrating gaze.
“Little pretty boy, why don’t you come over?”
Yu Ci realized he had severely underestimated Daoist Yan.
In terms of physical cultivation, the difference between the peak of the Qi Breathing realm and the Enlightened Spirit realm was not substantial. Lu Bing, having refined his swordsmanship, wasn’t much weaker. Yet such a person had been effortlessly cleaved by Daoist Yan. While the eerie and sharp fire sword played a part, Daoist Yan’s cultivation was clearly beyond Yu Ci’s expectations.
Beyond the Enlightened Spirit upper stage—wasn’t that the realm of divine transcendence?
Without a word, Yu Ci retreated, leaping three zhang back.
Daoist Yan spat in disdain but didn’t rush to attack, instead, he strode forward in pursuit.
Yu Ci had noted the terrain before retreating, landing precisely at a bend in the mountain. With a loud crash, rocks flew from beneath his feet, and he used all his strength to pivot and move towards the layered rocks behind him at increased speed.
Daoist Yan laughed loudly, “Can you escape?”
As he spoke, he rounded the corner in a few steps, but his expression turned to one of surprise.
Within his sight, only the distant dark forest swayed with tree shadows, and Yu Ci had vanished.
Daoist Yan’s eyes widened in confusion. Although it was deep night, his vision extended a mile, and the forest within this range shouldn’t conceal a person so easily. Even with Yu Ci’s agility, it seemed implausible for him to vanish so quickly.
The path from here to the dense forest was flat with minimal cover from rocks or vegetation. If Yu Ci had hidden, the chance of being discovered was higher. Daoist Yan was puzzled for a moment before coldly sneering:
“This kid is slippery, but does he think Daoist Yan is easy to deceive?”
He closed his eyes, and under the control of his spiritual energy, an invisible force swept across a radius of ten zhang. Soon, his eyes lit up.
With a sudden burst of power, a rock beside him was kicked over, revealing a half-human-sized cave behind it. The cave was naturally formed, but the rock blocking the entrance had been moved from elsewhere and camouflaged with shrubs and low trees, making it blend with the mountain. However, someone could still squeeze into it from below.
Such a setup could deceive ordinary eyes, but for someone like Daoist Yan, it wasn’t always necessary to rely on sight!
Yet, Daoist Yan had one question unanswered: How could this seemingly transient traveler have foreseen and prepared such a hidden place?
Unanswered questions only fueled his murderous intent. Without hesitation, he ducked into the cave.
“Even if you turn into a big rat, you can’t escape from Daoist Yan’s sword!”
The cave was dark, but the red light from Daoist Yan’s fire sword illuminated the interior. As he walked, the space suddenly expanded. There were indeed signs of habitation, and Daoist Yan even saw scattered items on the ground.
However, his expression changed slightly when he distinctly felt a breeze coming from the cave, and there were two distinct wind directions!
The cave had three exits: the one he had entered and two others. Who knew which way Yu Ci had gone?
“Really a digging rat…”
Daoist Yan was both angry and amused, “If it were anyone else, you might have escaped, but unfortunately, you encountered me!”
He wasted no time, closing his eyes again and using his spiritual energy to sweep over the two side exits. Yu Ci’s residual aura appeared like a faint flicker of light. Daoist Yan quickly identified one of the exits and charged after it.
Translation is not consistent in text.. what is this mingqao and Changxi realm
I fixed it. Thank you for poinitng it out!