Chapter 112 Scattered Search for Spirit Herbs

Chapter 112: Scattered Search for Spirit Herbs

The group moved cautiously along the path, sensing the auras of several demonic beasts lurking nearby. They finally understood why the previous group had chosen to travel on foot rather than by flying sword.

While flying was faster, it made one a beacon for every predator in the area. This ancient ruin had existed for a thousand years; it was highly likely that powerful third-order demonic beasts resided here.

After walking for a while, Li Dedao frowned, looking at the ravaged ground before them.

"It's no good to keep following them like this," he grumbled. "They're picking the path clean of spirit herbs!"

Another Li Family cultivator chimed in, "There are plenty of herbs here, but also plenty of beasts. We shouldn't scatter too much, but tailing them is pointless. Losing out on herbs is one thing, but if this place holds a sect legacy, we’d just be watching them snatch it away for nothing."

Wang Hao nodded in agreement.

"We’ll split into three teams," Wang Hao decided. "One for the Li Family, and two for The Wang Family. We advance while searching, but we must stay within range of each other."

He looked at everyone seriously. "If anything happens, use your communication talismans immediately. Once we reach the core area on the mountain, we regroup. The sect's legacy takes priority over everything else."

With the plan set, the groups prepared to diverge.

Li Dedao slapped his spirit beast bag, summoning a two-tailed squirrel. He tossed it a nut.

"Take us to the spirit herbs. Find the good stuff, and there’s plenty more treats where that came from!"

These two-tailed squirrels weren't built for combat, but their sense of smell was extraordinary. They were standard issue for treasure hunting within the Li Family.

"Chirp chirp!"

The squirrel cried out excitedly. It jumped to the ground, sniffed the air, and waved a tiny paw toward a distant patch of forest.

Li Dedao signaled the creature to lead the way. The squirrel bounded into the undergrowth, with Li Dedao and his two companions hurriedly following close behind. Moments later, they vanished into the dense woods.

The Wang Family had their own methods.

Wang Wenmei retrieved a small green snake from her sleeve and fed it a beast egg. The slender reptile wriggled its waist and slithered forward, guiding Wang Hao and his companion down a different path.

It wasn't just Wang Hao's group that chose to split up. The three families who had first opened the secret realm had come to the same conclusion.

The secret realm was teeming with spirit herbs, and they had already argued multiple times over the distribution of rare finds. It was better to separate and harvest what they could. However, they agreed to regroup at the foot of the mountain in half a day to explore the central ruins together.

By a small river, Ji Xiaotang stood under a fruit tree with over twenty clan members.

Lying on the riverbank nearby were the corpses of a second-order demonic tiger and two white-robed Qi Refining cultivators.

"A spirit peach tree! I've only ever seen first-order spirit peaches before. This is my first time seeing a second-order tree!" exclaimed a clansman, eyes wide as he gazed at the emerald-green tree laden with fresh, tender fruit.

Ji Xiaotang frowned. They hadn't been inside long, yet she had already lost two people. It was an ill omen. There were simply too many beasts here, mostly second-order, which posed a lethal threat to her Qi Refining kin.

"Quickly, pick the spirit peaches! We need to move on," Ji Xiaotang ordered.

"Elder, what about the tree itself? It's a top-quality second-order spirit peach tree!" another clansman asked greedily.

Ji Xiaotang observed the ancient tree for a moment, then shook her head with regret.

"This tree is too old. Its roots run deep into the earth. Recklessly digging it up would only kill it. Let's leave it for future generations."

She gestured to the surrounding area. "However, we can transplant these smaller first-order saplings to enhance our family's foundation. All of you, work together and be quick!"

"Yes, Elder!"

In a small, secluded valley, the air was filled with the sounds of battle.

In a nearby pond, three white lotuses bloomed, emitting waves of exotic fragrance.

Wang Yanping, Wang Yanlang, and Wang Wenwu were locked in fierce combat with a massive centipede—a mid-grade second-order demonic beast. The creature reared up, spewing a stream of corrosive green venom from its maw.

"Hah!"

With a loud shout, Wang Wenwu drove his spiritual energy into his defensive shield, forcefully blocking the venom. In one fluid motion, he drew a heavy iron rod and smashed it viciously against the centipede's tail.

CRACK!

The sound of shattering carapace echoed through the valley. Three of the centipede's legs were pulverized by the blow.

Seizing the opening, Wang Yanping's flying sword slashed down like a guillotine.

Boom! Boom!

Explosions rang out against the beast's shell. Deep wounds opened on its body, leaking green ichor that sizzled and burned large pits into the ground.

The centipede roared in agony. It thrashed violently, the force of its body flinging both men backward.

Wang Yanlang stepped forward, a talisman paper in hand. He chanted a quick incantation.

"Hundred Swords Talisman—break!"

Hundreds of spectral flying swords materialized in the air. As Wang Yanlang shifted his hand seals, the swords trembled in unison before raining down upon the beast.

Already battered and broken, the centipede had no strength left to dodge.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

A tremendous blast shook the valley floor.

Despite its thick armor, the centipede couldn't withstand the bombardment. It was sliced into multiple segments, collapsing into a lifeless heap. Stone dead.

The three cultivators breathed a collective sigh of relief. They stowed their weapons and hurried over to the dismembered carcass, searching through the gory chunks.

Moments later, Wang Yanlang held up an apple-sized orb glowing with a faint green light.

"Hah! There really is an inner core," he laughed. "And it looks like a poison type!"

The other two grinned. "Not bad at all. Just this single beast can fetch four thousand Spirit Stones!"

All three of them had relied on the family's Foundation Establishment Pills to break through, leaving them heavily in debt to the clan. Their usual earnings from fishing only granted them a half-share of the profits.

It sounded like a lot, but a thirty-thousand Spirit Stone haul usually included ten thousand for the Li Family, and the remaining twenty thousand had to cover expenses like the sea vessel charter and talisman consumption. The final profit was often less than fifteen thousand total—meaning a measly seven thousand split among them.

With six Foundation Establishment members and two Qi Refining clansmen in the crew, the share per person was pitiful.

But this trip was different. Wang Hao had declared that, aside from cultivation techniques which had to be handed over, the family would purchase all other gains at market value with Spirit Stones.

"Quick, pick the lotus flowers and let's go," Wang Yanlang urged.

The three rushed into the pond, carefully harvesting the white lotuses before heading toward the valley exit.

Outside the valley lay a dense forest, the towering trees blotting out the sunlight.

Just as they stepped out of the valley entrance, steel chains suddenly erupted from the earth beneath their feet. The ambush was lightning-fast, binding their legs instantly. Simultaneously, a storm of magical instruments flew out from the shadows, raining down on the trio.

"Ambush!"

Wang Wenwu roared. He channeled spiritual power into his legs, shattering the chains with brute force. He whipped out his defensive shield and enlarged it, planting it firmly in front of the group.

Clang! Bam!

A series of metallic collisions rang out, but the shield held firm. The trio remained unharmed.

The incoming attacks were merely first-order magical instruments. Against a Foundation Establishment defense, they were useless.

Wang Yanping and Wang Yanlang hurriedly used their own weapons to cut the chains binding their feet. Before they could catch their breath, the ground churned again as numerous wooden spikes shot upward.

The trio dodged frantically, retreating back toward the valley mouth.

Wang Yanping glared into the dark forest, his heart pounding. "Who are the cowards hiding in the shadows?! Come out and fight face-to-face!"

"Hmph! This secret realm belongs to our three families. How dare intruders steal from us? You all deserve to die!"

Figures emerged from the trees. It was the Qin Family.

Leading them was Qin Hu, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, accompanied by an early-stage Foundation Establishment ally and over twenty Qi Refining helpers.

In Qin Hu's eyes, these three were dead men walking.

"Signal the others!" Wang Yanping hissed.

Wang Wenwu didn't hesitate. He pulled out a communication talisman, formed a series of hand seals, and cast it into the air. The talisman flashed with spiritual light and shot off into the distance.