53: Baicaotang

The alleys in the west of the city were narrower and more dilapidated than those in the east. The air was filled with a complex scent of dampness, decay, and a mixture of various medicinal herbs and debris. This was where the dregs of Liuyun City gathered, where the rules were vague. But precisely because of this, the influence of the Lin Family's reach here was relatively weak.

Ye Chen forced himself to endure the stinging pain in his Meridians and the corrosion of the Yin Evil Qi, his figure flashing between eaves and shadows like a true phantom. He avoided all houses that still had lights on, and also bypassed the gambling dens and taverns that remained noisy even late at night. His high level of vigilance made him jumpy, like a startled bird; any slight disturbance could instantly tense his nerves.

Relying on Elder Liu's vague description from memory and the inquiries he made along the way, he finally saw a dim, yellow lantern gently swaying in the night wind at a secluded corner. Written on the lantern in ink were three slightly faded characters—Hundred Herbs Hall.

The shop front was small, with wooden doors tightly shut, looking as if it had long since closed for the night. The lintel was antique, exuding a medicinal fragrance accumulated over the years, which seemed somewhat out of place with the surroundings yet strangely blended in.

Ye Chen did not approach immediately. He concealed himself in the shadows across the street, like a patient hunter, observing carefully for nearly the time it takes an Incense Stick to burn. His Divine Sense spread out like an invisible spiderweb, meticulously sensing any Spiritual Qi fluctuations or life signs nearby.

After confirming there were no ambushes nearby and he hadn't been followed, he took a deep breath, suppressed the churning Qi and Blood within him, and walked with slightly unsteady steps across the street to the front of the Hundred Herbs Hall.

He chose not to knock, as the sound would be too abrupt in the silent night. Instead, following a type of Jianghu secret code, he used his knuckles to tap the door panel with a specific, varying rhythm and force.

"Dong... dong dong... dong..."

The knocking sound echoed in the silent alleyway, sounding exceptionally clear.

There was no response from inside the door, as if the place were empty.

Ye Chen's heart sank slightly, but he did not give up and knocked again with the same rhythm.

This time, a faint movement finally came from inside the door, as if someone had walked out from the inner room. Then, an aged and wary voice sounded from behind the door:

"Who is it? We are closed. Please come back early tomorrow for your herbs."

Ye Chen lowered his voice and quickly said, "The clear wind sweeps the mountain ridge, the bright moon shines upon the great river. Elder Liu entrusted me to come here, seeking the excellent medicine 'Spirit Settling and Soul Calming'."

This was the secret signal Elder Liu had told him when he gave him the jade pendant. 'Spirit Settling and Soul Calming' did not refer to an actual prescription but implied that he had encountered trouble endangering his mind and life, requiring stability and refuge.

Silence fell inside the door for a moment. Then, with a "creak," the door panel was pulled open, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways. The face of an old man, covered in wrinkles but with eyes as sharp as an eagle's, appeared behind the gap. His gaze was substantial, instantly sweeping over Ye Chen's entire body, pausing especially on his blood-stained clothes and pale face.

The old man did not speak, merely extending a withered hand.

Ye Chen understood, immediately taking out the warm jade pendant and placing it in the old man's palm.

The old man picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully under the faint light of the door lantern, his fingertip rubbing against an extremely subtle sword-shaped engraving on the back of the jade pendant for a moment. The wariness on his face slightly receded, replaced by solemnity.

"Come in," the old man said, turning sideways to clear the passage, his voice still low.

Ye Chen did not hesitate and flashed inside. After he entered, the old man immediately closed and bolted the door, his movements swift and silent.

The light inside the shop was dim, with only a slight glow emanating from the inner room. The air was filled with a rich and pure medicinal fragrance, and various herbs were neatly categorized on the shelves.

"Follow me." The old man didn't ask further questions, leading Ye Chen straight through the front hall toward the back. He pushed open a bookshelf that looked like a solid wall, revealing a narrow stone staircase leading downwards.

Secret Chamber!

Ye Chen's heart settled slightly; Elder Liu's arrangements were indeed thorough.

Down the stone steps was a small underground Secret Chamber. Although the furnishings were simple—just a bed, a table, and a chair—it was clean and tidy. The walls were inlaid with Fluorite Stones that emitted a soft white light, illuminating the room brightly. More importantly, Ye Chen could feel that the Secret Chamber seemed to be isolated by a Formation, almost completely blocking out external sounds and scents.

"Sit down. Circulate your Cultivation Technique to expel the poison and heal your injuries. We can discuss the rest later." The old man spoke concisely. He took out a jade bottle from his robe, poured out a greenish Medicinal Pill the size of a longan that emitted a refreshing fragrance, and handed it to Ye Chen. "This is the 'Pure Spirit Cleansing Pill'. It can help you dissolve the Foreign Yin Evil Qi in your body and stabilize your injuries."

Ye Chen accepted the Medicinal Pill. It felt warm to the touch, and its medicinal power was pure, clearly not an ordinary item. He felt grateful, knowing this was not the time for pleasantries. He said, "Thank you, Senior," and immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

Once the Medicinal Pill entered his stomach, it instantly transformed into a powerful yet gentle warm current that rapidly surged toward his limbs and organs. This medicinal power was distinctly different from the Healing Pills he had taken before; it not only nourished his damaged Meridians and internal organs but also, like a clear spring, actively enveloped and dissolved the cold Evil Qi that was entrenched in his body and constantly eroding his vitality.

Ye Chen dared not delay. He immediately circulated the Myriad Realms Sword Canon Cultivation Technique, guiding the medicinal power to focus entirely on healing his injuries and expelling the poison. Although the Nirvana Sword Intent focused on destruction, its essence was supreme and naturally restrained such Yin Evil Power. Under the dual effect of the Medicinal Pill and the Cultivation Technique, the stubborn Evil Qi began to be forced out and purified little by little.

The old man sat on a chair nearby, resting with his eyes closed, like a guardian stone statue. But Ye Chen could feel a powerful, subtle Divine Sense constantly enveloping the entire Secret Chamber, guarding against the outside world.

Time slowly flowed by in the silence.

After about an hour, Ye Chen suddenly opened his eyes and spat out a small stream of black, ink-like clotted blood that emitted a foul stench. The clotted blood landed on the ground and made a faint "hissing" sound, corroding the floor.

After spitting out this clotted blood, Ye Chen immediately felt the stagnation and coldness in his chest and abdomen greatly reduced. Although his internal injuries were still severe, he had at least escaped the most fatal corrosion of the Evil Qi, and his Spiritual Qi circulation was much smoother.

He let out a long sigh. Although his face was still pale, his eyes had regained their sharpness and clarity.

"Thank you, Senior, for the grace of the medicine and protection!" Ye Chen stood up and gave the old man a solemn bow.

The old man finally opened his eyes, waved his hand, and looked at him with deep eyes: "No need for formalities. My surname is Mo, and I am an old acquaintance of Old Man Liu. You are the young man with the 'Nirvana Sword Intent' he mentioned in his letter, Ye Chen?"

Ye Chen's heart trembled. Elder Liu had even told Elder Mo about this, showing his extreme trust in him.

"That is this Junior," Ye Chen admitted with a nod.

Elder Mo's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but it was immediately replaced by solemnity: "The trouble you've stirred up is significant. Outside, the whole city is in an uproar. The Lin Family and a bunch of secretive fellows are frantically searching for you. Lin Batian is even personally guarding the entrance to the west of the city, offering a heavy reward, swearing to capture and kill you."

Ye Chen's eyes chilled. Just as expected.

"Elder Mo, this matter concerns the survival of Liuyun City and even Tianfeng Academy!" Ye Chen no longer hesitated and concisely informed Elder Mo of everything he had seen and heard in the Lin Family's Secret Chamber, as well as the evidence he had obtained—the *Dark Hall Secret Records: Outer Scroll* and the demon summoning token.

Even with Elder Mo's composure, upon hearing "Demon Summoning Grand Array" and "Shadow Demon Lord," his expression suddenly became extremely grim, his eyes filled with shock and rage.

"Utterly insane! How dare the Lin Family commit such perverse acts that outrage both gods and men!" Elder Mo slammed the table; the hard wooden surface instantly cracked. "The Dark Hall... sure enough, it's those lingering specters!"

"Senior knows about the Dark Hall?" Ye Chen pressed.

Elder Mo took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said gravely, "An extremely ancient and mysterious evil organization that believes in destruction and chaos. They have shadows in various Realms, and their ambitions are vast. A large part of Old Man Liu's energy over the years has been spent secretly investigating and opposing them."

He looked at Ye Chen, his eyes extremely serious: "The news and evidence you brought are crucial! They must be sent to the Academy immediately, to Old Man Liu and the Dean!"

"But the entire city is sealed off now. How can we send them out?" Ye Chen frowned.

Elder Mo pondered for a moment, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes: "There is a Secret Passage that leads directly to the Back Mountain of Tianfeng Academy. It was secretly established by this old man and Old Man Liu years ago for convenient communication, and no one knows about it except us two. It was originally intended for extreme situations, and now is the time to use it!"

He stood up: "Your injuries haven't healed, and it's not suitable for you to travel and risk danger. Hand the evidence over to me. I will leave immediately and personally deliver it to the Academy! You stay here and use the Secret Chamber's Formation to heal in peace. This place is absolutely safe."

Ye Chen nodded in agreement after a brief thought. This was indeed the most reliable plan. He immediately handed the *Dark Hall Secret Records* and the demon summoning token to Elder Mo.

Elder Mo took the evidence and carefully put it away.

"There's no time to lose. I will depart immediately. Do not leave this place under any circumstances; there are reserves of food and water inside the Secret Chamber." Elder Mo instructed him, then wasted no time. He turned and activated an extremely concealed mechanism on the other side of the Secret Chamber, revealing a deep, dark Tunnel just wide enough for one person to pass.

Watching Elder Mo's figure disappear into the darkness of the Tunnel, Ye Chen felt a measure of relief. Hope had been sent out.

However, just as he was preparing to continue Meditation and healing to stabilize his body after expelling the Evil Qi—

"BANG!!!"

A huge sound, accompanied by flying wood chips, suddenly came from the ground above!

Immediately afterward, an arrogant voice full of killing intent echoed across the night sky, clearly penetrating the Soundproofing Formation and reaching the Secret Chamber:

"You old bastard inside, and you little beast Ye Chen! Get the hell out here! Otherwise, I'll tear down your Hundred Herbs Hall and leave nothing alive!"

It was Lin Batian's voice! How could he have found this place?!

Ye Chen's face instantly became extremely grim. The flame of hope that had just ignited felt as if it had been doused with a bucket of ice water!