Chapter 49: Journey to Medicine Mountain

Vast, desolate mountains stretched as far as the eye could see. After exerting himself for half a day, Wang Yao’s steps remained steady as he followed the route etched in his mind toward the Ebony Tree Garden.

Suddenly, a disturbance came from the trees flanking him. He gradually halted, closed his eyes, and his breathing grew even calmer. His palms quietly lifted, spiritual energy surging instantly within, flowing through his meridians, boiling hot. In a flash, his right foot lunged forward. His aura locked tightly around his body. His hand swept through the air, landing perfectly on the abdomen of a sudden leaping figure. The force of his Mountain-Crushing Palm erupted, sending the creature hurtling three yards away.

He did not relax. A shrill cry pierced the air behind him. He spun around instantly, his mouth opening in silence as a faint layer of white protective energy enveloped his body. The enraged monkey lashed out with its claws, striking the shield and producing a clear, metallic clang. Shallow claw marks appeared on the protective aura. As the monkey tried to retreat, a palm inexplicably pressed against its spine.

Boom!

Wang Yao opened his eyes expressionlessly, grabbed the creature’s tail, yanked it downward, and stomped his right foot onto the spirit monkey’s neck. One agonized scream, then all life was snuffed out.

He gazed silently at the first monkey, now fleeing into the distance, feeling something wasn’t quite right. Two spirit beasts of early Qi Refining had simultaneously targeted his front and back, but the true killing blow should have come for his head. He was prepared to trade injury for survival, yet the third attack never arrived.

After waiting a moment longer, Wang Yao took out his token and waved it over the fallen monkey. The number recorded inside changed to one.

There was still nearly half a day’s journey to the tree garden, and already he had encountered rogue spirit beasts. This band of monkeys seemed to be growing audacious.

Gathering his thoughts, the young man continued onward.

Shortly after his departure, the two spirit monkeys’ bodies dropped heavily to the ground, fatal wounds at their hearts.

Lin Ze lounged against a tree trunk, legs crossed, idly twirling a streak of white light in his hand. He sighed softly.

According to the simulator’s prediction, Wang Yao would suffer a minor injury here, but nothing serious. By rights, Lin Ze shouldn’t have intervened. Otherwise, it would erase the purpose of the trial.

Yet he couldn’t help himself. Even after seeing it play out in the simulator, he felt uneasy, so he followed to watch. He had to admit, Wang Yao’s reactions and execution were flawless.

He acknowledged his protective instincts, but just this once—it shouldn’t matter.

With the Mountain-Crushing Palm honed to perfection, Wang Yao’s combat prowess rivaled a late Qi Refining cultivator, and he wasn’t arrogant. This task posed no real challenge for him.

“That’s enough,” Lin Ze murmured. He leapt down from the tree and ambled off in another direction.

Truth be told, the little one was even less of a concern. Even facing a deadly encounter—a Qi Refining novice before a Golden Core fiend—he somehow crossed paths with Qin Hongxiu at the critical moment. What more needed saying?

Lin Ze even suspected that, even if the little demon fox schemed tirelessly for revenge, Xiao Bao would emerge unharmed. But those beside him might not be so lucky.

He walked leisurely, his mid-tier Double Moon Cavern agility technique making each step span dozens of yards. By midnight, he had already reached the abandoned medicinal mountain ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bao was still by the creek, feeding jerky to the old turtle. When he finally scaled mountains and crossed rivers to the mountain’s foot, just as in the simulator, he stumbled and fell, then pulled an ancient bronze vine from the earth.

The difference was that Lin Ze, who had previously accompanied him as a phantom, now watched in the flesh.

Clearly, Xiao Bao had no experience gathering herbs, wandering aimlessly under the dim moonlight. Yet every time he paused, he plucked a spirit herb from the thicket at his feet or the brambles beside him.

Intrigued, Lin Ze picked the spirit fruit that Xiao Bao was about to discover, only to see the child suddenly slip and roll down a small slope like a rotund ball. He climbed up, wiped his dirty little face with his sleeve, then looked quizzically at his right foot, where a yam-shaped spirit plant had appeared.

As dawn neared, the little fellow finally grew exhausted, slung his small cloth bag over his shoulder, and settled beneath a large tree to rest with his eyes closed.

Lin Ze glanced at the trembling green-crowned viper beside him, paused, then slapped the tree trunk. A crimson fruit dropped and struck Xiao Bao’s head with a thud.

If not necessary, Lin Ze preferred not to alter the course of events. Let everything proceed as it should.

Three hours later, a white fox came into view. It limped, searching desperately for something to replenish its spiritual energy. But after scouring the entire abandoned medicinal mountain, it found nothing. Anxiety welled in its blood-red eyes.

How could this be?

The white fox had escaped from the Heavenly Demon Sect and, after much hardship, had arrived here—territory governed by the East Yue Sect. Demons rarely dared set foot here, and sect disciples seldom visited; those who did were mere Qi Refining novices, posing no threat. Occasionally, the mountain yielded spirit herbs for sustenance. Nowhere offered better concealment than this shadowed refuge.

But after just one night, everything was gone!

Lin Ze watched quietly, understanding its plight. It had expended its cultivation to forge a congenital demon body for its cub and bore significant injuries. Though a Golden Core demon, it could only muster the strength of a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator—a fraction of its former power. Now, replenishment was urgent.

Yet, sympathy aside, one must remember—the entire mountain range belonged to the East Yue Sect. The spirit herbs growing here, aside from those harvested for the sect, could be eaten by spirit beasts, but not by demons. Spirit beasts were part of the mountain, tolerated if they didn’t cause trouble. Demons, however, were independent forces—enemies!

To take without permission was theft; to threaten openly was robbery. If an East Yue disciple ventured deep into the demon mountains, even merely wandering, the ruthless denizens of the Heavenly Demon Sect would ensure not even bones remained.

Now, the white fox wandered aimlessly, then paused, eyes fixing on the sleeping child in the distance—more precisely, on the cloth bag in his hand.

It crept closer, scrutinized him for a moment, and tried to snatch the spirit herbs while the child slept.

Just then, Xiao Bao jolted awake, guardedly hiding the bag behind him.

A flicker of anger crossed the white fox’s gaze. Its massive tail swept toward the child’s neck. If not for its lack of murderous intent, it could have killed him outright and found another hiding place. Such foolishness!

Lin Ze’s eyes narrowed, uncertain. The simulator predicted a close call but no real danger. Yet simulations were not true prophecies; the human heart was unpredictable, every breath spawning countless possibilities.

The white fox spoke in human tongue: “Give me what’s in your hand, and I’ll spare—”

Before it could finish, its mouth snapped shut. A black flame had appeared beneath its paw, flickering eerily like a blossoming lotus.

Sensing the familiar aura, terror flooded the white fox’s blood-red eyes. It bolted far away, crying out in despair and rage, “Celestial Hound, do you want to kill me too?!”

Xiao Bao stared blankly, utterly lost as to what had just transpired.