Chapter 1441 Picking Medicinal Herbs at the Thousand Medicines Mountain
Her eyes flickered as she remembered Master Third Sun’s words to her mother that night. Therefore, she looked at the two men and asked with a smile: “Speaking of which, what a coincidence this is. I bumped into Martial Uncle Shangguan earlier in this part of the forest as well!”
“What? You bumped into Junior Sister Shangguan?” The two men looked at Feng Jiu in surprise: “She really went into the depths of the forest?”
After she heard this and watched their reactions, she blinked her eyes and said: “I just saw a figure in white that looked very much like Martial Uncle Shangguan from a distance. I didn’t actually bump into her directly. However, I have met Martial Uncle Shangguan several times at the Peak, therefore, I am quite sure that the person I saw is her. But...”
“But what?” The two men asked nervously.
Feng Jiu glanced at them and replied with a worried expression: “It’s just that it looked like Martial Uncle Shangguan was injured when I saw her earlier and there was no one else beside her. I wanted to catch up to her, but I am only a Foundation Formation stage cultivator and I couldn’t keep up with her speed.”
After some inquiring, she had found out that Master Third Sun’s disciples had special thoughts towards her mother. Since that was the case, she could make use of that now.
Sure enough, after they had heard this, the two men’s eyebrows twisted and they walked to the side and whispered: “Eldest Senior Brother is right, Junior Sister must have gone to pick the few medicinal herbs that Master is lacking.”
“Could the matter that Eldest Senior Brother spoke of be true? Master really intends to.....”
“No matter what, I think we need to warn Junior Sister.”
“It’s just that if Master has decided on something, even if we have the intention to help, we can’t change the result.”
“Regardless of anything else, if Junior Sister does go to pick those three medicinal herbs, then she would have gone to Thousand Medicines Mountain in the depths of the Secret Realm. The medicinal herbs that Master wants can only be found there. However, there are so many beasts guarding Thousand Medicines Mountain, if we don’t get there in time, I’m afraid Junior Sister will....”
“Then let’s hurry over, we might get there in time to help.”
As the two men were getting ready to head into the depths of the forest, a hand stretched out and grabbed their robes.
“Martial Uncles, please wait a moment!”
Feng Jiu who had been listening to their conversation looked at them with innocent eyes blinking and said: “Martial Uncle, take me along! We are so deep in the forest, if I stay here alone, I will die.”
“If you walk in this direction and keep going straight you will reach the outer periphery. We have to go into the depths of the forest. If you come along it will be inconvenient.” One of the men said and brushed her hands off his robe: “Let go.”
Feng Jiu didn’t let go but instead she said: “But Martial Uncle, what happens if I encounter a fierce beast after you leave? I will die. Martial Uncles, we are all from Third Sun Peak, and even though I am only a disciple who runs errands, I am still a disciple! You must bring me with you!”
The two men frowned and looked at each other then flicked their gazed away: “If you follow us you will die faster.” As soon as they had finished speaking, they ignored Feng Jiu and gathered their energy to head into the forest.
Upon seeing this, Feng Jiu grinned: “Thousand Medicines Mountain? Is this our destination?” She whispered and lifted herself up on tiptoes then followed the two of them.
At the same time, at the foot of Thousand Medicines Mountain, a white-robed Shangguan Wanrong had arrived and was looking up at the steep rocks of the mountain and the tens of thousands of medicinal herbs that were growing on the mountain.
It was not going to be an easy task to find the medicinal herbs that she needed on this mountain.
Chapter 1442 Senior Brother Won’t Harm You
After she looked at the mountain in front of her, she took out her flying sword to fly up the mountain. The mountain wall on this side was too steep and she could only go up to look for the medicinal herbs.
However, when she took her sword out and approached the mountain, a coercive force struck her and violently lifted her in midair. Her whole body lost balance as she fell.
“Ah!”
She exclaimed. Because the coercive force had caused her to lose her balance, she was unable to stabilize her body when she fell. Just as she was falling, a figure swept in and caught her.
Shangguan Wanrong was startled and slightly surprised when she saw who had caught her: “Eldest Senior Brother? What are you doing here?” She steadied herself once her feet were on the ground and backed away from him hurriedly, her expression complicated as she looked at the person standing in front of her.
The man looked about thirty years old and was dressed in an azure robe, his ink black hair was tied back and his face was well-shaped and handsome. In a world of cultivating immortals with handsome men and beautiful women, he was not considered handsome.
However, he had a calm breath exuding from his body and his deep set eyes glowed with wisdom. His whole body exuded the stability and courage of a mature man. At this moment, he looked at Shangguan Wanrong who had stepped away from him. Though he withdrew his hand with a neutral expression on his face, there was a sense of melancholy in his heart.
“Junior Sister, you can’t pick the medicinal herbs from this mountain.” He looked at her and said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong’s eyes flickered: “Eldest Senior Brother knows I am here to pick medicinal herbs?”
Didn’t Master say that he had only told her about this matter? Wasn’t she the only one who was supposed to come to this mountain to pick the medicinal herbs? Didn’t he say that Eldest Senior Brother and the rest had other orders? Why.....
Sensing her doubts, Duan Mubai sighed lightly: “Master didn’t tell us that you are coming to Thousand Medicines Mountain to pick medicinal herbs, but we know about it. Junior Sister, we have followed Master for so many years, Master’s affairs cannot be hidden from us, you know....”
He paused, as if he didn’t know how to say it, as if what he wanted to say was difficult to put into words.
Shangguan Wanrong frowned slightly: “Isn’t it just picking medicinal herbs? Is there something else that I don’t know about?”
Duan Mubai looked at her and his eyes flickered slightly as he replied: “Stretch out your hand.”
She hesitated for a while when she heard that request before she stretched out her hand. She watched as he placed his finger on her pulse point and carefully analysed her pulse. When she saw this, she wondered, what was this about? Was there something wrong with her body?
Impossible, if there was something wrong with her body she would know about it. After all, she was an alchemist and she was versed in medical knowledge.
After a while, Duan Mubai retracted his hand and sighed: “Master is indeed worthy of his status. I am useless, I can’t detect the abnormality in your body. But I can tell you that you can’t go and pick the medicinal herbs. If you do, you will lose your life.”
“Why?”
She didn’t understand. Although Master was stricter with her and didn’t allow her to go out nor allow her to have much contact with her Senior Brothers, he would refine pills for her from time to time for her to improve her strength. Why would he harm her?
Moreover, she was always careful in handling things. Even if Master had given her pills, she would always check that it was non-toxic and harmless to the body before she took them. Therefore, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with it.
Duan Mubai looked at her calmly and said slowly: “Junior Sister, do as I say! After you leave this place, just make up a reason to explain why you were unable to pick the medicinal herbs, Senior Brother won’t harm you.”
Chapter 1443 You’re an Errand Boy
He looked at her and said with a faint voice: “Junior Sister, I think you should actually leave Pill Sun Sect.”
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong’s heart sank and she asked: “Eldest Senior Brother, do you know something about me that I don’t know?”
“Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister!”
Two voices drifted over and the two people who were standing at the bottom of the mountain looked back. They saw two people not too far away and a figure in cyan robes following about ten metres behind them.
“It’s Third Junior Brother and Fourth Junior Brother.” Duan Mubai said, his eyes swept past the two people to the cyan figure behind them: “Who is that?”
Shangguan Wanrong looked at the two people in front then set her eyes on the person at the back. When she saw who it was, she couldn’t help being shocked: “It’s Feng Jiu, Third Sun Peak’s errand boy disciple.”
But, how did he get in here?
“Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister, why are the two of you together?” The two of them looked at them in surprise as they approached.
“I knew that Junior Sister would come here, so I came here to wait for her.” Duan Mubai said and looked at the two of them: “Why did you bring an errand boy with you? How did he get in here?”
It was stipulated that only alchemists with Golden Core strength and above could enter. The youth was just an errand boy and also only a Foundation Formation cultivator, how did he come in? And he even followed them here?
“What?”
The two of them were stunned and looked at each other then looked back. When they saw the figure in azure clothes following behind them, a strange expression flashed across their faces: “We told him to leave first, we didn’t expect him to follow us here.”
What surprised them even more was that the errand boy was able to keep up with them.
However, when they saw that the errand boy did look a bit dishevelled, his azure robes were ripped in places and his face was stained with dust, he was also sweating and panting from following them from behind, they felt a bit relieved.
“Martial Uncle Shangguan!”
Feng Jiu waved to her mother from a distance and grinned happily when she saw her standing there safe and well. She walked forwards quickly.
God knows how hard it was to make herself sweat profusely and look dishevelled. They would be surprised if she didn’t have a hair out of place and looked neat and tidy after following them here.
When she got to the front, her eyes narrowed as she smiled and bowed respectfully to Duan Mubai: “Greetings Martial Uncle.”
After spending so much time in Third Sun Peak, she hadn’t met any of them, it was quite an unexpected surprise to meet three of them at once. The remaining one however didn’t seem to be here.
“Why are you here?” Shangguan Wanrong looked at Feng Jiu and asked. As she looked at her covered in sweat and her dishevelled appearance but free of wounds on her body, she couldn’t help but wonder.
In the depths of the forest, even Golden Core alchemists would inevitably get hurt. Although this youth appeared dishevelled, she saw no wounds on his body as if he had not encountered any danger along the way.
Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu smiled, squinting at her: “I was chased by a giant bear into the depths of the forest. Fortunately I bumped into the two Martial Uncles and I followed them here.”
At first impressions, the eldest disciple of Master Third Sun, Duan Mubai was a little beyond her expectations. This person was calm and introverted. He had also maintained a youthful appearance and one couldn’t tell that he was already in his thirties.
Duan Mubai glanced at Feng Jiu once over discreetly and asked: “You are an errand boy disciple of Third Sun Peak?”
Chapter 1444 Get Out Quickly
“Yes.” She replied, closing her eyes.
Duan Mubai stared at Feng Jiu for a while before he moved his gaze away from her and looked at Shangguan Wanrong: “Junior Sister, what are you going to do next?”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their eyes onto Shangguan Wanrong and saw her look up at Thousand Medicines Mountain and said: “Since Master has instructed me to pick those three medicinal herbs, then I have to go. As for the other matter, we will talk about it when we return to the Sect!”
She wanted to see why she would lose her life if she picked those three medicinal herbs! What was the connection between her and those three medicinal herbs? What was her Master up to?
A glint flashed by Feng Jiu’s eyes and she thought to herself: Those three medicinal herbs? What exactly were those three medicinal herbs? Why did the expressions of those people change when they mentioned those three medicinal herbs?
Duan Mubai sighed: “Junior Sister, why do you insist?”
“Eldest Senior Brother, don’t say anymore.”
Shangguan Wanrong looked at them and said: “I will enter Thousand Medicines Mountain to pick the medicinal herbs. Don’t follow me. Don’t worry, I will be fine. We will meet back at the Sect.” After speaking, she bowed respectfully to the three of them and walked towards the mountain.
“Junior Sister.”
Duan Mubai stood in front of her and blocked her path, frowning slightly: “The Thousand Medicines Mountain has air restrictions and you can’t fly up there on your sword. It’s too dangerous to go up there like this. If you fell from midair again like you did before, how many times do you think you will be so lucky?”
“I will be careful.”
She looked at him calmly and said: “Eldest Senior Brother, this is the task that Master has instructed me to carry out. Besides, Master told me that he has other tasks for the rest of you. I assume that all of you shouldn’t be here right now.”
Upon hearing this, their eyes flickered.
She was right, they shouldn’t be here, their Master did have other tasks for them to carry out separately. However, once they found out that she was here, they couldn’t help but come rushing over.
They didn’t follow her but only watched her go forwards and codon’t help but look at each other helplessly. Finally their gaze landed on their Eldest Senior Brother: “Eldest Senior Brother, are we really going to let Junior Sister go and pick the medicinal herbs? Apart from other things, there are many venomous snakes and fierce beasts in there, if she goes in alone will she....”
“Go and carry out the tasks Master has instructed you to do! Otherwise you won’t be able to account for yourselves when you return to the Sect. I will follow Junior Sister and keep an eye on her.” Duan Mubai instructed and motioned for the other two to leave first.
Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, he said: “By the way, take the errand boy disciple with you. Let him.....where is he?” When he turned around, the youth who was standing behind him was nowhere to be found.
The two of them froze and glanced around then suddenly pointed to the front: “Eldest Senior Brother, look, the errand boy is over there!”
At some point, the youth had gone past them and was following behind Shangguan Wanrong. When they saw this, they couldn’t help but be stunned.
“What is this errand boy trying to do? He is only a Foundation Formation cultivator and yet he dares to enter Thousand Medicines Mountain? Does he not want to live anymore?” Duan Mubai said irritably and hurried along to catch up with them.
At this time, when Shangguan Wanrong saw the youth was following behind her, she stopped and asked: “Why are you following me? Go back quickly.”
Feng Jiu grinned and looked back at her with squinted eyes: “Senior Uncle Shangguan, aren’t you going to pick medicinal herbs? I will accompany you to go in and also collect medicinal herbs at the same time.”
“It’s very dangerous inside.” Shangguan Wanrong frowned and said: “You should get out of here quickly with them or you will lose your life for no reason.”
Chapter 1445 Be Alone
“It’s okay, I can protect myself.”
Shangguan Wanrong was about to speak when she saw that Duan Mubai had walked over to speak to Feng Jiu with a serious expression on his face: “You’re just an errand boy, how will you protect yourself? Get out of here with them quickly.”
When she heard this, Feng Jiu blinked and walked over to Shangguan Wanrong’s side: “Martial Uncle Shangguan, let me come along! I really won’t give you any trouble at all. I have made it here after much difficulty so I would like to come along to pick some medicinal herbs too!”
She paused slightly and the continued speaking after she glanced at Duan Mubai: “Besides, there’s no rule against disciples who have come in here for training to stay away from this Thousand Medicines Mountain! Even if you won’t let me follow you, I will still go into Thousand Medicines Mountain, I will just stay away from you!”
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong’s eyes flickered and she looked deeply at Feng Jiu then said: “In that case, then come along!”
“Junior Sister.”
“Senior Brother, you should go and finish your task! Nothing will happen to me here. Even if something were to happen, it would probably be when I return to the Sect. At that time, if I am unable to help myself, then please save my life Senior Brother.”
Her voice paused slightly and she looked into the distance sighing softly: “I still have wishes I have yet to fulfill, people I still want to meet.”
She was not afraid of death, she was only afraid that she wouldn’t get to meet her daughter and the man who was hidden deep within her heart....
As Feng Jiu looked at the expression on her face and her helplessness, she felt a twitch in her heart. Mother, are you thinking of Father and me? Are you hoping to come back to see us? Actually, I am here, right here in front of you.
When Duan Mubai heard this, his expression stiffened and he nodded solemnly: “Rest assured Junior Sister, I promise to help you.” He looked at her deeply and still feeling unsure, he reminded her: “In that case, you must be careful entering Thousand Medicines Mountain.”
“I will.” Shangguan Wanrong nodded in response and watched him as he walked towards the other two Senior Brothers and left together.
“Let’s go!” She looked at Feng Jiu and turned around to walk forwards.
Feng Jiu followed behind, her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it.
Should she tell her directly that she was her daughter? She was Feng Qing Ge? Would she believe it? Even she couldn’t quite believe it if she had said it. How could someone who belonged to a Ninth Grade Country come to the Eight Supreme Empires and stand in front of her?
If she had said that, it would seem like she was sent to spy on her and get close to her.
As she thought of this, she couldn’t help but scratch her head in annoyance. Sigh, why was it so difficult to acknowledge your own relative?
Shangguan Wanrong who was walking ahead could feel the youth staring at her from behind, and from the sound of his breathing, he seemed perturbed by something.
However, since he didn’t say anything, she didn’t ask either, after all, it was his privacy.
She slowed down and looked ahead and said: “The Thousand Medicines Mountain has air restrictions so we can only go around from this side and go up from the other side. Follow me closely. Some of the medicinal herbs are poisonous so don’t touch anything without asking or you might get poisoned.”
“Yes.” Feng Jiu replied and quickly walked up to her side. After glancing at her, she walked forwards with her.
The two of them were alone, there would be many chances to reconcile with each other. She had to find a good opportunity or her mother might think that she was sent to spy on her and would become wary of her.
Chapter 1446 Taste my craft
Two days later, they went around the foot of the mountain and climbed up the Thousand Medicines Mountain. Feng Jiu followed at her mother’s side, watching her skillfully explore the path in the forest, checking whether any ferocious beasts were around and paying attention whether guardian spirit beasts would appear when they were gathering herbs.
For two days, they did not encounter any major events or dangers. They walked to the edge, close to the precipice, where the first herb seemed to grow.
She looked at her mother who was squatting down to pick a spirit herb and asked, “Martial Uncle Shangguan, Martial Uncle Duan and others said you must gather three kinds of spirit herbs. What kind of spirit herbs are those?”
She was curious, which three spirit herbs must be gathered? What’s more, it seemed that if all the three herbs were taken and handed to Master Third Sun, there’s a good possibility that her mother would die. Why?
“They are premium spirit herbs. You aren’t familiar with it.” Shangguan Wanrong looked back at her. “Are you tired? Do you want to take a break?”
When she heard this, Feng Jiu replied hurriedly, “I’m hungry.”
Shangguan Wanrong took out a fasting pill and gave it to Feng Jiu, “You’ve run out of food, right? Take this!”
Unexpectedly, Feng Jiu shook her head and waved a hand, “I don’t like taking medicine to fill my stomach. I prefer eating meat.” At this point, she grinned from ear to ear.
Shangguan Wanrong was startled, then a faint smile appeared on her face. “If you want to eat meat, you have to look for it on this mountain. See if there is any meat to eat.”
“Shall we take a break?” Feng Jiu asked, looking at her expectantly.
“Rest! There’s plenty of time, so no need to rush.” Shangguan Wanrong looked around and pointed to a place not far away. “Over there! There is a big flat stone over there with no grass around it. We can take a rest there.”
“Alright.” Feng Jiu replied. Then, she spoke again, “Martial Uncle Shangguan, sit there for a while. I’ll be back after a bit.” With that, she ran off.
“Hey, you...” Before Shangguan Wanrong finished speaking, Feng Jiu had already ran off quickly, so she could only sit on the big rock and wait for her there.
After about the time it took for an incense to burn, Shangguan Wanrong, who was drinking water, saw the young man in azure come back with two wild pheasants in one hand and a bundle of dry branches in the other. Stunned, she got up and went towards Feng Jiu.
“Martial Uncle Shangguan, please sit down. Leave these to me.” Feng Jiu grinned, signalling her not to come over.
When Shangguan Wanrong reached her side and took the bundle of branches from Feng Jiu’s hand, she was surprised. “I didn’t see any pheasants during the whole journey. How did you manage to catch them?” This type of pheasant was the fastest creature. They couldn’t be caught without a certain speed, especially in such mountain forests.
“What’s so special about catching two pheasants? I often run around outside alone and am used to these things. I’m experienced at this.” She smiled with her eyes in the shape of crescents. She had Shangguan Wanrong sit by and started handling the food herself.
Before long, the branches were lit and then roasted the already cleaned wild pheasants on the fire. “Martial Uncle, just wait for a taste of my craft! Those fasting pills don’t have such fragrant meat aroma!”
Shangguan Wanrong chuckled and took a branch with pheasant from Feng Jiu’s hand. “Let me help.” Looking at the pheasants roasting in the fire and at the young man’s skilled technique, she couldn’t help but ask, “You’re so young. Why do you do these things often?”
“It’s because I run around a lot!”
Chapter 1447 Right in front of her
Shangguan Wanrong was stunned. “Why do you have to run around? You’re so young, does your family feel at ease?”
Feng Jiu stopped turning over the pheasant and looked up at her with a smile. “I’m here to look for my mother. Besides, I can protect myself well.”
“Looking for your mother?” She was surprised. “Have you found her?”
“Yes, I found her. She’s at the sect.” Feng Jiu answered, looking at her.
Seeing the smile in the boy’s limpid eyes, Shangguan Wanrong had a sudden and inexplicable palpitation in her heart. She always felt that the boy spoke with deep meaning and obscure, as if shrouded with a layer of gauze, making it impossible for her to see clearly.
“Then, does your mother know you’re looking for her? Does she recognize you since you are in the same sect?” Perhaps it was because the subject had struck a chord with her, she couldn’t help but ask again.
Feng Jiu smiled with her eyes narrowed. “My mother must have thought that I’m at home. My home is far away from here. She wouldn’t expect that I would come here. Besides, she left when I was very young. It’s normal not to recognize me.”
“Why did she leave you?” She asked, looking like she was in a daze.
“My mother’s family didn’t allow her to be with my father, so they arrested her and locked her up. My father raised me alone. Sometimes my father would hold my mother’s things and just stared blankly . I thought, when I have the ability, I will bring my mother back.”
She paused, looking at the dazed and despondent woman in front of her. “I want my family to be reunited. Martial Uncle Shangguan, please tell me. If you were my mother, would you return home with me?”
Shangguan Wanrong stared at Feng Jiu. A burst of tempestuous mood and excitement rose up in her heart. Her eyes reddened and tears rolled in her eyes. At that split second, memories flashed in her mind.
A series of information kept repeating in a way that seemed both incredible and unfathomable...
Before, she always felt that the young man seemed to like to be close to her. She always appeared everywhere she went. On those several occasions, her closeness and joy were so obvious.
Feng Jiu told her that her surname was Feng and she was called Feng Jiu...
Feng Jiu told her that she missed her mother...
Feng Jiu even came to ask her whether she could enter the mystic realm during the experience. Feng Jiu also told her that she only had the Foundation Building strength and could not enter the secret land, yet she came in anyway.
Feng Jiu not only entered the mystic realm, but she also came to her side...
If she had not been able to figure out this series of things by now, she would have been in vain as Shangguan Wanrong.
Looking at Feng Jiu, dressed in azure and disguised as a young man, the more she looked, the more she felt that this was a peculiar woman. What kind of a boy was she?
However, she not only disguised herself remarkably, even her manner also did not have a trace of a daughter’s delicate appearance. When she thought of the way Feng Jiu handled the pheasant neatly and recalled her saying that she often ran outside in order to find her mother, her heartstring was gripped tightly. She made an effort to restrain herself so as not to let her tears fall.
Even if, at this time, she wanted to confirm, even if she wanted to hold her in her arms and ask about things, even if she wanted to hear her call her Mother, she could only hold herself back at this moment.
What was her master going to do to her? She still hadn’t figured it out yet. She didn’t want her daughter to be involved in the same danger as her. When she understood the matter, she would go back with her!
Chapter 1448 Keep for self defence
She also wanted her family to be reunited. However, after so many years, she didn’t dare to have this thought.
Feng Jiu just said that her father always held her mother’s things when he missed her. So, after all these years, he had never remarried? His memory was obviously sealed, how could he remember all these?
With that look in her eyes, sitting quietly with a blank and despondent gaze, Shangguan Wanrong had no reaction even though the pheasant on the fire was slightly burnt.
Seeing this, Feng Jiu took the branch in her hand and asked her, “Martial Uncle Shangguan, you haven’t answered me yet. Will my mother come home with me?”
At this, Shangguan Wanrong came to her senses. She lifted her sleeve to wipe her tears away and adjusted her mind, suppressing the turmoil and excitement in her heart forcefully and gazed at her. “She will. She will go back with you, but not now.”
Feng Jiu looked at her fixedly. Their eyes met. That layer of unpierced barrier seemed to have disappeared in front of them. They guessed each other’s identity but did not acknowledge their relationships.
After a long time, Feng Jiu restrained her gaze. “I know.” This matter should have been related to the Master Third Sun. What on earth did this man want to do?
Seeing that she held her eyes back with an unsmiling face, Shangguan Wanrong said hurriedly, “She will go back. When she has dealt with her affairs, she will go back, I promise.”
“Mm hmm. I believe you.” She looked up with a smile and nodded.
After a while, the roast pheasant was done. After adding a little seasoning, she handed one to her. “Have a taste.”
“Thank you.” Shangguan Wanrong took it, whispered her thanks, tore off a piece and began to eat.
While eating roast pheasant, they chatted. Maybe it was because they opened their mouths. Although they didn’t break through the barrier and acknowledge the relationship, their feelings and mood were a little different.
After eating the roast pheasant, they continued to move forward. This time, Shangguan Wanrong took the initiative to talk. “Among the three herbs my master asked me to collect, one of them is the Stone Iron Azalea. This kind of spirit herb grows in the crevices of the stone walls and can only be seen in the mountain walls’ precipices. When I go halfway up the mountain to have a look, you can stay and wait.”
“Stone Iron Azalea? This is a very rare spirit herb. There must be a guardian beast by the spirit herb’s side. Located halfway up the mountain, most of the guardian beasts are poisonous snakes.” Feng Jiu spoke with a frown. “Since you’re gathering the Stone Iron Azalea, I’ll go down and pick it! I can recognize this spirit herb.”
“That won’t do. It’s too dangerous. It’ll just head down, don’t worry! It’s not my first time picking herbs. It’s going to be alright.” She refused directly. When she reached the top, she took a thick rope from the space and tied it to her body.
“I came prepared. Everything was complete and I had taken the antidote beforehand.”
Feng Jiu had no choice but to come forward and take the rope in her hand and tie it firmly to her. “Then, be careful. I’ll wait for you above. One side of the rope will be tied to the big tree here.”
As she spoke, she tied the other end of the rope to a nearby tree. “Call me if you need anything or pull on the rope.”
Shangguan Wanrong had a gentle smile on her face. “I know. Don’t worry. Wait for me here, you also have to be careful with the surroundings, in case there are ferocious beasts.”
With that, she took some pills from the space and handed them to her. “You can keep these for self defence.”
Chapter 1449 Found it
“No need, I have them.” She shoved the pills back to her. However, Shangguan Wanrong shoved them again to Feng Jiu.
“Take them!” Shangguan Wanrong insisted. After taking a glance at Feng Jiu, she turned around and walked towards the edge. “I’m going down.”
Looking at the several medicine bottles in her hand, Feng Jiu smiled and put them away. “Mm, I’ll help pull the rope for you.” With that, she pulled the rope around the edge so that she could go down.
The Thousand Medicines Mountain was very high. It took them two days to go up the mountain. She didn’t even know where the Stone Iron Azalea was growing on the mountain precipice. IT’s because when they went up from the foot of the mountain, there was a layer of fog mid-air, blocking their line of sight. It was the same when looking down from the mountaintop. It was impossible to see it from afar. Only after going down the precipice would people be able to look it over.
It took Feng Jiu no less than an hour to put the rope down. When she went to the edge and looked down, she could not see her mother’s figure because she was blocked by the fog.
“I wonder what’s down there? It’s too dangerous to go on like this.” She murmured, a little uneasy.
Stone Iron Azalea was a kind of spirit herb that could prolong one’s life and was one of the main herbs that must be used when refining the Longevity Pill. Because it was very rare, it was difficult to see it at a high price even in the auction houses outside.
Did Master Third Sun look for this herb to refine a pill that could increase longevity? However, ordinary Longevity Pills should have no effect on him. As far as she knew, Master Third Sun was already several hundred years old.
While she was still pondering the matter, she suddenly heard the rustling sound and looked back. It was unknown when a dozen monkeys jumped out from the tree. Each of the monkeys screamed while some of them wanted to untie the rope tied on the tree.
“Go away!”
Feng Jiu yelled and raised her hand. A wave of pressure came out and attacked the monkeys. Perhaps fearing the pressure of the ancient immortal beast inside her, those monkeys jumped up after being thrown out a few meters away. The monkeys dared not come forward again, they scattered and fled towards the surrounding area.
Feng Jiu sat under the big tree where the rope was tied while holding the rope in one hand. She sensed the movement below from the tightness of the rope and its swaying motions.
At the same time, Shangguan Wanrong, who went down, searched around the stone wall. When she saw a spirit herb growing between a stone crevice, her eyes lit up and her face joyful.
“It’s the Stone Iron Azalea!”
Seeing the spirit herb two meters away, she held the rope in both hands, pushed her feet against the mountain wall, and pushed her body out a bit. Then, she took a deep breath and swung the rope to the other side using the force of her feet on the stone wall.
Feng Jiu sensed the swing of the rope. After a moment of surprise, she got up quickly and came to the edge. She called out, “Senior Uncle Shangguan, are you alright?”
“I’m alright. I found the Stone Iron Azalea.” Shangguan Wanrong, at the mountain’s midpoint, answered back. She swung her body right where the stone crevice was, but she didn’t come near right away.
There must be a guardian beast nearby the spirit herb. If she went to pick it like that, she might lose her life at any moment.
Then, turning her hand over, she took out a gold coin and struck it at the crack in the stone with a thump. As she shot it down, a dark figure sprang up with a swish and nipped the gold coin away.
When she looked at the figure intently, she saw that it was a little snake as thin as a little finger. The snake was black and glossy. It was known at first glance that the snake was very poisonous.
Chapter 1450 Three Spirit Herbs
“It’s the coal snake! A drop of its venom can kill a ferocious beast. Snake gall is a good thing. Since I encountered it, it’s convenient to catch it.”
Shangguan Wanrong murmured, fixing her eyes on the shiny black snake. At the next moment, she smeared the medicine in her hands, then swung forward using the rope’s force and grabbed the snake’s head in an instant.
At the same time, Feng Jiu, who was waiting above, heard the voice coming from below. Although the sound was not so clear amidst the wind, she was not worried knowing that her mother was alright.
After waiting for about the time it took an incense to burn, she sensed the rope shaking. She guessed that her mother had already collected the herb. So, she quickly retrieved the rope and pulled her mother back from the precipice.
About an hour or so, she was pulled up from the bottom. Feng Jiu came up to see that her mother had no wound except for her clothes getting dirty from friction. She was relieved.
“Are you alright? Did you get the herb?” Feng Jiu asked while helping her untie the rope.
“Here it is. Look, this is Stone Iron Azalea, one of the essential ingredients for refining Longevity Pill.” Shangguan Wanrong smiled. She took out the spirit herb she had picked and showed it to Feng Jiu. “I also caught the Stone Iron Azalea’s guardian beast, the coal snake.”
When she heard this, Feng Jiu was immediately startled and anxious. “Coal snake is extremely venomous. Its reaction is also very fast. You didn’t get bitten, right?”
“No, even though it’s fast. I’m faster than the snake.” She put away the spirit herb with a smile and patted her clothes. “I still need to find two more herbs.”
Feng Jiu asked, “What kind of herbs are those two? I can help you look for it.”
Shangguan Wanrong smiled. “Although you are very familiar with spirit herbs and have been sending herbs to the peak for some time, those herbs are very rare even in the sect. Even if you see them, you can’t recognize them.” It’s because she had never seen the three herbs before.
“If you don’t say it, how do you know I can’t recognize it?” She flashed a cunning smile. Feng Jiu looked at her mother with a smile and told her proudly. “I’m amazing. There are no spirit herbs that I don’t recognize.”
“Oh?” Shangguan Wanrong chuckled. “So, have you really learned about them?”
“Mm hmm. I’ve learned.”
Feng Jiu nodded. She was very confident. It was impossible for her not to know things related to spirit herbs. If her mother only told her what kind of spirit herbs she was looking for, perhaps she could deduce what Master Third Sun was going to do with it.
However, currently, although Stone Iron Azalea was one of the essential herbs of Longevity Pill, that’s all she knew. She had no idea about several other herbs used. Even she couldn’t find out what kind of elixir the final pill would be, but it must be related to the Longevity Pill.
Shangguan Wanrong looked at her and took out a folded paper from the space. “These are the three herbs I am looking for.”
Feng Jiu took it and opened it. Three spirit herbs were written on the white paper. The name and growth habit of the spirit herbs were marked on it. The first on the list was the just picked Stone Iron Azalea.
“The second herb is the longevity flower, and the third is the seven-leaf variation grass?”
Looking at the above several kinds of spirit herbs, Feng Jiu wrung her eyebrows slightly. What kind of pill would be produced from a combination of the three spirit herbs?