It was drizzling outside.
The rain inside the cavern wove a series of threads, resembling silk curtains.
Chen Yun, Wu Kexiu, Qin Ming, and Kang Yuan did not wait for the rain to stop. Everyone cast spells one after another, isolating the rain outside and rushing towards the Flame Peak to help Xu Yang obtain the Wind-Fire Cactus of Immortality.
This matter was originally to be finished yesterday, but suddenly encountered water loach, delayed the process.
Although everyone's injuries have not fully healed, the schedule is tight. After all, they need to reach the waters where the Sun-Moon Spring is located within half a year and return within another half year. Therefore, the group still set out despite their injuries.
Qin Ming will be weak for the next half year due to using secret techniques, and he cannot fly at the moment. Kang Yuan, with heartfelt gratitude, spontaneously carries him on his back.
Yuan Chu and Yun's younger brother, among others, were also going to Flame Peak to search for the "Fire Crystal Stone". They joined them in the journey.
Throughout the journey, everyone chatted and laughed, and there was no trace of the hardships they had encountered with the water eels from yesterday.
Shortly, the group arrived at a towering mountain filled with rolling flames and unimaginable heat.
Wu Kexiu stopped ahead to appear to discern the direction.
Chen Yun also stopped with the group.
Suddenly, something unexpected yet logically happened to everyone.
Wu Kexiu turned his head and smiled, "Mr. Chen, there are two ways to enter Flame Peak. The first is to use mana to forcefully charge in, doing so might face danger, and there may be no mana to withstand it afterward. The second path is a subterranean road at the corner ahead of us; it is not as hot as the other side, and we don't need mana to resist high temperature. However, it's further than the other way. What do you think we should choose?"
Qin Ming gave Wu Kexiu an unexpected glance. If according to their previous style, Wu Kexiu would have made the decision on his own. Now, by asking for Chen Yun's opinion, it was clear that he was giving up the position of the team's "core."
Wu Kexiu had been secretly causing trouble earlier, but now he was voluntarily giving up the position of the "core"?
Qin Ming knew why, unexpected, definitely is Chen Yun earlier slay water loach to save the people, this event too shock, so that Wu Kexiu recognize reality, therefore set up the location.
Chen Yun didn't think about whether he was the "core" or not. He pondered for a moment and said, "Master Qin used a secret technique earlier and now doesn't have any mana. Although we can cast spells to protect him, I'm afraid that we might not be able to save him in time if we encounter danger. In my opinion, taking the longer route is safer."
Wu Kexiu immediately said, "Alright, let's take the subterranean road."
He said this while looking to the left, "Yuan Daoist, how about you?"
Yuan Chu smiled and said, "The Fire Crystal Stone we need is scattered everywhere, there's no need to specifically choose a direction. Let's go together. If we encounter any danger, we can still support each other."
Wu Kexiu nodded and said, "Alright."
The group followed Wu Kexiu towards the subterranean path.
This journey was very smooth. Although they encountered several fire-elemental beasts along the way, their strength wasn't too strong. None of Chen Yun, Wu Kexiu, and Yuan Chu needed to use their cultivation, and a few swordsmen were able to easily kill them with ease.
Subsequently, the group obtained wind fire phoenix's Essence and the fire crystal stones that Yuan Chu and his companions needed.
After gathering the wind-fire medicinal herb and the fire crystals, it was dusk. The group found a place to rest nearby where there was water.
Perhaps considering the great efforts of Chen Yun, everyone agreed not to let him keep watch, and insisted that he rest well.
Chen Yun was not going to comply. Since everyone was working together, and his injuries were currently healing the best among the team, he would definitely take on the responsibility of guarding the night.
...
...
On the second day, as the sun rose in the east, everyone discussed their plans for today's journey while eating their dry food.
Wu Kexiu took out a ledger that recorded the items everyone needed, glanced at it, and then began to arrange the itinerary. "This way is closer to the Qinglong River. Over there, there is the yuan water that Mr. Chen needs. I remember that there are many white atractylodes around Qinglong River, perhaps some rare varieties. We should head to Qinglong River this morning, and then go to the Hundred Herbs Forest in the afternoon to help Lu Deming's friend obtain the spiritual yellow. What do you think of this plan, Mr. Chen?"
Chen Yun blinked and said, "I seem to remember that you guys discussed yesterday that the Hundred Herbs Forest is closer to Qinglong River."
Lu Deming, an eighty-year-old man who looked like a thirty-to forty-year-old healthy man, immediately took over the conversation. "Mr. Chen, you have come to the Moon and Sun Grotto in only one trip and you still lack yuan water and rare atractylodes. Besides the spiritual yellow, I am also looking for two or three heavenly roots. Don't worry about it; we have plenty of time to gather all the things you need first."
"Yes."
"Don't worry about the itinerary, Mr. Chen."
"First, let's gather the heavenly roots you need."
A group of people started to persuade him.
When Chen Yun heard this, he knew that these people were grateful to him, so they were willing to take a detour to help him obtain the necessary heavenly roots.
This was a small matter, but it fully demonstrated everyone's attitude. From now on, the team will take Chen Yun as the core. Everyone knows that some things cannot be compensated and can only be repaid in this way.
Chen Yun, of course, could not let everyone take a detour, as it would delay the journey.
He strongly requested to go to the Hundred Herbs Forest first, and although the others were hesitant, they had no choice but to agree.
As for Yuan Chu and his team, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they again mentioned that their journey today was the same as theirs, and they continued to follow the group.
Chen Yun understood that Yuan Chu and his team were not truly taking the same route, but rather, knowing that Wu Kexiu, Qin Ming, and others had not yet recovered to their peak condition, they were afraid that Chen Yun might encounter more danger on his own, so they deliberately stayed behind as guardians.
Yuan Chu and his team did this purely out of respect for Chen Yun.
After all, Chen Yun had guided Yuan Chu before, which made him a half teacher.
Moreover, Yuan Chu had received benefits from Chen Yun before. Although he had promised to introduce Chen Yun to the Master Eu Hu, he still owed him a favor and wanted to repay him in this manner.
After deciding on today's itinerary, the group accompanied Lu Deming to search for spiritual yellow in the Hundred Herbs Forest in the morning.
Surprisingly, the Hundred Herbs Forest was rich in various heavenly roots. Besides helping Lu Deming find spiritual yellow, the group also collected over a dozen precious heavenly roots.
Because they had previously agreed on the distribution method for any accidental findings of heavenly roots, Chen Yun, without doing anything, ended up with a considerable number of them.
What made him most surprised was that he obtained the necessary medicinal herb for the high-level refining and condensing body elixir.
...
In the afternoon.
A group of people accompanied Chen Yun to the Qinglong River.
The yuan water was easy to find. They discovered it at the bottom of the Qinglong River.
Chen Yun filled several clay pots.
However, when they arrived at the place to find the rare variety of white atractylodes, they encountered a significant problem.
In front of them was a vast area of wild white atractylodes. In this four to five mu-sized area, there stood an elderly white man dressed in the garb of a mage.
That's right, the man was exactly Mei Lin, who had previously snatched Chen Yun's Huangguo earlier!
"It's you!?"
"It's you!?"
Mei Lin and Wu Kexiu discovered each other at the same time, uttering the exact same words simultaneously.
Instantly, both parties became vigilant.
Wu Kexiu, Kang Yuan, and the others all held their weapons at the ready, staring at Mei Lin in the white atractylodes field with unwavering eyes.
Yuan Chu seemed to notice that Chen Yun and his group might have some issues with Mei Lin, so he drew his sword and pointed it at the opposing party.
After all, Mei Lin was a magic tutor, whose power was equivalent to that of a senior cultivator.
If it were in the past, Chen Yun's side would definitely be more nervous.
However, at this moment, when Mei Lin saw Chen Yun standing calmly in the crowd, he became as tense as a startled cat. His already somewhat hunched-over back became even more bent, and his entire face was filled with tension, causing sweat to break out on his forehead in fine lines. It seemed as though he was under immense pressure.
Yes, Mei Lin did not act as he did the last time, insulting and pushing away the crowd. In fact, he even panicked and shouted at Chen Yun with a stern demeanor: "Don't think that just because you have more people, I'll be afraid!"
Had it been before, Wu Kexiu would have ordered the retreat without hesitation. However, this time he looked over at Chen Yun while maintaining his vigilance and asked, "What should we do, Mr. Chen?"
Kang Yuan, Qin Ming, Yuan Chu, and his younger brother Yun all looked in Chen Yun's direction.
Even Mei Lin had a worried expression on his face, as if he was afraid that Chen Yun would suddenly launch an attack.
Chen Yun, of course, could see the tension on Mei Lin's face. He initially found it strange and thought that a magic tutor like Mei Lin would be afraid of him just because his group was larger in number?
That was impossible, after all, from a power perspective, Mei Lin could easily wipe out everyone in their group with just his own strength.
However, Chen Yun immediately realized why Mei Lin was so tense. If he wasn't mistaken, Mei Lin probably saw the shocking scene of him killing a water serpent, so he was afraid.
After understanding the situation, Chen Yun knew what to do.
Chen Yun took a slow step forward, deliberately assuming an expression of frostiness and said, "If you don't want to die, get out of here!"
Mei Lin's pupil shrank noticeably, and he bit his teeth slightly, saying, "There are so many white atractylodes here. You can't take them all, why do you even want to be alone?"
Chen Yun took another step forward, his tone cold as he said, "It seems you are looking for death on your own path!"
With those words, the Red Gold Demon-Slaying Sword appeared in his palm.
Yeah, Chen Yun is intimidating the other party. Since he has guessed that the other party has seen him killing a water serpent, if he shows weakness at this moment, they will think that the previous burst of power was just temporary, and he will invite more trouble to himself.
At this moment, he had to act tough so that the other party would think that his previous burst of power was not just a coincidence.
Although he still had two life-saving immortal gases, Chen Yun did not want to waste them in a dispute over the rare white atractylodes. After all, these were life-saving immortal gases, and he would never use them recklessly unless it was a matter of life and death.
As expected, when Mei Lin saw Chen Yun pulling out the Red Gold Demon-Slaying Sword, he was scared stiff and didn't hesitate to flee at once, turning into a flash of firelight.
The group had previously seen Chen Yun's strong stance and thought there might be a big battle with Mei Lin. However, they were surprised to see how scared the latter was when Chen Yun took out the Red Gold Demon-Slaying Sword and quickly fled.
Suddenly, everyone was in high spirits.
"Ha ha."
"The guy was scared off by Mr. Chen."
"He must have seen Mr. Chen's scene of killing the water serpent, so he's very apprehensive now."
"Ha ha, last time he drove us away, but now that he knows Mr. Chen's strength, he's retreating on his own. I can't help but feel a little delighted deep down inside."
"Ha ha, who wouldn't feel a bit of satisfaction deep down inside when a magic tutor who's as powerful as a senior cultivator was scared away?"
Gao Chen, Xu Yang, Ding Xu, and the others were all very cheerful, as if they had avenged the humiliation they suffered a few days ago from Mei Lin.
Chen Yun didn't expect Mei Lin, a magic tutor, to be so scared, and he felt like he had regained his dignity.
However, he did not feel overly proud about this, but rather feared that the other party might realize something was amiss and quickly instructed everyone to search for any rare white atractylodes in the area.
It was less than a cup of tea's time before Wu Kexiu, Kang Yuan, Yuan Chu, and others found over a dozen rare varieties of white atractylodes for Chen Yun.
Chen Yun took the rare white atractylodes and thanked everyone one by one.
Holding those rare white atractylodes, he couldn't help but feel secretly excited. He had gathered both yuan water and the rare white atractylodes. He had all the essential heavenly roots needed for the mid-grade refining and condensing body elixir today!
He hadn't expected at all that, having entered the Sun-Moon Pond Celestial Realm for just a few days, he would manage to gather all the herbs.
In fact, if it weren't for the fact that he had used the life-saving immortal gases to kill a water serpent earlier, saving himself and his friends from great danger, he wouldn't have been able to obtain such a rare variety of white atractylodes today, let alone be able to gather all the ingredients needed for the mid-grade refining and condensing body elixir. Therefore, it was really thanks to this unexpected turn of events that he was able to gather all the materials so quickly.
Regardless of how it happened, he had managed to gather all the heavenly roots required for the mid-grade refining and condensing body elixir!
Chen Yun knew that tonight, he would be able to brew the mid-grade refining and condensing body elixir.
Once the mid-grade refining and condensing body elixir is brewed, it's only a matter of time before he can break through to the realm of senior cultivators!
Chen Yun couldn't wait to break through to a higher realm and gain an extended lifespan, as well as achieve immortality and ascend to become a celestial being!
(End of Chapter)
