Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In Herb Valley, there are not as many herbs as one might imagine. The layout inside the valley is similar to the outside, featuring housing and a training ground. The difference is the addition of several caves built into the mountainside, which are undoubtedly the Alchemy Rooms of the herbalists.
There are disciples patrolling within the valley, but their numbers are fewer. This is already the interior of Shennong Valley, and external enemies cannot enter. These patrolling disciples are largely personnel on duty, waiting for orders.
Xu Feng and Xu Ruchu entered without any obstruction and quickly arrived at a cave deep inside. Nong Xing stopped at the entrance and respectfully called out, "Master, I have something to discuss."
After a few minutes, a voice came from inside the cave, "Come in."
Nong Xing whispered, "This is my master's cave; do not speak carelessly once we enter. Just answer whatever Master asks." Xu Ruchu nodded in agreement.
The shimmering barrier at the entrance dissipated, and the three of them walked inside. The cave was bright as day, with two young apprentices moving about inside, busy with unknown tasks. Upon seeing Nong Xing enter, they called out, "Second Senior Brother."
Nong Xing nodded and walked over to a door, calling out, "Master." The three then entered the room.
Inside the spacious room were three high-grade Dan Furnaces, each uniquely designed and completely different from the one Xu Feng had used before. To the right of the Dan Furnaces sat an Elder with Long Eyebrows on a stone bench, his eyes lowered and his expression serene.
Nong Xing said, "Master, this is the eldest sister of the Daming Lake Xu Family and her guard. I have made arrangements with the Xu family, and now that everything is settled, I have come to report to you."
At this moment, Xu Ruchu realized that it was Nong Xing's master who truly held authority here; Nong Xing was merely conveying messages on behalf of his master. She stepped forward and said, "Xu Ruchu greets Nong Senior." She did not know her master's name but was certain that his surname was Nong.
Xu Feng also bowed in greeting.
The Elder with Long Eyebrows opened his eyes and nodded. "Xu Ruchu, I received news that all five Divine Transformation Disciples sent by our Herb Valley have perished. You were involved in this matter."
Xu Ruchu replied, "Senior, I entered the Chaotic Sea alongside five seniors from Shennong Valley for three years. All five Divine Separation Practitioners from our Xu family and nine Yuan Ying Cultivators met with disaster." She then recounted their search for Soul Beasts in the Chaotic Sea and their encounter with an Eighth-Rank Monster.
Nong Xing and the Elder with Long Eyebrows were already aware of the deaths of the five disciples and did not show much sorrow. Upon hearing the end of her account, the Elder with Long Eyebrows unexpectedly glanced at Xu Feng and said, "I didn't expect you to be the one who drove away the Eighth-Rank Purple Crab. Well done!"
Xu Feng replied, "Senior overpraises me; it was merely luck. It was thanks to several seniors who fought bravely that we were able to injure the Eighth-Rank Monster beforehand. I merely took advantage of that opportunity. If it weren't for the timely arrival of help from several seniors of Shennong Valley, that Eighth-Rank Monster would not have been unable to harm us."
Elder with Long Eyebrows coldly said, "The life of the Governor... they don't have the guts yet. I know who is behind this." Nong Xing looked furious.
Xu Feng learned from Farming that the one targeting the Governor was Xian Dao's first sect, Wuwei Academy. It seemed this news was not a secret in Shenlong Valley.
The Elder with Long Eyebrows said, "Xu Ruchu, Nong Xing has come to me regarding your agreement. Rest assured, although we lost five disciples, we will not go back on our word. I will send an Intermediate Alchemist to your Xu family. Now, hand over the Soul Nourishing Pearl."
The Elder with Long Eyebrows had cultivation at the Divine Separation Late Stage, which was not considered top-tier in Shennong Valley. However, he was an Alchemist, and his true strength was displayed in Dan Dao.
Xu Ruchu shifted his gaze to Xu Feng.
Xu Feng remained calm and said, "Forgive my rudeness, may I ask how to address you, senior?"
This statement shocked both Xu Ruchu and Nong Xing; this young man was being too reckless. They were already in Shenlong Valley, and with Nong Xing present, handing over the Soul Nourishing Pearl would settle the matter. Why complicate things further?
Nong Xing shouted, "You dare! You are just a Golden Blade Disciple of the Xu family, how dare you speak to your master like that? Do not think I won't punish you!" Xu Ruchu's expression also changed.
However, the Elder with Long Eyebrows replied, "Does asking for my name have anything to do with the Soul Nourishing Pearl?" He was indeed sharp-witted.
Xu Feng responded, "Exactly. Before Farming senior passed away, he left all his power to me to help me advance in my cultivation. I promised Nong Senior that I would only give the Soul Nourishing Pearl to one person."
Nong Xing said, "You received my junior's kindness and should be grateful from the bottom of your heart. How can you still be disrespectful to my master?"
The Elder with Long Eyebrows waved his hand to stop Nong Xing and said, "Your loyalty is commendable. Hmm, my name is Nongyi; Farming is my disciple."
So he was Nongyi and also Farming's master; no wonder Farming wanted to hand over the Soul Nourishing Pearl to him.
Upon entering Shennong Mountain, Xu Feng also noticed signs of division within Shenlong Valley. Farming might have been worried that Xu Feng would misunderstand and casually hand over the Soul Nourishing Pearl to the higher-ups of Shenlong Valley.
Xu Feng took out the Spatial Ring from Farming and said, "I apologize for my rudeness. Nongyi, you are the person I have been looking for. This Spatial Ring was left by Farming, and it contains the Soul Nourishing Pearl and the corpse of a Soul Beast. I am returning it to Shennong Valley."
Nong Xing then turned his anger into joy, stepped forward to take the ring, and respectfully handed it to Elder with Long Eyebrows, Nongyi.
Nongyi stroked the ring and sighed, "Geng'er had the weakest combat ability. I intended to leverage his knowledge of the beasts, but I never expected him to lose his life because of it. I feel guilty towards him." Nong Xing listened, feeling sorrowful, and lowered his head. Xu Ruchu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Reaching out, Nongyi took out the Soul Nourishing Pearl, which shimmered with an ethereal light, its black luster resembling that of a black pearl...
"Good, this is indeed the inner core of a Nascent Soul Stage Soul Beast. How rare!"
Xu Feng also had a Soul Nourishing Pearl in hand, left by Yang Wei, but its quality was a tier lower than this one, likely from a Golden Core Stage Soul Beast. Soul Beasts were hard to find, so the price of their inner cores was much higher than that of other beasts.
Nongyi played with the Soul Nourishing Pearl and examined the corpse of the Soul Beast for a while before he stopped, his joy evident on his face.
"Xing'er, do not let this matter spread. Go invite Nong Shang Shibo from Martial Valley over; I need to discuss something with him. Additionally, since the Xu family has obtained a Soul Beast this time, according to our agreement, Shennong Valley can send an Intermediate Dan Zong over. Let Farmland go."
Nong Xing replied, "Yes, Master." Nongyi then took the corpse of the Soul Beast into another room.
"Thank you, Senior." Xu Ruchu immediately expressed her gratitude; everything had finally been resolved. Soon, the Xu family would have an Intermediate Alchemist from Shennong Valley who could refine Eighth-Rank Pills. The strength of the Xu family would soon rise.
Nong Xing said, "Sister Xu, rest assured. Master has already agreed to let Junior Brother Farmland go to your Xu family for ten years. You should go to Medicine City first; we will take Farmland out tomorrow."
"Then I must trouble you, Senior."
Xu Ruchu followed Nong Xing out but turned back to see Xu Feng staring blankly at the wall of the Alchemy Room in a daze.
"Xu Feng, let's go back," Xu Ruchu reminded him. However, Xu Feng seemed oblivious and continued to gaze at the wall of the Alchemy Room where a painting was prominently displayed.
The Person in the Painting is a woman, dressed in white like snow, with a demeanor as gentle as a chrysanthemum. She is holding a golden chrysanthemum, appearing to smile faintly, resembling a fairy who has fallen to the mortal realm, or a graceful lotus swaying lightly in the water.
"Is it her?" Xu Feng's heart was gently stirred.
Nong Xing turned around and asked, "Do you know our ancestor?"
"Ancestor?" Xu Feng replied.
Nong Xing gazed at the painting with eyes full of reverence and said, "Indeed, she is our Nong Hui, Master Ancestor of Herb Valley. Our Shennong Valley originally did not have Herb Valley; it was established solely by Nong Hui, Master Ancestor. I only regret being born ten Thousand Years too late and not being able to see Master Ancestor in person."
Nong Hui! A series of images flashed through Xu Feng's mind: Blue and White Porcelain, beautiful women, verses, Otherworldly Secret Realm, Aurora Strong Killing Formation, Unlocking Talisman.
"Nong Hui Bai Jia, plucking flowers with a faint smile, lightly veiled in mist."
"Bright Mirror of a Thousand Mountains, standing alone with a sword, she is as distant as the rivers and lakes."
Nong Hui! So Nong Hui Bai Jia refers to Nong Hui of Shennong Valley!
Zuo Qiumingjian, who controls the Otherworldly Secret Realm, actually lived in the same era as Nong Hui of Shennong Valley.
Ten Thousand Years ago!
Seeing Xu Feng's face filled with excitement, Nong Xing thought Xu Feng was impressed by Nong Hui's fame and said, "Xu Feng, you must enjoy Alchemy too? Anyone who practices Alchemy knows about our Nong Hui, Master Ancestor. The renowned 'Pharmaceutical Classic' in Xian Dao was written by our Master Ancestor herself."
The Pharmaceutical Classic is equivalent to the Compendium of Materia Medica in Xian Dao; many later Alchemy texts were based on the Pharmaceutical Classic. It is surprising that the Pharmaceutical Classic originated from Nong Hui of Shennong Valley.
Xu Feng came back to his senses and hurriedly said, "I indeed have some understanding of Dan Dao and hold great admiration for Senior Nong Hui."
This is the third time Nong Hui has appeared in Xu Feng's sight. Xu Feng faintly feels that he has been drawn into a story spanning ten thousand years, a story waiting for him to unfold.
Nong Xing chuckled; he had heard this too many times. As long as Master Ancestor was mentioned, which alchemist wouldn't be in awe?
Xu Feng suppressed his inner excitement and followed Nong Xing out of Herb Valley, yet his mind was still on the figure of Yao Gu Zu Shi in the painting. If Nong Hui were still around, would I agree to join Shennong Valley if she asked? Who knows.
Nong Xing sent Xu Ruchu and Xu Feng to the teleportation point at Shennong Mountain before taking his leave. The disciples who had previously looked down on the Xu family were quite surprised to see Nong Xing personally escorting them and dared not show any disdain.
After spending a night in Medicine City, the next day, Nong Xing indeed brought a Divine Separation Stage Alchemist, one of Nongyi's disciples named Farmland.
Farmland was the typical type of Alchemist, much like many reclusive introverts; he was not good at socializing or speaking.
Xu Ruchu nodded in satisfaction; this was exactly the kind of person he wanted—someone who would eat when told to and focus solely on Alchemy without any distractions.
Although it was a rental, there was still a fee to be paid. The disciples of Shennong Valley came from prestigious backgrounds, not from the street market. The Xu family needed to pay an annual transfer fee of thirty million. This amount was discounted due to the Soul Nourishing Pearl.
Without further ado, Xu Ruchu led Farmland into the Teleportation Array and returned to Daming Lake. Xu Feng originally had something to say but seeing Xu Ruchu in such a hurry, he thought better of it.
Comment 0 Comment Count