After passing through a dense stretch of forest, the full view of Dusk Valley's Medicine Valley came into sight.
Compared to the other families in Northern Yang Dao, whose medicinal gardens often spanned hundreds of mu, the Bai family's garden was much smaller, totaling just over 50 mu. However, it was tended with exceptional care.
At a glance, all manner of spiritual plants flourished with vibrant life. Multicolored heavenly materials and earthly treasures absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, echoing the resplendent golden sunlight above. Auspicious light enveloped the valley, making it resemble a paradise beyond the mortal world—or perhaps the dwelling of immortals.
Yet at this moment, groups of "rough men" had barged in, shattering the serenity and harmony of this scene of cosmic balance.
The people of Ronghua City, the Demon-Suppression Division, and Shengyun Sect all arrived before the medicinal garden.
Chen Sanshi was mixed among them.
Sweeping his gaze across the area, he saw that more than 70% of the plants growing in these spiritual fields were merely first-rank spiritual plants. Only at the very center did dazzling spiritual light shine, with lines of formation patterns circulating. There grew many heavenly materials and earthly treasures above first rank, but from such a distance it was difficult to distinguish their exact grades and ages.
"We can't go any further!"
"Hey?!"
Bai Linxun and the others' attempts at persuasion had no effect whatsoever.
Zhang Jinchen directly rode his flying sword into the very core of the medicinal garden. The baleful aura and mana fluctuations he carried caused the formation patterns, which had originally flowed like rippling water, to surge violently until they fell into complete disorder and collapsed altogether.
The deep blue formation broke apart, and the spiritual energy concentration throughout the entire area plummeted sharply. Among the plants, several crimson flowers visibly withered at a speed discernible to the naked eye, like blazing flames on the verge of being extinguished.
"These spiritual plants are called Skyfire Vermilion Bird Lotus. They are extremely precious spiritual plants, specially prepared by Elder Yuling for her disciple."
Bai Liangbi walked over with a dark expression. "This plant is exceedingly delicate. We spent a great price and set up a fengshui formation to painstakingly cultivate them until they were nearly mature. Yet you barged in so recklessly—at the very least, 100 years of medicinal age has been lost.
"When the agreed time comes and we are unable to submit qualified medicinal ingredients, Fellow Daoist Zhang can explain it to Senior Yuling personally."
"Skyfire Vermilion Bird Lotus."
Zhang Jinchen did not respond directly. He merely repeated the name of the herb under his breath, then said calmly, "If I remember correctly, this Skyfire Vermilion Bird Lotus grows best in a third-rank supreme spiritual field, or even a fourth-rank spiritual field, and requires 1,200 years to mature and bloom.
"And this medicinal garden, even with a fengshui formation, would not exceed second-rank spiritual energy concentration. It is far from meeting the required conditions.
"Moreover, your Bai family has only relocated to Northern Yang Dao for how many years? Where would you obtain herbs with 1,000 years of medicinal age?
"Family Head Bai, can you answer me?"
After a moment of silence, Bai Liangbi said, "When we found these spiritual plants, they were already near maturity. We merely transplanted them into the valley."
"Very well, then…"
Zhang Jinchen paused, then abruptly shifted the topic and pointed at the ground. "And these medicinal herbs? Were they also transplanted midway?"
In the core area of the medicinal garden, there were at least 7 or 8 herbs with 1,000 years of medicinal age, including a large quantity of Undying Grass.
"So what if they were, and so what if they weren't?"
The corner of Bai Liangbi's eye twitched. "This is the private territory of my Bai family. What does it have to do with you?!"
"This is going too far!"
The rest of the Bai family could no longer endure.
"You claimed you were investigating demonic cultivators and insisted on barging into the Medicine Valley—fine. Now you've looked and searched. Did you find the person you were seeking?"
"Since you didn't, why don't you leave already?"
"Now you're pointing at our spiritual plants and making accusations. What does that have to do with you?!"
"Who says it has nothing to do with us?"
City Lord Jiang Shang curled his lips and said coldly, "I've heard that demonic cultivators possess a method of nourishing spiritual plants with the blood of living people, accelerating their growth.
"And the thousand-year herbs in your Bai family's medicinal garden are clearly abnormal. Perhaps similar methods were used."
"Heh, Jiang Shang!"
Only at this point did the Bai family ancestor, Bai Xifeng, follow along at an unhurried pace. He sneered, "If you want them, just say so. At worst, we'll give you all these thousand-year herbs. No—why not give you the entire medicinal garden?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Jiang Shang retorted, "Do you think I covet these medicinal herbs?"
Bai Liangbi stared directly at him. "If not, then what?"
"Absurd!"
Jiang Shang lifted his chin. "I think your Bai family is simply guilty and afraid."
"Senior Bai!"
Zhang Jinchen cut off the quarrel and looked at the one-armed elder. "This junior advises you to explain the anomalies in the Medicine Valley clearly, so as to avoid gossip.
"After all, colluding with demonic cultivators and using the flesh and blood of righteous cultivators to feed spiritual plants is not unprecedented.
"Rest assured."
"As long as it is not some crooked or evil path, even if Dusk Valley possesses the greatest of opportunities, Shengyun Sect can promise that no outsider will be allowed to lay a hand on it—including Ronghua City, and including the Demon-Suppression Division."
Bai Xifeng spoke slowly. "Little Friend Zhang, must you truly know?"
"I must."
Zhang Jinchen did not yield in the slightest.
"Very well."
Bai Xifeng let out a sigh and reached into his robes.
"Ancestor!"
Seeing this, Bai Liangbi and his brothers all tensed, intending to step forward to stop him—but it was already too late.
When the one-armed elder withdrew his hand again, a transparent glass vial had appeared in his palm. Inside it was a jade-green liquid. Golden sunlight streamed through the bottle and into the liquid, causing it to emit specks of spiritual light, like a green galaxy cradled in his hand.
"This is?"
Zhang Jinchen frowned and stepped closer. For a brief moment, he was unable to identify what was inside the glass vial.
"This is the Wood Essence extracted from the Nine-Colored Divine Tree."
Bai Xifeng revealed its origin.
"The Nine-Colored Golden-Feathered Jade Birch Divine Tree?"
The Eighth Prince Zhao Xun searched his memory. "One of the ancestral trees of all forests from the ancient era?"
"Correct."
Bai Xifeng gazed at the glass vial in his hand and explained, "The Nine-Colored Golden-Feathered Jade Birch Divine Tree was one of the supreme divine trees of antiquity, known as the Tree of Life. It is said that consuming its fruit grants 10,000 years of lifespan, and swallowing its leaves bestows 1,000 years of mana. Even the great powers of the ancient era fought over it.
"The spiritual liquid in my hand was extracted from that tree. Though it cannot increase lifespan or mana, it has an extremely special function.
"It can accelerate the maturation of spiritual plants.
"Simply irrigate a spiritual plant seedling with this liquid, and it can grow at 100 or even 1,000 times the normal speed, disregarding environmental conditions.
"That is why you see so many thousand-year medicinal herbs in the Medicine Valley. This spiritual liquid is the very foundation of my Bai family."
"Where did it come from?"
Zhang Jinchen pressed further.
"The far north, an ancient ruin."
Bai Xifeng answered without concealment. "It was obtained by my Bai family's forebears through a narrow escape from death."
Before this, the Bai family had possessed no fixed territory and had merely served as Silver Medallion Commanders within the Demon-Suppression Division—this was common knowledge.
After acquiring the spiritual liquid, they relocated to Northern Yang Dao and swiftly rose to become the foremost martial family there, only to encounter misfortune later and decline just as rapidly.
The timeline matched.
"The far north… an ancient ruin?"
Chen Sanshi caught the key phrase.
He still carried his master's final letter, which also mentioned the far north. It was said to be directly related to the seal.
"So that's how it is."
Zhang Jinchen could find no flaw. "It seems this junior misunderstood."
Upon learning the origin of the spiritual liquid, longing filled the eyes of many present.
Divine Wood Spiritual Liquid.
With a single bottle of it, given enough time and absent unforeseen disaster, a family could be elevated into a sect.
In the Bai family's hands, it was truly a waste of heavenly treasure.
"Heh, there's no need for you to be overly excited."
Bai Xifeng pinched the glass vial. "When our forebears discovered the Nine-Colored Divine Tree, it was already near withering. The extracted spiritual liquid was therefore imperfect. At most, it can nurture heavenly materials and earthly treasures up to 1,500 years of age. Beyond that, it would have the opposite effect. And after years of consumption, only half remains—enough at best to cultivate one more generation.
"I have said all that can be said.
"Little Friend Zhang, do you require this old man to present the spiritual liquid and have your esteemed sect take it back for thorough inspection?"
As he spoke, he made a show of offering the glass vial forward.
Zhang Jinchen glanced at it but did not take it. Instead, he clasped his hands lightly and said, "Senior Bai, what are you saying? This belongs to the Bai family. No one has the right to take it. I have never had such an intention. I truly came only to investigate the whereabouts of demonic cultivators."
In the end, as a righteous and prestigious sect, basic face and reputation could not be compromised.
"So I thought."
Bai Xifeng put away the spiritual liquid. "Shengyun Sect is the leader of Northern Yang Dao, the place we cultivators aspire to. Your conduct is upright and open. You would never engage in coercion or plunder.
"It's just…"
His gaze shifted toward the people of Ronghua City and the Demon-Suppression Division. "Certain petty men may not be the same.
"Today, the Divine Wood Spiritual Liquid has been revealed to the light. It is inevitable that villains will covet it. In the days to come, bandit cultivators may come knocking. I ask that Little Friend Zhang inform Elder Shou Zhongzi and extend some protection. The Bai family would be endlessly grateful!"
"Northern Yang Dao is the domain of Shengyun Sect. Naturally, we will not allow such matters to occur."
Zhang Jinchen's tone softened slightly. "Very well. We have investigated, and since the Bai family is innocent, it would be improper for us to continue disturbing you. We offended you earlier. All spirit beasts and spiritual plants that were affected will be converted into their equivalent value in spirit stones and sent later as compensation.
"Additionally, Eighth Prince, City Lord Jiang, your two sides should no longer make things difficult for Dusk Valley. What we ought to do next is join forces to deal with the demonic disciples of the Seven Kill Sect.
"Farewell."
With that said,
he led the Shengyun Sect disciples and rode their flying swords up into the sky.
Wang Jun followed behind him. From beginning to end, he did not utter a single word, as if unwilling to draw any attention to himself.
"That fellow…"
Chen Sanshi watched his departing figure and his steadily rising cultivation realm, unable to suppress a sigh. "Quite a schemer."
"City Lord Jiang, Eighth Prince."
Bai Xifeng spoke up. "Are the two of you remaining here to spar with this old man?"
Strangely enough,
after the people of Shengyun Sect departed, whether it was Jiang Shang or the Eighth Prince, the hostility that had filled them earlier vanished without a trace. No one displayed anger or joy anymore, as if the earlier conflict had been deliberately provoked.
"Bai Xifeng."
The fury in Jiang Shang's eyes turned into something dark and vicious. "You do not have many years left to live. I hope you will carefully consider what we discussed last time."
"City Lord Jiang, this old man's health is still passable. I won't trouble you to worry."
Bai Xifeng's beard and hair fluttered lightly. "And I would like to remind you and the Eighth Prince of one thing: a snake that tries to swallow an elephant will only burst. In life and in conduct, do not be too greedy."
Zhao Xun did not respond. He merely waved his arm. "We're leaving."
The massive crowd began to withdraw. Before long, they had all exited the Medicine Valley, leaving behind only a scene of disarray on the ground and several withered spiritual plants.
Chen Sanshi, disguised as a junior member of the Bai family, also slipped away quietly when no one was paying attention.
He replayed what had just happened in his mind, always feeling that something was amiss.
Daze Main Peak.
Zhang Jinchen and Wang Jun arrived one after the other, descending onto the summit.
The immortal-like Shou Zhongzi did not turn around. He remained seated cross-legged, gazing at the mountains and rivers before him, and asked calmly, "How did it go?"
"In reply to Elder,"
Zhang Jinchen cupped his hands lightly. "We went and took a look. The Bai family indeed has something."
Recently, chaos had been emerging one after another in Northern Yang Dao, and many matters were always somehow connected to the Bai family. As a result, Shengyun Sect had begun to suspect there was something going on, which was why they had sent people to investigate today.
He described in detail everything he had seen and heard.
After listening, Shou Zhongzi showed a trace of surprise. "It is actually the Nine-Colored Divine Tree? Heh, those juniors of the Bai family truly have deep fortune to obtain spiritual liquid from such a tree. If they did not lack a martial inheritance, they might have already broken through to the third realm. With further accumulation, they could even have established a sect."
"What a waste of heavenly treasure."
Zhang Jinchen sighed. "If that half bottle of spiritual liquid were in our sect's hands, we could at least produce two more Golden Core realm cultivators."
"Go ask them for some."
Shou Zhongzi paused briefly. "Do not go too far. Remember to give them some benefits in return. Wang Jun, you will handle this matter."
"Understood!"
Dusk Valley.
Guanhu Tower.
Several Bai brothers gathered there to discuss what had just occurred.
"Hmph!"
Third Brother Bai sat down, cursing. "They simply do not treat us as human. They even said they would compensate us with spirit stones. Can today's losses truly be measured in spirit stones?"
"But come to think of it, so the clan's treasured heirloom is actually the Divine Wood Spiritual Liquid?"
In truth, before today, most of them had not known what was inside the Medicine Valley. Only the family head and the second brother were aware of the details.
"Where are Eldest Brother and the others?"
"They've gone to the ancestral hall to discuss matters."
Rear Mountain of Dusk Valley, Bai Family Ancestral Hall.
"We've managed to muddle through today."
Bai Liangbi let out a long breath. "If that fellow Shou Zhongzi had learned the truth, I fear the extermination of our clan would have come in an instant."
"Indeed."
Bai Linxun echoed, "The Nine-Colored Divine Tree spiritual liquid, which we've hardly used all this time, has finally served a great purpose. And Zhao Xun and the others were fairly cooperative as well."
"They are the ones most afraid."
Bai Liangbi sneered. "After all, if the real thing were truly taken out, it would not be their turn."
"We have failed our ancestors."
The one-armed elder looked at the rows of ancestral tablets before him and spoke hoarsely, "I'm afraid we won't be able to keep it much longer. Linxun, go invite the people from Qingxu Sect."