The morning sun slowly rose above the floating mountains of the Dao Realm Academy.
Soft golden light spread across the vast landscape, illuminating the countless islands that floated peacefully in the sky. Streams of spiritual energy flowed between the mountains like invisible rivers, nourishing the entire academy.
Disciples had already begun their daily routines.
Some practiced sword techniques in the training grounds, their blades cutting through the air with sharp sounds. Others sat in meditation near the spirit lakes, absorbing the rich Dao Qi that filled the environment.
The academy was alive with activity.
But on the eastern side of the academy, the environment was much calmer.
Tall ancient trees surrounded a quiet stone path that led toward one of the most important locations for disciples studying the Dao of medicine.
The **Spirit Herb Garden**.
At this moment, Yao Chen slowly walked along that path.
His hands were clasped behind his back, and his expression remained thoughtful.
Since the events of the previous night, his mind had been filled with strange thoughts.
The golden flame that had appeared during the alchemy examination was still fresh in his memory.
That flame was not ordinary.
Even Elder Gu had noticed something unusual about it.
But what disturbed Yao Chen more was the strange knowledge that had suddenly appeared in his mind.
Names of herbs.
Alchemy methods.
Refining techniques.
Even complex pill formations.
All of this knowledge had surfaced in his consciousness as if he had studied them for decades.
Yet he clearly remembered that he had never practiced alchemy before entering the academy.
It felt like a hidden library existed somewhere inside his soul.
A library that he could not fully access.
Yao Chen let out a slow breath.
"Maybe the flame triggered something within my body…"
He shook his head slightly.
Thinking too much about it would not bring answers.
Perhaps spending time studying herbs would calm his mind.
Soon the massive gates of the **Spirit Herb Garden** appeared ahead.
Two tall stone pillars stood beside the entrance, engraved with ancient runes that protected the garden.
Carved above the gate were three large characters glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
**Spirit Herb Garden**
Yao Chen stepped forward and entered.
The moment he crossed the gate, a refreshing wave of spiritual energy surrounded him.
The garden was enormous.
Endless rows of medicinal plants stretched across the land like green oceans. Some herbs glowed faintly with spiritual light, while others released gentle mist into the air.
A soft fragrance filled the entire area.
Butterflies formed from condensed spiritual energy fluttered between the plants.
The entire place felt peaceful.
Yao Chen slowly walked deeper into the garden.
As he passed by the herb fields, his eyes naturally scanned the plants.
And just as before—
Names and information began appearing in his mind.
**Three-Leaf Spirit Grass**
A basic herb used to stabilize Dao Qi during early cultivation.
Best refined with a medium flame.
**Moonlight Root**
A rare herb used for calming spiritual disturbances.
Harvest only during midnight when lunar energy is strongest.
Yao Chen stopped walking.
His brows slowly furrowed.
"Again…"
The knowledge came so naturally that it felt like instinct.
He moved closer to another plant.
This one had purple vines twisting around a wooden support.
Small flames seemed to flicker inside the leaves.
**Purple Flame Vine**
Useful for strengthening fire-based alchemy flames.
Must be refined slowly to prevent energy backlash.
Yao Chen rubbed his forehead.
"What exactly is happening to me?"
He was certain now.
This was not simple intuition.
This was genuine knowledge.
Yet he had no memory of learning it.
Just as he was thinking about this mystery—
A calm voice suddenly spoke behind him.
"You recognize Purple Flame Vine?"
Yao Chen turned.
Standing a short distance away was a young girl.
She wore the white robes of a Dao Realm Academy disciple.
Her long dark hair flowed gently down her back, and her calm eyes carried an intelligent sparkle.
In her hands she held a small woven basket filled with herbs.
She seemed slightly surprised.
"Most new disciples cannot recognize herbs so easily," she said.
Yao Chen looked at her quietly.
"I am not sure how I know them."
The girl studied him carefully for a moment.
Then she smiled gently.
"My name is **Xue Lian**."
"I often come here to study medicinal plants."
Yao Chen nodded politely.
"Yao Chen."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
A gentle wind moved through the herb garden.
Leaves rustled softly, and the faint fragrance of spiritual plants filled the air.
Xue Lian eventually spoke again.
"You are the disciple who passed the Alchemy Pavilion examination yesterday, right?"
Yao Chen looked slightly surprised.
"Yes."
She laughed softly.
"The news spread across the academy this morning."
"Very few new disciples become One-Star Alchemists on their first attempt."
She walked closer and crouched beside a nearby herb bed.
Carefully examining the plant growing there.
"You also seem to have strong herb perception."
Yao Chen stepped closer.
"What do you mean?"
Xue Lian pointed at the plant.
"This is a Spirit Jade Leaf."
"It looks healthy, but if you look carefully, the spiritual veins inside the leaf are slightly unstable."
"If someone refined it without noticing this flaw, the pill might explode."
Yao Chen focused his attention.
At first he saw nothing unusual.
But after concentrating for a few seconds—
Something changed.
Tiny lines of spiritual energy became visible inside the leaf.
They were indeed slightly unstable.
Yao Chen looked impressed.
"You noticed that just by observing it?"
Xue Lian smiled proudly.
"I have spent years studying herbs."
"The Spirit Herb Garden is the best classroom for medicine Dao disciples."
She stood up and brushed soil from her robes.
"If you want, you can come here often."
"We can study together."
Yao Chen thought about her suggestion.
For some reason, speaking with her felt very natural.
Almost as if they had known each other for a long time.
Though logically he knew this was their first meeting.
"That would be good," he replied.
Xue Lian nodded happily.
But at that exact moment—
Far beyond the sky of the Mortal Realm.
A terrifying battle had already begun.
Several dark figures moved rapidly through the void between worlds.
Their bodies radiated powerful cosmic energy.
They were searching.
Searching for the source of the **Primordial Flame**.
"The flame awakened in this region!"
"Search every realm!"
But suddenly—
The void split apart.
A massive golden axe appeared.
BOOM!
One strike instantly destroyed several of the dark figures.
Their bodies disintegrated into cosmic dust.
Standing in the shattered void was an ancient being.
His aura was vast like the birth of worlds.
This was **Pangu**.
The younger brother of Radha.
His enormous axe rested casually on his shoulder.
His expression remained calm.
More dark figures attempted to flee.
But Pangu raised his hand.
The entire void froze.
"You came looking for something," he said calmly.
"But you will leave with nothing."
Another axe strike fell.
The remaining enemies vanished instantly.
The battle ended before it truly began.
Pangu looked toward the distant Mortal Realm.
Where the Dao Realm Academy floated peacefully.
Where a young boy stood in a quiet herb garden.
He smiled faintly.
"Our senior brother has begun climbing again."
"But this time…"
"No one will stop him."
With that, Pangu disappeared into the endless cosmos.
The destroyed space slowly healed itself.
No disturbance reached the Mortal Realm.
Back inside the Spirit Herb Garden—
The wind moved gently across the plants.
For a few moments, neither Yao Chen nor Xue Lian spoke.
They slowly walked along the narrow stone path between the herb fields.
Xue Lian occasionally stopped to carefully inspect a plant, trimming a damaged leaf or adjusting the soil around its roots.
Yao Chen quietly observed her movements.
He noticed that she treated the herbs with unusual care.
Almost as if they were living beings.
After walking a short distance, Xue Lian suddenly stopped beside a small silver plant growing near a stone.
"Do you know this one?" she asked.
Yao Chen looked at the plant.
Instantly, the familiar wave of knowledge appeared in his mind.
**Star Dew Grass.**
A spiritual herb that absorbs condensed Dao dew during sunrise and is often used in pills that stabilize the mind during cultivation breakthroughs.
But Yao Chen hesitated.
Instead of revealing everything he knew, he simply said,
"It looks like a plant that gathers morning dew."
Xue Lian's eyes brightened.
"That's right!"
"Most people would think it's an ordinary herb."
She carefully picked a single leaf and placed it inside her basket.
"You really have talent in the Dao of medicine," she said with a soft smile.
Yao Chen only smiled slightly.
But inside his mind—
The mysterious golden flame flickered again.
For a brief moment, a strange memory flashed through his consciousness.
Endless herb gardens.
Ancient furnaces burning beneath mountains.
Countless disciples studying the Dao of medicine.
And a calm voice explaining the deepest secrets of alchemy.
The memory vanished before Yao Chen could understand it.
He frowned slightly.
"What was that…?"
Xue Lian turned.
"Did you say something?"
Yao Chen shook his head.
"No… nothing."
But deep inside his soul, the golden flame burned slightly brighter.
As if responding to something far beyond the Mortal Realm.
The peaceful morning continued in the Spirit Herb Garden.
Two young disciples quietly studied medicinal plants, unaware that their meeting was only the beginning of something far greater.
Far beyond the stars, ancient beings silently observed the turning of destiny.
And in the distant future, when legends were told across countless realms—
Many would say that everything truly began…
On this quiet morning in the **Spirit Herb Garden**.