Chapter 077

Chapter 77: Searching for Clues

Wei Yun Xi recalled the map she’d purchased of Treasure Blossom Range’s outer regions, then roughly circled two possible locations.

“Senior Brother Long, there are two places matching your description with large patches of fire dragon grass.”

“Yes,” Long Dao Yu agreed, “that’s why I chose to follow secretly. Of those two places, one is guarded by a swarm of Tiger Headed Wasps, and the other sits right at the edge of the inner area. The chance of encountering second-tier demon beasts there is high, making it extremely dangerous. I’m not sure which location they chose to harvest fire dragon grass.”

Yun Xi thought carefully, then said, “From what I know about Senior Sister Qin Tong Shuang, they probably headed toward the area near the inner boundary. Because of the danger, fewer Qi Refining cultivators venture there, making the fire dragon grass more plentiful. Besides, first-tier fire dragon grass has little value to second-tier beasts, so the grass there would have higher maturity. Harvesting higher-year plants earns more contribution points, so I’m certain that location would be her first choice.”

Long Dao Yu turned to look at Yun Xi, impressed. “It seems Junior Sister Wei prepared extensively for this mission.”

Yun Xi nodded. “Originally, I accepted the mission to search for a missing friend. Later, when I heard Senior Uncle Sheng might be joining, I prepared even more thoroughly. I can’t embarrass myself in front of Senior Uncle Sheng!”

“You’re right,” Long Dao Yu replied. “We should speed up a bit then.”

Feeling slightly pressured—he considered himself Senior Uncle Sheng’s number one admirer and didn’t want to be outdone—Long Dao Yu quickened his pace after entering the mountain. He used a Light Body talisman to hasten his steps, while Yun Xi relied on her Thousand Shadows Riding the Wind technique, using the wind spiritual energy around her to ease her travel.

With a clear destination, the pair moved swiftly. After an hour, Long Dao Yu halted first. Yun Xi stopped as well and asked, “Senior Brother Long, why did you stop?”

Long Dao Yu waved a hand. “Senior Uncle Sheng and the others are just ahead. Let’s not follow too closely. We should rest here first—we’ve been traveling quickly for an hour already.”

“Alright!” Yun Xi agreed readily, then walked around cautiously with her sword, confirming there were no threats before releasing her defensive array disc. She pretended to swallow a medicinal pill and sat cross-legged to meditate.

Long Dao Yu secretly glanced at Yun Xi, discreetly massaging his aching legs. Even with the help of a talisman, his muscles burned from exertion, yet Junior Sister Wei seemed perfectly at ease.

Though Yun Xi appeared to meditate with closed eyes, her divine sense remained vigilant, clearly observing Long Dao Yu’s small actions. She didn’t expose him, as they were only temporary teammates, after all. One was chasing after his idol, and the other was searching for a missing friend and staying out of trouble—since their goals aligned temporarily, it was fine for now.

Meanwhile, the very Qin Tong Shuang Yun Xi worried about was deep within a shadowy cave. She hugged a serpent’s egg as large as a washbasin, slowly channeling her spiritual energy into it. Beside her, Mu Ning Zhu was doing the same.

If Wei Yun Qing had been present, she’d recognize Mu Ning Zhu instantly—the very same cultivator she’d provocatively challenged at Outer Peak, only to be mercilessly humiliated. Mu Ning Zhu was now at Foundation Establishment stage; Wei Yun Qing would surely suffer another breakdown at this revelation.

Qin Tong Shuang herself had reached Qi Refining eighth level, advancing two whole levels in just over three years, clearly investing great effort. Yet now, despite joining a strong senior sister for this trial, she found herself trapped here.

Unable to hide her anxiety, Qin Tong Shuang softly asked, “Senior Sister, the deadline’s almost here—what should we do?”

Mu Ning Zhu sighed softly. “I can escape alone, but I can’t bring all of you. If we anger that Three-Headed Serpent, it will kill everyone here.”

“So we just sit here and wait?” Qin Tong Shuang’s tone carried frustration. “The deadline that beast gave us is approaching. If we can’t hatch these serpent eggs, we’re doomed anyway.”

Mu Ning Zhu understood her junior sister’s anxiety and reassured gently, “Let’s wait a bit longer. The sect must have received my distress signal by now. More fellow disciples are being kidnapped, and as disappearances increase, the sect will definitely suspect trouble and send stronger cultivators to rescue us. We must endure just a little longer.”

Qin Tong Shuang sighed deeply, resuming her slow injection of spiritual energy into the egg. They’d labored half a month already without hatching even a single scale; she began to suspect these eggs were lifeless. Yet she dared not speak her suspicion aloud, fearing the Three-Headed Serpent might devour her.

Surrounding disciples shared her exhaustion, their faces pale and hopeless. Without aid soon, they’d all perish from spiritual exhaustion. All they could do was pray for quick rescue from the sect.

Elsewhere, Sheng Yu Hong carefully examined the damaged area of fire dragon grass for clues. Finding nothing useful, he retrieved the Mirror of Retrospection borrowed from the sect and infused it with his spiritual power, attempting to replay past events.

Due to Sheng Yu Hong’s limited strength, the scenes flickered briefly. He glimpsed a second-tier Three-Headed Serpent abducting the sect’s disciples before his dantian began throbbing painfully, forcing him to stop channeling energy.

Face pale, Sheng Yu Hong withdrew the mirror, quickly swallowing a spirit-replenishing pill to recover. His five junior sisters immediately formed a protective circle around him. They had also seen the mirror’s revelations. Knowing exactly what had taken their fellow disciples, they planned to track down the serpent’s lair once Sheng Yu Hong recovered.

After Sheng Yu Hong and his team moved on, Long Dao Yu and Wei Yun Xi arrived at the fire dragon grass site shortly thereafter.

Yun Xi felt heartache seeing half the valuable fire dragon grass destroyed. This herb was a key ingredient for refining Fire Dragon Pills—pills that greatly benefited fire-type cultivators. Even for those without fire roots, the pills refined and warmed the body, essential when venturing into extremely cold environments.

“Junior Sister Wei,” said Long Dao Yu practically, “since we’re already here, we shouldn’t leave empty-handed. Let’s harvest some to at least complete our task.”

Yun Xi agreed wholeheartedly. “Senior Brother Long is right. These fire dragon grasses are mature. Senior Uncle Sheng and the others might not value them, but we do.”

“You’re absolutely correct, Junior Sister.”

With one person standing guard, the other harvested the grass. Yun Xi had prepared well, possessing enough jade boxes to store the herbs. Carefully selecting high-quality grasses, she split them evenly with Long Dao Yu, then safely stored the jade boxes into her storage pouch.

But just as she put away the jade boxes, a sudden crisis erupted. A serpent’s tail exploded from the earth, swiftly coiled around Yun Xi, and yanked her underground.

“Senior Brother, help!” Yun Xi shouted urgently.

Startled, Long Dao Yu hurled an attack talisman instinctively. Unfortunately, it only blew up the remaining fire dragon grass, causing no harm to the serpent’s tail at all.

Long Dao Yu’s face paled dramatically, and he immediately launched a distress signal into the sky.