127: Chapter 127 Neither alive nor dead

Under the intimidation of Venerable Lingyun, the range in which Patriarch Lin Tianyou captured blood-food was gradually expanding outward.

Initially, it was just Loose Cultivators and small factions on the very edge of the Eastern Southern Wilderness, but it gradually spread to the outer strongholds of medium-sized factions, and later, even some Sects with shallow Foundations were not spared.

No one connected these disappearances together. The Southern Wilderness was too vast, and small and medium-sized factions were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river; it was normal for them to rise today and perish tomorrow, so no one would investigate deeply.

Until they reached out their hands toward the Disciples of Medicine King Valley.

Medicine King Valley was located in the central-eastern part of the Southern Wilderness and was one of the major factions closest to the east.

Apart from Cultivating, the most important task for the Disciples in the valley was to go out and gather Spirit Medicine, bringing back the rare Spirit Medicine growing in the deep mountains and old forests to refine into Medicinal Pills.

In the last few months, news of the disappearance of medicine-gathering Disciples had cast a shadow over the entire Medicine King Valley.

"Three more have gone missing."

Dan Qingzi stood under the Myriad Spirit Tree, holding a shattered soul tablet in his hand, his expression as gloomy as water.

Behind him, several Elders of Medicine King Valley stood with hands hanging down, not daring to breathe loudly.

"Grand Elder, this is already the fifth batch of Disciples who have gone missing and fallen this month," one Elder said, bracing himself.

"Adding it all up, dozens of people have fallen outside. If it were just ordinary dangers encountered while gathering medicine, it would be impossible to lose so many people, and furthermore, we cannot even find their remains."

Dan Qingzi did not speak, only staring fixedly at the shattered soul tablet in his hand.

He naturally knew this was not an ordinary encounter with danger. When Medicine King Valley Disciples went out to gather medicine, they always followed fixed routes. The valley already had records of what Yao Beasts and dangerous places were on those routes.

Even if they encountered an accident, it was impossible for dozens of people to meet with disaster at the same time without even a single message being sent back.

"Over at the Piaomiao Sect, Disciples have also gone missing," another Elder said in a low voice.

"According to the news sent back, dozens of Piaomiao Sect Disciples who were training in the east have gone missing. Daoist Yunlan has already sent people to investigate, but there are no results yet."

Dan Qingzi was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Pass down the order: all Disciples are to suspend going to the east to gather medicine. Without an Elder from the valley accompanying them, no one is allowed to set foot in the eastern territory."

"Yes." The Elders behind him bowed and accepted the order.

Dan Qingzi put the shattered soul tablet into his sleeve and looked toward the east, his cloudy eyes filled with gravity.

He did not know what had happened in the east, but he could feel that an undercurrent was surging within those mountains, ready to sweep across the entire Southern Wilderness at any moment.

The Piaomiao Sect was located at the junction of the eastern and central parts of the Southern Wilderness and was the top Sect closest to the east.

The Sect's Disciples often went out to train, and those vast mountains in the east were the training grounds they visited most frequently.

There were many Yao Beasts and Spirit Medicine everywhere; although there were certain risks, it was also a good place to hone one's Cultivation.

But recently, those mountains seemed to have changed.

"Someone else cannot be contacted."

In the main hall of the Piaomiao Sect, Daoist Yunlan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window, his expression solemn.

Behind him, several Elders of the Piaomiao Sect stood with hands hanging down, the atmosphere in the hall as heavy as iron.

"Sect Master, this is already the seventeenth one."

An Elder said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of irrepressible anger.

"Twenty-seven of my Piaomiao Sect Disciples have gone missing while training outside, and we cannot even find their bodies. If it were the work of Yao Beasts, it would be impossible for them to leave no remains at all. If it is human-made..."

He did not continue, but everyone in the hall understood what he meant.

If it were human-made, it would mean someone was targeting the Piaomiao Sect.

Daoist Yunlan turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his voice low: "Over at Medicine King Valley, Disciples have also gone missing."

He paused and continued: "The missing Disciples from both houses were in the east, all in those mountains. This is not a coincidence."

"What does the Sect Master mean?" an Elder asked.

Daoist Yunlan did not answer directly. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Send people to investigate. Their Cultivation cannot be too low, at least at the Body Integration Stage or above. If you find anything, do not act rashly; send a message back first."

"Yes." Several Elders replied in unison and turned to leave in a hurry.

Daoist Yunlan turned around again, his gaze fixed on the vaguely visible mountains in the east, his brows tightly locked. He always had a bad premonition.

That day, the sky was faintly bright.

On the mountain path outside Medicine King Valley, a green figure approached slowly.

Zhou Tianchen wore a green Daoist robe, his steps calm, with that palm-sized qiankun furnace hanging from his waist, a faint medicinal fragrance lingering around him.

Ever since he had successfully refined Earth Rank Medicinal Pills, no one in Medicine King Valley was unaware of him. The Disciples guarding the gate saw him from afar and came up to meet him.

"Fellow Daoist Tianchen, you have come."

Zhou Tianchen nodded slightly and stepped into the valley.

In Medicine King Valley, the medicinal fragrance still permeated the air, and the spirit mist still swirled, but the shadow hanging over the valley could be clearly felt even by the most dull-witted Disciple.

Zhou Tianchen walked along the bluestone-paved path toward the interior. Wherever his gaze fell, the Disciples of Medicine King Valley were gathered in twos and threes, whispering about something.

Everyone's face carried undisguised anxiety. Even those Elders who were usually full of laughter were now frowning, their steps hurried, as if some heavy worry was weighing on their hearts.

Zhou Tianchen frowned slightly. He had been to Medicine King Valley too many times, so many that he was familiar with every blade of grass and tree here.

In the past, every time he came, Medicine King Valley was a scene of peace. The Disciples would either discuss Alchemy and debate the Dao, or tend to the Spirit Medicine, with vitality and energy overflowing everywhere.

But today, Medicine King Valley seemed to be shrouded in an invisible haze, and even the medicinal fragrance permeating the air seemed to be tinged with a bit of heaviness.

He did not ask further and walked straight toward the Myriad Spirit Tree.

Under the Myriad Spirit Tree, Dan Qingzi's back was still straight, but Zhou Tianchen acutely noticed that this Heaven Rank Alchemist's aura was a bit more withered than usual, and there was an extra deep wrinkle between his brows.

"Junior Zhou Tianchen pays respects to Senior Dan Qingzi." Zhou Tianchen stood a few steps behind Dan Qingzi and bowed.

Dan Qingzi turned around, forcing a smile onto his face, but he could not hide the deep exhaustion in his eyes.

"Little Friend Tianchen, you have come."

His voice was hoarse and gentle, no different from usual, but Zhou Tianchen still heard the heaviness hidden beneath that voice.

"Junior has come this time to exchange and discuss Alchemy with the Alchemists in the valley."

Zhou Tianchen got straight to the point, but his gaze was constantly observing Dan Qingzi's expression.

"It is just that on my way here, I saw that the Disciples and Elders in the valley were all worried. Has something happened?"

Dan Qingzi was silent for a moment, sighed softly, and looked toward the vaguely visible mountains in the east.

"Little Friend Tianchen, you do not know."

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a bit of helplessness, "In the last few months, dozens of Disciples sent by my Medicine King Valley to the east to gather Spirit Medicine have fallen."

Zhou Tianchen frowned: "Fallen?"

"Neither seen alive nor corpses found." Dan Qingzi's voice lowered, "Even their soul tablets are shattered, but we cannot find the people."

"I sent people to investigate. The first batch lost contact halfway there. The second batch did send back some news, saying that there was something strange about those mountains in the east. In many places, there was clearly nothing there, but it made people feel inexplicably palpitated."

He paused, a flash of gravity in his eyes: "In the end, they also lost contact."

Zhou Tianchen's brows furrowed even tighter. As one of the seven top factions in the Southern Wilderness and a Holy Land for Alchemy, who would dare to make a move against Medicine King Valley?