51: Earth Vein Cold Spring

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, Chen Linsheng had already quietly arrived outside the city.

He found a secluded corner, took out Disguise materials from his robes, and began kneading and smearing them onto his face with both hands.

Before long, the mirror reflected a sorrowful middle-aged face with drooping eyes and a sallow complexion, looking like a completely different person from the originally handsome youth.

He took a deep breath, and the bones within his body let out a series of faint crackling sounds. His stature rose by several inches, and his shoulders hunched slightly, fully merging into the image of this bitter-looking man.

Slinging the Two-Stone Strong Bow and quiver onto his back and picking up the Solid Iron Long Spear, he set off toward the familiar mountain forests.

However, just as he reached the foot of the mountain, he sensed something unusual.

The mountain path, which used to be free to enter and exit, was now filled with flickering shadows, faintly forming a checkpoint.

Several men dressed in different outfits stood guard there, scanning the surroundings with wary expressions.

Chen Linsheng felt a slight chill in his heart. He slowed his pace and blended in with several hunters who were also blocked outside the mountain, asking in a low voice, "Brothers, what's going on? Is the mountain closed?"

An old hunter with a face weathered by the elements sighed and lowered his voice. "Brother, you must have just arrived, right? Sigh, don't even mention it! The Hunter Gang, Hundred Herbs Hall, and that damned Medicine Gang have teamed up to draw a boundary and seal the mountain! They say a treasure has appeared in the mountains, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed in. It's been three days already!"

"Sealing the mountain?" Chen Linsheng frowned slightly. "By what right?"

"By what right? By the right of their power!" a younger hunter next to them chimed in indignantly. "Those of us who rely on the mountain for food have had our livelihoods cut off these past few days!"

Chen Linsheng's gaze swept over the visible sentries and the hidden checkpoints partially visible among the trees, understanding the situation.

These three groups had teamed up to create a tight blockade.

'Sealing the mountain to find treasure? It seems there's movement in the mountains.'

His thoughts raced, but his expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands toward the hunters.

"Thank you for letting me know, brothers."

He feigned helplessness and left, circling around to the base of a steep, rarely visited cliff.

He fully activated the Divine Effects of 'Minute Insight' and 'Preempting the Enemy' from his Tracking (Perfection). Every crack on the cliff available for Climbing, the patrol intervals of the hidden guards, and their blind spots all surfaced clearly in his mind.

Like an agile ape, he utilized his Climbing (Perfection) Skill to its limit, using both hands and feet to climb up the steep cliff face without a sound.

Sometimes using protruding rocks and sometimes using tough vines, he kept his body close to the rock wall, perfectly avoiding the sight of all sentries and hidden checkpoints.

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he had successfully infiltrated the blockade and stepped back into this familiar, vast mountain forest.

Once inside the mountain, he became even more cautious, pushing his Breath Concealment Technique to its limit as his figure darted through the shadows of the trees like a ghost.

Following a faint intuition and the increasingly obvious unusual aura in the air, he arrived near a hidden clearing in the heart of the valley.

Before he even got close, the 'Preempting the Enemy' effect of his Tracking (Perfection) suddenly sent a warning!

He immediately lowered his body, hiding behind dense bushes. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as he looked toward the center of the clearing.

In the clearing, three groups of people were facing off in a triangular formation, the atmosphere tense and hostile.

One side wore the signature blue-green attire of Hundred Herbs Hall. Their leader was a fat man dressed like a round-faced member of the Wealthy Faction, wearing a high-quality jade thumb ring that he was slowly turning. He wore a seemingly amiable smile, but his eyes glittered with sharp intent.

Chen Linsheng recognized him; this man was the Second Manager of Hundred Herbs Hall, Qian Fugui.

They had met once at the banquet for the bandit suppression.

Another side consisted of the fierce-looking members of the Hunter Gang, who carried a wild mountain aura. They held steel forks and hunting bows, their eyes wary.

And the final side was none other than the Medicine Gang, with whom he had previously had a conflict!

But at this moment, those arrogant thugs of the Medicine Gang were faintly being led by a young man.

The youth was about nineteen years old, with a handsome face and a gentle temperament, wearing a well-tailored navy blue martial outfit that seemed out of place among the fierce Medicine Gang members beside him.

"Zhang Yuchen!" Chen Linsheng's pupils constricted as he immediately recognized the man.

This person was the son of the Black Mountain Gang's leader, Zhang Zhifeng, the elegant Young Master he had met once at the entrance of the county yamen.

He carried a long saber in its sheath diagonally across his back. The scabbard was dark red with faint patterns, exuding an extraordinary aura.

At the center of the three-way confrontation, in a small depression in the clearing, grew a strange plant.

The plant was entirely crimson and shaped like a lotus with seven petals. Each petal seemed to be formed from condensed flames, emitting waves of scorching Spiritual Qi that caused the surrounding air to distort slightly.

earth core fire lotus!

Judging by its color and the abundance of Spiritual Qi, it was nearing maturity!

Next to the earth core fire lotus crouched a massive blue wolf. Its eyes were as red as blood, and its body was surrounded by faint, pale blue wind swirls. It bared its teeth and let out threatening low growls, fiercely guarding the fire lotus.

Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf!

Chen Linsheng had seen it in an illustrated guide in his master's library; it was a High Grade Vicious Beast.

Zhang Yuchen's gaze swept over the people from Hundred Herbs Hall and the Hunter Gang, his voice calm but brook no argument:

"Manager Qian, Gang Leader Wang, I am determined to obtain this earth core fire lotus. As long as I have the fire lotus, this Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf and all other gains can belong to your two groups."

The fat, wealthy-looking Qian Fugui chuckled upon hearing this, his speed of turning the jade ring unchanged. "Young Master Zhang, those words are incorrect. A spiritual item like the earth core fire lotus is something one can only encounter by chance. We at Hundred Herbs Hall are also quite interested in it."

He paused, his gaze seemingly intentionally sweeping over the Medicine Gang members behind Zhang Yuchen, his smile deepening.

"Furthermore, Young Master Zhang is someone about to participate in the Martial Examination to seek fame and position. To stand with a group like the Medicine Gang now... haha, a group with such a 'reputation' might harm your honorable name, wouldn't it?"

Zhang Yuchen's expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, "Manager Qian worries too much. I am not a member of the Medicine Gang; I have simply hired them to assist in Herb Gathering. It is a fair transaction, perfectly in line with the great liang law. On the other hand, Manager Qian, Hundred Herbs Hall has always considered itself part of the Righteous Path. By cooperating with the Hunter Gang now, do you intend to emulate the behavior of mountain bandits—sealing off the mountain and blocking people's livelihoods?"

The smile on Qian Fugui's face stiffened before returning to normal, and he laughed it off without replying.

While the three sides were exchanging words and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Chen Linsheng's gaze was drawn to a small puddle next to the earth core fire lotus.

The puddle was only about the size of a washbasin, and the water was crystal clear, yet it emitted visible wisps of white cold air. This formed a sharp contrast with the scorching aura of the earth core fire lotus, yet they bizarrely coexisted.

"Is this... earth vein cold spring water?" Chen Linsheng's heart jolted as he immediately recognized the substance.

To Cultivate the Early Stage of the Golden Bell Shield, one precisely needed this kind of extremely cold water combined with a specific medicinal bath to stimulate the muscles and quickly Initiate!

'It truly is a case of finding by chance what one couldn't find through searching!'

He was wild with joy. He had originally only intended to scout the situation, but now he instantly changed his mind.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! He had to get his hands on this earth vein cold spring water!

He suppressed his excitement and concealed his aura even more carefully, like the most patient hunter, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The confrontation in the clearing continued. The forest was deathly silent, save for the threatening low growls of the Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf and the scorching Spiritual Qi waves from the earth core fire lotus.

The air was thick with the oppressive feeling that precedes a storm.

Suddenly!

Buzz—!

A faint vibration hummed from the earth core fire lotus. The seven crimson petals suddenly burst with dazzling red light, and a rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air, enveloping the entire valley!

It was mature!

At that very instant, a sudden change occurred!

The three factions moved almost simultaneously. Blades flashed and Qi whistled, all aimed directly at the Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf guarding the lotus!

They all knew that to take the fire lotus, they first had to deal with this Vicious Beast!

However, no one expected that at the moment the fire lotus matured, a flash of madness and cunning would cross the Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf's crimson pupils. It suddenly opened its mouth—not to bite anyone attacking it, but to gulp down the entire blooming earth core fire lotus, stem and all!

Immediately after, the pale blue wind swirls around its body exploded in intensity, letting out a sharp whistling sound as the massive body was actually lifted by the wind!

Its four paws left the ground by several feet, and it turned into a streak of blue-red light, bolting toward the outer edge of the valley!

"What?!"

"The beast has mutated?!"

"Stop it!"

The smile on Qian Fugui's face vanished completely, and he cursed in frustration.

The members of all three factions were stunned for a moment before they stopped guarding against each other. They shouted and used their respective Movement Techniques, chasing after the fleeing Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf!

In an instant, the previously tense clearing was left empty, save for some traces of battle and the earth vein cold spring water that was still emitting cold air.

Hidden in the shadows, Chen Linsheng watched this sudden turn of events. He was first stunned, but then a look of uncontrollable joy appeared on his face.

"I thought it would take some effort, but I didn't expect such a stroke of luck!"

Without hesitation, he shot out like a bolt of lightning, reaching the earth vein cold spring water in a few leaps.

He took out the water skin at his waist and quickly collected all of the clear, icy spring water, not leaving a single drop.

Having finished, he dared not linger and immediately retraced his steps, preparing to head down the mountain quickly.

However, before he had even gone a hundred steps, the 'Scent-Guided Tracking' effect of his Herb Gathering (Perfection) was passively triggered again!

A faint but incredibly pure and scorching scent of the earth core fire lotus drifted toward him from ahead and to his side!

Chen Linsheng's footsteps came to a sudden halt, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

That earth core fire lotus... was actually nearby?!

That mutated wind wolf didn't swallow it directly but hid it here instead?