52: White Lotus Sect

Thoughts raced through Chen Linsheng's mind. After only a few seconds of hesitation, he made an immediate decision.

He fully circulated his Breath Concealment Technique, blending his form into the shadows of the surrounding mountain rocks. Like a ghost, he stealthily moved toward the direction from which the scent of the earth core fire lotus emanated.

The 'Five Senses Clarity' granted by [Tracking (Perfection)] allowed him to precisely avoid the lines of sight of several remaining hidden sentries. Soon, he arrived beneath a steep cliff.

The fragrance was coming from a cave entrance midway up the cliff face, hidden by dense vines!

He focused his senses, using [Minute Insight] and [Beast Intuition] to confirm repeatedly that there was indeed no aura of any living creature near the cave entrance or inside; there was only the rich medicinal fragrance.

Chen Linsheng no longer hesitated. His [Climbing] Perfection Skill activated naturally. Using both hands and feet like a nimble ape, he scaled the slick cliff face with light and swift movements. Quietly pushing aside the vines, he slid into the cave.

The light inside the cave was dim. He took out the fire starter he carried and gently blew it into a flame.

The flickering firelight dispelled the darkness and illuminated the interior of the cave.

The cave wasn't deep, but it was quite dry and tidy. Hay was spread in one corner, clearly the dwelling of some creature... or rather, 'someone'.

What caught Chen Linsheng's eye even more were three plants brimming with spiritual energy growing on a small patch of open ground in the center of the cave!

The one in the center was as red as flame and shaped like a lotus pedestal, its seven petals glowing brightly. It was the very 'earth core fire lotus' that the three factions were fighting over!

On either side of the fire lotus, there was another Spirit Medicine.

One was icy blue all over, its leaves clustered like ice crystals and emitting traces of cold air; it was an 'ice crystal orchid'.

The other was a dripping emerald green with a stem that wound like a snake; it was a 'green snake vine'.

The three Spirit Medicines had different attributes, yet they coexisted harmoniously here, clearly having been meticulously cared for.

"Three Spirit Medicines!"

Chen Linsheng's heart skipped a beat. His gaze swept over the simple yet man-made arrangements in the cave, as well as the few wolf hairs and human footprints remaining on the ground. He suddenly understood.

"That Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf has a master! Its master left for some reason and left these Spirit Medicines here."

He suppressed his excitement, not daring to be careless.

The 'Minute Insight' from his [Tracking Perfection] allowed him to immediately discover several ingenious and hidden traps placed inside the cave entrance and along the path to the Spirit Medicines. There were tripwires and falling rock mechanisms set using natural stone crevices; though not fatal, they were enough to alert the owner and hinder intruders.

Chen Linsheng carefully avoided these traps as if crossing an invisible minefield, finally reaching the front of the three Spirit Medicines.

Just as he was about to start harvesting, his gaze was drawn to a flat stone slab beside the Spirit Medicines.

Several lines of elegant handwriting were carved onto the slab, seemingly done in a hurry with a Sharp Weapon.

He brought the fire starter closer and looked carefully:

"Muscle Tempering Bath Recipe: One petal of the earth core fire lotus, supplemented by three leaves of the ice crystal orchid and three drops of green snake vine sap. Dissolve in water and soak the entire body after boiling. This can draw upon the powers of ice and fire to temper the muscle tissues, greatly stimulating the penetration of Qi and blood, accelerating the Flesh Refining process, and also having the effect of tempering the bones. Remember, the medicinal properties of the fire lotus are violent; use with caution during the first bath and proceed gradually."

"A medicinal bath recipe that can speed up the progress of muscle tempering!" Chen Linsheng was wild with joy, almost wanting to laugh out loud.

Possessing [Herb Gathering] Perfection, he had long been immersed in the essence of mountain herbs. A large amount of gentle medicinal power had accumulated in his body, and his Meridians were far more flexible and clear than those of ordinary people, allowing him to achieve twice the result with half the effort when cultivating Internal Skills.

The only thing restricting his rapid Flesh Refining was the lack of sufficient resources and specific methods.

This Muscle Tempering Bath Recipe was simply timely help in his hour of need!

Moreover, the three main medicines required by the recipe were actually laid out right in front of him! He had also just obtained the earth vein cold spring water!

"When Heaven offers a gift and you do not take it, you will suffer for it!"

Chen Linsheng no longer had the slightest hesitation and immediately committed the recipe on the stone slab to memory.

Following that, he nimbly took out the prepared jade boxes and medicinal hoe from his basket. Using his [Herb Gathering] Perfection Skill, he carefully harvested the three Spirit Medicines in their entirety, placing them into different jade boxes for proper storage.

Having finished all this, he quickly retreated toward the cave entrance.

Just as he was about to leave, his heart stirred, and a hint of craftiness flashed in his eyes.

He turned back and used the stones and vines available in the cave, combined with his understanding of the [Trapping] Skill, to quickly set up several even more hidden and tricky trigger-based traps inside the cave entrance and near the stone slab.

These traps didn't aim to kill; they were intended to create chaos, delay time, and leave a mark.

"I can't just take someone's things for nothing and let them think people can come and go as they please, can I?"

The corners of Chen Linsheng's mouth curled slightly. Only then did he contentedly scale the cliff and quickly disappear into the vast mountain forest... Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, the battlefield was intense.

Zhang Yuchen, Qian Fugui, and Gang Leader Wang of the Hunter Gang had surrounded the Crimson-Eyed Wind Wolf in a triangular formation.

At this moment, the wind wolf was no longer as majestic as before. Its body was covered in blade wounds, sword scars, and arrow wounds. Its beautiful green fur was soaked in blood, one hind leg was unnaturally twisted, and it let out heavy, painful gasps. The light in its crimson pupils was dim; it was clearly at its journey's end.

Although the three Flesh Refining Realm experts had successfully heavily injured the beast, the atmosphere between them was subtle, and their eyes flickered. They were clearly all calculating how to occupy the greatest interest in the upcoming distribution.

"Gang Leader Wang has such great Skill. How about you deliver this final blow?" Zhang Yuchen stood with his blade, his tone gentle, yet he was passing the buck.

Qian Fugui turned his jade thumb ring, the smile on his fat face unchanging. "Hehe, Young Master Zhang is too polite. The brothers of the Hunter Gang contributed the most; Gang Leader Wang should naturally take the lead."

Gang Leader Wang's face was gloomy. He knew well that these two wanted him to be the sacrificial lamb, to engage in the final struggle with this dying exotic beast, where he would inevitably be drained by its counterattack.

But he truly couldn't bear to let go of the Materials from this High Grade Vicious Beast. He was just about to grit his teeth and agree—

Suddenly!

An ethereal and hollow chant, yet one with a strange piercing power, seemed to come from above the Nine Heavens, clearly echoing in everyone's ears:

"The Mortal World is like a prison, the sea of suffering is boundless; the Birthless Mother guides us to the True Void!"

This voice seemed to carry a strange magic that pierced straight to the heart!

Zhang Yuchen, Qian Fugui, and Gang Leader Wang all changed expression upon hearing it, crying out in unison with horror:

"White Lotus Sect!"

Before their voices had even faded, a white figure appeared out of thin air at the edge of the battle circle like a ghost!

The newcomer wore a plain white robe, their face obscured by a thin layer of mist, making it impossible to see clearly. Only a pair of eyes were as clear as water, yet they carried a coldness that disregarded all living beings.

As the figure lightly raised a foot, an illusory, slowly rotating white lotus actually grew out of thin air beneath them. It supported their form as they performed several strange flickers that were almost like teleportation over a short distance, instantly closing in on Gang Leader Wang of the Hunter Gang!

Gang Leader Wang was pale with fright. He only had time to hold his steel fork across his chest and circulate all the blood and Qi in his body for defense.

Yet he saw the person from the White Lotus Sect push out a palm strike light as a feather.

Everywhere the palm shadow passed, the air seemed to turn into a water surface, rippling in circles. The block from the steel fork was as if it didn't exist, 'penetrated' without hindrance by the palm shadow, which landed solidly on Gang Leader Wang's chest!

"Pfft—"

Gang Leader Wang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His burly body flew backward like a broken kite, blood spraying wildly from his mouth.

He crashed heavily to the ground, struggling to get up, only to see a crystal-clear White Lotus Mark, seemingly outlined by white light, slowly emerge where his clothes were torn on his chest.

With the appearance of this mark, the light in his eyes and the Qi and blood fluctuations in his body drained away as rapidly as a flood through an open gate. In an instant, he withered away, his life or death unknown.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuchen and Qian Fugui's pupils shrank, the color drained from their faces instantly, and a chill rushed from the soles of their feet straight to the crowns of their heads!