Medicine Valley

Guided by the map, four Peak Creation Realm experts, accompanied by an ordinary person, arrived in a secluded mountain valley.

The mountain range housing this deep valley was comprised of volcanoes, and the temperatures within were scorching. Had it not been for the assistance of the four, Shangguan Xue, whose cultivation had plummeted, would have already succumbed to heatstroke.

“This place is one of the Child of Destiny’s fortuitous encounters, and it will be greatly beneficial to him,” Shangguan Xue explained.

Even without her explanation, Ziyan had already discerned as much.

Gazing at the exotic flora and rare herbs nestled within the valley, the Violet Abyssal Poison Saint’s grey eyes widened so much they threatened to pop out of their sockets.

“Oh my heavens… this, this place is entirely filled with top-grade medicinal ingredients!”

“While the medicinal ingredients here might not be as numerous as those in the Violet Mist Tower’s Medicinal Realm, their rarity surpasses it!”

She paused, then couldn’t help but sigh.

“What a pity. Most of these medicinal ingredients can only aid cultivation and enhance talent. They are entirely useless to Peak Creation Realm experts…”

Before she could finish, she suddenly remembered that Shangguan Xue had reverted to an ordinary person.

“Alright, don’t get too excited,” Shangguan Xue said, standing on her tiptoes to pat her shoulder. “The owner of this place will soon arrive.”

“Hm? This place has an owner?”

No sooner had Beigong Qingmei uttered the question than she sensed someone approaching.

“Who dares to approach? How dare you trespass upon my domain!”

Accompanying this stern reprimand, a searing pressure, capable of reaching the highest heavens and piercing the deepest earth, descended from above.

Only a Creation Realm expert was capable of exuding such an aura.

Shi Ledong was momentarily startled, then seemed to understand something. “Ah, it’s her…”

The other human cultivators also nodded, indicating they had guessed correctly. Only Jia Nan remained completely bewildered. “Who is it?”

“The human race has a total of twenty-one Creation Realm experts, and among them, only three are rogue cultivators, including myself,” Shangguan Xue quietly explained to her. “Of the other two, only the Cherryflame Saint resides in the Central Continent.”

No sooner had Shangguan Xue finished speaking than the Cherryflame Saint, an expert of the Lesser Creation Realm, had already revealed her form.

Dressed in a long gown of black and crimson, she held a cherry blossom between her fingers. Upon closer inspection, however, one would realize the blossom was, in fact, forged from flames.

“How audacious you are!” the Cherryflame Saint declared, her face as cold as frost. “Witness the wrath of a Creation Realm expert!”

Boom!

Her challenge was met with a rolling peal of thunder, followed by four earth-shattering and heaven-piercing pressures, each far more potent than her own aura.

If her pressure was akin to the volume of a harmonica, then that of the four was a suona! When the suona blared, the world itself lost its luster.

“Four… Peak Creation Realm experts?”

The Cherryflame Saint’s expression instantly turned extremely grim as she muttered inwardly:

‘I wonder which of the Seven Venerables these are.’

The Seven Venerables referred to the human race’s seven Peak Creation Realm experts, including Shangguan Xue and her three companions, two from the Xiye Dynasty, and one rogue cultivator.

The Cherryflame Saint surveyed the five individuals:

The one with the sun manifesting behind them was, undoubtedly, the Sun Palace Master, the Sunwheel Saint.

The one with the snake behind them was, without a doubt, the Violet Mist Tower Master, the Violet Abyssal Poison Saint.

The one with the landscape painting behind them must be the Ink Pavilion Master, the Marvelous Dye Saint.

The one with the nine-tailed fox behind them didn’t seem to be human; she was likely an elder of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox race.

And the young girl with nothing behind her… how was she just an ordinary person? Could she be a daughter jointly adopted by the four of them?

While her imagination ran wild, Shangguan Xue was busy quietly exchanging information with her companions:

“She relied on this mountain valley to break through to the Creation Realm… her cherry blossom flames originated here.”

“After the Child of Destiny discovered this place, he stole all the medicinal ingredients. When she went to reclaim them, she was instead killed by the Child of Destiny’s elder.”

After hearing her words, Beigong Qingmei nodded.

“I believe she can be swayed to our side.”

Jia Nan indicated she was indifferent.

Ziyan, however, expressed a touch of regret:

“I want this land… never mind, I’ll just take the herbs then. Oh, and Sister Shangguan, wouldn’t it be better to snatch the medicine the Child of Destiny ate? What did he eat?”

“He emptied the entire garden! How would I know what he ate?” Shangguan Xue complained.

“Be careful. You’re an ordinary person now, and Yanzi has plenty of ways to make you beg for mercy, crying,” Jia Nan reminded her, lightly tapping her head.

‘That’s right, if Yanzi just gave me some random poison, I’d be screaming for my mom…’ Shangguan Xue surrendered with both hands raised:

“I was wrong.”

Ziyan hummed softly.

Shangguan Xue chuckled. “However, Yanzi, to leave the Child of Destiny with nothing, we’ll need this land as well.” She then gave Shi Ledong a knowing look.

“Everyone agrees to recruit her, right?” Shi Ledong confirmed, preparing to step forward and negotiate.

It was then they suddenly realized their unspoken understanding still remained intact.

“…I have been rude,” the Cherryflame Saint said, having landed. She bowed to them. “May I ask what instructions you Venerables have? If you have taken a liking to my medicinal valley, then please take it.”

Though the medicinal valley was important to her, her life was far more so.

‘Haughty at first, then respectful; it’s quite amusing to think about…’ Shangguan Xue silently scoffed.

Shi Ledong stepped forward, and instead of answering, she countered with a question. “How much do you know about these medicinal ingredients?”

“I know a little,” the Cherryflame Saint replied.

Shi Ledong inquired further, “Then do you know that while they are of no great benefit to us, they are quite beneficial to the younger generation?”

“I do,” the Cherryflame Saint affirmed, thinking to herself, ‘Are you perhaps here for that young girl?’

“Therefore,” Shi Ledong said, having laid the groundwork, and getting straight to the point, “we, representing the Sun Palace, Violet Mist Tower, and Ink Pavilion, wish to cooperate with you.”

“You are too kind, Esteemed Sunwheel Saint,” the Cherryflame Saint quickly responded. “How might we cooperate?”

Shi Ledong explained:

“We will purchase your medicinal ingredients. The Violet Mist Tower will refine them into medicine, the Ink Pavilion’s academies and schools will distribute them to their students, and the Sun Palace will provide you protection.”

“Even if the Xiye Dynasty of the Southern Continent comes to seize them, my Sun Palace will bear the responsibility for you!”

Shi Ledong flicked her sleeve, and an aura of ‘one man holding the pass against ten thousand’ emanated from her.

‘Speaking of the Xiye Dynasty… did they learn of my medicinal valley, and these Venerables rushed here to intercept them?’

The Cherryflame Saint mentally filled in the blanks and found it perfectly plausible.

“So, what is your intention?”

Facing several of the Seven Venerables, she was no fool and would not mistake politeness for weakness:

“Of course… no, it will be a pleasure to cooperate, Esteemed Venerables.”

“Good,” Shi Ledong said, turning to exchange glances with her companions.

Following this, each of the four conjured an artifact and handed it to the Cherryflame Saint.

These items required no explanation; she knew they were for summoning the four of them.

Thus, even if the two Peak Creation Realm experts of the Xiye Dynasty joined forces to seize the valley, they would not succeed.

“Thank you, Esteemed Ones,” the Cherryflame Saint said, crossing her hands in front of her body and bowing to them. “If any of you have taken a liking to anything, please take it. I shall take my leave now.” With that, she departed.

The other party had given her life-saving artifacts, so the Cherryflame Saint naturally had to give them a reason for the young girl to select some medicinal ingredients.

“Quite perceptive and sensible…” Shangguan Xue murmured, then looked at Ziyan. “Yanzi, help me choose one, won’t you?”