Ch. 49 - A Mixed Bunch

For Ye Fan, this was indeed good news. If he could gather spiritual herbs or hunt rare beasts, it could help solve his urgent need. His golden Bitter Sea was like a nearly dried-up lake, desperately needing a large amount of spiritual energy to replenish it so he could continue expanding it and eventually form a vast golden sea once again.

“This time, Elder Wu Qingfeng will personally lead the team. No need to worry about that damn Elder Han making trouble.”

The matter was settled, both Ye Fan and Pang Bo would join the training expedition.

Two days later, Elder Wu Qingfeng and another elder led more than a hundred disciples out of Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven and headed toward the ancient ruins nearby.

That place was covered with towering ancient trees and had a primal atmosphere. Even from a distance, the deafening roars of wild beasts could be heard, carrying with them a murderous aura. Strange predatory birds with wingspans of several meters circled the skies, immense and threatening.

“Let me remind you again, be very careful. Never underestimate this expedition. It’s a matter of life and death...” Elder Wu Qingfeng explained many things to watch out for and finally gave an example: “In the past, some disciples ventured too deep into the ruins to collect rare herbs and ended up encountering ferocious beasts. In such cases, death is certain. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it gets. Many of those beasts are ancient relics, and even elders from Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven can’t deal with them. So absolutely do not go too deep!”

The two elders quickly led the disciples to the ruins. The area was rich with spiritual energy, almost on par with Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Upon arriving, someone already discovered a medicinal herb.

“Don’t pick herbs that are too young,” warned the elder surnamed Li.

The giant trees here were enormous, so thick that even several people joining hands couldn’t wrap around them. Thick vines as wide as thighs hung down. Though called ruins, the place looked more like an untouched primeval forest.

“Giant python!”

As they stepped into the forest, someone shouted in alarm. A massive, multicolored python as thick as a water barrel appeared.

“Puff!”

The colorful serpent spewed a cloud of mist, instantly enveloping the screaming disciple. Moments later, a chilling scream rang out.

The other disciples recoiled in horror. As the mist dispersed, only a white skeleton and pools of yellow fluid were left behind. Even the nearby grass and trees had withered.

Elder Wu Qingfeng arrived quickly and frowned. “Encountering a Vile-Dragon right at the edge of the ruins… Something feels wrong.”

Elder Li also approached. “This giant python is known as the Vile-Dragon. Its body is highly poisonous. Be extremely careful not to touch the poisonous mist, or death will be immediate.” He added, “Its gall bladder is a fine ingredient for alchemy. Disciples with the ability may try to retrieve it.”

To encounter such a venomous serpent at the edge of the ruins was alarming. With one disciple already dead, everyone became more cautious and wary.

“I’ll take the gall!” A girl of about sixteen or seventeen stepped forward. Green light burst from her Bitter Sea, running down her arm and firing from her fingertips like a sword. With a whoosh, she sliced the Vile-Dragon in half.

She carefully retrieved a gall the size of a fist and exchanged it on the spot with Elder Li for a bottle of Hundred-Grass Liquid. The other disciples were immediately encouraged. Many of them had the ability to kill a Vile-Dragon, as long as they had courage and acted boldly, they could gain valuable rewards here.

“Don’t be afraid, but don’t get careless either. There may be more bloodshed and death ahead, but this is a trial you must endure. Flowers raised in a greenhouse will one day have to face harsh reality. Otherwise, you’ll never truly grow.”

Though the elders said this, they still frowned. A disciple dying so soon wasn’t a good sign.

Soon, more disciples began searching and found valuable herbs like a ten-year-old Dragon Tongue Grass and a rare Azure Dragon Vine.

Suddenly, a sharp bird cry echoed from deep within the ruins, sharp as metal piercing the air. It made everyone’s ears ache, buzzing painfully. A golden streak flashed through the sky and dove toward a distant mountain.

“What was that?!”

Everyone was stunned. The golden flash was too fast to see clearly, only a brilliant golden light streaking across the sky remained in their minds.

Elder Wu Qingfeng looked serious. “That was a Lightning Bird, fast and terrifying like lightning itself. It’s born with control over thunder and lightning. Even I would avoid it if I encountered one.”

“ROAR…”

A deafening roar erupted as a giant ape covered in scales leapt from the mountain the Lightning Bird was diving toward. It soared hundreds of meters into the air and attacked the bird.

“It’s a Scale Ape!” Elder Li’s expression changed. “And likely a king among them, otherwise, it wouldn’t dare challenge a Lightning Bird.”

Elder Wu frowned. “These ruins are anything but peaceful. This trial will likely have complications. We must not venture too deep.”

Shrill cries and deafening roars rang through the forest, tearing through the sky and echoing across the ruins. The disciples paled. Earlier, seeing someone slay the Vile-Dragon had boosted their confidence. But now, they realized how truly dangerous this place was. Deep within, terrifying beasts existed, far beyond their ability to confront.

“Let’s move to a different area…” Elder Wu Qingfeng remained uneasy about this region. The ruins were vast, so he led the group to a new area.

After traveling over ten miles, they entered a rocky forest. After making their way through, they re-entered the ruins.

“One more warning: even if you decide to go deeper, do not exceed ten miles. Any further and you risk death. Know your limits!”

The group now split up into smaller teams, three here, five there, each setting off in search of rewards. For disciples trying to expand their Bitter Sea, the allure of Hundred-Grass Liquid was enormous.

Han Feiyu had also joined the trial. When he looked at Ye Fan and Pang Bo, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. But when they glanced back at him, he quickly looked away.

“Han Feiyu, you almost got killed by those two?”

He was accompanied by several men and women, all around eighteen or nineteen, full of energy and spiritual power. Han Feiyu clearly wasn’t their leader, just one of the group, standing to the side.

“One’s an Immortal Seed but just got started and hasn’t learned anything yet. The other’s a cripple who can’t even cultivate. Getting beaten by trash like that? You’ve shamed Elder Han.”

The two who spoke, a boy and a girl around seventeen or eighteen, were the center of attention, treated like stars among their peers.

Pang Bo was furious. The insults were blatant, calling Ye Fan trash. He snapped, “Watch your mouth! Do you even know how to speak like a human being?”

The girl with a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth sneered coldly. Though beautiful, she gave off a bone-chilling aura. “Got a temper, huh? Don’t think being an Immortal Seed makes you special. In the future, anything can happen, even Immortal Seeds can die young!”

“Who’s looking down on others here? Did we provoke you? You started mocking us right away. If we’re arrogant, then you’re completely blind.” Pang Bo fired back without hesitation.

“If the elders hadn’t forbidden fighting among disciples, I’d teach you how to behave.” The girl glared icily, first at Ye Fan, then at Pang Bo. “You may be an Immortal Seed, but you can’t just bring anyone here. This is sacred ground, how can we allow nobodies to wander around?”

The boy beside her added, “Not everyone is meant for cultivation. People should know their limits.” He glared at Ye Fan. “Do us all a favor and leave. This place is for Desolate Spirit disciples, not outsiders.”

“Shut your damn mouths!” Pang Bo was livid. Insulting Ye Fan was the same as insulting him.

Ye Fan pulled him back and calmly flashed a jade pendant before the group before walking past them.

“That’s Elder Wu’s pendant…”

Their expressions instantly soured. They had just tried to drive Ye Fan away, only to find out he had legitimate access.

Han Feiyu stepped forward. “Senior Sister Li Lin, Senior Brother Li Yun, don’t cause trouble with them. My great-uncle told me not to act rashly. If he finds out, he’ll punish me.”

After walking a few hundred meters, Pang Bo said, “I remember now, I’ve seen them before on the rear mountain. Elder Wu mentioned them in passing. That girl is called Li Lin, also an Immortal Seed. That guy is Li Yun, not an Immortal Seed, but very gifted, not far off.”

Ye Fan glanced back. “Seems you’re safe in Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven for now, but your future here won’t be easy.”

Pang Bo was unfazed. “Pressure breeds strength. My new goal is to stomp those jerks underfoot within three years. Now I get why Elder Wu sighed about how the quality of disciples has gone downhill lately.”

“Desolate Spirit doesn’t seem as peaceful as it appears. The elders likely have factions. Be careful.” Ye Fan warned.

“I know. Elder Wu wants to take me as his final disciple. After you leave, I’ll probably train in the rear mountain. I won’t stir up trouble unless I’ve mastered something.”

Ye Fan thought for a while, then shook his head. “Too bad we’re not strong enough yet. Otherwise, we could plot something and get rid of these pests for you.”

“No worries. I’ll be fine. Don’t let what they said bother you,” Pang Bo said angrily.

Ye Fan smiled. “Relax. I didn’t even bother responding to them.”

“Good. Then don’t think about anything else. Just focus on your cultivation. When you’ve fully formed your golden Bitter Sea, we’ll see who the real waste is.”

Soon after, Li Lin, Li Yun, and Han Feiyu passed by, but this time they weren’t here to cause trouble, just passing through.

“We’re heading deeper into the ruins. Let the trash stay in the outskirts…” Li Lin sneered. The beauty mark at the corner of her mouth made her seem even colder.

Ye Fan quietly watched them leave without a word.

“That bitch!” Pang Bo gritted his teeth. He could only endure it for now, he lacked the strength to fight back.

Over the next two days, Ye Fan and Pang Bo found dozens of herbs. But after exchanging them with the elders, they only received two bottles of Hundred-Grass Liquid. Many others fared no better, and some didn’t even get a single bottle. Three more disciples died during that time.

“This won’t do. The outer area has herbs, but most are too young. They’ve been picked clean over the years. As for rare beasts, they’ve probably fled deeper into the ruins after seeing so many people enter. No chance of hunting them now.”

For Ye Fan, two bottles meant nothing. After discussing it, the two agreed that to find true spiritual medicine or hunt spirit beasts, they’d have to venture deeper, like Li Lin’s group had.

“It’s too dangerous in there. We can’t handle those monsters. And if we run into Li Lin or Li Yun, they might try something sneaky…”

They discussed it at length and finally turned their gaze toward the distant depths.

They remembered the golden Lightning Bird and the Scale-Ape King that had leapt a hundred meters into the sky. Both images still lingered vividly in their minds.

Over the past two days, that region had been echoing with their cries and roars. Only today had it finally grown quiet. Why were such powerful beasts fighting? There had to be something unusual there.

Now that the area had calmed, they felt it might be worth the risk. There could be something incredible waiting.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were decisive. Once they made up their minds, they immediately set off, quietly heading into that mysterious region.

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