Chapter 152: The Heavenly Drop Marrow, a 5th-grade Spirit Herb

Chapter 152: The Heavenly Drop Marrow, a 5th-grade Spirit Herb

Meng Shushu dug as he spoke, "When digging for spirit herbs, be careful not to damage them, or their medicinal power will dissipate. If left for too long, there won't be much potency left."

As a spirit herb scout, he was naturally extremely familiar with various spirit herbs.

He continued to explain to Xu Yan and the others, "For herbal spirit herbs, you don't have to be so careful. As long as they're not too damaged when dug up, there won't be any loss of medicinal power. But for spirit herbs that bear fruit, you must be extra cautious and leave the stems intact. For underground spirit herbs like the Earth Moon Bamboo Shoots, just be a little careful when digging so as not to damage them, and it should be fine."

"Spirit herbs that grow underground usually have a protective layer."

"Of course, this is just the method of harvesting spirit herbs. If you want to store them for a long time without losing their potency, you'll need to use a different method, which is more complicated.

"Tianbao Pavilion is the best when it comes to preserving spirit herbs. That's why most major forces will usually have their harvested spirit herbs stored and preserved by Tianbao Pavilion, or they'll have them sealed before taking them back."

While Xu Yan and Meng Shushu dug up the spirit herbs, they listened to Meng Shushu's introduction.

"Tianbao Pavilion is truly formidable," Xu Yan couldn't help but exclaim.

With their spirit tickets allowing them to travel through the Inner Domain, and their services in preserving and sealing spirit herbs, it was clear that no major force dared to offend Tianbao Pavilion.

And yet, Tianbao Pavilion remained steadfast in its principle of non-involvement in the Inner Domain struggles, earning them an excellent reputation and the relative trust of the major forces.

"Tianbao Pavilion is indeed powerful. No one knows the extent of their foundation, but I feel that even the Seven Stars Academy might not be able to match them," Meng Shushu marveled.

"However, major forces like the Seven Stars Academy and Jianzun Cliff handle their spirit herbs themselves. They also have their own methods of storing and sealing spirit herbs.

"But they still deposit a portion with Tianbao Pavilion. After all, Tianbao Pavilion has branches all over the Inner Domain. If they need spirit herbs while they're out and about, they can just go to Tianbao Pavilion to retrieve them.

"It is said that these major forces have secret agreements with Tianbao Pavilion and receive generous cooperation benefits."

Meng Shushu, being from the Inner Domain, naturally had a more direct understanding of Tianbao Pavilion's strength, and he couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"Cousin, do you know how to store and seal spirit herbs?" Meng Chong asked as he continued digging up the spirit herbs.

"My family has a tradition of spirit herb scouts, so of course, I know how to preserve and seal spirit herbs. But it's quite troublesome, and the things needed for sealing spirit herbs are even more complicated to make.

"However, you can buy them from Tianbao Pavilion, but it will cost you."

Meng Shushu sighed. Nowadays, most spirit herb scouts in the Inner Domain were hired by Tianbao Pavilion, but he had refused their offer because he disliked being constrained.

Meng Chong nodded. He had seen the things Tianbao Pavilion used to seal spirit herbs—a transparent thin film that enclosed the spirit herb, locking in its medicinal power to prevent any loss.

Half a day later, all the spirit herbs in the herb field had been harvested. Most of them were 8th-grade spirit herbs, with only a handful being 7th-grade.

There were a total of 23 different types of spirit herbs.

"It's inconvenient to carry so many spirit herbs. It would be great if we had a storage bag," Xu Yan said with a frown as he looked at the pile of spirit herbs.

"Meng Shushu, how could you not buy a storage bag as a spirit herb scout? How do you usually carry large quantities of spirit herbs? You really need to get yourself a storage bag," he said, patting Meng Shushu on the shoulder.

"I'll try," Meng Shushu said helplessly.

He had fallen into the pit dug by this pair of master and disciple, and there was no climbing out!

"That's not right. There aren't any 6th-grade spirit herbs here, let alone 5th-grade ones," Meng Chong frowned as he stared at the spirit herbs.

"There's another key. Higher-grade spirit herbs are usually grown one to a plot," Meng Shushu said as he took out another key.

"Where's the other herb field?" Meng Chong asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Over there!"

The three of them walked over to the indentation and found a hole.

Meng Shushu excitedly inserted the key, turned the mechanism, and there was a crisp click, as if a lock had been opened.

He pushed against the stone wall, and soil fell as the wall slid open.

Behind the stone wall, it was slightly brighter, especially in the center, where a beam of light shone through.

The three of them looked towards the spot illuminated by the beam of light and were instantly stunned.

There, growing to a height of about a foot, was a plant with verdant leaves. Hanging beneath the lush green leaves was a delicate vine, from which a drop of crystal clear dew hung. Bathed in the light, it shimmered with an otherworldly radiance.

"What kind of spirit herb is this?" Xu Yan asked in surprise as they cautiously approached.

Upon closer inspection, they realized that hanging beneath the verdant leaves was what appeared to be a small fruit, resembling a tiny bead. It was translucent like dew, with a lustrous and smooth surface.

Meng Shushu circled the small tree, his excitement building as he examined it.

Xu Yan and Meng Chong furrowed their brows, neither of them recognizing this spirit herb. Su Lingxiu had never mentioned any spirit herb that resembled this one.

"Cousin, do you know what it is?" Meng Chong asked, looking up.

This spirit herb was clearly no ordinary one; it didn't seem like a 7th or 8th-grade spirit herb.

"This is... the Heavenly Drop Marrow. I've only read about it in books. It has verdant leaves, and beneath them hangs dew-like droplets that resemble marrow," Meng Shushu said excitedly, his face flushed.

"This is a treasure, a true treasure! It's a 5th-grade spirit herb!"

He reached out and gently caressed the leaves of the Heavenly Drop Marrow, as if he were touching the cheek of his beloved. His expression made both Xu Yan and Meng Chong's skin crawl!

"Tell me about this Heavenly Drop Marrow," Xu Yan said.

Meng Shushu took a few deep breaths to calm his excitement before explaining, "The Heavenly Drop Marrow is a peculiar spirit herb. Its grade is not fixed; the longer it grows, the higher its grade becomes. It is said that it can even reach the level of a 1st-grade spirit herb.

"To determine its grade, you look at the number of droplets it bears. Nine or fewer droplets indicate a 6th-grade spirit herb, while nine to eighteen droplets make it a 5th-grade spirit herb. Look, this Heavenly Drop Marrow has exactly nine droplets."

Xu Yan and Meng Chong counted and indeed found nine branches, each bearing a single droplet.

Even within the same grade, spirit herbs could be further categorized into upper, middle, and lower tiers.

And this particular Heavenly Drop Marrow was considered a lower-tier 5th-grade spirit herb.

Even so, it was an incredibly rare treasure within the Inner Domain.

"It is said that the Heavenly Drop Marrow is a rare spirit herb that enhances a warrior's will, improves their understanding, and boosts their innate talent. Whenever one appears, it sparks fierce competition among Great Grandmasters. Among 5th-grade spirit herbs, it is considered exceptionally precious," Meng Shushu continued.

"It can improve understanding and innate talent? That's incredible!" Xu Yan exclaimed in surprise.

Meng Chong rubbed his hands together. This was a real treasure.

What kind of incredible effects would a 5th-grade spirit herb like the Heavenly Drop Marrow have if it were refined into a pill?

It was simply unimaginable!

Xu Yan was thrilled at the moment. His parents had average talent, but with pills refined from the Heavenly Drop Marrow to enhance their talent and understanding, cultivating the martial way would become much easier.

For a spirit herb like the Heavenly Drop Marrow, Inner Domain warriors would never dream of mixing it with other herbs to create pills, fearing that it would diminish the herb's effectiveness. They would always consume it directly.

Doing so would be an even greater waste!

Refining it into a dan medicine was the proper way to utilize it!

"This Heavenly Drop Marrow, if we take it to Tianbao Pavilion, we should be able to exchange it for a storage bag." Meng Shushu suggested excitedly.

"No exchange!" Xu Yan and Meng Chong replied in unison.

Storage bags could be purchased, after all, Tianbao Pavilion had them in stock. But the Heavenly Drop Marrow was an opportunity that couldn't be missed.

Moreover, they could leave the matter of the storage bag to Meng Shushu to figure out. This herb was absolutely not to be traded away.

Meng Shushu smiled awkwardly and then suggested, "Then, why don't we eat it together and see if it really can enhance our talent?"

"No way, who do you think you are, a cow? Of course, we'll refine it into a dan medicine." Xu Yan immediately vetoed the idea.

"Dan medicine?" Meng Shushu blinked, having never heard of it before.

He thought about the healing medicine Meng Chong had given him, which had an astonishing effect. Could that be a type of dan medicine?

"Cousin, quickly dig out the Heavenly Drop Marrow and seal it properly. Don't let any of its medicinal power dissipate. Once the dan medicine is successfully refined, I'll give you one," Meng Chong instructed.

This treasure trove of herbs was partly thanks to Meng Shushu's efforts, and from now on, he would be considered one of their own, specializing in finding spirit herbs. He couldn't just be ordered around without getting some benefits in return.

"Alright, no problem!" Meng Shushu agreed without further questions about the dan medicine.

It was obviously a secret matter, but since he would be given one, it wasn't a completely lost cause. Moreover, it should have better effects than directly consuming the Heavenly Drop Marrow, right?

Meng Shushu began to harvest the Heavenly Drop Marrow. Due to its status as a fifth-grade spirit herb, it was too precious, and since Xu Yan and Meng Chong were unfamiliar with the harvesting process, they didn't dare to help casually.

At this moment, Xu Yan and Meng Chong finally snapped out of their daze and surveyed their surroundings.

Aside from the Heavenly Drop Marrow, they noticed several other herb fields, each containing a single spirit herb.

"Sixth-grade spirit herbs?" Xu Yan and Meng Chong's eyes lit up.

Sixth-grade spirit herbs were the highest publicly known grade in the Inner Domain, and they were extremely rare and expensive. To find several of them here was surprising.

The two of them didn't harvest the herbs but left them for Meng Shushu to handle.

Once the Heavenly Drop Marrow was dug out, Meng Shushu took out a thin film and carefully sealed the herb, using his inner energy to fuse the film.

After finishing, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, I still have the sealing film with me. Thankfully, I didn't lose it."

Meng Shushu carefully stored the remaining sealing film and began to harvest the other spirit herbs.

"These are all sixth-grade spirit herbs. Two of them are top-grade, and the rest are middle-grade," Meng Shushu introduced.

After harvesting the sixth-grade spirit herbs, he used the sealing film to enclose them. However, he didn't have enough sealing film for all of them, leaving two herbs unsealed.

"Be careful with these two. Don't damage them. Once we get to the city, buy some sealing film from Tianbao Pavilion and seal them properly," Meng Shushu instructed, tearing a piece of cloth from his shirt to carefully wrap the two unsealed sixth-grade spirit herbs before handing them to Meng Chong.

"No problem," Meng Chong replied excitedly as he accepted the herbs with care.

The Heavenly Drop Marrow was naturally safer in Xu Yan's possession, even a Grand Master wouldn't be able to take it from him.

With so many spirit herbs and no storage bag, Meng Shushu was about to take off his clothes to wrap the herbs when Xu Yan pulled out a large bag.

"Good thing I came prepared. Finally, I get to use this," Xu Yan said happily as he carefully stuffed the spirit herbs, one by one, into the bag.

Meng Shushu was stunned. "Can you predict the future or something? How did you know to bring a large bag with you?"

Meng Chong's face fell as he said regretfully, "Too bad the bag I had was lost when I was being chased by the Grand Masters!"

Meng Shushu: ...

These two were truly something else. They both happened to be carrying large bags?

With the bag full of spirit herbs, Xu Yan was thrilled. He had finally accomplished what he had set out to do for his junior disciple.

He also had quite a few spirit herbs stored in Tianbao Pavilion, as well as a substantial amount of spirit crystals, which could be used to purchase more herbs. Hopefully, he would be able to gather all the herbs on his junior disciple's list.

"Junior disciple, take the spirit herbs," Xu Yan said as he handed the bag to Meng Chong.

With his tall and sturdy build, Meng Chong was better suited to carry the large bag. Xu Yan, on the other hand, wrapped the Heavenly Drop Marrow and the few sealed sixth-grade spirit herbs and carried them on his person.

"Let's go," Xu Yan said.

Having harvested all the spirit herbs in the treasure trove, there was nothing else left to do there. Moreover, after killing the Grand Master in black, if his companions noticed his absence, they might send more people, which would be troublesome.

After all, their current situation wasn't ideal for a big battle, as it could easily damage the spirit herbs.

As they left the treasure trove, Xu Yan remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings. When he didn't detect any enemies, he finally relaxed.

"Senior disciple, should we head back now?" Meng Chong asked eagerly.

Carrying such a large quantity of spirit herbs made it unsuitable to continue wandering the Inner Domain. It was time to return to the Wild Border. His junior disciple was probably getting anxious by now.

Moreover, sixth-grade spirit herbs, especially the Heavenly Drop Marrow, were not something they wanted to store in Tianbao Pavilion.

While Tianbao Pavilion had an excellent reputation, as his master had said, there might be interests that would cause them to forsake their principles.

"These spirit herbs need to be properly sealed. It's about time we head back. I also need to retrieve the stored spirit herbs and purchase the ones on the list from Canglan Island," Xu Yan mused. "After I bid farewell to Brother Xie, we can return."

Their trip to the Inner Domain had been fruitful, and it was time to head back and focus on improving their cultivation.

The next time they came to the Inner Domain, they would be able to roam with impunity.

"Alright!" Meng Chong nodded, his face hardening as he added, "Next time I come, I'll definitely explode a few Grand Masters. That will teach them for chasing me!"

With so many spirit herbs, his junior disciple would be able to refine a lot of dan medicines. With the aid of those medicines, his cultivation of the Great Sun Golden Body would surely accelerate.

It wouldn't be long before he broke through. Once he reached the Great Perfection or Completion stage of the Innate Realm, he would return to the Inner Domain and head straight to the headquarters of those black-robed warriors to destroy them.

He, too, would explode some Grand Masters!

"Junior disciple, the next time we come, we can pay a visit to the Seven Stars Academy and try to pass the ninth level of the Combat Stage. We can then go to the Collection Pavilion and take a look at the martial arts manuals there. It will be beneficial," Xu Yan said solemnly.

"Senior disciple, I understand," Meng Chong replied, nodding.

Throughout the entire process, Meng Shushu remained silent. This pair of master and disciple had mysterious backgrounds and absurdly powerful abilities. Meng Chong was already planning how he would explode some Grand Masters.

They were truly fearsome!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end