Chapter 31: Towards Mao Family Valley
Chapter 31: Towards Mao Family Valley
Su Chen contemplated the direction he should head towards.
As he considered, he recalled the words that Ji Sheng had spoken to him previously.
The area near Mao Family Valley was a place he couldn't approach.
There were powerhouses slaying demons in that region, and if he got too close, he might accidentally harm himself.
Su Chen had read about that area in books before.
Mao Family Valley used to be a village.
It was a low-lying area, a depression in the terrain.
But over two hundred years ago, it was completely devastated by a demonic creature attack.
The place name remained, but the area had been swallowed by the wilderness.
According to the records, there were even Earth Demons and Heavenly Demons roaming that region.
Several appearances of Heavenly Demons were documented in that area.
Su Chen's heart was filled with doubts.
Mao Family Valley was over fifty li away from the defense line of Tiangang City.
Even if there were traces of demonic creatures, what difference would it make at such a distance? It wouldn't affect Tiangang City or the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Yet, these powerhouses still chose to go there.
They claimed to slay demons, but were they really doing so? Their presence might even drive the demons from Mao Family Valley towards Tiangang City.
Su Chen's heart was filled with skepticism.
From the perspective of preventing demonic creatures from harassing the Great Zhou Dynasty, going to Mao Family Valley to slay demons wouldn't achieve much.
If not for demon slaying, then what was the purpose of their journey?
Su Chen had some speculations in his mind.
Perhaps there was something special about that area near Mao Family Valley.
With these thoughts, Su Chen remained calm and continued to patiently plan.
Ji Sheng was a proud man, and those he called powerhouses indeed possessed formidable strength.
Their abilities were no less than the Fifth Stage Snow Intent Realm, and they might even have reached the Fourth Stage.
The Fourth Stage was known as the Transformation Realm.
Simplifying complexities, they attempted to unify all laws into one.
Their strength would experience a significant boost, far surpassing the Fifth Stage.
Although the improvement was substantial, entering the Fourth Stage was still challenging.
There were two most distinct milestones on the path of cultivation.
The first was the transition from the Eighth Stage Essence Refinement Realm to the Seventh Stage Valley Embrace Realm.
This step seemed simple, but it halted many cultivators.
From tempering their bodies to cultivating their mental state, those with insufficient insight often got stuck at this stage.
They might be stuck at this bottleneck for two or even three decades.
By the time they reached middle age and entered the Seventh Stage, there wouldn't be much room for further advancement in their lifetime.
The other most distinct milestone was the Fourth Stage Transformation Realm.
From the Ninth Stage Body Refinement to the Eighth Stage Essence Refinement, the body was refined into essence.
Then came the Seventh Stage Valley Embrace Realm, the Sixth Stage Mountain Furnace Realm, and the Fifth Stage Snow Intent Realm.
Only after overcoming these mental hurdles would one reach the Fourth Stage Transformation Realm.
Those who achieved the Transformation Realm in the Great Zhou Dynasty were renowned powerhouses.
Even someone like the Fifth Elder of Yunyang Sect, Sun Xue Rong, who was already an elder, had only reached the Fifth Stage Snow Intent Perfection, just one step away from the Fourth Stage.
If he were to venture to Mao Family Valley, he couldn't do so carelessly.
He must remain vigilant and ensure his safety before taking a chance.
Initially, Su Chen decided to head south first.
The southern region was said to have many rare medicinal ingredients.
In the books, this southern wilderness was even given a name: The Great Zhou Herb Garden.
This meant that the variety and abundance of medicinal ingredients there were extraordinary.
Su Chen had a plan in mind; he would first go south from Tiangang City.
He would explore the southern region, observing the harvest and looking for opportunities.
If all conditions were favorable, he would then venture to Mao Family Valley.
With his plan clear in his mind, Su Chen prepared to take action as soon as possible.
This year's end-of-year, I had already told my mother and younger sister that I wouldn't be returning home.
This trip outside is a test, a way for me to earn some resources and money.
Besides using it for myself, I can also let my mother and sister live more comfortably.
I prepared a rather large bag and bought some dried provisions in the city.
The main feature of these provisions is their portability and ease of storage, and Su Chen didn't care much about their taste.
Anyway, I'm not from some noble family, so I won't be picky about food.
When going out for training, as long as I can fill my stomach, that's enough.
With everything prepared, Su Chen set off alone, heading south.
Outside the city, wherever it hadn't been cleared, a layer of white snow had already covered the ground.
Actually, the snowfall wasn't that heavy.
It was just a shallow layer.
In previous years when it snowed heavily, the accumulated snow would easily reach above the ankles.
Heading south, the Heaven's Will of the Demon Hunter Pioneer was also activated.
Although demonic creatures' activities decrease in winter, one must still remain vigilant when necessary.
After crossing the defense line of Tiangang City, heading further south, it seemed like the number of people suddenly decreased.
Outside the defense line, there were noticeably more plants.
Many plants were left with only bare branches, but looking at these crowded branches, one could almost feel how lush this place would be in spring and summer.
The common folk of Great Zhou usually wouldn't be able to leap over the defense line.
Su Chen didn't hesitate and continued to venture further south.
There's actually a trick to finding medicinal herbs in winter, which my mother taught me.
Previously, when searching for wild vegetables with my mother in winter, we relied on this trick.
Most plants don't like the cold.
Even if they grow in winter, many will choose slightly warmer locations if possible.
One of the main reasons for the winter cold is the cold wind.
So, low-lying areas are the preferred locations for plants.
In the past, using this method, we could find quite a few wild vegetables.
With no suitable destination in mind, Su Chen started by looking for low-lying areas.
Looking into the distance, there was a slightly higher peak.
To see further, Su Chen walked towards it, planning to climb up and look for low-lying areas from above.
With his Eighth Stage Essence Refinement Intermediate Realm strength, climbing a small peak was effortless.
However, during the climb, Su Chen still had to pay attention to his surroundings and be vigilant for demonic creatures.
After half an hour, he reached the summit.
Looking into the distance, he searched for low-lying areas.
In the wilderness, there were still some plants that hadn't shed their leaves, enduring the harsh winter.
But these plants were few, and most were deciduous.
On his left, there seemed to be a low-lying area.
Su Chen memorized the surrounding terrain and headed towards the low-lying area.
This year's snow wasn't deep, and it didn't even reach his calves anywhere.
Soon, Su Chen arrived at the low-lying area he had just discovered.
This place was about thirty li away from the defense line of Tiangang City.
This distance was already considered quite deep.
If it were summer, one might encounter a demonic creature every few steps.
The further away from the defense line, the fewer people would come.
The chances of medicinal herbs being picked by others would also be lower.
Many herb gatherers were experienced, but their strength was average, and they didn't dare to venture into this location.
Su Chen tried to clear the snow, beginning his search.
Under the snow, there were indeed several herbaceous plants hidden.
Some were just weeds, but soon, Su Chen discovered a medicinal herb, White Pine Grass.
He continued to clear more snow, and surprisingly, there were four clusters of White Pine Grass growing here.
(End of Chapter)
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