Chapter 88: The Strange Valley

[Ginseng: A precious herb, non-toxic and edible.]



[This ginseng has grown for many years, surpassing a century.]



[Legend has it that ginseng possesses various miraculous effects. Ginseng of sufficient age seems to possess spiritual abilities, capable of birthing sentience.]



Upon seeing the information that appeared before him about the ginseng, Lu Qing smiled.

Ever since he had harvested that ginseng aged over two centuries, his luck seemed to have taken a turn for the better.

He had subsequently found three more ginseng plants, all of which were over a hundred years old.

Lu Qing carefully dug out the century-old ginseng and placed it into his herb basket, feeling delighted.

With this addition, there were now four ginseng plants in his basket, plus the one that Xiao Li had brought back previously.

With five ginseng plants—one aged two centuries and the other four over a hundred years—he would have more than enough to refine Blood and Qi-replenishing Pills to support his cultivation to the perfection of the Qi and Blood Realm.

"This truly is a treasure mountain!"

Lu Qing marveled at his surroundings, feeling genuinely amazed.

He hadn't searched a large area, yet he had found so many century-old ginseng plants.

In addition, there were the other medicinal herbs he had seen while looking for ginseng earlier.

One could only imagine how abundant the medicinal resources were in this mountain forest.

Calling it a treasure mountain was no exaggeration.

However, while the medicinal herbs here were abundant, entering this place was no easy feat.

Such primeval forests were infested with insects and snakes, and hidden beasts lurked within. If one wasn't careful, a single bite could mean death in these depths.

Lu Qing, being a Qi and Blood Realm warrior, had an advantage with his immunity to poison, and the medicine pouch prepared by his master could ward off snakes and insects.

Additionally, Xiao Li, as a spirit beast, seemed to have an intimidating presence that kept other creatures at bay, making their journey relatively relaxed.

For an ordinary herb collector, venturing this deep into the mountains would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Hence, even if others knew that this place was filled with treasures and medicinal herbs, they could only hesitate and turn back.

Of course, this was a good thing for Lu Qing.

The fact that only he could enter this place at will meant that he could come here anytime he needed any medicinal herbs in the future.

After collecting enough ginseng for his cultivation, Lu Qing temporarily stopped searching for more.

His purpose for coming to the mountains this time was not only to dig for ginseng but also to put the knowledge from the Hundred Grass Scripture into practice.

He wanted to observe the growth environment of other medicinal herbs in the mountains.

And so, Lu Qing, accompanied by Xiao Li, began to wander leisurely through the mountains.

With Xiao Li and the medicine pouch, poisonous insects and snakes dared not approach him.

As they strolled, he couldn't help but marvel once again at the abundance of medicinal herbs in these mountains.

In just this short while, he had already come across dozens of different types of herbs.

Moreover, they were all thriving and possessed potent medicinal properties.

Lu Qing selected some rare and precious herbs that were not commonly found outside and dug up a portion of them.

His master often provided free medical treatment and medicine to the villagers in the nearby villages, so their consumption of medicinal herbs was quite substantial.

Common herbs could be found on the mountains near the village.

Thus, Lu Qing specifically chose to collect herbs that were unavailable or rarely seen outside.

As he dug, Lu Qing made another delightful discovery.

[Tianqi: A precious medicinal ingredient, non-toxic and suitable for pharmaceutical use.]



[It has the effects of promoting blood flow and dispersing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain. It is an excellent medicine for treating external and internal injuries.]



Lu Qing was thrilled to see the dense white light emanating from the medicinal ingredient in front of him.

He hadn't expected to find Tianqi here as well.

This was another extremely rare medicinal ingredient.

The famous top-grade wound medicine known throughout the martial arts world, relied primarily on high-quality Tianqi as its main ingredient.

Previously, to treat Wei Xiao Gongzi's blood loss, his master had specifically requested Tianqi from the Wei Mansion.

This alone spoke volumes about the herb's effectiveness.

Lu Qing immediately started digging it up.

The Tianqi before him, though emitting only white light, was still exceptionally rare.

Once dug up, it would be enough to prepare a large bottle of wound medicine—a life-saving remedy that he couldn't afford to pass up.

As he dug, a question arose in Lu Qing's mind.

According to the records in the Hundred Grass Scripture, ginseng and Tianqi would never grow in the same place.

This was because the growth environments of these two medicinal herbs were completely different.

Ginseng preferred shade and cool temperatures, tolerating low temperatures and avoiding direct sunlight. Indeed, the climate in these deep mountains suited it well.

However, Tianqi was different. It favored moisture and did not tolerate high or low temperatures; its ideal environment was a place that was warm in winter and cool in summer.

Logically, it shouldn't have appeared here.

Because, based on Lu Qing's memory, he knew that it snowed in Jiuli Village during winter.

Chapter: A Mysterious Valley

What reason could there be for Tianqi to defy its growth patterns and appear in these mountains?

After digging up the Tianqi and placing it in his herb basket, Lu Qing fell into deep thought.

Now that he thought about it, something did seem amiss.

The abundance of medicinal herbs in these mountains was astonishing.

It was unusual to find so many century-old ginseng plants in one place, and the other herbs were also thriving exceptionally well. Now, even Tianqi, which shouldn't have grown here, was flourishing.

Initially, Lu Qing had attributed the abundance to the favorable environment and lack of human disturbance.

But now, seeing ginseng and Tianqi growing in the same area, he realized something was truly peculiar.

His first reaction was to wonder if there was some mysterious mechanism at play in these mountains.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Qing turned to the black cub, "Xiao Li, you've been roaming these mountains for quite some time now. Have you noticed anything special about this area? Perhaps a place that feels particularly dangerous or exceptionally comfortable?"

Xiao Li tilted her head, confused by Lu Qing's question.

Lu Qing thought for a moment, then elaborated, "I mean, is there a place nearby that feels different from others, a place that might be risky or one that makes you feel especially at ease?"

This time, Xiao Li seemed to understand. She tilted her head in thought, then nibbled on Lu Qing's sleeve, gesturing toward a certain direction.

Could there really be such a place?

Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Interpreting Xiao Li's actions, he asked, "Do you want me to follow you there?"

The black cub nodded.

"Is it dangerous?" Lu Qing inquired, hesitant to proceed if there were any risks involved. He didn't want to jeopardize himself just to satisfy his curiosity.

Xiao Li shook her head.

After some consideration, Lu Qing decided to trust Xiao Li's instincts.

"Alright, let's go. But slow down, or I won't be able to keep up."

With Xiao Li leading the way, jumping and prancing, Lu Qing followed close behind, secretly channeling his qi to match her pace.

Even in the mountains, their speed was impressive.

Soon, they reached a valley.

"Is it up ahead?" Lu Qing asked as Xiao Li paused.

Xiao Li nodded and gestured with her claws, indicating that this was the special place she had mentioned.

Lu Qing observed their surroundings and felt that there didn't seem to be any imminent danger.

On the contrary, upon entering the valley, he felt a sense of lightness and mental clarity, as if his mind had been refreshed.

He straightened up, knowing that they had indeed come to the right place.

Just this feeling of mental clarity and physical relaxation was enough to prove that this place was extraordinary.

Xiao Li, seeing that Lu Qing had stopped, looked puzzled. She tugged at his sleeve and then walked ahead toward the depths of the valley.

Lu Qing quickly followed.

As they ventured further, Lu Qing was stunned by what he saw.

The valley was a vibrant oasis, filled with the sounds of birds and fragrant flowers, and a gurgling stream. It was like stepping into another world, completely different from the area outside the valley.

Xiao Li seemed quite familiar with this place and led Lu Qing straight to the valley's heart.

At the end of the valley, they came upon a waterfall cascading into a jade-green pool below, the falling water creating a misty veil.

"Woof!"

Xiao Li stood on a large rock in front of the waterfall, pointing and barking at Lu Qing.

"Are you saying there's something inside?" Lu Qing asked, eyeing the waterfall in surprise.

The waterfall wasn't large, and the veil of water wasn't thick. Soon, he spotted something peculiar.

There seemed to be a cave hidden behind the waterfall.

"Woof!" Xiao Li barked again.

"Are you telling me to go in?" Lu Qing asked.

Xiao Li nodded.

Lu Qing hesitated, not because he didn't trust Xiao Li, but because he felt it was risky to explore an unknown cave without any prior knowledge.

Especially since this valley seemed so unusual, who knew what lurked within that cave?

What if there were some exotic beasts inside? Going in alone would be dangerous.

"Xiao Li, how about we go in together?" Lu Qing suggested after some thought.

Xiao Li was a Red Light Spirit Beast, and her strength far surpassed his own. Having her by his side would boost his sense of security.

But Xiao Li shook her head immediately, looking at the waterfall with disdain.

Then Lu Qing remembered—she inherently disliked water. Aside from drinking, she avoided it at all costs.

Once, while playing with Xiao Yan at home, she had gotten dusty and dirty. When Lu Qing tried to give her a bath, she nearly tore the house down.

In the end, he had to settle for wiping her down with a damp cloth.

Chapter: A Mysterious Cave

Xiao Li pouted, clearly upset, and refused to pay any attention to Lu Qing for a good while.

"It's alright, I'll carry you in, and I promise I won't get you wet," Lu Qing said with a laugh. "And you must be curious about what's inside, right?"

Xiao Li hesitated at his words.

Lu Qing smiled at her reaction. He knew that with how much she hated water, she must never have ventured inside. And from her expression, it was clear that something inside was intriguing her.

For something to captivate Xiao Li, who had shown disdain for even century-old ginseng, it had to be extraordinary.

"Don't worry, I'll wrap you up in my clothes so your fur won't get wet at all," Lu Qing assured her.

Hearing his promise, and with the allure of the unknown inside, Xiao Li struggled for a moment before reluctantly nodding in agreement.

Seeing her consent, Lu Qing immediately took off his herb basket and set it on a large rock nearby. He then removed his outer garment and formed it into a pouch-like shape.

Xiao Li climbed into the makeshift pouch without a second thought, unbothered by the fact that it carried Lu Qing's scent.

After all, at home, she shared a room with Xiao Yan and Lu Qing, and her bed was even made from Lu Qing's old clothes, so she was already accustomed to it.

As Xiao Li snuggled into his clothes, Lu Qing slung his battle sword across his back.

That's right, he had brought his sword with him on this trip into the mountains. After all, aside from venomous insects and snakes, there could be wolves, fierce beasts, and other dangers lurking about. He wouldn't neglect to bring a handy weapon.

With his sword secured and a medicine hoe at his waist, Lu Qing picked up Xiao Li and took a few steps back. He then channeled his Qi and Blood power, rushing forward and leaping through the waterfall.

As his body made contact with the veil of water, Lu Qing bent his waist, curling himself around Xiao Li protectively. With a flip, they landed safely on the cave floor beyond the waterfall.

Upon entering the cave, Lu Qing's first instinct was to draw the medicine hoe at his waist, ready to face any potential threats. However, his worries were unfounded, as nothing emerged from the darkness.

Lu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he had seen enough movies and shows in his previous life to know about the concept of 'ambushes when opening a door.' He certainly didn't want to experience that himself.

Feeling Lu Qing come to a stop, Xiao Li poked her head out from his embrace.

"See, I told you I wouldn't get you wet," Lu Qing said as he checked and found that aside from a bit of moisture on his outer garment, Xiao Li was completely dry.

On the other hand, he now looked like a drowned rat. But Lu Qing didn't mind; with a burst of Qi and Blood power, he could dry his clothes in no time. However, with the unknowns that lay ahead in the cave, he didn't want to waste his energy on such a minor matter.

"Woof!"

Xiao Li was delighted to find herself completely dry.

"Let's go, then," Lu Qing said, looking around the cave. Though he couldn't discern much, and there didn't seem to be any immediate dangers, he was determined to explore further.

After all, now that they had come this far, how could they not take a peek inside?

He took out a fire starter and lit it, holding Xiao Li as he walked slowly forward.

However, it soon became apparent that the fire was unnecessary. As they rounded a bend, the cave gradually grew brighter.

The walls on either side, resembling stalactites, emitted a captivating, starry glow.

Lu Qing couldn't help but chuckle at the useless fire starter in his hand. He extinguished and pocketed it, continuing forward with Xiao Li in his arms.

It was quite peculiar—the cave's entrance was behind a waterfall, yet there wasn't a hint of moisture within. Instead, the cave was remarkably dry, much to Xiao Li's satisfaction.

She climbed out of Lu Qing's clothes and back onto his shoulder, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious cave.

The cave was deep and winding, but surprisingly bright. The further they ventured, the more the luminescent walls glowed, illuminating their path.

Lu Qing even used his spiritual sense to examine the glowing stones, finding them to be a unique, harmless mineral. Reassured, he continued on his way.

As they delved deeper into the cave, the sense of mental clarity and refreshment that Lu Qing had felt since entering the valley only intensified.

Without needing Xiao Li's prompting, he, too, began to feel a mysterious attraction drawing him further into the cave's depths.

Finally, after numerous twists and turns and a considerable distance, the pair reached a point where the cave widened significantly.

And what Lu Qing saw before him took his breath away.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end