Chapter 48: Medicine God Valley

True Lord Qinghua covered his mouth and smiled. “Do cultivators even care about these things? Just go if you’re told to go. In this regard, you’re nothing like your master!”

Mu Yuan sweated. “Does my master seem that informal?”

True Lord Qinghua laughed. “You should ask your master about that. In his younger days, he was dashing and charming, enough to captivate everyone, countless beauties and charmers!”

Mu Yuan broke into a cold sweat, shocked by his martial uncle’s choice of words. Seeing his own master standing nearby stroking his beard with a smile, he quickly said, “I’ll go, disciple will go. I’ll head to Cloud Brilliance Peak tomorrow.”

After leaving Qingguang Hall, Mu Yuan couldn’t help but start imagining tomorrow’s encounter with a group of Cloud Brilliance Peak female disciples wearing orthodox Daoist robes and expressionless faces. He couldn’t hold back a sigh, feeling quite depressed.

By chance, Chen Huayi passed by. Spotting Mu Yuan, he cheerfully pulled him over. “Just the person I wanted to see. Today Longevity Palace has guests. The sect master asked me for some Purple Bamboo Spirit. Junior brother, can you deliver it for me?”

Mu Yuan smiled. “Why trouble yourself with such matters, senior brother? Couldn’t the attendants handle the delivery?”

Chen Huayi sighed. “The visitors are from Medicine God Valley. They come every year to purchase some herbs for alchemy. As you know, this Purple Bamboo Spirit is unique to our Cloud-Capped Peak, and it happens to be a key ingredient for Medicine God Valley’s Illusion Mirage Pill. They’re worried the attendants might make mistakes, so they assigned me. Since I ran into you, I won’t have to go to Flying Dragon Peak!”

As he spoke, he handed over a half-foot square jade box that emitted a faint glow with threads of cold air. Mu Yuan naturally knew this was a specially made medicinal container, carved entirely from ten-thousand-year cold jade. Though it appeared small, inside it had extra space. For slender grass-like medicines like Purple Bamboo Spirit, it could hold dozens of pounds without any problem.

Mu Yuan gave a helpless smile, accepted the box, and bowed slightly to Chen Huayi. Immediately, a swirl of energy formed under his feet, divided into three colors—purple, black, and blue—alternating and shimmering, spiraling like a lotus flower, lifting him off the ground!

“Oh? Riding qi to fly!” Chen Huayi narrowed his eyes, quite surprised at Mu Yuan’s cultivation level. Little did he know Mu Yuan had just had some strange encounters and, with the help of the Longevity Sword, could now utilize some divine abilities of the Core Formation Realm.

The two peaks weren’t very far apart. This was Mu Yuan’s first time riding qi within Longevity Palace. He saw mist-shrouded mountains, seven main peaks towering, countless blue lights shimmering upon them, lush and vibrant, like a fairyland.

As Mu Yuan was looking around, he noticed from the other five peaks, beams of light also shot out, all heading toward Flying Dragon Peak. Guessing they were also delivering spiritual essences, he quickened his speed and arrived outside Azure Dragon Hall.

At the entrance of Azure Dragon Hall, several attendants were bustling about, gathering herbs on Flying Dragon Peak. Mu Yuan called out to them and was about to enter the hall when he heard a mocking voice. “Well, if it isn’t Junior Brother Mu Yuan. I heard your cultivation has improved a lot recently. Let’s find some time to spar!”

Mu Yuan turned his head, let out a cold snort, but didn’t say anything, turned around, and entered the hall!

The speaker was also from Strange Abode Peak, named Hua Zhenzi. He was adopted by Fengliu San since childhood, only having a Daoist title, no real name. This person was always gloomy and ruthless, but his talent in cultivation wasn’t low; he was among the top figures at Strange Abode Peak. Moreover, he was quite handsome and had high cultivation, having already completed Spirit Refining and now awaiting Elixir Formation. Within Longevity Palace, he attracted the admiration of many young female disciples. However, his personality was quite arrogant, rather similar to his master, and he usually looked down on ordinary people.

Originally, Hua Zhenzi wouldn’t have bothered with someone like Mu Yuan. After all, before going down the mountain, Mu Yuan was only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining, and being rather laid-back, someone as proud and diligent as Hua Zhenzi normally wouldn’t pay him any mind. But some time ago, Mu Yuan took Zhou Huasheng’s Jasper Sword. After Zhou Huasheng returned and complained to Fengliu San, he was instead scolded by Fengliu San. That’s why when Hua Zhenzi saw Mu Yuan today, he made those sarcastic remarks.

Mu Yuan could guess most of the reason behind it. Under normal circumstances, even knowing he was no match, Mu Yuan wouldn’t back down. At most, he’d cough up some blood and be punished with a few days of facing the wall, but he would never let Cloud-Capped Peak lose face. However, they were currently outside Qingguang Hall, and there were outsiders present. Mu yuan knew to be considerate of the bigger picture and chose not to engage.

Entering the hall, besides True Lord Tiemu, there was a guest—an old man with a childlike face and white hair, very kind-looking and tall. Behind him stood a young man and a young woman. The young man was elegant and refined, while the young woman had delicate features, like a well-bred lady from a noble family. Both stood quietly without speaking.

When Mu Yuan entered the hall, disciples from the other five peaks also came in, each holding a jade box. True Lord Tiemu said with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Danhuo, these are the items you requested this time. Please check them!”

The old Daoist called Danhuo laughed. “Longevity Palace’s items could never be wrong! This is the payment I brought—Warm Yang Pills, Green Origin Pills, Crimson Extreme Pills, and Dark Yin Pills. Please take a look as well!”

Both experts were straightforward. Each made their move. Old Daoist Danhuo took out a small green gourd, removed the stopper, and formed a hand seal. Immediately, he collected all the spiritual essences and immortal herbs brought by the six peak disciples, along with some plants collected from Flying Dragon Peak itself!

True Lord Tiemu, with a casual wave, divided the several bottles of pills held by Danhuo’s two disciples into seven portions, evenly distributing them among the six people and keeping one portion for himself.

Both were quite satisfied. Then True Lord Tiemu said, “Additionally, I’d like to ask you for a few Calming Spirit Pills. Do you happen to have any with you?”

“Calming Spirit Pills!” Mu Yuan’s heart stirred, but he showed no trace, only lifting his head to glance at the two. True Lord Tiemu gave Mu Yuan a meaningful look, his eyes smiling.

Old Daoist Danhuo shook his head. “Calming Spirit Pills are rarely used. I don’t have any on me. May I ask why you need them, Fellow Daoist Tiemu? Your Primordial Spirit is fully formed; ordinary pills have long been useless to you. For whom are you requesting them?”

True Lord Tiemu pointed at Mu Yuan. “This junior of mine might need them in the future. I just wanted to prepare a few pills in advance for him!”

Everyone in the hall immediately looked at Mu Yuan. A flicker of suspicion also passed through Old Daoist Danhuo’s eyes, thinking to himself that this young man seemed to be quite favored by True Lord Tiemu, otherwise he wouldn’t specially request pills for him. The others thought similarly; even the Flying Dragon Peak disciples couldn’t help but glance at Mu Yuan a few more times!

Mu Yuan inwardly sighed with endless bitterness, not understanding what his martial uncle meant by saying it so openly. Wasn’t this just inviting jealousy and hostility from narrow-minded disciples?

But Old Daoist Danhuo laughed heartily. “No problem, no problem! If that’s the case, this young friend can just come with me to Medicine God Valley!”