Bai Hao wasn't listening to Fan Ziming's words; instead, he was identifying the herbs around him.

"Rhodiola rosea, yam beetle, honeysuckle, magnolia flower, and cinnamon tree are all good things, but it's a pity they're not ripe yet."

He could recognize quite a few herbs, and these herbs were all materials for refining the Breakthrough Pill.

Unfortunately, these herbs were not yet mature, so there was no use in picking them. Otherwise, he could have taken them back to help the business department refine the Breakthrough Pill.

However, there should have been some mature plants next to these herbs, but they have all been picked, leaving only some roots.

It's estimated that the Shenhai Sect members picked quite a few.

"ah--!"

Just as the three were still having their own thoughts, a terrible scream suddenly came from the mountaintop, echoing throughout the entire blessed land, and sounding especially frightening in this quiet place.

All three of them were startled.

"Brother Bai, I think we absolutely cannot go up the mountain." This pitiful cry further solidified Fan Ziming's resolve.

“I think so too…” Bai Hao and Fan Ziming were in complete agreement on this point.

but,

Just then, a faint sound suddenly came from around them, and the three of them quickly turned their heads to look.

All that could be seen were the thriving vines on the ground moving around and blocking the exit.

Meanwhile, the vines were slowly approaching the three of them, like tiny snakes, making their scalps tingle.

What are these things?

This was the first time they had encountered such a bizarre situation. Now, not only animals could cultivate themselves into demons, but even plants could cultivate into monsters?

Since this was the first time they had encountered such a situation, none of the three dared to make any rash moves, and instead retreated step by step.

As the vines approached, they retreated, continuing to retreat uphill.

Clearly, the purpose of these vines was to force them up the mountain. Moreover, the vines at the foot of the mountain were increasing in number, covering the entire area, dense and moving, making one's scalp tingle at the sight.

The vines didn't stop until they reached halfway up the mountain.

"Brother Bai, what's going on here? Should we just burn all these vines?" Fan Ziming suggested.

“How would I know what’s going on? Let’s not make any rash moves. It seems like they’re trying to force us up the mountain. Maybe we should just go up to the top and take a look,” Bai Hao said.

Now they have nowhere to retreat. Since the meaning of these vines is so clear, they might as well do as they want.

The three walked a few steps to the top of the mountain and saw a horrifying scene.

The four disciples of the Divine Sea Sect were all here, but at this point they could no longer be called "humans" and should be called "grass men".

The disciples of the Divine Sea Sect were covered in vines.

That's right, it's covered in vines!

Tender green vines sprouted from their genitals, eyes, noses, mouths, and all other openings, as if they were growing out of their bodies.

Moreover, those people are now just skin and bones, their flesh and blood almost completely devoured by the vines, and they look horrific.

Moreover, judging from the expressions of those people, they must have been alive and conscious when your vines forcibly burrowed into their bodies, sucked their blood and flesh, and then grew out of them.

This should be the source of those screams at the beginning.

This is just... so tragic.

Scattered around the corpses were several magnolia baskets, each containing a lot of herbs. It seemed they had been ambushed after picking the medicinal plants.

The horrific scene before them made all three of them feel nauseous and want to vomit.

"What on earth are these things? Have these plants become sentient?" Fan Ziming suppressed his nausea and turned his face away.

"I don't know if they triggered a trap or what, but even they died so tragically. It seems these vines are definitely not to be trifled with. Be careful not to touch them," Bai Hao warned.

These disciples of the Divine Sea Sect were all stronger than them, some even at the Breaking Through the Restraint stage, yet they still couldn't escape their fate. This shows just how powerful these vines were.

Therefore, the best approach is to simply avoid provoking them.

but,

It's not that they'll be fine if they don't provoke them; rather, these vines have always had designs on them!

On the hillside, the vines that had quieted down began to stir again, slowly pushing upwards.

At the same time, on the mountaintop, the vines on the corpses grew and sprawled wildly, pressing towards the three of them even more fiercely. Those soft vines were like sharp swords, carrying a fierce edge as they shot towards the three of them!

"Wow, it's here!"

Fan Ziming shouted.

Zheng Long immediately took action, his longsword transforming into a cold light as he slashed fiercely at the flying vines.

These vines not only possessed the sharpness of a sword, but also its hardness. When Zheng Long swung his sword, it was as if he had struck a solid block of iron. The "clang" was very crisp, and it made Zheng Long's hand clench and his hand throb. He barely managed to cut off one vine.

It's alright if he has a weapon. Fan Ziming practices martial arts and can handle people, but with so many vines around, wouldn't he just be throwing his life away if he rushed up?

Bai Hao had no weapon either, so the two of them could only hide behind Zheng Long. The three of them shared only one sword, while the vines kept closing in.

"Damn it, Fatty, you can't just sit here doing nothing! Think of something right now!" Bai Hao pushed Fan Ziming out as a shield.

"Damn it, what can I do with my bare hands?!" Fan Ziming was anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

Since he couldn't fight the vines directly, he quickly came up with a solution. He made a fist with his right hand, let out a low shout, concentrated his true energy into his fist, and slammed it heavily onto the ground.

"boom!"

The force of the punch was so powerful that it immediately sent the surrounding vines that were about to fly up flying away.

But this was only temporary. Some vines were shaken away, and even more vines rushed up.

Moreover, countless vines were rushing up from both the top and bottom of the mountain, in such large numbers that Fan Ziming and Zheng Long could barely hold them off.

"Brother Bai, don't just stand there!"

Fan Ziming was in the process of separating and resisting when he turned around and found Bai Hao just standing there doing nothing. He hurriedly called out to him anxiously.

Why are only he and Zheng Long doing the work?

"Damn it, I'm trying to figure something out, what's the rush!" Bai Hao muttered under his breath.

He really had no choice. She had hardly ever been in a fight. Although she had gained a lot of insights in the blessed land behind the mountain, she had actually fought very few times.

However, he soon remembered that he knew a little something.

"Oh right, I think I also know swordsmanship."