After the explanation, Mu Dong said no more and, together with Lin Nan, distributed the jade tokens and brocade pouches.

After the distribution was completed, Lin Nan took the lead, and the group headed towards Weigu in a grand procession.

Qinghe followed the large group until they were out of sight, then looked away, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Li Jiang patted her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Jun Qian is exceptionally talented in cultivation, she will definitely pass this trial."

Qinghe shook his head: "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried that if those people knew the truth about taking the detour, would they be so angry that they would tear down the Qingyun Sect?"

Li Jiang suddenly realized, and for the first time, she was speechless.

*

When they reached the vicinity of Weigu Valley, Lin Nan stopped and turned to the main group, saying, "Weigu Valley is just ahead. You may go in on your own. There are magical beasts and various poisonous creatures inside. All you need to do is collect as much Sky Grass as possible. The top ten will be judged based on the quantity collected."

The crowd became restless, with someone shouting, "What if that monster is too powerful and we can't defeat it? And what does that 'Heavenly Grass' look like? I don't recognize it!"

Others chimed in.

Lin Nan said calmly, "Don't worry, everyone. The magical beasts are all low-level magical beasts and their combat power is not too strong. I believe that with your strength, you will definitely be able to defeat them. As for the Sky Grass, that depends on your usual knowledge."

Before anyone could ask a question, Lin Nan interrupted them, saying, "Alright, the Weigu Trial will last for three days. Let's begin now. I hope everyone will demonstrate their true strength and emerge victorious, successfully entering the sect. I will be here to await you all three days from now."

After saying that, he turned around and disappeared, leaving a group of people looking at each other in bewilderment.

The male cultivator who had been standing at the front said to his companion, "It's getting late, let's hurry inside."

His companion whispered to him, "Yixuan, you've known about all kinds of herbs since you were little, you must know about the Sky Dove Grass, right?"

Xia Yixuan nodded: "Of course."

Qin Yu patted his chest: "That's good, let's go in then."

Someone overheard their conversation and, after they took the lead, immediately followed. This movement caused a large group of people to follow them towards Weigu Valley.

Mo Junqian spent the past six months recuperating at the Pill Pavilion, where he learned a great deal about medicinal herbs through observation and experience, making it easy for him to find the Heavenly Vault Grass.

The entire Weigu Valley is vast, secluded, and tranquil, with towering trees. Lush green vegetation covers the entire valley in all sorts of shapes and forms, unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Mo Junqian was dazzled by the array of herbs, but based on his childhood experiences and the past six months of study, he could vaguely distinguish some of them. However, the others were clearly not so lucky.

Some people complained: "There's no clue what the Sky Grass looks like. How am I supposed to find it when there are so many grasses!"

Someone advised, "You should talk less. We need to find not only Sky Grass but also food in this valley for three days. Try to conserve your energy."

Someone scoffed, "Hmph! You don't study properly usually, and now you're complaining!"

Some people suggested forming a group: "Fellow Daoist, you have an extraordinary demeanor and a handsome appearance. Why don't we travel together and look after each other for the next three days?"

Mo Junqian looked at the person who was talking to him and couldn't understand what connection there was between his handsome appearance and his companionship. He politely declined, saying, "No need."

Mo Junqian always presents a cold and aloof image in front of people he doesn't know well, which is probably related to his past experiences and his reluctance to trust strangers.

But the man, oblivious to Mo Junqian's icy expression, followed with a grin: "Young master probably doesn't know what the Heavenly Vault Grass looks like, does he? Even if he does, he probably doesn't know its habits and medicinal effects, does he?"

Mo Junqian ignored him, but he casually leaned close to Mo Junqian's ear and whispered, "I know."

Mo Junqian stopped in his tracks, his expression icy, clearly angered by the other party's sudden action.

The man still had a smile on his face: "As long as you follow me, I guarantee that you will get enough Sky Grass in three days and pass the trial smoothly. How about it?"

Mo Junqian remained unmoved, saying expressionlessly, "Don't follow me," before turning and leaving.

Han Jinliang narrowed his eyes as he watched that cold, aloof figure, but his smile remained on his face. He then turned to look for a new partner.

Sky dove prefers a humid and warm environment and usually grows near rivers and streams.

Mo Junqian closed his eyes, released his divine sense to perceive the surrounding environment, and opened his eyes after a moment, walking in the southeast direction.

The forest was lush and verdant, with many thorns. Mo Junqian's robes were torn in several places, but he had no time to care and kept walking forward, completely unaware of the subtle changes in the environment behind him.

It wasn't until they had walked for a long time that Mo Junqian realized something was wrong. He seemed to hear the sound of flowing water, but the sound was faint and indistinct, and he couldn't tell where it was. He walked for a long time but couldn't see a river. It was as if he was going around in circles.

They encountered many people along the way, but they didn't seem to notice anything and continued to search for the Sky Grass with all their might.

Mo Junqian slowed down until he stopped in place, staring blankly at a lush green tree.

The others ignored him, seeing him standing there dumbfounded. They were hoping someone would run into trouble so that there would be fewer competitors vying for the Sky Grass.

Han Jinliang, who had previously tried to recruit Mo Junqian, also caught up, followed by more than a dozen people, clearly having found a new partner.

Han Jinliang naturally saw Mo Junqian as well. His eyes darted around, and he stepped forward: "Young master, we meet again. What's wrong? Haven't you found the Heavenly Sky Grass yet?"

Seeing that Mo Junqian's hands were empty, Han Jinliang said with a smile, "Why don't you join us? I said I would help you, and I will never go back on my word."

Mo Junqian noticed the bulging brocade pouch hanging on his body, and then saw that the people following behind him were carrying varying amounts of Sky Grass, clearly indicating a bountiful harvest. However, he only glanced at them before looking away, showing no intention of speaking to them from beginning to end.

Someone couldn't stand it and said sarcastically, "Young Master Han, why bother talking to him so much? This person is so arrogant, he doesn't even bother to reply. Maybe he looks down on us and wants to get the herbs on his own!"

Someone else chimed in, "Relying on himself? Give me a break! If he really had a way, would he be standing here empty-handed, dumbfounded?!"

Han Jinliang did not speak up to stop him, but secretly observed Mo Junqian's expression. He saw that Mo Junqian was not affected at all and did not even bother to lift his eyelids. Then he said, "Please be careful with your words. More people means more strength. Since this young master is not willing to join, I will not force him."

Turning to the other onlookers, he said, "I wonder if any of you friends would be interested in joining us? I guarantee you will all get the Sky Grass, but," Han Jinliang smiled and said somewhat apologetically, "my cultivation is low, so if we encounter any danger on the way, please help me out as much as you can."

This is a good deal, better than being alone and cautious. In the end, it all depends on who gets the most.

The group nodded in agreement, and Han Jinliang nodded slightly to Mo Junqianwei before leaving with his men.

As soon as he left, the air became quiet, with the faint sound of birds chirping. Mo Junqian heard the sound of flowing water again, but this time the sound was very clear. He didn't linger and quickly ran in one direction.

The wind brushed past my ears, and the surrounding mountain and forest scenery changed. Before I knew it, the lush green trees had turned into a fiery red.

The leaves were fiery red, a sight to behold. Such a beautiful scene was reflected in Mo Junqian's eyes, and he recalled the first time he saw Qinghe at Luhua Terrace. It was also a fiery red, with that aloof person swinging on a swing, maple leaves falling, a hazy and enchanting scene.

Lost in thought, he saw Qinghe's figure appear before him in a dreamlike way. She stood on fiery red fallen leaves, her sleeves fluttering, like a fairy in the valley, her eyes sparkling and radiant.

Mo Junqian smiled slightly, his eyes like water, looking at her tenderly. He reached out a hand to touch the figure, but the figure flicked her sleeve and drifted away into the distance. He seemed to have forgotten that he was in Weigu Valley and followed after her without hesitation.

If Qinghe saw this scene, she would definitely be shocked. After all, this kind of scene is too Mary Sue-ish in her eyes, and she can't stand it. Also, the male lead is too out of character. Why doesn't he go find the female lead and pursue her? His character is so distorted that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.

Qinghe, floating along, guided Mo Junqian until they unknowingly arrived at an open space. Suddenly, the sound of flowing water became deafening. Mo Junqian realized that Qinghe's figure was gone, replaced by a magnificent waterfall.

The waterfall was about ten feet wide and high, its roar like a rainbow, cascading down for miles. Mo Junqian suddenly realized why he had been hearing the sound of flowing water all along; such a large waterfall was hidden deep in this valley.

Strangely, the waterfall roared like thunder, echoing through the sky, yet no one else had ever come to this place except for him. It seems that Weigu Valley is indeed mysterious and unpredictable.

After searching around, he found quite a few Sky Grasses and collected them all.

The spiritual energy here was so rich that it filled his entire body, making him feel incredibly comfortable. However, he couldn't relax his mind and body. He hadn't encountered any magical beasts or other spiritual objects along the way, which was a bit too smooth.

As he focused on collecting the Sky Grass, with only a few remaining, a sudden gust of wind swept towards him. Mo Junqian dodged abruptly, glaring at the newcomer with an unfriendly expression.

"Give me the Sky Grass," the man said.

Mo Junqian's eyes were icy as he coldly looked at the person opposite him, an ordinary-looking female cultivator.

"Give me the Sky Grass." The female cultivator repeated, her hands slightly clenched into fists, as if she would snatch it if she wasn't given it to her.

However, Mo Junqian did not give her a chance to make the first move. He gathered spiritual power in his palm and suddenly attacked the female cultivator.

The female cultivator clearly hadn't expected the other party to make the first move, but she reacted immediately, gathering all her strength and raising her palm to meet the attack.

The two palms collided with a loud bang, creating a strong gust of wind, but the two sides were evenly matched and it was difficult to determine a winner for a while.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, they suddenly heard a thunderous sound, which grew louder and louder, as if something was piercing through the clouds and splitting rocks as it approached them.

Mo Junqian's expression changed, and he quickly withdrew his palm. In the instant he withdrew his palm, the waterfall in front of him suddenly turned into a wave of water and rushed towards them. The two of them could not dodge in time and were instantly submerged by the wave.

The waves, carrying powerful spiritual energy, struck Mo Junqian unexpectedly, causing him to cough up blood.

He staggered to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked up at the waves.

The water spun rapidly in the air before bursting open in the middle, revealing a snow-white, scale-covered monster.

It seems it had been hiding behind the waterfall, waiting for its prey to come to it.

Mo Jun took out a pill from the brocade pouch and swallowed it. His gaze was fixed on the demonic beast, and his expression became slightly serious.

*

Lingxiao Palace

Qi Changfeng, Lu Chang, Li Jiang, and Qing He stood in the hall. In the very center was a golden circular platform, on which hung a water mirror, which clearly reflected the scene of Mo Junqian confronting the demonic beast in Weigu Valley.

Li Jiang successfully persuaded her master and Uncle-Master Lu Chang to renovate the sect, but both of them gave her a look that said "Don't even think about it," and she was looking distressed with a long face.

Qing offered a few perfunctory words of comfort, then focused more on the water mirror in front of her.

She found it very novel to see objects like LED projectors in the world of cultivation, especially those that were fully automated and had built-in 360-degree surveillance cameras.

On the screen, Mo Junqian is incredibly brave and powerful, using all his spiritual energy to fight against the monster. His body leaps and bounds, and his movements are quite skillful.

Qi Changfeng looked at him with admiration: "This kid is calm and composed, decisive in his actions, and has good aptitude. He's a promising talent."

Lu Chang also said, "It seems you've learned a lot in the sect these past few days. Qinghe's teachings are quite good."

Qing smiled and said, "I only gave him a slight hint. In the end, he is the one who comprehends things best. Moreover, he is indeed very talented. I wonder if Master has ever thought about taking him as a disciple?"

Qinghe observed Qi Changfeng's expression, her words carrying a hint of probing.

Before Qi Changfeng could speak, Uncle Lu Chang interjected, "Senior Brother has always cherished talent. How could he easily let go of such a promising young man, right, Senior Brother?"

Qi Changfeng didn't say much, only nodded and replied, "Mm."

Unsurprisingly, Qinghe understood perfectly well, so he said nothing more and turned to look at the water mirror intently.