Chapter 78: Meet again.
Chapter 78
Qing Yan also keenly noticed Bu Xingjin's strange expression and immediately nodded in agreement. He turned to the two men, his expression stern. "Since the matter has been explained, we will proceed first."
With that, Qing Yan reached out and pulled Bu Xingjin along, then winked at Jia Feng. The three of them sprinted off into the depths of the forest. The other two men stood still, their gaze fixed on their retreating figures. The frail man, filled with resentment, couldn't help but mutter, "Brother, look at them! They're leaving in such a hurry. They must be hiding some secret from us! How about we sneak up on them and find out?"
The burly man tilted his head slightly, gazing at the birds circling above the forest. He pondered for a long moment, then shook his head. "Don't act rashly. Look at those three men. Their aura is like the glimmer of a dragon, unparalleled. Especially the young leader. Every move he makes seems to emanate a precious aura, perhaps possessing some rare treasure. If we rashly follow them, we'll only cause unnecessary trouble, which won't be worth the effort. Besides, the earth-shattering noise of the cave collapse has probably already alerted the surrounding forces. We really can't stay here any longer."
Although the thin man was unwilling to give up, like a greedy cat looking at a fish that was so close but could not be eaten, he also knew that what his elder brother said was reasonable. He could only sigh helplessly and nodded in response, "Okay, I'll listen to you, elder brother. However, we came here this time to find the legendary thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass that can bring people back to life. We can't go back empty-handed, right?"
The burly man raised his lips, revealing a confident smile. He raised his hand and patted his shoulder, saying soothingly, "Don't worry. I've already sensed the faint scent of the dragon ginseng grass. It's deep in this forest. As long as we continue to search patiently, we will definitely gain something. This trip will be worthwhile."
After the two men had made their decision, they strode forward in the opposite direction from Bu Xingjin and the other two. Meanwhile, Bu Xingjin, Qing Yan, and Jia Feng had already covered a considerable distance, and only after confirming that the two men were not following them like ghosts did they slow down their pace, breathing heavily.
Jia Feng propped himself up on his knees, breathing heavily like a worn-out bellows, his face full of complaints: "What terrible luck! I just escaped from a near-death experience, and before I could even recover, I ran into these two weird guys. What's going on today? I didn't check the almanac before going out, so why do I keep running into these weird things?"
Qing Yan glanced at him and said, "Stop talking nonsense."
Bu Xingjin seemed not to hear what the two said, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something concerning life and death.
What on earth was this thing that the senior had given him that he might find useful...
At this moment, shouts were heard from afar.
Bu Xingjin looked up and saw that it was Gu Jiuge who was walking towards him with Baili Xuan, Xie Qingchen and Yun Luo, three people in the Spirit Severing Stage.
"Brother Bu, is it really you?"
Gu Jiuge, who was walking in the front, ran up to Bu Xingjin with an excited look on his face: "Senior Xie, I had a fortune-teller yesterday and he told me that I would meet someone I know if I walked this way. At that time, I wondered if it might be you, but I didn't expect to actually meet you."
"Brother Gu."
Bu Xingjin smiled in response to Gu Jiuge, his gaze sweeping over them, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. In this dangerous mountain forest, meeting someone he knew was undoubtedly a rare comfort.
"Brother Gu, did you also come here to check it out because you heard the sound of collapse?" Putting aside the things he didn't understand, Bu Xingjin asked curiously.
Gu Jiuge chuckled and pointed mysteriously at Baili Xuan. "It's because Senior Baili once stumbled upon a map that indicated there might be a thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass hidden deep in this forest. We figured since we were free anyway, we might as well try our luck. Unexpectedly, we met you."
"As for the loud noise you mentioned, we did hear it, but we thought it might be a collapse caused by the previous heavy rain, so no one paid much attention to it."
Xie Qingchen shook his head slightly, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "Actually, when I was fortune-telling yesterday, I had a vague feeling that this trip would be destined for you. It seems that fate has it that we are destined to experience something together."
Yun Luo looked at Qing Yan and Jia Feng beside Bu Xingjin with curiosity. She had seen Qing Yan before at the ghost market, but Jia Feng was unfamiliar. She asked softly, "Who is this?"
Bu Xingjin quickly introduced: "This is Jia Feng. We met on the way. Thanks to him, we were able to avoid several crises."
Upon hearing this, Jia Feng nodded slightly to Gu Jiuge and others as a greeting.
Qing Yan also nodded slightly as a greeting to everyone.
Gu Jiuge patted Bu Xingjin on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It seems that you have experienced many twists and turns along the way. But now that you have met us, we can act together and take care of each other."
Bu Xingjin nodded: "Having you all here really makes me feel much more at ease."
"We're going to look for the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass. Are you joining us?" Gu Jiuge invited. This Dragon Ginseng Grass was rare, but not necessarily so-so. It didn't truly possess the magical power of resurrection as the legends said. He once obtained a plant that was a hundred years old, and after using it, he found it was only effective for healing flesh wounds. A plant with a higher age might be more effective, but it wouldn't change its purpose. Besides, once this grass grew, it would form a large patch, easily enough for everyone present.
"Want to go take a look?" Bu Xingjin asked Qing Yan. His sword was only missing the hilt, and he wondered if he was anxious. He could still delay for a while, as he was quite interested in the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass.
"Yes." Qing Yan nodded in agreement. The hilt of the sword was located in the center of the secret realm, so it was not as easy to obtain as before. Moreover, there might be some unusual phenomena when the sword returned to its full form, so he still needed to make some preparations.
"Then let's go together!" Bu Xingjin happily decided, and then symbolically asked Jia Feng: "Do you agree?"
Jia Feng smiled and said, "Of course I agree." He came in to look for rare treasures, so how could he miss it.
As everyone exchanged pleasantries, Qing Yan's expression suddenly changed, and he signaled for silence. He listened for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Some people are coming, but not many, and their auras are mixed. They don't seem to be from the same group."
Upon hearing this, Bu Xingjin frowned and thought to himself: Are these people here for the collapsed cave, the thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass, or is there something else here?
Gu Jiuge also restrained his smile and said seriously: "It seems that we need to find a secluded place to hide first and see who is coming."
Everyone quickly reached a consensus, and under Jia Feng's leadership, they found a secluded valley and hid in the dense forest. Soon, they heard the sound of footsteps and conversation coming from afar.
"They said they were looking for the thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass. Are they the same as us?" Baili Xuan muttered in a low voice.
Xie Qingchen shook his head: "Not necessarily. Although the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass is a rare treasure, strange phenomena are frequent in this place. I'm afraid there are other secrets attracting them."
Just then, a group of people in various attire appeared at the valley's entrance. Among them were monks and even foreigners in bizarre attire. They all seemed to be searching for something, their expressions tense and alert.
One of the monks, who seemed to be the leader, shouted loudly, "Everyone, spread out and search every corner carefully. The treasure must be in this forest!"
Bu Xingjin and the others watched with bated breath, secretly thanking themselves for not acting rashly. At this moment, an unexpected discovery made their hearts suddenly tighten.
Jia Feng suddenly pointed at a foreigner at the valley's entrance and exclaimed in a low voice, "That man... I recognize him! He's a direct descendant of the Southern Xinjiang Gu Sect. His Gu techniques are strange and unpredictable, and extremely difficult to deal with. How could he appear here?"
Yun Luo's expression was solemn. "It seems that the secrets of this forest are more complicated than we imagined. The appearance of the Gu Clan is definitely not accidental. We must be more careful. Perhaps they have discovered our tracks."
Bu Xingjin nodded, a sense of foreboding welling up in his heart. He knew that an unknown battle was about to begin, and they had to be fully prepared.
At that moment, a melodious flute sound suddenly rang out in the valley. The sound seemed to carry some kind of magic, suddenly quieting the restless crowd. Everyone looked up in the direction of the flute sound and saw a mysterious woman in white slowly walking into the valley.
Her appearance seemed to silence the entire valley. Bu Xingjin and the others were also stunned. They didn't know where this mysterious woman came from, but her appearance undoubtedly made the already complicated situation even more confusing.
A mysterious woman, dressed in flowing white, with a beautiful face, held an exquisite jade flute in her hand. The melodious sound seemed to penetrate the heart. She walked slowly forward, her eyes sweeping across the valley, as if searching for something.
Bu Xingjin and the others hid in the dense forest, quietly observing this mysterious woman. They were filled with curiosity and vigilance, wondering who this woman was and why she appeared here.
"She...isn't she also looking for the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass?" Jia Feng muttered softly, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Qing Yan shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Not necessarily. Her aura is different from others. It doesn't seem like she came here for the Dragon Ginseng Grass. Moreover, there seems to be some deep meaning hidden in the sound of the flute."
Gu Jiuge also nodded in agreement: "This woman's appearance is too strange, we must deal with it carefully. Perhaps she has some connection with the forces we encountered before."
At this moment, the mysterious woman suddenly stopped, her eyes seemed to penetrate the dense forest, staring straight at the hiding place of Bu Xingjin and others. Bu Xingjin was startled and secretly said, "Oh no, have they been discovered?"
However, the mysterious woman simply smiled and said softly, "My friends, since you're here, why hide? Why not show yourself?"
The first people to react after hearing this were the group that had dispersed to look for treasures. There were eight of them in total, coming from three families in Shangli City. Their cultivation was all around the Nascent Soul stage, and they did not sense that there were other people in the forest.
As the mysterious woman finished speaking, the eight men searching for the treasure were stunned. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion. One of the monks frowned and asked, "What do you mean, young lady? Besides us, is there anyone else in this valley?"
The mysterious woman chuckled softly, twirling the jade flute in her hand. The sound abruptly ceased, but the lingering sound seemed to still echo through the valley. "Don't you all sense that the aura in this valley isn't just yours?" There was a hint of amusement in her words, as if she had already seen through Bu Xingjin and the others' hiding place.
Upon hearing this, the eight cultivators' expressions suddenly grew alert. They began to look around, trying to find the "others" the mysterious woman had mentioned. However, their cultivation was limited, and they were unable to detect the hidden auras of Bu Xingjin and the others.
At this moment, a foreigner dressed in strange clothes suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and low: "Girl, are you teasing us? In this valley, there is no one else besides us?"
The mysterious woman smiled slightly and didn't directly answer his question. Instead, she slowly walked towards the side of the valley, where Bu Xingjin and the others were hiding. As she walked, she said, "Sometimes, what you see with your eyes isn't necessarily true. What you feel with your heart is what truly exists."
Bu Xingjin and the others felt a pang of anxiety. They hadn't expected this mysterious woman to be so perceptive, as if she could actually sense their presence. Qing Yan whispered to Bu Xingjin, "It seems we can't hide anymore. However, this woman doesn't seem to have any ill intentions. Why not go out and see what she's up to?"
Bu Xingjin nodded in agreement. Then, he led Qing Yan, Jia Feng, Gu Jiuge, and the others out of the dense forest and appeared before the mysterious woman.
Seeing Bu Xingjin and the others, the eight cultivators were all shocked. They had not expected that there were other people hiding in this valley. Moreover, judging from the aura of Bu Xingjin and the others, it seemed that they were no weaker than them.
The mysterious woman's eyes flashed with surprise when she saw Bu Xingjin and the others walk out, but she quickly regained her composure. She smiled and said to Bu Xingjin, "Dear friends, you've finally shown yourself. My name is Liu Liyue. May I know your names?"
Bu Xingjin clasped his fists and said, "I'm Bu Xingjin, and these are my friends Qing Yan, Jia Feng, Gu Jiuge, Baili Xuan, Xie Qingchen, and Yun Luo. We're here searching for the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass. I wonder if Miss Liu is here for that, too?"
Liu Liyue smiled faintly and returned the greeting. "So it's Master Bu and all my friends. I'm Liu Liyue, honored to meet you. While the Dragon Ginseng Grass is precious, it's not the purpose of my visit. I simply heard strange phenomena have been occurring in this forest lately, so I came here to investigate. I heard a sound and came here to find out. I didn't expect to meet you all."
"Thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass? There's still thousand-year-old dragon ginseng grass in this forest?" The eight people, who had unexpectedly received this news, discussed it. What they were looking for here was not dragon ginseng grass, but a mineral called Golden Flame Black Iron. Weapons made from this mineral were half a level higher than ordinary minerals and were extremely valuable.
"We're looking for it anyway, so don't miss out on the Thousand-Year Dragon Ginseng Grass." After a brief exchange, the eight people continued to disperse and search for treasures.
On the other side, Bu Xingjin heard this and thought to himself: Liu Liyue? This name seems to be something I have never heard of, but there is indeed a certain magic in her flute sound that makes people involuntarily attracted to it.
Liu Liyue's voice was as sweet as a clear spring, and her eyes swept gently over everyone, finally stopping at Bu Xingjin's face. There seemed to be a hint of inquiry in her eyes, as if she was searching for some answer.
Gu Jiuge frowned slightly and whispered to Bu Xingjin, "This woman's origins are unknown. We need to be more careful."
Bu Xingjin nodded, becoming more wary of Liu Liyue. He turned to her and said politely, "Since Miss Liu isn't here for the Dragon Ginseng Grass, we won't bother you. We have some matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave."
Liu Liyue smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about their vigilance, and said softly, "In that case, I will not disturb you any further. However, if you encounter any trouble in this forest, perhaps you can come find me."
After saying that, she turned and left, her white clothes fluttering in the wind, and soon disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.
After Liu Liyue walked away, Jia Feng couldn't help but whisper, "Who is this woman? Her aura seems different from that of an ordinary person."
Qing Yan said in a deep voice: "There is a hint of demonic in her aura. I'm afraid she is not human. However, since she is not hostile, there is no need for us to get too entangled."
Bu Xingjin gazed in the direction Liu Liyue had left. Although he harbored many doubts, he knew now was not the time to delve into them. He withdrew his gaze and said to the others, "Let's continue our search for the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass. However, the situation in this forest is becoming increasingly complex, so everyone must proceed with caution."
Gu Jiuge nodded, his expression solemn. "Brother Bu is absolutely right. We must not only be wary of those forces also seeking treasures, but also be wary of individuals of unknown identities like Liu Liyue. Senior Baili, do you still have that map? Take a closer look and see if you can find a more precise location."
Upon hearing this, Baili Xuan pulled out a yellowed parchment scroll from his pocket. Everyone gathered around, revealing a map depicting winding mountain ranges and several locations marked with unique symbols. Baili Xuan studied it carefully, then pointed to one of the symbols and said, "This should be our current location. The mark for the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass seems to be deep within this mountain range, near a place called 'Deep Valley Cold Pond.'"
"Cold Pond in the Deep Valley?" Bu Xingjin murmured to himself. The name sounded mysterious and cold.
"Yes, it's here." Baili Xuan tapped the map lightly, his eyes sweeping over everyone's faces, and said with a firm tone, "Deep Valley Cold Pond."
Gu Jiuge frowned slightly, his eyes wandering repeatedly on the map, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, he spoke, "According to the map, we are still some distance away from the Cold Pond in the Deep Valley, and there seem to be many dangerous obstacles along the way. Various forces are now converging in this valley. If we move forward rashly, I am afraid we will encounter a lot of trouble."
Xie Qingchen shook his head slightly, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "Brother Gu's words are not without reason, but we have no choice now. The Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass is just ahead, and we can't just give up. Moreover, judging by Liu Liyue's appearance just now, the secrets of this forest are far more than just the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass. Perhaps, within the cold pool of the deep valley, there are other unknown secrets hidden."
Yun Luo also nodded: "The treasures of heaven and earth belong to those who are capable. Since the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass is right ahead, how can we give it up so easily? Moreover, with so many masters present, I believe that we will be the ones to obtain the Millennium Dragon Ginseng Grass in the end."
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