Chapter 137: Another Ruins Appears
Fang Hao hid in that small cave for nearly another half month. Using the high-grade healing Medicinal Pill left behind by True Person Chiyang daily, combined with the slow conditioning of Chaos Qi, the injuries on his body were finally fully healed. Not only were his injuries healed, but his cultivation seemed to have advanced slightly, and the Qi Sea in his Dantian was more solid—an unexpected delight.
As soon as his injuries healed, he couldn’t wait to start "moving." The massive amount of Spirit Medicine in True Person Chiyang’s storage ring couldn’t just be left to gather dust. He dove into the Chaos Grotto-Heaven, rolled up his sleeves, and alongside the already lush herb field, he painstakingly cleared out a large new plot of land. Then, he carefully transplanted the Spirit Medicine from those jade boxes and wooden cases one by one.
This was delicate work, leaving him with a sore back and aching waist. But looking at the rapidly expanding, Spiritual Qi-filled medicinal garden in the Grotto-Heaven, he felt wonderful! These Spirit Medicine were of sufficient age and high quality, many of which were treasures that were priceless outside! Now they were all his private collection! In the future, he would never have to worry about lacking Materials for Alchemy!
He specifically planted the few main ingredients needed for forming golden core in the very center, the area with the most concentrated Chaos Qi. Earth Fire Ganoderma, moon shadow grass, Profound Ice Lotus Root, blazing sun flower... each one was growing vigorously, thriving under the nourishment of Chaos Qi. The only pity was that the most critical "sun flower" was still missing. This item was not in True Person Chiyang’s collection either; it seemed truly rare.
"Just missing this last ingredient..." Fang Hao stroked his chin, feeling a bit worried. The sun flower was a supreme yang object with harsh growth conditions, something to be found by chance, not sought. It seemed he would ultimately have to go to the Tianyan Secret Realm to try his luck.
After settling all the Spirit Medicine, Fang Hao decided to leave the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range and return to Hundred Flowers City. Although the mountains were quiet, information was blocked, and staying there indefinitely wasn’t a solution. He needed to go back to inquire about the latest news on the Tianyan Secret Realm and, by the way, dispose of the items he didn’t need to exchange for Spirit Stone or necessary supplies.
He packed his things, carefully erased all traces in the cave, and then left the area silently.
A few days later, Fang Hao returned to Hundred Flowers City, dusty and tired. When entering the city, he specifically paid attention and didn’t notice anything unusual, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
He first returned to the small courtyard he had rented. The courtyard was the same as before, the Formation was intact, and no one had touched it. He checked inside and out, and only after confirming it was safe did he relax and rest.
However, what he didn’t know was that he had been targeted the moment he entered the city.
The one targeting him was none other than Wang Miao, the Late Foundation Establishment Stage Disciple of True Person Chiyang who was responsible for running errands. This Wang Miao had previously been ordered by True Person Chiyang to monitor Fang Hao, and later, when True Person Chiyang went into the mountains to hunt down Fang Hao, he was left outside the city to provide support. But he waited and waited, for nearly a month, and there was no news from his Master, as if he had evaporated from the world!
Wang Miao became increasingly panicked. His Master was a Golden Core Cultivator; how could it take so long to hunt down a Foundation Establishment brat? Could it be... an accident? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He didn’t dare to think further.
Just when he was restless and uneasy, he suddenly saw Fang Hao return, safe and sound! And he returned alone! There wasn’t even a scratch on his body!
Wang Miao’s heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding surged in his heart. His Master hadn’t returned, yet this brat had come back full of life... This was too abnormal!
Not daring to be negligent, he hurriedly ran to a quiet residence in the west of the city to find his Master’s close friend, the "Black Water Rogue Cultivator," who was also an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator, to report the news.
"Senior Black Water! It’s bad! My Master... he might have met with an accident!" Wang Miao panicked and explained the situation.
Black Water Rogue Cultivator was a gaunt and gloomy old man. After hearing Wang Miao’s narrative, a flash of cold light passed through his muddy eyes: "True Person Chiyang has had no news for a month, yet that brat has returned safely... It is indeed suspicious."
He pondered for a moment and said gloomily: "You go back first and keep watching that brat; don’t alert the enemy. I will personally go to the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range to investigate True Person Chiyang’s whereabouts. If it really was that brat who caused this... Hmph!" A murderous intent flashed in his eyes and then disappeared.
Wang Miao nodded and bowed as he retreated. Black Water Rogue Cultivator immediately set off, leaving the city for the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range.
Fang Hao was completely unaware of all this. After resting at home for two days, he started moving around the city. First, he went to several large shops to sell the Magical Artifact and Materials he didn’t need in batches, exchanging them for a large sum of Spirit Stone. Then he went to tea houses and taverns to inquire about news.
Upon asking, he actually heard some interesting news.
"Have you heard? A few days ago, there was an earthquake near ’Luoxia Peak’ in the north of the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range, which collapsed a cliff and revealed the entrance to an ancient ruin!"
"Really? What kind of ruin?"
"Not sure, it seems to be the remains of the ’Hundred Flower Immortal Palace’? It is said that there are many Restrictions inside, but also many treasures! Many people are rushing over there now!"
"Hundred Flower Immortal Palace? Could it be the ruins of the ancient Hundred Flowers Sect? That was a major Sect! Let’s go take a look!"
Hundred Flower Ruins? Fang Hao’s heart stirred. He still had more than four months before the Tianyan Secret Realm opened, so he had plenty of time. Staying in the city was just waiting; why not go to the ruins to try his luck? Maybe he could find some Opportunity, or... have great luck and find the sun flower? Although the hope was slim, it was better than idling!
Moreover, he faintly felt that since he had just returned to the city, the matter of True Person Chiyang might cause some trouble. Although he had cleaned up the traces very cleanly, what if someone found clues? It would be better to take this Opportunity to go out and avoid the limelight!
"That’s it! I’ll go check out the ruins!" Fang Hao immediately made up his mind.
He immediately began preparing for the expedition. He replenished Medicinal Pill and Talisman, checked his Magical Artifact, and specifically went to buy a few Restriction-breaking Talismans and a detailed map of the area around the ruins.
Early the next morning, he set off with a temporarily formed team of Loose Cultivator heading to Luoxia Peak to explore the ruins. This team had more than twenty people, with cultivation levels ranging from Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to Late Stage, and the leader was an experienced old Cultivator at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment. Fang Hao blended into the group, appearing completely unremarkable.
Just half a day after Fang Hao left Hundred Flowers City with the team, Black Water Rogue Cultivator returned with a gloomy face. He had searched carefully for several days in the area of the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range where True Person Chiyang had last gone missing, but he only found some deliberately erased traces of fighting and faint traces of flame aura. He couldn’t find True Person Chiyang’s whereabouts at all—no sign of him alive, no corpse to be found.
He returned to the city and immediately summoned Wang Miao.
"Senior, how is it? Did you find my Master?" Wang Miao asked eagerly.
Black Water Rogue Cultivator shook his head, his tone cold: "The traces were cleaned up very thoroughly. True Person Chiyang... I fear he has met with misfortune."
Wang Miao’s face turned pale instantly.
Black Water Rogue Cultivator’s eyes flashed with cold light: "What about that brat?"
"He... he left the city this morning with a team exploring the ruins at Luoxia Peak!" Wang Miao reported hurriedly.
"Luoxia Peak ruins?" Black Water Rogue Cultivator narrowed his eyes, "He runs fast! Hmph, thinks he’s safe hiding in the ruins? Perfect! Killing people and seizing treasures inside the ruins is the most normal thing!"
He stood up and instructed Wang Miao: "You stay in the city and continue to gather information. I will personally go to Luoxia Peak! If it really was that brat who harmed True Person Chiyang, I will definitely extract his soul and refine his soul to pay tribute to my good friend’s spirit in heaven!"
After speaking, Black Water Rogue Cultivator turned into a trail of black smoke and chased in the direction of Luoxia Peak.
At this moment, Fang Hao was walking on the mountain road with the exploration team, chatting and laughing (pretending), completely unaware of the murderous intent chasing after him. He only felt that going to the ruins this time might allow him to avoid trouble in the city, but he didn’t know that a more insidious enemy had already followed his trail. In the Hundred Flower Ruins ahead, what awaited him was not only unknown Opportunity but also lurking deadly danger.
