Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Looting the Herb Field
Song Wanning watched the Xirang’s struggles, but she wasn’t surprised in the least.
The Xirang’s plan was a fine one, but reality was far crueler.
Hiding the calculating look in her eyes, she said to Bai Yang, "Let’s go find the field of medicinal herbs."
Bai Yang nodded and obediently followed Song Wanning. ’I have to be on my best behavior,’ he thought. ’I’m sure Master will come to value me again once we get out of here.’
The search for the field of medicinal herbs went rather smoothly. With Bai Yang leading the way, they located it in just half a day.
Song Wanning’s brow twitched as she gazed at the vast field of Spiritual Medicine before her, many of which had been growing for who knew how many millennia.
The variety was especially rich, which meant she could refine many Elixir Pills even more precious than the Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill.
Her gaze was soon drawn to a few particular stalks, and a glint appeared in her eyes.
’Instead of Elixir Pills, I’d much rather concoct some poisons...’
"Be careful. Don’t damage any of the Spiritual Medicine."
At Song Wanning’s command, Bai Yang immediately went into the field and began to harvest the Spiritual Medicine.
He worked with extreme caution, not daring to make the slightest mistake, as any carelessness could ruin the precious Spiritual Medicine.
The harvested Spiritual Medicine was placed into one box after another, their rich, intoxicating fragrance filling the air.
Song Wanning grew more and more excited as she worked. ’This precious Spiritual Medicine can’t be bought with mere money!’
’The Xirang really is a treasure,’ she thought wryly, ’"helping" me cultivate so many of these Medicinal Herbs.’
Only after they had harvested most of the Spiritual Medicine did Song Wanning and Bai Yang finally straighten their backs.
Harvesting all this Spiritual Medicine had taken them two full days.
She looked with satisfaction at the jade boxes covering the ground, a flash of delight in her eyes.
"Bai Yang, about this Spiritual Medicine..."
Song Wanning was just about to say she wouldn’t be giving him any, when Bai Yang cut in, "Master, it would be a waste for me to take any of this Spiritual Medicine. There’s no need to give me any."
"You should take all of it, Master."
Bai Yang smiled calmly, not seeming to mind at all.
He didn’t know Alchemy, so all he could do with them was sell them.
’If I give them to Master, she’ll definitely give me a share after she refines them into Elixir Pills.’
’That’s how it’s always been, after all.’
’I trust Master.’
Bai Yang’s tact put Song Wanning in a much better mood. She hadn’t intended to give him any in the first place.
"Mm."
Song Wanning nodded, her attitude softening considerably. While she wasn’t as warm as she used to be, it was enough to give Bai Yang a glimmer of hope.
For her part, Song Wanning was also recognizing Bai Yang’s value.
’He could still be useful in a pinch. If he could follow me into the Secluded Land...’
’He might prove to be very useful indeed.’
’But there are many factors to consider.’ Song Wanning mused. ’This requires careful planning.’
The pair returned with their bountiful haul of Xirang and Spiritual Medicine. They encountered some dangers on the way out, but after a few close calls, they made it back safely.
"Master, are we heading back to the Heavenly Inquiry Sect now?"
So much had changed recently that Bai Yang was still having trouble adjusting.
His Second Brother was dead, his Third Brother was missing without a trace, and both Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan had been expelled from the Sect.
For a moment, it felt as if a whole lifetime had passed.
Song Wanning shook her head. "I need to make a trip to the Song Family first. You should go back on your own. I’ll call you if I need anything."
Her improved attitude made Bai Yang feel much better.
He nodded, his expression heavy. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked tentatively, "Master, I wanted to ask... is An Ze’s soul lamp still with you?"
"Over the past year, I’ve sent him many Communication Talismans, but it’s been like dropping stones into the sea. I’m worried something has happened to An Ze!"
’Master was furious, but she must have cooled down by now, right?’
’She used to dote on An Ze, so she should be worried about his safety as well.’
’An Ze?’
Hearing the name, Song Wanning zoned out for a moment.
’An Ze’s been dead for so long, I’d almost forgotten he existed.’
"I destroyed his soul lamp the moment he was expelled from the Sect. I couldn’t care less whether he’s dead or alive. Do not mention him in my presence ever again!"
With that, her face darkened, and she immediately flew away on her carpet.
"Master!"
Bai Yang hadn’t expected to anger his master again. His mouth hung open as he watched her depart, helpless.
He pressed his lips into a tight line, vexed, and instantly regretted bringing up An Ze.
’So much time has passed, and Master is still angry. It seems An Ze truly hurt her deeply.’
’And as for me stealing the medicine... Master must resent me even more for that.’
"Sigh..."
Bai Yang sighed. Ye Chuxue had really ruined him.
’Now that Master and the Song Family are in power, I have to cling to this connection for dear life. It’s the only way to make up for my past mistakes.’
’I miss the easy days of the past so much.’
But even if Master wouldn’t handle An Ze’s situation, he still had to.
...
Song Wanning returned to the Song Family once more, but this time, her plate was even fuller.
First, she had to refine an avatar. Then, she needed to produce enough Elixir Pills to deal with the crises to come.
’At the same time, I’ll bring Bai Yang with me, use him when the time is right, and then discard him without a second thought.’
’I’ll make Bai Yang experience the pain of being scorned by the entire world.’
There wasn’t much time before the next opening appeared, so she had to make every second count.
Arriving at the Artifact Refining Room, Song Wanning laid out all the necessary materials, then took out the most important ingredient: the Xirang.
An avatar refined from ordinary materials could only wield half of her own strength. The Secluded Land was already dangerous, and Song Wanning felt her chances of finding the awakening method would be slim with such a handicap.
However, an avatar made from the precious Xirang could wield her full strength. It would be like having a second self, albeit with a slightly weaker Divine Soul.
Overall, an Innate Spiritual Object like the Xirang could compensate for many shortcomings; otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths to find it.
She took out the bottle and opened the top. The Xirang inside remained trapped by the bottle’s restrictive ward, unable to get out.
From the very beginning, Song Wanning had considered many things that could go wrong. That was why she had spent a fortune on a special bottle capable of trapping a Spiritual Treasure and given it to Bai Yang.
Events had unfolded exactly as she had predicted, without a single hitch.
Now, the Xirang was stuck in the bottle, cursing up a storm. "Aren’t you going to let me out?"
"What exactly are you going to do to me?"
The Xirang itself had no offensive power. Its only special ability was making any plant thrive, and its only means of self-preservation was its incredible speed, which made it nearly impossible to catch.
If the Xirang hadn’t grown tired of being trapped and taken the initiative to form a contract with Bai Yang, they never would have been able to catch it.
Therefore, Song Wanning wasn’t afraid of it in the slightest and listened leisurely to its tantrum.
Only when the Xirang had shouted itself tired did she finally speak, her voice laced with hidden meaning. "You remind me of a Divine Beast Egg I once encountered."
"A Divine Beast Egg?"
The Xirang was startled. ’There are still Divine Beasts in this day and age?’
Its suspicious gaze fell on Song Wanning. ’This person gives off an aura that we Spiritual Objects find repulsive. How could a Divine Beast Egg possibly take a liking to her?’
"A Divine Beast Egg took a liking to *you*?"
