Chapter 1008: Mountain of All Medicines!
Mountain of All Medicines! . . .
The land had an uncanny effect on the spiritual qi. As soon as the purple qi permeated this region, it underwent a transformation. That was the sole explanation for this phenomenon. But despite having unraveled the reason behind it, Cha Eun Xiao found himself utterly powerless to alter the situation. The realization gnawed at his sanity.
During that early morning, the volume of purple qi from the east eclipsed all the purple qi he had ever absorbed in his life by over a hundredfold. However, it lasted for just one hour. After that, it seamlessly melded with the unique spiritual qi of the area, as if it were a sentient entity that resisted all attempts at absorption.
[This will happen again, and I must find a way to prevent it. I am resolved to unveil the mystery behind this!] Cha Eun Xiao firmly decided.
Furthermore, he believed that solving this enigma could lead to a significant enhancement of his abilities, propelling him to become one of the most formidable figures in the world.
Over the course of their seven-day journey, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Each morning, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but lament the loss of the precious purple qi. There was an unusual silence among the group, even from the typically talkative Han Bingxue.
On a particular day, when they laid eyes upon an enormous mountain, they came to a halt, staring in awe at its grandeur. The mountain appeared vastly more majestic than any they had previously encountered, and it stretched from the west to the east, seemingly dividing the world in half.
"The Town of Cha lies on the other side of this mountain," Xuan Bing mentioned with a hint of unease, her face concealed beneath a large rain hat, unnoticed by Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue.
"This mountain is renowned for its immortal herbs," Xuan Bing added, her gaze subtly fixed on Han Bingxue's face. "It's called the Mountain of All Medicines."
Han Bingxue's expression contorted. When he initially claimed to be seeking herbs in this area, it had been a fabrication. Little did he know that reality mirrored his words.
Xuan Bing sneered, and although Cha Eun Xiao seethed with anger inside, there was nothing he could do but accept the situation.
While an imperceptible disagreement brewed between Xuan Bing and Han Bingxue, Cha Eun Xiao was absorbed in his own thoughts. He could distinctly sense the increased density of spiritual qi in the atmosphere, but whenever he attempted to harness it, the qi eluded him as if it were a sentient being. The surrounding air became devoid of spiritual qi, which seemed to have retreated.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but cast his gaze toward the mountain range shrouded in clouds and felt a strong intuition. [The secret of this land must lie within that mountain.]
"Do not underestimate this mountain. Even I can only reach its midpoint," Xuan Bing stated while gazing at the mountain with a sigh.
"What? You can't reach the summit? Not even you?" Both Han Bingxue and Cha Eun Xiao were astonished. If Xuan Bing, with her capabilities, couldn't ascend the entire mountain, it must be a place of extraordinary power.
"Do not harbor any doubts. When you reach the middle of the mountain, you'll contend with an intense inner heat, engulfed by flames, assailed by thunder, and buffeted by gusty winds," Xuan Bing remarked in a matter-of-fact tone. "Furthermore, there are spiritual beasts, all of which exceed the ninth level of strength and are exceptionally resilient. As you ascend further, the beasts you encounter will be of increasingly higher levels. Once you reach the mountain's midpoint, you'll confront beasts on par with level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivators. And they gather in groups, a constant presence."
"They're ubiquitous."
She gazed at the mist-shrouded clouds and continued, "Wu Fa once attempted to scale the mountain, and he encountered a pack of Heaven Swallowing Tigers. It led to a monumental battle. He sustained grievous injuries but was eventually healed. However, he never returned to this place again."
Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue both wore expressions of disbelief.
[Wu Fa?]
[The renowned, most potent cultivator in the realm failed to summit the mountain? He suffered severe injuries?]
"How, then, can we traverse this mountain?" Han Bingxue inquired.
"There's a ravine at the mountain's base. We can follow it. The ravine narrows as it ascends, and at about three hundred meters in height, the two sides converge," Xuan Bing explained. "As recorded in ancient texts, this ravine formed beneath the mountain range in ancient times. There has always been a passageway."
"However, the ravine is the sole path linking both sides. There is no other."
Approaching the ravine, the three of them finally beheld the geographical feature Xuan Bing had described.
Indeed, it was a ravine as she had portrayed it. At its widest, it measured only three hundred meters across, and as it ascended, it gradually narrowed. Upon reaching a height of approximately three hundred meters, the two sides met, forming a triangular tunnel that bridged the mountain.
"Tut, tut. This ravine is like an upside-down structure. Nature's creation is truly remarkable. It's quite impressive," Han Bingxue couldn't help but praise.
It marked Cha Eun Xiao's first time in two lifetimes visiting this place, and he was fascinated. "Indeed, it's incredible. Bingxue, do you see it? The rocks on one side are slanted, while those on the opposite side also tilt. The two sides are inclined toward each other, almost as if they leaned in at the same time and began supporting each other. Over time, they formed this."
Although Xuan Bing initially paid little attention to Cha Eun Xiao's words, she suddenly grasped their significance and was taken aback. She examined the ravine and realized that he was right. Two cliffs were leaning toward each other, causing the rocks to slant.
It was precisely as Cha Eun Xiao had described. The two mountains leaned toward each other and established a ravine, preventing their collapse.
Xuan Bing had visited this place numerous times, unlike Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue, but she had never contemplated this particular perspective. She had always proceeded directly through the ravine. It wasn't due to carelessness, but rather, the unusual scene had never sparked her curiosity. Cha Eun Xiao's different perspective and his comment enlightened her.
If Cha Eun Xiao's interpretation was accurate, and the two mountains had converged to form this ravine, what kind of force could have induced such an occurrence?
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.co(m)