Halfway up Cloud Hidden Peak in Medicine King Valley, Yang Kai and Dong Qingyan wove through the forest with herb baskets on their backs, searching for medicinal ingredients.
Elder Xiao's task this time wasn't difficult. The herbs weren't valuable or rare—they grew across the various peaks.
The only strict requirement was their age.
They had to be at least thirty years old.
The pair trekked through mountains and streams, searching diligently until late afternoon, finally collecting about seventy or eighty percent of what they needed.
"We're still missing Iron Bone Grass. Aunt Xiang said we need to gather ten stalks." Dong Qingyan counted on her fingers, her delicate brows furrowed. "Cousin, we haven't found even a single one!"
Yang Kai scanned the surroundings, an idea striking him. "Cloud Hidden Peak probably doesn't have this herb. Let's check other places."
Dong Qingyan's eyes twinkled, and she giggled. "You mean... somewhere like Medicine Sage Peak?"
Yang Kai shot her a glare.
Understanding silently, Dong Qingyan set off with Yang Kai toward Medicine Sage Peak.
Medicine Sage Peak was forbidden ground in Medicine King Valley. Ordinary disciples couldn't approach within three hundred zhang of its summit, but below that, they could come and go freely.
Their goal was clear, and they made their way straight to the base of Medicine Sage Peak.
"Let's split up and search," Yang Kai said with a light cough.
"Mhm." Dong Qingyan nodded with a smile, knowing exactly what Yang Kai intended but not exposing him, only cautioning, "Be careful, though."
"I will."
With the herb basket on his back, Yang Kai casually began moving closer to the peak's summit, feigning a search for Iron Bone Grass while warily monitoring his surroundings.
Half an hour later, through deliberate or chance movements, he found himself only about a hundred zhang from the top.
Stealing a glance upward, Yang Kai was startled to see a stone statue standing atop the peak—this was the memorial statue of the Medicine Sage.
The statue stood at least thirty zhang tall, imposing and majestic. Even from a hundred zhang away, Yang Kai could still make out everything from the chest up.
The statue was mottled with age, its years on this spot unknowable. Despite enduring wind and rain, it remained standing tall.
Yang Kai wanted to extend his Divine Sense to probe further but hesitated.
Though he saw no one, there was almost certainly a guardian expert stationed there.
"Earth Demon," he transmitted, "can you slip in quietly to check the situation?"
"If there's a Shenyou Realm expert up there, this old servant would have nowhere to hide," the Earth Demon replied.
His current strength wasn't high enough to conceal his demonic aura. Moreover, his appearance was too distinctive—shrouded in the Soul-Shattering Cone, he was nothing but a wisp of black mist, impossible to hide from a Shenyou Realm cultivator's senses.
Was there truly no way? He'd been on Cloud Hidden Peak for over a month now and still hadn't figured out what secrets lay up there.
"Who goes there!" Just as Yang Kai was frowning in frustration, an angry shout rang out from above.
A figure descended from the heights, landing directly before Yang Kai and regarding him with a cold, hard expression.
This person was definitely a Shenyou Realm expert, and a formidable one at that. While most disciples in Medicine King Valley were alchemists, there were always combat-ready protectors present.
"Which peak are you from? Don't you know that the area below Medicine Sage Peak within three hundred zhang is forbidden?" the man snapped, his tone hostile.
Yang Kai's brows furrowed as his mind raced.
"I asked you a question! Who is your master? Didn't he tell you the consequences of trespassing on Medicine Sage Peak?"
Yang Kai then cupped his fists. "Greetings, senior. This junior is a disciple under Elder Xiao of Cloud Hidden Peak. Following his orders, I came down today to gather herbs."
"Elder Xiao?" The man's expression flickered with surprise before clearing. "You're the boy who joined Cloud Hidden Peak just last month?"
"This junior is indeed he!"
The man scrutinized Yang Kai with guarded caution, his Divine Sense sweeping over him briefly before retracting it.
The icy look on his face softened slightly.
Yang Kai continued, "I was so focused on searching for herbs I didn't realize I'd wandered this far. Please forgive me, senior."
The man nodded. "Had you been any other disciple, you might have escaped death today but not punishment! However, considering you haven't been here long, I'll overlook this mistake. Leave quickly, and don't let it happen again. If it does, you'll face severe consequences!"
With no choice, Yang Kai withdrew.
Once Yang Kai was gone, the man flickered and returned to his post atop the peak.
From a distance, Yang Kai glanced back.
There was indeed a Shenyou Realm guard stationed there—what could he do? If he could have gotten close to the Myriad Medicine Pool, he might have uncovered its secrets, but now he couldn't even approach, let alone investigate further.
He walked back with a gloomy expression. From afar, he could already hear Dong Qingyan arguing with someone, and his pace quickened. Moments later, their clear voices reached his ears.