Chapter 52: Harvesting the Moistening Wood Fruit

Tears?

Zhao Chun’s eyes widened slightly. Having practiced for over two years, she had witnessed many strange and bizarre occurrences, so hearing such a rare tale made her believe it somewhat.

If there truly were something capable of piercing through the world with mere tears, it could likely only be something on the level of gods or true immortals...

"It is merely one widely circulated theory; there are others. Some say it was caused by a great demonic tribulation that split the earth's veins. Some say it, without intent, but those who listen take it to heart," Meng Han said with a laugh, seemingly unconcerned. "Cultivators have long lifespans, so they find amusement in these little rumors. There is no need to dwell on it."

Zhao Chun nodded in agreement. Since many such tales came from his mouth, she had to discern them carefully to separate truth from falsehood.

As they ventured deeper, the interlacing ironwood created overlapping shadows, and the path beneath their feet shifted unpredictably. Fortunately, the two had already purchased a map within Fangjing City, so they would not lose their way.

"Once we pass through this Iron Forest Maze, we will reach the outer layer of the Wind Flame Sect. The entrance is to the east, where the outer sect's spiritual herb gardens are located. Junior Sister may go and explore there."

The Wind Flame Sect was an ancient sect from a previous era. Many of its spiritual plants and fruits were unique to that time; although they were cultivated elsewhere, it was difficult to find the true essence, as much of the medicinal properties were inevitably lost.

When the Nine Sects scavenged the Wind Flame Sect, they did not destroy its foundation. They left behind the spiritual herb gardens of both the inner and outer sects, along with the dense network of mineral veins beneath, which prevented the ruins from being completely abandoned.

Zhao Chun could not tolerate medicinal pills that stimulated her qi, mostly because the refining process involved the elements of Metal and Fire, which caused disturbances in her dantian and disrupted her cultivation. Most spiritual plants and herbs possessed Wood properties, being neutral and balanced; she wished to gather more to attempt to use Wood qi to soothe the Metal and Fire.

This was not a random decision. When she possessed the Three Spiritual Roots, the Wood root had served to mediate the others. After it was extracted, the Metal and Fire became too intense, becoming even more active after her breakthrough to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. While Zhao Chun could still suppress them now, she wondered if she would be able to do so once she broke into the late stages of Qi Refinement.

The purchased map included small notes. Among the outer layer's spiritual herbs, there was a small, pale-green fruit called the "Moistening Wood Fruit." It grew on vines and was rich in Wood qi, commonly used as a medicinal catalyst for healing pills. Many cultivators with Wood attributes consumed this fruit to nourish their qi and essence.

Zhao Chun's primary goal for this trip was to search for weapon-refining techniques, followed by seeking out spiritual plants and herbs brimming with Wood qi to use for neutralizing her spiritual energy.

She headed straight east with Meng Han. Meng Han spoke with a half-smile, "Since this is your first time here, Junior Sister, you may not know that the sect's herb gardens are vast and produce much. As such, they attract many cultivators, and individual opportunities must be fought for. However, most in the outer layer are merely Qi Refinement cultivators, so I shall not intervene."

This was exactly what Zhao Chun wanted. She replied, "If Senior Brother has no desires of his own, you may simply observe. Whatever I seek, I must seize with my own hands for it to be complete."

Meng Han had helped her many times, which was a debt of gratitude, and for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to strike a Qi Refinement cultivator would be seen as bullying the weak. Zhao Chun would not cause him any loss of face.

Besides, she herself wanted to know: with the sixth level of Qi Refinement paired with her perfected "Swift Sword Technique," was she truly strong!

"Haha!" These words hit exactly the right note for Meng Han. He clapped his hands and laughed loudly, agreeing, "A fine sentiment! 'Whatever I seek, I must seize with my own hands for it to be complete!' I have always despised those who rely entirely on their elders! Junior Sister, go ahead and try; let me see your skills!"

As they chatted lightheartedly, they reached the exit of the Iron Forest—the entrance to the outer layer.

A clear stream blocked the way, and the stone bridge was broken, with ruins on either side of the water left to the erosion of the current.

Crossing the stream, a tall stone gate came into view. Zhao Chun saw that the inscriptions on its surface had been eroded away, covered in tangled grass and vines. She realized this gate was made of real stone, not a crafted artifact.

She thought about it and laughed inwardly; she had been so influenced by the Iron Forest that she had thought the Wind Flame Sect was so wealthy that everything was made of forged artifacts!

Inside the stone gate lay the spiritual herb gardens. Calling them gardens was perhaps inaccurate; it was more like a stretch of wilderness.

Since various spiritual herbs had different habits, the Wind Flame Sect had designated specific areas for them, setting up small formations to draw in wind and sand or moisture, allowing different herbs to thrive in this vast area.

Meng Han sat down casually on the ground, propping himself up with one hand on his knee. "I will not go in. Junior Sister, you may go ahead on your own. Come out once you feel you have gathered enough."

Zhao Chun bid him farewell with a smile and turned, using her footwork to stride dozens of meters away. Meng Han raised an eyebrow slightly; her movement technique was quite good, showing she put in hard work in her daily training.

He pulled a prayer mat from his silk pouch and entered a state of meditation. Few Foundation Establishment cultivators came to the outer layer of the Wind Flame Sect, so he could rest easy.

Zhao Chun, however, was not as relaxed in the herb garden. Upon entering a field of water-gathering spiritual soil, she saw many cultivators scrambling to harvest spiritual rice, swords and blades swinging as large swathes of golden grain fell.

The Wind Flame Sect actually planted spiritual rice alongside spiritual herbs!

Zhao Chun leaned in to look and found that this type of spiritual rice was larger and fuller than the kind found in sects. A luster flowed over the husks, indicating it had already partially stepped into the realm of spiritual herbs.

A sign stood by the field, stating that this was "Small Medicinal Spiritual Rice." Because it was planted in large quantities within the herb garden, it had absorbed some medicinal properties, doubling its utility compared to ordinary spiritual rice. Low-level cultivators consumed it year-round to nourish their vitality, improve their complexion, and extend their lives.

It was a luxury of the Wind Flame Sect to use medicinal properties to nurture this rice. In the Lingzhen Sect, spiritual rice and spiritual herbs were planted separately to prevent ordinary plants from interfering with the medicinal essence.

After all, the current world of Hengyun no longer possessed the spiritual elegance of the previous era.

However, the rice was not particularly precious. Among the cultivators harvesting the rice, most were rogue cultivators at the first or second level of Qi Refinement. Such cultivators had difficult paths to cultivation and low strength; since they could not compete for other spiritual herbs, they harvested more rice to sustain themselves.

Though the Small Medicinal Spiritual Rice was somewhat different, it did not pique Zhao Chun's interest. The small map of the herb garden indicated that beneath a waterfall, where two forests met, the Wood qi was at its peak, and that was where the Moistening Wood Fruit could be found.

After circling two small hills, a small waterfall appeared before her. Emerald water cascaded down, striking the rocks and exploding into white spray. Winding along the rocky cliffs on both sides of the waterfall were the very vines she sought!

Many people were already climbing to pluck the fruit. At the lower levels were several third-level Qi Refinement cultivators; above them were the fourth and fifth levels. There were only two at the sixth level.

Spiritual fruits wait for no one. Zhao Chun leaped directly from the rocks, spinning a fruit in each hand and tucking them into her bags.

The Moistening Wood Fruit was a mid-grade mortal-tier spiritual herb. Its age was determined by the amount of green on its surface: pure white meant ten years; one-quarter green meant twenty years; one-half green meant fifty years; and if it was entirely emerald green, it was over a hundred years old, with greatly increased medicinal efficacy.

The vines at the bottom held mostly ten or twenty-year-old fruits, left for early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators to pick. What Zhao Chun was competing for were those aged fifty years or more; anything lower would be of little use to a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.

Her "Serpent Step" was at the minor achievement stage, and her "Swift Sword Technique" was at the great achievement stage, which was based on sword-stepping. Consequently, Zhao Chun was much faster than ordinary late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. As soon as she joined the harvesting crowd, the gap between her and the others became apparent.

Wherever Zhao Chun swept past, almost no one else could claim a fruit; she plucked them all herself. At first, the other cultivators yielded to her, but seeing her continuously leap and clear out several spots in quick succession, they grew angry, resenting the girl for being so domineering and taking so many fruits.

If Zhao Chun knew this, she would have laughed. How could one not be domineering when it comes to opportunities? If they had the ability, they should come and take them; why should everyone be expected to yield?

Two layers of cloth bags were stacked at her side—one ordinary and one a spatial spiritual tool. Most of her harvest went into the spiritual tool, leaving only a few items in the ordinary bag. Because her speed was so great, others couldn't even see how she was operating; they only watched with growing jealousy as the bags at her side grew larger and larger.

Zhao Chun headed for even higher ground, brushing aside a layer of overlapping vines, only to see a brilliant green light flash.

Looking closely, it was a cluster of entirely emerald-green, hundred-year-old Moistening Wood Fruits! This single cluster had five or six fruits!

The number of cultivators watching Zhao Chun was already large, and this movement did not escape their eyes. Someone shouted, "It's a hundred-year-old spiritual fruit! It's going to her!"

Zhao Chun quickly plucked the fruits, kicked off the rock wall for leverage, and flipped away from the waterfall. In the blink of an eye, she saw two people rushing toward her, their blades gleaming with lethal light, coming straight for her life!

They were the only two sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivators!