Gathering Herbs

Even as they spoke, they had already joined the fray against the human-faced owls. With fresh reinforcements in Qin Sang and Ge Yuan, the Golden Ring Formation grew vastly more formidable. Seizing an opening, they dealt heavy damage to the human-faced owl at the early Demon Spirit stage, forcing it to hover at a distance, while the smaller demons dared not come close at all. The late-stage human-faced owl tried to pull away and defeat them one by one, but Qin Sang and the others gave it no such opportunity. Pressing their advantage relentlessly, the battle swiftly traversed across more than half the mountainside in the blink of an eye. Finding the right moment, they snared its wings and talons with brass hoops one after another, finally dampening the great demon's ferocious arrogance and barely holding it in check. Such a chance was hard to come by. Qin Sang and Shangguan Lifeng immediately disengaged and split up to act. Ge Yuan was still nursing a grudge over his earlier humiliation. Driving his yellow brass hoop to strike savagely at the owl, he hurriedly sent Qin Sang a voice transmission: "The Blue Dew Epiphyllum is of vital use to me! Daoist Qingfeng, you must get your hands on it—I would be forever in your debt!" At the same time, Yunyouzi's voice transmission reached Qin Sang's ears, informing him of the locations and varieties of several spirit herbs. Their efforts had not been in vain—beneath that streak of mysterious yellow qi truly lay Xuanwen Huangjing! Hearing that Xuanwen Huangjing was truly there, Qin Sang's heart leaped, burning with fervent anticipation. He patiently listened through Yunyouzi's instructions on how to unravel the spirit herb's restriction, then immediately leaped into the air and dashed toward the herb. Seeing this, the lesser demons swarmed to cut him down, but they posed little threat. Darting to an empty stretch, Qin Sang brought out the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner without hesitation. The Yin soul silk seared their souls, driving the human-faced owls back while Qin Sang pressed forward at full speed. Before long, he caught sight of the long-awaited spirit herb. In the fissure of a crag, dusted with only a thin layer of soil, the Xuanwen Huangjing grew tenaciously, splitting through the stone. Its leaves were a vibrant emerald green, broad as lotus pads, blanketing the rock in a wide expanse. A section of rhizome poked out from the crevice, its color identical to the mysterious yellow qi radiated by the plant. Yet it was utterly inconspicuous—scarcely the thickness of a finger and shriveled all over, resembling nothing more than a parched bit of tree root. Nor did it give off any rich medicinal fragrance. Yet this was Xuanwen Huangjing—the primary ingredient for the Xuanwen Heyun Pill! Qin Sang's breathing grew slightly ragged. After taking a long, deep look at the Xuanwen Huangjing, he lifted his head, following the beam of light with his gaze into the depths of the clouds and mist. Yunyouzi's guidance aligned with his own deductions, allowing him to grasp the general nature of the protective restriction guarding the spirit herb. The restriction here had been laid with exceptional ingenuity; the clouds and mist in the mountains seemed harmless, but were actually part of the formation. Moreover, within that yellow beam was not just the mysterious yellow qi emitted by the Xuanwen Huangjing, but another part of the restriction concealed inside, which explained why the herb's aura was so concentrated. The light beams that appeared faint and slender elsewhere looked that way precisely because their herbs were gone. The moment someone tried to harvest the herb and disturbed its aura, the restriction would trigger, unleashing lightning. Yunyouzi suspected that the lightning's power was tied to the grade of the spirit herb. When Ge Yuan had gone for the Blue Dew Epiphyllum, Qin Sang had witnessed it firsthand—it was truly terrifying, capable of obliterating even late Foundation Establishment cultivators. Had it not been for this, the human-faced owls would have devoured the herbs long ago. For that very reason, he had to tread with utmost caution. A single misstep would reduce him to ash beneath the lightning. After pondering on the spot for a moment, Qin Sang extended his right hand, gathering a small orb of spiritual power in his palm. With a flick of his finger, it flew toward the Xuanwen Huangjing. Puff! The spiritual power could not harm the herb in the slightest. The moment it brushed against the outer veil of mysterious yellow qi, the light rippled faintly and dispersed the orb. Seeing that the restriction showed no further reaction, Qin Sang hesitated no longer. Secretly activating the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman in his sea of qi, the flood dragon spirit soul manifested around him. He darted up beside the Xuanwen Huangjing and reached out to grasp the herb. Just as with Ge Yuan's attempt, the moment the prize was within arm's reach, the restriction triggered. A dazzling net of lightning surged forth with savage fury. At the same time, thunder boomed overhead, threatening to smite Qin Sang with fivefold lightning strikes. The power of these bolts was even fiercer than what Ge Yuan had faced. Having anticipated this, Qin Sang immediately spurred the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, leaping back in retreat and waiting until the lightning dissipated before halting. Throughout the evasion, his eyes remained locked on the nexus above, where the herb's aura converged with the clouds and mist. Just then, the furious screech of the human-faced owl drifted from afar. Qin Sang cast a wary glance toward the sound, guarding against the possibility that the others had failed to contain the beast. Fortunately, the creature remained firmly restricted by Yunyouzi and his companions, allowing him to concentrate fully on breaking the formation. Withdrawing his gaze, Qin Sang darted back beside the Xuanwen Huangjing and continued testing the defenses. Through repeated attempts, Qin Sang was thrown into disarray each time, yet a smile gradually surfaced on his face. At last, he caught sight of the restriction's subtle workings. Dodging the lightning's pursuit one final time, Qin Sang planted his feet and regulated his breath, steadying his spiritual power as his gaze turned resolute. Though he had identified the crux of the restriction, unraveling it still carried immense danger. Even so, no matter how great the risk, he had to try. The flood dragon spirit soul roared silently as Qin Sang invoked the power of the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman in advance, the ebony sword hovering before him on standby. Exhaling a long breath, he reappeared beside the Xuanwen Huangjing, instantly provoking the restriction. Faced with silver serpents dancing wildly in the air, Qin Sang chose not to retreat endlessly this time. Instead, he feigned a withdrawal, waiting until the lightning dispersed slightly before charging straight ahead! The next instant, his figure was engulfed by the lightning. Casting aside every stray thought, his eyes locked onto the writhing silver bolts. Without hesitation, he unleashed the greatest speed he could muster, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake. Those afterimages were instantly shattered by lightning, yet Qin Sang himself threaded through the gaps between the bolts, flying straight into the sky. The lightning immediately wheeled around in hot pursuit, but that fleeting window was all Qin Sang needed. The ebony sword shot forth like lightning, stabbing viciously into the precise point where the herb's aura met the clouds and mist, producing a resounding clang that rivaled the toll of a bronze bell. The light shuddered violently, though little else seemed to change. Yet Qin Sang's purpose was already achieved. He immediately beat a retreat, waiting for the lightning to fade before repeating the trick. Time and again he repeated the process. What appeared perilously close to death had become something Qin Sang could handle with practiced ease. The restriction was not static, yet Qin Sang caught every subtle shift in stride. Boom! Heaven rewards the diligent. After another deafening crash, the pillar of light dissipated by a fraction, offering Qin Sang immense encouragement. However, the restriction began undergoing a new transformation as the clouds and mist churned, starting to mend itself automatically. Seeing this, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. He took out an elixir, shoved it straight into his mouth, and did not pause for a second. Finally, the ebony sword struck the vital core of the restriction once more. With a rushing crash, the pillar of light shattered, and the lightning behind him dimmed drastically, its power greatly reduced. Qin Sang's eyes flared with brilliant light. Without a moment's hesitation, he wheeled downward, braving the remaining lightning to seize the Xuanwen Huangjing in his grasp!