C6 Great Harvest

Inhaling the subtle scent of wine that teased his nostrils and gazing at the array of rough, ancient jars before him, Zhang Yu was reminded of the near-mythical Monkey Wine.

He recalled a passage from a book: "In the mountains dwell apes, who in spring and summer gather spirit herbs and fruits in stone hollows, fermenting them into a fragrant wine that leaves all who drink it in awe."

Monkey Wine was exceedingly scarce, crafted by Ape Demons using spirit medicine and fruits harvested from the mountains. Its rich flavor was not only delightful but also greatly beneficial for cultivation. Consequently, even the least impressive batch of Monkey Wine was valued at a thousand taels of gold, while the finest was virtually priceless. Zhang Yu came to realize that the Iron Back Vast Bear he had slain was likely after this very treasure.

Pushing himself up, Zhang Yu shrugged off the Ape Demons' assistance and approached the jars with measured steps.

With a crisp "pop," he lifted the lid off one jar, and a potent wine fragrance enveloped him. The contents were thick, shimmering with an amber glow.

Unable to resist, Zhang Yu dipped a finger into the liquid and brought it to his lips.

Instantly, a boom of rich energy surged from his mouth, coursing through his body, and his grave injuries began to mend.

Zhang Yu was astounded! A mere drop of Monkey Wine had wrought such a profound effect; the jar before him surely held no less than five kilograms! And considering its age, it must have been centuries old. Should he absorb all the potent energy within this Monkey Wine, he was certain to ascend to an entirely new level of cultivation.

Now, Zhang Yu's gaze upon the Ape Demon that had led him here shifted; these treasures were beyond any monetary value. Though he had rescued the Ape Demon tribe, he felt his contribution paled in comparison to even a fifth of this jar of Monkey Wine.

"Is all of this for me?" Zhang Yu, with a surge of excitement, gestured toward the Monkey Wine and inquired of the Ape Demon.

Understanding seemed to dawn on the creature as it let out a couple of "squeaks" and diligently moved all the Monkey Wine to Zhang Yu's feet.

As Zhang Yu gazed at the four jars of Monkey Wine laid out before him, he felt an urge to decline, yet found himself unable to voice a refusal.

"Let's do this: I'll take two jars, and you keep the other two for yourself," Zhang Yu suggested, sliding two jars back toward the Ape Demon.

"Squeak, squeak!" The Ape Demon, sensing Zhang Yu's reluctance, grew more insistent, pushing the wine back toward him with anxious cries.

Touched by the Ape Demon's genuine kindness, Zhang Yu reluctantly accepted a third jar.

"Okay, three jars is my limit. If you insist on more, I won't take any at all," Zhang Yu stated resolutely.

With Zhang Yu now in possession of three jars of Monkey Wine, the Ape Demon ceased its attempts to offer more.

"Squeak squeak," the Ape Demon chirped again, this time tugging at Zhang Yu's pant leg, eager to lead him down another corridor. Zhang Yu swiftly stored all the Monkey Wine into his Creation Jade Disc and rose to follow.

Previously, Zhang Yu had always carried his possessions with him, even stowing the demon cores from his last hunt in his bag to avoid revealing his possession of a storage item. In the Zhang family, only his father, Zhang Sen, owned a small Storage Ring about a meter square—a prized item that had cost the family dearly. But Zhang Yu's Creation Jade Disc already spanned a mile in radius without having matured; such a vast space, if discovered, would surely put him in grave danger.

Another hundred meters on, the Ape Demon halted.

"Squeak squeak," it squeaked, tugging at Zhang Yu's sleeve as if to show off its discovery.

Zhang Yu looked around to find a veritable trove resembling a general store, filled with an assortment of human clothing, shattered blades, dark ores, withered herbs, and more.

"Who leaves a treasure trove empty-handed?" Zhang Yu thought, his excitement mounting as he began to sift through the array of items.

"These worn clothes are of no use, and the broken swords are mere junk. Let's see about these herbs... Ah! This is a Snow Spirit Flower! And here, a Black Jade Lotus, and Crimson Flame Grass. Is this possibly a Horned Dragon Root?" he mused, holding a piece of herbal medicine that resembled both a root and dragon's whiskers, lost in thought.

He carefully stripped a thin layer of bark from the root of the medicinal herb, and instantly, a liquid as red as blood began to seep out.

"Yes, it resembles a tree, its roots are like a dragon, and its sap is like blood! This matches the ancient texts' description of the Horned Dragon Root. I've struck it rich, truly rich!" Zhang Yu, recalling the ancient book's portrayal, confirmed the invaluable nature of the Horned Dragon Root and let out an ecstatic roar.

The Horned Dragon Root was rumored to grow only in areas frequented by the Dragon Clan, specifically on the corpses of dragons whose pearls remained undamaged. It required the essence of the dragon pearl, along with the nourishment of dense spiritual energy from heaven and earth, among other complex conditions, to truly thrive. The Dragon Clan, being among the mightiest of Demon Beasts and scarce in number, ensured their deceased were returned to the Dragon Tomb, making the Horned Dragon Root even rarer than the dragons themselves!

Its most significant benefit was the ability to be crafted into the Dragon Transforming Pill when combined with other spiritual herbs, endowing the consumer with the Dragon Clan's formidable physique. On the Vast Dragon Continent, the physical prowess of the Dragon Clan was unparalleled, and none would dare claim superiority.

This fact alone could drive countless individuals to madness!

Imagine two Cultivators of equal skill and weaponry clashing in battle; if you can't penetrate your opponent's defenses, what chance do you have? Possessing the Dragon Clan's physique could even make fighting above one's level a possibility!

Though Zhang Yu was clueless about concocting the Dragon Transforming Pill at present, the mere presence of the Horned Dragon Root sparked a flicker of hope within him. Maybe, just maybe, he too could aspire to become a formidable Dragon Warrior one day!

Once his excitement subsided, Zhang Yu quickly stowed the herbs into his Creation Jade Disc. He lunged at the remaining piles with the fervor of a specter starved of indulgence for a century at the sight of a beauty.

Golden Essence Stone, Topaz, Cloud Source Stone, Snake Vein Stone... While these minerals were also prime for crafting, they paled in comparison to the Horned Dragon Root. Adhering to the maxim "better to err on the side of action than caution," Zhang Yu scooped up every recognizable and unrecognizable ore into his collection.

After sifting through a variety of miscellaneous items and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Zhang Yu ceased his scavenging.

"Hmm? What's this?" A piece resembling animal hide suddenly drew Zhang Yu's gaze.

He picked it up from the ground and, upon closer examination, realized it was a densely marked map. Staring at the ancient map in his hands, Zhang Yu couldn't place its origin, so he casually tossed it into a corner of the Creation Jade Disc.

"It seems this time I've embodied the saying, 'fortune and misfortune are intertwined.' In aiding the Ape Demon, I sustained serious injuries, yet in gratitude, the Ape Demon has bestowed upon me such immense fortune. Overall, I've come out ahead." Zhang Yu mused to himself.

"Brother Ape, I owe you big time. Without you, I would've missed out on this incredible chance," Zhang Yu said with a grateful smile to the Ape Demon.

"Squeak squeak!" The Ape Demon, seeing Zhang Yu's smile, chirped back cheerfully.

"As I'm still nursing serious wounds, it's not practical for me to leave. I'll make use of your esteemed territory to recover. Once I'm healed, I'll be on my way," Zhang Yu explained, settling into a cross-legged position on the ground to begin his meditative healing.

During this time, the Ape Demon provided for Zhang Yu's needs, bringing him wild fruits when he was hungry and mountain spring water when he was thirsty. With no need to worry about sustenance and the aid of Monkey Wine, his injuries rapidly mended.

Days slipped by. Three days later, feeling his injuries fully healed, Zhang Yu opened his eyes, which flashed with a spark of vitality.

"So many days have passed in a blink. Not only have my wounds healed, but my recent breakthrough in cultivation has also deepened. This effort was not in vain, especially considering the wealth of treasures I've acquired." Zhang Yu reflected inwardly, his heart ablaze with fervor.

"It's time to move on. The journey of cultivation is like paddling upstream; if you don't advance, you fall behind. For the sake of a distant future, for the trials ahead, we must press on!" Zhang Yu lifted his head with resolve.

"Brother Yuan, it's time for you to return. Thank you for your care these past days. Though we part today, uncertain of our next meeting, I will never forget you," Zhang Yu bid his final farewell to the Ape Demon, "Go back, farewell!" With those words, he waved and set forth with determination on his path, undeterred by the knowledge of the perilous road ahead.

The Ape Demon, with a hint of reluctance, waved back. Unseen by any, two tears fell from its eyes.

A goodbye, heavy with the weight of reluctance, not a severance, but a promise of a better reunion in the future.

...

Two days had passed since Zhang Yu left the valley of the Ape Demon, and he had covered another 150 miles. Despite significant breakthroughs, as he ventured deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range, the creatures he encountered grew increasingly formidable, bringing him close to injury on several occasions. The most harrowing was an accidental intrusion into the domain of a herd of one-horned rhinos, where a narrow escape was the only thing between him and death.

With each challenge, Zhang Yu shed more of his naivety. His skills and savvy in combat had soared. Living day-to-day in a world fraught with danger, even an average person would grow shrewd to survive, and Zhang Yu, ever cautious and eager to learn, was no exception.

"Liu Feng, you won't die well! Ah!" Suddenly, the sound of a skirmish reached him. After days of traversing secluded paths, this was Zhang Yu's first encounter with another human. Driven by curiosity, he stealthily moved toward the commotion.