C18 Purifying Herb

"Is this really the Drakenfell Mountains? No wonder it's known for having so many powerful dire beasts. I just got here, and I already feel a chill down my spine," Qin Wudi remarked as he and Xiao Tian stepped through the rune into the Drakenfell Mountains. He stood still for a moment, looking around warily, his skin prickling with unease.

"Just be careful and don't get yourself killed here," Xiao Tian warned him in a serious tone.

"Yeah, I'll be careful," Qin Wudi replied.

"Let's go, follow me," Xiao Tian nodded, surveying the area before choosing a path and moving forward.

They had barely walked fifty yards when Qin Wudi's eyes widened in shock. Lying in the grass ahead was a corpse, covered in blood and dirt. Half of the person's head had been bitten off by some ferocious beast, and their arms and legs were similarly mangled, presenting a gruesome and pitiful sight.

"This..." Qin Wudi stared at the scene, deeply shaken. His body tensed involuntarily, and if Xiao Tian hadn't been there, he might have turned and fled back to the safety of the rune without a second thought.

"Whoosh."

Just as Emperor Qin was caught in a moment of shock, a flash of red suddenly darted toward him with incredible speed, slicing through the air with a piercing sound. In the blink of an eye, a chilling gleam appeared.

A quick glance revealed that the source of this swift attack was a monkey.

This monkey stood taller than a man, covered in long fur, with blood dripping from its mouth. Its eyes were wild and bloodthirsty, exuding a frenzied, murderous intent. As it lunged, its claws aimed straight for Emperor Qin's head. If those claws made contact, it would be the end for him.

Realizing the imminent danger, Emperor Qin's expression changed dramatically. He quickly threw a punch at the monkey, narrowly hitting its body and sending it flying, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

Almost instantly, the monkey vanished into the nearby bushes, disappearing from sight.

Despite the close call, Emperor Qin's face showed no relief, only anger and lingering fear.

"Wow," he thought.

He had just entered the Drakenfell Mountains and had already nearly fallen victim to an ambush.

"Good thing you reacted quickly. If you'd frozen up at the sight of that body, you'd be lying there just like him," Xiao Tian suddenly said to Qin Wudi.

"I...," Qin Wudi started, unsure of what to say.

"What just happened should serve as a lesson. In a place as dangerous as this, you can't afford to be careless or inattentive, no matter what happens. If you'd been even a little slower, you'd be facing certain death," Xiao Tian said sternly.

"I understand," Qin Wudi nodded seriously.

"Let's keep moving," Xiao Tian said, leading Qin Wudi further into the forest. As for the body on the ground, Xiao Tian had glanced at it once when they first discovered it but showed no further interest.

As they continued, Qin Wudi realized just how perilous the Drakenfell Mountains truly were. Bodies were scattered everywhere.

In less than ten minutes, he and Xiao Tian had come across numerous corpses, both human and dire beast. None of them were intact, just scattered limbs and fragments. Anyone faint of heart would be terrified at the sight, breaking into a cold sweat, haunted by nightmares, or even fainting from fright.

The situation here can only be described as a complete battlefield. The attacks, like the one from the initial monkey, happened over a dozen times in just ten minutes. Each time, Qin Wudi's body tensed, his pupils contracted, and he dared not let his guard down for a second.

Although it had only been ten minutes, it felt like an eternity to Qin Wudi. He was exhausted, wishing he could leave immediately and not continue any further. Xiao Tian noticed Qin Wudi's state but, aside from the first monkey's ambush, he didn't say much to him afterward.

Xiao Tian kept looking around, occasionally stopping to dig up a few small plants from the underbrush or pick some fruits and flowers. Qin Wudi was baffled by this behavior and couldn't understand what Xiao Tian was doing.

"Xiao Tian, why are you digging up these plants? They don't look like any kind of special herbs. If they're not, what's the point of collecting them? I really can't figure out what you're up to," Qin Wudi finally asked, unable to suppress his curiosity after following Xiao Tian for another five minutes.

"Don't ask so many questions. I have my reasons for digging them up," Xiao Tian said, glancing at Qin Wudi before carefully continuing to unearth the two plants in front of him. His movements were gentle and cautious, as if he couldn't bear to harm them in the slightest.

Qin Wudi was utterly baffled.

"Purifying Herbs! I never imagined there'd be so many in the Drakenfell Mountains. We've only been walking for a short while, and I've already found five. Just five of these would be the envy of anyone back on Earth in the cultivation world. If those folks knew how easily I came across these, they'd be green with envy.

Though Purifying Herbs look like ordinary plants, they actually enhance the quality of pills and increase the success rate of their creation. In my previous life, a single Purifying Herb was worth a fortune and was incredibly rare.

More importantly, besides improving pill quality and success rates, when combined with Starbloom, Sunpetal, and other ingredients, they can be used to create a Purity Potion. This potion cleanses the soul, refines the mind, and stabilizes the Mindscape. My elixir field is currently shattered, making it difficult to repair quickly. So, I have to either pursue physical cultivation or become a Master of the Mind. However, my Mindscape is in chaos right now, and igniting a Soul Seed is no easy task."

If I can get my hands on this Purifying Herb, and then gather some Starbloom and Sunpetal, I might be able to ignite my Soul Seed. Once the Soul Seed is lit, I'll have some means to protect myself in this world. Regaining my full strength immediately is out of the question, but with the Soul Seed ignited, I could at least perform some mystique. Xiao Tian carefully dug up the small plant in front of him, his mind racing with excitement.

Meanwhile, not far from Xiao Tian and Qin Wudi, Yang Dong was steadily approaching with a woman in red. Yang Dong had already noticed Xiao Tian and Qin Wudi, and a sinister smile played on his lips.