Page 76: Herb in the broken world

"Remember, once you enter the portal, you only have 6 hours to find herbs. Those who can find three or more will proceed to the finals. This portal is connected to a broken world's fragment. The elders can only maintain it opened up to that extent. If you won't return before the designated time, you might be trapped inside until the time we can open it again. It will take us at least a day before we can reopen it again so be careful. There will be dangers inside but if you are lucky enough, you'll be able to be fated with one of those. You are free to pick whatever you want in that world. What we only require is for you to bring back at least three different types of herbs and you are set. Any questions?"

"Elder, what dangers could we be facing? Will there be strong beast in there? Will we be able to handle it if we try to subdue it alone?" One curious participant from the merchant union asked.

"Hm, that world has been abandoned and isolated for thousand of years already. It has been 11 years since the last time it was visited. Previously, there were beasts but most would only be at the Earth realm. There might be few that will be at the sky realm which would require at least three of you to completely overpower it. But if you run, you might have a higher chance of surviving. Remember, if you think you can't then you can't. A weak mind reciprocates the power you posses. If you are brave, then face the dangers and bear the consequences, may it be good or bad. Anymore?"

The participants became silent. It was supposed to be understandable that for someone to have a fruitious encounter, one must face the unknown and overcome the dangers it brings.

"If there's no other question, then let us start. Enter the portal on my cue. Fellow elders, activate the transport array "

Five elders poured out their essence into each of the 5 points of the array. Seconds after, the array lit up and showed a five point transport array with a triple layer of a star figure stacked on top of each other with one meter distance in between. The array was oriented on horizontal manner or parallel to the ground instead of being vertical. This means that the array was not to transfer an object but to open a door instead. After the array combined into one figure, the presiding elder gave the cue.

"Start entering. The succeeding ones will enter it after every after one minute. The order will follow your ranks posted. Now, first participant, ENTER!"

While the others were waiting for their moment to enter, Long Bai was already doing something. Unbeknownst to the people around, he was already using the system to analyze the array in front of him. Supposedly, he should be touching the array for the system to work but because it was activated in front of him, he just need to watch the whole process for the system to collect data.

[System notice: The analysis of the five point transport array is in progress. Time of completion: 3 minutes and 12 seconds ]

It was already the 6th participant to enter and Long Bai would be entering it after three minutes. Before he should enter, he must first make sure that the system is finished in analyzing the array.

Seven minutes...eight...ninez...

"Next!" The elder shouted.

Long Bai looked at the system prompt and there were still some 11 seconds remaining. For the remaining ten seconds to be spent, he tried walking slowly however he got scolded by the elder for not hurrying. Just as he was on the exact mouth of the array, he heard a voice from the back calling his name.

"Brother Bai! Good luck! Do your best!"

That female voice gave him some excuse to stop for a while and spend at least 5 seconds which was enough for the system to complete the analysis.

[System notice: Analysis of the array is complete. Data is added to the library.]

After confirming that it was done, Long Bai waved his right hand some good bye to the three familiar figures and entered the array.

[System notice: You just entered a portal.]

On the other side of the portal was a gloomy looking atmosphere. There was no sky nor stars to be seen. Instead, what illuminated the place was a full moon that shines with a little hue of red. The ground where he was standing was dry and no signs of plant life. The dead trees became black. It was as if at some point, the place was razed by extreme hot temperatures.

Not far from the portal, the group which entered first were having a meeting. On the other side, Zhang Li was calling him to come. Just like new students in a new environment, people who knew each other would always stick together.

"Senior sister, how's the situation?" Long Bai asked while trying to assess the place.

"It's not good. We don't have a map of the place so we are definitely blind. What's more is that those guys over there have a map that was previously drawn by the ones who came here before. In worst case scenario, they would be able to fine the treasure immediately and then they would try to sabotage us so we won't be able to complete the task. What are you thinking?

Long Bai thought of stealing the map they are holding but then he thought about it's accuracy. If this place was visited more than ten years ago, there might have been some major changes. There's no use in knowing the places. What he needed to do is to just not forget where the portal is located in order not to get lost.

"Senior, let us get going. As we proceed, lets make a mental map of the area so we know the places we visited. We might be encountering some dangers but that is better than following those and become their meat shields in case of trouble. I sense that that is what those guys are doing to the members of the merchant union. Senior sister, let us be on our way. We only have less than six hours to check this vast area."

As they left the area, the two decided to label the portal area as the southern spot. Now, they are moving towards the west. Long Bai suggested that for them to cover more area and prevent going back and forth, they will circle the area from west going to the northern area to the east and then back to the south. Good thing, Cuifen's group and the other did not try to follow them. Although, of course, they have sent one of their members to spy on them. Long Bai was able to notice one person following them but he did not try to make a move yet since there's noting yet. He'll just wait for a good timing and see what this person will do to them.

Thirty minutes have passed and the two reached a swamp. It was wide as a soccer field and the stench was nauseating. It might have been harboring the carcasses of undecomposed organic matter trapped in the muddy waters and just occasionally releases gas from partial decomposition. The two carefully traversed the swamp and as they reached the middle, they saw a raised plot of land that grows at least 5 stalks of two different flowers.

"Senior sister, look. If those flowers can withstand this harsh living condition, those must not be some ordinary plants. Those must be some spiritual herbs. Oh, this is plenty. Let's waste time and.."

"Wait, stop. Treasures like these are usually being guarded by beasts. Check the surroundings first before.."

Splash!

Before Zhang Li can finish her sentence, a beast with a long scaly tail with some spikes resurfaced from the shallow waters. Long Bai and Zhang Li were not walking on waters but instead they use the small rocks and some raised areas of the swamp to step on. If there's no soil, the two jumps from dead tree to another dead tree.

"Hm? A Spike-tailed Groconaw? Low grade, Sky rank."

Long Bai read the details on his scan. He intended to inform Zhang Li and at the same time tell her that they can actually take down the beast on their own.

"Senior, how do you suggest we deal with the beast? If we attack it, the herbs may be destroyed from the shockwaves brought by the fight."

"Junior Bai, I know you have something in your mind. I know your tone. Just say it."

"Ah, senior, you might not like it. It's just that you need to attract it and then while it is distracted, I'll go and pick those herbs?Hm?"

Before Long Bai could react, he was already pushed towards the beast.

"Ahh, senior sister. What are you doing? You're supposed to be the decoy, not me!"

Long Bai's loud voice successfully attracted the attention of the beast. Without having other choices, he acted as a decoy and tried to pull away the beast far from the herbs. Zhang Li on the other hand seemed to be happy with the situation and just casually picked the herbs. After taking the 6 stalks, Long Bai was still running away from the beast. Even if it was just a low grade of the sky rank, it has the strength comparable to that of someone who reached the soul tempering stage or core foundation stage.

While he decided to kill the beast, he found the scales too tough to be taken bare handed. He then brought out his sword and used its sharp tip to penetrate the soft tiny spaces between the scales. After successfully stabbing the beast multiple times, it eventually died due to its brain being damaged. Long Bai concentrated his attacks on the beast's head, specifically to the orifices in order to penetrate the skull easily.

Looking at the dead body, he thought of checking the core of the beast. Looking for a place to slice, he found out that the underneath was easier to penetrate than the back since the hard and dry scales were concentrated at the back. Upon retrieving the core, he noticed the red hue on it. It was a low grade core crystal. Instead of a shard, it already become a round marble like orb the size of a pingpong ball. He kept the crystal in his pouch and returned to where Zhang Li was at.

"Senior sister, I'm done here. Can you let me take a look at the herbs?"

Zhang Li was surprised by Long Bai's announcement.

"Wait, you're done? Then let's run! It might come back and attack us."

"Don't worry senior sister, it's already dead. By the way, that was mean of you. You did not even gave me a heads up and just pushed me."

"Wha.. You are already stronger than me so of course, you should be facing it, am I wrong? I just thought you can escape it without getting hurt since it was a bit slow. I did not expect you to kill it. You are still hiding something from me, right?

Hah, anyway, I can't force you to tell me. Here, look at this. This flower is the known swamp latifolia plant however I'm not sure about the other. The resemblance is too cunning. Junior Bai, can you recognize it?"

"Hm. This is a swamp maxima. A relative of the swamp latifolia. Although they look similar, this swamp maxima is used to make poisons while that swamp latifolia is uses to make antidotes. These two always grow together and they are only found in swamps. We are lucky, senior sister. We already found two out of the three herbs required for passing the next round."

Since there were three stems for each, Long Bai took two of the maxima plant and one latifolia plant. After dividing the harvest, the two proceeded to check some new place. Ten minutes from where the two originated, they found Cuifen's group arguing with the two members from the merchant union.