Valley of the Medicine King...

The sun had already crossed the peak and begun its descent. Zhong Wen, led by the little girl, returned to the room. Smoke rose from the corner of the courtyard to the west, indicating that Mrs. Wang was preparing dinner.

All the ingredients in the Drifting Petal Palace were grown by the farmers down the mountain, completely natural and pollution-free. The taste was excellent. However, when Zhong Wen saw the distant smoke rising, he couldn't muster any appetite.

Because, in this world, there was no salt.

People in this world used a plant called "Aroma-Reducing Herb" to extract juice for seasoning. The food processed with this seasoning was fragrant but had a very mild taste. The slight hint of saltiness was so subtle that it was almost imperceptible.

The first time he tasted it, Zhong Wen could enjoy the "natural taste of the food." However, after just two days, Zhong Wen, who considered himself a gourmet in his previous life, felt a sense of despair when he saw Mrs. Wang's dishes.

It turns out this "gourmet" wasn't very authentic.

If he were by the seaside, he could at least make some coarse salt to satisfy his cravings. However, the Drifting Petal Palace was built on the mountainside, and he couldn't think of a good solution at the moment.

"Liu Qiqi, come out, and let's have a showdown!"

Zhong Wen quickly looked outside, and a slender figure appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.

The newcomer was a young girl of a similar age to Liu Qiqi. She wore a green martial arts outfit with a red cloak and had a beautiful appearance, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her face with a hint of majesty.

"You defeated my subordinates, why come here to seek humiliation again?"

Hearing the challenge, Liu Qiqi's figure quickly appeared in the courtyard.

"Last time, my swordsmanship wasn't proficient, but now I've improved. I'll challenge your Light-Dividing Sword again!" The green-clothed girl's voice was crisp and carried a sense of frankness.

"Since you've come willingly, I'll grant you a defeat!"

The two girls, one wielding a long sword and the other using a willow leaf knife, clashed with a series of "clinks" and "clanks."

Although Zhong Wen found their dialogue a bit melodramatic, he was still very interested in the battles of practitioners. After all, who didn't have a martial arts dream?

Liu Qiqi's swordsmanship was graceful, and her speed was extremely fast. Her long sword occasionally created two sword shadows, presumably the origin of the "Light-Dividing Sword Art."

The green-clothed girl defended the central position with her willow leaf knife, maintaining a stable stance. Occasionally, she would strike, and it often forced Liu Qiqi to retreat by two meters.

The two emitted sonic booms with every movement they made, and a stomp could send them flying three to four meters high. Both their strength and speed left Zhong Wen in awe.

However, in Zhong Wen's eyes, their techniques and moves were not particularly impressive.

Having completed The One Yang Finger, Zhong Wen believed that both Liu Qiqi's swordsmanship and the green-clothed girl's knife skills were quite ordinary.

Within that thick book of several hundred pages, The One Yang Finger not only contained the techniques and methods for channeling its energy but also detailed various moves and combat techniques. He felt that any example within the book was far more exquisite than the techniques of the two girls before him.

Of course, at this moment, Zhong Wen hadn't practiced any spiritual energy techniques. Even though he had countless martial arts knowledge in his mind, he could only demonstrate it verbally and had no actual power. At best, he could be considered all talk and no action.

Nevertheless, watching two beautiful women fighting was still a very enjoyable experience.

As the fight went on, Liu Qiqi gradually gained the upper hand, and the green-clothed girl retreated step by step, showing signs of fatigue.

Suddenly, the green-clothed girl stumbled, and seizing the opportunity, Liu Qiqi's wrist flicked rapidly. Her long sword transformed into three sword lights, and by the time the green-clothed girl steadied herself, Liu Qiqi's long sword was already positioned just an inch away from her throat.

"You've lost," Liu Qiqi held the sword and said coolly.

"You've reached the next level?" The green-clothed girl, her breath slightly uneven, her chest rising and falling, looked somewhat unwilling.

"That's right, I broke through the eighth Human Wheel last month," Liu Qiqi pretended to be indifferent, but couldn't hide her satisfaction.

"No wonder your spiritual energy endurance is much better than mine," the green-clothed girl said, her expression filled with realization. "I lost today, but when I break through the eighth level of the Human Wheel, I'll come back for a rematch."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Miss Zheng, it's getting dark. It's too dangerous for a young girl like you to go down the mountain alone. Why not stay here for the night?" Mrs. Wang spoke up, trying to persuade her.

"Well..." The green-clothed girl looked up at the sun, which was about to set, then glanced at Liu Qiqi with some hesitation.

"That’s right, stay for tonight. Let's spar again later," Liu Qiqi suggested.

The green-clothed girl didn’t insist leaving and agreed readily.

"Since I have a guest here, let's have dinner in the main hall. Invite Third Miss and Xiaodie too. It's been days since we all ate together." Mrs. Wang, who had been living alone for a long time, also enjoyed lively gatherings.

"Mrs. Wang, don’t forget Zhong Wen," Lin Xiaodie shouted.

Mrs. Wang's expression froze upon hearing this. She exchanged a glance with Liu Qiqi. In the past two days, it was Lin Xiaodie who had been delivering Zhong Wen's meals. This was the first time she had seen him in person, and she didn't have any problems with Zhong Wen. However, the Drifting Petal Palace had always been a place for women, and suddenly inviting a man and several girls to dine together left her indecisive.

Zhong Wen, with an old soul inside, quickly realized Mrs. Wang's dilemma and was about to decline. But surprisingly, Liu Qiqi agreed.

"Mr. Zhong, how about joining us for dinner tonight?" Mrs. Wang's attitude changed immediately.

Zhong Wen nodded with a smile, harboring no resentment toward Mrs. Wang's initial hesitation. They were not relatives or friends, but the Drifting Petal Palace had saved his life, and for the past two days, they had provided him with food and shelter, showing great kindness.

At this moment, the green-clothed girl also noticed Zhong Wen and looked surprised. She ran to Liu Qiqi's side and whispered in her ear, seemingly asking why there was a man in the Drifting Petal Palace.

The two of them whispered for a while, and when the green-clothed girl looked at Zhong Wen again, there was indeed a hint of sympathy in her gaze.

Humph, woman, I don't need your pity!

Zhong Wen thought indignantly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Dinner was as light as ever. Zhong Wen could only take occasional glances at the beautiful women and take a bite of the food. He had to rely on visual enjoyment to make up for the lack of taste.

At the dinner table, Liu Qiqi and the green-clothed girl chatted animatedly, and even the aloof beauty, Yin Ning'er, occasionally joined the conversation. Lin Xiaodie, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking.

It was evident that despite their frequent challenges, Liu Qiqi and the green-clothed girl had a good relationship, and their relationship was more similar to that of best friends.

As the only man present, Zhong Wen couldn't join in the conversation. Instead, he sat quietly, struggling to swallow the unappetizing food, while silently absorbing information from the conversation, trying to enhance his understanding of this world.

The green-clothed girl's name was Zheng Yueting, the daughter of Zheng Gongming, the head of the Golden Knife Sect in Fufeng City. If she rode a unicorn at full speed from the village below the mountain, it would take about an hour to reach Fufeng City. In this world, where transportation was not very developed, the Golden Knife Sect was the closest sect to the Drifting Petal Palace, so they had frequent interactions.

After a chance spar, Zheng Yueting regarded Liu Qiqi as her lifelong rival. Every time she made progress in her cultivation, she would seek a match with Liu Qiqi. Over time, they developed a bond, often speaking harsh words but secretly considering each other as friends.

"Mr. Zhong, you're eating so little. Is the food not to your liking?" Mrs. Wang, seeing that Zhong Wen was not participating in the conversation, kindly approached him.

"The food is excellent, but I recently recovered from a serious injury, and my appetite hasn't fully returned," Zhong Wen replied reluctantly. Then he asked, "By the way, Mrs. Wang, how far is the nearest sea from the Drifting Petal Palace?"

"Mr. Zhong, we're on the mountainside here," Mrs. Wang looked at him as if he were a fool. "And Southland Province is inland, so it's at least a thousand miles away from the sea."

Zhong Wen munched on a piece of radish, which tasted like wax.

"Zhong Wen, is there really a Dragon Palace in the sea? And does it have the Ruyi Jingu Bang?" The little girl, hearing the conversation about the sea, recalled scenes from Journey to the West. She ran to Zhong Wen's side, tugging at his clothes with enthusiasm, and asked, "Is there a Dragon Palace? Please tell me!"

"I don't know if there's a Dragon Palace, but someone once told me that the sea is home to many magical creatures," Zhong Wen replied, patting the girl's head. Her hair was very soft, and touching it felt comfortable. "There are fierce creatures like the 'Sea Overlord' shark, with its sensitive sense of smell, it can detect injured people and animals from thousands of meters away. Its teeth are extremely sharp and can bite through anything. Some whales are nine yards long, and one of their eyeballs is larger than Xiaodie. They can shoot water columns more than ten meters high from the top of their heads."

The little girl exclaimed and began to imagine vividly.

"In the deep sea, there's a type of lanternfish called the 'Lanternback Fish.' It has a glowing 'lantern' on its back. Normally, it hides in the darkness, luring small fish and shrimp to come close, and then it swallows them whole!" Zhong Wen loved the ocean, so he couldn't help getting carried away when talking about it. "There are also various beautiful corals—white, red, black—growing densely in the blue sea, more beautiful than any painting in the world, like a fairyland."

"Wow, Zhong Wen, you know so much! I wish I could see the sea!" The little girl blinked her eyes, looking at Zhong Wen with admiration and longing.

"When my memories fully recover, and if your master agrees, I can take you to see the sea," Zhong Wen said, smiling as he patted the little girl's head again. Her hair was so soft that he found it hard to stop.

At some point, the attention of Liu Qiqi, Yin Ning'er, and Zheng Yueting had all focused on Zhong Wen.

The cute little girl was sitting on the lap of the handsome young man, listening to him talk about various interesting stories and facts. The young man had a magnetic voice, and it seemed to carry a kind of enchanting charm.

The whole scene appeared very heartwarming, and the young man's stories were novel and entertaining, so they were all captivated by them.

Dinner had long since ended, but everyone lingered for a while before going their separate ways. Yin Ning'er took a reluctant Lin Xiaodie to do evening exercises, while Liu Qiqi and Zheng Yueting went to the courtyard to continue sparring. Mrs. Wang went to clean up, and Zhong Wen, with nothing else to do, returned to his room to continue copying Initiatory Learning.

After copying for over an hour, his neck began to ache, so Zhong Wen stood up. After stretching his arms and legs, he started to walk around the room. In his leisure time, he suddenly remembered another miscellaneous book he had collected during the day. At that time, his focus had been on The One Yang Finger and he hadn't had a chance to look at it.

Now, with some free time on his hands, he immersed his mind in the bookshelf in his mind and found the book Record of the Valley of the Medicine King. Countless words flew before his eyes, and after a moment, the contents of the book were stored in his mind without any hindrance.

This perusal surprised him. Record of the Valley of the Medicine King was a diary, and the diarist was the former head of the famous sect "Medicine King Valley" from ancient times. According to the book, this sect primarily focused on the study of spiritual medicine, medical skills, poison techniques, and alchemy. Many renowned medical experts and alchemists belonged to this sect, so despite having average combat capabilities, they had strong connections in the ancient cultivation world. After all, who wouldn't want to establish good relations with doctors?

According to the records in the book, the head of Medicine King Valley possessed remarkable medical skills, to the extent that he could challenge Yama, the King of the Underworld, with his abilities to save lives, heal injuries, and even bring back the dead. Additionally, the sect had a Vice Valley Master who had reached the pinnacle of alchemy, and through the consumption of elixirs, had forcibly pushed himself into the realm of a half-step saint.

Therefore, during ancient times, Medicine King Valley held an exceptional position in the cultivation world. Since it was a diary, Zhong Wen wasn't certain if there were any exaggerated claims within it, and he didn't particularly care.

What shocked him was that the diary mentioned the location of Medicine King Valley. If he understood it correctly, Medicine King Valley was located in the valley of Qingfeng Mountain!

Ever since he discovered that the so-called "ancient divine script" was Chinese characters, Zhong Wen had believed that there was some connection between this world and the world he had crossed from. From that moment on, he had been strongly eager to explore what was referred to as the "ancient era." It was a complex mindset and a search for the source of his soul.

Now that he had found a clue about an ancient sect, he immediately felt an urge to investigate further.

Opening the door, he saw that Liu Qiqi and Zheng Yueting had already finished their sparring and gone to prepare for bed. The courtyard was quiet, with occasional chirping of insects. The moonlight was clear and gentle, casting a translucent veil over the entire courtyard.

Stepping a couple of paces outside, he surveyed his surroundings. Except for his room, there was no source of light in the entire courtyard. In this era, people didn't have a lively nightlife and often went to bed before 9 p.m.

Zhong Wen waited patiently for a moment, estimating that everyone at the Drifting Petal Palace had already gone to sleep. He then removed the glowing stone from the lamp bracket. He had learned from Xiaodie that this stone was called a Spirit Crystal.

Once removed from the lamp bracket, the Spirit Crystal quickly dimmed. Zhong Wen placed it on the table, gently closed his room door, and quietly made his way to the entrance of the courtyard. He slid open the latch and left the Drifting Petal Palace silently.

The mountain was cool on this summer night. Occasionally, a refreshing breeze blew by. After leaving a considerable distance from the Drifting Petal Palace, Zhong Wen no longer restrained himself. He began to run.

In his previous life, he had grown up in a village behind a mountain, and as an active child, he would climb the mountain every day. Therefore, he was familiar with moving in the mountains. He was very proficient in distinguishing directions in the mountains, and under the moonlight, he moved swiftly in the direction of the valley described in Record of the Medicine King Valley.

Half an hour passed, and Zhong Wen began to feel fatigued. Although this body was young, his recent recovery from a serious injury, coupled with his lack of spiritual power cultivation, made him rather weak. Just as he was about to stop for a brief rest, he heard a beastly roar in the distance.

"There's a wild beast!" Zhong Wen's expression changed.

He suddenly realized his carelessness. In his previous life, the mountains he had climbed had long been "cleared", and there were very few dangers from the living creatures. He had forgotten that the mountains were originally the territory of wild beasts.

The roaring grew closer, and Zhong Wen made a quick decision. He used both his hands and feet to climb a tree over two meters tall and huddled tightly on a branch, his eyes peering down through the gaps in the leaves.

Before long, a white tiger, over two meters long, leisurely strolled by beneath the tree.

Such a huge tiger!

Zhong Wen dared not even breathe heavily. He felt cold sweat forming in the palms of his hands, and his heart began to beat faster.

The gigantic white tiger seemed not to notice anything unusual about the tree. It continued on its way, disappearing from Zhong Wen's view after a while.

Zhong Wen felt his limbs go weak, and he stayed on the tree for quite some time before slowly climbing down. He touched his forehead and found it covered in a cold sweat.

After collecting himself, he continued on his way towards the valley. This time, his movements were cautious, and his pace significantly slower, as he didn't want to disturb any wild beasts lurking in the mountains.

Half an hour later, he finally arrived at the entrance of the valley mentioned in the diary. After glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, Zhong Wen approached a section of the mountainside.

The mountainside here appeared barren and indistinguishable from its surroundings. At first glance, anyone would think this path was impassable. It's no wonder that even after decades of residence at Drifting Petal Palace, from the founder to the present, no one has discovered anything unusual here.

Zhong Wen extended his hands and began to feel inch by inch along the stone wall. Suddenly, his right index finger pressed firmly on a low point of the stone wall.

"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"

The stone wall in front of him rotated inward like an automatic revolving door. Zhong Wen quickly followed the direction of the rotating wall, slipping behind it in an instant. The stone wall, once it had completed its rotation, seamlessly blended back into the surrounding mountainside as if nothing had ever happened.

"Has it come to this?" Lin Zhiyun looked at the ledger in her hand, biting her lip and furrowing her delicate eyebrows.

"I don't know what this 'Divine Herb Hall' is, but it's set up right across from us, and they're selling medicinal herbs at half the price of our 'Clear Wind Pavilion.' At this rate, we'll have to close down within two months," Qiao Er'niang said with a sense of helplessness.

"How is the quality of their medicinal herbs?"

"I had someone investigate, and while their quality is far from the herbs produced on Clear Wind Mountain, it's still passable. Ordinary people might not be able to tell the difference."

"In that case, it seems like 'Divine Herb Hall' is pricing their herbs too low."

"You're right. Even if they raised prices by twenty or thirty percent, they could still do business. But they shamelessly came here to wage a price war," Qiao Er'niang said indignantly. "Madam Lin, it seems like they might be targeting us. We need to prepare for it."

"They're not stealing or robbing from us; they're just selling at a lower price. We can't go confront them about it," Lin Zhiyun's brow furrowed even more tightly.

She wasn't skilled in business, to begin with, and the recent string of unfortunate events had left her feeling overwhelmed.

"Should we consider... lowering our prices too?" Qiao Er'niang asked tentatively.

"Er'niang, you should make a call on it. If we really can't endure it, then we'll lower the prices a bit. As for the issue of insufficient funds, I'll think of a solution," Lin Zhiyun sounded somewhat disheartened.

Lin Zhiyun was kind-hearted and treated her subordinates well, but her gentle personality seemed too weak and indecisive in the eyes of Qiao Er'niang, especially for someone involved in the business. Watching Lin Zhiyun's retreating figure, Qiao Er'niang sighed, filled with worry about the future of the Clear Wind Pavilion.