Chapter 80: Searching for Medicinal Herbs

Chapter 80: Searching for Medicinal Herbs

"What can I do for you, young masters?"

As Mu Feng and his companions entered the shop, a gray-robed attendant quickly approached.

"Do you have Fire Flame Grass?" Mu Feng asked directly.

"Yes, we do. How much do you need?"

The attendant's enthusiasm grew. Fire Flame Grass was a rare Tier-3 herb, bordering on a spiritual herb.

"How much do you have?"

"We have thirteen stalks in stock. Would you like to see them all?"

"Bring them all here."

The attendant hurried away and returned with several wooden boxes. Each contained a stalk of vibrant red Fire Flame Grass.

Mu Feng picked one up, examined it, and nodded. "I'll take them all. Do you have any other Tier-3 fire-element herbs?"

"I'm afraid not," the attendant said apologetically. "Tier-3 herbs are rare, and the Fire Flame Grass is all we have. We do have Tier-1 and Tier-2 fire herbs, though."

Mu Feng frowned. Xi Yue's voice echoed in his mind, "You need at least Tier-3 herbs. Lower-tier ones won't generate enough energy to form a fire seed."

"I only want Tier-3 herbs," Mu Feng said.

The attendant nodded sheepishly. "In that case, I'm sorry. Tier-3 herbs are usually found deep within Yan Valley, where fierce beasts abound. Few herbalists venture there, so such herbs are scarce."

"What now, Brother Feng?" Mu Kuang asked.

"Let's head into the valley ourselves to gather herbs," Bai Ziyue suggested.

"Looks like we don't have a choice," Mu Feng sighed. He paid over 2,000 gold coins with his golden card, collected the Fire Flame Grass, and left the shop.

The trio found an inn, stabled their horses, and checked into a room. After a hot bath, Mu Feng donned a fresh black combat robe and began refining the Fire Flame Grass into pills.

He warmed up the cauldron and placed a stalk inside. To his surprise, the herb was highly heat-resistant, taking over half an hour to refine into liquid form. After removing the impurities, he condensed the liquid into a red pill using his Qi.

"This will do for now. Let's call it a Fire Essence Pill," Mu Feng remarked, smiling as he examined the pill.

Over the next few hours, he refined all thirteen stalks into twelve pills, losing one due to a mistake. Exhausted but satisfied, he consumed two pills and began absorbing the fiery energy into his Purple Core Dantian.

The next morning, Mu Feng completed his cultivation. His body now contained a substantial reserve of fire energy, and his Nine Flame Fist was nearing mastery.

After breakfast with Mu Kuang and Bai Ziyue, the three set off on foot toward Yan Valley.

The small town was about ten miles from the volcanic range. As they approached, the oppressive heat and the sight of black smoke rising from the peaks replaced any trace of winter.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur, and the trio consumed antidote pills to counter the toxins. The terrain was barren, with low shrubs replacing tall trees. Narrow paths, carved by herbalists and adventurers, snaked through the rugged landscape.

Following one of these paths, they trekked over thirty miles. The temperature soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, and the paths became sparse. Occasionally, they spotted low-grade herbs, but their goal remained elusive.

Suddenly, they stopped. Ahead lay a mangled corpse on a rock, stripped of most flesh and leaving behind gnawed bones.

"Stay alert. We're in beast territory now," Mu Feng warned.

Mu Kuang drew his blade, while Bai Ziyue rested a hand on his sword hilt, ready for action.

They advanced cautiously, scanning for herbs. Mu Feng's sharp eyes caught a flash of red in a rock crevice—a stalk of Fire Flame Grass. He carefully uprooted it, leaving part of the root intact to ensure regrowth, and stored it in a wooden box.

Their progress was interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream. The trio rushed toward the sound, keeping low.

A lone herbalist in green robes was crawling on the ground, his face twisted in terror. One of his legs was missing, and a massive wolf, nearly three meters long, was gnawing on the severed limb.

The wolf's red-tinged fur and glowing crimson eyes marked it as a Purple Core beast: a Crimson Wolf.

"Stay back!"

The herbalist's desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. After devouring the leg, the wolf turned to its prey, pinning the man and biting into his arm. It tore into his belly, pulling out entrails as the man's agonized screams filled the air.

"Brother Feng, we have to do something!" Mu Kuang urged.

"Kill it," Mu Feng ordered coldly.

The three leapt from behind the rocks, attacking from different angles.

Mu Feng flicked his fingers, unleashing two golden streaks of energy that pierced the wolf's hind legs.

Thud! Thud!

The Crimson Wolf howled in pain, collapsing as its legs gave out.