Chapter 82: The Secret Sprout of the Blood Sun

After traveling for several miles, a sudden delicate fragrance drifted into their nostrils. Upon inhaling, it brought a sense of tranquility and freshness to the mind.

Bloodsun Secret Sprout!

Lin Xiaobao was startled. Under Old Mo’s meticulous cultivation, there were hardly any medicinal herbs left in the world that Lin Xiaobao could not identify.

According to Old Mo’s classification, the Bloodsun Secret Sprout was a fifth-grade herb. Even the Wind and Snow Pavilion’s fourth-tier fire elemental beast’s core was only considered eighth-grade.

The conditions for the Bloodsun Secret Sprout to form were extremely harsh. First, the place of growth had to be stained with the blood of a powerful cultivator, and only the blood of one at the Dao Fusion stage would suffice. Yet, such instances where a Dao Fusion master bled were exceedingly rare.

Secondly, the area must be saturated with dense spiritual energy and exposed to sunlight over an extended period. The Bloodsun Secret Sprout required nearly ten thousand years to mature. In all likelihood, it would have been picked or devoured by a spirit beast long before maturity. Yet from the scent, Lin Xiaobao sensed that this sprout was on the verge of ripening—perhaps in a month, a day, or even the next hour...

Though Lin Xiaobao was now adept at recognizing herbs, being precise about their ripening time was still beyond his skill.

“Since you two little ones have come, why bother hiding?” A voice sounded in their ears. Lin Xiaobao and Si Mengling looked around, yet saw no one, their expressions growing wary.

Lin Xiaobao's spiritual sense became even more refined, covering every tiny nook and cranny without missing a spot. Still, not a single trace of anyone could be found, though the voice revealed the speaker was not far.

“Cease using your spiritual sense. Walk forward five hundred meters and you’ll see me.” The voice sounded again, calm and indifferent.

Meeting Si Mengling’s gaze, Lin Xiaobao led her forward. Judging by the display of power, if there were any malice, they would be powerless to resist. Moreover, the voice carried no hint of hostility—at least, not at this moment.

They hurried ahead, crossing a small hill. Ahead lay a depression, which Lin Xiaobao had already spotted with his spiritual sense, but now his eyes saw something more—a middle-aged man in his forties, reclining upon the ground. He seemed almost to merge with the earth and sky. In front of him stood a Bloodsun Secret Sprout.

Around the sprout was an array formation, though Lin Xiaobao could not discern its nature. The array gathered the surrounding blazing sunlight, focusing it upon the sprout like a magnifying glass.

Observing the unknown array, Lin Xiaobao felt perplexed. If this man was the one who forcibly broke through the previous arrays to enter, then his mastery of formations should have allowed him to pass with ease. Why would he resort to brute force?

The array appeared simple, yet contained a profound understanding of formations, turning the ordinary into the miraculous. Even with Lin Xiaobao’s current expertise, he could not create such a sophisticated array.

Beside the Bloodsun Secret Sprout lay the corpse of a Shadow Demon Wolf. Judging by the congealed blood, the commotion three nights ago must have involved this man and the wolf.

The Shadow Demon Wolf was a seventh-tier spirit beast, equivalent to the first to third stage of the Dao Embryo realm. Yet from the disturbance that night, their battle seemed brief, or the wolf was slain instantly. Clearly, the strength of this middle-aged man was extraordinary.

“Junior Lin Xiaobao and Si Mengling greet the elder!” Having vaguely guessed the man’s cultivation, Lin Xiaobao bowed respectfully.

“Are you here for the ancient seal?” The man pointed to a nearly transparent gate nearby, upon which flowed countless strange and cryptic symbols.

Guided by his gesture, Lin Xiaobao finally saw the location of the ancient seal. “Indeed, we have come for the ancient seal.”

“Though you managed to break the two outer arrays, the ancient seal is beyond your abilities. You’d best return and fetch your elders.” The man seemed uninterested in keeping them.

“In that case, we shall take our leave.” Lin Xiaobao said, and with Si Mengling’s surprised look, turned to depart.

“We’re just leaving?” Si Mengling transmitted, unwilling.

Lin Xiaobao replied immediately, “Did you not see the array around the Bloodsun Secret Sprout? His mastery is unmatched, even if you gathered all the experts of Wind and Snow Pavilion and Flowing Cloud Sect. If he cannot break the ancient seal, our presence here is pointless. Also, the sprout is about to mature, and he’s clearly guarding it. If we arouse his suspicion, he could kill us without hesitation. Unless you believe you’re stronger than the Shadow Demon Wolf?”

Si Mengling cast a reluctant glance at the gate of the ancient seal, but ultimately followed Lin Xiaobao away.

“But I find it odd,” Lin Xiaobao transmitted to Si Mengling, though it seemed as if he was asking himself. “The Bloodsun Secret Sprout is rare, but it can only be used to refine Yin Pills, which shouldn’t serve much purpose for this elder. Why is he so invested?”

“You know about Yin Pills?” The middle-aged man appeared before them, barring their path.

“You can hear our transmissions?” Lin Xiaobao was shocked. Transmission was a martial technique, and at the Spirit Dao stage, even if the opponent’s cultivation was higher by a tier or two, they could not intercept it. Lin Xiaobao was confident in his spiritual sense—only those with a Dao Manifestation could possibly intercept him. Could this man be such a figure...?

“What is your relationship with the Pill King, Long Xinghe? How can you possibly know about Yin Pills?” The man’s expression grew urgent.

“Pill King? Long Xinghe?” Lin Xiaobao shook his head. “I have never met this person.”

“Impossible. Other than Long Xinghe, who else in the world can refine Yin Pills?” The man’s aura pressed down, leaving Lin Xiaobao struggling to stand.

Such powerful pressure! Lin Xiaobao steadied himself and said, “Is refining Yin Pills really that troublesome? Must it be a Pill King?”

Pill King? Such a title must be akin to Old Dan, Lin Xiaobao mused. In his memory, Yin Pills were simply difficult due to rare ingredients, but the process itself was not overly complex.

“Then tell me, how are Yin Pills refined?” The man unconsciously took a step forward.

“To refine Yin Pills, earth yin fire is best, though Nether Ghost Fire works as well. If you can obtain the supreme Taiyi True Fire, that would be perfection. The main ingredient is Bloodsun Secret Sprout, with soul-recall grass as an agent, aided by Violet Frost Ginseng and Profound Ice Bud. The process takes forty-nine days.”

As Lin Xiaobao finished, the man’s expression shifted from surprise to excitement and agitation...