Purple Blood Spirit Mushroom Secured, Departure!

Lu Xuan originally had 2 System Points on his System Panel. In other words, killing this Mutated Beast had netted him a full 15 System Points.

Yet a trace of disappointment appeared in Lu Xuan's eyes.

The System Points gained from this Mutated Beast still fell far short of those he had received from the black Ghost Shadow he had encountered in Willow Ditch Village.

Then Lu Xuan looked at the Cultivation Technique on the System Panel, his heart jolting as disbelief filled him.

Hmm?

Why had Wind Chasing Steps still not prompted a derivation? Could it be that he still did not have enough System Points?

How was that possible!

If it had been the Blazing Fire Blade Art from before, these System Points would have been enough to derive it to sixty or seventy percent completion.

Yet now, they were not even enough to derive the first stage of Wind Chasing Steps!

Hiss!

Lu Xuan's emotions churned wildly as he fell into deep self-doubt.

Just what extent had the system's derivation perfected Wind Chasing Steps to?

Was that why the mysteries within Wind Chasing Steps were even more obscure and difficult to comprehend than those of the Blazing Fire Blade Art, requiring more points for derivation?

That should be it. Lu Xuan formed a rough guess in his heart.

Forget it. Lu Xuan suppressed the doubts in his mind and stopped dwelling on the matter.

It was already noon, and time was running short. He should find the Purple Blood Spirit Mushroom, then hurry back to the County Town.

Lu Xuan glanced at the Mutated Beast on the ground, already burned into black charcoal. Sparks from the Crimson Flame Blade Art had ignited the dead trees around it, and the raging flames were steadily spreading outward.

Same old routine!

Lu Xuan moved, sweeping up the damp earth from the ground. It surged into the sky like a tsunami, blotting out the heavens and covering the earth.

It then buried the burning trees until it formed a small mountain. The raging flames beneath the damp soil were all extinguished.

Afterward, Lu Xuan continued in his original direction until he spotted a deep, dark cave entrance.

Only then did Lu Xuan stop, his eyes sweeping over the surroundings.

The ground outside the cave entrance was strewn with the bones of all kinds of creatures, while abundant vegetation grew around them.

At that moment, the corners of Lu Xuan's lips slowly curled upward, delight plain across his face.

He had not expected another unexpected harvest.

He discovered several kinds of Great Supplement Medicine and rare medicinal herbs outside the cave entrance!

Blood Ginseng?

Aphrodisiac Grass?

Golden Thread Fleeceflower Root?

Snow Lotus?

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Xuan immediately took out the thick cloth he had prepared from his chest. He had intended to use it to hold Great Supplement Medicine.

In less than half an hour, Lu Xuan had packed up the Great Supplement Medicine.

Of course, Lu Xuan had not harvested all the medicinal herbs on the ground. He only selected some of the more precious Great Supplement Medicine, because the thick cloth he had brought could not hold any more.

Lu Xuan paid no further attention to the herbs on the ground and walked straight toward the cave entrance.

Upon reaching it, Lu Xuan immediately looked at the massive boulder on the ground at the cave entrance.

A dark red spirit mushroom grew beside the boulder, its surface dotted with faint purple spots.

Purple Blood Spirit Mushroom!

A Great Supplement Medicine whose medicinal potency was more than ten times stronger than Crimson Essence Ganoderma.

Lu Xuan raised his right hand and swiftly pressed it against the boulder. With a push backward, he easily overturned the one-meter-tall boulder, sending it rolling aside.

Then Lu Xuan bent down, gently picked up the Purple Blood Spirit Mushroom, and crammed it into his already crowded bundle.

The next moment, Lu Xuan leapt up, landing atop a towering tree before sprinting down the mountain.

Now that he was heading down the mountain, there was no need to follow the path step by step.

He had followed the road up the mountain earlier because he feared missing the marks Zhang Heng had left behind.

Now that the Purple Blood Spirit Mushroom was in hand, there was no need to do so.

"What!"

"Zhang Dachun, don't you know Tongling Peak is dangerous now?"

"You actually dared let a distinguished guest from the County Town go up the mountain alone. Have you lost your mind?"

At the foot of Reaching Peak Ridge, more than a dozen plainly dressed Big Men had gathered on the small path Lu Xuan had taken up the mountain.

They were the martial artist guard squad of Chenpo Village.

The sturdy man being scolded was Zhang Dachun, who had brought Lu Xuan into the village.

"Brother Xiong, it's all my fault. That distinguished guest told me he was only gathering some herbs not far from the foot of the mountain and wouldn't go too far."

"Who knew that distinguished guest would be gone for several hours? I was just worried something might have happened to him."

It turned out that Zhang Dachun had grown worried after Lu Xuan had been gone for so long, so he hurriedly went to summon the village guard squad.

And the one who had just reprimanded Zhang Dachun was the captain of the martial artist guard squad, Chen Xiong!

The strongest person in Chenpo Village's Martial Realm, a martial artist who had reached major completion in Flesh Refining.

"Then what do we do now, Brother Xiong?"

Zhang Dachun spoke again, worried that Lu Xuan might encounter the wild beasts on the mountain.

When Zhang Dachun asked, Chen Xiong, who stood at the front, looked troubled as well, uncertain what to do.

The beasts that now lived atop Tongling Peak had all moved down to the mountainside, making it perilous at every turn.

Chen Xiong could not rashly lead the village's martial artist guards up the mountain. Risking their lives for an unfamiliar distinguished guest was an extremely unwise choice.

Just as they were caught in a knot of indecision, a cry of alarm rang out from the crowd.

"Brother Xiong, look! There's someone over on Reaching Peak Ridge! That person looks like he's flying!"

Chen Xiong, Zhang Dachun, and the others all looked up toward Reaching Peak Ridge.

They saw a blurry figure stepping across the treetops and leaping down from the mountain.

That figure was Lu Xuan, descending from the summit.

At the sight, everyone present wore stunned expressions.

What was this?

A person flying through the sky?

A heavy thud sounded as Lu Xuan landed on the ground.

However, Lu Xuan looked in confusion at the dozen or so unfamiliar Big Men ahead of him, all of whom stared at him as though they had seen a ghost.

Who were these people?

Before Lu Xuan could remain confused for long, Zhang Dachun stepped out from the crowd and hurried over to his side.

"Distinguished guest, are you all right?"

"They're the village's martial artist guard squad. I was worried something might happen to you, so I went and called them over."

After Zhang Dachun finished speaking, the others snapped out of their shock and walked over as well.

When Chen Xiong, who led them, saw Lu Xuan's tall, upright figure and extraordinary bearing, his eyes filled with astonishment.

It seemed the distinguished guest from the County Town Zhang Dachun had spoken of was not merely of noble status—he was also a martial arts expert with formidable abilities.

"I see. Then I thank you all for your concern."

"It is getting late, and I still need to return to the County Town. Gentlemen, I shall take my leave."

Not long afterward, at the entrance of Chenpo Village, Lu Xuan rode away on horseback in the direction away from the village.

At the village gate, Chen Xiong and the others were still immersed in the astonishing sight of Lu Xuan descending from the sky, unable to forget it for a long while.

At last, Chen Xiong placed a hand on Zhang Dachun's shoulder and murmured softly, "To possess such ability at such a young age, he truly must be one of those great family scions from the County Town!"

"You brat really stepped in dog shit and got lucky!"

"Hehe!"

Receiving Chen Xiong's praise, Zhang Dachun merely gave a few honest chuckles and said nothing.