Several stalks of silver-white grass grew in the cracks of the fourth volcano, their leaves long and slender as needles, with silver dewdrops on their tips. Silver Flame Grass—it could be used to refine healing pills. Xiao Yun flew to the edge of the crack and reached out to pick them. The dew clung to his hand, icy to the touch.
At the rim of the fifth volcano's crater grew a fiery-red lingzhi. It was the size of a washbasin, with golden patterns across its surface, and gave off a rich medicinal fragrance. Fire Lingzhi—a spiritual herb rarely seen even once in a thousand years. Xiao Yun harvested the lingzhi by the roots and stored it in his Soul Tool.
Spirit Flame Maiden followed behind Xiao Yun, watching the way he gathered the herbs, her eyes full of admiration.
She could sense that when Xiao Yun harvested herbs, he was not merely picking them; he was also sensing each plant's medicinal properties, age, and quality.
His movements were very light, very steady, as though he were caressing a precious work of art.
"Lord Xiao Yun, have you gathered herbs before?" Spirit Flame Maiden could not help asking.
"I have."
"Where did you gather them?"
"A very distant place."
Spirit Flame Maiden asked no more. She could tell Xiao Yun did not want to say much. The two of them continued gathering herbs.
The first volcano, the second volcano, the third volcano, the fourth volcano, the fifth volcano—each volcano was left with their footprints.
After harvesting the herbs, Xiao Yun brought Spirit Flame Maiden to the mouth of the first dormant volcano. The crater was very deep, and they could see earthfire flowing in its depths. Magma moved slowly at the bottom of the crater, letting out gurgling sounds.
In the