Crimson Cloud Scarlet Tempering Fruit!

Honestly, if Wu Yingying's strength had been even remotely decent just now, Zhao Chen would not have been so speechless.

Wu Yingying came from a major family faction, and her Spirit Body was even one level higher than Zhan Xiong's, yet that was all she could manage.

"It's not that—you didn't see how burly he was!"

Although Wu Yingying was thrilled that Zhao Chen had given her these spirit herbs, she felt wronged too.

Against an opponent like Zhao Chen, she could simply grab her Snow White Dagger and charge in.

But Zhan Xiong was not only huge and powerfully built, he also wielded a Wolf Tooth Club.

That Wolf Tooth Club was massive. It was terrifying, alright?

She had not even managed to display her normal strength.

"Next time, I definitely won't be like that."

Wu Yingying hugged the spirit herbs, her face splitting into a grin.

So, the quickest way to get spirit herbs was not to search for and gather them—it was to wait for someone else to deliver them.

At this rate, it should not take her long to break through to a Third-Level Spirit Body.

Zhao Chen shook his head. Better not count on her.

If he had not struck first, Zhan Cheng and Zhan Xiong might well have dragged things out until nightfall before making their move.

His time was too precious. How could he waste it here?

"Do you know which way the Guardian Land is?"

Zhao Chen was certainly not especially familiar with the Spirit Road.

People like Wu Yingying, who came from major family factions, had participated in the Spirit Road in previous years. She definitely knew the general situation.

Finding one of the five Guardian Lands should not be a problem.

More importantly, Wu Yingying had said she would wait for her older brother at the Guardian Land.

There were five Guardian Lands. If they did not know the details, how could they arrange to meet at one?

"Of course I do!"

Wu Yingying had figured it out. Her chances of recovering her Crimson Token were truly slim.

Her plan to find that Little Thief and teach him a vicious lesson was also hopeless.

Now, the only option left was to meet up at the Guardian Land. Naturally, she would cooperate.

"We need to cross a mountain."

Wu Yingying thought for a moment before continuing, "There might be powerful spirit beasts inside, so we need to be careful."

There were other routes they could take around it.

But that would take a long time.

Time was precious... well, really, she was just worried something unexpected might happen along the way.

Wu Yingying was feeling miserable. This Spirit Road expedition had practically nothing to do with her anymore.

As long as she could survive and leave the Spirit Road, that would be enough!

"Then let's go!"

After traveling for a while, a strange mountain appeared before them.

The mountain was strange because, unlike ordinary mountains covered entirely in dense forests, its upper half was completely bare.

"There must be something good up there."

When Wu Yingying saw the mountain, her eyes lit up.

Based on its peculiar appearance alone, she was certain of it.

"Why?"

Zhao Chen frowned and asked.

At most, he found the mountain strange. He certainly would not immediately assume, as Wu Yingying did, that it contained something valuable.

"Look. One half is bare, while the other is covered in dense forest."

Wu Yingying puffed out her chest and said excitedly:

"Do you know why the upper part is bare? Under normal circumstances, when the surrounding area is covered in dense forest, it cannot be because of a lack of water or anything like that. It must be because the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth has been absorbed by something!"

"What could absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth so powerfully? It must be a high-grade spirit herb!"

She grew extremely excited as she spoke.

She had never expected the spirit herb knowledge she had learned before to be useful here so quickly.

"A high-quality spirit herb?"

Zhao Chen's eyes brightened, and he immediately asked, "Then there should be a powerful spirit beast beside it, right?"

Suddenly, something came back to him.

Could this be the place with a Level 4 Spirit Beast?

Based on what Zhao Chen knew about the Spirit Road, this strange mountain should be where the Crimson Cloud Scarlet Tempering Fruit grew.

Such a special spirit herb would certainly be guarded by an exceptionally powerful spirit beast.

So-called guarding was really just waiting for the fruit to ripen, then consuming it to increase its own strength.

"There definitely is. Even ordinary spirit herbs are guarded by fierce beasts."

As Wu Yingying said this, her excitement immediately faded somewhat.

Mainly because she realized that the spirit beast in question was probably the strongest creature in this entire area.

Otherwise, how could a place so obviously containing a spirit herb have no spirit beasts fighting over it?

The Fire Python Tiger and Iron Wing Bird from before had fought over the Fire Fragrance Orchid, had they not?

"Do you think it could be a Level 4 Spirit Beast?"

Wu Yingying swallowed, suddenly not daring to head toward the mountain.

A Level 4 Spirit Beast was unimaginably powerful.

The Level 3 Spirit Beast, the Netherworld Wolf King, had already been terrifying enough. A Level 4 Spirit Beast would be even worse.

Just thinking about it made Wu Yingying feel as though she could barely breathe.

"Probably. Let's not rush up there yet."

Zhao Chen thought for a moment and said:

"Let's first find and kill a Level 2 Spirit Beast to raise our strength a little, then head up."

He did this because he believed the next sign-in mission would surely include a requirement to kill a Level 4 Spirit Beast.

Level 4 Spirit Beasts were not easy to find.

Just like with this sign-in mission, Zhao Chen had gone through the trouble of wiping out the Netherworld Wolf Pack, yet he was still short of one Level 2 Spirit Beast.

Rather than waste an opportunity to kill a Level 4 Spirit Beast, he might as well make good use of it.

"There are definitely Level 2 Spirit Beasts in the forest below the mountainside."

Wu Yingying did not suspect anything. Killing spirit beasts to improve one's Spirit Body was perfectly normal.

Although Zhao Chen was already a Third-Level Spirit Body, if the spirit beast at the summit was Level 4, the gap between them would still be enormous.

To be safe, they should kill some spirit beasts before going up to set their sights on that spirit herb.

Wu Yingying was somewhat looking forward to Zhao Chen killing the Level 4 Spirit Beast. Then, she might get a share of the spirit herb.

"How about killing a few more Level 2 Spirit Beasts? Or should we find a Level 3 Spirit Beast to kill, just to be safe?"

She offered a small suggestion. That way, it would be easier to fight the Level 4 Spirit Beast later.

Well, she was referring to herself.

As a Second-Level Spirit Body, if anyone expected Wu Yingying to contribute much offensive power, they would be better off hoping the Level 4 Spirit Beast was severely wounded and on the verge of death.

Zhao Chen's mouth twitched. Did she think Level 3 Spirit Beasts were something one could casually find everywhere?

They were still near the starting area. How could there be so many Level 3 Spirit Beasts?

"We'll see. If we find one, we'll fight it. If not, forget it."

Zhao Chen led Wu Yingying directly up the strange mountain. There should be quite a few spirit beasts in the dense forest below the mountainside.

When it came to finding spirit beasts, it was time to rely on Wu Yingying.

"This way."

Wu Yingying wrinkled her nose slightly, then pointed toward the upper right and continued:

"A cunning, treacherous, venomous Level 2 Spirit Beast—the Spring Vine Snake."