Spiritual Medicine and Demonic Beasts

Zhao Ping'an, lost in his cultivation, didn't even notice the passage of time. It wasn't until a sudden surge of information flooded his mind that he realized the Soaring Dragon Void Steps had been deduced to completion without him even noticing.

The new technique was named Flying Dragon Crossing.

[Flying Dragon Crossing (Mysterious Tier Martial Art): 0/1500 (Entry, Simplified) Run 5,000 kilometers continuously to gain 1 point of training progress.]

"As expected, the proficiency requirement increased from one kilometer per point to five kilometers per point," Zhao Ping'an murmured calmly, looking at the training conditions for Flying Dragon Crossing.

Although the training difficulty of Flying Dragon Crossing had increased fivefold, the effects of its completion, according to the information he received, were truly monstrous.

Just reaching the Entry stage was equivalent to the speed of Soaring Dragon Void Steps at its Perfect stage. Not to mention the subsequent stages of Proficient, Mastered, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfect.

Once fully cultivated, its speed could only be described as lightning fast.

Unfortunately, using it required a prerequisite—True Essence.

True Essence was a power possessed by cultivators in the Martial Venerable Realm. It was a qualitative leap, achieved by condensing Qi from a gaseous state into a liquid state.

Zhao Ping'an's body cultivation and pure strength had reached the Martial Venerable Realm, but his internal Qi was still at the Great Grandmaster level.

However, it wouldn't be long. Once his Primordial Chaos Art reached its limit of Perfect, the Qi within him would condense into True Essence.

At that time, he would be able to unleash Flying Dragon Crossing.

Of course, this didn't affect his training of Flying Dragon Crossing; he just couldn't use it yet.

That same evening, Zhao Ping'an's Primordial Chaos Art advanced to the ninth level.

From the Second Day onwards, his life returned to its usual calm.

Since the Deduction Points had been largely depleted again, the remaining amount was insufficient to deduce and upgrade Primordial Chaos Art to the Mysterious Tier. Therefore, Zhao Ping'an's cultivation returned to his previously established plan.

However, he made a small modification, dedicating the two hours before breakfast to cultivating Primordial Chaos Art as well, aiming to balance the progress of his body cultivation and realm cultivation.

Zhao Ping'an's life resumed its peaceful cultivation routine, day after day.

Half a month later, the butler reported that the fourth-tier Spiritual Medicine, the Ice Fire Snow Lotus, which the Sun Family had planted in the mountain spring three years ago, had just sprouted a tender shoot.

This meant that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, a fourth-tier Spiritual Medicine would mature on Wu'an Mountain in ten to several decades.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ping'an didn't have that much time to wait. Who knew what level he would have reached in over a decade? He would have long since outgrown fourth-tier Spiritual Medicine.

Zhao Ping'an merely nodded calmly, acknowledging the information.

However, he still wrote a letter to inform his Master, Zheng Hetong, of the news. While he might not need it, his Master might find it useful.

But what he didn't know was that as the Ice Fire Snow Lotus sprouted, a subtle fragrance, imperceptible to humans, began to spread rapidly in all directions.

Deep within a valley more than twenty miles from Wu'an Mountain, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, its sound carrying for miles.

Following this, a massive demonic beast, over three meters long and covered in fine black scales, resembling a wild boar in appearance, charged out of the valley, known to the mountain folk as Soul Severing Valley, at extreme speed, heading towards the distance.

Its direction of travel was precisely Wu'an Mountain.

The purpose was obvious: the fourth-tier Spiritual Medicine.

Furthermore, in several deep mountain forests where human traces were rare, various demonic beasts were leaving their territories, roaring and charging towards the same direction.

It was just that the boar-like creature was the closest and the first to smell the medicinal fragrance.

This was also due to Zhao Ping'an's lack of experience in cultivating Spiritual Medicine. As for the herb farmers, they only knew the properties of low-tier Spiritual Medicine and had no experience with mid-tier Spiritual Medicine that had already reached the fourth tier.

Let alone others; this was their first time encountering it, and they knew even less than Zhao Ping'an.

Previously, the Sun Family, upon discovering the fourth-tier Spiritual Medicine on Wu'an Mountain, had immediately sprinkled specially made medicinal powder around it to neutralize the scent constantly emitted by the Spiritual Medicine, preventing third-tier or even fourth-tier demonic beasts from being attracted.

This included sprinkling special medicinal powder near third-tier Spiritual Medicine to neutralize the scent. As for first and second-tier ones, it was unnecessary. Firstly, the scent was too weak to travel far, not even leaving Wu'an Mountain. Secondly, the first and second-tier demonic beasts attracted posed no threat and could even improve their meals.

Unfortunately, those who sprinkled the medicinal powder before were all direct descendants of the Sun Family. The herb farmers did not know, and Zhao Ping'an and the new steward knew even less.

After Zhao Ping'an sent someone to deliver a letter to South Ridge City, he continued his daily cultivation. His Primordial Chaos Art was not far from Ninth Level Perfection.

Around 9 PM that night, Zhao Ping'an, who was meditating on his bed, absorbing the heaven and earth spiritual energy, suddenly heard a roar, followed by the shouts and screams of the patrolling guards.

Because low-tier demonic beasts were often attracted, Zhao Ping'an did not pay attention.

But this time was clearly different. Soon, guards rushed to his pavilion and knocked forcefully on his door.

"My lord! A fourth-tier demonic beast has appeared. Judging by its appearance, it's an adult Black Armored Boar. Several of our brothers have already been killed or injured!"

Before Zhao Ping'an could ask, the guard reported loudly.

"A fourth-tier demonic beast? A Black Armored Boar? Could it be?"

"Understood!"

Upon hearing the report, Zhao Ping'an immediately stopped cultivating. After a self-mutter, he shouted loudly to the outside.

Then, he leaped directly out of his bedroom window, moving like a phantom towards the source of the roar.

A section of the fence on the northwest corner of Wu'an Mountain lay scattered on the ground. Twenty guards formed a large circle, keeping a distance from the Black Armored Boar, none daring to approach and seek death.

Those who dared to approach now lay as mangled corpses around the Black Armored Boar, parts of their bodies gnawed beyond recognition, a scene of extreme gore.

"Has the lord been notified? This is a demonic beast equivalent to a Grandmaster realm expert. We can't even scratch its scales!"

"Quan Taihe, who has the best Qinggong, has already been sent. He should have notified the lord by now. We just need to surround it. Once the lord arrives, this beast's death day will be here!"

"Everyone be careful, and be ready to dodge the boar's charge at any moment!"

Several leading Martial Artists communicated loudly, while others continuously shouted to keep the Black Armored Boar's attention, disorienting it and buying more time.

"Beast! You court death!"

Suddenly, a low shout rang out, followed by a figure appearing like a phantom beside the Black Armored Boar. A Qi Great Saber flashed across its neck.