The best external item to push Su Yuan's final two dimensions to evolve wasn't Blood Lingzhi alone.
The Grey Mirror had provided dozens of options.
Blood Lingzhi was the most suitable external item for Su Yuan because it was located deep in the Southern Frontier Hundred Thousand Mountains, in a place called Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley.
The Southern Frontier was also where Zhou Pharmaceutical's Zhou Family originated, and the latter held considerable influence over the former.
Zhou Pharmaceutical had even established dozens of herb-gathering teams in the Southern Frontier Hundred Thousand Mountains.
With Zhou Pharmaceutical's influence, it would be much easier for Su Yuan to obtain Blood Lingzhi. He might not even need to act personally.
As for the dozens of options besides Blood Lingzhi? They were either too far away or subject to numerous restrictions.
Blood Lingzhi was the simplest choice.
"Tang Zhien should have everything ready by now, as I instructed."
Su Yuan thought to himself, then got up and left the villa.
The Zhou Family's old residence.
It was an estate steeped in traditional Chinese style, with a small bridge over flowing water, green tiles, and red walls.
In the main building, Tang Zhien sat with a phone in his hand, speaking on a call.
"Is everything ready?"
"Wait for my orders before you act."
Tang Zhien hung up after speaking.
A trace of worry appeared on his face.
"I wonder what Sir wants to do in Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley."
Tang Zhien knew all too well just how dangerous Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley in the Southern Frontier Hundred Thousand Mountains was.
It was considered one of the forbidden zones in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Over the past several centuries, almost none of the herb-gathering teams or individuals who had accidentally entered Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley had come out alive.
Countless strange snakes lived in Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley. Rumor had it that the legendary Snake Mother was there, too. Even Huajin Grandmasters only dared to observe from the valley's edge; they wouldn't venture too deep.
Although he was deeply wary—even terrified—of Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley,
a few days ago, Tang Zhien had received Su Yuan's instructions to assemble a new herb-gathering team and have them enter Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley in the Hundred Thousand Mountains today.
Tang Zhien had immediately begun making preparations. He gathered the most experienced herb gatherers from the dozens of teams Zhou Pharmaceutical had established in the Southern Frontier and formed the team Su Yuan wanted.
Naturally, those experienced herb gatherers had been unwilling to enter Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley once they learned that was their destination. Tang Zhien had to use all sorts of methods to force them to agree.
"With Xiao Yu there, even if the herb gatherers have other ideas, they won't be able to cause much trouble."
Tang Zhien considered the matter.
The "Xiao Yu" he was referring to was Zhou Yu.
He was a trusted subordinate Tang Zhien had raised in the Southern Frontier. Tang Zhien had taken him in as a child and even given him the Zhou surname.
Zhou Yu was absolutely loyal to Tang Zhien and Zhou Pharmaceutical.
He also had considerable talent in National Martial Arts and was now a Dark Force Grandmastery expert.
With Zhou Yu leading the team, the herb gatherers wouldn't dare defy orders.
"Unfortunately..."
Tang Zhien sighed inwardly.
Having Zhou Yu lead the herb-gathering team was indeed the safest option.
But they were heading to Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley in the Hundred Thousand Mountains... Tang Zhien had already prepared himself for Zhou Yu to perish there.
To be precise, Tang Zhien had prepared himself for the entire team to perish.
After all, it was Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley. Was Su Yuan really ordering the team to venture deep inside?
Just as Tang Zhien was lost in thought,
a voice suddenly came from beside him.
"How are the preparations?"
Tang Zhien jolted awake. He immediately stood and bowed slightly toward the person before him. "Everything is ready, just as you instructed, Sir."
After their previous encounter on the top floor of the hospital, Tang Zhien had grown so accustomed to Su Yuan silently passing through the Zhou Family's many layers of security that he almost took it for granted.
"Good."
Su Yuan nodded.
In fact, he had already gotten that answer from the Grey Mirror.
Not only that, he also knew Tang Zhien had prepared everything with great care, without cutting corners or slacking off.
"Take me to see Zhou Weiwei."
Su Yuan said casually.
In one of the rooms in the estate,
Zhou Weiwei stared wide-eyed at the stern-faced man before her.
Was this the man who had cured her inherited heart disease, the one even Uncle Tang treated with such deference?
"Your recovery is going well."
Su Yuan said.
He had already learned everything about Zhou Weiwei's physical condition from the Grey Mirror.
But he had come to check on her so Tang Zhien wouldn't think he was just going through the motions, and to put the old man's mind at ease.
"If it weren't for you, Sir, Weiwei might already have..."
Tang Zhien felt relieved, and his voice filled with gratitude.
After checking on Zhou Weiwei, the two returned to the main hall.
"Sir, Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley in the Hundred Thousand Mountains is home to countless snake monsters. It's dangerous there..."
Tang Zhien began to explain the dangers of Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley to Su Yuan.
"I know."
Su Yuan nodded.
Thanks to the Grey Mirror, no one in the world knew Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley better than he did.
The most dangerous things in Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley were the two Snake Mothers.
Both Snake Mothers had the strength of Grandmasters of Baodan—in other words, they were Level 1 Lifeforms.
That was why Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley had been designated a forbidden zone. Even a Grandmaster of Baodan risked being trapped there if they ventured deep inside.
"Following your instructions, Sir, I assembled a herb-gathering team. Its leader is Zhou Yu, who can be trusted. As for the other herb gatherers, they won't dare make trouble with Zhou Yu there..."
Tang Zhien began to explain the team.
"Zhou Yu..."
Information about Zhou Yu surfaced in Su Yuan's mind.
Before coming here, Su Yuan had already used the Grey Mirror to learn everything about the team.
Zhou Yu, in particular, was sufficiently loyal. He wouldn't betray Su Yuan, not now or in the future.
"Contact Zhou Yu now. I'll give the orders."
Su Yuan said.
"Understood."
Tang Zhien nodded and immediately contacted Zhou Yu.
Southern Frontier, outside the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Inside a wooden hut, Zhou Yu was gathered with seven or eight herb gatherers.
Unlike Zhou Yu, who remained calm, the herb gatherers wore complicated expressions: fear, dread, despair...
After all, learning that they were about to enter the forbidden zone of Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley was practically the same as stepping halfway into the grave.
Who wouldn't be afraid?
If Zhou Yu weren't keeping them in check, they would probably have scattered and fled.
Just then,
Zhou Yu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
He wore a Miniature Earpiece, as Tang Zhien had instructed him to do, so they could stay in contact once they entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The Miniature Earpiece vibrated softly. Tang Zhien was clearly contacting him.
"Beep—" The call connected.
The first thing Zhou Yu heard was Tang Zhien's voice—
"Xiao Yu, from now on, follow Sir's orders unconditionally in all your actions."
After he said this,
Zhou Yu heard a deep male voice come through the Miniature Earpiece:
"From now on, you do as I say. Don't ask why."
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