"Junior Brother Luo, Deacon, you may proceed first."
Fang Han spoke.
"I have something to attend to, I'll catch up shortly."
Luo Yuntian's expression changed, and he asked with a hint of seriousness in his eyes:
"Senior Brother Fang, have you discovered something?"
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon also turned around, his face showing confusion.
"It's not a bad thing, I'll catch up soon."
Fang Han didn't offer any further explanation, but simply nodded slightly to the two of them before his figure blurred and he leaped out of the carriage.
"Whoosh--"
His green robe fluttered in the wind as Fang Han's figure, like a pale blue streak of light, sped towards the dense forest on the right side of the official road, disappearing into the shadows of the trees in a few leaps.
Luo Yuntian stared in the direction Fang Han had disappeared, a hint of doubt appearing in his calm eyes.
Although the Azure Profound Sect Deacon was somewhat puzzled, he did not ask any further questions. He gently flicked the reins, and the White Tiger continued to gallop forward along the official road.
At this moment, Fang Han had already ventured several miles into the dense forest.
The closer you get to the source of that exotic fragrance, the stronger the scent becomes in the air.
The fragrance was refreshing with a hint of sweetness, and every breath invigorated the spirit.
Fang Han moved silently through the trees, and after a moment, the terrain in front of him suddenly opened up.
A Forest Clearing came into view.
In the center of the open space, a peculiar plant was growing quietly.
The plant was about a foot tall, with a slender stem like a chopstick. It was pale blue all over, with fine silver patterns on its surface that spiraled upwards along the stem, like some kind of natural rune.
Three narrow leaves grow at the top, with serrated edges and a translucent texture, shimmering with a silvery light under the sunlight filtering through the branches.
In the center of the three leaves, a flower the size of a walnut is held.
The flowers are pale purple, with a faint, shimmering sheen on their surface.
That sweet, exotic fragrance emanates from this flower.
However, the open space was not peaceful at this moment.
As their internal energy swirled, two figures were locked in a fierce battle.
On the left is a middle-aged man dressed in gray, holding a thick-backed cleaver with pale yellow Internal Qi flowing around its blade.
There was a tear in the cuff of his left sleeve, revealing a shallow bloodstain underneath, indicating that he had suffered a minor injury.
On the right is a middle-aged woman dressed in a dark blue outfit, holding a slender, flexible sword whose blade trembles slightly like a snake.
Her hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and her breathing was a little rapid, clearly indicating that she had expended a lot of energy.
As they fought, their eyes kept glancing at the rare and precious plant in the center of the open space, both filled with undisguised possessiveness.
Fang Han's arrival surprised both of them.
Their gazes all fell on Fang Han, and a hint of vigilance and wariness appeared in their eyes.
Fang Han glanced at the rare and precious plant, then looked at the two people.
Judging from the aura they exuded during the battle, both of them were Third Grade martial artists.
He didn't say anything more.
Right hand rests on the hilt of the sword at the waist--
"Clang!"
The Cloudsplitter Sword was drawn, and a clear, resonant sword cry echoed through the forest.
He casually slashed with his sword, and a cyan-gold Sword Qi detached from the blade, growing larger in the wind and transforming into a massive Sword Qi ten zhang long, which swept past not far from the middle-aged man and woman.
"Boom--!!!"
The Sword Qi struck the ground with a dull thud.
The ground trembled violently, and dirt and gravel shot into the sky.
A sword mark, hundreds of meters long, appeared on one side of the open space, several feet deep, with a smooth, mirror-like cut.
The air was filled with the earthy smell and the raw, fresh scent of broken grass and trees.
The faces of the middle-aged man and woman turned deathly pale instantly.
Both of them stopped what they were doing at the same time, their hands gripping their weapons trembling slightly.
Their gazes toward Fang Han were now filled with deep apprehension and fear.
The power of that sword strike was at least at the First Grade level.
If Fang Han had intended to kill them, the two would probably be corpses by now.
Fang Han sheathed his sword, looked at the two men, and said in a calm but undeniable voice:
"This rare and precious herb is mine. Do either of you have any objections?"
The middle-aged man and woman exchanged a glance, then looked at the hundred-meter-long sword mark on the ground. A chill ran through them, and they spoke almost simultaneously:
"No... no objection!"
"Please, sir, we'll be leaving now!"
The two sheathed their weapons without hesitation and turned to hurry away into the depths of the dense forest.
They moved quickly, as if afraid that if they slowed down even a step, they would be overtaken by a streak of cyan-gold Sword Qi.
Fang Han did not stop him.
He maintained the Nether Guide, sensing the auras of the two as they traveled far away, until they were several miles away. Confirming that they would not return, he withdrew his gaze and walked closer to the rare and precious treasures.
Fang Han squatted down and carefully examined the spiritual plant.
" Purple-Pattern Spirit Flower "
Fang Han recognized the origin of this rare and precious plant.
This is a rare, Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure. According to the sect's records, the effects of this flower are similar to those of the Secret Art Fruit, which can improve the user's Secret Art Talent.
"Although it's not a rare and precious material that can enhance physical strength or Body Movement Talent, it's still quite useful."
Fang Han muttered to himself, reached out, and gently pinched the pale purple flower with his fingers, applying slight pressure.
The flower fell in response.
An even richer, sweeter fragrance suddenly wafted out the moment the flower detached from the plant.
The Internal Qi is used to create a protective shield, enveloping the flower and preventing its fragrance from escaping.
After doing all this, Fang Han turned around and sped back the way he came.
"Whoosh--"
The green robe left a pale blue afterimage in the dense forest; Fang Han's speed was astonishing.
In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Fang Han caught up with the White Tiger demon and saw the pure White Tiger in the distance.
The White Tiger continued its unhurried journey along the official road. Inside the carriage, Luo Yuntian leaned against the wall, resting with his eyes closed.
Fang Han's figure swayed, and he silently floated back to the White Tiger's back like a falling leaf, lifted the curtain, and slipped into the carriage.
"Senior Brother Fang, you're back so soon?"
Luo Yuntian opened his eyes and his gaze fell on Fang Han, immediately noticing the extraordinary-looking purple flower in Fang Han's hand.
"Could what you hold in your hand be... a rare and precious herb?"
Fang Han nodded slightly, making no attempt to hide anything:
"I was lucky enough to find a rare and precious plant, so I took it without thinking."
When Luo Yuntian heard this, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then turned into a bit of emotion:
"Senior Brother Fang's perception technique is truly enviable. He even manages to acquire rare and precious materials while traveling. It's a pity that not everyone can cultivate this perception technique, otherwise I would also like to learn it."
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon also turned around, his voice tinged with surprise:
"Fang True Disciple remarkable. If he has more free time in the future, he should make a few more trips to this Central Prefecture. Just by searching for rare and precious materials, he could probably make a fortune."
Fang Han smiled but didn't say anything more.
While Central Prefecture is more likely to produce rare and precious materials, it's impossible for them to be found everywhere, let alone picking them up randomly.
Fang Han didn't speak again, but held the pale purple flower in his palm and looked at it.
The reason why the rare and precious herbs were not stored in a jade box was because they were intended to be consumed directly.
This herb is most effective when picked and taken immediately. Storing it in a jade box will inevitably result in some loss.
He gently picked up a purple flower with his fingertips and put it in his mouth.
The moment the purple flower touches the tongue, a sweet and refreshing juice melts on the tongue and slides down the throat into the stomach.
At first, I didn't feel much, but after only a few breaths...
A chill suddenly rose from my stomach.
The coolness wasn't bone-chilling, but rather like drinking a mouthful of deep spring water on a hot summer day, carrying a refreshing and invigorating quality.
The coolness spread rapidly, like an invisible tide, surging through the limbs and bones, and finally converging on the brain.
Fang Han closed his eyes, letting the icy sensation linger and circulate in his mind.
He could clearly feel that some subtle changes were taking place in his brain.
Time slipped away quietly in this tranquil transformation.
About half an hour later, the icy feeling gradually subsided, like the receding tide slowly flowing away from the brain.
Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, a faint glint of light flashing in them.
He exhaled a breath of stale air, which lingered in the carriage for a moment before dissipating.
'This is the second time I've taken this rare and precious herb; I wonder how potent the effect will be?'
Fang Han attempted to activate the Nether Guide.
As soon as the incantation was activated, an unprecedented sense of clarity welled up in his mind.
The secret techniques and mantras flowed through his mind, and the Internal Qi circulation routes that he was already quite familiar with became even smoother.
They naturally knew how to make their Internal Qi flow more smoothly, as if they were born for this secret art.
A mysterious aura flowed slowly between his nostrils, and his senses spread out silently in all directions like an invisible spider web.
The scent of trees on both sides of the official road, the scent of wild grass in the fields, and the smoke of people in the distant villages.
All living things, including plants and animals, are clearly presented in his perception, with distinct layers.
As time passed and his understanding of the secret arts deepened, these auras were slowly becoming clearer in his perception.
He could feel that his aptitude for esoteric arts had become stronger.
The speed at which one can comprehend secret techniques can be increased by at least several percent.
The time required to master the < Nether Guide > Proficiency Realm can be reduced by at least one-third.
Fang Han opened his eyes, a sense of satisfaction rising in his heart.
He couldn't possibly be dissatisfied with a rare and precious herb he'd found for free, especially since this particular herb was quite suitable for him and could improve his Secret Art Talent.
Ten days later.
As the afternoon sun pierced through the clouds and shone upon the earth, the outline of an incredibly magnificent city finally appeared on the horizon.
Fang Han lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze falling on the giant city, and his breath hitched slightly involuntarily.
The city walls are towering, built of huge, bluish-gray stones, and are estimated to be at least thirty feet high. They stretch out to both sides, with no end in sight.
The city gate tower is majestic, with upturned eaves and a roof covered with golden glazed tiles, which gleam brilliantly in the sunlight.
The city gate was enormous, about ten zhang wide and fifteen zhang high, with a deep archway that could easily accommodate dozens of people walking side by side.
Above the city gate hangs a huge plaque, with two large gilded characters engraved in vigorous strokes—
" Imperial Capital ".