The Herb-Gathering Girl of Green Mountain Town and the Undercurrents at the Desert's Edge

On the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range lies a small town named Green Mountain Town. Here, the air is thick with the fresh, intertwined fragrance of soil and vegetation, faintly tinged with the distinct, musky scent of magical beasts—as if nature itself had branded this town with a unique mark.

Green Mountain Town is like a pearl embedded on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, thriving by relying on this mysterious and dangerous expanse. The town is filled with a boisterous, wild vitality. The rough, hearty shouts of mercenaries echo through the air like rolling thunder; in the weapon shops, the rhythmic clanging of blacksmiths' hammers against anvils rings out like a passionate movement of a battle symphony; meanwhile, herb merchants strain their voices in fierce bargaining with customers, their overlapping cries weaving into a lively, bustling symphony of life.

Xiao Yan, dressed in a simple grey martial outfit, stands at the town entrance, covered in the dust of travel. The fatigue of his long journey hangs over his face like a faint haze, yet his ink-black eyes shine with an exceptionally bright light, as if harboring an endless expectation and longing for the unknown world, much like the most brilliant stars in the night sky.

Yao Lao's ethereal figure is quietly hidden within the ring, his low, magnetic voice drifting into Xiao Yan's mind: "Kid, find a place to settle down first, then inquire if any mercenary groups or herb-gathering teams are heading into the mountains. With your current strength, venturing deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone is no different from a lamb entering a tiger's den—far too dangerous. Following a team will save you a lot of trouble and allow you to learn valuable experience; it's killing two birds with one stone."

"Understood, Teacher." Xiao Yan nods slightly, his gaze sweeping across the shops lining the street like a nimble fish. Finally, his eyes lock onto a sign reading "Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion." The pharmacy is quite large, and a notice for temporary herb-gatherers is posted at the entrance, fluttering in the breeze as if extending a sincere invitation to passersby.

I'll go check that out, Xiao Yan thinks to himself. He then takes a firm step forward, heading toward the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, each stride filled with the courage and determination to face unknown challenges.

Stepping into the pharmacy, a rich, mellow medicinal scent washes over him like a soft veil, gently enveloping him. Looking up, various herbs are arranged neatly on the counters, their diverse shapes and vibrant colors seemingly whispering the miraculous mysteries of nature.

A middle-aged man, clearly a manager, stands behind the counter, focused on tallying goods. His fingers move nimbly among the herbs, his eyes sharp and concentrated, missing no detail.

Just as Xiao Yan is about to ask about the recruitment, a crisp, melodious voice—like a warbler emerging from a valley—sounds beside him, though it carries a hint of shy, girlish softness: "Manager Yao, these are the 'Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover' gathered yesterday. There are thirty-seven stalks in total; please inspect them."

The voice is like a spring breeze brushing against Xiao Yan's heart, prompting him to look toward the source. Standing quietly by the counter is a young girl.

The girl appears to be sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a simple, elegant pale green dress. The fabric clings to her budding, delicate figure like a pool of clear water, highlighting her grace and gentleness. Her ink-black hair is tied simply behind her head, revealing a smooth, jade-like forehead and a stunningly beautiful face. Her skin is so fair it is almost translucent, as if carved from the purest mutton-fat jade, glowing softly under the pharmacy lights. Her eyebrows are curved like crescent moons in the night sky, exuding liveliness and playfulness; her nose is petite and straight; her lips are like newly bloomed cherry blossoms, naturally inviting and tempting.

Most striking are her eyes, as clear as a mountain spring, pure and devoid of any impurities, as if they could wash away the dust in one's heart, leaving anyone who gazes into them instantly intoxicated and unable to pull away. However, her complexion carries a hint of unhealthy paleness, and her frame is slightly thin, like a flower swaying in the wind and rain, exuding a fragility that stirs one's pity.

At this moment, she is bowing slightly, handing a bamboo basket filled with fresh herbs to the manager. Her slender fingers, like fine mutton-fat jade, appear even fairer and more delicate against the backdrop of the basket.

What a girl, blessed by the spirit of heaven and earth! Xiao Yan cannot help but praise her inwardly, his gaze lingering on her for a long time. To think that such a spiritual and ethereal girl was hidden in Green Mountain Town, like a pearl lost in the mortal world, radiating a unique and charming light.

"Hmm, not bad. The quality of this batch of 'Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clover' is excellent. Xiao Yi Xian, you've worked hard." Manager Yao is clearly very satisfied with the herbs. His rough yet nimble hands quickly count the items before he pulls a small pouch of gold coins from his robes and hands it to her. "This is the payment you deserve."

"Thank you, Manager Yao." The girl named Xiao Yi Xian takes the pouch gently, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint, slightly shy smile. The smile is as pure as the first ray of sunlight after a rain, carrying a touch of warmth and sweetness that instantly makes the entire pharmacy seem brighter. She carefully tucks the pouch into her robes and turns to leave the herb-scented room.

The moment she turns, her gaze inadvertently meets Xiao Yan's curious stare.

A flash of surprise crosses the girl's clear, spring-like eyes, as if a pebble had been tossed into a calm lake, creating ripples. Immediately after, a sense of panic washes over her; like a startled fawn, she quickly lowers her head, two faint blushes rising on her cheeks like the brilliant sunset. She then hurries past Xiao Yan, leaving behind only a faint, herbal-scented breeze lingering around him.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan cannot help but rub his nose in embarrassment, thinking to himself: Did I scare this delicate girl?

"Ahem," Manager Yao coughs twice, the sound cutting through the quiet pharmacy and successfully drawing Xiao Yan's attention back. "Young man, what are you looking at? Are you here to buy herbs, or... are you looking to take that herb-gathering job?"

Xiao Yan snaps back to reality and says respectfully, "Manager, I saw the notice for herb-gatherers outside, and I would like to sign up."

Manager Yao looks Xiao Yan up and down. Though he is young, his eyes are as steady as an abyss, seemingly harboring endless wisdom and perseverance; his aura is as refined as a pine, exuding a stability and power gained through tempering (thanks to Yao Lao's devilish training). Manager Yao nods slightly and says, "Fine. Assemble at the west gate of the town tomorrow morning. The team will be escorted by a squad from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. The goal this time is to gather specific Tier 2 herbs. Payment is based on the amount gathered, with a guaranteed minimum of two gold coins per day. However, I must say this first: the Magical Beast Mountain Range is no place for play. It is filled with crises, and you must be responsible for your own life."

"Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" Xiao Yan's brows furrow slightly—a movement so subtle it is almost imperceptible. The name his father mentioned flashes through his mind, causing a ripple of suspicion. But he quickly calms himself, suppressing the doubt, and nods firmly. "Understood. Thank you for the information, Manager."

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away, the edge of the Tagor Desert is like a sea of death scorched by fire.

Endless yellow sand, baked by the ruthless, scorching sun, sends up layers of distorted heat waves, as if the earth itself is burning. The air is as dry as a sponge, seemingly capable of instantly draining the last drop of moisture from one's lungs, making it hard to breathe. A gale howls past, whipping up sand that acts like countless sharp blades, mercilessly scraping against exposed skin and leaving behind stinging red marks. This is a world entirely different from the Magical Beast Mountain Range—a place of deathly silence and intense heat, where lethal dangers lurk everywhere, like a massive purgatory.

Xiao Zhan's figure appears like a steady mountain peak atop a heavily weathered, massive rocky hill. He has changed into an earth-yellow martial outfit that blends with the yellow sand, as if he were a part of nature itself. His face is covered by a matching veil, revealing only eyes as sharp as an eagle's, capable of piercing through any obstacle. His formidable cultivation at the Dou Zong realm makes him like a mobile fortress, allowing him to ignore this extreme environment. A layer of invisible Dou Qi barrier covers his body, acting like a transparent shield that keeps the heat and sand at bay, allowing him to remain unscathed in this sea of death.

His gaze, like two sharp beams of light, pierces the rolling heat waves and casts toward the depths of the desert. There, the outlines of strange structures are vaguely visible; they lie on the earth like giant serpents, exuding an ancient and barbaric aura, as if telling long-sealed, mysterious stories.

That is the direction of the Snake-People Holy City.

"Finally here." Xiao Zhan whispers to himself, his voice steady and firm, as if declaring his arrival to this sea of death. There is no fear in his eyes, only calm scrutiny and a hint of imperceptible excitement. Queen Medusa, a peak Dou Emperor, a mysterious existence possessing the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python... the difficulty of this mission is immense, like climbing a treacherous peak, but the reward is sufficient—

—A Heaven-Tier Dou Technique! That is a supreme treasure that countless experts dream of, enough to allow him to advance further in this world where the strong reign supreme.

"System, initiate environmental scan. Mark all potential threats," Xiao Zhan thinks calmly in his heart, his voice soft yet containing an unquestionable power.

In an instant, an invisible ripple spreads rapidly from him, as if he has cast an invisible net across the vast desert to capture every danger.

[Scanning program initiating...]

[Fifty miles ahead, detected a small Snake-People patrol (five members), the strongest being a 3-star Dou Shi.]

[Seventy miles to the front-left, a group of Sand Lizards (thirteen) is hidden beneath a dune, the strongest being a Tier 2 intermediate magical beast (equivalent to a human Dou Grandmaster).]

[One hundred and twenty miles to the rear-right, discovered a human mercenary squad (seven members). Current status: lost, on the verge of dehydration.]

[Three hundred miles directly ahead, existence of a powerful energy interference source (suspected barrier set by the Snake-People).]

A series of precise data flows into Xiao Zhan's mind like a babbling brook, each item concerning the safety and success of his mission.

"Snake-People patrol... avoid for now." With a thought, Xiao Zhan's figure flickers like a ghost, instantly merging into the swirling sandstorm. Like a leaf drifting in the wind or a phantom, he slides silently down the other side of the rocky hill. His primary target is the core area of the Snake-People Holy City; these outer minions are merely irrelevant passersby in his eyes, and there is no need to waste precious time and energy on them.

His speed is immense, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the sky, leaving behind almost invisible afterimages among the rolling dunes. A Dou Zong's extreme control over space allows him to move as if teleporting with every step, yet he skillfully avoids all soft sand that might leave a trace. He occasionally pushes off hard rocks or uses the leeward side of sand ridges for support, moving as nimbly as a leopard traversing the desert.

Suddenly!

"Hiss--!"

A sharp, piercing sound erupts from behind him like thunder! Three short spears coated in eerie green venom, like three vipers flicking their tongues, fly toward his back with chilling intent and lethal threat. The angle is cunning and ruthless, as if carefully calculated to strike his vitals.

Xiao Zhan seems to have eyes in the back of his head. The moment the spears strike, his body twists violently at an impossible angle like a nimble snake. The three venom-coated spears graze his clothes and strike the sand ahead, instantly emitting a "hissing" sound of corrosion, as if a demon were growling, with wisps of green smoke rising from the sand.

"Human! How dare you trespass into our Snake-People territory!" Accompanied by a hoarse, furious roar—like a growl from hell—three figures burst from a hidden sand pit, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The newcomers are all Snake-People warriors. Their upper bodies are human, with muscles knotted like steel, showcasing immense power, and their skin is covered in fine, hard, blue-black scales that shimmer with a cold luster in the sun. Their lower bodies are thick, muscular snake tails that sway slowly on the ground, seemingly containing endless potential. The leader holds a curved blade that glints with cold light; his aura is at the peak of a 9-star Dou Grandmaster, like a volcano about to erupt, exuding a chilling pressure. The other two are 6-star and 7-star Dou Grandmasters. Their eyes flash with cruelty and greed, like hungry wolves eyeing prey, clearly treating the lone Xiao Zhan as a fat sheep to be slaughtered.

"Hand over your valuables, and we'll leave your corpse intact!" The Snake-People leader flicks his forked tongue like a viper, staring coldly at Xiao Zhan, his voice filled with threat and killing intent.

Xiao Zhan stops, standing like a towering mountain in the desert. A cold arc curls at the corners of his mouth beneath the veil, like the biting chill of a winter wind. He does not release his terrifying Dou Zong aura; instead, he deliberately suppresses his cultivation to around the 7-star Dou Grandmaster level, hiding his edge while waiting for the perfect moment.

"Just you?" Xiao Zhan's voice comes through the veil, carrying a hint of deliberate hoarseness and disdain. The sound cuts through the air like a blade, causing the Snake-People warriors' hearts to tighten.

"You're courting death!" The Snake-People leader roars in anger. His snake tail slams into the sand with enough force to shatter the earth, and his body shoots forward like an arrow from a bow. His curved blade draws a sickly green streak of Dou Qi—like a green lightning bolt—aiming straight for Xiao Zhan's throat! The other two Snake-People flank him simultaneously, their poison spears thrusting toward his waist and ribs like vipers emerging from a hole, forming a perfect pincer attack.

Facing the ferocious siege of three Snake-People at the Dou Grandmaster level, Xiao Zhan showed no intention of retreating; instead, he resolutely charged forward! His footwork appeared chaotic and devoid of pattern, yet it actually followed a profoundly mysterious trajectory—this was the Flowing Cloud Steps generously rewarded by the system. At this moment, his figure was like a drifting cloud in the wind, light and agile, narrowly dodging the scimitars that slashed down toward his head.

Simultaneously, Xiao Zhan's fists erupted like cannonballs fired from their chambers. He did not use any powerful or flashy Dou Techniques, relying solely on his incomparably pure Dou Qi and astonishingly formidable physical strength. It was as if a sleeping tiger had suddenly awakened, unleashing terrifying power.

"Mountain-Splitting Palm!" (This is a Xuan-tier low-grade Dou Technique, and also the famous signature move of the original Xiao Zhan.)

The wind from his fists whistled past, carrying a dull and shocking sonic boom, like the roar of an enraged lion. This seemingly plain and unadorned punch was as fast as lightning, carrying an unstoppable momentum.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull, resounding thuds rang out! The two Snake-People attacking from his left and right were struck as if by heavy hammers; the scales on their chests instantly shattered and collapsed, like eaves destroyed by a storm. They spat out blood mixed with fragments of their internal organs, the crimson liquid appearing particularly jarring under the sunlight. Their bodies flew backward uncontrollably like tattered sacks, slamming heavily into the sand dunes. After twitching twice, they fell silent, as if their souls had been reaped by the Grim Reaper.

"What?!" The Snake-Person leader, a peak nine-star Dou Grandmaster, saw his pupils shrink instantly, like two contracting gemstones. His strike had missed, and a sense of alarm surged in his heart, as if an invisible hand had tightly gripped it. He had not seen at all how the opponent had disposed of his two capable subordinates in an instant; such methods filled him with fear and shock.

However, Xiao Zhan's movements were far faster than he had imagined! The moment he finished off the two minions, Xiao Zhan's figure appeared like a ghost at the leader's side. He swung a whip-kick without any flourish; his leg, like a giant whip forged of steel, carried the power of a collapsing mountain and slammed into the leader's waist and abdomen!

"Crack!"

A teeth-grinding sound of bone fracturing, like the shrill cry of an Owlman, suddenly echoed in the deathly silent desert! The Snake-Person leader let out a miserable, piercing howl, a sound that seemed like a desperate cry from hell. His massive body, like a kite with a broken string, was sent flying dozens of meters away by that terrifying force, crashing heavily into a sand pit. His scimitar flew from his hand, tracing a chaotic arc in the air before landing in the sand not far away. Blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain, instantly staining the dry yellow sand beneath him, like a strange, blood-colored flower blooming in the desert.

He struggled to rise, his hands clawing frantically at the sand in an attempt to find leverage. However, he felt his lower snake tail had completely lost all sensation, as if that part of his body no longer belonged to him. His spine had clearly been shattered by that kick, and the piercing pain surged like a tide, making every breath an arduous struggle.

Xiao Zhan walked slowly to the edge of the sand pit, his posture as straight as a pine. He looked down at the dying Snake-Person leader with an indifferent gaze, as if the creature before him were nothing more than an insignificant ant.

"Who... who exactly are you?!" The leader's eyes were filled with fear and disbelief, his gaze like that of someone seeing the most terrifying demon in the world. How could a seven-star Dou Grandmaster instantly kill two Dou Grandmasters and critically injure a peak nine-star expert in one move? This completely exceeded his understanding, filling his heart with endless confusion and despair.

Xiao Zhan did not answer his question, asking coldly instead, "What movements have there been in the Holy City recently? Where is Her Majesty the Queen?" His voice was as cold as frost, like a chilling wind blowing from the Nine Nether Hell.

A trace of resentment flashed in the leader's eyes, like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness, ready to deliver a fatal strike. He hissed, "Despicable human... don't even think about getting anything from me..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Zhan flicked his finger, and a tiny yet incomparably sharp strand of Dou Qi pierced the leader's brow like a bolt of lightning! The light in the leader's eyes faded rapidly, like an extinguished candle, leaving only endless silence.

"A waste of time." Xiao Zhan retracted his finger expressionlessly, the movement clean and efficient, as if he had merely done something trivial. He had intended to take a captive to extract useful information, but the opponent clearly would not cooperate. Furthermore, he keenly sensed that more Snake-Person auras were rapidly approaching from further away, like a pack of hungry wolves lunging toward him.

He quickly looted the three Snake-People for anything of value, primarily magic cores and some toxic materials unique to the desert. The magic cores shimmered with mysterious light, and the toxic materials emitted a pungent odor, as if telling the unique stories of their origins in this dangerous desert. Then, he flicked his finger again, and a strand of invisible Dou Qi shot like a ghost into the lining of the leader's tattered clothing, leaving behind an extremely subtle tracking mark, like a mysterious seed planted in the dark, waiting for a future harvest.

After doing all this, Xiao Zhan's figure shifted once more, turning into a faint yellow shadow that drifted away like wisps of smoke across the vast sea of sand, leaving behind only three corpses that were gradually being quietly buried by the wind and sand, as if they had never appeared in this world at all. The wind and sand acted like an hourglass of time, erasing the traces of life bit by bit, leaving only deathly silence and desolation.

A moment later, a better-equipped Snake-Person patrol arrived at the scene like ghosts. This patrol was led by a Snake-Person at the Dou Ling level; they were all agile and aggressive, like a group of Champions about to head to the battlefield.

"Captain! It's Haru and the others! They're all dead!" A Snake-Person warrior's face turned horrified after checking the bodies, his voice trembling uncontrollably. The sound echoed in the silent desert, appearing particularly abrupt.

The Dou Ling captain's expression was grave as he slowly crouched down, examining the corpse of the leader, Haru, like a meticulous detective. His fingers gently touched the shattered spine and the bloody hole in the brow, his face growing as gloomy as water, like the sky before a storm. "Such ruthless methods! A kill in one strike! The opponent is at least a peak Dou Ling, perhaps even... a Dou King!" he said in a low voice, filled with vigilance and worry.

"Report this immediately! An unidentified expert has infiltrated the desert, suspected to be a Dou King! Their target... is likely the direction of the Holy City!" the Dou Ling captain ordered sternly, his voice echoing like a bell. At the same time, his gaze scanned the boundless sea of sand around him, as if searching for the danger hidden in the shadows. His heart was heavy; the infiltration of a Dou King-level expert was no small matter! Especially now, when Her Majesty the Queen was in a critical and sensitive period, any slight disturbance could trigger a massive storm.

Green Mountain Town, backyard of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion.

Xiao Yi Xian sat alone by the window of her simple room, holding a yellowed herbal classic. The paper of the book was already worn, the pages filled with the traces of time, as if telling ancient stories. However, she was somewhat distracted at this moment, her eyes frequently drifting toward the window, her thoughts having flown off to who knows where. For some reason, the gaze of the strange young man she had met at the medicine shop during the day kept appearing in her mind. That gaze was very clean, like a clear spring in the mountains, devoid of the greed and desire common among the mercenaries in town, containing only pure curiosity... and even a trace of... something that made her feel at ease? That feeling was like the warm sun in winter, cozy and comfortable.

She shook her head, trying to dispel these distracting thoughts and refocus on the herbal classic in her hands. Just then, her gaze inadvertently swept over an inconspicuous small flowerpot in the corner of the windowsill. The pot was small and dull in color, as if forgotten by time in the corner. Yet, this tiny pot seemed to hide some secret, drawing her gaze.

In the small flowerpot on the corner of the windowsill, a few seemingly ordinary herbs were growing quietly. However, one leaf near the base had, at some unknown point, quietly turned a strange grayish-white, as if shrouded by an invisible haze. That grayish-white color was like a deadly poison, spreading upward at an extremely slow yet unwavering speed. Wherever it passed, the original emerald vitality of the leaf rapidly faded, becoming withered and dry, as if all its life force had been ruthlessly drained by time.

Xiao Yi Xian's face instantly turned paler than the thinnest paper, as if a light breeze could blow her over. Her clear, water-like eyes were now filled with unspeakable fear and deep despair, like two deep pools shrouded in darkness.

"It's back... why... why is it like this..." Her voice trembled, filled with endless sorrow and helplessness. She slowly extended her slender fingers and gently touched the grayish-white leaf, as if it were a nightmare she was most unwilling to face yet had to touch.

"Sss..."

A faint, almost imperceptible sound rang out, yet it sounded particularly harsh in the quiet room. The moment the leaf touched her fingertip, it acted as if it had been severely corroded by strong acid, rapidly turning into a small pile of gray powder that drifted down, like the final sigh of life.

Xiao Yi Xian pulled her hand back abruptly, trembling uncontrollably as if she had been electrocuted. She hugged her arms tightly, as if this could ward off the fear from the depths of her heart. Her petite body shivered in the silence, and tears slid silently from her clear eyes like strings of broken pearls, dripping onto the windowsill. The dry wood quickly absorbed the tears, leaving only dark marks, like the indelible pain in her heart.

Outside the window, the bustle of Green Mountain Town continued; the laughter of the people and the noise of the traffic intertwined, as if it were a lively and prosperous world.

Inside the window, the girl's silent fear spread quietly in the stillness, like a cold tide, drowning her bit by bit. The shadow of the Woe Poison Body, like a maggot on a tarsal bone, had quietly coiled around this pure and delicate flower, plunging her into endless despair and struggle within this seemingly peaceful life.