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

On the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range lay a small town called Green Mountain Town. The air here was redolent with the fresh fragrance of earth and plants, mingled with the faint, rank odor unique to magical beasts, as though nature had marked the town with its own distinctive seal.

Green Mountain Town was like a pearl set on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, relying on the mysterious and dangerous range to survive and prosper. The town brimmed with noisy, wild vitality. The mercenaries' boisterous shouts rumbled through the air like rolling thunder; inside the weapon shops, blacksmiths' hammers clanged against their anvils, ringing out like an impassioned battle hymn; and herb sellers shouted themselves hoarse as they haggled fiercely with customers. Their rising and falling voices wove together into a lively symphony of everyday life.

Xiao Yan stood at the town entrance, clad in a simple gray outfit, his clothes and face coated with dust from the road. The weariness of his long journey hung over his face like a thin veil of gloom, yet his eyes, black as ink, shone with an extraordinary brilliance, as if they held boundless anticipation and longing for the unknown world—like the brightest stars in the night sky.

Yao Lao's ghostly figure remained hidden inside the ring. Only his deep, resonant voice drifted through Xiao Yan's mind. "Boy, find somewhere to stay first, then ask around and see if any mercenary groups or herb-gathering teams are heading into the mountains soon. With your current strength, venturing deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone would be like a lamb walking into a tiger's den. It's far too dangerous. Going with a group will save you a lot of trouble and let you gain valuable experience. It's the best of both worlds."

"Understood, teacher." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze darting like a nimble fish over the shops lining either side of the street. At last, his eyes settled on a sign that read "Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion." The shop was quite large, and a notice recruiting temporary herb gatherers had been posted outside its entrance. It fluttered lightly in the breeze, as if warmly inviting passersby.

"I'll go take a look there." Xiao Yan made up his mind, then strode toward Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion with firm steps, each one carrying the courage and resolve to face the unknown challenges ahead.

The moment he entered the shop, a rich, mellow medicinal fragrance wafted toward him, wrapping around him like a soft veil. He looked up to see various medicinal herbs arranged across the counter. They came in all shapes and colors, as if recounting the wonders of nature.

A middle-aged man who looked like a manager stood behind the counter, completely focused on taking stock. His fingers moved deftly among the herbs, and his gaze was sharp and attentive, missing not a single detail.

Xiao Yan was just about to ask about the temporary herb-gathering jobs when a clear, melodious voice rang out beside him, like an oriole emerging from its nest, yet tinged with a shy, timid sweetness. "Manager Yao, these are the Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clovers I picked yesterday. There are thirty-seven in all. Please inspect them."

The voice brushed over Xiao Yan's heart like a spring breeze, and he couldn't help turning to look. A young girl stood quietly beside the counter.

The girl looked about sixteen or seventeen. She wore a simple, elegant pale-green dress that gently embraced her slender, shapely figure, lending her a soft, graceful air. Her ink-black hair was simply tied back, revealing a smooth, jade-like forehead and a lovely, clear-featured face. Her skin was so fair it seemed almost translucent, as if carved from the purest white jade, and it glowed softly beneath the shop's lights. Her brows curved like a new moon in the night sky, giving her a lively, playful look; her nose was delicate and straight as a mountain peak; and her lips, like newly blossomed cherry petals, held a natural sweetness that made one long to kiss them.

Most striking of all were her eyes, clear as a spring flowing through the mountains and utterly free of impurity. They seemed able to wash away the dust from one's heart, and anyone who met their gaze would be captivated in an instant, unable to look away. Yet her face was touched by an unhealthy pallor, and her frame looked rather frail, like a flower swaying in the wind and rain, inspiring a tender, protective pity.

At that moment, she had her head slightly bowed as she handed the manager a bamboo basket filled with fresh herbs. Her slender fingers were like fine white jade, appearing even fairer against the basket.

What a girl blessed with all the grace and beauty of heaven and earth! Xiao Yan couldn't help praising her inwardly, his gaze lingering on her. Who would have thought that Green Mountain Town concealed such a graceful, otherworldly girl? She was like a pearl lost among the mortal world, shining with a unique, captivating radiance.

"Mm, very good. These Clear Heart Three-Leaf Clovers are all excellent specimens. Xiao Yi Xian, you've worked hard." Manager Yao was clearly pleased with the herbs she had brought in. His rough but nimble hands quickly finished counting them, then he pulled a small pouch of gold coins from his robes and handed it to her. "This is what you're owed."

"Thank you, Manager Yao." Xiao Yi Xian accepted the money pouch gently, the corners of her mouth lifting in a shy, faint smile. It was as pure as the first ray of sunlight after a rainstorm, carrying a hint of warmth and sweetness. In an instant, the whole shop seemed to brighten. She carefully tucked the pouch into her clothes, then turned to leave the fragrant shop.

As she turned, her gaze happened to meet Xiao Yan's curious eyes.

A flicker of surprise crossed her clear, springlike eyes, as if a pebble had been tossed into a tranquil lake, sending ripples across its surface. Then a hint of fluster rose in her heart. Like a startled fawn, she quickly lowered her head, two faint blushes blooming on her cheeks like the brilliant sunset clouds. Then she hurried past Xiao Yan, leaving behind only a soft breeze scented with herbs, lingering around him.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose and thought to himself, Did I just scare the poor girl?

"Ahem." Manager Yao coughed softly twice. The sound rang especially clearly through the quiet shop, drawing Xiao Yan's attention back. "Young man, what are you looking at? Are you here to buy herbs, or... to take the herb-gathering job?"

Xiao Yan came back to himself and quickly replied with respect, "Hello, Manager. I saw the notice outside recruiting herb gatherers. I'd like to sign up."

Manager Yao looked Xiao Yan up and down. Though he was young, his gaze was as deep and steady as an abyss, as if it concealed boundless wisdom and resolve. His aura was condensed and steady as a pine tree, carrying the strength and composure of someone tempered by hardship—a result of Yao Lao's devilishly strict training over the past while. Manager Yao nodded slightly. "All right. Meet at the western entrance of town tomorrow morning. A squad from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group will escort the team. This time, the goal is to collect certain second-grade herbs. Your pay will depend on how much you gather, with a guaranteed minimum of two gold coins a day. But let me make one thing clear first: the Magical Beast Mountain Range isn't a place to fool around. It's full of danger, and you'll be responsible for your own life or death."

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" Xiao Yan's brows drew together slightly, the tiny movement almost imperceptible. The name his father had mentioned before flashed through his mind, stirring a ripple of suspicion. But he quickly steadied himself and quietly suppressed the thought, then nodded with resolve. "Understood. Thank you for telling me, Manager."

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the edge of the Tagor Desert lay like a sea of death scorched by raging flames.

Under the merciless blaze of the scorching sun, endless yellow sands sent up layer upon layer of wavering heat, as if the earth itself were burning. The air was so dry it felt like a sponge soaking up water, as though it could suck the last trace of moisture from a person's lungs in an instant and leave them gasping for breath. The howling wind swept past, raising a skyful of sand. Each tiny grain was like a sharp blade, mercilessly scraping exposed skin and leaving stinging red marks. This was a world utterly unlike the Magical Beast Mountain Range: a place of dead silence and blistering heat, where lethal dangers lurked everywhere, like a vast, blazing hell.

Xiao Zhan's figure appeared atop a massive, heavily weathered rocky hill, steady as a mountain. He had changed into a loose-fitting ocher outfit suited for movement, its color blending with the endless yellow sand until he seemed part of the landscape. A matching face covering concealed everything but his sharp, eagle-like eyes, whose gaze seemed capable of piercing every obstacle. His formidable Dou Zong strength made him a fortress in motion, allowing him to ignore even the harshest conditions. An invisible Dou Qi barrier covered his body, like a transparent shield that kept out the heat and sand, allowing him to move unharmed through this sea of death.

His gaze, sharp as two shafts of light, pierced the roiling waves of heat and settled on the depths of the desert. There, the vague outlines of strange buildings could be seen. They sprawled across the land like giant coiled serpents, radiating an ancient, savage aura, as if recounting one mysterious tale after another from ages long past.

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

"I've finally arrived." Xiao Zhan murmured, his voice steady and firm, as though announcing his arrival to the sea of death. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes, only calm scrutiny and a hint of excitement that was difficult to detect. Queen Medusa, a Peak Dou Emperor powerhouse and a mysterious being with the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python... This mission was immensely difficult, like climbing a treacherous peak, but the reward was more than enough—

A Heaven Tier Dou Technique! It was a supreme treasure countless powerhouses dreamed of, one that could let him advance further in this world where the strong ruled.

"System, activate environmental scan and mark every potential threat." Xiao Zhan silently issued the command in his mind. Though his voice was quiet, it carried an unquestionable force.

In an instant, an invisible wave spread outward from him like ripples, as though he had cast a vast, unseen net across the boundless desert to capture every danger.

[Scanning program activating...]

[Detected a small Snake-People patrol fifty miles ahead (five members); the strongest has reached the Three-Star Dou Shi level.]

[Seventy miles to the front left, a group of Sand Lizards (thirteen) is concealed beneath the dunes. The strongest is a second-tier mid-level magical beast (roughly equivalent in strength to a human Da Dou Shi).]

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

[Three hundred miles straight ahead, a powerful energy-interference source is present (suspected to be a barrier established by the Snake-People Tribe).]

A stream of precise information flowed clearly through Xiao Zhan's mind, every item tied to the safety and success of his mission.

"Snake-People patrol... I'll avoid them for now." With a single thought, Xiao Zhan's figure flickered like a ghost and vanished into the swirling sand. Like a leaf drifting on the wind, or a phantom, he slipped silently down the far side of the rocky hill. His destination was the heart of the Snake-People Holy City. The insignificant underlings on the outskirts were little more than passing strangers to him—not worth wasting his precious time and energy on.

He moved with astonishing speed, like a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky, leaving nearly invisible afterimages among the rolling dunes. A Dou Zong's mastery over space, subtle beyond compare, made each step seem like an instant teleportation. Yet he deftly avoided every patch of soft sand that might have left a trace. At times he pushed off from hard rock; at others he used the leeward ridges as footholds. He moved with the agility of a leopard darting through the desert.

Suddenly!

"Hiss—!"

A sharp whistle tore through the air like a thunderclap, coming from behind and to the side! Three short spears smeared with dark green poison shot toward Xiao Zhan's back, like three venomous snakes flicking their tongues. They carried a bone-chilling cold and deadly menace. Their vicious, carefully calculated angle sent them straight for his vitals.

It was as if Xiao Zhan had eyes in the back of his head. The instant the poisoned spears struck, his body twisted sharply like a nimble serpent, bending at an impossible angle. The three green-smeared spears skimmed his clothes and shot into the sand ahead like meteors. A sizzling sound rose as they began to corrode it, as though a demon were growling softly, and wisps of green smoke curled from the ground.

"Human! How dare you trespass on the territory of the Snake-People!" With a hoarse, furious roar that sounded like a bellow from hell, three figures burst from a concealed sand pit like ghosts, sending sand flying in every direction.

They were all Snake-People warriors. Their upper bodies were human, their muscles knotted like steel, and their skin was covered in fine, hard blue-black scales that glinted coldly in the sunlight. Below the waist, thick serpent tails swayed slowly over the ground, seeming to hold boundless power. The leader carried a curved saber, its blade flashing coldly. His aura had reached the Peak Nine-Star Great Dou Master level, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, radiating a terrifying pressure. The other two were Six-Star and Seven-Star Great Dou Masters. Their eyes shone with cruelty and greed, like hungry wolves eyeing their prey. They had clearly mistaken Xiao Zhan, traveling alone, for a fat sheep they could slaughter at will.

"Hand over everything valuable, and we'll leave your corpse intact!" The Snake-People leader flicked his forked tongue, its tip writhing like a serpent's, and fixed Xiao Zhan with a cold stare. His voice was full of threat and murderous intent.

Xiao Zhan stopped, standing in the desert like a towering mountain. Beneath his face covering, the corner of his mouth curled into an icy smile, as chilling as a winter wind. He did not release the terrifying aura of a Dou Zong. Instead, he deliberately suppressed his cultivation to around the Seven-Star Great Dou Master level, concealing his true edge as he waited for the perfect moment.

"And you think you can?"

"You're asking for death!" The Snake-People leader flew into a rage. His tail slammed into the sand with enough force to seem capable of shattering the earth, and he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. His curved saber carved a sickly green arc of Dou Qi through the air, like a bolt of green lightning, aiming straight for Xiao Zhan's throat! The other two Snake-People attacked from both sides at the same time, their poisoned spears thrusting out like striking vipers to target Xiao Zhan's waist and ribs, forming a perfect pincer attack.

Facing the fierce assault of three Snake-People Great Dou Masters, Xiao Zhan did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, he charged forward without hesitation! His steps seemed haphazard and devoid of pattern, yet they followed a profound and mysterious path. This was none other than the Flowing Cloud Steps generously bestowed by the system. At that moment, his figure drifted like clouds on the wind, light and nimble, narrowly dodging the curved saber that came crashing down at his head amid the flash of blades.

At the same time, Xiao Zhan drove both fists forward like cannonballs. He did not use any powerful, dazzling Dou Techniques. He relied solely on his incomparably pure Dou Qi and astonishing physical strength, like a sleeping tiger suddenly awakening and unleashing tremendous power.

"Mountain-Splitting Palm!" (This was a Profound Tier Low Grade Dou Technique, as well as the original Xiao Zhan's famous signature technique.)

His fists tore through the air with a heavy, thunderous boom, like a furious lion roaring. The punch looked simple and unadorned, yet it was as fast as lightning and charged forward with unstoppable force.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two deep, thunderous impacts rang out! The two Snake-People attacking from either side were struck as if by a heavy hammer. The scales over their chests shattered and caved in, like rooftops battered apart by a storm. Blood mixed with bits of their organs sprayed from their mouths, bright red beneath the sun. Their bodies flew backward like broken sacks and slammed into the dunes. After twitching twice, they fell silent, their souls seemingly snatched away by the god of death.

"What?!" The Peak Nine-Star Great Dou Master Snake-People leader's pupils contracted sharply, like two suddenly shrinking jewels. His saber struck empty air, and alarm shot through him, as if an invisible hand had clamped around his heart. He had not even seen how Xiao Zhan had taken out his two capable subordinates in an instant. The display filled him with fear and shock.

But Xiao Zhan moved far faster than he could have imagined! The instant the two underlings fell, Xiao Zhan's figure appeared beside the Snake-People leader like a ghost. He raised one leg in an unadorned whip kick, like a giant steel lash, and slammed it into the leader's waist and abdomen with overwhelming force!

"Crack!"

The grating sound of breaking bone rang through the silent desert like Night Owl's shrill cry! The Snake-People leader let out a scream of agony, a desperate howl straight from hell. His massive body flew dozens of meters like a kite whose string had snapped, then crashed heavily into a sand pit. His saber slipped from his hand and traced a crooked arc through the air before embedding itself in the sand nearby. Blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain, staining the dry yellow sand beneath him, like a strange blood-red flower blooming in the desert.

He struggled to get up, clawing frantically at the sand in an attempt to push himself upright. But he could no longer feel the lower half of his body, as if it no longer belonged to him. His spine had clearly been broken by that kick. Waves of piercing pain surged through him, making each breath an agony.

Xiao Zhan walked to the edge of the sand pit and stood ramrod straight, like a pine tree. He looked down at the gravely wounded Snake-People leader with a detached gaze, as if the man before him were nothing but an insignificant ant.

"W-who... who are you?!" The Snake-People leader stared at him in terror and disbelief, as though he had seen the most frightening demon in the world. How could a Seven-Star Great Dou Master instantly kill two Great Dou Masters, then gravely wound him, a Peak Nine-Star expert, with a single move? It was beyond anything he could comprehend, leaving him mired in confusion and despair.

Xiao Zhan did not answer. He merely asked coldly, "What has been happening in the Holy City lately? Where is Her Majesty the Queen?" His voice was icy as frost, like a cold wind from the deepest pits of hell.

A flash of spite passed through the Snake-People leader's eyes, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to deliver a fatal strike. He rasped, "Vile human... You'll never get anything out of..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Zhan flicked a finger. A thread of Dou Qi, fine yet incomparably sharp, shot through the air like lightning and pierced the leader's brow! The light in the Snake-People leader's eyes quickly faded like a snuffed candle, until nothing remained but endless stillness.

"A waste of time." Xiao Zhan withdrew his finger without changing expression, his movement crisp and clean, as if he had done nothing more than perform a trivial task. He had meant to capture a prisoner and pry useful information from him, but the man clearly wouldn't cooperate. Moreover, Xiao Zhan sensed the auras of Snake-People drawing closer in the distance, as if a pack of hungry wolves were charging toward him.

He quickly searched the three Snake-People for anything valuable, mainly Magic Cores and several poisonous materials native to the desert. The Magic Cores gleamed with a mysterious light, while the toxic herbs gave off a pungent smell, as if telling their own peculiar tales of the dangerous desert from which they came. Then he flicked a finger, sending a thread of invisible Dou Qi like a ghost into the torn lining of the Snake-People leader's clothes. It left behind an extremely subtle tracking mark, like a mysterious seed planted in the darkness, waiting to bear fruit.

Once he had finished, Xiao Zhan's figure shifted again, becoming a faint yellow blur that drifted through the vast sea of sand like smoke and vanished. All that remained were three corpses, gradually buried beneath the windblown sand, as though they had never existed in this world. The sand was an hourglass of time, slowly wiping away every trace of life until nothing remained but silence and desolation.

A short while later, a better-equipped Snake-People patrol hurried onto the scene like a band of ghosts. Led by a Dou Ling Snake-People, the patrol members were all lithe and fierce, like warriors about to rush into battle.

"Captain! It's Haru and the others! They're all dead!" After examining the corpses, a Snake-People warrior paled with shock, his voice trembling with unconcealed fear. The sound echoed strangely through the silent desert.

The Dou Ling Snake-People captain's expression turned grave. He slowly crouched and carefully examined Haru's corpse like a meticulous detective. His fingers lightly touched Haru's broken spine and the bloody hole in his brow, and his face darkened further, like the sky before a storm. "What ruthless methods! Killed in a single blow! The attacker is at least Peak Dou Ling, or perhaps even... Dou Wang!" he said gravely, his voice full of caution and concern.

"Report this immediately! An unidentified powerhouse has infiltrated the desert. Their strength is suspected to be at the Dou Wang level! Their target... is likely the Holy City!" the Dou Ling captain ordered sharply, his voice ringing across the desert like a great bell. At the same time, he warily scanned the boundless sands on every side, as if searching for the danger hidden in the shadows. His heart was heavy. A Dou Wang-level powerhouse had infiltrated the desert—this was no small matter! Especially now, when Her Majesty the Queen was in an extremely critical and sensitive period. Even the slightest disturbance could unleash a tremendous storm.

Green Mountain Town, back courtyard of Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion.

Xiao Yi Xian sat alone beside the window of her humble room, holding an old, yellowed herbal compendium. Its paper had grown brittle with age, and the pages were full of the marks of time, as if recounting one ancient tale after another. Yet she was distracted, her gaze often drifting out the window, her thoughts long since wandering elsewhere. For some reason, she kept seeing the eyes of the unfamiliar young man she had met at the shop that day. His gaze had been clear, like a mountain spring. Unlike the greed and lust she often saw in the town's mercenaries, it held only pure curiosity... and even a hint of something that made her feel at ease. Like the warm winter sun, it had felt comforting and gentle.

She shook her head, trying to chase away her stray thoughts and refocus on the herbal compendium in her hands. Just then, her gaze happened to pass over an inconspicuous little flowerpot in the corner of the windowsill. It was small and dull-colored, as if time had forgotten it there. Yet that little flowerpot seemed to conceal some secret, drawing her attention.

A few seemingly ordinary herbs grew quietly in the little pot in the corner of the windowsill. But one leaf near the roots had, at some unknown point, quietly turned a strange grayish white, as if shrouded by an invisible gloom. The gray-white color seemed like a deadly poison, spreading upward at an extremely slow yet unwavering pace. Wherever it passed, the leaves' verdant vitality quickly drained away, leaving them shriveled and withered, as though time had mercilessly stolen every last trace of life from them.

Xiao Yi Xian's face turned even paler than the thinnest sheet of paper, as if a gentle breeze could knock her down. Her clear, watery eyes now brimmed with indescribable terror and deep despair, like two dark pools swallowed by shadow.

"It's happening again... Why... why is this happening..." Her voice trembled with boundless sorrow and helplessness. Slowly, she reached out a slender finger and lightly touched the gray-white leaf, as if it were a nightmare she dreaded to face but had no choice but to touch.

"Hiss..."

A sound too faint to hear rang out in the silent room, yet it seemed especially jarring. The instant her fingertip touched the leaf, it corroded as if struck by powerful acid, rapidly crumbling into a small heap of gray powder that sifted down like the last sigh of a life.

Xiao Yi Xian snatched her hand back as if shocked by electricity, her body trembling uncontrollably. She hugged herself tightly, as if that could ward off the fear rising from deep within her. Her petite body shook in the silence, and tears slid soundlessly from her clear eyes, like a string of pearls whose thread had snapped, falling onto the windowsill. The dry wood quickly absorbed them, leaving only a small dark mark, like the pain in her heart that could never be erased.

Outside, Green Mountain Town remained as noisy as ever. People's laughter mingled with the bustle of traffic, all the sounds blending together into a lively, prosperous world.

Inside, the girl's silent fear quietly spread through the stillness, like a cold tide slowly swallowing her. The shadow of the Woe Poison Body, like a maggot clinging to bone, had quietly wrapped itself around this pure and fragile flower, trapping her in endless despair and struggle amid what seemed like a peaceful life.