"The so-called Wolf Bandit Hunt is a regular cleanup operation held by our Spirit Hall."
Qian Xunji set down the official documents in his hands and looked up, calmly explaining.
"For a long time, Wolf Bandits have been one of the most troublesome disasters caused by humans on the Douluo Continent. Wherever they go, they destroy countless villages. They are the most evil creatures."
At that moment, Bibi Dong, standing nearby, asked curiously, "Teacher, what exactly are Wolf Bandits?"
Qian Xunji rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly began to explain.
"Wolf Bandits are half-human, half-beast monsters. Most of them are born from Gale Demon Wolves and humans, and they possess formidable fighting strength from birth."
"These Wolf Bandits are exceptionally bloodthirsty, and they reproduce at an alarming rate. When a village encounters them, it can hardly hope to survive."
Bibi Dong furrowed her brows. "They're actually that terrifying? Those beasts deserve to die."
"Mm."
Qian Xunji nodded and turned to hand them a list. "Faced with such an evil species, our Spirit Hall has a duty to wipe them out. That is why we hold this Wolf Bandit Hunt."
"Tomorrow, you'll join the extermination team and go kill Wolf Bandits. The first purpose is to rid the people of this menace; the second is to test the results of your training over this period."
"Yes, Teacher."
Ban Shu took the list and exchanged a glance with Bibi Dong before nodding.
"Mm. This is your first mission, so make sure you do well. Don't bring shame upon your teacher."
Qian Xunji stepped forward and patted them both on the shoulders. "Also, be careful. Don't try to prove yourselves and put yourselves in danger, understand?"
"All right, Teacher. We'll take care of ourselves."
Ban Shu and Bibi Dong replied at the same time.
The next day, Ban Shu and Bibi Dong packed their things and set off with the Wolf Bandit Hunt team.
Worried that something might happen to his two precious disciples, Qian Xunji sent not only Li Yan to protect them personally but also a Soul Saint he trusted.
Ban Shu knew this Soul Saint extremely well.
"Honored sirs, I am Yue Guan, a Cardinal of Spirit Hall. Please feel free to call me by my given name."
Dressed in the Cardinal's distinctive red robes, Yue Guan bowed and addressed them respectfully.
"My name is Ban Shu, and this is Bibi Dong. Cardinal Yue Guan, we'll be relying on you during the journey."
Ban Shu hadn't expected the person assigned to protect them this time to be the future Chrysanthemum Douluo. Then again, according to the current timeline, Yue Guan should already be in Spirit Hall.
He hadn't yet cultivated to the level of a Titled Douluo, though. For now, he worked at Spirit Hall as a Soul Saint.
Gui Mei should still be around, too. It seemed the two of them had known each other for quite some time.
"It's no trouble at all. Li Cardinal and I will protect you both during this Wolf Bandit Hunt."
Yue Guan nodded with a smile. These two were important figures. Though he was a Cardinal, he still had to treat them with the utmost respect and courtesy.
On the road, Ban Shu kept trying to find topics of conversation to build a rapport with Yue Guan. After all, he would need Yue Guan's help to obtain Immortal Herbs in the future.
On the Douluo Continent as it stood now, the only ones who could know the uses of Immortal Herbs were the future Chrysanthemum Douluo before him and the Ye Family.
But compared to the Heaven Dou Empire, someone nearby would be better.
"Cardinal Yue Guan, I've heard that you're a lover of flowers and have studied rare and unusual plants?"
Ban Shu steered the conversation toward flowers and plants. "I once passed a flower garden where all kinds of blooms were competing in beauty. I suppose it belonged to you?"
Sure enough, those words caught Yue Guan's attention. A flash of delight crossed his eyes. "That's right. I'm the only one in Spirit Hall who grows flowers. Might you be a lover of flowers too, Lord Ban?"
"Well, I don't have much interest in tending flowers and plants, but I do have an interest in rare and unusual flora."
Ban Shu smiled and waved his hand. "I read a few books about rare plants in Spirit Hall's library, and that's what sparked my interest."
"But unfortunately, there were very few books, and they were incomplete. So I tried to find someone who knew about these things, and that's how I learned of you."
"You've come to the right person, Lord Ban."
At the mention of rare plants, Yue Guan unconsciously puffed out his chest. "On the Douluo Continent today, when it comes to rare and unusual flora, I wouldn't dare claim to be first or second, but I'm certainly among the very best."
"My Martial Soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, is a genuine Immortal Herb."
"An Immortal Herb?"
Bibi Dong joined the conversation. "What are you two talking about?"
"You don't know what an Immortal Herb is, my lord?"
Yue Guan smiled mysteriously before beginning to explain. "An Immortal Herb is a spirit plant born between heaven and earth, one that absorbs the essence of the sun and moon."
"Every Immortal Herb has extraordinary effects. Take my Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, for example."
Yue Guan held out his hand, and a brilliant yellow chrysanthemum appeared. "The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum has relatively mild medicinal properties. Consuming it can open up the meridians and forge an indestructible body."
"The real effects might not be quite so exaggerated, but it's still an exceptionally rare treasure. A single plant can change a Soul Master's entire life."
"Hey, if that's the case, Yue Guan, have you ever seen an Immortal Herb with your own eyes?"
Bibi Dong pointed curiously at the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand.
"Well..."
Yue Guan turned his hand over and drew the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum back into his body, looking a little embarrassed. "To tell the truth, I've never actually seen an Immortal Herb. I haven't even caught a glimpse of one."
"If that's so, could Immortal Herbs be fake?"
Bibi Dong rubbed her chin and began to make a bold guess.
"Absolutely not!"
Yue Guan immediately rejected Bibi Dong's suggestion. To him, it was simply impossible. "I'm certain Immortal Herbs exist. They're just so rare that they're hard to find."
"I believe in Cardinal Yue Guan's theory too. Immortal Herbs may be extraordinary, but the Douluo Continent is vast. Who knows? They might be waiting somewhere for us to discover them."
Ban Shu smiled as he spoke. He knew there were plenty of Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"It's rare to meet someone who shares my interests, my lord. There's something I'd like to give you."
Yue Guan then took a thick book from his robes. "This book is the fruit of my labor. It records every Immortal Herb I know of, along with how to use them."
"Are you sure?"
Ban Shu reached out and accepted the book. "This is the fruit of your labor."
Yue Guan lowered his head and presented the book in his hands. "If you manage to find an Immortal Herb in the future, just let me take a look at it. That alone would satisfy me."
"Then I'll accept it."
Ban Shu didn't hesitate and put the book away. He wasn't someone who forgot a kindness. Since Yue Guan had given him this, he would naturally make sure Yue Guan got a share of any Immortal Herbs.
Before you continue