The blaze at Black Wind Stronghold burned through the entire night.
The firelight shot into the sky, painting the night red and naturally drawing the attention of many people nearby.
Some bolder people even quietly went to investigate.
They discovered the truth.
Before long, news of Black Wind Stronghold's destruction spread like wildfire through the surrounding cities.
"Have you heard?"
"Black Wind Stronghold was wiped out last night?"
"Is that true?"
"Of course it's true! The stronghold was burned to the ground, and every bandit inside died!"
"Hahaha! Wonderful! Heaven has finally opened its eyes!"
"Those beasts finally got what was coming to them!"
"Who was so formidable? They actually wiped out Black Wind Stronghold?"
"Black Wind Stronghold's backer, Dai Xiongfeng, is a Core Formation cultivator!"
"..."
The following day.
At the inn where Chen Changqing and Qingyang were staying, the diners were excitedly discussing the matter.
From time to time, cheers from the common folk outside the inn could also be heard.
Black Wind Stronghold had entrenched itself in this region for many years, murdering, burning, pillaging, and plundering, committing every evil imaginable.
The ordinary people had long been furious but dared not speak out.
Now that Black Wind Stronghold had been destroyed overnight, it was naturally a joyous occasion for them.
Qingyang and Chen Changqing were drinking in the inn.
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing the discussions around them, Qingyang suddenly frowned and instinctively looked at Chen Changqing.
"Junior Brother, was this your doing?"
Qingyang looked deeply suspicious.
Yesterday, the young chief of Black Wind Stronghold had clashed with them.
Chen Changqing had even publicly beaten him up.
Who would have thought that upon waking this morning, they would hear that Black Wind Stronghold had been destroyed?
It was only natural for Qingyang to suspect Chen Changqing.
After hearing Qingyang's question, Chen Changqing smiled calmly.
"Senior Brother."
"How could it have been me?"
"I'm an honest man."
Seeing Chen Changqing refuse to admit it, Qingyang smiled faintly, though doubts rose in his heart.
In his view, the timing of Black Wind Stronghold's destruction was far too coincidental.
Yesterday, Chen Changqing had just clashed with the young chief of Black Wind Stronghold.
Today, Black Wind Stronghold had been wiped out, and even the entire stronghold had been burned to ashes.
Moreover, although Chen Changqing was only at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage,
Qingyang knew full well what his true strength was.
Back when he had only just entered Foundation Establishment, he had already been able to defeat Shi Tian, a body cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, who even possessed the special Stone Spirit Physique.
Now that Chen Changqing's cultivation had risen to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, his strength was even more unfathomable.
It was not impossible for him to kill a Core Formation cultivator.
Although Qingyang had guessed that Black Wind Stronghold's destruction was related to Chen Changqing,
since Chen Changqing refused to admit that he had done it, Qingyang could not very well dig to the root and ask for every detail.
Besides, Black Wind Stronghold had committed countless evils in the first place.
Its destruction could be considered a good thing.
After thinking for a moment, Qingyang came back to himself and smiled at Chen Changqing.
"Junior Brother, we've rested enough."
"Let's go!"
With that, Qingyang rose first and headed outside the inn.
Chen Changqing's expression remained unchanged as he followed close behind.
Time quietly slipped away.
Before they knew it, three days had passed.
At this moment, Chen Changqing followed Qingyang to the foot of a towering, enormous mountain.
Looking closely, the mountain soared into the clouds, shrouded in mist.
Faintly, spiritual light could be seen flickering within it. It was clearly a treasured land rich in spiritual energy.
"Junior Brother, once we pass the mountain ahead, we'll reach Hundred Herbs Valley!"
Qingyang looked toward the gigantic peak ahead as he spoke.
Chen Changqing nodded, not paying it much mind.
At this moment, Qingyang added,
"Hundred Herbs Valley falls under the jurisdiction of Medicine God Valley."
"If we want to enter Hundred Herbs Valley, we need Medicine God Valley's approval."
"We must register and obtain permission."
Chen Changqing was slightly surprised by Qingyang's explanation.
"Medicine God Valley?"
"I thought Hundred Herbs Valley was unclaimed land."
Qingyang gave a bitter smile.
"How could it be unclaimed land?"
"Hundred Herbs Valley contains all kinds of heavenly treasures and earthly riches. Such a blessed grotto-heaven is generally controlled by major powers."
"And Medicine God Valley, like our Mount Shu Sect, is one of the Ten Great Sacred Lands."
"Medicine God Valley specializes in the art of alchemy, and there are many alchemists within the sect."
"A force like that naturally attracts many experts to serve them."
"After all, pills are indispensable to cultivators!"
After Qingyang's explanation, Chen Changqing nodded in understanding.
He also knew that when many cultivators sought to break through their realms, pills such as Breakthrough Pills could greatly increase their chances of success.
"Come, let's go to the Registration Office!"
Qingyang called to Chen Changqing and took the lead in flying forward.
Before long, the two arrived outside the entrance to Hundred Herbs Valley.
Looking up, they saw that those entering the valley had already formed a long, winding queue.
"So many people?"
Chen Changqing was somewhat surprised. He had not expected so many cultivators to be seeking entry into Hundred Herbs Valley.
Qingyang explained with a smile,
"Hundred Herbs Valley has long been famous."
"Since Medicine God Valley has opened it to the outside world, it will naturally attract many people who come upon hearing its name."
"After all, anything obtained inside can be taken away."
Chen Changqing nodded and gave it no further thought.
He simply lined up with Qingyang.
After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn to register.
Chen Changqing was somewhat surprised. It seemed Hundred Herbs Valley truly lived up to its great reputation.
"Disciples of Mount Shu, entering the valley to seek medicinal herbs."
As he spoke, Qingyang quickly signaled Chen Changqing and took out his Identity Token as an Inner Sect disciple of Mount Shu.
The reception staff from Medicine God Valley inspected the two Identity Tokens before beginning to register them.
"Two disciples of Mount Shu."
"Six thousand spirit stones per person. You may remain in the valley for three days."
When Chen Changqing heard the Medicine God Valley receptionist's words, his eyelid could not help twitching.
"Six thousand spirit stones per person?"
He was secretly startled.
The price seemed far too high.
Medicine God Valley dared to open Hundred Herbs Valley to outsiders,
so they must have already swept through the valley beforehand.
If there truly had been anything good within Hundred Herbs Valley, it should have long since fallen into Medicine God Valley's hands.
People from other sects could only pick up whatever scraps remained.
Even so, they still charged six thousand spirit stones per person. That was rather outrageous.
"What shameless profiteering!"
Chen Changqing sighed inwardly.
Medicine God Valley certainly knew how to do business—and it was a wildly profitable business at that.
Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Qingyang did not seem surprised at all.
Clearly, before coming to Hundred Herbs Valley, he had already done his homework and knew Medicine God Valley's rules.
Next, Qingyang moved his thoughts and directly took out spirit stones to hand over.
Seeing this, Chen Changqing muttered quietly,
"Earlier, when Senior Brother Qingyang came looking for me, he said he was willing to offer one hundred spirit stones as payment for this trip."
"Now, entering Hundred Herbs Valley requires six thousand spirit stones from each person."
"Presumably, all the spirit stones on him are being used as the entrance fee!"
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