Page 7

Wen Xu nodded and followed Bian Chunchou step for step, but he soon noticed that his benefactor's route was rather peculiar. Not only did the path beneath their feet grow more rugged, but the fragrance was also growing fainter and fainter.

"Brother Bian, have you considered changing directions?"

Bian Chunchou was puzzled. "This is a place I carefully selected. The books say the Fragrant Elixir King Grass is rather delicate and favors rain, dew, and sunlight, so it must grow on a sunward slope. Given its noble status, it must surely grow somewhere ordinary Pill-Fragrance Herbs cannot. Don't you agree?"

Wen Xu nodded. "You're right, but..."

"But what?"

"The scent has grown faint."

Bian Chunchou: "...Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

He immediately switched to Route B, only to be reminded a second time by his sweet, clueless companion he had picked up. After choosing the wrong direction six times in a row, Bian Chunchou finally understood.

"Forget it. I'm not fated with it; a forcibly twisted melon is never sweet." Besides, the Preliminary Trial was nearly over. Most importantly, no one else had found it either.

"You're giving up just like that?"

Bian Chunchou nodded, then remembered Wen Xu could not see and added, "Mm-hm. When you're alive, there's no need to be too harsh on yourself. The Fragrant Elixir King Grass may be good, but I won't fall apart without it."

Hearing that, Wen Xu smiled. "That's good. I had wanted to tell you that I seem to have caught its scent, though perhaps I smelled wrong."

Bian Chunchou instantly launched into action as though fired from a spring. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Quick, quick, quick! If we really manage to pick it, you have no idea how cheerful a boy I can become~"

Wen Xu: ...This benefactor's choice of words was quite unusual.

This entire stretch of mountain was covered in Pill-Fragrance Herbs, with no other spirit plants anywhere. Most examinees were searching with their heads down, so the pair's movements drew no attention. Moreover, with the exam nearing its end, no one held much hope of finding the King Herb.

"Looks like no one will find it again this year. I heard long ago that the Fragrant Elixir King Grass in the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm ripens once every six years. Unfortunately, ever since Sui Yuan True Person picked one more than fifty years ago, no one has managed to pick another."

"How could we compare to a pill-dao genius? If we can pass the Preliminary Trial this time, that will already be a stroke of tremendous luck."

The voices of examinees talking drifted over from nearby. Bian Chunchou carefully parted the grass and could not help lowering his head to sniff. Well, the mountains and plains here were all filled with the fragrance of the King Herb. He could not distinguish the slightest difference in scent strength. Compared to Wen Xu's nose, he suspected his own was nothing more than decoration.

Afraid that speaking would be overheard, he cautiously lowered his head, pulled the other man's hand over, and wrote on it. When the blindfolded Wen Xu nodded seriously, he immediately smiled in delight. But then he grew troubled again. Damn it, this King Herb had not matured yet; picking it now would be useless. The exam was about to end—would telling the examiners its exact location count toward his results?

Wen Xu took the opportunity to withdraw his hand. His hands bore none of the wounds or calluses that a blind man would have from feeling out the world. Bian Chunchou's mind was entirely on the King Herb right now, so naturally he would not grow suspicious, but there was no guarantee he would not think more deeply about it later. Since Wen Xu had chosen to play a "blind man," he did not want to be exposed too quickly. After all, he still needed someone to help him leave this damned Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm.

Naturally, Wen Xu could guess how precious this Fragrant Elixir King Grass was. But if he could gain a sincere friend, then this deal would not be a loss. Besides, according to Bian Chunchou, even if this King Herb were dug up, it still belonged to Yonglu Mountain, the owner of the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm.

Since that was the case, and he was not an examinee, there was naturally no need for him to scheme against anyone.

"Is the exam almost over?"

Bian Chunchou made a shushing gesture, but quickly felt that he was being overly nervous. Only after forcing himself to relax did he speak. "Almost. Forget it, I'm done looking. My luck really isn't very good."

"Mine neither. Why don't we sit down and rest while we wait for the exam to end?"

Bian Chunchou nodded. The two chatted back and forth about ordinary things. There were quite a few pairs sitting together like them, so no one truly suspected them. Yet as time passed second by second, Bian Chunchou grew more and more anxious.

When he could not find it, he could still console himself. But now that he had found it and simply could not wait for it to mature, that was truly a kick in the teeth. This was even more infuriating than PXX's final slash.

Just as his anxiety had driven him to the point of wanting to tear at his hair, someone suddenly tapped twice on the back of his hand. This was the signal he and Wen Xu had agreed upon for the Fragrant Elixir King Grass ripening!

The King Herb had matured!!!

Bian Chunchou's heart raced, but his hand was steadier than ever before. He had not even clearly seen his own movements. By the time he came back to himself, the King Herb was already lying inside his jade box.

Then, in the next instant, the Pill-Fragrance Herbs covering the mountains and plains all withered at once. Everyone realized it—the Fragrant Elixir King Grass had been picked!!!

At the same time, the secret realm's power began transporting the examinees out. Bian Chunchou only felt his vision blur, and the next moment, he had returned directly to the center of the formation.

"The Preliminary Trial has ended. Please submit your jade boxes in order and register your results. The list of those who passed will be announced in the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Please remain calm and wait patiently."

How could anyone remain calm and wait patiently? That was the Fragrant Elixir King Grass!

"Who was it?! Did any of you see anything just now?"

"No, but everyone's out now. It must be one of us!"

"Could it have been the young master of Huiyuan City's Li Family? I heard the Li Family of Huiyuan City is renowned for tending spirit plants. Do you think..."

"Do not discuss it! Yonglu Mountain's senior brother is glaring at you!"

"..."

Thus, everyone only dared to whisper among themselves in private, no longer daring to challenge Yonglu Mountain's authority.

As for Bian Chunchou, who had the King Herb on him, he was naturally keeping quiet and making a fortune. Only... Bian Chunchou's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He instinctively looked around for his sweet, clueless companion, and then... oh no. Could Wen Xu truly not be an examinee? Could he really be an ordinary person who had wandered into the secret realm by mistake?

An indescribable restlessness rose in his heart. He even began to feel that the King Herb in his jade box was scalding hot. Bian Chunchou could not help leaving the line and searching from front to back, only to find... there really was no sign of him!

This was bad. Wen Xu was not an examinee. Without the jade box issued by Yonglu Mountain, would he be left behind in the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm?! He was blind—how helpless must he be right now?