The Box

While waiting for the Medicine Hall, Ou Peng helplessly picked up the last, seemingly ordinary small box. His heart was filled with anticipation. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had seen more treasures than in the first half of his life. He wondered what treasure this box held. Could it be something more miraculous than the Longevity Pill?

The box felt cool to the touch and surprisingly heavy. Ou Peng brought it closer to examine it carefully. The entire box seemed to be made from a single piece of material, with no visible seams or lid. He didn't know how to open it. Ou Peng tried the edges, prying upwards, pressing downwards, but nothing worked. He couldn't possibly bite it open, could he? Ou Peng chuckled at himself, placed the box back on the table, and then called everyone forward to take a look.

Everyone gathered around and examined it for a long time. Fourth Brother and Sixth Brother also tried several methods, but to no avail. Zhang Chengyue frowned and said, "Master, could it be that we need something like a key?"

Sixth Brother shot him a look and said, "Martial Nephew, if a key is needed, there should at least be a keyhole. This box has no visible lock or hidden mechanism. How can we use a key?"

Zhang Chengyue blushed slightly, standing there awkwardly without rebuttal.

Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing had seen this box before in the Secret Realm. Wen Wenhai had even tried to open it. Seeing that their Master and Martial Uncle couldn't open it, he didn't dare to offer any new suggestions. Xue Qing, however, was very interested in the box she had won through Rock Paper Scissors. She even held it up to her ear and shook it, trying to hear if there was any sound inside, but unfortunately, it had no effect.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the Hall Master of the Medicine Hall, Bai Dong, and Elder He Yunpu arrived at the assembly hall. After paying their respects to the Gang Leader and everyone present, Zhang Chengyue led them to the square table where the medicinal herbs were placed. The reactions of these two were even more astonishing than anyone could have imagined. It wasn't that they were unexpectedly not surprised, but rather that they were excessively surprised. From the moment they saw the contents of the package, their eyeballs seemed to have stopped moving. Their feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move even half a step. They pointed at the herbs, their arms trembling, and drool flowed from their mouths, almost reaching the ground.

After about half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two finally came back to their senses. They paid no mind to the amused onlookers enjoying their awkward state and spoke to themselves, "This is a ginseng over six hundred years old, this is Panax Notoginseng over six hundred years old, this is Tian Jing over four hundred years old, this is? Golden Thread Grass over seven hundred years old? That's right, it's exactly as recorded in the Herbal Codex. And this? Am I hallucinating? Thousand-year-old Dragon Slaying Grass? How is that possible? But, 'the roots are mostly fine and cord-like, curved. The stems are erect, solitary or clustered, with fine longitudinal striations, smooth or slightly hairy with white fine hairs at the tip, and highly branched in the upper part. The upper surface of the leaves is dark green, and the lower surface is lighter in color; the basal leaves are petiolate, ovate-elliptical, with rounded or acute serrations on the margin. Hundred-year-old plants have silver teeth, and thousand-year-old plants have gold teeth.' This... these golden serrations, heavens, I must be dreaming." Hall Master Bai said, slapping his own face hard. Then, he winced in pain, sucking air through his teeth.

Elder He Yunpu, on the other hand, was also muttering incomprehensible medicinal names, with an equally incredulous expression. Finally, he picked up a palm-sized medicinal herb and said, "What is this? A cactus?" Hall Master Bai said, "You're talking nonsense. The Herbal Codex states that cacti have thorns. Did it prick your hand? That's Fish Hand Grass."

Elder He was also displeased and said, "The Herbal Codex says Fish Hand Grass has three fingers, but this clearly has four."

Hall Master Bai looked closely and shook his head, saying, "I don't know, I don't know. And these remaining four or five types of medicinal herbs, I don't seem to have seen them before. I wonder if the Herbal Codex has any records of them?"

Elder He also squinted and thought carefully, nodding in agreement, "I don't know. My knowledge is too limited, too limited."

Ou Peng seized the opportunity to interject, "Hall Master Bai, Elder He!"

His words startled the two. They then realized they were in the assembly hall, not their usual Medicine Hall where they discussed their studies. They quickly cupped their hands and said, "Seeing so many excellent medicinal herbs, we were overjoyed and couldn't control ourselves. We ask the Gang Leader and everyone for forgiveness."

Everyone returned the greeting, saying it was alright.

Ou Peng said, "Gentlemen, what are the value and uses of these medicinal herbs?"

Elder He said, "Gang Leader, where did you obtain these rare medicinal herbs? The ginseng, Panax Notoginseng, Tian Jing, fo-ti, and others are of common varieties, but the ages of these medicinal herbs are truly astonishing. Even hundred-year-old plants are extremely rare, and these are at least three hundred years old at the lowest. Golden Thread Grass, Snake Gallbladder Grass, and the like are excellent medicines for external injuries. Snake Mouth Grass, Coral Grass, and Stone Wind Medicine are divine medicines for treating internal injuries. The others are all rare medicinal herbs. When combined with other medicinal herbs, prepared according to the principles of monarch, minister, yin, and yang, they will undoubtedly be rare and valuable items!"

At this moment, Hall Master Bai came to his senses and quickly said, "Gang Leader, the location where these items were found must be strictly kept secret. The Dragon Slaying Grass and Peacock Grass among them are primary ingredients for refining medicinal herbs that increase power, similar to the Qi Boosting Pill. Our Misty Sect's ancient texts record this." This statement made everyone perk up their ears.

Ou Peng said, "Do the ancient texts record how to refine the Qi Boosting Pill?"

Hall Master Bai said, "No, the formula for the Qi Boosting Pill was lost long ago. The ancient texts only record some similar elixirs, with limited efficacy, and the required medicinal herbs are extremely rare."

Ou Peng said, "Hall Master Bai, please take these medicinal herbs to the Medicine Hall and research their respective effects. Also, examine the formulas for those elixirs similar to the Qi Boosting Pill in more detail. Prepare yourself, perhaps..."

Ou Peng's words were not finished, but Hall Master Bai understood immediately and said, "I will strictly follow the Gang Leader's instructions."

Then, together with Elder He, they carefully carried the package and left the assembly hall. Ou Peng also instructed Zhang Chengyue to assign more manpower to the Medicine Hall to ensure its protection.

After Hall Master Bai and Elder He left, Ou Peng sat back in his chair.

His gaze fell again on the small box on the table that he couldn't open by any means. After thinking for a moment, he still instructed Zhang Chengyue to summon Hall Master Shi Yukun of the Divine Mechanism Hall. The Divine Mechanism Hall was where the Misty Sect refined weapons and hidden weapons, and Hall Master Shi was a master blacksmith in the Pingyang City area.

Not long after, Shi Yukun arrived at the assembly hall. He observed the small box for a long time and tried various methods, but was equally at a loss.

However, he hesitated for a moment and tentatively asked Ou Peng, "Gang Leader, I think, why don't we let Shi Niu come and try?"

Shi Niu was a brute from the Misty Sect who practiced the Great Strength Vajra Hand. His martial arts were not very good, but his strength was top-notch. Coupled with his focus on the Great Strength Vajra Hand, in terms of sheer strength, he was the strongest in the sect.

Shi Yukun's suggestion was like a sudden enlightenment. The box was merely a container for preserving items. To retrieve the contents, while keeping the box intact was ideal, if it couldn't be preserved, and it had to be opened skillfully, then the only option was brute force. Ultimately, obtaining the item was paramount.

Shi Niu also arrived at the assembly hall. He was a tall and sturdy man, standing a head taller than everyone else in the hall, with well-developed muscles all over his body. Seeing his honest and simple smiling face, Ou Peng didn't say much. He simply handed the small box to him and gave the command: "Open it."

Shi Niu took the box without a word. He clasped the box with both hands and tried to pry it open from the middle, but the box didn't budge. Next, Shi Niu placed the box on the ground, took a deep breath, channeled his qi to his dan tian, and his arms suddenly became thicker. The fingers of his hands also became larger than before. Then, with a loud shout, Shi Niu stared intently at the box and brought his hands down forcefully to strike it. With a muffled thud, his palm-like hands struck the box. The box did not shatter into pieces as everyone expected. Instead, it was smoothly struck by Shi Niu into the stone slab beneath the assembly hall.

Shi Niu took the box out from where it was embedded in the stone slab. Looking at the intact box, he scratched his head and looked at the Gang Leader with an innocent expression, feeling very dejected. He thought to himself, "What is this thing?"

After sending Shi Niu away, Ou Peng was also dejected. How should he deal with this box?

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He drew the precious sword hanging from his waist, but then immediately sheathed it again. The remaining people in the assembly hall also had bright eyes, knowing that the Gang Leader had thought of a good way to open the box. Before Ou Peng could even give an order, Zhang Chengyue said to Shi Yukun, "Doesn't your Divine Mechanism Hall have the 'Water Cutter'? Why not try it?"

Shi Yukun glanced at Ou Peng. Seeing that the Gang Leader did not object, he said, "Please wait a moment, Gang Leader and everyone. I'll be right back."

Not long after, Shi Yukun returned carrying a sword with an ancient scabbard. He said to Ou Peng, "Gang Leader, let me try first."

Ou Peng nodded in agreement.

Shi Yukun drew the sword from the scabbard. The sword did not gleam like other swords; instead, its blade was dark, and occasionally, when light reflected off its surface, it was dazzling, like a black lightning bolt.

Shi Yukun raised the sword and tentatively struck one corner of the box. The box showed no reaction. Then, he took a deep breath, raised the "Water Cutter" again, and with all his might, swung it down at one corner of the box.

However, there was no cracking sound as everyone expected, nor any sound at all. It was as if the sword had struck cotton. The box remained there, completely unharmed.

Ou Peng looked at Shi Yukun, who was preparing to strike again, and said, "Give me the sword."

Ou Peng took the sword handed to him by Shi Yukun, placed the box on the ground into the small groove that Shi Niu had made, then channeled his qi to his dan tian. The color of his face kept changing, and it only stopped after the sixth change. Fourth Brother and Sixth Brother beside him looked on with envious eyes. They both thought to themselves, "The Sect Leader's Misty Divine Art is so profound, it has reached the sixth level."

Ou Peng raised the "Water Cutter," channeling his internal true qi into the blade. The entire sword was no longer its usual dark color. Under the infusion of the Misty Divine Art, it even began to show some color changes. Then, Ou Peng let out a loud shout and swung the sword at the box.