Chapter 243: Distributing Immortal Herbs! Huo Yuhao Returns to Shrek
After a long and arduous journey, Liu Yuan, Du Busi, and Long Aotian finally returned to the familiar territory of the Body Sect. The towering mountain gate remained exactly as they had left it, its massive stone pillars half-shrouded in swirling white clouds and dense mist.
The disciples guarding the entrance spotted the three figures emerging from the fog. Recognizing their sect master and two senior martial brothers, they immediately straightened their postures and bowed deeply in respectful salute.
Du Busi simply waved a hand, his expression unreadable, and strode directly toward the main hall without uttering a single word.
Liu Yuan and Long Aotian followed closely behind him. As they walked past the expansive martial arts arena, the rhythmic sounds of combat training gradually ground to a halt. Several disciples paused their movements, lowering their weapons as their gazes followed the trio with intense curiosity and burning expectation.
The news of Liu Yuan's return spread through the sect like wildfire. It was not because anyone had deliberately run around shouting the news, but rather because every disciple present had personally witnessed his devastating spar with Elder Chen just days prior, followed by his abrupt and hurried departure toward the Sunset Forest.
Everyone was silently wondering the exact same thing: what kind of unimaginable fortune had Senior Brother Liu Yuan brought back from this mysterious trip?
Liu Yuan, however, was in no rush to show off his harvest.
He returned straight to his private living quarters and firmly closed the heavy wooden door behind him. With a flick of his wrist, he activated his storage spirit tool. A brilliant flash of light illuminated the room, and hundreds of Immortal Herbs tumbled out, spreading across the wide wooden table.
Each individual plant emitted a faint, pulsing fluctuation of pure spirit power. They came in a dazzling array of colors and bizarre shapes. Some possessed thick, fleshy leaves that seemed to drip with vitality; some were tiny and delicate, glowing with a snow-white luminescence; others were as violently red as roaring fire, radiating waves of intense heat.
Within seconds, the entire room was flooded with the intoxicating fragrance of these legendary plants. The air grew thick with a complex mixture of scents—some fresh and crisp like morning dew, some cloyingly sweet, and others carrying a sharp, peppery hint of spiciness that cleared the mind instantly.
Despite the absolute treasure trove sitting before him, Liu Yuan remained completely calm. He was in no hurry to process them blindly.
He retrieved the ancient poison scripture from his spirit tool, carefully flipping through the fragile pages until he found the section detailing the specific effects of Immortal Herbs. Pulling up a chair, he began to cross-reference and inspect them one by one.
His work was methodical and ruthlessly precise. For every single Immortal Herb, he first identified its exact species by examining its petal structure and root system. Then, he assessed the density of its spirit power to confirm its age. Finally, relying on the detailed records within the poison scripture, he determined its precise medicinal efficacy and categorized exactly what type of spirit master it would best suit.
Some of the herbs were perfectly suited for forcefully increasing a cultivator's spirit power. Others were meant for tempering the physical body and improving innate physique. A rare few were designed to nourish and strengthen the spiritual sea, while others possessed miraculous healing properties meant to consolidate a damaged or unstable foundation.
He carefully recorded this information on fresh parchment, sorting the herbs into neat, categorized rows.
This painstaking process consumed several entire days.
During this time, Du Busi did not come to find him, nor did the Sect Master send a single servant to urge him along.
Elder Chen stopped by only once. The old man stood quietly outside the door for a long moment, listening to the steady, rhythmic sound of pages turning inside. A faint smile touched his weathered face before he turned and walked away without knocking.
Long Aotian also made a brief appearance. He cast a single, knowing glance at the tightly closed door, crossed his arms, and then headed straight for the martial arts arena to train.
No one rushed Liu Yuan. No one demanded to know how he intended to handle the priceless Immortal Herbs. The Body Sect's absolute trust in him was a silent, immovable weight that required no spoken words.
A few days later, Liu Yuan finally set down his brush. The sorting was complete.
He first reached for the three herbs possessing the highest age and the most terrifyingly potent effects. He carefully packed them into three separate, high-quality jade boxes, sealing them tight before storing them back into his spirit tool. These three specific treasures were strictly reserved for Du Busi, meant to help the Sect Master shatter the final, impossible threshold of level 99.
Next, he selected a handful of herbs perfectly aligned with Long Aotian's fierce combat style, packing them into another secure box.
Following that, he prepared individual portions for Chen Lü, Wang Yanfeng, Gu Tong, and Weina. Every core member received a share, with the most suitable Immortal Herbs handpicked based on their unique spirit attributes and current cultivation bottlenecks.
After setting aside the portions for the core disciples and elders, Liu Yuan leaned back and surveyed the remaining plants covering the table.
There were still quite a few left.
The harvest from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been far richer than even his most optimistic estimates. Even after distributing the absolute best to the core members, more than half of the dozens of Immortal Herbs remained untouched.
Without hesitation, he began dividing them up for the ordinary disciples.
The Body Sect had never been a massive organization. Even counting the outer sect disciples, their total numbers only amounted to a few hundred people. Based on the sect registry's records of their cultivation levels and spirit attributes, Liu Yuan carefully divided the remaining herbs into smaller, diluted portions. While each individual piece wasn't massive, the pure medicinal efficacy was more than enough to completely transform an ordinary person's potential.
He called over several trusted inner sect disciples and handed them the trays, instructing them to deliver a specific portion to every single disciple in the sect.
When the first outer sect disciple was handed his portion of an Immortal Herb, the young man's hands shook violently.
"Senior Brother Liu Yuan... is this really for me?" he stammered, staring at the glowing leaf as if it were an illusion.
Liu Yuan gave a curt nod. "Everyone gets a share. Your portion is specifically for improving your physical resilience. Consume it immediately after you return to your room. Do not try to save it for later, or the medicinal efficacy will dissipate."
The disciple nodded frantically, tears welling in his eyes. He cradled the glowing leaf against his chest as if it were his own life and carefully backed out of the room.
The news swept through the entire mountain like a tidal wave.
Out on the martial arts arena, several outer sect disciples huddled together in a tight circle. They stared down at the glowing plant fragments resting in their palms, their faces painted with utter disbelief.
"Senior Brother Liu Yuan actually included every single one of us?" A young boy whispered, his voice airy and hollow as he stared at the thick, fleshy leaf in his hands.
"What does your portion do?" the youth standing next to him leaned in, his eyes wide.
"I don't even know. Senior Brother just told the messenger that I needed to eat it right away. What about yours?"
"Mine is for purifying spirit power. The messenger said Senior Brother Liu Yuan specifically noted that this herb would help me smooth out the chaotic spirit power in my meridians."
"Mine is for improving my physique," a third disciple chimed in, his voice choking with emotion. "Senior Brother noticed that my foundation wasn't solid enough during the last training drill. He said using this will fix my hidden injuries."
The young men exchanged long, silent glances. They all saw the exact same emotion reflected in each other's eyes. It was far more than just overwhelming gratitude. It was a deep, indescribable sense of belonging. For the first time, they truly felt recognized, deeply valued, and treated as an indispensable part of this sect's future.
It was not just the ordinary disciples who were left reeling; the elders also received the specialized Immortal Herbs Liu Yuan had prepared for them.
Elder Chen sat quietly in his private room, his eyes locked onto the snow-white plant resting on his table. He remained completely silent for a very long time.
His left hand was still heavily wrapped in thick bandages. The severe injuries he had sustained had not yet fully healed, but his experienced eyes immediately recognized the treasure sitting before him. It was the Narcissus Jade Flesh Bone. This specific Immortal Herb possessed the miraculous ability to purify meridians, expel hidden toxins, and drastically accelerate the regeneration of damaged flesh and bone.
Liu Yuan had specifically chosen this exact herb for him, keeping his lingering injuries in mind.
"This child..." Elder Chen murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He didn't need to finish the sentence.
In another courtyard, Elder Zhang carefully inspected the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid resting in his palms. This treasure was renowned for its ability to purify spirit power and assist cultivators in breaking through stubborn bottlenecks. He studied its glowing petals for a long moment before reverently placing it into a protective jade box.
"This kid... he's far too thoughtful," Elder Zhang chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Elder Li was staring wide-eyed at a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. The fiery red herb pulsed with intense heat, designed to massively strengthen a cultivator's blood and Qi while providing a terrifying boost to fire-attribute spirits. Although Elder Li's martial spirit was not fire-attributed, he had recently begun practicing a demanding cultivation technique that required immense reserves of blood and Qi. This herb had arrived at the absolute perfect time.
When the reports of the distribution finally reached the main hall, Du Busi was sitting quietly in the side hall, sipping a cup of hot tea.
Hearing the reporting disciple state that Liu Yuan had distributed the Immortal Herbs to absolutely everyone in the entire sect—even the lowest outer sect disciples—the teacup in Du Busi's hand froze mid-air.
"He distributed them?" Du Busi asked, his voice low.
The disciple nodded respectfully. "Yes, Sect Master. Senior Brother Liu Yuan explicitly stated that everyone has a share."
Du Busi fell silent for a long moment. He slowly lowered the teacup back onto the wooden table, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a rare, genuine smile.
"This kid." He spoke those two words with a tone carrying an indescribable, overwhelming sense of satisfaction and pride.
He didn't bother asking how much Liu Yuan had selfishly kept for himself, nor did he demand a ledger of how the herbs were divided. He didn't even open the three jade boxes Liu Yuan had sent him to verify their contents.
He simply swept the three boxes into his storage ring and went back to drinking his tea.
When trust reached this absolute level, words became entirely unnecessary.
After Liu Yuan had finished distributing the massive haul, he finally sat down in his quiet living quarters.
Only a few select Immortal Herbs remained on his table, reserved strictly for his own use. There were not many, but they were the absolute best matches for his unique constitution.
The Gaze-Piercing Autumn Water Dew, perfectly suited for massively increasing mental force and providing a terrifying evolutionary bonus to eye-type martial spirits.
The Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum, a legendary herb meant for forging an indestructible physique and enhancing raw physical body strength to monstrous levels.
Alongside these were a few auxiliary-type herbs of slightly lower age, specifically chosen to stabilize his foundation and ensure his rapid growth didn't leave hidden flaws.
He carefully stored these treasures away, then sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion and slowly closed his eyes.
He still needed to become stronger. Much stronger.
Whether it was the previous life-and-death encounter with the Holy Spirit Cult, or the terrifying discoveries made this time within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the vague, lingering traces of Tang San's divine interference were constantly sounding blaring alarm bells in his mind. The supposed 'God' was watching, manipulating the board from above.
He had to reach the absolute pinnacle.
Deep within the restricted grounds of the main hall, Du Busi also began his closed-door cultivation.
The towering man walked into a specially constructed, heavily reinforced secret chamber. The massive stone door slowly ground shut behind him, sealing him in absolute darkness.
He retrieved the three jade boxes Liu Yuan had given him. Opening the first one, he stared at the blindingly radiant Immortal Herb inside for a long moment, feeling the terrifying waves of pure energy washing over his face. He snapped the lid shut.
Level 99.
He had been hopelessly stuck at this suffocating threshold for many long, agonizing years. He had even begun to accept the bitter reality that he would never have a chance to take that final step in this lifetime.
But now, these heaven-defying treasures Liu Yuan had dragged out of the Sunset Forest had ignited a blazing fire of new hope in his chest.
Du Busi sat down in the dead center of the secret chamber, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his spirit power.
The Body Sect's mountain gate returned to its usual, heavy tranquility.
Out on the martial arts arena, disciples continued their brutal sparring matches; inside the grand library, elders quietly flipped through ancient, dusty tomes; in the bustling cafeteria, disciples laughed and ate. Everything appeared exactly as usual, save for one crucial difference: every single person's cultivation was now silently, steadily skyrocketing thanks to the foundation Liu Yuan had laid for them.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away at Shrek Academy, the atmosphere was drastically different.
By the tranquil shores of Sea God's Lake, the evening sun was rapidly setting, casting long, bloody streaks of golden-orange light across the rippling water.
Huo Yuhao had rushed back from the Sunset Forest, pushing his body to the absolute limit without stopping to rest a single time along the way.
His chest was still tightly bound in thick, blood-spotted bandages. Although he had managed to change into a clean set of clothes, the jagged, ugly wounds across his face had not yet fully healed, leaving him looking battered and exhausted. He cradled the Yearning Heartbroken Herb against his chest with trembling hands, his breathing ragged as he dragged his heavy boots through the grand gates of Shrek Academy.
Just as he stumbled onto the grassy shore of Sea God's Lake, several familiar figures rushed out from different directions, converging on his position.
Walking at the very front was Bei Bei. The usually calm and collected senior brother had a tense, rigid face. His brows were locked together in a fierce scowl, and the moment his eyes landed on Huo Yuhao, his pace broke into a sprint. He was still clutching a book in his right hand, clearly having bolted out of the library the second he heard the news.
"Yuhao!" Bei Bei's voice rang out, carrying an irrepressible, frantic urgency. "Where the hell have you been these past few days?! You vanished without saying a single word to anyone, and we couldn't even reach you through the spirit tool communication network!"
Following closely on Bei Bei's heels was Xu Sanshi.
The shield master skidded to a halt, his dark eyes sweeping up and down Huo Yuhao's battered frame. His gaze immediately locked onto the blood-seeping bandages wrapping Yuhao's chest and the fresh scabs on his face. Xu Sanshi's jaw tightened, his brows knitting together furiously.
"You're injured? What happened out there? Who did this to you?!" Xu Sanshi demanded, his voice thick with protective anger.
Jiang Nannan arrived a second later. She stepped up beside Xu Sanshi, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't speak, but the deep, agonizing worry swimming in her eyes was obvious to anyone looking.
Xiao Xiao ran over from the opposite pathway, panting heavily. Her eyes were already rimmed with red, and her voice trembled violently as she spoke.
"Yuhao... you're finally back. We were all worried to death! We thought... we thought something terrible had happened to you."
And then, a figure in pure white stepped out from the tree line.
Wang Dong'er.
She stood perfectly still by the shore of Sea God's Lake. With her back to the setting sun, the dying golden light cast a glowing halo over her shoulders, softening her delicate silhouette.
Her expression was an unreadable mask. It was impossible to tell if she was furious, heartbroken, or simply relieved. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her large, bright eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Huo Yuhao's battered face.
She didn't run over to him. She didn't utter a single word of comfort or scolding. She just stood there, a few paces away, watching him in heavy silence.
When Huo Yuhao saw her standing there, his heavy footsteps faltered, coming to a dead stop.
He gripped the Yearning Heartbroken Herb tighter against his chest, his knuckles turning a stark, bone-white from the pressure.
Bei Bei closed the final distance between them. He looked down at his junior brother's trembling, exhausted form, took a deep breath, and finally asked the one question burning in everyone's mind.
"Yuhao... where exactly have you been?"
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