Deeper in Spirit Grass Valley, spiritual energy grew denser, almost condensing into a faint mist. A single breath made the spiritual energy in his Dantian stir slightly. The spirit herbs lining the path grew increasingly rare; some bore dewy beads of condensed spiritual energy on their leaves, others bloomed with intoxicating otherworldly fragrance, and a few even radiated faint halos — clearly century-old treasures.
Su Qingyao led the way with light steps, her eyes alert as she scanned her surroundings. "Young Master Lin, the Millennium Spirit Ginseng grows by the cold pond at the very heart of the valley. The spiritual energy there is richest, but it is also the most dangerous. Rumor has it that not only powerful guardian beasts lurk by the pond, but many cultivators lie in hiding, all coveting the Millennium Spirit Ginseng."
Lin Yan nodded slightly, his sharp gaze monitoring the area as his Chaos spiritual energy circulated gently, keeping him on constant guard. "I understand. Rest assured, with me here, I won't let you fall into danger again." His tone remained calm, yet carried unshakable resolve. Having fought alongside her against the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, he now trusted Su Qingyao somewhat. Besides, she knew where to find the ginseng, and traveling with her saved him much trouble.
The two advanced carefully, avoiding several hidden beast lairs and encountering a few scattered cultivators. Most were mid-stage Qi Condensation; sensing the late-stage aura around Lin Yan and Su Qingyao, they sensibly kept their distance and did not provoke them. After all, in Spirit Grass Valley, the less trouble, the better. No one wished to waste spiritual energy on petty pride and miss their chance to find herbs.
After roughly half an hour, they passed through a dense patch of spirit herbs, and a clear cold pond came into view ahead. The water surface was calm, exuding a faint chill. Rare spirit herbs grew all over the rocks along the shore, and on a large boulder at the pond's center stood a crimson-stemmed, green-leafed ginseng, radiating a thick spiritual halo with dewdrops glistening on its leaves — exactly the Millennium Spirit Ginseng they sought.
"Wonderful, Young Master Lin! That's the Millennium Spirit Ginseng!" Su Qingyao's eyes lit up with joy as she whispered, barely containing her excitement. Millennium Spirit Ginseng was extremely rare; even a prominent clan like the Sus could hardly own one. Obtaining it would greatly boost her chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.
Lin Yan's eyes also brightened as he fixed his gaze on the ginseng. He could clearly sense that the spiritual energy within it was several times denser than the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox's core, and utterly pure. Absorbing its energy would not only let him break through to Foundation Establishment effortlessly, but also fully unlock the first half of the Chaos Art, further nourishing his Primal Chaos Spirit Vein.
Just as the two prepared to step forward and pick the ginseng, three figures suddenly darted out from the nearby woods, blocking their path. Leading them was a youth in a black martial outfit with a sinister face, exuding late-stage Qi Condensation aura. Behind him followed two lackeys, both mid-stage Qi Condensation, staring hostilely at Lin Yan and Su Qingyao.
"Hmph, to think two brats found the Millennium Spirit Ginseng first," the black-clad youth sneered, his gaze sweeping over them with undisguised greed and provocation. "Be sensible and scram, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Su Qingyao's face darkened. Gripping her jade sword, she whispered to Lin Yan: "Young Master Lin, they are disciples of the Wang Clan of Qingyang City. The leader is Wang Hu, at the peak of late-stage Qi Condensation, very strong and notoriously treacherous. He often robs other cultivators of their herbs in this valley."
Lin Yan frowned slightly, looking calmly at Wang Hu. "We found this ginseng first. If you want it, earn it."
"Earn it?" Wang Hu scoffed, disdain flashing in his eyes. "With the two of you? A ragged nobody and a delicate Su girl? You dare talk to me like that? You're courting death!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the two lackeys charged forward, spiritual energy surging as they lunged at Lin Yan and Su Qingyao. They knew Wang Hu's temper; capturing the pair and seizing the ginseng would surely earn them rewards.
"Young Master Lin, I'll handle these two!" Su Qingyao shouted crisply. She darted forward, swinging her jade sword and sending a pale green stream of spiritual energy slicing toward one lackey. Her swordsmanship was agile and elegant, her spiritual energy pure. Though only at late-stage Qi Condensation, she was no weaker than peak late-stage cultivators.
Lin Yan nodded, his gaze settling on Wang Hu. Chaos spiritual energy exploded within him, a domineering aura radiating outward. "Your opponent is me."
"Die!" Wang Hu roared. His spiritual energy surged, the full might of peak late-stage Qi Condensation erupting as he charged at Lin Yan. Coalescing black energy in his hand, he slammed it toward Lin Yan's chest. The Wang Clan's cultivation method emphasized brute strength, and while Wang Hu's energy was fierce, it was far less pure than Lin Yan's Chaos spiritual energy.
Lin Yan's gaze hardened. He stood his ground, gathering Chaos energy in his right palm and sending a black stream of energy to meet Wang Hu's strike.
A dull boom echoed as the two forces collided, a powerful shockwave rippling outward and disturbing the cold pond's surface.
Agonizing pain shot through Wang Hu's hand. An overbearing force flooded up his arm and rampaged through his meridians, forcing him back three steps. His face paled, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "You… how can your spiritual energy be so domineering? Who are you?!"
Lin Yan stood firm, his palm slightly numb but not yielding an inch. He stared at the shocked Wang Hu, his voice icy: "Who I am is none of your concern. Provoke me again, and I will cripple your cultivation!"
Meanwhile, Su Qingyao dueled the two Wang lackeys. With her agile swordsmanship and pure spiritual energy, she gradually gained the upper hand. Her jade sword struck like a striking snake, each thrust targeting their weaknesses. Before long, both lackeys lay defeated, unable to fight.
Seeing his followers beaten, Wang Hu burned with rage, ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He knew he was no match for Lin Yan, yet the Millennium Spirit Ginseng was right before him — he could not bear to give up. "Brat, you wait! The Wang Clan will not let you off!"
With that, Wang Hu suddenly spun and rushed toward the boulder at the pond's center, intending to snatch the ginseng and flee.
"Not so fast!" Lin Yan snorted. He darted after Wang Hu in an instant, gathering black energy in his hand and slamming it toward Wang Hu's back.
Wang Hu panicked and turned to block, but it was too late. The black energy struck his back hard. He let out a miserable shriek, sent flying and crashing to the ground, spitting up blood. His spiritual energy fell into chaos, his cultivation severely damaged.
Lin Yan did not finish him off. His goal was the Millennium Spirit Ginseng, and he did not wish to waste more energy on Wang Hu. "Scram! Show your face again, and I will show no mercy!"
Pale and trembling, Wang Hu struggled to his feet. He glared at Lin Yan hatefully before fleeing Spirit Grass Valley with his lackeys in disgrace. He swore vengeance, vowing to report Lin Yan to the Wang Clan elders and send men to hunt him down.
With Wang Hu and his men dealt with, Su Qingyao walked over to Lin Yan. "Thank you, Young Master Lin. Without you, we could never have defeated Wang Hu, let alone obtained the Millennium Spirit Ginseng."
Lin Yan nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the ginseng. "Let's pick it quickly. We shouldn't stay here — the fight just now may have drawn other cultivators."
Su Qingyao agreed and followed Lin Yan carefully to the pond's edge. Just as Lin Yan reached for the ginseng, the pond's surface erupted in violent ripples. A massive beast burst from the water, blocking the boulder.
Resembling a snake but several times larger, its body was pitch-black with gleaming scales, its eyes blood-red. An aura of the Early-stage Foundation Establishment realm swirled around it — the Black Armor Python, guardian beast of the cold pond. Its scales were impenetrably hard, it excelled at water-element spells, and it was far more powerful than the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox.
"Not good! It's the Black Armor Python!" Su Qingyao's face paled. She gripped her jade sword, apprehension flashing in her eyes. An early Foundation Establishment beast was far beyond the reach of Qi Condensation cultivators. Even with Lin Yan's domineering Chaos energy, defeating it would be extremely difficult.
The Black Armor Python stared at Lin Yan and Su Qingyao, savagery and vigilance in its eyes as it let out a low growl, warning them not to approach the Millennium Spirit Ginseng. The ginseng fed on the pond's spiritual energy, a treasure the python guarded with its life. It would allow no one to steal it.
"Young Master Lin, the Black Armor Python is at early Foundation Establishment — we're no match. Let's retreat for now," Su Qingyao said softly, a note of helplessness in her voice. The Millennium Spirit Ginseng was rare, but life was more precious. Fighting the python head-on would likely get them both killed.
Lin Yan shook his head, his gaze firm as he looked at the beast. "The Millennium Spirit Ginseng is too important to us to abandon. Besides, I can feel my cultivation has reached the peak of late-stage Qi Condensation. Absorbing even a little of its energy will let me break through to Foundation Establishment. Once I breakthrough, we stand a chance to defeat it."
With that, Lin Yan unleashed all his Chaos spiritual energy, the full might of peak late-stage Qi Condensation erupting. He darted toward the python, forming a black energy sword in his hand and stabbing toward its head.
"Roar!" The Black Armor Python roared, dodging the strike. It raised its massive head and spat a frigid stream of water-element energy at Lin Yan. Where the energy passed, the air turned bitterly cold, forming a thin layer of ice.
Lin Yan's gaze hardened. He nimbly evaded the attack, thrusting the energy sword again toward the python's relatively soft underbelly — its weak spot.
Su Qingyao reacted at once, swinging her jade sword to send streams of pale green energy slicing at the python, distracting it and creating openings for Lin Yan.
Trapped by Su Qingyao, the python could not fully focus on Lin Yan. It barely dodged his strikes while continuously spitting water energy to counterattack. For a moment, spiritual energy exploded everywhere by the pond, the sounds of fighting and roaring merging into a fierce chaos.
As he fought, Lin Yan monitored the flow of energy within him. He could feel the spiritual energy in his Dantian growing denser, reaching the very limit of peak late-stage Qi Condensation. One final push, and he would break through to Foundation Establishment. Though the python's water energy was fierce, it could not break through his Chaos energy defense — it only drained his strength.
"Now!" A sharp light flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. Taking advantage of the python being distracted by Su Qingyao, he darted toward the boulder and snatched the Millennium Spirit Ginseng.
The moment he plucked it, an overwhelmingly dense surge of energy gushed from the ginseng, flowing up his arm and into his body.
"ROAR!" Enraged at the theft of its treasure, the Black Armor Python exploded with water energy and lunged at Lin Yan, determined to reclaim the ginseng.
Lin Yan clutched the Millennium Spirit Ginseng tightly. His energy skyrocketed as the ginseng's power merged with his Chaos spiritual energy. A warm surge erupted in his Dantian, a far stronger current of energy flooding his meridians. He could clearly feel his cultivation breaking through rapidly — the barrier of peak late-stage Qi Condensation shattering bit by bit.
Foundation Establishment!
Lin Yan's eyes snapped open, a bright light flashing within. An aura of the Early-stage Foundation Establishment realm burst from him, sweeping across the entire pond. His body grew stronger, his meridians wider, his Primal Chaos Spirit Vein awakened further, and the first half of the Chaos Art became crystal clear in his mind.
The Black Armor Python charged before him, only to freeze in terror at the Foundation Establishment aura radiating from Lin Yan. Its savagery vanished entirely. It could sense that the youth before it had broken through to Foundation Establishment, far outmatching it now.
Lin Yan stared at the terrified python, coldness in his eyes. Without hesitation, he unleashed all his Chaos spiritual energy, sending a black stream of energy slamming toward the python's head.
The beast tried to dodge but was too late. The strike connected, and it let out a final miserable shriek, sent crashing to the ground. It twitched a few times and lay still, dead.
Lin Yan slowly lowered his hand and let out a long breath. Though much of his spiritual energy was spent, the joy of breaking through to Foundation Establishment drowned out all exhaustion. He looked down at the Millennium Spirit Ginseng in his hand, delight flashing in his eyes — it had not disappointed him.
Su Qingyao approached, staring at his early Foundation Establishment aura in shock and joy. "Young Master Lin, you… you broke through to Foundation Establishment? That's incredible!" She had never imagined Lin Yan could breakthrough mid-battle. His cultivation speed was simply heaven-defying.
Lin Yan nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face — his first genuine smile since turning his fate around. "Thanks to the Millennium Spirit Ginseng… and to you."
At that moment, the black jade pendant on his chest trembled slightly. A faint sense of warning arose, as if something was drawing near. Lin Yan's heart tightened, his gaze instantly alert. "Something's wrong. People are coming — more than one, and their auras are strong."
Su Qingyao's face changed. She quickly circulated her energy and scanned the area. "Could the Wang Clan have returned? Or cultivators from other families?"
Lin Yan shook his head, his voice grave. "Not the Wangs. Their auras are stronger than the Wang elders. And… I recognize one of them. It feels like someone from the Lin Clan."
The Lin Clan? Worry flashed in Su Qingyao's eyes. "Young Master Lin, could the Lin Clan elders be hunting you personally?"
Lin Yan tightened his grip on the Millennium Spirit Ginseng, his gaze resolute. "Whoever it is, they'll have to fight me for it. Qingyao, when they arrive, I'll hold them off. You take the chance to escape — don't worry about me."
Su Qingyao shook her head, gripping her jade sword and looking firmly at Lin Yan. "Young Master Lin, we're companions. I won't leave you behind. Whoever comes, we'll face them together!"
Warmth filled Lin Yan's heart. He nodded at her determined gaze. Now was not the time for argument; he had to think of a plan quickly.
Footsteps drew near, and a powerful pressure descended upon them. Lin Yan knew a far greater crisis was at hand. Having just broken through to Foundation Establishment, whether he could weather this storm and continue his path of defiance remained to be seen.