Chapter 100: The Map

The golden light slanted down, shining onto the wooden cabin and casting a tilted shadow.

Senior Brother Wei Yu was slightly taken aback. "Junior Brother Bai Ming, come inside and we shall talk."

The two entered the wooden cabin and closed the door.

Once inside, Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes lit up, his face filled with a smile, unable to contain his impatience.

He clenched his right fist and shook it in the air. "I have already completed the most troublesome part. The rest of the journey will be smooth sailing; in just a few days, I will be able to obtain the map."

"Senior Brother Wei Yu, make some preparations these days. Once we find the right opportunity, we will withdraw."

Senior Brother Wei Yu's mouth twitched, then turned into a smile. "Junior Brother Bai Ming, sit down first. Let me heal your injuries."

"Alright." Junior Brother Bai Ming sat down obediently. He turned his head to the side, looking somewhat unsatisfied.

"I can finally leave. I really don't want to see that old face ever again."

Senior Brother Wei Yu reached out both hands and gently stroked Junior Brother Bai Ming's back. "You have suffered these past few days. Let Senior Brother Wei Yu help you recover."

"Sigh, my cultivation is simply not enough. If I were also at the Golden Core stage, why would I fear him?" Junior Brother Bai Ming lamented.

Feeling a cool sensation on his back, Junior Brother Bai Ming closed his eyes and quietly enjoyed the recuperation of spiritual energy.

The gentle spiritual energy flowed through his entire body, relaxing his mind and loosening his muscles.

The Spirit Cleansing Technique not only eliminates pill toxins and impurities but also has the effect of dispelling fatigue.

Senior Brother Wei Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. As he channeled spiritual energy, his mind was occupied with thoughts.

As he focused his mind, his eyelashes grew longer, his fingers became slender, and his skin turned fair and tender.

"Senior Brother Wei Yu, I seem to smell a delicate fragrance. Is that the scent of a sachet?" Junior Brother Bai Ming asked, turning his head in confusion.

Sensing something amiss, Senior Brother Wei Yu pressed his hands against Junior Brother Bai Ming's cheeks to prevent him from turning around.

He hurriedly glanced at the bronze mirror; its smooth surface reflected his beautiful profile.

"Don't move around!" Senior Brother Wei Yu's heart hammered, his two hands clutching Junior Brother Bai Ming's cheeks tightly.

"Moving around will affect the efficiency of the Spirit Cleansing Technique." He explained vaguely.

"Senior Brother Wei Yu, I understand." Junior Brother Bai Ming closed his eyes and returned to meditation.

So the Spirit Cleansing Technique requires such focus? Senior Brother Wei Yu was so anxious that his voice even changed.

Feeling a bit strange, Junior Brother Bai Ming didn't pay much attention to it and pondered the upcoming plans in his mind.

After the transmission of spiritual energy paused for a moment, it flowed continuously into Junior Brother Bai Ming's body again.

Hoo—

Having restored his appearance, Senior Brother Wei Yu glanced at the bronze mirror again, sighing inwardly.

He had almost revealed his true form in front of Junior Brother Bai Ming just now.

He withdrew his hands, fixed his gaze on Junior Brother Bai Ming before him, and watched for a while.

"It is done." Senior Brother Wei Yu said softly.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wei Yu."

After the healing was finished, the two discussed their future plans.

It was getting late, so Junior Brother Bai Ming bade farewell and left.

Senior Brother Wei Yu looked at the bronze mirror on the wooden table with an unreadable expression.

"Why have so many problems been occurring lately?"

"Oh well, I will just have to explain it clearly to him within these next few days."

…

Near dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun filled the sky, building a staircase leading to the horizon.

Clenching the jade slip in his hand, Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes gleamed as he looked at the distant golden afterglow.

"Only three more!"

"I only need three more to leave. The night is still young; perhaps I can even get two tonight." Junior Brother Bai Ming focused his mind into the jade slip to plan his route.

Now, all that remains is to deal with the Giant Lizard.

Summoning the Qingming Storm Soul, Junior Brother Bai Ming held it in his hand, staring blankly at the green orb of light, appearing lost in deep thought.

His brows knitted, and he rode the wind away.

The night breeze was cold, whistling across his face, disheveling his tied-up hair and blowing his bangs about.

It was exhilarating and refreshing.

Leaning forward, Junior Brother Bai Ming felt no cold; with a smile on his face, his heart was filled only with surging excitement.

The cyan orb of light was like a meteor, without concealment or obstruction, shooting straight toward the location of the precious medicinal herbs.

Protected by cyan scales, his Golden Core aura struck fear into others.

Qi Refining spirit beasts dared not look directly at him, and early-stage Foundation Establishment beasts dared not block his path.

Even those groups and clusters of peak Foundation Establishment beasts felt a measure of fear and retreated to the side.

The cyan orb of light hovered in mid-air before slowly descending to the ground.

The surrounding sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked spirit beasts looked on with vigilance; not daring to attack, they could only slowly retreat.

Junior Brother Bai Ming scanned his surroundings and spotted a medicinal herb. "So it was here."

He flew over immediately, carefully pulling it from the soil and holding it in his hand with spiritual energy.

His technique was delicate, not damaging the roots in the slightest.

The medicinal herb was obtained so quickly that Junior Brother Bai Ming even had time to enjoy the scenery.

However, being surrounded by a group of peak Foundation Establishment beasts, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to have such a mood.

What if they looked? What if they stared? What if they were dissatisfied?

They were merely a group of peak Foundation Establishment beasts.

Raising the cyan scale with his right hand, Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was calm; he did not want to have too much back-and-forth with the spirit beasts.

Once his Golden Core aura was released, no matter how dissatisfied these spirit beasts were or how strong their territorial instincts were, they had no choice but to obediently retreat at this moment.

In the presence of the strong, they showed the etiquette of the weak.

Having scared off the crowd of spirit beasts, Junior Brother Bai Ming seized the time to pick some other spiritual herbs he was interested in.

After plucking the spirit beasts' herbs, he did not want to delay for a single moment and flew toward the next location.

The green orb of light shot straight into the sky, while the spirit beasts below glared, roaring repeatedly to vent their dissatisfaction.

The forest trembled; the spirit beasts tonight were more violent than usual, causing even greater carnage.

Having easily obtained this medicinal herb, Junior Brother Bai Ming's joy deepened; he even imagined collecting all the remaining herbs tonight.

With the moon overhead, a flash of cyan flickered within it, winding its way forward on the ground.

Whether it was a turn of fortune or the favor of heaven.

In just one night, the final three medicinal herbs were all obtained.

Looking at the storage bag, Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled gently. "All ten medicinal herbs are in hand. Now, all that remains is the matter of the Giant Lizard!"

The next day.

After taking the medicinal pill, Junior Brother Bai Ming disregarded the injuries within his body, rushed out of the cave in one breath, and headed toward a mountain peak.

As his silver boots touched the mud, he caught a whiff of a rich medicinal fragrance, diffusing with the unique bitterness of herbs, which refreshed his mind.

Junior Brother Bai Ming tossed out the storage bag. "The final three medicinal herbs are all inside. I ask that Senior Sister Tao Yu check them and not go back on your word."

Senior Sister Tao Yu raised her hand to catch it and gave a light sound of surprise. "So fast, but… this is just right."

She looked up and said, "Are you not going to heal your injuries first? You look even more miserable than usual."

Swallowing hard, Junior Brother Bai Ming stared fixedly at the young girl on the giant rock.

He didn't even care about his wounds; there was only one thought in his mind—obtain the map.

"I ask that Senior Sister Tao Yu give me the map first." Junior Brother Bai Ming's gaze was solemn as he suppressed the inner agitation. "This pill toxin is but a trivial matter."

"A trivial matter? I think you are holding back so much you are about to vomit blood." Senior Sister Tao Yu shook her head lightly.

"Very well, it seems you cannot wait. Catch." She lightly tossed out a jade slip.

The jade slip was clear and pure like white jade, oblong in shape, and drifted through the air.

Among the many jade slips Junior Brother Bai Ming had seen, the material of this one could not be considered very precious; it was, in fact, quite ordinary.

But the content recorded within was enough for him to value it highly.

Knitting his brows slightly, Junior Brother Bai Ming flew into the air and caught the jade slip with both hands. The jade body felt slightly cool, and his heart hammered in his chest.

"Check it carefully and see if I gave you a fake one." Senior Sister Tao Yu teased, a faint smile on her lips.