Chapter 101: As Expected

The moment Junior Brother Bai Ming grasped the jade slip, his palm having just felt the chill of the jade, his spiritual sense had already entered it.

A fragmented map entered his mind; although incomplete, it marked the vast majority of locations on Medicine Peak, though it could not cover everything.

He paid no mind to this and observed it carefully.

A winding, twisting path outlined in golden light captured all of Junior Brother Bai Ming's attention.

Starting from this place, the path wound forward, avoiding the habitats of numerous Golden Core spirit beasts, extending bit by bit to the outside.

Many of the locations marked on it were places Junior Brother Bai Ming had seen while gathering herbs.

Without a doubt, this was a genuine map leading to the exit!

"The route is so complex and passes through the territories of multiple Golden Core spirit beasts; without a map, there would be almost no possibility of getting out." Junior Brother Bai Ming gripped the jade slip tightly, sighing inwardly.

The route was complex, and he wanted to memorize it all in one go.

But as if hindered by some force, he was unable to remember the full picture, only able to retain a vague impression.

As time passed, Junior Brother Bai Ming frowned deeply.

"Don't waste your effort; you won't be able to remember it." Senior Sister Tao Yu had expected this.

"Here, not only is it impossible to use spiritual sense, but if you don't walk the path yourself, it is very easy to forget the route."

"The map in this jade slip was engraved with Golden Core spiritual power."

"So you should know how precious it is; it's worth ten of your medicinal herbs." Senior Sister Tao Yu rested her head on her hand. "Not a bad deal, right?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming lowered his hand, gripped the jade slip tightly, and bowed with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Senior Sister Tao Yu's expression was unreadable. "You have the map now; I will refine the antidote for you one last time. Come here."

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt a strange mood and walked forward slowly.

Senior Sister Tao Yu didn't pay much attention; after observing Junior Brother Bai Ming's injuries, she began to refine pills on her own.

While refining the pills, she explained the process, speaking somewhat to herself, not caring whether Junior Brother Bai Ming was in the mood to learn.

The pill furnace trembled, emitting a thin wisp of white smoke.

Senior Sister Tao Yu handed over the pill. "When are you planning to leave?"

"In these next few days." Taking the pill, Junior Brother Bai Ming lowered his eyes slightly.

"I thought you would leave tonight." Senior Sister Tao Yu was somewhat surprised.

After taking the pill and clearing the poison, Junior Brother Bai Ming stood up, intending to bid farewell to Senior Sister Tao Yu.

Watching Junior Brother Bai Ming's retreating figure, Senior Sister Tao Yu waved her hand lightly. "I wish you a smooth journey."

Not long after Junior Brother Bai Ming left, Senior Sister Tao Yu felt bored and began to refine pills casually.

Just as her thoughts were drifting, she caught a glimpse of a figure in white out of the corner of her eye.

A smile played on her lips; she seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

…

The sky was still early, and the sunset clouds had not yet appeared.

Having stabilized the injuries within his body, Junior Brother Bai Ming did not choose to go to Senior Brother Wei Yu's place immediately; he wanted to resolve the last uncertainty.

He flew down slowly and arrived in front of a valley.

High mountains stood on both sides, blocking the sunlight.

Receiving no sunlight year-round, the valley was cool, and thick moisture in the air drifted slowly from within.

As the damp air entered his nostrils, Junior Brother Bai Ming leaned forward and entered, walking through the winding narrow passage until he reached a cave.

He paused for a moment, then went straight into the depths of the cave, arriving before a lake.

The lake water was deep blue and transparent, emitting a faint fluorescent glow, like a fairy lake where immortals had once played.

Junior Brother Bai Ming crouched down and scooped up a ladle of water with his hand. "I really do miss this."

He dipped his index finger gently into the lake surface, vibrating it slightly, creating ripples on the water.

With him as the center, circular ripples gradually spread out, layer upon layer.

After this agitation, the mark on Junior Brother Bai Ming's right hand shone, and a black shadow appeared at the bottom of the lake, rapidly growing larger in his eyes.

Splash—

The Giant Lizard surged out of the lake in one motion, bringing up a torrent of water; for a moment, water splashed everywhere, soaking the surrounding muddy ground.

Junior Brother Bai Ming slowly stood up and greeted it. "I apologize for disturbing you late at night, Brother Lizard."

The Giant Lizard shook its body, flicking its tail to dry the remaining water droplets on its scales.

Junior Brother Bai Ming instinctively stepped back to avoid the splashing water.

He took out his storage bag and released a pile of roasted meat. "This is a welcome gift I prepared for you."

A large pile of roasted meat fell from the storage bag, landing on the soft soil and piling up like a small mountain.

For a moment, the entire cave was filled with the aroma of roasted meat; the meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, emitting a faint fruity fragrance.

The Giant Lizard planted its claws on the ground, devouring one spirit beast in a single bite, crunching loudly as it chewed, swallowing even the bone marrow into its belly.

To prepare for what was to come, Junior Brother Bai Ming decided to let the Giant Lizard enjoy its meal first.

In the empty cave, the crunching sound of bones breaking echoed.

Seeing the Giant Lizard swallow the last spirit beast, Junior Brother Bai Ming waved his right hand and summoned the Qingming Storm Soul.

He raised his hand, and the cyan-green light orb flew slowly in front of the Giant Lizard.

"I have already repaired the Qingming Storm Soul; I am returning it to you today." Junior Brother Bai Ming looked up.

The Giant Lizard's golden vertical pupils stared at the cyan light orb, and it inhaled it into its nostrils in one breath, as if playing.

Junior Brother Bai Ming glanced secretly at the Giant Lizard, weighing his words. "Since I have fulfilled our agreement, I ask that you remove the seal within my body, Brother Lizard."

The Giant Lizard slanted its eyes, its golden pupils staring silently at Junior Brother Bai Ming, revealing a somewhat inhuman quality.

Its massive head slowly drew near. Junior Brother Bai Ming held his breath and focused, meeting those vertical pupils without stepping back.

A breath came from the Giant Lizard's mouth, sweeping over Junior Brother Bai Ming.

A cool sensation spread throughout his entire body, and the mark on his right hand faded rapidly.

"Thank you, Brother Lizard." Junior Brother Bai Ming bowed with both hands.

Now that it had come to this, he should clarify everything with it.

After pondering for a moment, Junior Brother Bai Ming summoned his Golden Core flame, holding a feather-shaped flame in his hand.

"I will return this Scarlet Flame Phoenix Feather to you as well." Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was firm as he added, "After all, I am leaving."

A cool breeze blew by; the man and the lizard locked eyes, and only the sound of water droplets sliding off scales remained in the cave.

Junior Brother Bai Ming broke the silence. "I have been adjusting this Scarlet Flame Phoenix Feather for a long time and have set its initial temperature; you just need to place a spirit beast on it and roast it for an hour."

The Giant Lizard finally made a move, lowering its neck, its jaw filled with sharp teeth resting above Junior Brother Bai Ming's head.

At a distance of less than half a meter, if it wanted to, it could bite off Junior Brother Bai Ming's head in one go.

After staring for a while with its golden vertical pupils, the Giant Lizard made a decision, raised its head, and nudged its mouth slightly.

Seeing the Giant Lizard's action, Junior Brother Bai Ming understood its meaning: it was telling him to take the flame back.

This also meant that it was letting him leave.

Was the flame incompatible with it, or useless to it?

Looking down at the flame feather in his palm, Junior Brother Bai Ming pondered.

The Qingming Storm Soul in exchange for the Scarlet Flame Phoenix Feather.

Not a bad deal.

He turned, and just as he was about to leave, he felt a constraint around his waist, accompanied by a sticky sensation, as if wrapped by a soft, powerful tongue.

The Giant Lizard wrapped its tongue around Junior Brother Bai Ming and rushed out of the cave.

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled, understanding. "Very well, I will take you for one last feast."

…

On a certain hilltop of Medicine Peak.

A figure in white drifted over, toes touching the ground, eyes filled with a trace of worry.

"Oh, Senior Brother, why have you come today?" Senior Sister Tao Yu was not surprised at all, feigning a smile.

"Has Junior Brother Bai not been to your place?"

Senior Brother Wei Yu lightly lifted his sleeve, his eyes unreadable. "He hasn't."

"That is a coincidence; it seems you have some business with me, Senior Brother." Senior Sister Tao Yu's eyes glimmered.

Senior Brother Wei Yu went straight to the point. "Do you have some kind of deal with Junior Brother Bai Ming?"