Chapter 92: Snatching Food from the Tiger’s Mouth

Chapter 92: Snatching Food from a Tiger's Mouth

The ancient trees were sparse, yet mighty and enormous, their cracked old bark resembling Dragon scales, a magnificent sight to behold.

This was a dense forest, abundant with trees, where leaves fell like a rain of petals, scattered and colorful, accompanied by purple mist and streaks of rosy light.

“You few, hurry up and dig for Spirit Medicine!” A demonic young man, with long golden hair, was directing a group of Loose Cultivators from the outside world who dared not speak out in anger.

Evidently, the Golden Crow Teachings had already taken control of this area, treating some of the entering Loose Cultivators as “minnows” or “scapegoats” for scouting.

“Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of the Golden Crow Teachings, they don’t value other people’s lives!”

“Perhaps the people who have died along the way these past few days were all Loose Cultivators abducted by the Golden Crow Teachings.”

On a cliff, the Butian Sect and others whispered, closely observing a group of people not far away.

While they sympathized with the tragic events befalling the Loose Cultivators, they had no intention of offering help; this was all too common among the great sects.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

The purpose of opening the Secret Realm and allowing those not from immortal Dao lineages to enter was to let them attract the Vicious Beasts and fierce raptors, thereby reducing the danger to the disciples of the various sects.

At the same time, some great sects would specifically arrange for a portion of people to be sent into the areas explored by their own disciples, serving as free labor.

The Butian Sect disciples were fortunate; under Lin Fan’s leadership, they did not act in such a manner, and there seemed to be some reservations, with the sect not arranging such conduct.

In fact, although Lin Fan did not consider himself a good person, he would not do such a thing as using other people’s lives as stepping stones; he still maintained a certain moral bottom line.

“Quick, come here, there’s a Sacred Medicine in this pool!”

Suddenly, shouts came from the Golden Crow Teachings’ location; someone was exclaiming, attracting the attention of many.

Looking over, through the pure white and ethereal mist, there was a majestic mountain covered with many Spirit Woods, sparkling like twinkling stars.

At the foot of its cliff was a pool, with a silver waterfall cascading from the mountaintop, like the Milky Way flowing down from the Nine Heavens, a spectacular and beautiful sight.

“Where is the Sacred Medicine?” An elder rushed over at extreme speed, his voice urgent.

This was a middle-aged man with a sharp, chiseled face, golden hair, and blood-red eyes, exuding a powerful aura. He held a long bow, radiating a piercingly sharp aura.

Immediately, the Loose Cultivator who discovered the Sacred Medicine trembled, carefully reaching out and pointing downwards, saying, “Reporting to Senior, it’s right here in this pool.”

The golden-haired middle-aged man looked in the direction he pointed, his eyes flashing with runes as they opened and closed, emitting a radiant glow that pierced directly to the bottom of the pool.

It was a golden old ginseng, over a foot long, radiating brilliant light. It had a human-like form, enveloped in swirling Spiritual Qi, with shimmering treasure light flowing around it, glowing brightly.

The golden-haired middle-aged man was instantly overjoyed and burst into laughter, saying, “Hahaha, it’s actually a rare Golden Ginseng King.”

Not just him, even the Butian Sect disciples observing secretly nearby were excited, their hearts filled with fervent desire for the Sacred Medicine.

For them, Sacred Medicine was too rare; even if they pooled all their wealth, it would be difficult to purchase such a precious medicine in the outside world.

After all, resources within immortal Dao lineages were limited; apart from Successors, Primordials, and others, everyone else who wished to obtain sacred treasures that could bring about their own transformation needed to contend for them themselves.

Even Successors could not demand an unlimited supply; once a certain level was reached, they had to reciprocate and contribute, making repayments.

And that Golden Ginseng King was an even rarer Sacred Medicine, capable of replenishing blood and restoring Origin Qi, making it most suitable for Breakthroughs and refining Medicinal Pills.

At this moment, several people from the Golden Crow Teachings who discovered the Sacred Medicine gathered around, each filled with joy, eager to pluck it.

“You, go into the pool and retrieve the Sacred Medicine.” The Golden Crow Teachings elder commanded, pointing at the Loose Cultivator, his tone stern and allowing no refusal.

“Senior, there’s a Azure Dragon sleeping in the pool, it’s very dangerous.” The man whispered, retreating a few steps.

“No matter, we are right behind you. If anything unexpected happens, we will naturally save you. If you can retrieve the Sacred Medicine, you may leave on your own afterwards.” The golden-haired middle-aged man was very calm.

The Loose Cultivator cursed inwardly, anger rising in his heart. How many Fellow Daoists had died along the way, yet he had never seen the Golden Crow Teachings save anyone. When there was danger, they were always the first to flee.

They used the same deceptive tactics in every dangerous place, making them scout ahead. After several days, more than half of their numbers had died. How could they still have the audacity to say such things?

However, circumstances were stronger than individual will, and they could not afford to offend the Golden Crow Teachings.

“Senior, my strength is meager, please spare me.” The man bowed deeply, his face tense and filled with trepidation.

At this point, the Golden Crow Teachings elder grew impatient, his face darkening. He flicked his sleeve, delivering a final ultimatum: “Jump in and pluck the Sacred Medicine!”

Every member of the Golden Crow Teachings had a cold expression, holding their weapons which gleamed with cold light, their blood-red eyes radiating a chilling Killing Intent, as if they would strike and kill at any moment.

The Loose Cultivator’s face turned pale; he opened his mouth but dared not speak further. There had been examples before: anyone who refused was either shot dead by an arrow or became blood food.

Over time, the group grew numb. Only two choices lay before them: immediate death, or, if they were lucky, a little more time to live.

Finally, with a “plop,” the man stumbled and jumped into the water, cautiously diving to the bottom of the pool, approaching the Sacred Medicine, and pulling it out with a grab.

“I succeeded.” The Loose Cultivator surfaced, just as he was overjoyed and thought himself lucky.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from beneath the pool, shaking the towering mountain. The water surface churned with a thousand waves, exploding outwards, and the waterfall flowed in reverse.

“Quickly throw the Sacred Medicine over!” The Golden Crow Teachings elder shouted, a brilliant rune flashing in his palm, transforming into a giant hand that reached out to grasp it.

“All Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, please wait here. I will go and seize it.”

With that, Lin Fan, clad in a golden monk’s robe, strode with the powerful gait of a tiger and a Dragon, rushing towards that location with incredible speed.

“Roar…”

At this moment, the supreme being at the bottom of the pool awakened. Discovering that its precious medicine was gone, it erupted in fury, its Divine Might shattering the heavens and earth as it burst out of the water.

This was a colossal azure Dragon, with four claws, instantly soaring into the high sky, accompanied by lightning and thunder, conjuring wind and rain, and opening its gaping maw to bite.

“Save me!” The Loose Cultivator screamed in terror, half of his body bitten, bleeding profusely, and the Golden Ginseng King, not held firmly, flew out, glittering with golden light.

In an instant, the air was filled with a rich fragrance, making one’s pores expand upon smelling it, as if one was about to Ascend.

“Sacred Medicine!”

Seeing this, the golden-haired middle-aged man leaped up, reaching for the Golden Ginseng King.

It could be said that this was a risky move. That Azure Dragon was extremely powerful in the Small World, surpassing the Spiritual Transformation Realm; it was an Array Formation Realm Vicious Beast.

For outsiders whose cultivation was suppressed, it was undoubtedly very dangerous, akin to walking on a tightrope.

Furthermore, apart from this Golden Crow Teachings elder, everyone else present had already fled far away.

“Chit!”

However, an unexpected event occurred: a golden rainbow streaked past, seizing the Sacred Medicine a step ahead. The person was none other than Lin Fan, a brilliant smile on his solemn face.

“Amitabha, thank you, all benefactors, for your generous assistance.”

As his voice fell, Lin Fan covered hundreds of feet in a single stride, leaving behind trails of afterimages. In a few flashes, he sped away from the area like lightning.

“Western Sect’s Primordial Golden Cicada?!”

The Golden Crow Teachings elder was stunned, recognizing the newcomer, and then reacted, roaring, “Give me back my Sacred Medicine! Chase him!”