“My lord, this way please.”
Cang Juezi, with a fawning expression, led the way for Ying Chen towards the Shennong Sect’s treasury.
Behind them were the elders of the Shennong Sect.
Soon, the hall’s plaza was left with only the Shennong Sect disciples who hadn’t fully accepted reality, and those seeking medicine.
“My lord…”
The couple who had intended to strike the Resonance Bell stood dumbfounded, watching Ying Chen’s retreating back, wanting to speak but hesitating.
They only managed to utter half a sentence before feeling too embarrassed to continue.
After all, they had completely ignored Ying Chen’s good intentions before, even scolding him as a charlatan.
And now, Ying Chen had proven his identity and confirmed that his earlier claim of being able to cure their daughter was not false.
But their own foolishness had caused their daughter to miss out on recovery.
“It’s all my fault!”
*Slap!*
The husband struck himself across the face, saying with self-reproach.
His wife quickly grabbed his arm: “It’s okay, dear. Perhaps this is fate! I believe our daughter wouldn’t blame us even if she knew the truth. After all, you were prepared to sacrifice your life to strike the bell!”
“Who could blame a father willing to give his life for his daughter’s?”
“That may be so, but… but I’m still not reconciled!” the husband lamented.
Then the couple fell into silence.
They had completely given up.
To their surprise, a voice then sounded in their ears: “Follow me. Mr. Ying has already told me the prescription for your daughter’s illness. However, some of the medicinal ingredients are quite rare and will need to be borrowed from the Shennong Sect’s treasury.”
“After all, in terms of the quantity of rare medicinal herbs stored, all the pharmacies in the Dragon Country combined might not be able to match the Shennong Sect alone.”
It was Professor Li!
Looking at Professor Li, the couple was momentarily choked with emotion, unable to speak.
For the first time, they understood the feeling conveyed by the ancient poem: “Where mountains and rivers doubt there is a path, amidst dark willows and bright blossoms, another village appears!”
*Thump!*
The couple simultaneously knelt towards Ying Chen’s retreating figure.
They kowtowed three times.
“Thank you, my lord, for saving our lives! May we know your name? Upon returning home, we will offer a longevity tablet for you, to be revered day and night, and never neglected!”
“Three kowtows and setting up a tablet? What, are you trying to send me off?”
Unexpectedly, Ying Chen could still hear the couple’s voices from such a distance.
Ying Chen said calmly.
The couple quickly replied: “No, no, no, we absolutely don’t mean that. For a good person like you, my lord, we wish you could live for a thousand years!”
“Heh, you say you don’t mean it.”
Ying Chen’s voice came again.
The couple looked bewildered.
They truly didn’t mean anything by it!
However, the couple did not know: Ying Chen had already lived for over two thousand years!
Wishing him to live for a thousand years was tantamount to cursing him to an early death.
Would Ying Chen be pleased?
Fortunately, Ying Chen didn’t dwell on it, and his figure gradually receded, disappearing into the distance.
…………………………
The Shennong Sect Treasury.
Even with Ying Chen’s vast experience, he was shocked by the sheer scale of the Shennong Sect’s treasury.
It was like a castle built underground!
Passage after passage, gate after gate.
It took a full quarter of an hour to reach the final gate of the treasury.
The Sect Master Cang Juezi exchanged glances with several elders, each taking out a key and inserting it into the lock of the great door.
As the treasury gate slowly opened, a hint of heartache appeared in the eyes of Cang Juezi and the elders.
At the same time, it further solidified Cang Juezi’s resolve to implement the plan proposed by the Great Elder.
Even if not for the foundation and reputation of the Shennong Sect, just for the spiritual medicines within the treasury, it was worth him taking a gamble!
“My lord, this is the treasury of our Shennong Sect.”
“Please!”
Cang Juezi said obsequiously, making a gesture of invitation.
But Ying Chen remained motionless, quietly observing Cang Juezi.
Cang Juezi instantly understood: “Understood, understood. I will lead the way. My lord, you really don’t need to be so wary. Since we have decided to surrender to you, we will never play any tricks again.”
“Look, I’ve already entered. Are there any traps?”
“All the precious medicinal herbs stored here have been aged for over a hundred years. Even if we had the thought of setting up traps, we wouldn’t dare to do so! If a trap were accidentally triggered, these herbs would turn to dust. Wouldn’t that be heartbreaking?”
Cang Juezi explained as he walked into the treasury.
Ying Chen, ignoring him, stepped into the treasury.
As soon as he entered, he was met with a peculiar aroma mixed with various medicinal scents.
Clearly, Cang Juezi had not lied; only herbs with medicinal properties of over a hundred years were stored here.
“That one, that one, and that one, bring them to me.”
Ying Chen’s nostrils twitched slightly as he pointed out three medicinal herbs.
Cang Juezi’s expression changed instantly.
He didn’t understand how Ying Chen, without even looking, could, just by smelling, select the three most valuable large medicines in the treasury!
Keep in mind that these three large medicines were all precious items with over five hundred years of medicinal efficacy!
“Is this person terrifying to such an extent?”
Cang Juezi was inwardly astonished but dared not delay, quickly walking to the three large medicines and retrieving them one by one.
“Sufficient,” Ying Chen said, taking them and evaluating them with a glance.
Compared to the medicinal herbs he had used before, these three five-hundred-year-old large medicines were somewhat lacking.
However, considering it was the Age of Dharma Decline, Ying Chen accepted it.
Anyway, these medicinal herbs were not Ying Chen’s primary objective. His main goal was still the large patch of unharvested Mountain Lords mentioned by Aunt Tang!
“My lord, there is something I don’t know if I should say…” Cang Juezi hesitated for a moment and said.
“Speak.”
“According to our sect’s ancient records, there has always been a thousand-year-old large medicine stored in the treasury, but I have searched the entire treasury and couldn’t find it. Yet, the sect’s records describe it so vividly that we must believe it exists.”
Cang Juezi said earnestly.
“It so happens that my lord has arrived today. My lord is well-traveled and knowledgeable; perhaps my lord can find that thousand-year-old large medicine?”
Ying Chen’s eyebrows slightly raised upon hearing this: “Is that so?”
Then his gaze slowly swept over the various medicine racks storing herbs within the treasury.
Just as Ying Chen became engrossed in his observation, Cang Juezi let out a sinister laugh and suddenly shouted outside, “Sword, come!”
*Buzz!*
A humming sound, like a fighter jet breaking through the sky and creating a sonic boom, rapidly approached the treasury with lightning speed!
The next moment, a flying sword, shimmering with a purplish-green hue, appeared in Cang Juezi’s hand!
Its sword energy was sharp and radiant!