Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Complete stillness reigned.

Inside the tent, Wen Qiao sat in meditation. The abundant spirit energy from the Scale Platform Hunting Grounds flowed gently into her body, intertwined with subtle traces of plant essence. At an incredibly slow pace, it merged with the spirit energy and coursed through her meridians, nourishing her organs.

The Scale Platform Hunting Valley was rich in spirit energy, and its lush vegetation produced ample amounts of pure plant essence. Without needing Wen Qiao's intervention to stimulate growth, these essences were naturally providing her with nourishment.

Of course, to avoid drawing attention, Wen Qiao absorbed them at an extremely slow rate.

In truth, plant essence and spirit energy were quite similar. Unless one had extraordinary senses as a cultivator, they wouldn't be able to distinguish between the two. As long as Wen Qiao didn't stimulate the spiritual plants as she did at home, causing abnormal growth, she wouldn't attract any notice, let alone raise suspicion about her extracting the plant essence from the valley's flora.

However, being out in public, Wen Qiao decided to err on the side of caution and absorbed the essence carefully.

As dawn broke, Wen Qiao opened her eyes.

Despite having spent the night awake, she felt exceptionally refreshed.

For cultivators, meditation could substitute sleep. Going a few days without sleep was no issue. Absorbing spirit energy was actually a very enjoyable process for them.

Perhaps it was due to the effects of the Six Yangs and Seven Flavors Profound Yin Soup from last night, combined with the entire night spent immersed in the essence of the forest's plants and trees, Wen Qiao felt warm all over. Her usually fatigued body seemed to have gained an unprecedented energy, making her feel capable of climbing the mountain for another day.

With a cheerful mood, when she saw Ning Yuzhou sitting not far away watching her, the corners of her lips curled into a subtle dimple as she greeted him with a good morning.

Ning Yuzhou replied, "You've been meditating all night. It's still early, do you want to rest for a bit?"

"I'm fine, really," she assured him.

Ning Yuzhou observed her and, noticing her genuinely good condition, didn't insist further.

Instead, Wen Qiao glanced at him and asked, "You didn't sleep last night, did you?"

"I closed my eyes to catch some rest," Ning Yuzhou smiled, indirectly acknowledging that he had watched her meditate the whole previous night.

Wen Qiao slightly furrowed her brows and said seriously, "You're human and need rest. You mustn't neglect it. Otherwise, it might harm your health in the long run."

Ning Yuzhou hadn't expected to be scolded by his young wife, and he found it a little amusing. However, seeing her earnest expression, determined not to let him be careless, he quickly straightened up and promised, "I understand, I won't do it again next time."

Wen Qiao's expression softened slightly, deciding to pay closer attention to him in the future and remind him to rest.

As an ordinary person with a short lifespan, she couldn't afford to be capricious about her rest, lest she accelerate her aging and suffer losses in the long run.

Ning Yuzhou was no stranger to the shift in her demeanor. Clever as he was, he quickly grasped the reason behind her change and welcomed it with a smile. Indeed, she's a naive girl. What if she gets deceived in the future?

It was indeed wise to keep her close and watchful.

After their morning ablutions and breakfast, the couple packed up and set off.

Perhaps because they were still on the outskirts of the Lintai Hunting Valley, the beasts they encountered were of low rank. The previous night had been peaceful, free from any perilous encounters.

Throughout the day, they continued their journey, gathering spirit herbs and hunting beasts along the way. Their pace was leisurely and stress-free.

The Stealth Scale Guards didn't intervene often, only stepping in when an oblivious beast stumbled into their path. More often than not, they selectively targeted the species needed for the Six Yangs Seven Flavors Profound Yin Soup, avoiding mindless slaughter.

By evening, they sought a spot to camp and rest. Ning Yuzhou resumed simmering the soup in his alchemy furnace.

"As for now," he said while tending to the soup, "we'll focus on treating the fire poison within your body. Once it's expelled, we'll address the issue of your fragile meridians. The toxicity of the fire poison in your system is unknown, and it has already infiltrated your organs. To fully cure it, a high-grade spirit pill would be required – something that Dongling Kingdom's current level of spirit medicines cannot provide. We can only rely on medicinal treatments to gradually heal you..."

Wen Qiao looked at him in astonishment, listening in disbelief.

Last night, she already knew that her untrainable husband was extraordinary. She hadn't expected him to speak with such authority about the Fire Poison that many Alchemists in Dongling Country deemed untreatable. He even radiated an unwavering confidence that he could cure it, given sufficient ingredients.

After the Six Yang Profound Yin Soup was prepared, Ning Yuzhou presented it before her, urging her to drink it promptly before it grew cold and lost its appeal.

Actually, it tastes quite good even when cold, albeit with a slightly diminished flavor. But Ning Yuzhou strives for perfection; naturally, he wouldn't tolerate such a compromise. After being married to him for over half a month, Wen Qiao has already figured out her husband's pursuit of perfection in certain matters.

Could it be that those who are most tender and considerate are also the most stubborn in certain aspects?

Wen Qiao obediently sips her soup.

As the soup was nearly finished, a rumbling echoed from afar, causing the small table to vibrate. Ning Yuzhou reached out to steady the swaying bowl and peered outside.

By then, the sky had turned dark, casting eerie shadows around them.

The Qianlin Guards had already dispatched to investigate, and soon returned with a report. "Your Highness, a third-stage Ironclad Beast has appeared ahead."

A third-stage demonic beast was equivalent in strength to a cultivator at the Yuanyu Realm, but demonic beasts possessed superior physical prowess compared to cultivators of the same rank. However, they lacked the wisdom and techniques of cultivators, putting them at a slight disadvantage. The Ironclad Beast was covered in scales as hard as iron, rendering it impervious to blades and spears. It posed a formidable challenge even to ordinary Yuanming Realm cultivators.

The tremors persisted for a while before finally ceasing.

Two Stealth Scale Guards returned with an Ironclad Beast slung between them. They skillfully dismembered the beast, separating its hide, blood, flesh, and bones before carefully storing each part in their storage bags.

Beasts were invaluable treasures for cultivators. For instance, the scales of this third-stage Ironclad Beast could be used to forge defensive armor, its blood for making talisman ink, and its meat could be cooked into food that, when consumed by cultivators, augmented their Inner Spirit Energy. An entire Ironclad Beast fetched a high price outside.

After surveying the surroundings, the leader of the Stealth Scale Guards, Stealth Hunter, concluded, "It seems that the beasts were fleeing from the disciples of various sects who were training ahead. They must have stumbled upon these creatures."

Beasts typically adhered to their territories and rarely ventured far, unless natural disasters struck or they were driven away. This was likely the latter scenario.

Ning Yuzhou nodded slightly, acknowledging the explanation.

However, starting the following day, they encountered beasts more frequently—first, second, third, fourth, and even fifth-stage beasts.

Fifth-stage beasts equaled cultivators in the Primordial Martial Realm, comparable to Third Prince Ning Zhezhou's cultivation. To those entering the Scale Platform Hunting Valley, they posed a significant threat; one misstep could cost them their lives.

A fifth-stage beast charged out from the depths of the forest.

"Your Highness, Lady, be cautious!"

Stealth Hunter stood guard beside Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, directing the battle, "Form the Stealth Scale Guard formation!"

With twenty members forming a squad, the Concealed Scale Guards arrayed themselves to confront the charging beast, halting its advance before constructing a trapping and killing formation to ensnare the creature within.

Each member of the Concealed Scale Guards possessed cultivation above the Yuanming Realm, with two even having broken through to the Primordial Martial Realm. Only the cultivation level of the Concealed Hunter remained unknown.

Out of the fifty guards, those at the Yuanming Realm were the majority. In battle, they formed formations with impeccable discipline and seamless coordination, seemingly able to harness the collective strength of their group, making light work of the fifth-stage beasts.

Watching the Concealed Scale Guards effortlessly slay the fifth-stage beast, Wen Qiao couldn't help but be captivated.

She finally understood why Emperor Chengkang had entrusted Ning Yuzhou's safety to the Concealed Scale Guards – they truly lived up to their reputation.

Ning Yuzhou stood calmly throughout the ordeal, never once appearing rattled.

Wen Qiao alternated her gaze between the Concealed Scale Guards and Ning Yuzhou, deep in thought.

After inspecting the slain fifth-stage beast, the Concealed Hunter reported, "Master, there is an aura of spiritual herbs on this monster."

Although the scent was faint, the Concealed Hunter had meticulously detected traces within the beast's blood.

Ning Yuzhou's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you think they were intentionally driven here?"

Qianshu nodded seriously and analyzed, "This subordinate believes that the demonic beasts appearing these past few days might have been deliberately driven here. We cannot yet determine who is responsible or what their motive is, whether it's aimed at all cultivators entering the Scaled Platform Hunting Valley or specifically at us."

Ning Yuzhou smiled, his tone gentle. "We'll know as we move forward."

Qianshu acknowledged without urging Ning Yuzhou to leave due to the sudden danger in the Scaled Platform Hunting Valley. He carried out the order diligently, instructing the Hidden Scale Guards to secure the fifth-stage demonic beast and proceed.

Wen Qiao walked alongside Ning Yuzhou, keeping an eye on their surroundings while also paying attention to her mortal husband.

Each night since entering the Scaled Platform Hunting Valley, she would consume a bowl of Six Yangs Seven Flavors Profound Yin Soup in the evening. While sleeping, she would meditate, quietly absorbing the essence of surrounding plants and trees, gradually improving her mental state and hinting at a breakthrough in her cultivation.

When another beast attack occurred, Wen Qiao instantly grabbed her husband and hurriedly sought refuge in a secure location.

Ning Yuzhou looked at her with a warm smile, allowing the young lady to shield him with the posture of a protector.

***

After five days of arduous effort, they finally scaled the mountain and found themselves on its far side.

Beyond the mountain lies an expansive plain, its end shrouded in a veil of mist, obscuring the landscape and any perils that may lie in wait.

As they ventured into the plain, they stumbled upon a corpse, discarded amidst the dense and towering grass.

After the Covert Scale Guards inspected the body, they discovered that it was a disciple from a minor clan, whose cause of death was a shattered skull. The strike had been executed with remarkable efficiency, resulting in instant death.

Of course, it could also be due to the killer's superior strength that made the murder so swift.

Wen Qiao's expression turned grim. This was the first time she had witnessed death in her life. Although she knew that the path of cultivation was fraught with danger and constant trials, where one misstep could lead to the end of both life and cultivation, she had only ever heard about it. It wasn't until this moment that she acutely realized the perilous nature of the cultivation world.

Ning Yuzhou took a look and suggested, "Check his storage bag."

The Covert Scale Guard rummaged through the belongings and soon found the storage bag on the corpse.

Upon the owner's death, the imprint on the bag vanished, allowing the guard to easily open it and pour out its contents.

There wasn't much inside – just a few low-grade Yellow Rank talismans, a bottle of Yellow Rank Qi Gathering Pills, a couple of spirit pearls, and two iron swords. Nothing else indicated that the young clansman was not particularly wealthy.

Ning Yuzhou looked thoughtfully at the items before instructing the guard to dispose of them, and they continued on their way.

Wen Qiao glanced up at him, feeling that her husband seemed to have noticed something.