Chapter 5

Yao Mountain is one of the many forbidden areas of the Qingyun Sect, towering and majestic, reaching a thousand feet high, piercing the clouds, and often shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see the true appearance of the mountain from the outside. The spiritual energy here is extremely dense, making it a genuine treasure land. From the mountain waist to the summit, it is said that there are about fifty large and small medicinal gardens, as well as some hidden and special small gardens where even more precious herbs are grown.

Qin Ming stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the towering and majestic Yao Mountain. The mist was thick, not just damp but also rich in spiritual energy. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool, moist air invigorate his spirit. The spiritual energy here was many times stronger than in his remote warehouse.

If he could cultivate here, how blissful it would be.

Qin Ming tucked the delivery list close to his body and carefully carried the stone jar into Yao Mountain.

He had never dared to enter before, but this time he was taking a risk.

Due to the dense spiritual energy, Yao Mountain not only grew a large number of spiritual herbs but also had trees that were exceptionally thick and tall. Numerous roots, like pythons, emerged from the ground, intertwining in a chaotic manner. Many branches hung to the ground, making it hard to distinguish between branches and small trees. It was like a completely enclosed space, and newcomers could easily lose their way.

Yao Mountain was very mysterious to the vast majority of Qingyun Sect disciples, as few had ever been there.

This time, Qin Ming was determined, walking through the dense, damp old forest, greedily breathing in the spiritual energy while observing his surroundings, hoping to find some spiritual herbs or fruits.

Being a servant sometimes had its uses; if someone discovered him, he could say he was delivering goods.

The higher up the mountain Qin Ming went, the more he liked the place.

It was like a fairyland.

If he could cultivate here for a month, being confined for a year would be worth it.

"Hey, there really are spiritual herbs?" Qin Ming's eyes lit up as he suddenly spotted a small green herb among the tangled roots, half-covered by withered leaves, with only a few tiny leaves poking out. If not for his keen eyes, he might not have seen it.

A low-grade spiritual herb.

Qin Ming put down the stone jar, carefully dug it out, and, seeing no one around, popped it into his mouth and chewed it hastily.

A cool spiritual energy began to spread from his mouth throughout his body.

He didn't know what kind of herb it was, but it felt refreshing!

Qin Ming felt invigorated, holding the stone jar steadily while carefully observing his surroundings. Before long, he found another spiritual herb mixed in a pile of weeds.

With this boldness, he walked up the mountain for about an hour and discovered a total of five spiritual herbs.

Although they were all low-grade, it was enough to make Qin Ming excited.

"What a strong medicinal fragrance." Qin Ming sniffed and quickened his pace. Suddenly, the scenery opened up, revealing a vast medicinal garden shrouded in a thin mist. The medicinal fragrance and spiritual energy were overwhelming, making him take a deep breath involuntarily.

"Who's there!" a stern voice called out from the side.

Qin Ming was startled and quickly put down the stone jar, shouting, "I am Qin Ming, a low-ranking disciple. I have come to deliver goods as required by Manager Zhang Dong."

A handsome young disciple emerged from a small forest beside the medicinal garden, his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes unfriendly. "Nonsense! When did the medicinal garden ever need goods from your warehouse?"

"Here is the list, please check it. I am just following orders," Qin Ming handed over the list.

The disciple glanced at it but didn't take it, approaching Qin Ming coldly. "Just because he told you to deliver, you do it? You have some nerve, don't you? Have you forgotten the rules of the Qingyun Sect?"

"Delivering goods might get me punished, but not delivering would also get me punished. This is Manager Zhang Dong's arrangement, and I have no choice."

"Ha, a manager dares to use the medicinal garden to play tricks? Is he reckless, or are you overstepping your bounds?" The young man circled Qin Ming, his eyes cold.

"I am just here to deliver goods. The list was written by Zhang Dong. Senior Brother, you can investigate."

"Who is your senior brother?"

"If not, then not. The goods are in the stone jar. Should I take them out for you?"

"Wait. Are you at the Spirit Warrior stage? How can a servant be at the Spirit Warrior stage!" The disciple suddenly became wary.

"That's a bit disrespectful. Why can't a servant be at the Spirit Warrior stage? Servants are also disciples of the Qingyun Sect."

At this moment, a cold voice came from the medicinal garden: "What's going on?"

"Senior Sister Ling Xue, a servant has intruded into the medicinal garden." The disciple's attitude became very respectful.

"Servant?" A female disciple appeared in the mist, her face indistinct but her tall, graceful figure visible in a white dress.

Ling Xue? The personal disciple of the elder who guards Yao Mountain! Qin Ming had heard of her name. Being a personal disciple of the elder was a glory many envied.

"Are you Qin Ming?" the woman asked, her voice cold and indifferent.

"Yes, it's me." Qin Ming was somewhat surprised that she knew him.

"Come, this is not a place for you." The female disciple turned and walked into the mist without asking more or making things difficult for Qin Ming.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Qin Ming lifted the stone jar, wondering to himself, so easy to deal with?

"Wait, just let him go like that?" the young man was unhappy.

Ling Xue's voice floated out: "There's no need to make things difficult for a servant. Search him. If he hasn't hidden any spiritual herbs, there's no need to punish him."

"See how open-minded your senior sister is. Why make things difficult for a servant?" Qin Ming chuckled.

The young man sized up Qin Ming for a moment, reluctantly searched him, and even checked the stone jar. "Hurry up and leave, and don't come back."

"Could you, Senior Brother, show me the way out? I'm lost."

"Ha, show you the way? Are you joking?" The young man turned and returned to the medicinal garden.

"I'll find my way out myself." Qin Ming deliberately shouted, carrying the stone jar into the dense forest. He didn't leave directly but continued to wander, looking for spiritual herbs and hoping to find some mid-grade spiritual herbs or other treasures.

This was quite bold.

Yao Mountain was a true treasure mountain of the Qingyun Sect, providing about 70% of the spiritual herbs and medicines used by the disciples and elders. Due to the unique environment and abundant spiritual energy, not all herbs were cultivated in the medicinal gardens. Some special spiritual herbs were grown in separate places, such as cliffs, riverbanks, or waterfalls, which were specially marked and not always guarded.

Some special places might even grow precious herbs on their own.

So, the disciples guarding Yao Mountain needed to regularly patrol the mountain to find any "overlooked" spiritual herbs.

Qin Ming wandered for about half an hour and found two more low-grade spiritual herbs, which he quickly ate.

He was taking a big risk, feeling nervous despite his calm exterior, and wondering if he could find a "secretly grown" precious herb.

"Who are you?" a patrolling disciple discovered Qin Ming.

"I am here to deliver goods. Senior Sister Ling Xue has seen me. She told me to leave, but I got lost," Qin Ming didn't hide or dodge, quickly approaching.

"Senior Sister Ling Xue?" the disciple looked at him suspiciously.

"I met her by the medicinal garden."

The disciple came over to personally check the stone jar, searched him, and looked at the list. "Follow this path down. Don't wander around. If I catch you again, I won't be lenient."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Qin Ming quickly left, disappearing into the mist. After a distance, he slowed down again, wandering around, muttering about spiritual herbs.

After an hour, his harvest was not great, finding only one low-grade spiritual herb, but he encountered three patrolling disciples, one of whom almost took him to see the elder.

Qin Ming didn't dare to stay longer but was unwilling to give up, gritting his teeth and wandering again.

This time, he finally had some success.

Near the foot of the mountain, there was a cliff about fifty meters high, covered with dark green vines. In a secluded corner with strange rocks, there seemed to be a blood-red fruit, hidden by the mist and vines, visible only from a certain angle.

"Finally, some success." Qin Ming looked around, put down the stone jar, and pulled out a rope, securing one end and carefully climbing down.

The cliff was slippery, and the vines were full of thorns.

Qin Ming quickly reached the spot, but a thick python suddenly emerged from the vines, opening its blood-red mouth to swallow his head.

It was entirely dark green, hidden in the vines, and the attack was sudden.

Qin Ming's heart raced, and he instinctively swung a punch, hitting the snake's head with a force of several hundred pounds.

The python hissed and fell off the cliff.

Before Qin Ming could catch his breath, more rustling sounds came from the vines below, and more thick pythons emerged, their tongues flicking, staring at Qin Ming.

"Indeed, a treasure." Qin Ming was not afraid but excited. It was said that precious wild spiritual herbs were often guarded by wild beasts, and the more and stronger the beasts, the more valuable the herb.

The vines on the cliff wall shook, and not only pythons but also venomous snakes appeared.

"I know, a Snake Heart Fruit?" Qin Ming was delighted. A mid-grade spiritual fruit? There was actually a mid-grade spiritual fruit here! Great, this adventure was worth it.

However, this Snake Heart Fruit was unusually large. He had seen an elite disciple show off a Snake Heart Fruit before, which was only the size of an egg, but this one was as big as his fist.

"Is this a wild one? It looks like it." Qin Ming looked around. If it were cultivated, there would be special markings, but there were none here.

The pythons and venomous snakes began to stir, appearing in groups and lunging at Qin Ming.

The commotion alerted nearby patrolling disciples, who rushed over.

Qin Ming didn't have time to think, carefully checked the position, and climbed back up the cliff using the rope, quickly tidying up.

"Why are you still here?" a cold voice came from ahead, from a disciple who had seen Qin Ming before.

"Senior Brother, please show me the way out. I really got lost," Qin Ming said with a pained expression.

"Really lost or pretending? Let me check if you're hiding anything." The disciple came over and searched Qin Ming again.

"How could I be so bold? Yao Mountain is a forbidden area, and I know the rules."

"I think I know who you are. You're Qin Ming, right? I heard you reached the Spirit Warrior stage?"

"Third level of the Spirit Warrior stage."

"How did you do it?"

"I just broke through by chance."

The disciple clearly didn't believe him but knew he couldn't get Qin Ming to reveal his secrets: "Hurry up and leave. I'm warning you again, don't come near Yao Mountain. If I see you again, I won't be so lenient."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Qin Ming thanked him and left with the stone jar. After leaving Yao Mountain, he secretly circled the base of the mountain, found the position of the Snake Heart Fruit, and made a hidden mark, planning to come back later to get it.

"Not bad, some success."

Qin Ming was in high spirits, holding the stone jar and planning to come back at night to collect it.

But before Qin Ming left Yao Mountain far, he paused, looking back at the nearby forest: "Since you're here, don't hide. Come out."

"No wonder they call you Little Beast. Your nose is quite sensitive, smelling my scent from so far away?" A graceful and alluring figure, moving gracefully, walked through the green forest, emerging from the shadows into the bright sunlight.

This was a charming and captivating woman, with an irresistible aura and charm. At sixteen or seventeen, she should have been youthful and beautiful, but she exuded a mature and alluring presence, like a spring water, making her a true beauty.

Her curvaceous and graceful figure was revealed through a fiery red dress, with smooth and tender skin that seemed to glow, evoking endless fantasies.

Zhao Min! Zhao Lie's sister, a famous beauty in the Qingyun Sect, whose alluring charm could make many men's hearts flutter, and it was rumored that the young master of the Qingyun Sect was involved with her.