Yellow Court Daoist

"The restrictions on the mountain peaks where Third-rank Spirit Medicine is found are extremely strong. Without a master proficient in removing restrictions or the combined force of many masters, it could take ten days to half a month just to reach the peak and gather the spiritual medicine."

Lu Qingfeng held the Jade Scroll and examined the map.

The map, made by the Luoxia Sect, used nine Revitalizing Fruit Trees in the upper layer of the Hundred Herbs Garden as reference points, marking various mountain sizes and the spiritual medicine growing there.

However, the Hundred Herbs Garden spans a thousand miles and can only be traversed on foot.

Even though the Luoxia Sect discovered the entrance to the Hundred Herbs Garden over three hundred years ago, they have only entered about thirty times to date, having limited understanding.

For instance, about spiritual medicines.

Several main and auxiliary ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, as well as many auxiliary ingredients for Lifespan Extension Pills, are not marked on the map in the Jade Scroll.

This is also one of the reasons why Lu Qingfeng insisted on entering the Hundred Herbs Garden himself.

"The higher the mountain peak, the stronger the restriction, and the higher the grade of the spiritual medicine."

Lu Qingfeng descended from Earth Pear Fruit Mountain and continued forward.

This time, he bypassed a small mountain and chose a larger one. It was still 'Daluo Cave Temple's' breaking of restrictions. Stronger restrictions could not stop Divine Skills' insight. Step by step, Lu Qingfeng broke through the restrictions to reach the mountain top.

[Spiritual Medicine: Cold Tobacco]

[Grade: Second Rank]

[Description: Contains Cold Yuan Qi. When placed at the Dantian during cultivation, it prevents external demons from invading. Can be used to refine Cold Origin Pill, Mingxin Pill, and other healing and cultivation-supporting elixir pills]

"Second Rank Spiritual Medicine, Cold Tobacco."

"Not bad."

Lu Qingfeng stepped forward and harvested the Cold Tobacco.

This Cold Tobacco was a white fluffy grass with one stem and five leaves, all white. There were five strands of Cold Tobacco on the mountain, valued at just over four spirit stones.

From Earth Pear Fruit Mountain to harvesting Cold Tobacco and storing it in a storage bag, it took Lu Qingfeng less than half an hour. Including the time spent gathering Earth Pear Fruit, it all added up to just half an hour.

In half an hour, he acquired spiritual medicines worth nearly six spirit stones. There was no easier way to make money in the world than in the Hundred Herbs Garden.

"Continue!"

Lu Qingfeng felt excited, his feet not stopping as he crossed one mountain after another, collecting various spiritual medicines into his bag.

In the Hundred Herbs Garden, First Rank Spiritual Medicine was most common, found all over the low hills. Second Rank Spiritual Medicine was less common, about two to three-tenths of the First Rank. Third-rank Spirit Medicine was even rarer, only about a tenth to two-tenths of the Second Rank.

Different spiritual medicines grew in different environments, in different mountains.

Unlike other Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, their speed of collecting spiritual medicine was equivalent to their speed of breaking through restrictions.

Normally, it would take half a day to a day to break through the restrictions on a First Rank Medicine Mountain. For a Second Rank Medicine Mountain, it takes three to six days, and sometimes even a tricky one might take about ten days. For a Third-rank Medicine Mountain, ten days to half a month to even a couple of months are quite normal.

Although the difficulty increased, the higher the proficiency in overcoming restrictions, the greater the benefits. If one does not understand the art of restrictions, then the cost-effectiveness is highest at a First Rank Medicine Mountain.

For Lu Qingfeng, the speed of collecting spiritual medicine depended on his speed of travel and climbing.

Restrictions completely failed to hinder his steps.

Thus, collecting First Rank Spiritual Medicine from a First Rank Medicine Mountain was faster, whereas collecting Third-level Spirit Medicine from a Third-rank Medicine Mountain was slower because of the mountain's height and larger area.

All things considered, perhaps collecting First Rank Spiritual Medicine might still be more valuable.

But even outside the Hundred Herbs Garden, easily collectible First Rank Spiritual Medicine is available as long as one has spirit stones. On the other hand, Third-rank Spirit Medicine is rare in the Juyun Mountain Range.

Lu Qingfeng was well aware of what to prioritize.

Focusing on Third-rank Medicine Mountains, within just a few days, Lu Qingfeng had gathered quite a few Third-rank Spirit Medicines.

A Third-rank Medicine Mountain housed about two to five strands of Third-rank Spirit Medicine. Based on an average value, it was worth about fifteen spirit stones. If a cultivator from the Hundred Herbs Garden could break the restriction of a Third-rank Medicine Mountain and collect the spiritual medicine within half a month, it would just break even.

The sooner it was done, the more spirit stones could be netted.

By the same token, for every day delayed, compensation of an equal number of spirit stones is required.

Lu Qingfeng could ascend a Third-rank Medicine Mountain in half an hour.

However, considering the collection of Spiritual Medicine and the travel between mountain peaks, given the scarcity of Third-rank Medicine Mountains, excluding the time spent on cultivation and rest, one could traverse one or two Third-rank Medicine Mountains, two to three Second Rank Medicine Mountains, and three to five First Rank Medicine Mountains in a day.

The assortment of Spiritual Medicines from various ranks quickly accumulated on his person.

...

This day.

Lu Qingfeng descended from a Second Rank Medicine Mountain and hurried toward another Second Rank Medicine Mountain in front.

Before long, Yin Wind howled through the forest, and Lu Qingfeng heard a rustling sound echoing between the trees, suddenly engulfed by an eerie atmosphere.

"Which demon dares approach?!"

Lu Qingfeng stood still and bellowed sternly.

There was no response from the forest, but suddenly a presence rapidly approached. A flash of green, and Lu Qingfeng saw a green-backed centipede, over three meters long, darting out from the thorns in the forest.

[Demon Clan: Green-Backed Centipede]

[Grade: Fifth-Order]

[Description: Capable of exhaling a poison fog, has sharp fangs, and a hard shell]

Primordial Heaven and Earth is just like the Three Mountains and Nine Waters. There is the Human Clan, and outside of it are beings with spiritual wisdom roughly categorized as the Demon Clan. The designation of Demon Clan is an overarching term and not a homogenous unity. It is divided into classes such as feathered, furry, scaly, plant, and so forth.

The term demon beast refers only to those from the Demon Clan who have not undergone transformation or retain their demon bodies without shifting into human form, which are technically also part of the Demon Clan category.

The Green-Backed Centipede in front clearly belonged to those retaining demon bodies.

"Green-Backed Centipede!"

As Lu Qingfeng saw a green shadow striking, emitting a large cloud of poison fog, he immediately retreated. As he moved back, a figure remained in his original spot—

A beast-headed human body, clad in red scales, ears adorned with fire snakes, feet mounted on fire dragons!

Demon flames engulf the sky!

This was none other than the Zhu Rong Demon God, forged from the thoughts of the All Heavens Demon Gods refined through the Twelve Heavenly Demon God Skill by Lu Qingfeng, a fire Demon God.

Upon Zhu Rong Demon God's appearance, the Green-Backed Centipede was startled, "A whelp from the Three Elements Demon Sect?"

With fierce demonic flames and pure demonic qi, Zhu Rong was undeniably a genuine practitioner of the Demon Dao.

"Three Elements Demon Sect?"

Lu Qingfeng, standing behind, understood that the Green-Backed Centipede mistook him as a cultivator from the Three Elements Demon Sect due to Zhu Rong Demon God, yet he did not clarify, silently standing behind Zhu Rong allowing the Demon God to perform.

The Green-Backed Centipede spoke human language, but its attacks did not cease.

The poison fog enveloped Zhu Rong Demon God, who then closed in for a direct attack.

Demon Clan cultivators, if they transform, refine their demon bodies into highly formidable and inscrutably mysterious lifebound magical artifacts. If they retain their demon bodies, they strengthen their physical bodies to a great extent, turning their bodies into their magical artifacts.

No reliance on external forces.

The Green-Backed Centipede clearly did the same.

"Roar!"

Feeling the poison fog, Zhu Rong Demon God roared in rage. The fire snakes by his ears and the fire dragon under his feet suddenly spat out Dutian Fierce Fire, instantly burning the poison fog completely clean.

"Such powerful flames!"

"Red Essence Demon Sect?"

The Green-Backed Centipede's words were probing, its attack relentless. As the poison fog dissipated, enduring the Dutian Fierce Fire, it closed in on Zhu Rong Demon God.