Chapter 89
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Chapter 89: Entering the Mountains
In Beihu Prefecture, the Shennong Great Forest.
Even with the advancements in Jiuzhou’s technology, exploration of the Shennong Great Forest remains less than one percent complete.
Common technological methods completely lose their effectiveness within the Shennong Great Forest.
It is also said to be one of the nine great secret realms where immortal caves are most likely to appear.
It is known that masters have previously led groups of peak innate experts to explore this place.
But without exception, none ever returned.
So, the dangers here are easy to imagine.
However, danger often coexists with opportunity.
Despite the risks, this place is still a treasure-hunting paradise that many in the martial arts world aspire to explore!
“Peak innate experts lead teams into the mountains to collect herbs! Only those with strength not lower than the peak level of the acquired stage are allowed!”
“Teams led by peak innate experts! Our objective is clear! Divine medicine! Divine medicine! And again, divine medicine!”
“For those lacking strength, come take a look! While we may be weaker, we have the numbers! We are not much inferior to those top teams! Join us if you want to make some profits!”
When Bai Chen arrived at the entrance of the Shennong Great Forest, martial artists from all over Jiuzhou had already gathered here.
One by one, they hollered like HR representatives in a job market, forming small groups.
“Hey, big brother! You look quite impressive and handsome, definitely a dragon among men! Would you be interested in joining our team?”
As soon as Bai Chen appeared at the entrance, a group of people surrounded him.
“Hey, young brother, our team is led by a peak innate expert, and our only goal is the divine medicine. If we obtain the divine medicine, it will be shared equally among the team. Are you interested in joining us?”
“The probability of obtaining the divine medicine is too low. Why not stick with our team? We buy all other herbs, and we will engage if we encounter fierce beasts. We’re much safer.”
……
At that moment, the chubby young man who first praised Bai Chen for his handsome appearance squeezed in front of Bai Chen again.
“Hey, big brother, what they said is not reliable!”
“I can tell at a glance that you are new here and not familiar with the Shennong Great Forest at all!”
“Our team has a guide with over ten years of treasure-hunting experience in the Shennong Great Forest! Plus, we have maps!”
“We have marked all the important resources within the forest, and we also have exclusive information about the divine medicine!”
“So even if you want to leave the team and act independently later, that’s fine.”
Hearing this, Bai Chen looked at the chubby young man with a honest appearance.
“What’s your name?”
“Hehe, I’m Wei Laifu. Are you interested in our team, big brother?”
Wei Laifu’s words did indeed resonate with Bai Chen.
He had been to the Shennong Great Forest before.
But even during his previous peak, he hadn’t been able to see the entire place.
Ten thousand years ago, there was already a barrier in the Shennong Great Forest that posed great danger.
At that time, all cultivators speculated that this was a place where an ancient power ascended, and they dared not step foot easily.
Bai Chen had not returned since.
“Now, ten thousand years have passed, and circumstances have changed. That barrier should have weakened a bit.”
“The emergence of divine medicine may also be related to the weakening barrier.”
“What exactly is inside the barrier?”
Bai Chen fell into deep thought.
He glanced at Wei Laifu and, after a moment’s consideration, nodded to agree with Wei Laifu.
After ten thousand years of change in the Shennong Great Forest, he couldn’t guarantee that he remembered the way he had entered before.
It was safer to follow this group of people.
Additionally, he could observe the current strength of the martial arts world.
He was curious whether the inheritance of those cultivators from ten thousand years ago had truly been passed down.
Moreover, when he had just awakened, he sensed a presence that could threaten him.
But even now, he had no clue about that presence.
It surely couldn’t be that someone among these martial artists could threaten him, a cultivator.
“Alright, I will join your team.”
Wei Laifu’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this.
“What’s your last name, big brother?”
“Bai Chen.”
Wei Laifu led Bai Chen to the group.
“Captain Song, this is Bai Chen, big brother Bai!”
Song Hanjing lightly glanced at Bai Chen and nodded to Wei Laifu.
“How strong is he?”
Wei Laifu’s expression stiffened upon hearing this as he looked at Bai Chen.
Bai Chen replied lightly,
“Innate level.”
Bai Chen turned to look at Song Hanjing.
This middle-aged man appeared stiff-faced and rarely smiled, looking as if half of his face was paralyzed.
Song Hanjing merely nodded and did not speak further.
He did not verify Bai Chen’s strength.
If Bai Chen lied about his strength, it would ultimately harm himself once they entered.
They wouldn’t step in to help Bai Chen if something went wrong.
The other members of the team could not help but glance at Bai Chen several times after hearing his words.
His young age combined with being at the innate level left them feeling incredulous.
“Hmph, another guy trying to show off!”
A one-eyed man in the team looked at Bai Chen and spat.
“Sister, he looks so handsome!”
“Shh! Don’t act like a lovestruck fool, remember our mission here! With Song Hanjing leading, our chances of obtaining the divine medicine are quite high!”
A pair of sisters dressed in green outfits secretly watched Bai Chen, whispering to each other.
Besides their delicate features, what surprised people most was their green pupils.
They looked quite enchanting.
Song Hanjing checked the time; it was close to noon, the perfect time to enter the mountain.
At that moment, a female voice called out.
“Hello, we would like to join your team, is that possible?”
Liu Jiaoxue stood in front of Song Hanjing with a slight smile, followed by Jiang Yuan Ji and a few others.
Song Hanjing glanced at Liu Jiaoxue lightly.
“Your strength.”
Liu Jiaoxue replied,
“I am at the late stage of the acquired realm; this one is at the peak level of the acquired stage, and the others are all at the late stage of the acquired realm.”
Song Hanjing nodded and then said to Wei Laifu beside him,
“Get everything ready, tell everyone to get moving.”
Wei Laifu nodded and immediately went to prepare the necessary supplies for the mountain trip.
Bai Chen turned to look at Liu Jiaoxue in surprise.
He found it hard to read her thoughts at that moment.
Wasn’t Liu Jiaoxue furious just now?
Why was she still following him like a dogged adhesive?
Song Hanjing surveyed the dozen or so people in the team and announced the rules for this mission.
“I am Song Hanjing. On this trip into the mountain, I have only one requirement: follow my orders.”
“If you’re unwilling to follow my orders, that’s fine too; you can leave the team and act independently.”
The dozen or so people nodded at Song Hanjing and spoke up.
“Don’t worry, Captain Song! We trust you! Who wouldn’t listen to your orders?”
“Yeah, Captain Song! We have all seen your strength! We’ll follow your lead!”
Bai Chen glanced at Song Hanjing.
Song Hanjing’s strength was merely at the late stage of the acquired realm and was not particularly outstanding.
Wei Laifu, who had brought over the supplies, approached Bai Chen and said with a smile,
“Big brother Bai, do you know why Captain Song is so trusted?”
Bai Chen shook his head.
Seeing this, Wei Laifu revealed a mysterious smile.
“That’s because Captain Song is from the Song family in the capital! Don’t be fooled by Captain Song’s late stage of the acquired realm; no one at the peak innate level here can guarantee they’ll surpass her!”
Bai Chen was taken aback.
He didn’t expect Song Hanjing to be related to Song Ziwen’s family.
Once the supplies were prepared, Song Hanjing waved to everyone.
“Let’s head into the mountain!”
