Chapter Thirteen: The Flaming Cloud Herb

Liu Feng quickly crouched down, examining the ground carefully. There, he saw a plant growing from the earth, about three inches tall, its entire body a fiery red, with thick, lush leaves that looked like flames burning atop the ground, emitting waves of fragrant aroma.

A surge of delight rose in Liu Feng’s heart as he hurried to pick the plant. The fragrance wafted over him, immediately clearing his mind and banishing all fatigue as if it had never existed.

At that moment, the others noticed the glowing light and quickly walked over. Zhang Ning, seeing what Liu Feng held in his hand, smiled and said, “Liu Feng, your luck is truly remarkable. This Firecloud Ganoderma is a fine spiritual herb.”

Zhang Chen came up as well, patting Liu Feng on the shoulder. “You lucky fellow! Firecloud Ganoderma not only strengthens the blood and increases cultivation, but also purifies impurities from the body, speeding up one’s training.”

“That’s just luck. Who knows, you may all find something even better.” Liu Feng tucked the Firecloud Ganoderma into his storage pouch, grinning.

They joked and chatted as they continued deeper into the forest, when suddenly someone called out, “Look, what’s this?”

The speaker was someone Liu Feng knew, named Situ Gang—a well-known figure in their class, ranked among the top ten in strength.

Zhang Ning asked, “Situ Gang, what have you found?”

“Instructor, I’ve found signs of a battle here, and the bloodstains are still fresh. It must have happened not long ago,” Situ Gang replied.

At his words, Liu Feng and the others hurried over to examine the scene. The nearby trees were bent and askew from the shockwaves of battle, and shattered rocks lay scattered all about. There were several deep craters in the ground, as if blasted by tremendous force.

“There was indeed a fight here, and the combatants were highly skilled. At a minimum, their cultivation would be at least eighth level of the Qi Gathering Realm,” Zhang Ning observed after a moment.

Liu Feng and the others listened quietly, saying nothing.

When Zhang Ning finished speaking, Zhang Chen asked, “Instructor, is this area dangerous? Should we leave?”

Zhang Ning considered for a moment. “It’s nothing to be concerned about. Cultivators of that level aren’t worth worrying over. Just stay close to me and don’t stray too far, and you’ll be safe.”

Liu Feng continued forward, and hadn’t gone far when he saw a fresh pool of blood on the ground. He followed the trail, which led about a kilometer further, until he suddenly came upon a figure clad in white.

The young man lay on the ground, his clothes soaked through with blood. On his arm was a gash more than two inches long, deep enough to expose the bone, blood still flowing freely.

Liu Feng rushed over and saw that the young man was about twenty years old, his face deathly pale. Barely conscious, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but Liu Feng could hear nothing.

Quickly, Liu Feng took out some prepared cloth from his storage pouch and bound the wound, slowing the bleeding. Noticing the young man was still trying to speak, Liu Feng crouched down beside him.

In faltering whispers, the youth said, “My name is Zhao Guang, a disciple of the Mountain-Opening Sect. Today, I came with several fellow apprentices in search of spiritual herbs. We encountered a herd of Ironhorn Sheep and couldn’t hold them off...” Here, Zhao Guang paused, gathering his strength.

“Take your time,” Liu Feng encouraged him.

After a moment, Zhao Guang continued, “All my brothers but me were killed. While I was fleeing, I stumbled upon a patch of spiritual herbs. Because I was hiding from the Ironhorn Sheep, I had no chance to pick them.”

Liu Feng asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“I’m gravely injured. Do you have any healing pills or spiritual herbs?” Zhao Guang pleaded.

Liu Feng said nothing, fixing Zhao Guang with a steady gaze.

“You don’t trust me, and I can’t blame you,” Zhao Guang said. “If I were in your place, I wouldn’t hand over precious medicine to a stranger either.”

“That’s right. I can’t trust you so easily, unless you can prove you’re telling the truth,” Liu Feng replied.

“Very well. Give me a hemostatic pill first, and I’ll tell you where to find the spiritual herbs. We can go together, and I’ll split what we gather with you—half each,” Zhao Guang said.

Liu Feng couldn’t just let a gravely wounded man die before his eyes; his conscience would not allow it. He took a hemostatic pill from his pouch, helped Zhao Guang to take it, and waited.

About fifteen minutes later, Zhao Guang’s condition finally improved, and the bleeding stopped, though he was still too weak to walk. Seeing his state, Liu Feng took out the Firecloud Ganoderma and handed it to Zhao Guang to consume—leaving him alone here would be too dangerous.

“We’ve only just met, and yet you’re willing to give me something so valuable. You truly are worthy of trust,” Zhao Guang said gratefully.

“I only gave you the herb because you said you’d found a trove of spiritual plants. I’m hoping to get more for myself,” Liu Feng joked, though he didn’t actually believe Zhao Guang had found so many.

Zhao Guang swallowed the herb and sat cross-legged, circulating his true energy to absorb the medicine. His wounds healed somewhat.

After half an hour, Zhao Guang was able to stand, his face much improved.

“How are you? Can you walk?” Liu Feng asked.

“I can walk now. My injuries are about thirty percent healed. I’ll take you to the herbs right away,” Zhao Guang replied.

The two made their way slowly, passing through dense forest until they reached a small, secluded valley.

“This place is truly hidden. No ordinary person would ever find it,” Liu Feng remarked.

“If I hadn’t been running from the Ironhorn Sheep, I’d never have stumbled on it myself,” Zhao Guang replied, leading the way inside.

They hadn’t gone far when a distinctive fragrance met their noses—the unique aroma of Firecloud Ganoderma.

They hurried ahead and found a patch of ground glowing red, where about fifty Firecloud Ganoderma grew quietly.

Liu Feng was elated—dividing these between the two of them, he’d get over twenty plants, enough to exchange for points or pills back at the academy. It seemed kindness was indeed rewarded.

Zhao Guang was stunned too—he’d only glimpsed the field before, thinking there were at most twenty, never expecting so many.

“Your storage pouch is missing. If you trust me, I can keep the herbs for you temporarily,” Liu Feng offered.

“You saved my life. Even if you kept them all, I wouldn’t object,” Zhao Guang replied with gratitude.

Without another word, Liu Feng quickly gathered the Firecloud Ganoderma into his pouch. Zhao Guang watched in silence.

Just as Liu Feng was about to leave, he suddenly stopped short—what was that, flickering with an extraordinary light? He moved closer, barely able to suppress a cry of delight at what he saw.