Battle Through the Heavens: Starting from the Jia Ma Empire

Chapter 10 Herb Gathering

Upon seeing the well-dressed middle-aged man, the unpleasant expressions on the faces of the Wan Yao Zhai members returned to normal, and their backs straightened. However, their gazes towards Lin Feng still held a hint of awe. After all, in this small Qingshan Town, high-level Dou Shi were not common, especially such a young high-level Dou Shi, who could be considered a Dou Huang.

"Hehe, Master Yao is very generous; I accept this kindness." Lin Feng chuckled lightly, then changed the subject, "But what does Master Yao think of my suggestion just now?"

"Haha, Wan Yao Zhai will gladly accept Lord Lin Feng's opinion." The Wan Yao Zhai master's expression changed rapidly, but he immediately smiled again.

Lin Feng, with his powerful soul force, saw everything clearly but ignored it. A mere one-star Dou Shi was nothing to fear; even without using Dou Qi, his physical body alone could easily destroy him. However, Lin Feng glanced at the cold, cloak-covered man, his expression shifting, a flicker of interest rising within him. "This is going to be interesting!"

"In that case, I will accompany Lord Lin Feng. I hope you can come to my aid if we encounter any danger. The reward will be substantial." Master Yao greeted Lin Feng and then turned to the many mercenaries he had hired, saying, "The commission remains the same this time, so please go with peace of mind."

"Yes!" The mercenaries, seeing that no conflict had broken out between the two sides and hearing Yao Zhaizhu's words, first breathed a sigh of relief, then responded with wild joy.

That's normal. If a conflict breaks out, Wan Yao Zhai would definitely be annexed by Lin Feng's overwhelming strength. At that time, Qingshan Town might even be unified. Not to mention how to treat their injuries and illnesses, they might even lose their lives if they are not careful. Everyone would be on edge.

With Lin Feng accompanying them, safety was greatly enhanced. It's well known that magical beasts are far more alert than humans; sensing Lin Feng's power, they would naturally retreat. Therefore, this trip was practically a guaranteed way to make money. It wasn't just the hired mercenaries who realized this; some mercenaries who hadn't joined the workforce but met the hiring criteria couldn't help but show expressions of frustration. Watching their 500 gold coins vanish was a devastating blow to mercenaries who risked their lives to earn them.

Sunlight filtered through the uneven treetops, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow at the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range.

The mountain range undulates, like a giant dragon slumbering. Dense forests surround it, tall and straight, lush and verdant, giving a sense of vitality and seemingly blocking out the scorching sun, thus providing a cool feeling.

The mercenaries moved cautiously, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

A faint scent of grass and trees filled the air, occasionally mingling with the pungent odor of magical beasts. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering the secrets of the forest. No one dared to make a sound; even the powerful Lin Feng remained vigilant, his gaze constantly scanning his surroundings. The distant roars that echoed from time to time instilled a sense of awe in everyone.

Near the entrance to the mountain range, they followed the route that Wan Yao Zhai often used for gathering herbs. As they ventured deeper, they frequently came across traces left by magical beasts, and their expressions became increasingly vigilant.

Continuing onward, they would occasionally encounter various magical beasts, some lurking in the grass, others strolling leisurely through the woods. The experienced mercenaries weren't particularly wary of these gentle creatures; as long as they didn't disturb them, there was no need to worry.

After traveling several kilometers along the herb-gathering route, the team continued horizontally. After about three more hours, Lin Feng glanced at Qing Lin, who was breathing softly beside him, and gestured to He Meng.

This fellow was quite adept at handling things. He quickly walked up to the owner of the Ten Thousand Medicines Hall, pulled him aside and spoke to him, while glancing at Lin Feng every now and then. After seeing Lin Feng nod, the owner coughed, drawing everyone's attention.

"Well, everyone, you must be tired from the long journey, and we're still quite a distance from where we're gathering herbs. How about we set up camp here, send someone to scout out the area, and make sure everything is safe?" Before Master Yao could finish speaking, a mercenary who was a little slower to react was about to object.

Fortunately, his quick-witted companion immediately covered his mouth and gestured for him to look at Lin Feng—or rather, at Qing Lin, who was breathing heavily beside Lin Feng. The man was instantly terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly thanked his friend, promising to treat him to some kind of fun "Eighteen Touches" when they got back. Upon hearing this, the two men's expressions immediately turned lewd.

As everyone stopped to rest, Qinglin said goodbye to Lin Feng and then walked towards the only girl in the group, a girl dressed in white. At first, she seemed hesitant, but soon they heard whispers coming from her. Lin Feng told her it was a secret. (P.S.: The original novel doesn't specify when Little Fairy Doctor became a physician; for the sake of the plot, we'll assume she was!)

A cool breeze brushed past Lin Feng's temples, stirring his thoughts as he gazed at the Monster Mountain Range. His gaze became somewhat unfocused. "This time, I must obtain the treasures from the cave, especially the flying combat technique and the fragment of the Different Flame Diagram. One is what I need now, and the other is essential for my long-term plans. But..." Lin Feng's gaze shifted to the two little figures whispering to each other, occasionally letting out a charming laugh, which made him hesitate.

He was well aware of his strengths: he was well-versed in the original work, giving him a premonition of the plot; coupled with his decent talent and good alchemy skills, he was able to achieve the status of a Seven-Star Grand Dou Master and be on the verge of advancing to a Fourth-Rank Alchemist at such a young age.

However, his biggest disadvantage is also quite obvious, such as right now, looking at the smiling Little Fairy Doctor. If he had Yao Chen's guidance, or possessed the Burning Technique and the Poison Pill method, then he would definitely have taken Little Fairy Doctor in as a disciple.

Lin Feng glanced at the two chatting and laughing again, his gaze hardening. Fine, at worst he could secretly seize the Burning Elixir Technique and the Poison Pill Method while Yao Chen was weakened. Besides, without more advanced alchemy skills, his achievements might only reach the Dou Zun level, or even stop at the Dou Zong level. He'd get what he could get first before worrying about anything else.

After resting for a while, the group finally arrived at the basin where they would gather medicinal herbs before sunset. At this moment, everyone visibly breathed a sigh of relief. As mercenaries who had been venturing into the Monster Mountain Range for many years, they knew how dangerous it was to enter the Monster Mountain Range at night.

(End of this chapter)