Chapter 19 Secret Place

When the sun set, the duel finally came to an end.

As Feng Ziyang declared his victory, Jiang Li felt as if his mind became profoundly clear, his heart suddenly sank into deep waters, yet he did not feel oppressed—only a silent stillness while his spirit rippled and flowed like water through his heart, bearing a supreme sense of freedom.

Unfortunately, this sensation vanished in an instant. Just as Jiang Li was about to immerse himself, his consciousness abruptly "awakened." The world was still the same, as was his mind.

However, he felt the flow of his True Qi becoming increasingly transparent. With nearly a thought, the True Qi arrived, perfectly aligning with his intentions, and everything seemed to be effortlessly successful.

"Still lacking quite a bit," Jiang Li lamented inwardly.

He had fought from morning till sunset, validating his own audacious claim, but he was not truly unbeatable among the Ninth Rank. Not to mention that Dinghu Sect wasn't the only place with Ninth Rank experts, there were also some within Dinghu Sect who had not shown themselves.

They didn't step up to the platform due to the elders' orders, rendering Jiang Li's achievement somewhat hollow.

"To truly become the unbeatable Ninth Rank of the world, one must either defeat everyone in the world, or... fight the Eighth Rank."

This thought flashed through Jiang Li's mind and he silently suppressed it.

It wasn't the time yet.

At this moment, Feng Ziyang landed on Fengyun Platform and addressed Jiang Li, "Bone Marrow Cleansing, Fagong Body, when do you wish to proceed?"

He was asking him when he would go for the Bone Marrow Cleansing.

Jiang Li pondered briefly before he saw Qi Changsheng below, looking as if he was praying fervently.

He was begging him to make Feng Ziyang leave.

Qi Changsheng was supposed to have been confined to Si Fan Valley today, but he had come here to watch the excitement instead. Based on his past experiences, he was bound to face severe punishment.

However, he wasn't afraid of the punishment—just a few more days of confinement at worst. He was more concerned about Feng Ziyang teaching him a lesson and making him suffer physically.

So now, Qi Changsheng couldn't wait for Feng Ziyang to leave.

So be it, considering today's act of Qi Changsheng in deceiving... cough, considering he encouraged the Outer Disciples to come up and challenge, let's help him out.

Moreover, Jiang Li was quite curious about the root cause that had led him to this point.

"Let's do it now," Jiang Li said.

Feng Ziyang, hearing this, nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as a sword piercing down toward the audience, and then he slapped the flying sword at his waist.

"Zheng."

Amidst the sword's ringing, a pool of Qiushui unsheathed, turning into pure white Sword Light spiraling around their bodies and suddenly sweeping them into the sky.

"Senior Brother Jiang!!!" Qi Changsheng shouted excitedly upon seeing this.

"Senior Brother Jiang!" The other disciples, still caught up in the excitement, echoed the call.

Qi Changsheng shouted again, "Senior Brother Jiang, we adore you!"

"Senior Brother Jiang, we adore you!"

Their voices echoed, lingering long over the Fengyun Platform.

...

...

Elsewhere, the sword entered the Qingming, not landing within Qiao Mountain, but flying directly towards the south.

The scenery of the sky swept by rapidly on both sides, nearly forming a straight line, yet unable to affect the two within.

The pure white sword light blocked the fierce high winds, providing a stable ride that was in no way inferior to aviation in a past life.

In this way, the sword light flew south for over a hundred miles before suddenly dipping downwards towards an island brimming with vitality.

From above, as they approached about a hundred meters from the island, Jiang Li felt the temperature change, a heat wave attacking him, and as they got closer, the temperature continued to rise. By the time the two landed on the island, the climate had evidently shifted from spring to summer.

The setting sun's red light soaked the trees on both sides, but did not diminish their vigorous vitality, a scene that was virtually impossible in spring.

A fresh, invigorating scent came with the wind, filling Jiang Li's nostrils, infusing his battle-weary body with full energy and a restless agitation that demanded release.

From morning till sunset, although Jiang Li had mostly been conserving his energy and had been supplemented with elixirs to restore his Essence Element, his body still felt weary. But now, just by smelling the faint fragrance, all fatigue was swept away, prompting Jiang Li to speculate.

"Is this a secret place where spiritual medicine is grown?" Jiang Li couldn't help but ask.

In the Five Turbid Evil World, ordinary herbs had barely survived, whereas those requiring a spiritual mechanism, the treasure medicines, had all become deformed—either withering away or turning into various bizarre monsters.

Only a few powerful forces had managed to save some spiritual medicines through timely measures, yet sustaining them was still a challenge.

Jiang Li hadn't expected to come to such a place only mentioned in legends. If he wasn't mistaken, the source of the fragrance was likely a medicine garden.

Feng Ziyang slightly nodded at his words but then shook his head.

He pointed ahead, saying, "As you follow the path, there will be someone to clear your doubts."

With that, the sword light reappeared, and Feng Ziyang followed the sword, turning into a speck of light in the sky.

"Just like that, he's gone?"

As for the brisk efficiency of Senior Brother Feng and the sect's handling, Jiang Li could only express awe.

This was a place where spiritual medicine was grown, and they were letting him, a newcomer, wander on his own?

Jiang Li looked around but didn't notice anything unusual, so he followed the dirt path under his feet.

As the path receded under his feet, the vitality around him became even more vibrant, and Jiang Li could even see some rather exceptional items. For example, the red fruit that flashed through the swaying branches on the right seemed quite like the legendary Vermilion Fruit.

A large tree ahead shone with a visible luster. Although unfamiliar, it looked impressive.

Jiang Li felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, awestruck by various exquisite items along the way.

Had this place not been an important site for the sect, he would have already started picking them.

Thump—

His heart suddenly pounded fiercely; a strong palpitation arose within him.

It was as if something was calling to him from ahead.

He unconsciously quickened his pace, ignoring all the heavenly materials and earthly treasures, heading towards the end of the road.

The closer he got, the stronger the palpitations became; the scenery on both sides gradually changed to rocky cliffs, and the path narrowed. But after walking dozens of steps, the view suddenly opened up.

In the distance, a mountain cliff was visible, covered in exotic flowers and grasses, brilliantly colorful. The cliff had a large split from which a spring surged out, forming thirty or forty waterfalls, which fell below with a roaring sound and gathered into a lake.

And in the center of the lake, an ancient stone statue stood.

With bull's horns on its head, a beard reaching its belly, and clothed in animal skins, it appeared as an elder, yet it had an intangible dignity and authority.

The stone statue's hands horizontally supported a red wooden whip, a faint halo circulating on it, firmly capturing Jiang Li's gaze.

He knew this was the source of the palpitation in his heart.

"Divine Farmer used the Ochre Whip to whip the Hundred Herbs to fully know their virtues—cold, warm, and poisonous; he was the master of their scents. Planting the Hundred Grains, hence the world named him Divine Farmer."

Jiang Li looked at the stone statue, murmuring the record from the ancient texts and slowly bowed down in reverence.