“Never mind. Thinking about the hooded figure won’t lead anywhere right now. I should take things as they come and handle other matters first.”
Shaking off distracting thoughts, Li Tan took out the medicinal herbs he had previously collected from the garden and placed them in front of him. Then he retrieved the Xuanhuang Cauldron and infused it with alchemical flame.
According to the scroll’s description, the cure for Zhang Zhenshan’s madness was a drinkable potion called “Jade Lotus Liquid,” which could be mixed with water for use.
Although it was called a potion, it wasn’t something that could simply be boiled in a large pot. Its preparation process was similar to alchemy, with difficulty comparable to a third-grade pill. Without the enchantment patterns of the Xuanhuang Cauldron, Li Tan would probably be helpless in making it.
However, with the Xuanhuang Cauldron, these problems were easily resolved.
Li Tan threw the medicinal herbs one by one into the Xuanhuang Cauldron and roasted them with the alchemical flame. This process lasted for more than half a watch of time. As a faint fragrance drifted out, the alchemical flame was extinguished, marking the successful creation of the Jade Lotus Liquid.
Since it was a liquid, Li Tan carefully used his Qi to support it as it poured into a small porcelain bottle he had prepared beforehand. He exhaled deeply, feeling relaxed.
Thus, the issue regarding Zhang Zhenshan was resolved.
Inside the inner courtyard of the Tianlang Sect, Zhang Zhi led a group of elders and disciples who surrounded an area deep in the forest so tightly that not even water could seep through.
“Let the elders stay. The rest of the disciples should return now,” Zhang Zhi announced loudly. Most of the onlookers left, leaving behind only some venerable elders.
“Master, what exactly happened here?” an elder with white hair asked gravely.
Frowning, Zhang Zhi replied, “I’d like to hear what the elders think first.”
The elder who had spoken earlier said, “Only someone at the Xiantian level could have caused such a commotion.”
An elder with half-white hair standing beside Zhang Zhi added, “Judging by the size of this crater, it must have been caused by an explosion. But what martial skill could have such power?”
“And I believe the attacker must possess cultivation surpassing the Xiantian level. Otherwise, employing such a martial technique would be akin to killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of your own.”
A younger-looking elder with black hair muttered.
His meaning was clear: a martial artist at the Houtian level was merely a very strong ordinary person, while a Xiantian level martial artist’s body was fundamentally different from ordinary people’s and could release Qi to attack enemies within a short distance. If someone at the Xiantian or Houtian level employed such a formidable martial skill, it would be tantamount to mutual destruction with the enemy.
An elder standing opposite Zhang Zhi, who had been attentively observing the crater, said, “It’s not necessarily such a powerful martial skill. Even a master-level expert would struggle to withstand it. Perhaps the person who caused this commotion used some special talisman.”
The youngest-looking elder nodded. “That possibility cannot be ruled out.” After a moment of silence while gazing at the crater, Zhang Zhi spoke, “Personally, I lean towards Elder Liu’s view. If it were a martial technique, its power would be too terrifying. If someone could master it, even a novice master-level expert could defeat a peak Xiantian-level opponent.”
(Note: “先天” is translated as “Xiantian” as it’s a specific cultivation term in Chinese martial arts/wuxia context, often left untranslated or romanized in English translations of such works.)
The four elders looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
“However, the person responsible for this must possess at least an innate-level cultivation. Moreover, they must have had a confrontation with someone at this very spot.”
As Zhang Zhi spoke, he walked forward, circling around the crater to a large, precariously leaning tree. He reached out and pulled a dart from the tree trunk.
The four elders were greatly alarmed upon seeing the dart.
Zhang Zhi tossed the dart to the youngest-looking elder. “Elder Chen, you are most knowledgeable about weapons. Study this dart carefully and see if you can find any clues. It would be best if you could determine its origin.”
Elder Chen accepted the dart solemnly and nodded.
“It will be difficult to find the person who caused the commotion now, but we cannot allow them to run wild in our Tianlang Sect. I ask all of you to issue orders, especially to the disciples on night watch today. They must question everyone thoroughly. I refuse to believe that someone came here and left no trace at all.”
Zhang Zhi angrily issued his orders. The four elders beside him responded and departed. Not far away, they heard the scream of the elder with white hair: “Ahhhh! Heaven-cursed! My medicinal garden!!”
Liu Yong had just returned to his quarters when he heard a loud commotion from afar. At first, he was merely curious, but as he approached the source of the sound, his heart sank. Wasn’t that the very place where he had met “that lord”?
Why had this happened?
Puzzled and unable to find an answer, he wanted to get closer to see if he could discover something, but he was soon sent back by Zhang Zhi.
Now he was in his room but had no mood for cultivation. However, his worries soon eased.
No matter what had transpired, he had personally witnessed “that lord’s” formidable power. Whatever might happen, that individual would undoubtedly be capable of resolving it.
After all, he was just a “messenger.” Why should he worry so much?
Putting his worries aside, Liu Yong sat for a while but then thought of Li Tan, the despicable man who had seduced Zhang Chenghuan, and his anger flared.
But while he was upset, that bastard Li Tan was carefree and enjoying himself below. How unfair could the world be?
Liu Yong was furious, but suddenly, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
“Li Tan, I won’t let you off easily either.”
The next day, on the mountainside where miscellaneous apprentices resided, all new and old disciples had risen early and begun their assigned tasks.
Xue Ying’s task was to fetch water. Although a full vat of water looked like a lot, after yesterday’s experience, she found she could finish it in about three hours.
Today, to have time to attend Li Tan’s lesson whenever possible, she planned to complete the task as soon as possible. So, just as the sky began to turn pale white at dawn, she started working. The water level in the vat gradually rose and was soon half full.
Xue Ying was already drenched in sweat. She set down the bucket and rested by a small bamboo grove halfway up the mountain path.
At this moment, however, footsteps were heard on the mountain path where no one was usually seen.
Xue Ying looked up in surprise and saw an unfamiliar face. New disciples wouldn’t usually have free time to come down the mountain, so it must be one of the senior brothers. Should she get up and greet him?
Probably better to greet him, but there was something strange about this person’s gaze. Why was he staring at her like that?
Still puzzled, Xue Ying stood up and was about to bow to the approaching figure when the man suddenly moved toward her in a very odd manner. He collided precisely with the water bucket, instantly splashing water onto his pant legs.
“Hey!”
The man stopped, glaring angrily at Xue Ying. “Don’t you have eyes? What do you mean by this?”
Xue Ying hastily explained, “I didn’t do anything. Just now, you bumped into it yourself.”
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