Seventh-tier herbs corresponded to the Mystic Ancestor realm and were thus extremely valuable, to say nothing of a rare treasure like Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.
Wind King Peak specialized in Wind Mystic Power and Sword Formula. Nine-Leaf Sword Grass could hone one’s Sword Qi, making it a prized item that disciples, stewards, and even elders all desired.
Moreover, Nine-Leaf Sword Grass had a very long maturation period. Even Wind King Peak didn’t have much of it, and ordinary disciples had no right to use any. It was generally awarded as a prize during monthly competitions or trials.
If one wanted some, they could only strive for it with all their might.
As for disciples from the other peaks who might want it, that was basically impossible. Even the people of Wind King Peak didn’t have enough for themselves.
Unless Yu Shizun intervened personally.
But troubling Yu Shizun over something this trivial would be rather inappropriate.
“People from Wind King Peak are quite snobbish. If you want Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, you’d have to buy it at an exorbitant price,” Mentor Yu Xuan mused. “If I step forward, though, I should be able to acquire some.”
Yan Zhen waved his hand dismissively.
“No need for that. I have an acquaintance on Wind King Peak. I can just ask him directly.”
“An acquaintance?” Mentor Yu Xuan looked puzzled for a moment before her eyes suddenly lit up. “You mean Gu Tiange?”
“With his talent, he must have been taken as a disciple by some elder, right? There’s no way he lacks Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.”
“That’s not quite right. Gu Tiange was actually accepted as a disciple by Wind Supreme himself. His status in the sacred land is no lower than ours now, so he definitely doesn’t lack for Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.”
Yan Zhen was of course well aware of this, but to avoid exposing knowledge of the script, he had deliberately gotten it wrong.
“That makes it even better. He challenged me to a fight back then, so now I can go collect on it. We’ll wager Nine-Leaf Sword Grass on his end, and I’ll put up a Wind-Thunder Crystal.”
Wind-Thunder Crystals were mystic power bombs, with only one able to be condensed per month. Their power was limited by Yan Zhen’s cultivation, but even so, they could rival a full-power strike from a Mystic Venerable expert—only slightly inferior to his own Primeval Ashen Land technique. As a trump card for turning the tables in a desperate fight, its value was no less than that of Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, if not greater.
Over a month had passed since he refined the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire, and the Purple Crystal Wind Thunder Tree in his dantian had just borne a single Wind-Thunder Crystal—perfect for use as a wager.
He was going to win, after all.
Gu Tiange was formidable, but no match for him.
In the script—or rather, in his previous life—Yan Zhen hadn’t even reached the Mystic King realm when he fought Gu Tiange one-on-one. That was because, in his previous life, he hadn’t had the benefit of his beautiful master’s Primordial Yin to rapidly boost his cultivation.
Even so, Yan Zhen had subdued Gu Tiange in a single move, then tanked the other’s Sword Six: Army Breaker head-on, leaving Gu Tiange utterly convinced of his defeat.
Now… with four Extreme Flames at his command, he was invincible.
Comprehension dawned on Mentor Yu Xuan’s face.
“So in your previous life, you proactively challenged Gu Tiange for his Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.”
Yan Zhen chuckled with a confident grin lighting up his features.
After strolling around the medicine garden for a bit, it was already getting late. It wouldn’t be right to head over to Wind King Peak and disturb them now.
The three turned back the way they had come and arrived at the cliff’s edge. They selected a massive boulder and sat side by side, quietly watching the sun sink into the horizon.
Vast seas of clouds stretched out before them, bathed in a warm orange glow. The trio’s hearts gradually calmed. During this time, Yan Zhen even took out a Messaging Talisman to try contacting the four women in the Inner Academy.
Unfortunately, the sacred land was shrouded in array formations. The mystic power fluctuations of ordinary Messaging Talismans couldn’t penetrate inside—only ones specially made for the sacred land could be used for communication.
Disciples of the sacred land weren’t permitted to enter or leave at will, except during external missions or trials. That said, no one would dare stop Yan Zhen if he wanted to leave.
Before departing, Yan Zhen had asked the senior sisters from Transformation Butterfly to look after the four women, and with Elder Great-Aunt watching over them too, there shouldn’t be any issues.
Once night had fully fallen, the three returned to the cave dwelling. Yan Zhen thought for a moment before saying,
“Mentor, let me take you to pay respects to my master.”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s beautiful eyes brightened.
“That sounds wonderful. Shall we go right now?”
“Yeah. Cai Lian should be out of seclusion by now too, so it’s a perfect chance for you two to get acquainted.”
“Uh… hold on a moment. I-I need to take a bath and get dressed up properly. I can’t be rude.”
“Er, it doesn’t need to be that formal, does it? Besides, you already look great, Mentor.”
“No, that’s not acceptable. Just wait for me—I’ll be quick, just the time for one incense stick to burn!”
With that, Mentor Yu Xuan hurried back to her room, leaving Yan Zhen smiling wryly.
Long Ying, standing nearby, grabbed Yan Zhen’s arm and shook it.
“I want to go visit Star Saint Lord and Sister Cai Lian too!”
“I can only bring one person at a time,” Yan Zhen refused. “Besides, Cai Lian will be out soon anyway. Be good, take a bath, and go to bed.”
“Muuu~~~”
Long Ying let out a dissatisfied whine, gazing at Yan Zhen with a aggrieved expression.
Yan Zhen smirked.
“Come on. I’ll help you wash up too—you got pretty dirty wandering around the medicine garden.”
Hearing that she would get to wash up, Long Ying’s mood improved a little. But then Yan Zhen added,
“Don’t transform and grow big to scare me again, or I won’t help you bathe anymore.”
Long Ying huffed and turned her head away with a pout.
After the bath, Yan Zhen tucked Long Ying in to sleep obediently. He then went to Mentor Yu Xuan’s room and waited for her to finish dolling herself up beautifully. Together, they entered the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
As expected, Cai Lian had completed her breakthrough. Her aura surged powerfully as she chatted with the beautiful master.
Space twisted, and both women turned their heads. Seeing Yan Zhen arrive with a gentle and graceful woman in a blue dress, they quickly understood who she was.
“Master, Cai Lian,” Yan Zhen said as he stepped forward. “Let me introduce you. This is Mentor Yu Xuan.”
Mentor Yu Xuan immediately curtsied politely.
“Yu Xuan pays respects to Master Chen Xi and to Sister Cai Lian.”
Master Chen Xi smiled warmly.
“No need for such formalities. Zhen’er has mentioned you many times before This Seat, saying that you took good care of him during his time studying at Mystic Academy. It seems you truly know how to look after others.”
“Master Chen Xi flatters me. I-I merely did what I was supposed to.”
“She Ji, let me introduce you to one of your future little sisters.”
Cai Lian regarded Mentor Yu Xuan and nodded slightly.
“I’ve heard you’re a reincarnator as well. You and I crossed paths a few times in our previous lives— we’re not close, but not strangers either. This Queen won’t bother with pleasantries. Since you’ve called This Queen ‘sister’, This Queen will call you ‘little sister’ in return. From now on, we’re family. Let’s all get along well.”
Mentor Yu Xuan responded with refined courtesy.
“Please offer your little sister plenty of guidance, Sister Cai Lian.”
Cai Lian was very pleased with Mentor Yu Xuan’s demeanor.
“Apart from This Queen, there are quite a few other sisters. I’ll introduce you when the chance arises.”
Mentor Yu Xuan smiled.
“I believe I know most of them already—I’m just worried they won’t remember me.”
“We can discuss the others later,” Master Chen Xi interjected suddenly. “Regarding your memories of the previous life, Yu Xuan—have you noticed anything unusual?”
“Nothing that I can recall,” Mentor Yu Xuan replied, shaking her head. “I remember the Demon Domain Lord fleeing beyond the domain after being defeated by Yan Zhen. But just a few years later, he returned with companions for a counterattack, only to be wiped out by Yan Zhen leading the Seven Great Sacred Lands and the Ten Great God Clans. By then, I was already the matriarch of the Yu Family and didn’t take the field myself. I listened to everyone recount the Flame Emperor’s feats and found myself constantly thinking of him, until somehow, I was reborn.”
“It seems your memories are incomplete too. No exceptions.”
“Memories are incomplete?”
Mentor Yu Xuan was rather surprised. Master Chen Xi nodded and gave a brief explanation.
After hearing it, Mentor Yu Xuan’s heart remained unsettled for a long time.
“There’s something like that going on?”
Yan Zhen knew exactly what was happening, but he couldn’t speak of it openly. Instead, he changed the subject.
“Ahem, Cai Lian—I’ve already come clean to Yu Shizun about your identity. I plan to have her arrange an official steward position for you on Rain God Peak. What do you think?”
