Divine Pill Peak.
A heavy atmosphere permeated the side hall, where flickering candlelight cast the shadows of Elder Ziyun and another elder onto the mottled walls, alternating between light and darkness.
"Senior Brother Ziyun, how are your injuries?" the elder asked softly, concern lacing her voice.
She was Su Yun, an elder of Divine Pill Peak, and shared a close relationship with Elder Ziyun.
Elder Ziyun sat in a chair within the hall, slowly raising his head. His once youthful, crane-like appearance now seemed as though he had aged a hundred years.
His posture, once as straight as a pine tree, was now slightly hunched. His once plump and rosy face had withered like dry wood, his eyes sunken and filled with exhaustion and worry.
"Cough... It's nothing. I've recovered about forty percent. Heavenly thunder is the power of the heavens and earth. For us to resist it is like a mayfly shaking a tree," he sighed deeply, his voice brimming with resignation and sorrow.
Had the Flying Sword Peak's scripture repository not been so invaluable, he wouldn’t have even dared to oppose the heavenly tribulation.
Because once he intervened, he feared provoking the wrath of the heavens.
Elder Su Yun frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. She sighed softly before changing the subject. "It's just a shame that the thief who infiltrated the scripture repository wasn’t caught."
Her tone was calm, but the regret in her words was unmistakable.
Elder Ziyun tightened his grip on the armrest, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "That brat was quite peculiar—he could conceal his own aura."
Then, as if recalling something, he added in a low voice, "But at the time, there was another disciple inside the scripture repository when the thunder struck."
Elder Su Yun’s expression shifted. "Senior Brother, are you suggesting that disciple is connected to the heavenly thunder?"
Elder Ziyun remained silent for a moment before answering.
Images of that moment replayed in his mind—Ye Chuan’s seemingly ordinary face appearing before him. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Perhaps..."
His voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
"Perhaps you’re overthinking it, Senior Brother. That newly recruited disciple is only at the Foundation Establishment stage. How could he possibly summon heavenly thunder and, in such a short time, spirit away all those cultivation techniques without anyone noticing?" Elder Su Yun shook her head, her tone dismissive.
Elder Ziyun nodded slightly. He understood his junior sister’s reasoning. After all, when he had scanned Ye Chuan with his divine sense, he hadn’t detected any storage-type treasures.
Yet his instincts kept telling him that Ye Chuan was not as simple as he appeared.
The night before, under the cover of darkness, he had secretly set up an array outside Ye Chuan’s cave dwelling. If there was anything unusual, the array would surely record it.
"With my Nascent Soul cultivation, divining the will of heaven is still too difficult. I can only hope I’m overthinking this," Elder Ziyun murmured before closing his eyes, as if trying to calm his doubts.
Seeing this, Elder Su Yun knew her senior brother needed rest, but she still had important news to share. Clearing her throat, she said, "Senior Brother, the Nine Revolutions Divine Marrow Pill you entrusted me to refine ten years ago—it can finally be prepared now."
Elder Ziyun’s eyes snapped open, instantly alight with joy. "Oh? You’ve found the last few immortal herbs?"
Elder Su Yun nodded, a faint smile of relief appearing on her face. "This pill will purify Ning'er’s spiritual roots, ensuring her path of cultivation is smoother."
She continued, "Those herbs were discovered by chance at an auction. Additionally, the Jade Void Demon Sect had a few suitable for refining the Nine Revolutions Divine Marrow Pill. For now, they’re being kept in the herb garden."
"Good! Good! Good!" Elder Ziyun exclaimed excitedly, laughing heartily. His earlier despondency vanished, replaced by renewed vitality.
"When Ning'er returns from the assembly, I’ll be sure to share this wonderful news with her."
His heart swelled with affection for his granddaughter. The thought of Ning'er’s spiritual roots being purified, ensuring her future cultivation would proceed without hindrance, filled him with delight.
"Senior Brother, you once did me a great kindness. It’s only natural I give my all in return," Elder Su Yun said softly.
"Back then, it was you who procured the materials for my Gender Transformation Pill."
"Heh, that was merely a small matter," Elder Ziyun replied eagerly. "Junior Sister, if it’s not too much trouble, may I see those herbs?"
"Of course, Senior Brother. This way." Elder Su Yun smiled and gestured for him to follow. The two rose and slowly exited the side hall.
Under the quiet night sky of Divine Pill Peak, they walked leisurely along the corridor toward the herb garden.
"Elder Su Yun, Elder Ziyun, good evening," two gatekeeping disciples greeted respectfully upon their arrival at the garden’s entrance.
"Mm. Have the herbs been watered today?"
"Yes, we’ve already used immortal liquid to irrigate them..." The disciple paused. "Elder, the supply of immortal liquid may be running low."
"How is that possible? We’ve captured so many demonic cultivators from the Jade Void Demon Sect. The spiritual liquid extracted from their bodies should last five hundred years," Elder Su Yun said indifferently.
"Well... Elder, you also brought back many immortal herbs from the Jade Void Sect, so..."
Only then did Elder Su Yun recall she hadn’t accounted for the herbs taken from the sect.
"Never mind. Once those demonic cultivators have been drained of their spiritual liquid, dispose of the remaining corpses by feeding them to the spirit beasts of the Spirit Beast Peak." She waved a hand dismissively. A cultivator’s body was still a valuable resource—feeding them to spirit beasts would enhance their cultivation.
"Yes." The gatekeeping disciple bowed.
After the exchange, Elder Su Yun turned to Elder Ziyun. "Senior Brother, please."
"Very well."
As they stepped into the herb garden, a refreshing medicinal fragrance enveloped them.
"Junior Sister, your herb garden is truly enviable," Elder Ziyun remarked as he surveyed the neatly arranged plots. "Has a new section been cleared here? What do you plan to plant?"
"Here... I distinctly remember planting quite a few Fire Spirit Herbs. It seems another elder must have harvested them for alchemy," Elder Su Yun mused before adding, "Due to the heavenly thunder incident, the garden’s resources have been heavily depleted."
"I see." Elder Ziyun nodded. Many disciples and elders had been injured, requiring vast quantities of medicinal pills.
They continued forward, but the plots before them were all empty.
"This..." Elder Ziyun glanced at his junior sister in confusion. Why were the herb plots so barren today?
"Senior Brother, there’s no need for concern. Once the herbs mature, they’re naturally harvested for alchemy. It’s not unusual for entire batches to be cleared at once," Elder Su Yun explained.
"The truly exceptional immortal herbs are kept in the deepest part of the garden."
"Ah, I see." Elder Ziyun nodded.
But when they reached the innermost section, it, too, was completely empty.
"Junior Sister, where are those herbs meant for Ning'er’s pill?" Elder Ziyun looked around.
"Oh, I understand—are they stored in a separate secret realm?"
When he turned back, however, he found Elder Su Yun frozen in place, staring at the emptiness in disbelief.
Where were the herbs?