NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 80
At this moment, Medicine King Valley was shrouded in mysterious and hazy energy mist, with the aroma of medicine wafting through the air, captivating countless cultivators who looked utterly enchanted, practically inhaling it as if just a few more breaths would skyrocket their cultivation levels.
“Hahaha, I can already sense that countless rare herbs are waiting for me inside!”
“If I can get my hands on a top-tier treasure herb, I’m confident I can break through from the Integration Stage to the Great Ascension, achieving the title of Venerable and living for fifty thousand years, free as a bird in this world!”
“Top-tier treasure herb? Friend, you really dream big! I’d be satisfied just to get a regular treasure herb!”
“Hehe, this is the famous Medicine King Valley! Not only are there rare herbs, but I bet even the Medicine Sovereign is around. If I can get a Medicine Sovereign herb, crossing the Tribulation will be a piece of cake!”
“Whoa, you mean a Medicine Sovereign herb? Those are extremely rare! Even the Tribulation Stage powerhouses would fight tooth and nail for one, let alone us little guys dreaming about it!”
…
The surroundings were buzzing with excitement and noise.
Looking around, the entrance of Medicine King Valley was packed with figures, both on the ground and in the air, a sea of faces.
Cultivators from all over were thrilled, their heads filled with visions of unexpectedly soaring to new heights.
After all, Medicine King Valley only opens once every hundred thousand years. A hundred thousand years is an unimaginably long time, even for many cultivators.
Even those claiming to be supreme beings at the Great Ascension can only live for fifty thousand years; if they miss this chance, they won’t be alive for the next one.
Thus, encountering this opportunity was more than a stroke of luck for many cultivators!
In the crowd, many were daydreaming about getting more treasure herbs, with some even setting their sights on the Medicine Sovereign!
As we all know, herbs come in grades—spiritual herbs, treasure herbs, Medicine Sovereign herbs, great Medicine Sovereign herbs, and immortal medicines!
They are further divided from low-grade to top-grade!
In the cultivation world, spiritual herbs are the mainstay. Once something reaches the treasure herb level, massive auctions are held, drawing fierce competition from various factions. Just casually tossing one out could lead to your head getting knocked around!
And the Medicine Sovereign herbs are exceedingly rare; in the Eastern Domain, reports of them have been scarce over the last tens of thousands of years. Such a famous herb would make even a Great Ascension powerhouse drool, let alone a Tribulation Stage cultivator!
“Uncle Fan, can Medicine King Valley really accommodate so many people at once? The competition is crazy!” An Miaoyi said, looking around in surprise.
“According to records, Medicine King Valley has limits on both the number of entrants and time, and if a cultivator is in danger, the formation will automatically transport them out,” Fan Dezhen replied.
“Overall, the arrangements made by the Medicine Sovereign were very thoughtful. We younger generations truly have no way to repay such kindness.”
Fan Dezhen clasped his hands behind his back, his expression filled with emotion, deeply admiring the actions of that ancient sage!
“Grandpa Medicine Sovereign must be a great person!” An Miaoyi smiled.
Suddenly, Fan Dezhen sensed something, a warning in his heart. He scanned the vast crowd, his eyes filled with deep apprehension.
“Uncle Fan, what’s wrong?” An Miaoyi asked curiously.
Fan Dezhen’s expression turned serious: “Miss, you’re right; the competition will be fierce. Once we go in, do not act on your own. You must stay by my side at all times!”
He had sensed at least a dozen powerful auras nearby, rivals who were no less formidable than his own Great Ascension full-stage prowess!
Not to mention, some were likely hiding Tribulation Stage powerhouses!
The attraction of this Medicine King Valley was indeed immense!
At that moment, a group of monks in robes were sitting under a phoenix tree, reciting scriptures with golden Buddha Light radiating around them, exuding a serene and peaceful aura.
Leading them was a lean old monk with a long white beard that nearly reached his neck.
He sat with his palms together, eyes closed in meditation, as still as a statue. Unlike the other monks, who were enveloped in Buddha Light, he appeared rather ordinary, devoid of any visible Zen presence.
However, the monks behind him treated him with great respect!
They knew this monk possessed unfathomable cultivation, being a high-ranking figure from the Hanging Temple.
“Amitabha, with Master Randel leading us this time, we are sure to bring back plenty of valuable herbs,” a stout monk said.
“That’s for sure! There have been rumors that Master Randel once entered Medicine King Valley alone a hundred thousand years ago and gained remarkable fortune, advancing his strength!” a companion exclaimed enviously.
“Indeed! With Master Randel in action, Medicine King Valley will surely be ours!” several of them shared knowing smiles.
These monks were whispering among themselves, but it didn’t escape the old monk’s notice.
Master Randel slowly opened his eyes, a hint of helplessness flickering in his gaze, and a barely perceptible bitterness graced his lips.
The Hanging Temple folks believed he emerged from Medicine King Valley a hundred thousand years ago and immediately went into seclusion to break through, leading them to think he gained fortune there.
But the reality was far from that!
Medicine King Valley was far more complicated than it seemed, hiding profound secrets beyond imagination!
Many cultivators who emerged from there had their Dao hearts shattered and refused to speak of their experiences.
Silently, they covered up the truth of what happened inside!
Some few benevolent souls later regretted it and wished to reveal their experiences to warn future generations to be cautious.
However, they quickly found themselves silenced by those in the know!
It was clear that those who had suffered difficulties in the past expected others to experience the same!
Of course, there were those hardheaded enough to try to write a book about their experiences inside and publish it for the world.
Little did they know that once that news leaked, several former participants rushed in that very night, brutally beating that person to death, scattering their ashes, and annihilating their descendants, as a warning to others!
Thus, the truth about Medicine King Valley remained hidden, compounded by the hundred-thousand-year interval between openings, creating an aura of mystery that continued to draw many unsuspecting cultivators seeking fortune, only to end up getting the beating of their lives, falling into despair, and then keeping silent about the hidden truths, in an endless cycle…
Master Randel knew that very few people were aware of the truth now; after all, anyone who had lived through a hundred thousand years was invariably a Tribulation Stage powerhouse.
Reflecting on the experiences he had endured back then left him feeling humiliated and uncomfortable!
“After that return, this old monk trained even harder, turning shame into motivation. After all these years, I’ve filled in the gaps of my abilities, and my strength has surged forward. Even if I were to face those young ones in Medicine King Valley again, I could handle them with ease, even subdue them all!”
Master Randel’s eyes sparkled with determination as he silently vowed.
He aimed to cleanse his past disgrace and heal the wounds of his psyche!