Watching the Ginseng King, who ran as fast as a streak of light and disappeared without a trace, Ji Mo was dumbfounded.
He had been careless.
He should have listened to the ancients and tied a red string before digging for ginseng.
Indeed, not heeding the advice of elders leads to trouble.
It seems he must not act rashly in the future and should think thrice before acting.
Ji Mo continued forward, discovering many medicinal herbs along the way. He dug up any he deemed good and placed them in his basket.
This trip into the mountains was not only for picking tea but also for gathering some herbs.
Ahead, a small pond shimmered with clear water. At the bottom, a fiery red fish was cultivating by absorbing the spiritual energy from the water.
Beside the pond, a crooked-necked tree, thirty feet tall, swayed its branches, enveloped in a dense aura of demonic energy. The aura of a demon king radiated without reservation.
Within a three-mile radius, any birds or beasts that dared to approach would be instantly captured by the tree demon, becoming food for both the tree demon and the fish demon.
Suddenly, the tree demon sensed prey stepping into its territory. Its roots, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, swept out.
Halfway through, it clearly saw the figure of its prey, and in a fright, it hastily retracted its roots. Without a second moment's hesitation, it uprooted itself and fled madly into the distance.
"Truly getting worse with age, always startled. As a demon king, what are you afraid of?"
The big fish swam up from the bottom of the water with a look of disdain, glancing over.
It was also curious what the tree demon was so afraid of.
"You old bastard, crooked-necked tree, you're not honorable, selling out your teammate!"
The big fish panicked, hurriedly diving back into the water and desperately burrowing into the mud.
It was too terrifying. It hoped it hadn't been discovered, otherwise, this day next year would be its death anniversary.
At this moment, the big fish's resentment towards the tree demon reached its peak.
"It's faded, our relationship has faded."
The big fish was filled with indignation; their thousand-year friendship had vanished.
Did that crooked-necked tree feel no remorse for abandoning it when facing danger?
"Hmm, it seems I saw a crooked-necked tree running."
Ji Mo rubbed his eyes, thinking he must be mistaken.
It was understandable for ginseng to run, but how could a tree possibly run?
Passing by the pond, he took a look and was delighted: "This fish is plump enough, it should taste good roasted. Hmm, I'll eat it on my way back."
After Ji Mo had gone far away, the big fish finally emerged from the deep mud, rushed out of the pond, and fled in another direction.
Thank goodness for ancestral blessings, it had escaped death. It couldn't stay here any longer, or it would surely end up as grilled fish.
"Strange, why are there fewer wild animals in the mountains these days?"
Ji Mo looked around doubtfully. He hadn't seen any decent animals along the way, dashing his hopes of having a good meal.
"Old tree demon, why are you running?"
Some demon beasts saw the frantically fleeing tree demon and couldn't help but ask.
One knew that moving could be beneficial for living beings, but for trees, it was often fatal. The tree demon leaving the pond where it had always grown would come at a great cost.
"If I don't run, I'll lose my life. That man, he's here again."
The tree demon responded hastily, not daring to stop, and continued to flee deeper into the mountains.
"Which man? Who?"
The demon beast was stunned for a moment, then belatedly, its face filled with shock, and its whole body trembled. It immediately caught up with the tree demon.
Suddenly, chaos erupted, and the forest became a mess.
The man's ferocity was known to all demons. If they didn't run, their fate would be miserable.
"What's going on?"
Wang Wenjian thought he was doomed, being chased by several demon kings and on the verge of death.
But at this critical moment, a voice was heard.
The demon kings chasing him seemed to have heard something terrifying. They turned and fled instantly, escaping with a speed far greater than before.
If these demon kings had displayed such extreme speed from the beginning, he would have long been dead.
Wang Wenjian then realized that these ferocious and wicked demon kings had been toying with him like a cat playing with a mouse.
"Run, that ferocious human is here again!"
The message that was heard was exactly this.
Upon hearing this, the demon beasts were scared out of their wits and fled in disarray.
"It seems a human powerhouse has arrived, scaring away these demon beasts. However, I'm afraid I won't be able to repay the life-saving grace of that senior."
Wang Wenjian sighed, knowing he had no chance of survival.
His injuries were too severe; even his dantian had been pierced. Now, he could only await the arrival of death.
"Senior sister, we have no fate in this life. I only hope to meet you again in the next."
Wang Wenjian's eyelids grew heavier, and the silhouette in his mind faded. He was truly close to death.
It was a pity that he had always harbored a secret crush and hadn't confessed his feelings to his senior sister yet.
"Young man, are you alright?"
Ji Mo passed by and saw Wang Wenjian lying on the ground. He quickly walked over to check his injuries.
Poor fellow, attacked by wild beasts. It was a shame he was too late, otherwise, he would have had some wild game to eat.
Ji Mo scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of wild beasts, and sighed regretfully.
"You should leave quickly, it's very dangerous here."
Wang Wenjian, upon seeing a human appear, had initially felt a glimmer of hope. But upon realizing it was just a mortal, he hurriedly urged the person to leave.
He was beyond saving, and he couldn't implicate this kind person. It was too dangerous here; a mortal without cultivation was doomed.
"No rush, let me heal you first."
Ji Mo said unhurriedly.
Then he put down his basket and searched for usable herbs.
"Heal me? What a joke!"
Wang Wenjian gave a bitter smile. Could his injuries still be saved?
Did this mortal not know that his dantian had already shattered?
Unless an alchemy saint appeared, there was a chance of saving his life.
He was about to try and persuade Ji Mo not to waste his efforts, but when he looked up.
Suddenly, he couldn't say anything at all.
Seven-Heart Begonia, Frost-Face Flower, Tortoise Blood Grass...
One by one, rare spiritual herbs were taken out by Ji Mo.
"No, no, this is too precious..."
Wang Wenjian hastily refused. These top-grade spiritual herbs were priceless. If they were taken outside, they would be things that major sects would fight tooth and nail for.
And now, as a complete stranger, how could he let this person waste such valuable medicinal ingredients for free?
"Just some ordinary herbs, not worth much."
Ji Mo said casually.
They were just herbs he had gathered casually, how could they be precious?
Wang Wenjian choked, not knowing what to say. Then he gasped, even forgetting to choke, his mouth agape in astonishment.
Ji Mo was refining pills, or rather, rolling pills.
He squeezed several spiritual herbs into a lump and then continuously rubbed and rolled them.
First grade!
Second grade!
Third grade!
...
Ji Mo's hands rotated slowly, his movements graceful and harmonious, with Dao rhythm surrounding them. Simultaneously, streams of profound runes flowed from his palms, and the quality of the pills also rose steadily.
In a short while, a pill with nine dan patterns was made.
"Ninth-grade pill."
Wang Wenjian swallowed hard, unable to believe his eyes.