"Little Snake!"

Zhong Ling joyfully accepted the little snake, rubbing it against her face. Because of the familiar aura on her body, the King of Ten Thousand Gu did not resist at all.

"Next, we'll have to rely on the little snake," Chen Nan said with a smile. The King of Ten Thousand Gu, possessing the Treasure Eye, was the most suitable guide in this situation.

But Shi Zhongsheng on his shoulder was not convinced and began squeaking provocatively at the King of Ten Thousand Gu, only becoming obedient after Chen Nan gave him a slap.

The King of Ten Thousand Gu lay in Zhong Ling's palm, slowly opening the vertical eye in the middle of its forehead. A moment later, its tail pointed in a direction.

"Let's go!"

Chen Nan looked at the cultivators clearing the ruins in the distance, a joyful smile appearing on his face.

With the cultivators all attracted here, no one would compete with them for other treasures!

The mentor and student journeyed through the ruins, occasionally encountering attacks from demon beasts. To train Zhong Ling, Chen Nan seldom intervened.

"Our lineage grows best in combat scenarios, so the more battles you have, the better it is for you."

Having just slain a demon beast with difficulty and stored its corpse using the Blood Gourd, Zhong Ling replied, "Understood, Master. I will try my best!"

Seeing Zhong Ling so full of energy, Chen Nan felt a sense of accomplishment. Previously, in the Library Pavilion, though Zhong Ling's battle wasn't brilliant, she survived attacks from several cultivators whose cultivation was higher than hers.

Moreover, she used spirit talismans to injure everyone, already showing signs of his style.

Perhaps in the future, there could be a female version of Life-taking Yama appearing on Five Sounds Sea.

...

Guided by the little snake, Chen Nan and his disciple arrived at a place safely, strangely void of ruined buildings, as if it had always been a clearing.

Now, it was densely filled with various plants, seemingly more flourishing than those in other places.

Another strange aspect was the absence of any demon beasts' aura.

Though curious, the King of Ten Thousand Gu had led them here, so Chen Nan drew the Sword Chenyuan, opening a path through the weeds and thorns.

The thorns had unknowably existed for tens of thousands of years. What were once common plants had, over time, become Spirit Plants.

Even Chen Nan had to exert effort to cut through the brambles, and among them were many plants he'd never seen before, even affecting his divine sense.

Trying to explore with divine sense felt like hitting spikes, failing to extend it.

After arduously traversing a hundred meters in the thorns, Chen Nan suddenly halted, causing Zhong Ling, who was caught unprepared, to bump into his back.

"Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Nan pointed ahead, "Look!"

Following his finger, Zhong Ling saw a small clearing ahead with a Spirit Grass growing in the middle, its fruit bright red and juicy.

"What's this?" Zhong Ling looked, puzzled.

Chen Nan slapped his forehead; he had only taught Zhong Ling cultivation but forgot to teach her his expertise in alchemy as well.

"That's a Blood Jade Ginseng. A thousand-year-old Blood Jade Ginseng is rare, considered a Seventh Grade Spiritual Medicine, but this one looks over a hundred thousand years old!"

"A hundred thousand years! The medicinal power in this Blood Jade Ginseng rivals that of Fifth Grade Spiritual Medicine!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Zhong Ling didn't understand what was exciting her master, but hearing "Fifth Grade Spiritual Medicine" got her excited too.

After all, Fifth Grade is linked with the Nascent Soul Realm.

Chen Nan sighed, knowing his young disciple might not fully grasp his excitement.

The presence of a hundred-thousand-year-old Blood Jade Ginseng meant no one had set foot here for an equivalent time.

Moreover, despite having no buildings, there were surprisingly many plants, and they grew exceptionally tall. Even ordinary thorns had transformed into Spirit Plants, becoming tough as nails.

He suspected this might have been the spirit medicine field of the country long ago!

If that's the case, he might find the spiritual materials needed for crafting the Breaking Infant Pill here. The main reason for entering this relic was to find materials for the Breaking Infant Pill!

Chen Nan moved quickly, puzzled as the rich aura of the Blood Jade Ginseng didn't attract any demon beasts. This was abnormal.

Yet, he still wanted to unearth the Blood Jade Ginseng first, deciding to delve into other issues later.

He carefully dug into the soil, moving gently. Even a single root of the hundred-thousand-year-old Blood Jade Ginseng was extremely valuable.

Zhong Ling stood quietly behind him, afraid to disturb, but unbeknownst to her, a vine appeared at her feet.

Unprepared, the vine wrapped around her like a python, even gagging her mouth, preventing any sound.

In a blink, Zhong Ling was dragged away, and the deeply focused Chen Nan remained oblivious.

At last, he dug out the whole Blood Jade Ginseng.

"Ling'er, come look. If this Blood Jade Ginseng is refined into elixir pills, the medicinal power can be doubled!"

Chen Nan called out excitedly, but received no answer. Turning, he found Zhong Ling gone.

His heart sank sharply as he quickly stored the Blood Jade Ginseng, stepping forward only to find drag marks on the ground.

"Is this... tree vine?"

Chen Nan was suddenly shocked. Seeing no demon beasts here had relaxed him, but some plants were also demons, which he overlooked.

"Ling'er!"

Seeing the direction of the drag marks, Chen Nan roared angrily. The Sword Chenyuan suddenly flew out, piercing fiercely ahead, the fierce aura instantly piercing through the thorns!

Fueled by anger, he charged forward, cutting through all plants in his path with sharp Sword Qi, yet he failed to catch up.

"Get away from me!"

Chen Nan roared, worried for Zhong Ling's safety, his mana boiling up like a tide, condensing fiery flames into droplets of fire rain, falling intensely.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The flames hit the plants, igniting instantly, turning the area into a sea of fire within seconds.

Chen Nan condensed the Thunder Wings, his body flashing into the flames, finally seeing Zhong Ling ahead, trapped by the vine.

"Go!"

The Void Breaking Sword suddenly flew out, reaching Zhong Ling's side immediately, cutting through the vine wrapping Zhong Ling.

The severed vine attempted to coil again, but this time Chen Nan had already arrived, the heat from the flames deterring the vine.

Chen Nan helped Zhong Ling up, suddenly startled.

Because he saw countless vines surging towards them!