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Although Qi Yuan used a sneak attack to incapacitate Kuang Feng in seconds, his strength and reaction speed were still at the early stage of Jindan. Despite the advantage, the powerful strike left Qi Yuan with no chance to dodge, forcing him to endure the attack head-on. He suffered serious injuries as a result.
Kuang Feng couldn't be absent for too long; otherwise, unexpected issues might arise. Once Qi Yuan's injuries had mostly healed, he used the Daluo Thousand Illusions Technique to disguise himself as Kuang Feng and returned to Medicine Garden No. 6. Upon arrival, he overheard a conversation between the One-Eyed Man and the Three-Fingered Demon.
Qi Yuan had originally planned to use his disguise to enter the medicine garden, collect a tree trunk or a fruit, and return for cultivation. However, that approach risked exposing his identity too soon and could lead to being hunted all the way back to the State of Yue.
More importantly, Qi Yuan couldn't allow One-Eye to grow suspicious of him.
Upon returning as Kuang Feng, Qi Yuan went straight to the medicine garden. While One-Eye seemed unconcerned, the trusted Three-Fingered Demon might still harbor doubts. If reported to Duyan, Qi Yuan would undoubtedly face questioning.
To safely obtain the Five Elements Spiritual Fruit, Qi Yuan needed to secure One-Eye's trust first.
Luckily, One-Eye had been distracted, discussing news of Tian Buque's death during a meeting. Qi Yuan took advantage of this, confronting One-Eye directly. By forcing a fight, Qi Yuan mimicked Kuang Feng's arrogant personality, further dispelling suspicion.
However, the confrontation worsened Qi Yuan's injuries, which had only just stabilized. After all, One-Eye was at the initial stage of the Jindan realm. Even a casual strike from him carried immense power, far beyond what someone at a lower level could easily withstand.
Qi Yuan swiftly pressed his acupuncture points, swallowed a healing elixir, and used the Reversal of the Five Elements Technique to refine its medicinal properties. He then remembered that this area was near the Hehuan Sect's territory. Releasing control of the Chaos Cauldron, he allowed it to absorb the yin and yang energies freely.
By chance, he also tossed the Lihuo Yanglei Array inside to cultivate. The array had proven remarkably effective, and Qi Yuan intended to prepare several more sets.
The night passed quietly.
After a full night of healing and consuming several medicinal pills, Qi Yuan's condition improved significantly. Only a day of rest was needed for complete recovery.
Feeling satisfied, Qi Yuan examined the Chaos Cauldron with his spiritual sense, only to be stunned by what he saw — a fully-formed Lihuo Yanglei formation had appeared overnight.
Holding the tangible treasure in his hand, Qi Yuan marveled at its rapid growth. The abundant yin and yang energies in the Hehuan Sect's territory had accelerated the process. If this was the result of cultivating in the outer territories, Qi Yuan could only imagine the incredible potential deeper within the sect's stronghold — mass production of magic weapons and elixirs seemed entirely possible.
The Hehuan Sect's wealth and influence were undeniable. Their vast number of Jindan cultivators and countless Foundation Establishment disciples made them a formidable force that far outclassed the Yanyue Sect.
Shaking off his thoughts, Qi Yuan activated the Daluo Thousand Illusions Technique, once again taking on Kuang Feng's appearance. After retrieving the Inverted Five Elements Formation and lifting the cave's restrictions, he stepped outside.
A maid waiting nearby approached respectfully.
"Master Kuang Feng, Master One-Eyed sent word earlier that he's feeling unwell. He asked you to oversee the medicine garden for the next few days."
Qi Yuan chuckled inwardly. Clever move, One-Eye — finding an excuse to slack off. Still, this provided an opportunity for Qi Yuan to better understand the inner workings of Medicine Garden No. 6. Until now, his observations had been limited to the garden's exterior.
Without a word, Qi Yuan gave the maid a brief glance before taking off. Kuang Feng's personality demanded arrogance — especially toward those beneath him.
Medicine Garden No. 6 spanned a thousand acres of fertile land. Hidden spiritual veins ran three feet underground, releasing streams of spiritual energy that nurtured the herbs. Over a hundred Hehuan Sect disciples tended to the garden in an orderly manner.
Despite the garden's peaceful appearance, the violent and sinister aura from the cultivators destroyed any sense of calm.
To ensure optimal growth conditions, the spiritual herbs were spaced far apart. Rather than relying on the Hehuan Sect's mountain protection formation, the garden was guarded by powerful defensive arrays and restrictions. Any attacker would face the garden's full force, and even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find little gain at the cost of provoking the Hehuan Sect's wrath.
Patrol teams moved throughout the garden, conducting frequent inspections to maintain security.
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. Attempting to pick the Five Elements True Spirit Fruit without caution would have been reckless — delaying an escape in such a well-guarded area would spell disaster.
His gaze shifted toward the garden's center.
There, a towering spiritual tree over ten feet tall stood prominently. Its main trunk was black, with white branches extending outward. Its inch-long leaves shimmered faintly, and its hanging fruits resembled large, crystal-covered apples that seemed almost edible.
The powerful attributes of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth radiated intensely from the tree's core.
The Five Elements True Spirit Fruits glowed brilliantly when newly sprouted, but as they matured, the light would gradually fade. Dimmer fruits signaled greater age and potency.
Scanning the tree with his spiritual sense, Qi Yuan was shocked to find over a dozen Five Elements True Spirit Fruits, each appearing no different from ordinary spiritual fruits — meaning they were at least three thousand years old.
This wasn't counting the hundreds of other spiritual fruits surrounding the tree.
The Hehuan Sect's wealth was staggering. If the medicine garden in this outer territory held such treasures, the inner gardens must hold unimaginable riches.
Qi Yuan smirked to himself. If things didn't go as planned, perhaps Dong Xuan'er should consider marrying into the Hehuan Sect and living off their resources.
"Master Kuang Feng, you're here."
A sultry voice interrupted his thoughts. A female cultivator approached with a charming smile and a playful tone that stirred excitement.
Qi Yuan looked her over. She was undeniably beautiful, her figure curvaceous and captivating. Each smile and movement radiated an alluring charm that ignited a man's desire.
Of course, Qi Yuan wasn't truly interested — but Kuang Feng had shown an attraction to her before. Yet he'd never acted because her Taoist partner was still alive.
Her partner was none other than One-Eye himself.
"Junior Sister Ruan, I heard your Taoist partner isn't feeling well. Should I pay him a visit?"
Ruan Fei's smile deepened as she spoke softly.
"Thank you for your concern, Master Kuang Feng. My husband is just experiencing a minor setback in his cultivation. He should recover in a few days."
"Oh really? But I happened to see that scoundrel Three Fingers sneaking some girls into the medicine garden last night..."
Qi Yuan grabbed Ruan Fei's hand, gently stroking her fingers. His powerful spiritual awareness had easily picked up on the Three-Fingered Demon's late-night escapades.
This was a perfect opportunity to sow doubt in One-Eye's mind — a little payback for the trouble he caused.
Ruan Fei's background wasn't simple. Although only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, her family included a Nascent Soul cultivator, and she held connections with several powerful demonic cultivators. Among the lower and middle ranks, her influence was undeniable.
This was precisely why Duyan had pursued her. After marrying her, One-Eye's status had greatly improved. Yet despite this, One-Eye never dared to challenge her directly.
In truth, One-Eye's bold front was all for show — he lacked the courage to stand firm.
(End Of Chapter)