My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Herb Gathering

As he walked out of the Foreign Affairs Hall, Li Mu appeared out of nowhere. "Senior Brother Liang, I did some digging. That Zhao Ming is Liu Meng’s cousin. You just offended him!"

Liang Cheng nodded. "I see. Thanks."

"Also, about that West Mountain mission," Li Mu lowered his voice. "I asked a senior brother from the Fishermen’s Gang about it. Elder Huang only goes to the most dangerous places to gather herbs. Of the two guards on his last trip, one was poisoned and crippled, and the other was so badly injured he had to leave the academy. They said it’s a suicide mission. Whatever you do, don’t take it."

"Got it." Liang Cheng’s expression didn’t change.

Li Mu said anxiously, "You’re really going? A hundred and fifty Contribution Points is a lot, but safety should come first..."

"The path of the Martial Dao has always been about seeking progress through danger," Liang Cheng interrupted. "Thanks."

He patted Li Mu on the shoulder and turned to walk toward the Human Dormitory. On his way, he passed the bulletin board and saw his name on a new notice.

"West Mountain Escort Mission Roster (Three Days Hence): Wang Li (Earth Dormitory), Sun Yan (Earth Dormitory), Liang Cheng (Human Dormitory)."

The surrounding disciples were discussing it animatedly.

"Wang Li? The ’Mountain Breaker’? He’s ranked thirtieth in the Earth Dormitory, so why is he taking this kind of mission? Plus, Sun Yan is Wang Li’s lackey who does all his dirty work."

"He’s probably after Elder Huang’s Elixirs. I heard the Breaking Barrier Pills he refines can help a Transformation Force cultivator break through a minor realm."

"That rookie from the Human Dormitory is screwed. Going with those two, he probably won’t even get the scraps."

Liang Cheng silently committed the names Wang Li and Sun Yan to memory. He returned to his Quiet Chamber, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

’The mission is in three days. I need to be in peak condition. As for the likes of Liu Meng and Zhao Ming, they’re not a concern for now.’

’My current goal is to earn enough Contribution Points and exchange them for a Cultivation Technique!’

「Three days later, at the entrance to the Alchemy Room.」

When Liang Cheng arrived, two people were already waiting. The one on the left was a burly man, eight feet tall with corded muscles on his arms and a profound aura. This was Wang Li, the "Mountain Breaker," ranked thirty-seventh in the Earth Dormitory and at the Transformation Force Late Stage.

On the right was a lean young man with shifty eyes and two short blades tucked into his belt. It was Sun Yan, Wang Li’s lackey.

Wang Li glanced at Liang Cheng and sneered. "From the Human Dormitory? You dare to take this job at the early stage of Transformation Force? Don’t hold us back."

Sun Yan added sinisterly, "Anyone who holds us back would make good wolf feed in the wilds of West Mountain."

Liang Cheng said nothing, simply standing still to regulate his breathing.

"Everyone’s here?" The door to the Alchemy Room pushed open, and Elder Huang walked out carrying a medicine basket. His robes were stained a scorched yellow, and his hair and beard were completely white. His small eyes swept over the three of them before he tossed out three crimson Elixir Pills. "Eat these."

Wang Li caught one. "Elder Huang, what are these...?"

"Poison Testing Pills. They won’t cause any permanent damage, so just eat them," Elder Huang said, a little impatiently. "Most of the herbs I gather are poisonous. You need to be able to withstand their medicinal energy first. Swallow them. Anyone who doesn’t vomit or pass out within a quarter of an hour is qualified."

Wang Li frowned but swallowed it anyway.

Sun Yan followed suit.

Liang Cheng placed the Elixir Pill in his mouth. As the Medicinal Power dissolved, a sharp, searing heat rushed through his organs. However, his Stone Armor Skill activated on its own, and the contracting of his muscles contained most of the poison to the surface layer of his skin.

His face flushed slightly and his breathing quickened, but he returned to normal after three breaths. Wang Li’s face, however, had turned a little pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead; he was barely holding his composure. Sun Yan’s lips had turned purple, and he was struggling to suppress the churning of his Qi Blood.

Elder Huang squinted at the three of them. ’Wang Li’s foundation is acceptable, but he lacks resilience. Sun Yan’s gaze is unfocused; his mental fortitude is the worst. As for Liang Cheng...’ He gave him a second look. ’This kid is interesting. The poison entered his body like a stone sinking into the ocean. It seems his Hard Skills Cultivation is quite impressive.’

When the quarter-hour was up, Elder Huang nodded. "Acceptable. Let’s go."

The four of them left through the West Gate of the Martial Arts Academy and headed straight for West Mountain.

Along the way, Elder Huang gave a simple briefing. "This time, we need to gather three main herbs: the Ghost-faced Flower, the Bone-Rotting Vine Heart, and the Green Blood Ganoderma. The first two are in the Poisonous Miasma Valley, and the last one is on Soul-Breaking Cliff. Avoid any Demon Beasts you encounter if you can. I don’t have time to save you."

Wang Li asked, "Elder Huang, about the Breaking Barrier Pills after we succeed..."

"Gather all the herbs, and once I refine the pills, you’ll naturally get your share," Elder Huang waved his hand dismissively. "But let me be blunt: if anyone dares to hide herbs or stab someone in the back..." He gave a cold laugh. "I may just be a Pill Master, but poisoning a Transformation Force cultivator or two wouldn’t be difficult."

Sun Yan quickly bowed his head. "We wouldn’t dare."

Liang Cheng silently memorized the characteristics of the herbs to ensure he wouldn’t miss them.

In the afternoon, they entered the mountain.

The woods grew denser, and a poisonous miasma began to fill the air.

Wang Li and Sun Yan each took an antidote pill. Liang Cheng channeled his Stone Armor Skill at full power. Elder Huang, however, seemed completely unaffected. He even took a deep breath of the poisonous miasma and smacked his lips. "The purity of this miasma is average. It won’t be able to nurture an Upper Grade Ghost-faced Flower."

They continued another three miles deeper, and a valley shrouded in gray fog appeared ahead.

"We’ve reached the Poisonous Miasma Valley," Elder Huang signaled for them to stop. "Ghost-faced Flowers like shady, damp places and often grow where corpses have piled up. Wang Li, Sun Yan, you two search the east side. Liang Cheng, you’ll come with me to the west."

Wang Li’s face darkened. "Elder Huang, this kid’s Cultivation is the lowest. Aren’t you afraid he’ll hold you back?"

"Do I need you to teach me what to do?" Elder Huang glared. "Hurry up and go. Remember to meet back here before Noon. We won’t wait for you if you’re late!"

Wang Li gritted his teeth and left resentfully with Sun Yan.

In the western part of the valley, the miasma was even thicker.

Elder Huang walked in front, his steps surprisingly nimble for an old man. He suddenly spoke, "Kid, what level have you reached in your Hard Skills?"

"I’ve achieved Minor Success," Liang Cheng answered cautiously.

"Bullshit," Elder Huang snorted. "I added Heart-Burning Powder to those Poison Testing Pills. Even someone at the Transformation Force Late Stage would be in pain for a quarter of an hour. You recovered in three breaths. You’ve at least reached Great Success with an ordinary Hard Skill, maybe even Perfection."

Liang Cheng remained silent.

"Fine, don’t tell me," Elder Huang waved his hand. "But you’ll have to help me gather the Bone-Rotting Vine Heart in a bit. That thing grows in a Vine Demon’s lair. The demon’s sap corrodes on contact. Anyone whose Hard Skills aren’t strong enough would just be going there to die."

"This disciple understands."

They walked another few hundred yards, and a field of white bones appeared before them. Beast Bones and human bones were mixed together. In the center was a large mass of tangled, purplish-black vines. A viscous, corrosive fluid flowed along their bodies, and a foul stench assaulted the nose.

Deep within the vines, several sections of vine heart, shimmering white like jade, could be faintly seen.

"A Bone-Rotting Vine Demon, Tier Three Peak. But its poison makes it a match for a Tier Four," Elder Huang said in a low voice. "You go get the vine hearts. Get the one in the very center. Remember, you can only use a Jade Artifact to retrieve it. Any metal will be corroded on contact."

As he spoke, he tossed Liang Cheng a Jade Saber.

"Aren’t you coming, Elder Huang?"

Elder Huang grinned but didn’t answer. He just took a small vial from his robes, uncorked it, and a strange, sweet fragrance drifted out.

The vines instantly went berserk!

Countless tendrils lunged forward like poisonous snakes!

"Now!"

After shouting, Elder Huang immediately retreated, paying no mind to Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng cursed inwardly, ’No wonder the reward for this is so high.’

Outwardly, however, Liang Cheng didn’t dare to be careless. He pushed off with his feet, his Body Technique—perfected through the Mixed Element Stance—as light as smoke. Instead of retreating, he advanced, lunging straight for the vine heart.

He channeled his Stone Armor Skill at full power, and his skin took on a grayish-white glow.

"SIZZLE!"

The corrosive fluid rained down on him. In an instant, seven or eight splatters hit his arms, shoulders, and back. Green smoke hissed as the grayish-white glow of his Stone Armor Skill flickered violently. A burning pain shot through his skin, but ultimately, it wasn’t corroded through.

He felt a chill in his heart. ’If this fluid touched an ordinary Transformation Force cultivator, it would probably corrode them to the bone in an instant.’

Then, his Jade Saber flashed, and the cool touch of the vine heart was in his hand.

Just as he was about to retreat, a main vine as thick as a child’s arm whipped toward him like a Poisonous Python. Liang Cheng tapped his toes on the ground and shot backward. The main vine scraped past the sole of his shoe, slamming into the ground and corroding a deep pit.

"You got it! Let’s go!" Elder Huang yelled from a short distance away.

Liang Cheng immediately retreated at top speed. After meeting up with Elder Huang, they ran out of the Poisonous Miasma Valley with all their might.

At the meeting point outside the valley, Wang Li and Sun Yan were already waiting, each holding a flower as pale as a ghostly face.

"Elder Huang, we got the Ghost-faced Flowers," Wang Li said, handing them over. His gaze swept to the medicine basket on Liang Cheng’s back. "You got the Bone-Rotting Vine Heart, too?"

"Mhm," Elder Huang said, inspecting the vine heart and nodding in satisfaction. "The quality is good. We’ll rest for a moment, then head to Soul-Breaking Cliff."

On the way, Wang Li and Sun Yan occasionally exchanged glances before looking away.

’This kid actually managed to get the Bone-Rotting Vine Heart. His Hard Skills really are impressive. He won’t be easy to deal with.’