Chapter 269: The Latecomers

"You're unreasonable!"

The immortal medicine looked at Chen Chao, fear finally appearing in its eyes. It watched the expressionless youth approaching, starting to worry that this situation would definitely happen.

Chen Chao walked toward the immortal medicine step by step. The closer he got to the immortal medicine, the more he could feel that surging vitality rippling out in waves. The fragrance of the ordinary herbs on the mountain path could make one feel comfortable throughout their body. But, those were merely ordinary medicinal herbs and they had that effect. The fragrance of the immortal medicine had an even stronger effect. As Chen Chao took a breath, he felt his internal organs thoroughly cleansed as if something was purifying them.

Chen Chao exhaled a breath of impurities, accompanied by a satisfied groan.

When he looked at the immortal medicine, there was an inevitable hint of fervor.

This thing in front of him was no ordinary object. it was a genuine immortal medicine that countless cultivators were scrambling to possess. Although Chen Chao was a martial artist, this item was still immensely useful to him. If he were to show no interest, it would be hard for anyone to believe it.

Seeing the emotions in Chen Chao's eyes, the immortal medicine said nervously, "Don't look at me like that. With your current cultivation realm, if you consume me, you'll definitely burst. You can't eat me!"

Previously, it had been feigning indifference, trying to appear as an accomplished cultivator. But now, it was completely panicked. It was terrified that the young man in front of it, driven by emotions, would consume it recklessly. If that were the case, it did not know what would happen to that young man, but it would definitely perish.

This outcome was completely unacceptable to it.

Having grown from a medicinal herb, endured the passage of time, and braved countless dangers, it finally developed intelligence and became an immortal medicine. Naturally, it did not want to die just like that.

"There are many good stuff on the mountain, many of which you need! I can take you there. It won't benefit you to eat me now, trust me!"

The immortal medicine looked at Chen Chao, almost on the verge of tears. The crystal tears hanging in its eyes were crystal clear and not ordinary at all. It was an immortal medicine, and these tears were immortal dew; exceptionally precious. While they might not have the effect of prolonging lifespan, they would undoubtedly be effective in treating injuries.

Chen Chao tossed a glass bottle and said with a smile, "Don't waste it, quickly catch it. Don't spill it, or I'll hack you with my saber."

The immortal medicine caught the bottle. Although it was very angry, it still dripped the two drops of immortal dew from its eyes into the glass bottle. Chen Chao then noticed a thin golden chain shimmering on its wrist, connecting it to the trunk of the withered tree.

Indeed, it was trapped here, and who knew for how many years.

"Throw it to me quickly."

Chen Chao beckoned his hand, urging it a little.

The immortal medicine looked at the young man in front of it and noticed that the desire in his eyes had dissipated considerably. It felt somewhat relieved but then became rather surprised. Putting everything else aside, just its identity as an immortal medicine was enough to drive countless cultivators crazy. Very few people would deliberately calm down in such a short time.

Chen Chao who caught the glass bottle calmed down a bit. He had indeed been somewhat fanatical earlier. The extraordinary immortal medicine in front of him could easily make him go crazy. However, he quickly calmed himself down. Firstly, as the immortal medicine had said, if he were to consume it recklessly, there would undoubtedly be extremely dire consequences.

This was an immortal medicine, not something he could indulge in right now.

Secondly, this immortal medicine had already developed intelligence and likely had a deep understanding of the ins and outs of the Rongshan Sect. Chen Chao would likely need its help if he wanted to find things.

"I've heard that after an immortal medicine develops intelligence, it gains the ability to leave its original place. It seems you also left from some medicinal garden, but why were you ultimately trapped here?"

Chen Chao stopped at a distance and asked thoughtfully.

Upon hearing him mention this, the immortal medicine grew somewhat angry. "After I took human form, I could have left. But I was unable to contain my curiosity about what caused their annihilation, so I came here. Little did I expect you humans to be so insidious, to actually set up a trap here. I was trapped the moment I approached this place. It's been many years, and I still haven't found a way out!"

Chen Chao said calmly, "Could they have known in advance that you were going to come here? So, they set up means here early on. They might not have been specifically aimed at you, you just accidentally triggered it."

The immortal medicine was momentarily stunned, feeling some confusion. It had been trapped here for many years. During these years, it had always been thinking about this and was overwhelmed with fury. But now, with Chen Chao's words, it realized that perhaps it was as this young man said, this was not a trick targeting it.

Chen Chao continued, "You mentioned playing chess with me earlier. Was there some kind of trick involved?"

The immortal medicine looked at Chen Chao, its eyes flickering.

Chen Chao was expressionless.

The immortal medicine's expression changed, and it finally said, "I was just too bored. I just wanted to play some chess with you, and have a chat. You know, after I gained intelligence, I've been here for so many years and have always been very bored. To you, the vicissitudes of life might just be a few words, but for me, they represent the passing of very real days."

Chen Chao was not entirely convinced by the immortal medicine's words. Even if what it said now was true, it was only a part of the story.

Although it had taken human form for many years and gained intelligence, in reality, it was still merely a child, inexperienced in the schemes of the world, immature, and pure.

Chen Chao asked, "What about the library that you mentioned earlier?"

The immortal medicine's eyes gleamed as it said, "If you rescue me, I'll take you to find it."

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and said, "I might not have that capability."

As he spoke, he had already walked along the stone platform to the side of the withered tree, where he saw the golden chain glimmering. Following the chain, he realized it was not a physical object but a manifestation of some kind of technique. It was probably a wisp of aura left behind by someone back then, not particularly difficult to unravel.

This was because although immortal medicines had great use, they lacked the ability to harm anyone. They were not cultivators but rather, things born from heaven and earth.

"I can take you out, but can you really find the so-called library?" Chen Chao scrutinized the immortal medicine in front of him and casually asked, "Where did you hear about the matter of cultivators being able to cultivate daoist techniques?"

Although the immortal medicine was not a cultivator, the things it mentioned earlier were of great significance to Chen Chao.

If martial artists could truly cultivate daoist techniques, it would bring about significant changes to the current cultivation system.

The immortal medicine had initially intended to casually hoodwink the young man in front of it, but after some thought, it replied seriously, "When I was still a medicinal herb, I often heard those cultivators discussing matters related to cultivation in the medicinal garden. That's what they said, I'm not lying to you."

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and looked at the immortal medicine's expression, trying to determine whether it was casually spouting nonsense. But he did not detect any issues.

"However, I'm not clear on the specifics."

"Have you seen this saber before?"

Chen Chao raised the broken saber in his hand. One of the reasons he came here was to find the other half of the broken saber.

The immortal medicine's eyes kept shifting as it looked at the broken saber, smiling as it said, "I've seen it. It belonged to a powerhouse in the sect. I've seen it before, that powerhouse was very formidable..."

Chen Chao shook his head. Just by listening to this, he knew that this fellow was trying to deceive him.

Seeing his random nonsense exposed, the immortal medicine looked at Chen Chao with a rather pitiful expression and said, "With your current cultivation realm, eating me would be of no use. How about you let me go, and I'll give you more immortal dew?"

It was earnestly trying to negotiate with Chen Chao, hoping for a favorable response.

Chen Chao shook his head and said, "Given my current realm, even if I were to need you, it would be many years from now. You have been stuck here for too long and are bored. It's better to leave with me. Maybe one day I'll let you go."

The immortal medicine's face turned cold, unwilling to accept this outcome.

Chen Chao said, "You have no choice."

He took out a brand new glass bottle from his pocket, which he had found earlier in the stone wall.

It was a magic artifact used by cultivators to store spirit medicines, capable of preserving the medicinal properties of the herbs.

He opened the glass bottle and reached out to pull the shimmering golden chain.

The immortal medicine was bound by the iron chain. As Chen Chao tugged at the golden chain, it moved toward Chen Chao uncontrollably.

"Hey, hey, hey, there's still room for negotiation. Don't be so unreasonable. Let me tell you, I have many good stuff..."

Chen Chao paid no attention to it. The procedure for harvesting immortal medicines was detailed in the ancient records. Generally, an array formation had to be set up to prevent the medicinal herb from escaping. However, Chen Chao now had a unique advantage. The golden chain in front of him restrained this immortal medicine, making its escape impossible. As Chen Chao exerted force and pulled, the immortal medicine was dragged towards him.

Chen Chao absolutely would not give up on an immortal medicine.

That was one of the most important divine items of the current era.

The immortal medicine struggled continuously but ultimately could not escape from the fate of being caught by Chen Chao and getting sealed in the glass bottle.

It reverted to its appearance as an immortal medicine, a nine-leafed grass with golden patterns on each leaf, as if divine nectar flowed within it. Countless subtle immortal afterglow flickered around the leaves, giving off an incredibly radiant glow. It was evident at first glance that this herb was an extraordinary existence.

Chen Chao covered the bottle and examined it carefully.

"Let me out! You despicable human!"

Trapped in the glass bottle, it could no longer transform into human form again, only able to rage helplessly.

Chen Chao said, "I've heard that there are even divine medicines above immortal medicines. Rest assured, I won't eat you right away. Perhaps in the future, you'll have a chance to advance further and become a divine medicine."

The immortal medicine cursed loudly, but its words were not particularly offensive.

Chen Chao paid it no mind. Just as he was about to put it away, he heard a deep and resonant voice from afar, "Daoist Master, that's an immortal medicine!"

Chen Chao turned abruptly and saw a black ox that had appeared here at some point.

Alongside the black ox was a middle-aged daoist.

He stood beside the ox, appearing very indifferent.

Chen Chao furrowed his brows slightly. Looking at this middle-aged daoist, he sensed a huge difference. This time, it should have been the younger generation's cultivators entering this ruin. However, the middle-aged daoist in front of him was clearly no longer considered young. He should be a cultivator from some sect. But why would he show up here?

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes, but he already put that immortal medicine away.

Regardless of the other person's identity, he would not hand the immortal medicine over.

This was no ordinary item.

The middle-aged daoist looked at Chen Chao and did not speak. Instead, the black ox looked at Chen Chao with some confusion, asking, "Who are you, and how did you come here?!"

Listening to this black ox that spoke human tongue, Chen Chao did not find it surprising. He had been dealing with demons for many years. It was not rare to hear demons talk.

Moreover, it was evident that the black ox was something like a mount of the middle-aged daoist.

Chen Chao ignored it and just looked at the middle-aged daoist. When he entered this mountain, he had already felt his cultivation realm being suppressed once again. It seemed that the middle-aged daoist in front of him was in a similar situation. Unfortunately, even so, he could sense that the middle-aged daoist was incredibly terrifying.

That terror stemmed from the soul.

The middle-aged daoist in front of him must be a cultivator with an immensely profound cultivation.

There was no doubt about this.

Chen Chao was a little nervous, gripping the saber in his hand a little harder.

"So, you're that Great Liang martial artist who won the Myriad Willow Convention."

The middle-aged daoist finally spoke, his tone calm without any emotional fluctuations. It was like an old well; deep and unfathomable.