RPAGF Chapter 135 The Elixir Plan
Chapter 135 The Elixir Plan
Inside the magnificent hall of the Qingyuan Sect, Zhang Yifan listened intently to the instructions from Qingyuan Zhenren regarding the refining requirements of the Seven Treasures Rejuvenating Pill and the necessary spiritual herbs and medicines. The names of each herb and medicine struck him like hammer blows, making him acutely aware that a path fraught with thorns and peril awaited him. Yet, his eyes showed no sign of retreat, only unwavering determination and perseverance.
After Qingyuan Zhenren finished speaking, Zhang Yifan bowed deeply to him: "Fellow Daoist Qingyuan, I will remember this kindness. Once I find the spiritual medicine and refine the Seven Treasures Rejuvenation Pill, I will repay you handsomely."
Master Qingyuan waved his hand: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, you are too kind. We are both Nascent Soul cultivators, and we should support each other on the path of cultivation. Moreover, your selflessness for your loved ones is admirable."
Afterwards, Master Qingyuan summoned several disciples who were quite familiar with spiritual herbs and medicines from various places and asked them to tell Zhang Yifan the information they knew in detail.
A young disciple named Lin Yu spoke first: "Senior, as far as I know, the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus is located deep within the icy plains of the north, on a towering snow-capped mountain called the Cold Light Snow Mountain. This mountain is covered in ice and snow year-round, with extremely low temperatures. The biting winds are like sharp blades, easily cutting through the skin. Although the spiritual energy on the mountain is abundant, it is also extremely violent, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to approach. Moreover, a powerful demonic beast—the Ice Soul Snow Ape—also inhabits the Cold Light Snow Mountain. This Ice Soul Snow Ape is born with control over ice-type spiritual energy, possesses great strength, and is extremely aggressive towards any creature that intrudes into its territory. They are enormous, with thick hides, making them difficult to harm with ordinary attacks."
Zhang Yifan nodded slightly, silently memorizing this information, and then asked, "What are the details about the ancient forest where the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum is located?"
Another female disciple named Su Yao replied, “Senior, that is the Misty Forest in the east. Thick mist pervades the forest year-round, and this mist has the effect of confusing the mind; once trapped within, it's easy to lose one's way. The trees in the forest are tall and dense, their branches intertwined, making it almost impossible for sunlight to penetrate. Hidden within this Misty Forest are various rare demonic beasts and dangerous traps. There is a demonic beast called the Phantom Spider, which can spit out a spider silk containing a hallucinogenic toxin. Once entangled in the silk, one will fall into endless hallucinations, unable to extricate oneself. Moreover, there are some ancient restrictions in the forest, left by our predecessors. Some of these restrictions are damaged and have become extremely unstable; a slight mishap can trigger them, resulting in a powerful attack.”
Zhang Yifan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Starlight Grass needs to be found in places where the power of stars is abundant. Where is such a place?"
A middle-aged disciple named Chen Feng said, “Senior, at the summit of the Lingxiao Mountains in the west, there is a place called Starry Cliff. The terrain there is treacherous, with towering cliffs; a slight misstep could send you tumbling into an abyss. Moreover, while the stellar energy on Starry Cliff is abundant, it is extremely unstable, frequently triggering spiritual energy storms. Within these storms, the spiritual energy becomes incredibly violent, like a raging tide, capable of instantly engulfing a person. Furthermore, a type of demonic beast called the Starwing Bird inhabits Starry Cliff. Their feathers are as hard as iron, capable of withstanding powerful attacks. They are extremely fast, flying through the air like meteors, and are adept at launching surprise attacks.”
Zhang Yifan pressed further, "What should we be aware of in the Shadow Valley where the Dream Flower grows?"
Lin Yu continued, “Senior, Shadow Valley is located in a mysterious place in the south. A strange aura permeates the valley, capable of eroding one's consciousness and instilling fear and despair. The valley's terrain is complex and varied, with many hidden caves and underground passages. In these caves and passages dwell a type of demonic beast called the Shadow Serpent. They are as black as ink, able to move freely in the darkness, making them difficult to detect. The Shadow Serpent's venom is extremely potent; once bitten, the toxin will rapidly spread throughout the body, corroding one's meridians and internal organs.”
After listening to his disciples' accounts, Zhang Yifan fell into deep thought. The places where these spiritual herbs and medicines grew were all fraught with danger, not only with harsh environments but also with powerful demonic beasts and various unknown threats. But he knew he had no choice; to save his loved ones, he had to forge ahead.
After careful consideration, Zhang Yifan began to formulate a plan for collecting spiritual herbs.
His first decision was to travel to the Frosty Snow Mountain in the north to find the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. Although the Ice Soul Snow Ape was powerful, he was confident in his own strength. He planned to first collect some magical treasures and elixirs from the Qingyuan Sect to resist the cold and violent spiritual energy. At the same time, he would consult the elders of the Qingyuan Sect about techniques for dealing with ice-type demonic beasts. Before setting off, he would also set up a temporary base at the foot of the snow mountain so that he would have a safe place to rest and hide if he was injured or encountered danger.
Next, he will travel to the Misty Forest in the east to search for the ancient Ganoderma lucidum. He plans to bring along some spiritual items capable of dispelling the illusionary spiders and restrictions in the Misty Forest, as well as some magical artifacts for detecting restrictions. He will travel with disciples of the Qingyuan Sect who are skilled at breaking restrictions, so that they can receive timely assistance if they encounter danger. Before entering the forest, he will draw a detailed map, marking known dangerous areas to avoid falling into traps as much as possible.
Afterwards, he will travel to Starry Cliff atop the Lingxiao Mountains in the west to obtain Starry Grass. Facing the treacherous terrain and stellar energy storms of Starry Cliff, he will cultivate techniques to stabilize his own spiritual power and enhance his resistance to the raging energy. As for the Starwing Bird, he will prepare spells to restrict its speed and movement, striving to gain the upper hand in battle. He will also observe the weather changes at Starry Cliff in advance, choosing to climb when the stellar energy is relatively stable.
Finally, he will travel to the Shadow Valley in the south to find the Dream Flower. To counter the eerie atmosphere and Shadow Serpents of the valley, he will cultivate techniques to resist the erosion of his divine sense, and carry antidotes and magical artifacts. He will carefully explore the caves and passages within the valley, using his divine sense to anticipate dangers and avoid being ambushed by the Shadow Serpents.
Throughout the entire elixir-collecting plan, Zhang Yifan also intended to return to Qingyuan Sect periodically to exchange experiences with Qingyuan Zhenren and the elders, and adjust the plan accordingly. He knew that in this long and arduous process, one person's strength was limited, and cooperation and communication with others would allow him to better cope with various difficulties.
Zhang Yifan explained his plan to Master Qingyuan and his disciples, who all nodded in approval. Master Qingyuan said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang's plan is quite comprehensive. However, the dangers along the way are far beyond our imagination, so you must be extra careful. Our Qingyuan Sect will provide assistance to you to the best of our ability."
Zhang Yifan said gratefully, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Qingyuan and all my fellow disciples. I will certainly not let you down."
Subsequently, Zhang Yifan began to act according to plan. He traveled throughout the Qingyuan Sect, collecting the necessary magical treasures, elixirs, and spiritual items. He engaged in in-depth exchanges with the elders and disciples, learning various techniques and cultivation methods. He also conducted simulated training in the sect's back mountain, adapting to various dangerous environments in advance.
After thorough preparation, Zhang Yifan embarked on his journey to the Cold Light Snow Mountain. He traveled in a willow-leaf boat, flying through the sky. Along the way, he constantly circulated his spiritual energy, remaining vigilant. As he approached the Cold Light Snow Mountain, a biting cold swept over him, and he immediately put on the cold-resistant magical artifacts he had prepared and took pills to ward off the cold.