Chapter 577: Ancient Medicine Garden

The Mortal Realm

As they walked, the two conversed, discussing not only their own affairs but also analyzing the situation among the Three Domains.

With the Abyss of Sin's conspiracy thwarted, the advantage clearly lay with the Minor Cold Domain and the Skyfaring Alliance. United, the two domains had no fear of the Abyss of Sin and no need to panic.

For their role in exposing Sect Master Wuji, even the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Skyfaring Alliance owed them a debt of gratitude, ensuring a bright future ahead.

The Ancient Medicinal Garden was not far from Immortal City.

Traversing mountains and crossing valleys, they soon arrived at the Ancient Medicinal Garden.

No wonder it was called a Wondrous Realm.

The sight before them stood in stark contrast to its surroundings; calling it a 'Fairy Realm' would not be an exaggeration.

Immortal clouds drifted, resembling vibrant clouds of dawn, occasionally adorned with five-colored lights. Rainbows shimmered in the distance, as if all the most breathtaking celestial phenomena of heaven and earth had converged here.

The landscape was even more exhilarating, with towering, unique peaks covered in lush greenery. Lakes of various sizes dotted the land like scattered stars, their waters crystal clear and pure, resembling the purest eyes of the earth.

Countless luminous treasures glowed amidst the scenery, forming pillars of light or radiant canopies. It was instantly clear that these were extraordinary manifestations of heavenly treasures, divine medicines, immortal plants, and spiritual herbs growing in abundance.

The anomalies were abundant and densely packed, suggesting someone had treated this place as a medicinal garden, collecting countless spiritual herbs from the world, a sight that was truly dazzling.

Beneath some of these manifestations, the forms of spiritual herbs could be vaguely discerned, most of which Qin Sang did not recognize.

Even more astonishingly, countless immortal birds and divine beasts populated the area, including cranes, phoenixes, luans, qilin, and azure dragons, alongside many ancient great fiends known only in legends.

Despite the presence of so many formidable great fiends, each capable of dominating a region, there was no sign of conflict. Some were sleeping soundly, others drank by the lakeside, and some soared above the immortal clouds, creating a scene of complete tranquility.

They... appeared to be the garden's guardian spirit beasts!

Heavenly treasures and earthly rarities were abundant everywhere, with dragons, phoenixes, and qilin standing guard, and ancient great fiends serving as mounts. Everything perfectly matched cultivators' fantasies of the immortal realm.

The Ancient Medicinal Garden was vast, but its edges were clearly abrupt, indicating it was only a remnant.

Qin Sang was awestruck by the sight. He wondered what kind of powerful cultivator the owner of the Ancient Medicinal Garden must have been, not only gathering so many rare spiritual herbs but also subduing great fiends to guard the garden.

“These are illusions generated by the Ancient Medicinal Garden's restrictions,” Yun Youzi explained. “Like Immortal City, most of this place has already turned to ruins. One needs immense luck to find even a single spiritual herb here.

“Any spiritual herb found in the Ancient Medicinal Garden is, at minimum, a heavenly treasure of a rarely seen grade. Many major sects in the Minor Cold Domain possess rare spiritual herbs among their most prized possessions, and most of these originate from this very garden.

“Over time, the weaker points in the Ancient Medicinal Garden's restrictions have been thoroughly explored, and even some exceptionally hidden spiritual herbs have been discovered. However, certain herbs, like the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit, will wither if transplanted outside, and thus must remain here, considered a private preserve by those who find them.”

Yun Youzi pointed ahead as he spoke, cautioning Qin Sang not to lose himself in the illusory fairy realm, lest it unsettle his Dao Heart.

Qin Sang nodded subconsciously, understanding that these were indeed illusions. Since entering Ziwei Palace, he hadn't encountered any living beings, and this place would be no exception.

Nevertheless, the illusions were incredibly lifelike, as if such a scene had truly existed in ancient times.

Even knowing they were false, one could easily become immersed, unable to tear one's gaze away, stirring up boundless reverie.

Standing at the edge of the Ancient Medicinal Garden, they already sensed dangerous fluctuations. They dared not touch the illusory fairy realm, fearing they would be consumed by the ancient restrictions.

The Ancient Medicinal Garden was vast, so they cautiously proceeded along its boundary, keeping an eye on their surroundings to avoid any other cultivators they might encounter.

After a while, Yun Youzi finally pinpointed the location of the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit and found the entrance.

Yun Youzi stood before the restriction, his eyes slightly closed. He extended his palm, discreetly clenching the Flawless Pearl within his grasp.

The pearl shimmered, emitting and retracting white light, apparently attempting to decipher the restriction.

A moment later, Yun Youzi opened his eyes, took a few steps back, and said to Qin Sang, “Brother Qin, summon your Flying Yaksha. With it clearing the path, this old Taoist can focus solely on deciphering the restriction, which will speed things up.”

Qin Sang readily complied, slapping his Corpse Puppet Pouch. A dark silhouette immediately flew out.

Whoosh!

The Flying Yaksha reappeared.

Its injuries had fully recovered. With its green face and fangs, and a pervasive corpse aura, it looked exactly like a malevolent specter. Its pitch-black eyes seemed to hold a newfound vitality compared to before its injury, making it appear even more eerie.

At Qin Sang's command, the Flying Yaksha flickered into existence before the ancient restriction, its speed still astonishing.

Yun Youzi gazed intently at the Flying Yaksha, remarking with considerable admiration, “The power of this corpse is no less than the one in the ice cavern. You must have expended great effort, my friend.”

Qin Sang nodded ruefully. He recalled that refining this Flying Yaksha had indeed been difficult; several times along the way, he had nearly failed, and it had even almost been ruined entirely.

With the Flying Yaksha in front and Qin Sang and Yun Youzi walking abreast behind it, they formed a triangular formation. Qin Sang controlled the Flying Yaksha while Yun Youzi worked on deciphering the ancient restriction.

With their strategy decided, they proceeded according to plan.

Yun Youzi conjured a sharp spiritual energy cone in his palm, then forcefully raised his hand and struck towards the Ancient Medicinal Garden.

Shatter!

Where the cone struck, that section of the illusion shattered like a mirror.

The true world hidden within the illusion was revealed at that moment.

It was, in fact, a dim and desolate landscape: withered vegetation, parched riverbeds, fractured mountain peaks, utterly devoid of life.

Reminded by Yun Youzi, Qin Sang immediately urged the Flying Yaksha to charge in the moment the illusion shattered, with himself and Yun Youzi following close behind.

The instant they entered the Ancient Medicinal Garden, a tiger's roar suddenly echoed from ahead. Looking closely, they saw a fierce, winged tiger pouncing down from the air.

A pungent, foul odor assailed them.

Its sharp fangs seemed to still bear traces of torn flesh. The demonic tiger exuded an extremely ferocious aura, its eyes blazing with savage intent and murderous malice.

Just moments before, Qin Sang had seen an identical fierce tiger in the outer illusion; then, it had been docile, sleeping soundly in the grass while several nine-colored deer played nearby.

Now, this fierce tiger truly appeared before them, and neither its oppressive aura nor its scent revealed any flaws. Without prior knowledge that this fierce tiger was merely a manifestation of the ancient restriction's power, one could easily mistake it for a genuine great fiend and be terrified out of their wits.

The tiger's roar shook the heavens.

With a beat of its twin wings, the fierce tiger conjured a hurricane, its form abruptly vanishing.

Thud!

Following the resounding thud, two figures, one large and one small, suddenly appeared in the air, each sent hurtling backward.

Though the fierce tiger was swift, the Flying Yaksha was no less so, successfully intercepting it.

The Flying Yaksha swayed briefly before regaining its footing, while the fierce tiger tumbled several times, letting out a frustrated roar.

Evidently, the strength of the illusion was vastly inferior to that of a true great fiend—a difference as vast as a chasm.

This fierce tiger was all show and no substance, outwardly strong but inwardly weak, proving no match for the Flying Yaksha.