Chapter 1044: What Do You Call This Three-Zhang-Tall Giant?

Shénnóng Medicine Garden, I'm here!

The moment Xu Xiaoshou dashed into the barrier passage, he felt a shiver run through his entire body. The fragrance of the spirit herbs here, the spiritual energy of the world... it was so abundant! It was practically spilling out!

He let out a series of joyous gasps. The Suppressing Void Stele was too ostentatious; Xu Xiaoshou had long discarded it in an inconspicuous corner of the Forest of Miracles. Yet now, he felt like the Suppressing Void Stele itself, so blissful it was as if he were practicing his breathing technique for the first time while taking elixirs. He floated upright in mid-air, held by the spiritual energy.

"Mustn't absorb, mustn't look, mustn't break through...""Just a little more patience, just a little while longer, I can do this!"

Xu Xiaoshou forced his eyes shut, not daring to even glance at the images relayed by his 'perception'. He feared that if he saw the medicine garden containing tens of thousands of holy medicines from Shuangdai's memories with his own eyes, he would instantly go mad, losing complete control just like that guy.

The plan was still progressing smoothly. Hong Dang had already entered the Shénnóng Medicine Garden. All he needed to do was pick one herb to lure away the Void Attendant. Then, what spirit herb wouldn't he be able to pocket? What holy medicine couldn't he 'suck dry' using his breathing technique?

"Disappearance Art!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Xiaoshou resisted the temptation with powerful willpower, casting his Disappearance Art and vanishing into the Shénnóng Medicine Garden.

Meanwhile.

Hong Dang was the first to rush into the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, yet after one breath, then two, then three, he remained dumbfounded at the entrance of the barrier passage.

"I...""Oh, my goodness...""What in the world have I just witnessed?!"

Hong Dang, the Dragon Subduing Hand, who had prided himself as a Void Sovereign for years with a full personal treasury, stared at the medicine garden before him like a country bumpkin in the city, utterly dumbfounded by such a lavish and well-stocked treasure trove. As far as the eye could see, the Shénnóng Medicine Garden stretched boundlessly. Spirit herbs of the highest grade appeared every few steps, with major holy medicines every few paces beyond that. It was a vibrant tapestry of flowers, a dazzling, diverse, and endless array. The sheer variety and abundance were more extravagant than all the auctions held by every spirit herb merchant on the Saint God Continent combined!

"Blood-Purging Flower, Peach Immortal Spirit Wood, Holy Relic Fruit Tree...""How is this possible?! How can such holy medicines just be placed at the entrance like this! Shouldn't these be the top-tier spirit medicines placed at the heart of any medicine garden? How can they be so improperly displayed at the entrance for people to simply admire? What if someone accidentally steps on them and damages them?!""This is utterly improper, completely improper..." Hong Dang muttered to himself, his words incoherent. He spread his hands and shook his head, utterly unable to express the shock in his heart with any gesture or word.

These three holy medicines greeted him right at the entrance. Beyond these, countless other holy medicines on the sides radiated holy power fluctuations of the same caliber, yet Hong Dang couldn't name them. As for first or second-grade spirit herbs... Shuangdai had been right! In the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, first or second-grade spirit herbs truly were nothing more than common weeds and flowers, not even warranting a second glance. Beneath the brilliant moon, what good is the light of a firefly?

"There are too many! How can there be so many? How am I supposed to choose?"

The last shred of Hong Dang's consciousness urged his steps swiftly towards the Holy Relic Fruit Tree. Indeed, there were too many holy medicines in the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, but Hong Dang, after a moment of calm thought, realized that no matter how high the quality or how potent the combat enhancement of any other holy medicine, none could compare to the allure of the 'Holy Relic Fruit' for a Void Sovereign. Hong Dang was grateful he recognized the Holy Relic Fruit, enabling him to make such a holy medicine his top choice at this moment. Yet he also regretted his ignorance, knowing that the Shénnóng Medicine Garden undoubtedly contained holy medicines even more potent than the Holy Relic Fruit, awaiting collection. Alas... he didn't recognize them! And there was no time to learn about them now!

He swiftly rushed to the Holy Relic Fruit Tree. Only two Holy Relic Fruits remained on this particular tree, but that was irrelevant. With a quick glance, Hong Dang spotted several more Holy Relic Fruit Trees in the distance. In other words, if he took one Holy Relic Fruit now, Shuangdai wouldn't turn hostile later.

"Reaching the Void Sovereign realm and gaining holy power—that's like constantly drinking holy blood. To think, I've lived this long and never even acquired a single drop of holy blood. But if I eat this Holy Relic Fruit, I'll gain that very ability! Hahahahaha..."

Hong Dang burst into wild laughter, reaching out to grasp the human-head-sized Holy Relic Fruit and plucking it without hesitation.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still...

Xu Xiaoshou, still in his vanished state, finally opened his eyes, staring with utter shock at the expanse of the medicine garden below. After forcibly tearing his gaze away, he easily spotted a sinkhole in the distance of the medicine garden. Slumbering within it was the three-hundred-zhang Void Attendant he had previously seen. Undoubtedly, Hong Dang must have also perceived it with his spiritual sense. However, at first glance, the slumbering Void Attendant was so colossal and devoid of vital energy fluctuations that anyone would mistake it for a mountain range guarding the medicine garden. Xu Xiaoshou was no exception; it was only his prior knowledge that allowed him to discern that this enormous black mountain was, in fact, the Void Attendant's sprawling body!

Turning his head again, as expected, Xu Xiaoshou witnessed Hong Dang plucking the Holy Relic Fruit... At that moment, he smiled. He couldn't suppress a joyous laugh.

"Brother Hong Dang, take care!"

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than, the instant the Holy Relic Fruit detached from the Holy Relic Tree...

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the sky went dark!

"Hmm?" Clutching the human-head-sized Holy Relic Fruit, Hong Dang froze slightly. What happened? He turned his head and was startled to realize that the distant black mountain range had actually moved.

The mountain, like a person, rose to its feet, blotting out the sky and sun, shouldering all the light from the heavens and plunging the Shénnóng Medicine Garden into endless darkness!

"Intruder..." The black mountain giant spoke, its voice rumbling and trembling like thunder, striking terror into hearts. "Another trespasser who doesn't know when to quit."

"This..." At the sound, Hong Dang's grip tightened, his heart seized, and he nearly crushed the Holy Relic Fruit on the spot.

"This...?""This...!""What in the damn world is that thing?!"

He strained to see, trying to discern... He finally recognized the colossal black mountain, now standing upright, as a three-hundred-zhang ancient giant. Hong Dang's pupils constricted, and his composure shattered on the spot.

"Damn, damn, damn! Shuangdai, get out here and explain yourself! A guardian? A giant? You called this a giant over three *zhang* tall? A Sovereign Body? Is this what you said a Sovereign Body could contend with? What the hell kind of creature is this?!"

With a bang, the ground beneath his feet shattered, sending dirt flying. Hong Dang didn't dare delay for another second. Clutching the human-head-sized Holy Relic Fruit, he bolted, just as Shuangdai had done earlier. As he fled towards the barrier passage, Hong Dang continued to roar maniacally:

"You damn Shuangdai, I'll curse your ancestors! I curse all eighteen generations of your family to die a terrible death! A giant... damn the giant! You set me up, you beast!" He was crying and shouting. In that moment, all the previously overlooked details flooded back to him in his frenzy. Why had Shuangdai rushed forward after breaking the formation? What was the point of his earlier search for a partner outside the barrier? Shuangdai was clearly a Void Sovereign, yet why was his preemptive strike slower than Hong Dang's, allowing Hong Dang to be the first to enter the Shénnóng Medicine Garden? What was he waiting for? Once Shuangdai entered the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, his traces vanished. What had he been afraid of?

--The Giant!--The answer: the towering, cloud-piercing three-hundred-zhang dark giant looming overhead!

Hong Dang was losing his mind. His hysterical curses, accompanied by his fleeing figure, burst out of the barrier passage like a stray dog, echoing throughout every corner outside the Shénnóng Medicine Garden. Greed leads to ruin. Hong Dang had anticipated Shuangdai would try to trick him, so he had already prepared for the possibility that not everything the other party said was true. But he hadn't expected Shuangdai to have tricked him so thoroughly! With such a colossal giant as a guardian, how had Shuangdai still dared to make a move? Had his audacity reached the heavens? How could he have dared?!

"Run! I can only run! Preparation? What preparation? This is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or an ant trying to shake a tree. All preparations are mere trifles before this giant!"

Hong Dang cursed with all his might, running at full speed. The top priority was to preserve the Holy Relic Fruit and save his life. As for Shuangdai... he'd settle accounts later!

Outside, atop the ancient tree.

Listening to the unbearable curses and seeing a frenzied figure burst from the barrier passage, Lei Xi'er took a deep breath, her face settling into profound silence.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you are truly ruthless..."

Substituting another in his place. Just imagining it, Lei Xi'er could tell how desperate Hong Dang must feel right now, having plucked the holy medicine only to see a dark giant rise into the sky. She half-squatted within the ancient tree's canopy, gently kneading Little Glutton God's two small front paws with their pink paw pads, and whispered, "Oh, little Glutton God..."

"Meow." Little Glutton God looked up, puzzled.

Lei Xi'er's red lips parted, and after a long moment, she sighed, "Don't ever aim your Three-Abhorrence Pupils at Xu Xiaoshou again, alright?"

"Meow?" Little Glutton God tilted its head, asking 'Why?'

Lei Xi'er remained silent. Just look at your innocent demeanor... Little Glutton God, do you know that if one day Xu Xiaoshou eats you until not even a single cat hair remains, you'd probably still be happy before you die!

"It's nothing." After a brief pause, Lei Xi'er said no more: "Hide, and whatever you do, don't let the Void Attendant discover you."

As an outsider, even without seeing what was happening inside the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, the exceptionally intelligent Lei Xi'er easily surmised the situation within. The Void Attendant had shown no reaction when the Shénnóng Medicine Garden's barrier was breached. The moment Hong Dang plucked the herb, and the curses began, the Void Attendant reacted. This undoubtedly meant Xu Xiaoshou had vanished, leaving only Hong Dang to bear the full brunt of the Void Attendant's pressure. Inferring from this situation... the Shénnóng Medicine Garden's barrier was utterly insignificant! The Void Attendant guarded only the spirit herbs and holy medicines. Therefore, at this moment, Hong Dang's best chance for survival wasn't to run, but to simply drop the Holy Relic Fruit, tossing it anywhere on the ground. Perhaps then, the Void Attendant would cease its pursuit.

But... "Is it possible?"

The image of Shuangdai's tragic demise flashed through Lei Xi'er's mind. Although she hadn't witnessed Shuangdai consuming the herb, based solely on their last encounter, the scent of holy medicine emanating from him, and his mastery of holy power at the Void Sovereign realm, it was clear that... no one could possibly let go of the Holy Relic Fruit! With the treasure already in hand, reason would dictate that any herb gatherer should simply put down the holy medicine and find instant enlightenment. Yet, humans are prone to wishful thinking. What if? What if I can escape the Void Attendant's pursuit? If I just abandon the Holy Relic Fruit I risked my life for, wouldn't that be a monumental loss, utterly idiotic?

"Greed..." Lei Xi'er mused. Greed: the original sin!

But when it comes to 'greed,' who could possibly be greedier than Xu Xiaoshou? Others merely plucked a single holy medicine and fled, but Xu Xiaoshou, after directly experiencing the Void Attendant's combat prowess, still unhesitatingly set his sights on the *entire* Shénnóng Medicine Garden—the *entire* thing! He even laid out his plans in advance for this... Now *that's* what you call a 'Glutton God'! The little white cat was just a joke!

"Boom!"

As she pondered, the space outside the Shénnóng Medicine Garden's barrier shattered, and a colossal foot stepped forth. Then, the Void Attendant appeared with red eyes, locking its gaze on the escape route of Hong Dang, who was fleeing for his life with the Holy Relic Fruit.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

With a single stride, another chase between the giant and the ant had begun!

"Indeed..." Lei Xi'er watched the Void Attendant move away, confirming her thought that the giant's target was indeed only the holy medicines and those who stole them; it couldn't care less about anyone else. She then looked towards the Shénnóng Medicine Garden. Even now, there was no news from the third person inside. But it was conceivable that the moment Xu Xiaoshou touched a holy medicine, the Void Attendant would sense it. At that point, would it continue to pursue Hong Dang, or immediately return to the Shénnóng Medicine Garden?

Lei Xi'er instinctively hugged Little Glutton God tighter, deep worry clouding her eyes. "Xu Xiaoshou, how much will you pick? One or two plants? Or one or two trees? But please, please, remember to quit while you're ahead!"

"Mine! Mine! All mine! Every single bit of it, I want it all!"

Inside the Shénnóng Medicine Garden, Xu Xiaoshou, red-eyed, had endured for so long that he finally snapped. Hong Dang had indeed lured the Void Attendant away, a process identical to Shuangdai's herb-picking memory that Xu Xiaoshou had read from his soul! And it was perfectly in line with the pre-arranged plan!

"Flawless! Brother Hong Dang is gone, and the guardian is chasing him too. Now, the Shénnóng Medicine Garden is empty of outsiders; the holy medicines and even the weeds, all mine!"

The last time, he had transported a field of third or fourth-grade spirit herbs from the White Cave, which Xu Xiaoshou cherished like a rare treasure, not even letting Little Glutton God use them to learn alchemy. This time, the quality had directly escalated to holy medicines; how could Xu Xiaoshou possibly restrain himself? Counting the seconds, suppressing his excitement, he waited for a full ten breaths... Assuming the Void Attendant and Hong Dang had likely fled far away, Xu Xiaoshou decisively deactivated his Disappearance Art and landed beside the Holy Relic Fruit Tree. This Holy Relic Fruit Tree wasn't the one Hong Dang and Shuangdai had picked; it was located deeper within and still bore seven intact Holy Relic Fruits!

"Pick it, eat it, and as a Grandmaster, I'll possess holy power. From now on, even if I fight a Void Sovereign, as long as they haven't consumed holy blood, it'll be as effortless as the Void Attendant dealing with Shuangdai and Hong Dang!"

Xu Xiaoshou's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, extending his demonic hands towards the Holy Relic Fruit... no, towards the tree's roots. It was as if the Flower Monk had possessed him! I'll pull it up by the roots! Plant it in my Yuanfu World and cultivate Half-Saint disciples!

"Wahahahahaha...""No, I mustn't laugh, mustn't laugh! Too arrogant, and things can easily go wrong. Right now, I look just like a demonic villain..."

Xu Xiaoshou held his breath, suppressed his smile, gripped the tree trunk with both hands, and prepared to pull. Just then, the Holy Emperor Dragon Scale's faint pulse suddenly intensified, beating frantically, much like it did when he faced the Half-Saint Jiang Buyi beneath the deep sea that day.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!""Frightened, Passive Points: 1."

A notification popped up in his information bar, startling the red-eyed Xu Xiaoshou into a semblance of calm. "Is there danger?" He immediately abandoned the idea of "pulling up the willow by its roots." Sure enough, the Holy Emperor Dragon Scale's heartbeat returned to its normal rhythm.

"If I touch a holy medicine, the Void Attendant will sense it?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned, reaching out to the Holy Relic Fruit. He didn't pluck it, but the moment he *thought* of plucking it...

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The Holy Emperor Dragon Scale pounded frantically, its rapid frequency signaling certain death if he were to pluck the fruit.

"Damn..." Xu Xiaoshou was furious. The cooked duck was right at his mouth, it hadn't flown away, yet he still couldn't eat it? He swept his gaze across the entire Shénnóng Medicine Garden.

"Too small, the scope is too small.""Giving up is impossible. Since there's only one chance to make a move..."

Xu Xiaoshou pondered for a moment, then opened the spatial portal to his Yuanfu World, and began to expand it, further expand it, and expand it even more...

"I'll just say one thing: in a single go, I'll clear out the entire Shénnóng Medicine Garden!"