Chapter 49: Mixed Quality

Chapter 49: Mixed Quality

This was indeed good news for Ye Fan. If he could gather spiritual medicine or hunt rare birds and exotic beasts there, it would effectively solve his urgent problems. His golden Sea of Suffering was like a drying lake, desperately needing a vast amount of vital energy for replenishment to continuously expand and allow the golden expanse to reappear.

"Elder Wu Qingfeng is personally leading the team this time, so there's no need to worry about that damn Elder Han making any moves."

With the matter settled, Ye Fan and Pang Bo would both participate in this training expedition.

Two days later, Elder Wu Qingfeng and another elder led over a hundred disciples out of Spirit Void Cavern and headed towards the adjacent ancient ruins. Ancient trees towered there, creating a primitive landscape. Even from a distance, the deafening roars of savage beasts could be heard, and faint, fierce auras wafted through the air. Strange fierce birds, several meters long and immense in size, could also be seen circling in the sky.

"Let me remind you all again, you must be extremely careful. Do not underestimate this expedition, as it concerns your very lives..." Elder Wu Qingfeng explained many points to note, concluding with an example: "In the past, some disciples, eager to collect rare spiritual herbs, often ventured deep into the ruins despite the dangers. If they encountered savage beasts then, death was certain. This is because the further you go, the more terrifying the fierce birds and savage beasts become. Many are ancient mutated species that even the elders of Spirit Void Cavern cannot defeat. Therefore, you must not risk venturing too deep!"

The two elders, accompanied by over a hundred disciples, soon arrived at the ruins. The spiritual energy here was abundant, not much inferior to Spirit Void Cavern. As soon as they arrived, someone discovered medicinal herbs. "Do not pick herbs that are too young..." Elder Li reminded them.

The giant trees here were exceptionally tall, so large that several people holding hands couldn't encircle them. Old vines were as thick as thighs. Though called ruins, it was more like a primitive mountain forest.

"A giant python!"

As soon as they entered the forest, someone shrieked, having discovered a colorful python as thick as a water bucket.

"Pfft!"

The colorful-spotted python opened its mouth and spewed out a cloud of mist, instantly engulfing the screaming disciple. A shrill scream immediately followed. All the other disciples were horrified and quickly retreated. As the mist dispersed, a stark white skeleton remained on the ground, along with much yellow liquid, and the surrounding vegetation withered.

Elder Wu Qingfeng quickly approached, frowning instantly. "How did we encounter a Venomous Dragon right at the edge of the ruins? Something is not right." At this moment, Elder Li also came over and said, "This large python is called a Venomous Dragon. It's highly poisonous, so be careful not to get contaminated by its sprayed mist, or you'll die instantly from the poison." After saying this, Elder Li added, "Its gallbladder is an excellent material for refining medicine. Disciples with sufficient strength can try to collect it."

Having just arrived at the edge of the ruins and encountered such a venomous python, they truly wondered what other terrifying fierce beasts lay within. With a disciple dying on the spot, everyone felt a chill and became extremely cautious.

"I'll take the gallbladder!" A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl stepped out of the crowd and advanced. A green light illuminated within her Sea of Suffering, rapidly spreading to her arm and shooting out along her fingers. The green light, like a sword, "swoosh"-ed and struck the Venomous Dragon, slicing it into two. The girl carefully extracted a fist-sized snake gallbladder and immediately exchanged it for a bottle of Hundred Grass Liquid from Elder Li. The other disciples were instantly encouraged. Most of them possessed the strength to slay the venomous python, and if fearless and uninhibited, they could all gain something in these ruins.

"Do not be afraid, and do not be careless. In the time to come, there may still be bloodshed and death, but this is something you must experience. Hothouse flowers will one day have to face harsh reality, or they will never truly grow." Although the two elders said this, they still frowned. A disciple dying right at the edge was truly not a good sign.

Just then, other disciples began to act. Soon, someone unearthed a "Dragon Tongue Grass" that was at least ten years old, while simultaneously another disciple discovered a "Green Dragon Vine."

Suddenly, an extremely sharp bird cry came from deep within the ruins, like a metallic sound piercing the sky, making eardrums ache and buzz. At this moment, everyone was startled and stopped, looking towards the source of the sound. They saw a golden flash of lightning streak across the sky, rapidly diving towards a mountain peak.

"What was that?!"

Everyone was astonished. The golden flash was too fast to discern clearly; only a brilliant golden light streaking past could be seen.

Elder Wu Qingfeng's expression turned solemn. "That is a Lightning Bird, as swift and terrifying as lightning itself. It naturally possesses the power of thunder and lightning; even I would have to make a detour if I encountered it."

"Roar..."

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the sky. On the very mountain peak where the Lightning Bird had dived, a giant ape covered in scales leaped up, soaring over a hundred meters into the sky, attacking the Lightning Bird. "It's a Scale Ape!" On the other side, Elder Li's expression changed. "It must be a king among Scale Apes; otherwise, it wouldn't be this powerful, daring to pounce on a Lightning Bird."

Elder Wu Qingfeng frowned. "It seems the ruins are not peaceful. This expedition will likely have some twists and turns. Let's not go too deep."

Ear-piercing bird cries and beast roars echoed from deep within the ruins, sounding like they were tearing the sky apart, carried from afar. The faces of the disciples present paled. Moments ago, seeing someone easily slay the Venomous Dragon had boosted many of their confidences, but now they finally understood that the ruins were far more terrifying than they had imagined. In the deepest parts, there were many super-entities that they simply could not provoke.

"Let's enter the ruins from a different spot..." Elder Wu Qingfeng consistently felt that this area was not peaceful today. Since the primitive ruins were vast enough, he immediately led everyone towards another region.

After walking more than ten li, they arrived at a forest of scattered rocks. Only after passing through it did they re-enter the ruins.

"Let me remind you one more time: even if you wish to go deeper, do not exceed ten li. Otherwise, your lives will certainly be at risk. You must act according to your capabilities!"

Upon reaching this point, everyone began to split up, forming groups of three or five, and proceeded together. All wished to gain something, as Hundred Grass Liquid was a huge temptation for disciples in the process of opening their Sea of Suffering.

Han Feiyu also participated in this expedition. A cold light flickered in his eyes when he looked at Ye Fan and Pang Bo, but when Ye Fan and Pang Bo turned to look back, he immediately averted his gaze and looked elsewhere.

"Han Feiyu, were you nearly killed by these two?"

Han Feiyu was accompanied by several other young men and women, all around eighteen or nineteen years old. They exuded vitality, and divine radiance flowed with their every movement. Han Feiyu stood beside them, clearly just one of their group, far from the central figure, relegated to the side.

"One may be a Celestial Seed, but he's just started and hasn't learned anything. The other is even more of a waste, unable to cultivate. To be defeated by such fools, you've truly disgraced Elder Han."

The young man and woman who spoke one after another were both around seventeen or eighteen years old. Although slightly younger than the others beside them, they were surrounded like stars around the moon.

Pang Bo's anger flared. These two were too reckless, openly mocking Ye Fan as a waste. He immediately retorted angrily, "How dare you speak like that? Can't you speak like a human being?"

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl sneered repeatedly. She had a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth, and though beautiful, she exuded a chilling, bone-piercing aura at that moment. She said coldly, "You have quite a temper. Don't think that just because you're a Celestial Seed, you can be arrogant and look down on everyone else. Remember, no one can predict the future; even a Celestial Seed can wither away!"

"Who exactly is arrogant here? Did we provoke you? You just came up and coldly called people trash. If we are considered arrogant, then aren't you practically blind?" Pang Bo retorted without ceremony.

"If not for the elders' command prohibiting disciples from fighting here, I would truly like to teach you a good lesson on how to be a disciplined disciple." The girl with the beauty mark shot a cold glance at Ye Fan, then fixated on Pang Bo, saying, "Although you are a Celestial Seed, you cannot simply bring anyone here. These ruins are an important area of Spirit Void Cavern; how can just any dubious person be allowed to enter and exit freely?"

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy standing beside her also scoffed, "Not everyone can cultivate; people should have self-awareness." At this point, he shot a cold glance at Ye Fan and said, "Please leave as soon as possible. This is where disciples of Spirit Void Cavern train; outsiders are not allowed."

"Shut your mouths!" Pang Bo was furious. Insulting Ye Fan was tantamount to insulting him. He really wanted to charge forward.

Ye Fan held him back, glanced at the group, said nothing, but took out a jade pendant, waved it in front of them, and then strode forward.

"It's Elder Wu's jade pendant..."

The expressions on their faces immediately turned ugly. They had intended to drive Ye Fan away, but now realized they had spoken a bunch of nonsense for nothing.

Han Feiyu stepped forward and said, "Senior Sister Li Lin, Senior Brother Li Yun, let's not bother them for now. My grand-uncle doesn't want me to provoke them right now; if he finds out, he'll definitely punish me."

A few hundred meters further, Pang Bo said, "I remember them now. I saw them on the back mountain of Spirit Void Cavern once. I was far away then and didn't pay much attention. Elder Wu Qingfeng casually mentioned a few words at the time. That woman's name seems to be Li Lin, and she's also a Celestial Seed. The man seems to be named Li Yun. Although he's not a Celestial Seed, his aptitude is very special, not much inferior to one."

Ye Fan looked back and said, "It seems that while you won't be in danger in Spirit Void Cavern, your future days won't be very comfortable either."

Pang Bo, however, was nonchalant. "Pressure creates motivation. My current goal is to stomp all those bastards underfoot within three years. I finally understand why Elder Wu Qingfeng once sighed about the mixed quality of people in recent years..."

"Spirit Void Cavern doesn't seem as peaceful as it appears on the surface. There's a strong possibility of opposing factions among the elders. You must be careful in the future," Ye Fan reminded him.

"I know. Elder Wu Qingfeng said he wants to take me as his final disciple. I think after you leave, I might go to the back mountain to cultivate. I won't cause trouble until I achieve something."

Ye Fan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, our current strength isn't enough. Otherwise, we could plan something to help you resolve these troubles."

"It's fine, don't worry about me; they can't do anything to me." At this point, Pang Bo was still very angry. "Don't pay attention to their words."

Ye Fan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I couldn't even be bothered to say anything to them, so of course, I won't care."

"That's good. For now, don't worry about anything else. Just focus on cultivating diligently. Once your golden Sea of Suffering opens up, let them see who the real waste is."

Not long after, Li Lin, Li Yun, Han Feiyu, and the others caught up, but this time they weren't coming for them; they were just passing by.

"Let's go deeper into the ruins and leave the outer areas to those wastes..." Li Lin said with a faint sneer. The beauty mark at the corner of her mouth seemed a bit jarring, giving off a chilling sensation.

Ye Fan stood aside, watching them leave silently, still saying nothing.

"That bitch!" Pang Bo was indignant, but for now, he could only endure it. He currently lacked the strength to confront them.

Over the next two days, Ye Fan and Pang Bo found dozens of types of medicinal herbs, but when they took them to the two elders for exchange, they only received two bottles of Hundred Grass Liquid. In fact, many others experienced the same, with some even failing to exchange for a single bottle. Moreover, three more disciples died during these two days.

"This won't do. Although there are some herbs in the outer region, they aren't old enough and have mostly been collected by previous expeditions. As for the rare birds and exotic beasts, seeing so many people enter at once, they've probably long since fled far away, making it impossible to hunt them."

Two bottles of Hundred Grass Liquid were practically useless to Ye Fan; they wouldn't make any difference. After discussing, both agreed that to find true spiritual medicine or hunt spiritual beasts, they would have to venture deep into the ruins, just like Li Lin and her group.

"It's too dangerous inside. Those fierce birds and savage beasts are beyond our ability to deal with. Besides, if we happen to encounter Li Lin and Li Yun's group, even if they don't dare to openly attack, they'll likely cause trouble secretly..."

The two discussed for a long time again, finally casting their gaze towards the distance.

They wanted to move away from this area and head towards another region. Two days prior, the Lightning Bird that streaked across the sky, enveloped in brilliant golden light, had left a deep impression on them. And the Scale Ape King, covered in scales, leaping over a hundred meters high from the mountain peak, had shocked them even more profoundly. Now, the Lightning Bird and the Scale Ape King occasionally reappeared in their minds.

For the past two days, ear-piercing bird cries and beast roars had constantly erupted from deep within that region, creating a significant commotion, which only gradually quieted down today. Why would these two terrifying exotic beasts fight? Both felt there must be an unusual reason.

At this moment, the depths of the ruins had gradually become peaceful. They felt that if they could stealthily make their way to that region, they might find astonishing gains.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were both very decisive individuals. Once they made their decision, they immediately set off, stealthily heading towards that region.