Volume One: Youth Must Be Seized, For No One Stays Young Forever Chapter 138: An Unexpected Windfall

The Immortal Master’s residence.

Bai Qingzhou and Chen Lin sat across from each other in the gazebo. Seeing Bai Qingzhou, who appeared relaxed and carefree, Chen Lin asked with surprise, "Senior Brother, how did you get here so quickly?"

Given that less than three days had passed since he sent his letter, Bai Qingzhou’s arrival meant he must have set out the moment he received it.

Bai Qingzhou smiled and said, "I received your letter just after finishing my lesson. There was nothing pressing on the mountain, so I came immediately. How about you? How has it been serving as the stationed Immortal Master lately?"

"It’s alright..." Chen Lin scratched his head and laughed. "Nothing too difficult. I’m still getting familiar with the duties."

"Good, that’s good..." Bai Qingzhou nodded slightly, then added, "By the way, what’s the situation with the herbs you mentioned in your letter?"

"Right. A local family head gave them to me as a gift. I took a look and felt there was still spiritual energy lingering on them. Furthermore, their appearance is very similar to the Dragon-Whisker Grass you mentioned before," Chen Lin replied immediately.

"You actually remembered..." Bai Qingzhou smiled faintly. He had once mentioned in passing while chatting at the sect that the Shennong Society was seeking Dragon-Whisker Grass, even providing a brief description of its appearance. He had not expected Chen Lin to recall it.

"Show me the herb," Bai Qingzhou said calmly.

"Yes, Senior Brother Bai, please wait a moment."

With that, Chen Lin stood up and walked toward the room. Before long, he returned with an herb and handed it to Bai Qingzhou.

Taking the herb, Bai Qingzhou examined it carefully. The plant was yellowish in color with three branches at the top—thick in the middle and thin on the sides—resembling the antennae of a dragon.

"With this three-pronged shape, it is undoubtedly Dragon-Whisker Grass," Bai Qingzhou said slowly. Although he had never seen the herb in person, its distinct appearance made it easy to identify.

He then asked, "Did you ask that family head where they found this?"

Chen Lin nodded. "I did. He said it was found in the deep mountains and old forests. I even went to the location with him, but once there, I sensed some demonic aura. Not daring to press forward blindly, I retreated and sent you a letter."

"Demonic aura..." Bai Qingzhou’s eyes brightened. Demonic aura implied the presence of demonic beasts, and where such beasts dwell, there must be a sanctuary rich in spiritual energy. Places with abundant spiritual energy inevitably give birth to rare treasures and precious herbs, so the presence of Dragon-Whisker Grass was hardly surprising.

"Where is that place?" Bai Qingzhou asked immediately.

"It’s on a hillside about thirty miles north of Ningshui Prefecture."

Bai Qingzhou pondered for a moment before saying, "Let’s go take a look right now."

"Agreed," Chen Lin replied instantly.

Bai Qingzhou summoned his Immortal Wind Carving. The two leaped onto it and soared toward their destination. For a cultivator, thirty miles was but a short journey, taking no more than the time it takes for half an incense stick or a cup of tea to burn.

Soon, the two entered the forest. Beasts are common throughout the world, and in any given place, one might absorb enough spiritual energy over time to gain intelligence and mutate into a demonic beast. While this was not a dedicated demonic beast forest, encountering one was not unexpected.

"Be careful," Bai Qingzhou warned. With that, he drew his long sword from his storage pouch. Seeing this, Chen Lin also unsheathed his own sword and began to advance with caution.

Since Chen Lin had been there before, he took the lead. Less than half an hour later, he pointed to a hill and said, "Senior Brother, that is where I felt the demonic aura last time."

Bai Qingzhou looked up. The area was indeed filled with birdsong, fragrant flowers, and lush greenery. Sensing carefully, he felt spiritual energy floating in the air—it was truly a land rich in essence.

Having advanced to the late stage of Qi Refining, his senses were far superior to those in the early or middle stages. Even before Chen Lin spotted anything, Bai Qingzhou saw a beast crouching in the distance.

It was a rabbit the size of an ordinary lion, with two buckteeth that shimmered with a sharp, metallic luster. Its fur was pure white, its large ears drooped, and its eyes watched the two men with vigilance.

Bai Qingzhou recognized it at once: it was a Profound Fox Rabbit, a low-level Tier 1 demonic beast. He relaxed; as a low-level Tier 1 beast, it posed no threat to him.

"It’s a Profound Fox Rabbit. Do you want to try your hand at it?" Bai Qingzhou asked with a smile.

"I’d love to!" Chen Lin agreed immediately, looking eager.

"Go ahead! I’ll back you up!"

"Right!"

With that, Chen Lin rushed forward, sword in hand. Seeing a human cultivator approaching, the Profound Fox Rabbit flew into a frenzy, its eyes turning blood-red as it lunged at Chen Lin.

Because Chen Lin had been practicing his swordsmanship diligently and possessed the cultivation of the third level of Qi Refining, he was able to trade blows with the beast. Bai Qingzhou watched from the sidelines, guarding against other potential dangers.

Man and beast exchanged blows, their figures weaving back and forth. Before long, both had sustained minor injuries. Seeing Chen Lin beginning to lose the upper hand, Bai Qingzhou asked with concern, "Chen Lin, do you need help?"

"No!" Chen Lin shouted. A burst of spiritual energy flared from his sword, and he instantly turned the tide. Finally, the Profound Fox Rabbit let its guard down, and Chen Lin thrust his sword into its neck, ending its life.

"Not bad, not bad at all!" Bai Qingzhou applauded. For a cultivator in the early stage of Qi Refining to slay a Tier 1 beast was quite impressive. However, Chen Lin was panting heavily, his spiritual energy entirely depleted, leaving him too weak to even respond to the praise.

Bai Qingzhou chuckled, hoisted him onto the Immortal Wind Carving, and flew toward the back of the mountain guarded by the beast.

Moments later, he discovered a hidden cave between two large trees containing a cluster of herbs. They were all Dragon-Whisker Grass. Bai Qingzhou was overjoyed. "Excellent! There are dozens of them!"

Seeing Bai Qingzhou’s expression, a slightly recovered Chen Lin asked, "Senior Brother, are these herbs very valuable?"

"It’s not just about value. The Shennong Society mentioned they were in urgent need of Dragon-Whisker Grass to refine a certain pill, and they offered one spirit stone per stalk."

"Doesn't that mean this is worth dozens of spirit stones?!" Chen Lin’s monthly stipend was only one spirit stone, and upon hearing how valuable the herbs were, his eyes widened in shock.

"Hehe, indeed..." Bai Qingzhou was equally delighted. "Let’s gather them all and take them to the market to sell to the Shennong Society!"

"Yes!" Chen Lin replied excitedly.

The two worked together, carefully using their spiritual power to uproot the herbs and storing them in Bai Qingzhou’s storage pouch. Upon counting them, they found there were fifty-six stalks in total.

Once the digging was finished, the two were in high spirits. Bai Qingzhou summoned his magic tool and carried Chen Lin into the sky.

On the return journey, Bai Qingzhou took forty spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed them to Chen Lin. "Here, let’s split the earnings from these herbs. This is your share."

"Ah," Chen Lin looked startled. "Senior Brother, this is too much..."

Fifty-six stalks meant twenty-eight spirit stones each, so Bai Qingzhou giving him forty left Chen Lin confused.

"It’s fine. I didn't have much to do with this; this is what you deserve." Bai Qingzhou pushed the spirit stones into his hands.

"Alright then..." Seeing this, Chen Lin said no more, though the gratitude in his eyes grew even stronger.

Soon, they returned to Ningshui Prefecture. Once Chen Lin had safely dismounted from the Immortal Wind Carving, Bai Qingzhou hovered in the air and said, "Chen Lin, take some time to recover in the city. I’ll be heading back now. If anything comes up, feel free to send a letter."

"Understood, Senior Brother. Take care!" Chen Lin said, looking up.

"Don't worry!" Bai Qingzhou turned his magic tool and flew off toward the Luogu Market.