Chapter 67: The Root of Calamity
"Ah Yin, wind!"
With a gentle sweep of her hands, Ah Yin conjured wings made of Blue Silver Grass that slowly fluttered behind her, lifting her slightly off the ground. Ye Wen, taking precautions, secured a mask over both his and Ah Yin's faces. The powdered mist he was about to release could be potent, and even for cultivators at their level, inhaling it accidentally could cause trouble.
Ye Wen began sprinkling a light brown powder into the air, and Ah Yin's wind sent it drifting towards the oncoming beast tide, creating a dense fog that spread across the charging soul beasts.
Since his last battle against the Drum Toad King, Ye Wen had contemplated alternative strategies for facing stronger opponents. His answer had come down to one thing: specialized concoctions. Against overwhelming opponents, toxins, sedatives, or hallucinogens could make all the difference, leveling the playing field or even giving him a critical advantage.
The powder in use now was a potent sedative, carefully crafted from thousand year old medicinal plants. Even a Soul Saint who inhaled it would feel faint, and a large dose could easily knock someone out. While it could be resisted with soul power, the frenzied beasts before them had no such restraint, making them easy prey for the sleeping mist. One by one, the soul beasts staggered, slowly succumbing to the drug's effect and collapsing into a deep slumber. Their muscles continued to twitch, indicating the wild energy within them still hadn't been released.
Seeing this, Ye Wen frowned, sensing a deeper cause. Turning to Ah Yin, he asked, "Ah Yin, can you ask the Blue Silver Grass nearby if they know where the beasts began this madness? The root cause might be there, and resolving it will calm the forest."
Ah Yin closed her eyes, lifting her arms slightly, attuning herself to the surroundings. After a few moments, she opened her eyes. "Found it, brother. It's about three kilometers from here. There's a strange flower in bloom over there, releasing a scent that's driving the soul beasts wild."
Ye Wen's eyes brightened. "A flower capable of affecting soul beasts across such a distance… It must be some rare heavenly treasure. Ah Yin, how's your soul power holding up?"
"About half left," she replied.
"Good," Ye Wen nodded. "Then I need you to go retrieve that flower. If I'm correct, it might be some rare medicinal herb with special properties. Make sure to dig out the root as well."
Hearing there was a valuable herb to collect, Ah Yin's eyes lit up with excitement. She spread her wings of Blue Silver Grass and flew swiftly towards the indicated location.
As she flew off, Ye Wen called after her, "Remember to hold your breath when you approach the flower! Don't inhale its scent. Just get it into the storage ring and come straight back."
"Got it!" she called back, her tone light with excitement.
Ye Wen watched her go, a smile of mild exasperation on his face. Though Ah Yin was strong and mature in many ways, some parts of her still retained a youthful innocence.
With the sedative mist lingering in the air, Ye Wen felt confident that the beast tide would remain subdued. However, he couldn't leave just yet. If he departed now, he knew there would be opportunists from the nearby fortress who might kill the incapacitated beasts for profit. Human greed had no bottom, and despite the importance of soul beasts in the soul master cultivation system, many people continued to hunt them carelessly.
As if on cue, a group from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, who had fled earlier, had returned to the forest's edge and alerted the nearby fortress about the beast tide.
Before long, a scouting soul master arrived likely a Soul Emperor dispatched by the fortress to investigate the delayed arrival of the tide. Dressed in luxurious battle attire, his noble status was evident, and his haughty demeanor only confirmed it.
After a quick appraisal of Ye Wen's modest clothing, the Soul Emperor snorted, assuming he was dealing with a commoner. He addressed him imperiously.
"Hey, you there! What's going on with these Blue Silver Grass and the sleeping beasts?"
Ye Wen cast a dismissive glance at the man. Not wanting to engage further, he replied curtly, "The beast tide has been contained. Go back and report to your superiors. As for these soul beasts, they are spoils of war belonging to my wife and me, and you have no claim over them."
"Hmph! How dare a commoner like you speak to Lord Habiter in such a tone?" the Soul Emperor sneered, clearly not believing Ye Wen. "You're claiming you handled this entire beast tide yourself? Don't make me laugh."
Ye Wen didn't bother with a response. He simply reached into his soul storage and tossed the man his nobility insignia, embossed with the Heavenly Dou Empire's emblem.
"Do you recognize this? Need me to explain?"
The man caught the insignia, and his face went pale as he examined it. The intricate design, bearing the insignia of a Count, was unmistakable.
"Y You're Count Tianxing?"
The emblems representing noble ranks across the continent were well documented and widely recognized. Knowledge of noble insignias was expected among all nobles, lest they embarrass themselves by failing to recognize a superior.
Ye Wen held out his hand, and the man hurriedly returned the insignia, stammering out an apology. "I I'm so sorry, Count Tianxing. Please excuse my rudeness."
With a stiff bow, he turned to leave as quickly as he could. Watching him scurry off, Ye Wen shook his head. It was clear this man was a lesser member of a noble family, stationed at the fortress as a mere scout. His exaggerated respect for Ye Wen's rank was typical of those who depended on their family's status.
Not long after, Ah Yin returned, carrying a large flower in her hands. As Ye Wen glanced over the plant she brought back, his jaw dropped slightly in surprise.
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