The next morning arrived with soft light filtering through the trees, golden rays casting long shadows across the herbal garden. Li Yao moved through his tasks with practiced ease- trimming leaves, watering roots, and sorting herbs under Senior Brother Wei's guidance. But today, his heart beat with quiet anticipation. The day of the encounter had come.
As soon as the day's duties were complete, Li returned to his modest cottage. He stood in silence for a moment, eyes falling on the newly purchased axe hanging on the wall. Its blade gleamed faintly, and though it lacked spiritual enchantments, it felt reliable- solid in his hands. He slung it over his back, secured his jade herb box, and stepped outside.
The path to the North Herb Field lay shrouded in quiet. He walked alone, the crunch of gravel beneath his feet the only sound. No one stopped him or asked where he was going. A few disciples passed by but paid him no mind. The Northern Field was known to be abandoned, overrun with weeds and left untouched. Few ventured there anymore.
When Li finally reached its outskirts, he paused. Before him stretched a field of tangled undergrowth and towering grass. Unlike the well-tended herb gardens, the northern expanse looked neglected, like a patch of forgotten wilderness. But Li's eyes narrowed. The system had pointed him here.
Drawing a slow breath, Li stepped forward.
Under the guidance of the Heavenly Observation System's subtle pulses, he made his way deeper into the field. There were no wild beasts, no sudden attacks. Just silence and the scent of earth. Soon, he arrived at a thicket of waist-high weeds—half-withered, dull green, unremarkable.
His eyes narrowed.
Half-hidden among the overgrowth were clumps of Moonfall Grass, a common herb used in low-grade pill recipes. But as he approached, the system's cursor hovered over one particular stalk- its leaves tinged with faint, blue veins.
[Forgotten Herb identified: Veinroot.
Misclassified as Moonfall Grass.
True Function: Temporarily enhances spiritual root sensitivity and absorption speed of Qi threads.
Duration: 5 Days.
Estimated Market Value: 15 Mid-grade Spirit Stones in alchemy circles.]
Li Yao's breath caught.
**Enhancing spiritual roots... even temporarily—**such an effect could vastly accelerate his Qi refinement. His cultivation speed might double, even triple for a short time. It was a rare opportunity- one that could close the gap between him and those born with abundant resources.
He bent low, carefully plucking the Veinroot and placing it inside the jade herb box he'd bought in Ember City. Despite the system marking the danger level as low, he stayed cautious, glancing around, senses alert. Yet, no one came. No danger appeared. And soon, he made his way back to the cottage with the prize safely secured.
He opened the box and gazed at the Veinroot- its pale blue veins pulsing faintly under the fading light.
From the moment Li Yao entered the Northern Field, someone had been watching.
Unseen by Li Yao, hidden amidst the treetops far behind, an old man dressed in plain gray robes had silently observed his every step, from the moment he crossed into the field to the instant he harvested the herb. His presence was so still, so restrained, that no one detected him.
But the man didn't interfere.
Inside the cottage, Li sat cross-legged and summoned the system once more. The familiar stream of warm Qi rose from his dantian, surged into his head, and disappeared. A new window appeared before him.
[Heavenly Observation System – Insight Function Activated
Item: Veinroot Herb
Grade: Grade One Herb – High Quality
Recommendation: Host should consume the Veinroot herb alongside select low-level herbs in a prepared decoction to maximize its effect.]
Li blinked.
The suggestion made sense. The system often gave him optimal strategies. But as he stared at the glowing description, his expression gradually darkened.
A storm brewed within.
This herb- this precious gift- had grown on sect grounds. It had absorbed the spiritual Qi of Embercloud Mountain. Technically, it belonged to the sect. And yet, the system had offered it to him as a fortuitous encounter.
Part of him whispered: Use it. Close the gap between you and your peers. Didn't the strong earn their fortune through risk and opportunity?
But another voice, deeper and steadier, urged: Do what is right. You have eaten the sect's food. Lived in its housing. Learned its techniques. This is theft.
He didn't sleep that night. Instead, he sat beside the herb, eyes tracing its delicate veins, waging war with himself.
By morning, Li made his decision.
Once the day's tasks in the herbal fields were done, he approached Senior Brother Wei, who was arranging dried herbs into bundles.
"Senior Brother," Li said quietly, "I'd like to request a meeting with the Herbal Garden's Deacon."
Wei raised a brow. "The Deacon?" he asked, surprised. "Why? Did something happen?"
"I just… I found something in the North Herb Field. I think he should know."
Wei didn't press further. Instead, he studied Li for a moment and gave a slow nod. "Very well. Come with me."
The two walked through the winding garden paths, passing the inner and core field workers. Curious glances followed them—few outer disciples ever met the Deacon directly.
Eventually, they arrived at a small clearing nestled between flowering herbs. An old man with white hair sat calmly on a stone bench, surrounded by incense and the scent of blooming petals.
The Deacon.
Li Yao immediately bowed. "Disciple Li Yao greets the Elder."
The old man opened his eyes—sharp, deep, ancient.
"Speak."
Senior Brother Wei stepped back, allowing Li to take the lead. The youth explained everything- his trip to the Northern Field, the strange herb mistaken for Moonfall Grass, and the guidance of his strange intuition. He carefully omitted the existence of the system.
The elder listened in silence, fingers gently stroking his beard. When Li finished, the old man stared at him for a long moment.
"You discovered it," the Deacon finally said. "You could've used it without telling anyone. Yet here you are."
Li bowed deeper. "This herb… it grew on sect land. Its Qi was nurtured by this mountain. I… I couldn't just take it."
Silence followed.
Then the elder chuckled. A sound like wind rustling through dry leaves.
"Young man," he said, "you've made a good choice. The herb was long overlooked. You found it. That means it is yours. Use it well. That is not against the rules."
Li's eyes widened. Relief flooded his chest. "I… thank you, Elder."
The Deacon waved a hand. "Go. Make good use of it. "
Li bowed low once more, heart light and steady. As he turned to leave, a sudden thought struck him. The old man before him- who had remained so silent, so composed- felt different. Unfathomable.
Curiosity sparked in Li's mind.
He activated the system again, directing it toward the elder.
But this time- nothing.
[Access Denied.
Target Information Restricted.
Minimum Cultivation Level Required: Core Formation – Early Stage.]
Li Yao's breath caught.
Core Formation... That was two full realms above his current level. He couldn't even scratch the surface of this man's identity.
The Deacon, watching the boy retreat, smiled faintly.
A disciple who finds fortune and still chooses loyalty over greed… Not many like that are born these days.
He had been aware of the Veinroot all along, of course. But with his cultivation, such an herb had no value. He left it, waiting—not for a greedy soul, but a worthy one.
And now, perhaps... he had found that person.